World roundup: August 11 2023

Stories from Yemen, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and elsewhere

TODAY IN HISTORY

August 11, 1473: The Battle of Otlukbeli

August 11, 1492: A papal enclave, the first ever held in the Sistine Chapel, elects Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja as Pope Alexander VI. Borja effectively bought the office, promising Cardinal Ascanio Sforza the office of vice-chancellor and allegedly distributing a variety of other goodies to him and several other cardinals in exchange for their support. Alexander was the patriarch of the infamous Borgia family, whose corruption and depravity (at least some of it exaggerated by their detractors, many of whom were as offended by Borja’s Spanish roots as by any of his family’s alleged crimes) became the stuff of legend.

August 11, 1960: Chadian Independence Day

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

SYRIA

Another Islamic State attack struck a military bus in eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor province on Thursday, killing at least 26 soldiers and wounding 11 more according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian media has acknowledged the attack without going into specifics as to casualties. This was another hit and run operation by IS, the third such attack against pro-government units this month. The group, which just announced the loss of yet another “caliph” earlier this week, seems to be stepping up the frequency of its attacks in an effort to show that it’s still a relevant actor in Syria.