Tuesday,  Sept. 15th, 2020

The death toll in the United States reaches 200,000. (Worldometers)

Brazil reports 1,113 deaths, the country’s highest in two weeks, thus bringing the death toll to 133,119. (Reuters)

The United States announces the suspension of the 10 percent tariff imposed on Canadian aluminum imports since August with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative citing a “sharp” decline in imports for the decision. (AFP via RFI)

A whistleblower working at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Georgia details a high rate of hysterectomies and other alleged medical neglect in a complaint to the Department of Homeland Security. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the House Homeland Security Committee chairman, says the allegations of hysterectomies being performed on women without consent are “incredibly disturbing”. (CNN) (BBC)

The city of Louisville, Kentucky, settles a wrongful death lawsuit with the family of Breonna Taylor, who was killed in a raid on her apartment by police in March. Her family will receive $12 million and several police reforms will also be enacted in the city as part of the agreement. (CNN)

China launched nine new satellites for the Jilin-1 remote sensing constellation from a barge out at sea. Launch of the nine Jilin-1 Gaofen-03 satellites took place at 01:23 UTC using the Long March 11 rocket.(Nasa Space Flight)

Pelosi promises further stimulus measures before November election House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reportedly told lawmakers on Tuesday that the House would not leave for the November election before moving forward on another coronavirus stimulus bill. “We have to stay here until we have a bill,” Pelosi reportedly said on a call. A bipartisan group of House lawmakers are set to unveil a $1.5 trillion coronavirus relief bill later on Tuesday, an effort to find a compromise after months of talks collapsed without a follow-up bill to the CARES Act that provided relief for unemployed Americans and stimulus measures as the economy continues to struggle amid the pandemic. The new bill includes another round of direct payments and boosted jobless benefits. Republicans previously pushed a $500 billion bill, while Democrats wanted a $3.4 trillion stimulus plan. Source: Reuters

DOJ reportedly opens criminal investigation into John Bolton’s book The Justice Department is reportedly investigating whether former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s recent book criminally disclosed classified information. A grand jury has issued a subpoena to Simon & Schuster, the publisher of The Room Where It Happened, for communications records. Bolton published his book in June, after the Trump administration attempted to prevent it from being released. A judge said, however, that Bolton had exposed himself “to civil (and potentially criminal) liability” and “likely jeopardized national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations.” Bolton has said that the book doesn’t contain classified information. Trump has accused Bolton of revealing classified information in his book while also claiming the book is full of “made up stories.” Source: The New York Times

The End

Monday,  Sept. 14th, 2020

The United Arab Emirates approves Sinopharm’s vaccine for frontline workers following successful Phase III clinical trials in Abu Dhabi. “The results of studies during the final stages of the Phase III trial showed that the vaccine is effective and resulted in a strong response, and the generation of antibodies to the virus. Studies on the safety of the vaccination have been reviewed and showed that it is safe and safe for use”, says Minister of Health Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais. The WHO-recognized trial began on July 16 and involved 31,000 volunteers. (The National).

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong files a lawsuit against ExxonMobil for their products contributing to the emissions that cause global warming and climate change. (CTMirror)

Satellite imagery shows that a big chunk of ice shattered into many small pieces from the last remaining ice shelf in Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, Greenland. (BBC)

The first discovery of the perfectly preserved remains of a cave bear, believed to be 22,000 to 39,500 years old (Late Pleistocene), is made in Lyakhovsky Islands, Siberia in the thawing permafrost.(AP)

The Royal Astronomical Society announces that they have detected a gas called phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus that indicates microorganisms may inhabit Earth’s inhospitable neighbor. If confirmed, it would be the first known extraterrestrial life. (Reuters)

 

Sunday, Sept. 13th, 2020

Nvidia announce that they are acquiring Arm Holdings, the market-dominant designer of smartphone processors, for US$40 billion in the semi-conductor industry’s largest-ever deal. (BBC)

