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Topics in the news

COVID-19 pandemic

Alexander Lukashenko

Israel and the United Arab Emirates agree to establish diplomatic relations.
Pro-democracy protests intensify in Belarus after the contested reelection of incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko (pictured).
Prime Minister Hassan Diab of Lebanon, and his cabinet, resign in the wake of the explosions in Beirut that killed at least 200 people.
In golf, Collin Morikawa wins the PGA Championship for his first career major.

August 15, 2020 (Saturday)

edithistorywatch

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Minister of State Owned Enterprises and chief of the COVID-19 recovery team, Erick Thohir, announces that the government would bar foreign visitors until the completion of the CoronaVac vaccine, which he says is likely next year. (Kyodo News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports 166 new cases of COVID-19. From that number, 139 were traced to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and a significant portion of them were linked to cluster infections involving churchgoers. It is the highest number of reported new cases since March 11. (Kyodo News)

International relations

Aftermath of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election
- The leaders of the Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, issue a joint statement calling on Belarus to hold a new "free and fair" election with international observers. (RFE/RL)
Poland–United States relations
- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak sign an agreement in Warsaw to redeploy about 1,000 U.S. troops from Germany to Poland so as to bring the total to 5,500. The agreement also includes a potential increase to 20,000 U.S. troops if Poland is under threat. (BBC)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian protests
- President Alexander Lukashenko issues an appeal to Russia as he considers "it is not a threat to just Belarus anymore". Meanwhile, pro-democracy and opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is exiled in Lithuania, calls for more protests. (Reuters)

August 14, 2020 (Friday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir
- Islamist insurgents kill at least two police officers and injured another in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The attack comes days after the first anniversary of the revocation of Kashmir’s constitutional autonomy. (Reuters)
Moro conflict
- Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari surrenders Abduljihad Susukan, a sub-commander of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf militant group, to the Philippine National Police in Davao City, following the latter's involvement in the 2015 Roseller Lim and Samal Island kidnappings and beheadings. Susukan surrendered to Misuari in April 2020. (AP via CBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France reports 2,846 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, as well as more than 12,300 new cases this week, making it the highest number of cases since the lockdown was eased in May. (The New York Times) (The Telegraph)
    - The government declares Paris and Marseilles as "active zones", or high-risk zones. The move allows local authorities in those designated areas to impose restrictions. (DW)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Amid an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, the government of Spain closes all nightclubs and bans smoking in public sites in the event that the social distancing is not assured. (CBS News) (Politico)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece announces that they would limit public gatherings to 50 people and impose a midnight curfew on bars and restaurants in Athens and other areas. This measure is to last until August 24 in parts of the country where infection numbers have risen. (Greek Reporter)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
  - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the current Alert Level settings will be extended for another 12 days. (Newshub)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
  - Education Secretary Leonor Briones suspends the commencement of the 2020–21 academic year for primary and secondary schools until October 5 due to the continuous rise of cases in the country. (Kyodo News via The Mainichi)

International relations

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Germany declares all of Spain except for the Canary Islands a high risk region following a spike of COVID-19 cases in the country. Designations as risk regions are typically followed by the German Foreign Ministry warning against touristic travel to those areas and mean people returning from those areas face a test or two weeks' compulsory quarantine. (France 24)
Belarus–Lithuania relations, 2020 Belarusian presidential election, 2020 Belarusian protests
- Lithuania becomes the first EU state to openly reject the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko as President of Belarus. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda says "We can not call Mister Lukashenko legitimate because there were no free democratic elections in Belarus". (Urdu Point)
Sanctions on Iran
- The United Nations Security Council has resoundingly rejected a United States bid to extend a global arms embargo on Iran. In a Security Council vote, United States only got support from the Dominican Republic for its resolution to indefinitely extend the arms embargo on Iran, leaving it far short of the minimum nine "yes" votes required for adoption. Eleven members on the 15-member body, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, abstained while Russia and China opposed extending the ban but did not need to use their vetoes. (AlJazeera)

