Current Events This Week: August 2023
World News | U.S. News | Disaster News | Science & Technology News
It's a busy world out there, so that’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories for each week of August 2023.
We collect current events of the week starting and ending on a Friday, so make sure you check back at the end of every week to keep up-to-date on what's happening in the world and the U.S., including politics, disasters, science & technology, and military actions.
- Our Top Stories for the Week of July 28, 2023
- Our Top Stories for the Week of August 4, 2023
- Our Top Stories for the Week of August 11, 2023
- Our Top Stories for the Week of August 18, 2023
Our Top Stories for the Week of July 28, 2023
It’s been a busy week, from the military coup in Niger Republic to suicide bombings in Pakistan. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.
Fatal Incidents
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Nine People Killed In Thailand At Fireworks Warehouse: On Saturday, July 29, 2023, a fireworks warehouse exploded in Thailand, killing nine persons and injuring over one hundred. Up to 500 homes were damaged by the detonation caused by construction welding. The explosion caused smoke plumes that damaged businesses, residences, and vehicles. The construction industry in Thailand has a poor safety reputation, with fatal accidents occurring frequently.[1]
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Deadly Blast Kills 54 In Pakistan: On Sunday, July 30, 2023, a suicide bomber attacked a Pakistani political convention, resulting in 54 deaths and over 100 injuries. The attack targeted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazi party members, deemed apostates by the local ISIS branch. The incident was decried by the prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif. The Prime Minister's office is investigating and requesting a report from the Interior Minister and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.[2]
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Indian Railway Officer Opens Fire On A Moving Train: On Monday, July 31, 2023, four persons were killed when an Indian railway security guard opened fire on a train in Maharashtra state. Chetan Kumar, a Railway Protection Force constable, murdered his colleague and three other passengers. The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 a.m. on a train traveling from Jaipur to Mumbai. The cause of the incident remains unknown, despite initiating an investigation. Neeraj Kumar, the divisional railway manager, verified that the victims' families are being contacted and will be compensated.[3]
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Bus Mishap In Arizona With 56 People Injured: On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, a bus tumbled near the Grand Canyon in Arizona, killing one person and injuring 56 others. Eight injured were flown to hospitals, while the remainder were transported by ground. The accident happened near the West Rim of the Hualapai Reservation and the Skywalk observation platform. The Hualapai Nation Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety are investigating to identify the cause of the collision.[4]
Sources: [1] The Guardian [2] CNN [3] CNN [4] Reuters
U.S. Court Cases
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SCOTUS Blocks Ghost Gun Ruling: On Friday, July 28, 2023, a lower court ruling to prohibit the sale of privately manufactured "ghost guns" was overturned by Justice Samuel Alito. The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court to halt the nationwide verdict that overturned a Justice Department limitation on ghost gun kits as the administration foresaw an unstoppable flow of undetectable ghost guns.[1]
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Trump's Lawsuit Against CNN Dismissed: On Saturday, July 29, 2023, a federal judge dismissed Donald Trump's $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN. Trump stated that CNN's portrayal of his election fraud as the "big lie" tied him to Adolf Hitler. Judge Raag Singhal found that CNN's statements were opinion, not fact, and hence not subject to a defamation claim. Trump's spokeswoman confirmed that CNN's words were heinous and that the network would be held accountable for mistreating Trump and his followers.[2]
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Trump Charged With Another 2020 Election Lawsuit: On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, former president Trump was charged with four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, interfering with a witness, and conspiracy against citizens' rights. Donald Trump, also running for President, refuted all the charges. He is previously accused of mishandling secret materials and falsifying business documents to conceal a hush-money payment to a sex worker.[3]
Sources: [1] Reuters [2] Reuters [3] BBC
In Other News
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Niger Coup Leader Declares Himself President: On Friday, July 28, 2023, following a coup, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani declared himself the new leader of Niger. A presidential guard assassinated the country's president, Mohamed Bazoum. According to the French foreign ministry, France will recognize only Bazoum as head of state, reiterating the international community's demand for constitutional order and democratically elected civilian power.[1]
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Trudeau Divorces Wife: On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, decided to divorce after 18 years of marriage. The pair, who married in 2005 and have three children, will continue to publicly appear while following all legal and ethical procedures. They desired seclusion for the sake of their children's safety. Since his father and mother divorced in 1977, Trudeau is the second Canadian Prime Minister to announce separation while in office.[2]
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U.K. Begins Drone Mail Delivery: On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, Royal Mail and drone company Skyports launched the Orkney I-Port operation to transfer letters and goods between the islands, making Orkney the first location in the UK to have mail delivered by drone. Payloads weighing up to 6kg can be carried by the multirotor drone. Under current regulatory norms, the service will be available for three months before becoming permanent.[3]
Sources: [1] BBC [2] BBC [3] BBC
Our Top Stories for the Week of August 4, 2023
It’s been a busy week, from wildfires in Hawaii to an assassination attempt against Ukrainian president Zelensky. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.
