Saturday,  Sept. 19th, 2020

A 1634 edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen, the last play by English playwright William Shakespeare, is discovered at the Royal Scots College’s library in Salamanca, Spain. It is believed to be the oldest copy of any of his works in the country. (BBC)

Robert Koch Institute reports 2,297 new cases in Germany in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide total to more than 270,000, the highest single daily increase since April. (Daily Sabah)

Two people are killed and 14 others injured in a mass shooting at a home in Rochester, New York. (The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

Former UK diplomat Fraser Cameron is placed under investigation by Belgian authorities for allegedly selling sensitive information to Chinese spies posing as journalists. (BBC)

Trump says GOP has ‘obligation’ to replace Ginsburg ‘without delay’ President Trump on Saturday urged Senate Republicans to confirm a new Supreme Court Justice, who he will nominate, to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday night at 87. Trump told GOP lawmakers “we have this obligation, without delay.” Ginsburg’s death has already sparked a debate over the vacant seat. In 2016, Senate Republicans blocked then-President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, because it was an election year. So is 2020, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has argued it’s a different situation because the Senate majority and president are from the same party and, therefore, he is aiming to fast-track a nomination. Trump’s latest statement signals he is on the same page as McConnell. Democrats — and some Republicans — have said a confirmation hearing should wait until at least after the November election, if not January’s inauguration. Source: Donald Trump

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Friday,  Sept.  18th, 2020

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, dies at the age of 87. (NPR)

Report: CDC testing guidance published despite scientists’ objections In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was criticized for releasing guidance saying it wasn’t necessary to test people without coronavirus symptoms who had been in close contact with an infected person for more than 15 minutes. But this recommendation was not written by CDC scientists and was posted online over their strenuous objections, The New York Times reports. A federal official told the Times the police came from the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House Coronavirus Task Force and “does not reflect what many people at the CDC feel should be the policy.” The document was “dropped” into the CDC’s public website, bypassing the agency’s scientific review process. The CDC is facing scrutiny over whether it is maintaining its independence amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 200,000 Americans. Source: The New York Times

Texas Governor Greg Abbott eases restrictions on retail stores, gyms, and restaurants. Bars, however, remain closed. (CNBC)

France reports 13,215 new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours, a new record since the start of the pandemic, while the daily death toll jumps to 154, a four-month high according to data from the health ministry. (Reuters)

Due to concerns over the spread, the government announces that it will move Dublin to “risk level three” restrictions in its response plan effective at midnight tonight, which means that indoor restaurant dining is banned again in the capital and residents are being advised against all non-essential travel. Meanwhile, indoor visitations are only allowed between one other household, most sporting events will be cancelled, and attendance at weddings and funerals is going to be capped at 25 guests effective September 21. (Sky News)

Madrid regional government announced new restrictions aimed at curbing the rising number of cases in the region. The order will go into effect on September 21 and last for at least 14 days which will effects more than 855,000 people, or 17% of the region’s population. (El Pais in English)

Israel enters a three-week second nationwide lockdown in an attempt to curb surging cases as people begin to mark the start of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year). Under these rules, Israelis must stay within one kilometer of their homes, with exceptions, and the number of people allowed in synagogues has been greatly reduced. (BBC)

The United States Department of Commerce says it will ban U.S. citizens from downloading the Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat effective September 20, unless a partnership between Oracle Corporation and TikTok owner ByteDance is agreed to and approved by President Donald Trump. (BBC)

The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority announces it will launch an investigation into major lending bank Swedbank for suspected market abuses between September 2018 and February 2019, as part of a larger international investigation into allegations of money laundering. (Bloomberg)

Biden calls Trump’s downplaying of coronavirus threat ‘close to criminal’ Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden fielded questions from voters in Pennsylvania during a CNN Presidential Town Hall on Thursday night, sharing his plans on how to get Americans safely back to work and school amid the coronavirus pandemic and ensuring there is more police accountability. Biden said he would have nationwide rapid testing and sufficient personal protective equipment, which “requires some federal funding, particularly kids going back to school.” He slammed President Trump for downplaying the virus, saying he knew how deadly it was “and did nothing. It is close to criminal.” Regarding policing, chiefs and unions must join community and civil rights leaders “at a table and agree on the fundamental” reforms that must be done, Biden said, including better background checks for potential officers. Source: The Week

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Thursday, Sept. 17th, 2020

A two-month-old baby dies of COVID-19 in Michigan, the youngest known fatality in the state thus far. (MLive.com)

An additional 150 million children live in multidimensional poverty since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. The analysis by UNICEF and Save the Children is based on shortcomings in education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation, and water. (PTI via The Week)

US Attorney General William Barr told prosecutors to aggressively charge people arrested at recent demonstrations across the US, even suggesting including a sedition charge, usually reserved for those who have plotted a threat that posed imminent danger to the government. (The Guardian)

The economy enters recession for the first time since 1987 after the country’s GDP declined by 12.2% between April and June, amid a nationwide lockdown and travel bans due to COVID-19. (BBC)

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces that temporary restrictions will be in place in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, and the County Durham council area effective at midnight tonight due to “concerning rates of infection.” Almost two million people in North-east England will be banned from meeting with other households. (BBC)

Portugal reports a record increase of 770 new cases and ten deaths, thus bringing the cumulative total to 66,396 confirmed cases and 1,888 deaths. Today also marks the official start of the 2020/2021 public school year, which began with in-person classes nationwide. (DGS)

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki proposes a €1 billion (US$1.2 billion) stabilization fund by the European Central Bank to revitalize the Belarusian economy amid the protests. (AFP via France 24)

 

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