Morning Briefing: Aug. 27, 2023

Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including former US President Trump facing a flood of legal challenges and Niger’s military administration denying that it expelled the German, US, or Nigerian envoys.

TOP STORIES

• Niger’s military administration denies it expelled German, US, Nigerian envoys

Niger’s military administration ordered only the French ambassador to leave the country, not the German, US, or Nigerian envoys, it said.

The Foreign Ministry dismissed widely circulated reports indicating that the German, US and Nigerian envoys had been expelled, specifying that “only the French ambassador is declared persona non grata.”

The military administration gave French Ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave, accusing him of refusing to respond to an invitation to meet Niger's foreign minister.

• Former US President Trump faces flood of legal challenges

Facing a flood of indictments filed since March, former US President Donald Trump now has to contend with more than 90 charges in four separate cases, including 44 federal charges and 47 from states.

For example, under a 16-page indictment in the “hush money” payment case to an adult film star, 34 charges were brought against Trump for violating New York state laws in allegedly making a payment to Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an affair, but disguising the nature of the payment.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• At least one person was killed in two explosions at a gas station on the outskirts of the Romanian capital Bucharest, said Radio Free Europe.
• Nine people were killed and eight injured in a fire that broke out from a gas stove inside a stationary railway compartment in southern India, according to officials.
• Two Ukrainian warplanes collided mid-air while on combat duty, resulting in the deaths of three pilots, authorities said.
• Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner for another five-year term after observers condemned the country’s election, which the Southern African Development Community said was marred with irregularities.
• Palestinian group Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack last week that left two Israeli settlers dead near the West Bank city of Nablus.
• Somalia said its army had "foiled" an attack by the al-Shabaab terror group in the central state of Galmudug.
• A four-member international crew is in orbit following a successful launch to the International Space Station, US space agency NASA announced.

SPORTS

• FIFA suspends controversial Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee announced it was provisionally suspending the controversial head of Spain’s football federation, Luis Rubiales.

The world football governing body ordered Rubiales and Spain’s football federation “to refrain from contacting the professional player of the Spanish national team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso" – who was kissed without consent after her team won the Women’s World Cup – or those around her either directly or through third parties.​​​​​​​

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• Spain's football federation threatens legal action against female players amid row concerning leadership

What started as a shining victory for the Spanish women’s team, the World Cup has turned into a bitter clash with Spain’s football federation threatening legal action against female players.

On Friday, 81 top female players, including the current national team, released a statement saying they refuse to play for the team under current leadership.

The move came after a bombshell speech by the Rubiales. Instead of resigning for kissing Hermoso, as was expected, Rubiales painted himself as a victim of a witch hunt, complained of the “scourge” of “false feminism,” insisted the kiss was mutual and shouted repeatedly that he would not quit.