Death And Disaster
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Derailed Train Kills 30 People In Pakistan: On Sunday, August 6, 2023, a train derailed near Nawabshah, Sindh province, killing 30 people and injuring 67 others, according to Pakistan Railways. Two relief trains are on their way to assist with relief efforts. An extensive investigation is being carried out to discover the cause of the accident. Pakistan's railway system has a terrible safety record, with recent fatal accidents.[1]
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41 Migrants Dead In Shipwreck: On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, a shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa killed 41 migrants, leaving four survivors. The deceased was on a boat from Tunisia that sank on its way to Italy. The Italian Red Cross and Sea Watch have reported two shipwrecks in the vicinity, although it's unclear whether this vessel is one of them. With almost 17,000 deaths and disappearances since 2014, the Central Mediterranean is the most difficult migrant passage in the world.[2]
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Death Toll Soars In Hawaiian Wild Fire: On Friday, August 11, 2023, a wildfire incident in a 13,000-person village in Hawaii caused major damage, with at least 30 people injured and a significant death toll that has risen since the fire began. The governor cautions that the death toll on Maui may rise considerably as the rescue effort continues. President Joe Biden declared a disaster on Maui, authorizing federal funds to aid local recovery efforts and assuring prompt support to individuals affected.[3]
Sources: [1] CNN [2] BBC [3] The Guardian
International Politics
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Imran Khan Sentenced Prison: On Saturday, August 5, 2023, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to three years on corruption charges. He was found guilty of failing to declare money earned from the sale of gifts throughout his term. A vote of no confidence last year deposed Khan. The judge upheld the conviction and ordered that he be arrested immediately.[1]
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Assassination Against Zelensky Foiled: On Monday, August 7, 2023, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) apprehended an alleged Russian informant linked to an assassination plot against Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The suspect, a former military store saleswoman, was apprehended in Mykolaiv, Ukraine's southernmost city. SBU obtained information about Zelensky's intended visit and implemented security measures to neutralize the plot.[2]
Reproductive Health
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The U.S. Approves First Pill To Treat Post-Partum Depression: On Friday, August 4, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved Zuranolone as a tablet to be taken once daily for two days. The FDA confirmed that postpartum therapy was previously only available as an intravenous injection. The drug's manufacturers, Sage Therapeutics and Biogen, confirm that the pill will be accessible this year.[1]
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Amendment Made To Texas Abortion Ban: On Saturday, August 5, 2023, due to ambiguous medical exemptions, a judge issued a temporary injunction exempting women with complex pregnancies from the state abortion ban. Judge Jessica Mangrum ruled in favor of the women and doctors who had sued Texas over the restriction. The Attorney General's office filed a notice of accelerated appeal, putting the ruling on hold until the Supreme Court decided.[2]
In Other News
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China Plans To Reduce Internal Migration: On Friday, August 4, 2023, the Chinese government intends to reduce internal migration laws, enabling people to reside in small towns to strengthen the economy and foster growth. The Ministry of Public Security intends to decrease the standards for urban hukou registration, allowing local governments to choose their own rules. The new policy will go into effect by the end of the month.[1]
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Italian Government Approves 40% Windfall Tax: On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, the Italian government imposed a one-time windfall tax on domestic banks suspected of benefitting from increasing interest rates. The levy will benefit mortgage holders while also lowering taxes for consumers. The government intends to tax 40% of earnings, with payments due by mid-2024. According to equity researcher Jefferies, the ten largest publicly traded Italian banks will pay up to €4.9 billion.[2]
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White House Moves To Protect Government System Form Hacks: On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, the White House announced a multimillion-dollar cyber contest to detect and fix security holes in the US government's infrastructure using artificial intelligence. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will head the two-year competition, which will be worth $20 million. Organizations face attacks from hackers and foreign adversaries, making cybersecurity a battle between offensive and defense.[3]
Sources: [1] The Guardian [2] The Guardian [3] Reuters
Our Top Stories for the Week of August 11, 2023
It’s been a busy week, from wildfires in Canada to airstrikes in Ethiopia. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.
