Portal:Current events/2016 August 24

Current events of August 24, 2016 (2016-08-24) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Syrian civil war
  • Battle of Jarabulus (2016)
    • The Turkish Armed Forces and US-backed Syrian rebels launch an initially successful campaign to capture the town of Jarabulus from ISIL. The Turkish Land Forces are also shelling YPG positions to prevent them from capturing areas that ISIL will retreat from. (AP via NBC News), (AP), (ABC News)
• The American University of Afghanistan in Kabul is attacked by terrorists, resulting in at least seven deaths and 30 injured. (CNN), (Fox News)

Disasters and accidents

• 2016 Central Italy earthquakes
  • A 6.2 magnitude earthquake occurs in central Italy near the city of Perugia. The mayor of the town of Amatrice reports that residents are buried under rubble. (The Telegraph) (USGS), (AP via San Diego Union Tribune)
  • At least 159 people have been reported dead. (BBC News), (ANSA), (AFP/Reuters via ABC News Australia)
• August 2016 Myanmar earthquake
  • A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hits central Myanmar, 25km west of the town of Chauk, and was also felt in Thailand, Bangladesh and India, according to reports. At least three people were killed. (BBC)
• The world's largest aircraft, Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304 Airlander 10, crashes at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire, during its second test flight. (The Guardian)

International relations

• Japan–North Korea relations, North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
  • North Korea launches a missile from a submarine off the port city of Sinpo in the Sea of Japan, according to U.S. and South Korean officials. This missile, the third sub-based attempt this year, flew about 500 kilometers (311 miles) and landed in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The first test exploded and the second traveled 30 km (18½ miles). (NBC News), (AP)

Law and crime

• 2016 Home Hill stabbings
  • One British woman is killed and two others are wounded in a stabbing attack on a North Queensland backpacker hostel, Australia. (News.com) (ABC News Australia)

Politics and elections

• Colombian conflict
  • The government of Colombia and FARC finalise a peace deal ending 50 years of conflict. (Xinhua)

Science

• Proxima Centauri b is discovered as closest exoplanet to Earth that may be habitable. (BBC)