Portal:Current events/2014 August 1

Current events of August 1, 2014 (2014-08-01) (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks Nagorno-Karabakh conflict At least eight Azeri soldiers are killed following clashes with Armenian troops on the border and near the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan said Armenia had also suffered losses, although it did not provide any details. (Yahoo News) 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine: War in Donbass: Vladimir Antyufeyev, a Russian citizen and veteran of the pro-Russian separatist rebellion in Moldova, takes over as head of Donetsk People's Republic rebellion after self-labeled "prime minister" Alexander Borodai reportedly disappeared for Russia. (BBC) Operation Protective Edge A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the UN and USA which began at 08:00 falls apart with each side accusing the other party of breaching the ceasefire. An Israeli soldier is kidnapped and several killed during a suicide bomber attack at 09:30, according to Israeli officials. 91 Palestinians were killed in the city of Rafah south of Gaza according to the Gaza Officials since the Israeli soldier was captured. The UN and USA strongly condemn the attack. The ceasefire was cancelled. (Times of Israel) (Global Post) 2 Palestinians are shot dead by Israeli security forces during clashes in the West bank. (The New York Times) Health 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak Liberia and Sierra Leone declare a state of emergency in response to the Ebola virus disease by sending in troops and ordering the closure of schools and markets and the quarantining of affected communities. (Reuters) (The Guardian) Law and crime Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 The Constitutional Court of Uganda rules the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 invalid on a technicality. (BBC News) (The Times) (The Guardian) Disgraced Australian former entertainer Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his conviction for indecent assault. Eighty-four-year-old Harris was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months in prison in July on 12 counts of indecent assault against 4 girls between 1968 and 1986. (BBC News)