Migration Crisis
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23 People Dead In Boat Mishap In Andaman Sea: On Friday, August 11, 2023, 30 people are still missing, while 23 bodies have been found after a boat of more than 50 passengers were fleeing from Myanmar to Malaysia. It was also revealed that eight people could get out of the accident alive. The surviving people said their boat sank as they tried to get to Malaysia. Every year, thousands of Rohingya people try to get to Malaysia to escape abuse in Myanmar and overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.[1]
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Migrant Child Died In Transit Texas To Chicago: On Saturday, August 12, 2023, a 3-year-old girl from Venezuela died in Illinois while being taken from Texas to Chicago. The Emergency Management Department confirmed the event and said that when the girl seemed sick, security staff called 911. The death will be investigated by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which will work with local health officials, state cops, and federal officials. No information that could be used to name the child has been made public.[2]
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Canadians Race To Flee Yellowknife Wildfire: On Thursday, August 17, 2023, water bombers and a weekend city-wide evacuation alert forced over 20,000 residents to flee their homes in Yellowknife, Canada. The 163,000-hectare-wide wildfire has burned over 2 million hectares of the Northwest Territories, forcing more than half of its population to flee. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to convene the Incident Response Group.[3]
Sources: [1] BBC [2] Reuters [3] The Guardian
Policies in the United States
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Court Upholds Gun Ban: On Friday, August 11, 2023, following a tragic mass shooting in Chicago's Highland Park 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld a ban on assault-style rifles and large-capacity magazines. The 4-3 majority rejected Republican allegations that the prohibition violated the Constitution. Justice Elizabeth Rochford characterized the restriction as a compromise between public safety, qualified professionals' knowledge, and grandfathered citizens' expectations. Governor J.B. Pritzker called the decision a victory for advocates, survivors, and families.[1]
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Court Upholds Abortion Ban: On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, an appeals court in the United States restricted access to the abortion drug mifepristone, ruling that prior FDA limitations were unconstitutional. The court confirmed that Mifeprex will be available to the public until the final verdict under the 2016 circumstances. The FDA was challenged in November when the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine filed a complaint. The decision is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.[2]
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New York Court Bans TikTok On Government Devices: On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, TikTok was banned on government-owned smartphones in New York City because of security concerns. Mayor Eric Adams' administration identified TikTok as threatening the city's technical network. Employees will lose access to the app and associated websites if agencies do not uninstall the app within 30 days. The app is already prohibited on state-owned devices in New York. FBI Director Christopher Wray and other US officials also mentioned TikTok's threat.[3]
Sources: [1] Reuters [2] The Guardian [3] Reuters
Worldwide Violence
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Airstrike In Ethiopia: On Monday, August 14, 2023, an air strike in Ethiopia's Amhara region, where the army is fighting the paramilitary militia Fano, killed at least 26 people. The victims range in age from 13 to the elderly. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has demanded that human rights breaches cease. Due to the violence, the Israeli government has evacuated its citizens and Jewish residents from the area. Amhara is home to a sizable Jewish population.[1]
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Pakistan Churches Set On Fire: On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, following blasphemy claims against Islam, eight churches and many residences were vandalized in Pakistan's most populous province. Two Christian guys were detained for profaning the Holy Quran and insulting Prophet Mohammed. The National Commission confirmed the burning of eight churches. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan's Prime Minister, denounced the violence.[2]
In Other News
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Economist Yoon Ki Jung Dies At 92: On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, Yoon Ki Jung, a South Korean economist, died at 92 from an undisclosed illness. Yoon, a former Yonsei University professor emeritus and the father of President Yoon Sun Yeol was taken to the hospital after delivering a speech celebrating Korea's liberation from colonial rule. Yoon is expected to attend a trilateral summit at Camp David with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.[1]
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Researchers Reveal New Method To Detect Polio: On Thursday, August 17, 2023, A study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo discovered a new technique for detecting polio in wastewater in half the time, cutting testing time from 42 to 23 days while retaining an accuracy rating of more than 99%. This technique can be tailored for broader disease surveillance, potentially resulting in speedier vaccine manufacture and fewer polio cases.[2]
