Saturday,  Sept. 26th, 2020

https://www.theweek.com/articles/939212/what-american-coup-looks-like

Scotland reports 714 new cases, the biggest single-day jump on record since the pandemic began. It amounts to 11.5% of newly-tested individuals, the highest proportion of positivity rate tests. (STV)

Northern Ireland reports 319 new cases in the past 24 hours, making a new record for the second consecutive day. The previous record was reported yesterday with 273 cases. (Belfast Telegraph)

New York reports 1,000 coronavirus cases for first time in months For the first time since June 5, New York state, the home of the United States’ worst coronavirus outbreak since the pandemic began earlier this year, reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour people. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced Saturday that the Empire State crossed the quadruple-digit threshold, though he didn’t specifically address the number, saying only that New Yorkers should continue to practice social distancing, wear masks, and follow other mitigation guidelines. The state has seen a consistently upward trend in cases over the last week, which has prompted some concern as businesses and college campuses reopen, but New York also continues to see a high number of daily tests. The positivity rate has remained at 1 percent, or just a tick below for some time now, indicating that the high volume of tests is a significant factor in the case increase. Source: Bloomberg

Portland preparing for potentially violent dueling protests Portland, Oregon, is preparing for members of the far-right group, the Proud Boys, to arrive in the city in large numbers Saturday evening, stoking fears of a clash between dueling protesters as tensions continue to rise across the United States following the decision not to charge Louisivlle, Kentucky, police officers for killing Breonna Taylor. The Proud Boys, who are known to engage in violent conflict, are headed to Portland for what the group describes as a free speech event in support of President Trump and the police, as well as a rally to “end domestic terrorism,” likely referring to Portland’s left-wing and antifascist activists, who have been demonstrating against police brutality for months, and have planned rallies in response to the Proud Boys. Local and state officials have condemned the Proud Boys’ gathering and are sending in reinforcements to aid Portland’s police force. Source: The Guardian

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Friday,  Sept.  25th, 2020

Russia reports 7,212 cases, their highest since June 23. (Deccan Herald)

Israel tightens restrictions one week after a second lockdown came into effect. Effective this afternoon, all businesses not officially considered essential are ordered closed for the next two weeks, with the possibility of being extended, and travel is restricted to 1 kilometer from people’s homes. Other planned rules which would affect protesters and synagogue-goers are not yet approved by parliament. (France 24)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issues an apology to South Korea over the “unfortunate” shooting death of a South Korean official in disputed border waters on Tuesday. (AP)

 

Police in Hong Kong ban a rally planned by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) to protest the arrest of 12 Hong Kong citizens on grounds of COVID-19 prevention and “violent acts”. The organization said they would appeal the decision. (Hong Kong Free Press)

A police officer is shot dead at the Croydon Custody Centre in London, England. The suspect was also shot and is in critical condition. (BBC)

 

Google and YouTube announce that after the polls close on November 3 for the Presidential election, they will stop allowing political ads even if there is confusion or civil unrest while votes are counted. (NBC News)

 

Thousands of protesters block roads and railways in India to protest legislation that would remove government-guaranteed grain prices. (Reuters)

Trump doubles down, refusing to commit to accepting election loss President Trump on Thursday repeated his baseless claim that the presidential election may not be “honest,” again refusing to commit to accepting the election’s results if they aren’t in his favor. Asked whether he would consider the November election results legitimate only if he wins, Trump said “we want to make sure that the election is honest and I’m not sure that it can be.” On Wednesday, Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he’s not re-elected this fall, and alleged without evidence Democrats are running a “scam” to steal the election. White House Press Secretary Kaleigh McEnany sought to walk back his comments, saying “the president will accept the results of a free and fair election,” but similarly pushing the idea that Democrats are trying to conspire to prevent him from winning. Source: C-SPAN

Biden leads in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada Fox News surveyed likely voters in the battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Nevada, and found that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads President Trump in all three. The polls released on Thursday show there are few undecided voters, and Biden’s support is at 50 percent or better in each state. In Nevada, Biden has a 52-41 percent lead over Trump, while in Ohio, he’s ahead 50-45 percent. In Pennsylvania, a state Trump narrowly won in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point, Biden leads 51-44 percent. That poll found that 8 percent of people who voted for Trump in 2016 are Biden supporters today. Each state has a margin sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Source: Fox News

