Portal:Current events/2018 August 23

August 23, 2018 (Thursday)

Business and economy

2018 China–United States trade war
- American tariffs of 25% on approximately $16 billion worth of Chinese goods come into effect. China immediately responds with equivalent tariffs of its own. (Reuters)
Brexit
- The government of the United Kingdom publishes the first 25 of 80 planned "technical notices" providing practical guidance to businesses in case of a no-deal Brexit. (Fortune)
- Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, expresses interest in avoiding a hard Brexit. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

2018 Pacific hurricane season
- Hurricane Lane causes flash flooding, and threatens a direct hit towards Hawaii as it passes through Oahu. Over 19 inches (48 cm) of rain has already fallen in some areas. (CNN)

International relations

South Africa–United States relations, South African farm attacks, Fox News controversies
- The government of South Africa rejects a tweet by U.S. President Donald Trump as "based on false information", in which he appeared to respond to a Fox News report stating that the South African government is "now seizing land from white farmers." (CNN) ^{[contradictory]}
Crisis in Bolivarian Venezuela
- Ecuador–Venezuela relations, Bolivarian Alliance
  - Ecuador leaves the Bolivarian alliance of nations run in Latin America, citing the behaviour of the Venezuelan government in several areas including attempting to impose Chavism in America, creating major crises, and ineffectual control of migration. (ABC News), (El Comercio)
- Colombia-Venezuela relations
  - In response to the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard's armed infiltration of Norte de Santander, Colombia four days ago, Venezuela releases a statement calling it "supposed" and "fake news", despite clear video of Venezuelan helicopters in Colombian territory. (NTN24)
- Bolivarian diaspora, Venezuela–Colombia migrant crisis
  - Colombia announces that it will host a summit in Bogotá with migration officials from Peru and Ecuador in an attempt to seek a solution for the growing illegal immigration of Venezuelans through their nations. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2018 California wildfires
- Authorities arrest 32-year old John Colin Eagle Skoda after investigators concluded that a debris fire he started turned into a 60-square-mile blaze that killed one person and destroyed 35 homes. (ABC News)

Politics and elections

Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill, 2018
- Australian MP Peter Dutton claims that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has lost the support of the majority of the Liberal Party and calls for another leadership vote. Turnbull states that he will resign if another spill is called. (ABC) (The Sydney Morning Herald) (Reuters)