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Kyle Busch

In stock car racing, the NASCAR Cup Series concludes, with Kyle Busch (pictured) winning the drivers' championship.
Amid protests against fuel rationing and price hikes in Iran, dozens of protesters are killed and the government restricts access to the internet.
Cyclone Bulbul hits the Indian and Bangladeshi coasts of the Bay of Bengal, killing 38 people.
After weeks of protests over alleged electoral fraud, Bolivian president Evo Morales and other high-ranking politicians are forced to resign, and opposition senator Jeanine Áñez becomes interim president.

November 25, 2019 (Monday)

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November 24, 2019 (Sunday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- Taliban insurgents storm a checkpoint in Daykundi Province, killing eight Afghan Army personnel. After reinforcements were sent to the area, Afghan soldiers drive off the attackers, killing at least 20 of them. (Washington Post)
- A grenade attack in Kabul hit an United Nations car killing one foreigner and injuring five others. (Reuters)
2019 Iraqi protests
- Security forces opened fire on protesters killing nine and wounding dozens. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

A plane crashes shortly after takeoff in a densely populated neighborhood of the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing all the 17 people on board. Seven other people are killed on the ground. (Reuters) (BBC)

International relations

Foreign relations of Tuvalu
- Tuvaluan Foreign Minister Simon Kofe says Tuvalu rejects Chinese offers to build artificial islands for his country, which deals with rising sea levels because Tuvalu sees the offers as an "attempt to reduce Taiwan influence in the Pacific region". Tuvalu is only one of four Pacific nations to recognize Taiwan in the One-China policy dispute. (RNZ)

Politics and elections

2019 Bolivian political crisis
- Bolivia's legislative assembly approves the annulment of the October general election and the holding of new elections. Ex-president Evo Morales is barred from participating. (DW)
2019 Guinea-Bissau presidential election
- Citizens of Guinea-Bissau head to the polls to vote for a new president amidst political turmoil. (Euronews)
2019 Hong Kong protests, 2019 Hong Kong local elections
- Local elections are held in Hong Kong. The outcome is seen as a major indicator for the political future of the protest-ridden region. (DW)
- With a record 71% turnout, the pro-democracy camp wins 333 of 452 seats up for election. Jimmy Sham, one of the leaders of the protest, won in his electorate while major pro-Beijing leader Junius Ho lost in his. (Reuters)
2019 Romanian presidential election
- People of Romania cast their vote in the second round of the latest presidential election. (DW)
2019 Uruguayan general election
- Uruguay holds the second round of the 2019 presidential election. (Aljazeera)
2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Michael Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign
- Former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg announces he's running for the presidency as part of the Democratic ticket. (NPR)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper forces Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer to resign over his handling of the court martial of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher. (Reuters)
2019 Lebanese protests
- Clashes between anti-government protestors and Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters break out in downtown Beirut. (Reuters)

Sports

2019 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
- With four rounds to go, Flamengo wins the Brazilian league for the sixth time. They are the first team since 1963's Santos FC to win the national league and the Copa Libertadores on the same weekend. (Globo Esporte)

November 23, 2019 (Saturday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

November 2019 Syria bombings
- A car bomb detonates in Tell Abyad, Raqqa Governorate, killing ten people and wounding 25 others. (Reuters)
2019 Colombian protests
- Three Colombian police are killed and seven wounded by a car bomb in Santander de Quilichao, Cauca province. (The Guardian)

Health and environment

Tonga and Fiji declare a state of emergency as part of an ongoing measles outbreak. Conditions worsen in Samoa where the death toll continues to rise and schools remain closed. There are 1,797 confirmed cases as of Saturday, with 153 detected on Friday alone. (BBC)

