November 8, 2019 (Friday)
Disasters and accidents
- A 5.9-magnitude earthquake strikes 60 km (35 miles) from Hashtrud, East Azerbaijan Province, in northwestern Iran, killing at least six and injuring more than 300. The United States Geological Survey warns that "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread". (Al Jazeera)
- An explosion in a mine in Teutschenthal, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, injures two workers and traps around 30 underground in a secure area. All are rescued several hours later. (Deutsche Welle)
Law and crime
- Takuma Sakuragi, a 76-year-old former Japanese assemblyman from Inazawa, Aichi, is sentenced to life in prison by the Guangzhou City First Intermediate Court in southern China for smuggling drugs hidden in his suitcase at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in October 2013. He had been detained by Chinese authorities since then. (Kyodo News Plus) (Los Angeles Times)
- A federal judge orders the immediate release of former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. (Reuters)
- 2019 Hong Kong protests
- A student from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, named Chow Tsz-lok, died after suffering brain damage following a fall during anti-government protests. (The Guardian) (The New York Times)
- Impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump
- During her testimony before U.S. House investigators last month in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, Fiona Hill, Trump's former top adviser on Russia and Europe, said that she received death threats and "hateful calls" and was the subject of false "conspiracy theories" as part of a targeted harassment campaign she claims was implemented after she agreed to cooperate with the inquiry, according to a deposition transcript. (NBC News)
Politics and elections
- Turkey's Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu announces that his country will begin repatriating ISIL prisoners on Monday. (Reuters)
- Under pressure of sanctions by ECOWAS, newly appointed Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau Faustino Imbali resigns. (Yahoo! News)
- 2019 Bolivian protests
- Several dozen policemen were seen joining the protests against Evo Morales' government in at least three cities. Bolivia's defence minister stated that no "military measures" would be taken against the policemen, but added that he would "get" the disobedient officers. (Reuters) (The Guardian)