August 1, 2014 (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 News)
- Operation Protective Edge
- A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the UN and United States 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. Ninety-one 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)
- Two 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 four girls between 1968 and 1986. (BBC News)