Tuesday, May 19th, 2020
Coronavirus vaccine candidate shows promise in early trial Moderna announced Monday that during the phase one clinical trial of its potential COVID-19 vaccine, eight patients developed antibodies at levels that were on par with those who recovered from the virus. Moderna described the interim data as “positive,” with Chief Medical Officer Tal Zaks saying that the findings, though early, “substantiate our belief that mRNA-1273 has the potential to prevent COVID-19 disease and advance our ability to select a dose for pivotal trials.” Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel also said “we are very, very happy,” noting “the vaccine was generally safe.” Moderna is moving into phase two of its clinical trials, and its third phase is expected to begin in the summer. Markets surged throughout the day following the news. Source: Stat News
California loosens requirements for reopening California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday announced a change in the requirements a county must meet before its businesses can enter California’s second reopening phase. They’ll no longer have to report no COVID-19 deaths for 14 days, leaving all but five California counties eligible for the next phase. Under the new requirements, most counties must prove they have stable hospitalization rates and that their number of coronavirus patients haven’t grown by more than five percent over a seven-day period. Newsom also suggested professional sports, hair salons, and churches could reopen within weeks. California has seen a 7.5 percent decrease in hospitalizations statewide over the last two weeks, and an 8.7 percent decrease in ICU patients over the same time. Source: San Francisco Chronicle
In Sweden, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 strikes near Kiruna and its iconic mine, though no injuries are reported. The earthquake is the largest mining-related earthquake in Sweden’s history. (The Local)
The World Health Organization holds its annual World Health Assembly using video conferencing instead of in-person meetings. (NPR)
Ugandan police arrest Stella Nyanzi, a prominent academic and vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni, for inciting violence as she protested against lockdown measures taken by the government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Fifteen pro-democracy activists are released on a HK$1000 bail. Notable political figures, including Benny Tai, University of Hong Kong academic and one of the Occupy Central founders; Civil Human Rights Front convener Jimmy Sham; former Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau and others flock to the court to show support for the activists. (The Standard Hong Kong)
Protests against the government resume in Santiago due to food shortages in the poorest neighborhoods of the city created by the lockdown to control the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Marco Rubio to replace Burr as Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will be the next head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Monday. Rubio will take over for Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who stepped down from the committee amid an FBI investigation into his questionable stock dealings. Rubio’s appointment leaves him in charge of the committee’s Russia probe, at least until the investigation into Burr is complete. McConnell called Rubio “the natural choice.” Burr stepped down from chairing the intelligence committee last week. He was found to have sold between $628,000 and $1.72 million of his stocks in 33 separate transactions on Feb. 13, while he was getting private briefings from health officials about forecasted economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. He has denied wrongdoing. Source: Politico
Turkish-backed GNA forces capture the strategic al-Watiya airbase from forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar, and seize a Russian Pantsir missile system. (Al Jazeera)
A car bombing at an intelligence agency installation in the central province of Ghazni kills at least seven and wounds another 40. The Taliban claims responsibility. (Reuters)
Monday, May 16th, 2020
Taliban militants attacked a security checkpoint in Logar province, Afghanistan killing eight security personnel and wounding five others. (Xinhua)
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warns China that the expulsion of 13 U.S. journalists could affect the U.S. assessment of Hong Kong’s status. (Reuters)
The United States Space Force successfully launches its X-37B robotic spacecraft on a classified mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station via an Atlas V rocket. Though little is known about the classified program, the spacecraft is expected to deploy a satellite into orbit, and test the “power-beaming technology”. (BBC)
The End
artificial stupid 