International relations

2019 Iranian fuel protests
- Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri warns regional states of dire consequences, claiming the protests are directly linked to the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. (Reuters)
Iran–Iraq relations
- The border between Iran and Iraq reopens, after being closed for a week due to mass protests in their respective countries. (Reuters)
China–United States relations
- Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi accuses the United States of being the "world's biggest destabilizing factor" and of "smear[ing] China everywhere" at the G20 meeting in Nagoya. (Reuters)
China–Australia relations, Chinese intelligence activity abroad
- Australian network newspapers, Nine’s The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers, report that a Chinese spy, Wang ‘William’ Liqiang - who defected to Australia, gives counter-espionage agency the names of senior military intelligence officers he says funded and conducted operations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia. (South China Morning Post)
- Wang says he was personally involved in infiltration and disruption operations in all three territories, and “revealed in granular detail” how Beijing covertly controls listed companies to fund intelligence operations, including the surveillance and profiling of dissidents and the co-opting of media organizations. (BBC News)
- Wang is now seeking asylum in Australia, saying he ‘will be dead’ if he returns home. (ABC)
Pope Francis travels to Japan
- During his 23 to 26 November journey to Japan, Pope Francis visits Tokyo, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The only pope to previously visit Japan was Pope John Paul II from 23–26 February 1981. (Holy See Press Office) (Vatican News)

Politics and elections

2019 Bougainvillean independence referendum
- People in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville vote to choose between more autonomy within Papua New Guinea or outright independence. However, the Papua New Guinea central government will have the final say on accepting independence. (RNZ)
2019 referendum on the creation of a Sidama region
- The Ethiopian electoral board announces that the referendum to grant autonomy to the Sidama Zone passed with 98.5% of the vote. (Reuters)
Climate change policy, Harvard-Yale football game
- A non-violent protest was held at the Yale Bowl during the annual Harvard-Yale football game at halftime. The apparently scheduled protest included both Yale and Harvard students. The students were protesting the colleges' usage of endowments from fossil fuel companies. The game was delayed for about an hour. There were some arrests. (CNN) (The New York Times}

Sports

2019 Copa Libertadores
- The premier association football club competition of South America concludes with Brazilian club Flamengo beating titleholders River Plate 2-1 in Lima's Monumental Stadium. It is their first title since 1981 and second overall. (BBC)

November 22, 2019 (Friday)

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Business and economy

China–United States trade war
- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously votes to label Chinese telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE as national security risks, thereby disqualifying them from the Universal Service Fund. In a separate vote, the FCC mandates that national wireless carriers remove both companies' products from their existing networks. The companies have 30 days to appeal. (Reuters)
2019 Japan–South Korea trade dispute
- South Korea halts its World Trade Organization complaint concerning Japan's tightened export controls of key chemicals South Korea uses for computer chips and displays. (Voice of America)
Amazon files a lawsuit against the United States Department of Defense for awarding a US$10 billion cloud computing contract to Microsoft. The company had previously accused the Department of bias in their decision, given CEO Jeff Bezos has been a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump. (Reuters)

Health and environment

Samoa confirms that 20 persons, mostly children, have died of measles, and 11 more are in critical condition. Authorities recorded 1,644 cases since the outbreak began last month. (RNZ)

International relations

Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute
- The United Kingdom misses a United Nations deadline to return control of the disputed Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, prompting the government of Mauritius to call the UK an "illegal colonial occupier". (BBC)

Law and crime

Murder of Grace Millane
- After a three-week trial, a 27-year-old New Zealand man is found guilty of murdering 22-year-old British tourist Grace Millane in Auckland in December 2018. (BBC)
Former Paraguayan Congresswoman Cynthia Tarragó is arrested alongside her husband at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey and charged with money laundering, following an undercover operation from FBI agents who purported to be drug traffickers. According to court documents, in addition to money laudering, Tarragó offered to traffic drugs herself from Paraguay. (ABC Color) (Última Hora) (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Politics and elections

2021 German federal election
- Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who replaced German Chancellor Angela Merkel as leader of the Christian Democratic Union, threatens to stand down as a chancellor candidate if her centre-right party continues to disagree over support. (BBC) (The Guardian) (The Telegraph)
2019 Bolivian protests, 2019 Bolivian political crisis
- Bolivia's new interior minister, Arturo Murillo, files a criminal complaint against former President Evo Morales for alleged sedition and terrorism. (The Guardian) (Reuters)

