August 7, 2008 (Thursday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Georgian-Ossetian conflict:
- Georgian and separatist South Ossetian forces have exchanged fire again near the town of Tskhinvali, wounding up to 20 people, officials say. (BBC News)
- The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was concerned over Georgia's "military preparations," while a Georgian official said Russia would further undermine its role as peacekeeper if it failed to convince the South Ossetian side on talks. (Civil Georgia) (Civil Georgia)
- Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's president, offers an immediate ceasefire to South Ossetian authorities. (BBC News)
Business and economy
- The New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo reaches a $7 billion settlement with Citigroup to buy back auction rate securities from about 40,000 clients throughout the United States. (AP via Google News)
- Claims for unemployment benefits in the United States rise to 455,000, the highest level since March 2002. (USA Today)
Law and crime
- Salim Hamdan, Osama Bin Laden's former driver, is sentenced to 66 months in prison for war crimes. (The New York Times)
- The Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick is ordered to go to jail for violating the terms of his bond for an ongoing perjury trial. (NPR)
Politics and elections
- The leaders of the 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état promise to hold elections as soon as possible. (Xinhua)
- Pakistan's ruling coalition announces it will seek the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf. (AP via Google News)
Sport
- The National Olympic Committee officially announces Durban, South Africa, will be the host city of the 123rd IOC Session.(Hong Kong Government Press Release)