Law and crime

2020 Belarusian protests
- Amnesty International says "widespread torture" is taking place inside detention centres in Belarus, with more than 6,700 people detained since protests against Lukashenko broke out following the disputed presidential election result. Amnesty International says detainees described being stripped naked, beaten and threatened with rape. The BBC also reports evidence of torture, including at the Okrestina detention centre in Minsk. (CNN) (BBC)
2020 Thai protests
- Thai police arrest a student leader over an anti-government protest last month. The student was arrested in the outskirts of Bangkok while traveling to a protest. Human Rights Watch reports that he will be charged with breaching multiple laws. Police declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. (Reuters)
The United States Department of Justice says Yale University is illegally discriminating against White Americans and Asian Americans in its undergraduate admissions process, following a two-year investigation into the university. A Yale spokeswoman "categorically" denies the federal accusations. (BBC)

Politics and elections

2020 Bulgarian protests
- Prime Minister Boyko Borisov pledges to resign if the nation's National Assembly passes his motion to call for a constituent assembly to change the nation's constitution. (New York Times)
2020 Bolivian general election
- On Thursday (local time) the interim government of Bolivia confirmed that the elections will be held on October 18. Anyone who tries to change the date may face penalties. Opposition parties called to have the elections sooner after the elections earlier this year were postponed because of COVID-19. Protesters have blocked streets and protested calling for the elections to take place sooner, after it was announced in July. The European Union and United Nations support the new election date. (Reuters)

Sports

2019–20 UEFA Champions League
- In association football, FC Bayern Munich become the first team to score eight goals in a UEFA Champions League knockout match after doing so against FC Barcelona in a quarter-finals match that ended 8–2. FC Barcelona suffer one of their worst defeats in history, having conceded eight goals for the first time since 1946. (AP via Philippine Daily Inquirer)

August 13, 2020 (Thursday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- August 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - At least four people are killed and another six injured by a roadside bomb exploding in Panjwayi District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. (TOLOnews)

Business and economy

Apple Inc. litigation, Google litigation
- Epic Games sues both Apple Inc. and Google in an antitrust case after the removal of Fortnite from the Apple App Store and Google Play earlier in the day, alleging that the two companies hold an unfair monopoly over development for their respective ecosystems. The game was removed for implementing a feature allowing Epic to directly sell microtransactions while bypassing the 30% cut imposed on developers per transaction by both Apple and Google. (The Verge)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - The number of new COVID-19 cases in India rises by nearly 67,000, a record high since the pandemic began. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq
    - Iraq reports the highest single-day increase of over 3,800 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. (Arab News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
  - Spain reports 2,935 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number of new cases since the lockdown was lifted in June. (Reuters)
  - Galicia bans smoking in public places over concerns that it increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission. (BBC)
  - The Canary Islands also intend to ban outdoor smoking when social distancing cannot be guaranteed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The smoking ban will take effect tomorrow, and wearing face masks will be mandatory in all public spaces. (RTÉ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
  - With 12 deaths, Venezuela reports its deadliest day since the beginning of the pandemic. (EFE)
  - Governor of Capital District Darío Vivas dies from COVID-19. (El Confidencial)