November 21, 2019 (Thursday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

2019 Bolivian protests
- Bolivian riot police fire tear gas to break up a funeral procession that had turned into massive anti-government protest. (France 24) (International Business Times) (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Two USAF airmen are killed when two planes collide at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, United States. (Associated Press)
An explosion at a fireworks factory in the town of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Sicily, Italy, kills five people and injures two others. (Sky News)

International relations

Cross-Strait relations
- After the running mate for the presidency of Taiwan for Tsai Ing-wen, William Lai, says he supports Taiwanese independence, China condemns the move as a "disaster" which crosses a red line China is not willing to accept. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2019 Hong Kong protests
- The Hong Kong High Court denies the lift of a travel ban imposed on pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, who was scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom to receive a human rights award from the two houses of the British Parliament. The judge cites the risk of absconding and says he can remain in the city to help restore peace. (The Independent)
2019 Chilean protests
- Amnesty International releases a report regarding human rights violations committed by the Carabineros and the Armed Forces against peaceful protesters. (Reuters)
Investigations involving Benjamin Netanyahu
- Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu is officially indicted by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu protests the allegations as being part of a political "witch-hunt" against him. (The Guardian)
2019 Iranian fuel protests
- The Supreme National Security Council gradually restores the internet to some provinces and parts of Tehran, after shutting it off nationwide five days ago to counteract protests. (Al Jazeera)
Nine Extinction Rebellion protesters are arrested for storming U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. (Washington Post)

Politics and elections

Vanuatu backtracks on a controversial law that would have allowed immigration authorities to racially profile and closely follow people from the Middle East. (RNZ)
2019 Colombian protests
- Thousands of protestors take to the streets in Colombia demanding the resignation of President Iván Duque Márquez. The protests were instigated over controversial tax and labor reforms proposed by Congress, murders of indigenous leaders, and the government’s failure to implement the FARC peace deal. (Washington Post)

November 20, 2019 (Wednesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War
- The Israeli military launches airstrikes on dozens of Quds Force targets in Damascus and surrounding towns in response to a missile intercepted the previous day over the Golan Heights. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports 23 are killed, including several Iranian fighters. (Associated Press)
- Missiles and airstrikes strike a crowded facility in Qah and Idlib, killing approximately over 20 including women and children. Activists claim that Syrian Armed Forces were behind the attack. (BBC)
War in Afghanistan
- The U.S. military says two American service members have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. (USA Today)
2019 Bolivian protests
- The death toll in the protests rises to 30. (Reuters)
2019 Iranian fuel protests
- According to the human rights organization Amnesty International, casualties are estimated to be around 106 protestors and rising. (Radiofarda)
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
- Houthi militants release the South Korean ship they captured two days prior. (Al Jazeera)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- Militants target civilians in the DR Congo near the border with Uganda, killing 19 and kidnapping others. Churches were also burned down in two separate attacks. It is believed that the Allied Democratic Forces is behind the attacks. (Reuters)

Arts and culture

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, halts all public duties in light of allegations of rape, saying his "ill-judged" association with American convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had caused major disruption to the royal family's work. (Reuters)

Business and economy

2019 Japan–South Korea trade dispute
- South Korea's finance minister Hong Nam-ki presses Japan to take steps to lift its export restrictions. (Yonhap)
2019 Hong Kong protests
- Joshua Wong calls on HSBC to re-open an account used to support the pro-democracy movement in the city. (The Telegraph)
Google announces it will ban targeted ads that use voter data, effective within a week. (Reuters)

International relations

Iran–Saudi Arabia relations
- King Salman of Saudi Arabia blames Iran for the "chaos and destruction" their multiple missiles and drone attacks have caused in the country, and reiterates that his country will not hesitate to defend itself. (Reuters)
Pope Francis arrives in Bangkok for a three-day visit to Thailand. The Catholic Church in Thailand is celebrating 350 years of Holy See recognition of the Church in Thailand. Bishop Arpondratana of Chiang Mai diocese states that the pope's visit is important for the Church in all of Asia. (Catholic News Agency)

