Wednesday,  Aug. 12th, 2020

Biden selects Kamala Harris as running mate Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, announced on Tuesday he has selected Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his running mate. Harris, who was previously a presidential candidate herself, was considered a top contender as Biden’s vice presidential pick, alongside Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), former U.N. ambassador Susan Rice, and nearly a dozen others. Harris was previously the attorney general of California. She is now the first Black and South Asian American woman on a major party presidential ticket. Biden and Harris will hold their first appearance together on Wednesday during an event in Wilmington, Delaware. Source: CBS News

Putin says Russia has registered 1st approved coronavirus vaccine Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Russia has become the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, claiming victory in a global race to conquer COVID-19. The vaccine was developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, and Putin said one of his two daughters is among the Russians already inoculated with the vaccine, joining a small group that includes the researchers who developed it and about 50 members of Russia’s military. Medical experts expressed concerns that the Kremlin aggressively and dangerously rushed the vaccine approval process, putting global prestige over public health. Russian officials said Phase III trial of the vaccine will be conducted as thousands of Russian medical workers, teachers, and other groups are inoculated. The World Health Organization lists the Gamaleya vaccine trial as in Phase I. Source: The Associated Press

The total number of worldwide confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpasses 20 million. The United States remains the global leader of case numbers, accounting for more than 25 percent, cumulative. (CNN)

Israel launches multiple airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after incendiary balloons launch from Gaza into Israel. (Haaretz)

The Office for National Statistics reports the worst job losses in the United Kingdom since the financial crisis of 2007–2008. (BBC)

Singapore enters technical recession for the first time in a decade after its economy contracts by 13.2% in the second quarter, which translates to a record 42.9% plunge in its annualised GDP. (The Straits Times)

Natick, Massachusetts issues town-wide water restrictions, limiting water use by Natick residents, in response to an ongoing drought affecting most parts of New England. (Patch)

Greece imposes midnight until 7 am local time curfew on bars, restaurants, and cafés in several regions following a spike of COVID-19 cases. (ITV)

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya flees Belarus to her family in Lithuania, according to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Antanas Linkevičius. Tsikhanouskaya had gone into hiding after the disputed election, which she accuses President Alexander Lukashenko of rigging. (Reuters)

U.S. ‘may have missed a window’ in coronavirus treatment development Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the U.S. “may have a missed a window” to scale up production of coronavirus treatments, which “could have been an important bridge to a vaccine.” On Tuesday, Gottlieb discussed the strategy of ratcheting up vaccine production even before federal approval to get a stockpile ready. He said the focus on vaccine development means less emphasis on a potential treatment known as monoclonal antibodies. The treatment, made of genetically engineered antibodies, is reportedly a promising method in fighting COVID-19, and two separate clinical trials are in progress. The speed has been focused on vaccines, though Gottlieb said the antibody treatment could serve as a “hedge in the event vaccines are delayed or don’t work.” Because of the slow progress, Gottlieb said, “we just don’t have enough doses to realize that goal.” Source: Stat News

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Tuesday,  Aug. 11th, 2020

A shooting involving the Secret Service occurs on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. A civilian, identified only as a 51-year-old man, has been transported to a local hospital. (ABC News)

McDonald’s files a US$40 million lawsuit against former CEO Steve Easterbrook, equal to the worth of his severance package, for allegedly lying to investigators about the extent of his sexual relationships with three employees. (CNN)

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas announces via Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19. (CNN)

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announces the resignation of the entire government as protests grow over their handling of the Beirut explosions on 4 August. (Reuters)

California judge orders Uber and Lyft to classify drivers as employees A California judge on Monday ruled that the ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft have to classify their drivers in the state as employees, not independent contractors. On Jan. 1, a new California labor law, AB5, went into effect, which makes it harder for companies to misclassify workers who should be considered employees, and thus eligible for minimum wage and overtime. California is the largest market in the United States for Uber and Lyft, and in May, the state filed a lawsuit against the companies, accusing them of violating AB5. Judge Ethan Schulman said there was an “overwhelming likelihood” the companies have been wrongly classifying drivers as contractors instead of employees, and issued a preliminary injunction. He delayed the order by 10 days so Uber and Lyft can have the opportunity to appeal. Source: The Guardian

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Monday, Aug. 10th, 2020

State-run oil company Saudi Aramco reports that profits in the first half of 2020 plunged by 50% compared to the same period last year, with decreased demand in oil caused by COVID-19 cited as the main reason by CEO Amin H. Nasser. The company plans to uphold its promise of paying out US$75 billion in annual dividends in spite of this. (AP)

A teenager is killed and 20 others are shot, including an off-duty police officer, in a mass shooting at a large gathering in Southeast Washington, D.C. Police are searching for at least three shooters. (CNN)

A state television exit poll shows President Alexander Lukashenko winning 79.7% of the vote. These results have been dismissed by the main opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who criticized them has “massively rigged”. (BBC)

NetBlocks reports that the internet has been “significantly disrupted” in Belarus, with a near total blackout in Minsk. (NetBlocks)

The End