International relations

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The United Kingdom imposes a two-week quarantine for travellers or people coming from France and the Netherlands, as well as Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos, and Aruba. The measure will take effect on 04:00 BST on Saturday, August 15. (BBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza signs an order requiring anyone arriving from Croatia, Greece, Spain, and Malta to be tested for COVID-19 in an attempt to avoid a spike of new cases in the country. The country is also banning travellers from Colombia over concerns of new infections. (Swiss Info) (Euronews)
Iran–Saudi Arabia relations
- The Saudi ambassador to the United Nations, Abdul Aziz al-Wasel, calls for an extension of the arms embargo on Iran saying that Iran "smuggles weapons to militias to disturb the peace in the Middle East". (Al Arabiya)
Hezbollah foreign relations
- Lithuania labels Hezbollah a terrorist organization and bans its members from entering the country, according to a statement by the office of the foreign minister. (Al Arabiya)
Greek–Turkish relations
- France deploys two Dassault Rafale fighter jets and the frigate La Fayette to the eastern Mediterranean because of tensions between Greece and Turkey over oil and gas exploration in disputed waters. French President Emmanuel Macron says the French military will monitor the situation. (BBC)
Foreign relations of Israel, Arab–Israeli peace projects
- The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates announce in a joint statement that Israel and the UAE will establish normalized diplomatic relations, in exchange for Israeli suspension of plans to annex occupied West Bank territory. (BBC)

Law and crime

Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia
  - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp drops his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over the city's mask mandate. (ABC News)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian protests
- A 25-year-old man from the city of Gomel becomes the second protester killed since protests in Belarus against the government began. He died while in police custody, according to his family. (The Guardian)
- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet condemns the use of violence by Belarusian authorities against protesters, and calls for the release of all political prisoners in the country. (BBC)
- Belarusian women form human chains to condemn a crackdown on protests over the disputed election. (BBC)
- Factory workers from state-run factories joined the protest. Tens of thousands of people protested for the fifth day in a row against the election results. The protesters marched through Minsk and formed human chains. (Reuters)
2019–2020 Lebanese protests, aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosions
- Parliament approves a state of emergency in Beirut and grants the military sweeping powers, such as declaring curfews, preventing public gatherings and censoring the media, as well as referring civilians to military courts over alleged security breaches. Human rights groups criticize the decision. (AP)

August 12, 2020 (Wednesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Operations Claw-Eagle and Tiger, Iraq–Turkey relations
- Iraq cancels a ministerial meeting and summons the Turkish ambassador as Iraq blames Turkey for a drone strike that killed two high-ranking Iraqi military officers. Officials called it a "blatant Turkish drone attack" in the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. (Al Jazeera)
Insurgency in Cabo Delgado
- Islamist insurgents linked to ISIL seize control of the port city of Mocímboa da Praia in northern Mozambique, after days of heavy fighting with government forces. Soldiers reportedly abandoned their positions and fled the city on boats after becoming outnumbered, as several fellow soldiers were killed by the militants. (BBC)
Clashes between armed civilians and soldiers in Tonj, Warrap, South Sudan, during a disarmament exercise leave 127 dead since Saturday, an army spokesman says. A total of 45 of those killed were part of the security forces while the rest were youths from the area. (AFP via Al Arabiya)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - The United Kingdom's economy officially enters recession for the first time since 2009, according to Chancellor Rishi Sunak. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

Stonehaven derailment
- A ScotRail train derails near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, following torrential rain and thunderstorms, killing three people, including the driver. (BBC)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France reports the largest rise of COVID-19 cases since the lockdown was lifted in May, with 2,524 new cases being reported in the last 24 hours. (BBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - The number of COVID-19 cases in Germany rises by 1,226, which is the biggest daily rise since May, according to the Robert Koch Institute, as the health minister warns of outbreaks in nearly all parts of the country due to vacation returnees and partygoers. (Swiss Info) (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Peru
    - President Martín Vizcarra bans family gatherings and extends a lockdown to five more regions, following a 75% surge in COVID-19 cases among children and adolescents. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
    - Jorge Rodríguez, incumbent Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information announces he tested positive for COVID-19. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire
    - New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu issues a mask mandate for gatherings with more than 100 people. Masks will be required at the Laconia Motorcycle Week, which is expected to be held on August 22 and 23. The move comes after few attendees of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota appeared to wear masks. (CBS News)
  - The United States reports more than 1,500 new deaths caused by COVID-19, making today the deadliest day for the country since the end of May. (CNBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Australia suffers the deadliest day of the pandemic when Victoria reports 21 deaths in the last 24 hours. (9 News)