Law and crime

Tongan authorities contact their New Zealand counterparts to warn them of death threats against Tongan Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa on social media. (RNZ)
Ali al-Haj, secretary of the Islamist Popular Congress Party, is arrested after Sudanese authorities summon him for questioning over his role in the coup d’état that put former President Omar al-Bashir in power. (Reuters)
International reactions to the Rohingya genocide
- The office of Myanmar's civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, releases a statement announcing that she will personally lead the legal team defending the Burmese military's actions against the Rohingya minority in the International Criminal Court. Nine days earlier, fifty-seven countries led by The Gambia filed a lawsuit in the International Criminal Court, formally accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya. (CNN) (TIME)

Politics and elections

2019 referendum on the creation of a Sidama region
- The Sidama people of Ethiopia go to the polls for a referendum on further autonomy for the Sidama Zone. If autonomy is approved, then local taxes, education, security and laws will be decided by the Sidama instead of the government of Ethiopia. (Reuters)
Next Israeli legislative election
- Blue and White Alliance leader Benny Gantz's mandate to form a new government expires. As both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form one, Israel will likely face a third election in two years. (Al Jazeera)

Sports

In auto racing, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announces that the 2020 season will be his last as a full-time driver. (ESPN)

November 19, 2019 (Tuesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan, Afghan peace process
- In Zabul Province, the Taliban releases two foreign hostages, American professor Kevin King and Australian professor Timothy Weeks, who had been held captive since being kidnapped outside the American University of Afghanistan in 2016. Three high-ranking Taliban militants are released in exchange for the hostages. (BBC)
- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani claims victory over ISIL, citing the surrender of over 600 of their fighters in the past weeks as an example that the group has given up. (Reuters)
Libyan Civil War (2014–present)
- Libyan National Army (LNA) warplanes carry out airstrikes on the port city of Misrata. The LNA say they were targeting munitions and armored vehicles that had been delivered from Turkey. (Reuters)
2019 Iranian fuel protests
- Rioters armed with knives kill three members of Iran's security forces, bringing the death toll up to 11. (Al Jazeera)
- Amnesty International reports that 106 protesters have been killed during the protest. Some reports indicate a much higher death toll. (BBC) (National Post)
2019 Hong Kong protests
- After the attack on pro-democracy activist Jimmy Sham the month prior, another pro-democracy activist, Albert Ho, is attacked by masked men at a minibus stop. (South China Morning Post)
2019 Bolivian protests
- At least three people are killed and 22 injured after Bolivian police and military forces use armored vehicles and helicopters to unblock access to a major fuel plant that had been blockaded by supporters of former president Evo Morales. (The Guardian)
- Bolivia's congress, controlled by lawmakers from Morales' Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, said it would cancel a contentious vote in the legislature that had been expected to reject Morales' resignation. (Reuters)

Business and economy

2019 Japan–South Korea trade dispute
- Officials from Japan and South Korea hold their second round of trade talks as part of the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement process. (NHK World)
- Japan and South Korea have failed to narrow their differences over Japan's export controls in the second round of bilateral talks. (NHK World) (MBC News)
Amid continuing fallout over rape allegations against Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and controversy over his close friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, several businesses—including British banking group Standard Chartered, KPMG, Aon and drug giant AstraZeneca—cut ties with the Prince. Pitch@Palace, an initiative founded by Prince Andrew to support entrepreneurs, removes its entire web page listing its supporters. (Yahoo!) (CNN)

Health and environment

Fifteen children are confirmed (and three more suspected) dead from measles in Samoa as the illness epidemic continues within the country. (RNZ)

International Relations

Hong Kong–United States relations, China–United States relations, 2019 Hong Kong protests
- The U.S. Senate unanimously passes the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which mandates that the State Department at least annually checks to see if Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to retain its special trade status with the United States. The Senate also unanimously passes another bill banning the sale of certain crowd-control munitions to the Hong Kong police. The former's passage is condemned by China. (Reuters)