South Korea eases its tough social distancing measures for the next two weeks until September 28 in the Seoul Capital Area. The government lifts a ban on on-site dining after 9 pm local time, though it still requires restaurants and cafes to restrict seating and record patrons’ names and contact details. Effective tomorrow, franchise coffee shops will resume normal operations, after restricting service to takeouts. (CNA)

It is announced that Israel will enter a three-week nationwide lockdown starting on September 18 to contain the spread of COVID-19 after a second-wave surge of new cases. During the lockdown, Israelis will have to stay within 500 metres of their houses, but can travel to workplaces that will be allowed to operate on a limited basis. Schools and shopping malls will be closed but supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open. (Reuters)

It is announced that Saudi Arabia will lift all travel restrictions for citizens on January 1, the state news agency SPA said. The kingdom will also partially lift its suspension of international flights on September 15 to allow “exceptional categories” of citizens and residents to travel. (Arab News)

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies are shot while parked at a metro station in Compton. A small crowd, including demonstrators, gathers near the hospital in Lynwood where the deputies were transported. Witnesses say members in the group were chanting anti-law enforcement slogans and at one point tried to get inside the hospital. (KABC-TV)

Protests erupt in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania after police shot and killed a man following a domestic disturbance who charged police with a knife. Police use “chemical agents” against protesters outside the police station after members of the crowd allegedly damaged police vehicles and bricks were thrown at the police station and the post office window. (Lancaster Online)

Around 200 people in Istanbul, Turkey demonstrate against French magazine’s Charlie Hebdo’s decision to republish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed (France24)

Belarusian security forces close off Independence Square and October Square in Minsk, as 100,000 people gather in the capital calling for President Alexander Lukashenko to resign. At least 250 protesters are detained by police. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)

Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman resigns in protest of holiday lockdown, he also accuses the government of failing to act earlier and deliberately picking Rosh Hashanah as the start date of closure. (Times of Israel)

The End

Sunday, Sept. 13th, 2020

Trump bashes Biden at Nevada rally President Trump traveled to Nevada for a campaign rally in Douglas County on Saturday as he sets his sights on winning over the state he narrowly lost in 2016. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll showed Trump trailing his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, in the Silver State, but the race is considered a close one, and Nevada remains one of Trump’s best chances at flipping a Hillary Clinton-won state in 2020. At the rally, Trump warned he was ready to “be really vicious” during the campaign’s stretch run, and he gave the audience a taste during his speech. Trump called Biden a “pathetic person” who “doesn’t know he’s alive.” He also accused Nevada’s Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak of trying to “rig the election” because the Trump campaign had to move the rally out of Reno because of COVID-19 restrictions. Source: Politico

2  L.A. County deputies shot while sitting in patrol car Two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies — a 31-year-old female and a 24-year-old male — were shot Saturday night while sitting in their patrol vehicle in Compton, the department tweeted. Both deputies were left in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds and underwent surgery at a hospital in Lynwood. “They are both still fighting for their lives,” the department said in a tweet. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Capt. Kent Wegener said during a briefing that the shooting took place at 7 p.m. local time. Wegener said the suspect approached the vehicle from behind, walked along the passenger side of the car, and shot multiple times, hitting both deputies. A video released by LASD appears to show the incident, which ended with the suspect running away. The search for the shooter, for whom investigators only have a “very generic description,” is still ongoing. Source: CNN

NFL gets ready for first slate of Sunday games The first full slate of NFL games kicks off Sunday, as the league begins play amid the coronavirus pandemic. The season officially began Thursday night when the Kansas City Chiefs launched their Super Bowl title defense with a 34-20 win over the Houston Texans, but the rest of the league will get going Sunday. Week 1 features quite a few rivalry games, including a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson will be back under center for the Baltimore Ravens, who are hosting the Cleveland Browns. The main draw of the day, though, will take place at 4:25 p.m. E.T. on Fox when the New Orleans Saints take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will be led by quarterback Tom Brady as he dons a new uniform after two decades with the New England Patriots. Source: ESPN

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