International relations

Belarus–Lithuania relations, 2020 Belarusian protests
- Lithuania allows "unrestricted entry" to all Belarusians "for humanitarian purposes" amid anti-government protests and political repression in neighbouring Belarus. Existing COVID-19 restrictions will not apply to Belarusians. (The Baltic Times)
Jordan–Syria relations, COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
- Jordan announces it will close its only trade land border crossing with Syria for a week beginning on Thursday morning after a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases coming from its northern neighbour. (TRT World)

Law and crime

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - The Ocala, Florida, City Council overrides Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn’s veto of the Council's earlier emergency ordinance that requires people to wear masks inside businesses. (WCJB-TV)
Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Jimmy Lai and Agnes Chow are released on bail. Lai makes no comment while Chow says that her arrest amounts to "political persecution and political suppression". (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delays dissolution of Parliament until 17 August, due to resurgence of COVID-19. (ABC News Australia)
George Floyd protests
- George Floyd protests in Indiana
  - Two Indianapolis police officers are expected to face charges for using excessive force during protests over the death of George Floyd. (ABC News)

Science and technology

Palaeontologists at the University of Southampton report the discovery of a new species of theropod dinosaur called Vectaerovenator inopinatus on the Isle of Wight, England. The species belongs to the same group as the Tyrannosaurus and modern-day birds. It lived roughly 115 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. (BBC)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 pandemic in France
- France cancels the rescheduled 2020 Paris Marathon, which would have taken place on November 15, due to COVID-19. (BBC)

August 11, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Somali Civil War
- At least ten people have been killed in a shootout between jailed Al-Shabaab militants and security officers at a prison in Mogadishu, Somalia. An investigation is under way into how the militants obtained weapons, with some reports suggested that an inmate disarmed a warden and then a group of them raided the armoury. (BBC)
Afghan peace process
- Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen warns that attacks on newly freed prisoners will drive them back to the battlefield despite orders from their leaders. The government denies attacking, or re-arresting them without cause. (The Hour)
Gaza–Israel clashes in 2020
- Israel launches multiple airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after incendiary balloons launch from Gaza into Israel. (Haaretz)
Benoît Maria, a French human rights activist who helped indigenous people in Guatemala, is shot dead while driving near San Antonio Ilotenango in Quiché. (BBC)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - The Office for National Statistics reports the worst quarterly job losses in the United Kingdom since the financial crisis in 2009. (BBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
  - 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)
Facebook introduces new regulations blocking American publishers with political ties from running ads masquerading as news articles in its news section. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
    - Fiji suspends its seasonal ban on the harvest, sale, and consumption of coral trout and grouper to fight economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. (RNZ)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    - New Zealand reports its first cases of community transmission in 102 days, four cases in a single family. Auckland will move to Alert Level 3 from August 12 at 12 noon until midnight on August 14. The rest of the country will move to Alert Level 2. (New Zealand Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece imposes a curfew on bars, restaurants, and cafes in several regions following an increase in COVID-19 cases. The curfew lasts from midnight until 7 am local time. (ITV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, COVID-19 vaccine
    - Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the approval of a vaccine against COVID‑19, named Gam-COVID-Vac, claiming it as a "world-first", amid continued concern and unanswered questions over its safety and effectiveness. (CNN)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The United Kingdom records 1,148 cases, their highest since June 21. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan
  - Bhutan imposes a nationwide lockdown after a locally transmitted COVID-19 case was reported in Gelephu town and the female patient had come in close contact with many people in Paro, Thimphu and several other places. (Business Standard)
- 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)
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)

Law and crime

Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
- Three men are fined by a court in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, for hijacking the oil tanker MV Elobey VI off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and holding the crew hostage for US$200,000 in March. They are the first people to be convicted under Nigeria's new anti-piracy law. (Reuters)
2020 Bangalore riots
- The violent clashes took place in eastern Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The violence cause the death of at least 3 people in police firing while injuring 60 police personnel during the clashes. (The Indian Express)