Sources [1] Reuters [2] The Guardian
Our Top Stories for the Week of August 18, 2023
It’s been a busy week, from the alleged death of the Wagner group boss to Spain winning the Women's World Cup. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
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The Kremlin Sanctions U.K. Officials: On Friday, August 18, 2023, Russia banned the entry of 54 British nationals and organizations based in the UK. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, and Minister Annabel Goldie are sanctioned. The United Kingdom is one of the Western nations sanctioning Russia in response to its conflict with Ukraine in 2022.[1]
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Seven Ukrainians Dead In Russian Assault: On Saturday, August 19, 2023, a Russian missile strike in Ukraine killed at least seven persons and injured 130 others. A University and theater were attacked during a drone manufacturing event. The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, viewed the attack as a war crime against civilians and a disruption of daily life in the affected region.[2]
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Prigozhin Dies In Plane Crash: On Thursday, August 24, 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a notable and prominent mercenary in Russia, was aboard a plane that crashed with no survivors north of Moscow. Neither the Kremlin nor the Defense Ministry commented on the fate of Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary organization and self-proclaimed enemy of the army's leadership. Wagner Group would also be without a leader after Prigozhin's, raising concerns about its future operations in Africa and elsewhere.[3]
Sources: [1] BBC [2] CNN [3] Reuters
Innovations
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New Drug To Fight CHAPLE Disease: On Friday, August 18, 2023, the FDA approved Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' Pozelimab for treating CHAPLE disease, a rare blood disease. The substance, marketed under the name Veopoz, will be available to adults and children older than 1 year in the United States. The drug, which carries a boxed warning for severe meningococcal infections, is anticipated to be available during the third quarter of this year.[1]
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Cargo Ship With Rigid Sails Sets Out To Sea: On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, the Pyxis Ocean, a cargo ship with rigid sails, has set sail from China to Brazil on its maiden voyage. British Intelligence designed the sails, which were then manufactured to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the shipping industry, which accounts for 2.1% of global emissions. The 123-foot-tall sails are manufactured from wind turbine-like materials.[2]
US Trends
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Hate Crime Against LGBTQ Shop Owner: On Sunday, August 20, 2023, a business owner was shot and murdered over a Pride flag outside her store. Laura Ann Carleton, age 66, was pronounced deceased following an altercation with police officers. Carleton is survived by her spouse, nine children, and an LGBTQ+ group in Lake Arrowhead. Bort, her spouse, and the LGBTQ+ community are heartbroken.[1]
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Trump Skips First Republican Party Debate: On Monday, August 21, 2023, the former president has confirmed he will not attend the first Republican primary debate in Milwaukee, citing a significant number of votes in a CBS poll. Trump's participation in the debate or counterprogramming to demonstrate his political dominance has been questioned. Around the time of the event, his interview with Fox News presenter Ticker Carlson will be released.[2]
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South Carolina Upholds Abortion Ban: On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, the Supreme Court of South Carolina declared that the state's new law prohibiting abortions after detecting fetal heart activity is unconstitutional. The ruling, which followed the invalidation of an earlier abortion law, safeguards the lives of innumerable unborn children and reaffirms South Carolina's pro-life stance. The governor, Henry McMaster, lauded the decision.[3]
Sources: [1] The Guardian] [2] The Guardian [3] Reuters
In Other News
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Spain Wins The 2023 Women’s World Cup: On Sunday, August 20, 2023, Spain won its first World Cup by defeating England 1-0. Despite a turbulent year, Spain outperformed England regarding possession and shot attempts. Olga Carmona scored the game-winning goal, and Spain became the second nation to win both the men's and women's World Cups. Prince William praised Spain's team character and their efforts towards incredible success.[1]
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Greece Braces Up Against Wildfire: On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, extreme fire risk notices were issued for the southern regions of Greece, including Athens, due to extreme heat and heavy winds. In recent fires, 13 settlements have been evacuated, and at least one individual has perished. Greece is one of several European nations threatened by severe wildfires, including Tenerife and France, where temperatures increase.[2]
Do you want to find out about the rest of the events that happened around the world in previous weeks?
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