Protests continue in Louisville after no police charged for killing Breonna Taylor Protests continued in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday for a second night in a row, one day after a grand jury indicted one of the three Louisville police officers involved in the March 13 shooting of Breonna Taylor, but not directly for her death. The officers shot Taylor while executing a search warrant in her apartment, related to an investigation involving a former boyfriend. The only officer to face charges was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into the apartment next door. During Thursday night’s protests, anti-racism and anti-police brutality demonstrators encountered about a dozen armed counter-protesters, who claimed they were protecting property. Police said they arrested at least 24 people over the course of the night, with charges including unlawful assembly and failing to disperse. One of the two Louisville police officers shot on Wednesday night amid the protests was released from the hospital on Thursday; the other is still recovering. A suspect in the shooting has been arrested. Source: Louisville Courier-Journal

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Thursday, Sept. 24th, 2020

German vehicle company BMW is fined $18 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve allegations that it inflated sales figures between 2015 and 2019.(AP)

French health authorities report a new record of 16,096 daily cases in the last 24 hours, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. The new record comes a day after the government announced new restrictions on bars and restaurants in major cities, including Marseille and Paris, provoking an outcry from local politicians and business owners. (France 24)

The government announces a plan to elevate Donegal to Level 3 out of a five-alert level alongside Dublin effective midnight tommorow, which means that authorities will tighten restrictions due to an increase in cases; restrictions include a ban on indoor restaurant dining and an advisory for people not to travel outside the county. The measure will remain in place for three weeks until October 16. (The Irish Times)

The United Kingdom sees new cases rise by 6,634 in the last 24 hours, the highest figure ever reported by the Department for Health and Social Care since the beginning of the outbreak. The new record tally brings the total number of cases reported in the country to 416,363. (The Independent)

The Thai Ministry of Digital Economy and Society files legal complaints against Facebook and Twitter for ignoring requests to take down content, such as those that criticize the royal family. (Reuters)

Hong Kong police arrest veteran activist of the League of Social Democrats Koo Sze-yiu [zh] and Joshua Wong of the defunct Demosisto for violating the anti-mask policy in place under last year’s protests. Other pro-democracy activists condemn the arrests. (The New York Times)

Indonesia reports a record jump of 4,634 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide total at 262,022, while the death toll from the virus surpasses 10,000. The number of daily cases is the highest since the beginning of the pandemic and a new record for two consecutive days. (detikHealth)

Hong Kong police arrest veteran activist of the League of Social Democrats Koo Sze-yiu [zh] and Joshua Wong of the defunct Demosisto for violating the anti-mask policy in place under last year’s protests. Other pro-democracy activists condemn the arrests. (The New York Times)

2 officers wounded amid protests sparked by lack of Breonna Taylor killing charges Protests broke out in Louisville, Kentucky, and around the country Wednesday after a grand jury indicted one of the three Louisville police officers involved in the March 13 shooting of Breonna Taylor, but not directly for her death. Two Louisville police officers were shot while responding to a report of gunfire downtown, and officials said they are in stable condition and expected to survive. A suspect is in custody, but law enforcement did not say if this person was involved in the protests. Police shot Taylor while executing a no-knock warrant in search of her ex-boyfriend, who was not in the apartment, but the only officer to face charges was indicted on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for shooting into the apartment next door; if convicted, the officer faces one to five years in jail. Source: Louisville Courier-Journal

Biden ahead or competitive in Iowa, Georgia, and Texas, poll finds Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is leading President Trump by more than 7 percentage points in national polling averages, but as Trump showed in 2016, winning the Electoral College is what gets you elected. “Trump is on the defensive in three red states he carried in 2016,” The New York Times reported Thursday morning, unveiling polling of likely voters in Iowa, Georgia, and Texas. Thanks to “a wall of opposition from women,” the Times reports, Trump trails Biden by 3 points in Iowa, is tied with him in Georgia, and is ahead by 3 points in Texas, and the Democrats are competitive in those states’ Senate races as well. An overwhelming majority of voters say they have definitely made up their mind about their vote, meaning late swings in support are unlikely. Source: The New York Times

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