August 14, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 536 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said today that there is intense fighting along the entirety of the front lines between Ukrainian and Russian forces and that there has been “some success” in pushing back Russian forces near the southeastern village of Staromaiorske. [more]
• Ukrainian military authorities say three waves of Russian missile and drone attacks targeted the southern port city of Odesa overnight, causing minimal damage, but wounding three people. [more]

HAWAII | Officials on the Hawaiian island of Maui say last week’s wildfires were the deadliest in the U.S. in more than 100 years, with the death toll having risen to 96 as of last night. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said the fires destroyed more than 2,700 structures in the town of Lahaina and caused an estimated $5.6 billion in damage. [more]

PENNSYLVANIA | A Saturday morning explosion at a house in Plum, Pennsylvania, killed at least five people, according to local authorities. The cause of the explosion, which also destroyed three structures and damaged a dozen others, is under investigation. [more]

MISSISSIPPI | Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers are expected to plead guilty to state charges today in connection with the January torture and wounding of two Black men in Rankin County. The former officers pleaded guilty to related federal charges earlier this month. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | Late last week, the U.S. Commerce Department reported that consumer inflation rose by 3.2% in July, compared to the year-ago period — up from a 3% increase in June. Producer inflation, as measured by the producer price index, rose 0.8% year-over-year. [more]

HUNTER BIDEN | U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the appointment of Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss as special counsel on Friday to investigate tax and firearms charges against Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden. The appointment comes after the breakdown last month of a plea deal between Hunter Biden and prosecutors that would have resolved the charges. [more]

ILLINOIS | In a 4-3 ruling issued Friday in response to a lawsuit claiming that Illinois’ strict ban on assault weapons violated the equal protections clause of the 14th Amendment, the Illinois Supreme Court found the ban to be constitutional. [more]

NORTH KOREA | According to the official Korean Central News Agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called today for a drastic increase in his country’s production of missiles and other weapons. Kim’s push for increased weapon production follows South Korean and U.S. announcements of major military drills in South Korea next week and comes amidst concerns that North Korea may increase its sales of weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. [more]

INDIA | Officials in India’s Himachal Pradesh state say at least 22 people were killed in weekend flooding and landslides following heavy rains in the region. Reports say all schools in the area, as well as more than 700 roads, have been closed as rescue operations continue. [more]

MYANMAR | Rescue workers in northern Myanmar’s Kachin state say at least 30 people are missing this morning near the town of Hpakant following a landslide at a jade mine. [more]

ARGENTINA | Ahead of November’s presidential election, preliminary vote counts in Argentina’s primary election yesterday show far-right candidate Javier Milei with 30.5% of the vote, followed by the Together for Change conservative opposition bloc with 28% and the ruling Peronist coalition with 27%. [more]

NIGER | A spokesman for Niger’s military junta, which seized control of the Central African country last month, said today that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum will be prosecuted for “high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger." [more]

IRAN | At a news conference today, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said his country is committed to resolving its nuclear development dispute with world powers through diplomatic means. The statement came after an agreement between the U.S. and Iran was announced last week under which $6 billion in Iranian funds will be unfrozen in South Korea and five American nationals detained in Iran will be released. [more]

ETHIOPIA | Amidst ongoing conflict with the Fano militia group in northern Ethiopia’s Amhara region, the Ethiopian parliament is expected to vote today on granting formal approval to a state of emergency declared by the government earlier this month that allows arrests and searches without warrants and the imposition of curfews the region. [more]

COVID-19 | New Zealand, which had what were among the strictest health protection policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, is lifting its last remaining coronavirus-related  restrictions today, including a requirement to wear masks in hospitals and other healthcare facilities and a mandatory seven-day isolation period for persons infected with the coronavirus. [more]

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP | In the semi-finals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Spain will face Sweden on Tuesday and co-host Australia will face England on Wednesday. [full bracket] [more]

GOLF | Lucas Glover beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff yesterday to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The win was Glover’s second title in two weeks. [more]

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE | "Barbie" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $33.7 million in receipts, followed by "Oppenheimer," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1935, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, establishing a permanent national pension system through employer and employee contributions.   [more history]