WORLD BRIEFING: August 31, 2023
Today marks 554 days since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spox says 73 bodies have now been found and least another 52 people injured from a fire in a 5-storey building housing mostly homeless people. Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said city was dealing w/problem of ‘hijacked buildings’ and had already tackled the issue in other parts of the city. In many parts of Johannesburg, widespread economic hardship has forced people - including migrants- to take desperate measures. Question needs to be asked. Why does this keep happening? It’s the third major fire in Johannesburg CBD in past two months + a gas explosion. The destroyed structure was a heritage building.
Ben Wallace - a leader in the global campaign to help Ukraine defeat Russia - has resigned. He’s been replaced by the more telegenic Grant Shapps - a military novice. Other party loyalists with more experience were apparently passed over as the Rishi Sunak government faces an election next year
Saudi Arabia has sentenced to death a government critic who denounced alleged corruption and human rights abuses on social media, his brother and others familiar with the case told AFP. The judgement was handed down against Mohammed al-Ghamdi in July by the Specialized Criminal Court, a secretive institution established in 2008 to try terrorism cases that has a history of unfair trials resulting in death sentences. The charges against al-Ghamdi include conspiracy against the Saudi leadership, undermining state institutions and supporting terrorist ideology, sources briefed on the details of the case told AFP.
Ex-BBC and New York Times boss Sir Mark Thompson has been appointed to lead CNN following a series of crises and falling ratings at the US news network. Sir Mark replaces Chris Licht, who struggled to stabilise CNN in his 13 months as chairman and CEO.
WAR IN UKRAINE: Latest Developments
Reuters: Russia refuses Brazil's help with probe into Prigozhin plane crash. Brazil's Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) has been told by Russia that a probe into the crash of the Brazilian-made Embraer jet will not be opened "at the moment," Reuters reported on Aug. 30.
The Ukrainian military said its counteroffensive in the country's south and east is continuing in the face of efforts by Russian forces to advance, while Russia's Defense Ministry has reported downing a drone en route to Moscow. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged his EU counterparts to send more arms to Ukraine to fight back against the Russian invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in his nightly video address said authorities will crack down on corruption in the drafting of men for the country’s military service - RFE/RL
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Russian airbases suffered at least nine strikes, leading to damage or destruction of at least 24 military aircraft in Russia, Belarus, or occupied Crimea, the Russian independent news outlet Verstka reported on Aug. 30 - Kyiv Independent