Portal:Current events/2019 August 29

August 29, 2019 (2019-08-29) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Papuan conflict
  • Tensions escalate between Indonesia and Pacific Island nations as the situation in the province of West Papua worsens after an Indonesian soldier and a West Papuan are killed in clashes. Vanuatuan Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu said "something must be done", amid calls to invite United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to investigate murders and torture in the area. (Radio New Zealand)
• Hamas claims to have captured an Islamic State cell responsible for suicide bombings earlier this week that killed three policemen. Hamas says ten are in custody. (The Times of Israel)

Crime and law

• The Supreme Court of Thailand upholds death sentences against two migrant workers convicted of murdering two UK tourists and raping one. Rights groups claim the men were scapegoats and tortured into false confessions by police under pressure to solve the crimes, which attracted international attention. (The Guardian)
• 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests
  • Hong Kong police ban a planned Saturday march by the Civil Human Rights Front, saying there is "a high chance that certain violent protesters will hijack this event". The CHRF plans to appeal. (Bloomberg)
• The Office of Inspector General of the Federal Bureau of Investigation released it final report in which former director James Comey is criticised for his leaking of documents regarding US President Donald Trump. However, it does not recommend he be prosecuted. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

• 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires
  • Brazil bans land clearance fires for sixty days in response to the ongoing disaster. (BBC)
• The Japan Transport Safety Board concludes its investigation into a fatal collision between USS Fitzgerald and Filipino container ship ACX Crystal. The board's final report concludes distraction and incomplete radar information aboard the US Navy vessel caused the accident. (The Japan Times)
• A volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli erupts, an event described as "high intensity" by the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology. (The Independent)
• The death toll in a building collapse in Drohobych, Ukraine yesterday rises from one to eight. A child is among the fatalities. (Reuters)

International relations

• China–United States trade war
  • China announces that it will not immediately retaliate on the latest U.S. import tariffs, but is instead "lodging solemn representations". (Bloomberg)
• Poland states the nation will sign a 5G cooperation deal with the United States when US President Donald Trump visits on Saturday. The Trump administration has been lobbying European nations to avoid Huawei, a major international 5G supplier, over security concerns. (euronews)

Politics and elections

• Politics of Italy
  • President of Italy Sergio Mattarella tasks demissionary Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte with the formation of a new cabinet, a coalition of Five Star Movement and Democratic Party. The premier-designate reserves the right to accept the mandate, pending further talks with both parties. (ANSA)
• Brexit
  • The Court of Session in Edinburgh begins hearing arguments in a case challenging UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend the UK Parliament. The challenge, seeking an interdict, the Scottish equivalent to an injunction, to prevent the move, is being brought by Members of the Scottish Parliament. The judge announces he will consider his position overnight and give his judgement tomorrow at 10:00 local time. (BBC)
  • Ruth Davidson steps down as leader of the Scottish Conservatives. She has been a critic of Johnson, himself a Conservative, especially his approach to Brexit. (BBC)

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August 2019

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August 30