Politics and elections

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - Marion County, Florida, Sheriff Billy Woods forbids his employees and those visiting his offices from wearing face masks in most circumstances. The Ocala City Council passed an emergency ordinance last week requiring people to wear masks inside businesses. Ocala’s mayor, Kent Guinn, vetoed the county rule on Monday. (The Ocala Star-Banner) (The New York Times)
2020 Belarusian presidential election, 2020 Belarusian protests
- 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)
2020 Malian protests
- Anti-government protests resume in the Malian capital of Bamako, as thousands take to the street demanding the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta after talks between the government and the protesters stalled. (Al Jazeera)
2020 United States presidential election, 2020 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection
- Former Vice President Joe Biden chooses Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the presumptive 2020 Democratic vice presidential nominee. She is the first black woman and first Asian-American vice presidential nominee for a major party. (CNN)

Science and technology

French privacy watchdog group CNIL launches a preliminary investigation into TikTok, as part of a European Union-wide taskforce monitoring the app's operations. (Reuters)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- Two of the "Power Five" conferences of NCAA Division I FBS, the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences, postpone their fall 2020 sports seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pac-12 also announces that winter sports whose seasons were scheduled to begin in calendar year 2020, most notably basketball, will not start play until at least January 1, 2021. (NPR) (ESPN)

August 10, 2020 (Monday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Terrorism in Pakistan
- 2020 Chaman bombing
  - A motorcycle bomb kills five people and injures 20 others in Chaman, Killa Abdullah, Balochistan, Pakistan. (Dawn)
2020 Democratic Republic of the Congo massacres
- Nineteen people are killed in massacres in three villages in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera English)

Business and economy

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)
Toshiba exits the personal computer (PC) market after 35 years, by selling its final stake in PC manufacturer Dynabook Inc. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Kerala floods
- A landslide during floods at a tea plantation in Kerala, India, leaves at least 49 people dead. It is feared that many more people are buried under debris. (Sky News)
MV Wakashio oil spill
- Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth warns that the tanker may "break in two" as the country awaits help from other nations that have pledged aid amid a state of emergency. Jugnauth adds the nation lacks the skills and resources needed to relocate the wrecked vessel, and that the nation will likely never recover from the ecological damage done by the spill. (BBC) (CBS)
2020 Volgograd explosion
- An explosion at a gas station in Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia, injures at least 13 people and creates a 1,000 m² (11,000 sq ft)-sized blaze. It is believed that it was caused by an electrical fire. (The Independent)
A gas explosion in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, leaves at least one dead and four injured. Homes were damaged or destroyed. (BBC)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Guam
  - Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero tests positive for COVID-19. (Pacific Island Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
  - Spanish actor Antonio Banderas announces via Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19. (CNN)

International relations

Afghan peace process
- A day after the loya jirga approved of the release of "hardcore" Taliban prisoners, President Ashraf Ghani signs the order to release them. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen says the Taliban "is ready" for talks. U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the agreement. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Hong Kong national security law
- Hong Kong entrepreneur and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and his son are arrested under the national security law for allegedly conspiring with foreign powers. He is so far the most high-profile figure to be charged under the law. The police also search the offices of his company Next Digital shortly after his arrest. (The Guardian). Activist Agnes Chow was also arrested. (SCMP)
Rioting and looting occurs in Chicago, U.S., after a police shooting. Thirteen police officers are injured, two people are shot, and more than 100 are arrested. (Chicago Tribune)
A shooting involving the Secret Service occurs on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, Washington, D.C., U.S. A civilian, identified only as a 51-year-old man, has been transported to a local hospital. (ABC News)
A US Air Force UH-1N is shot at near Manassas, Virginia, injuring one of two pilots while flying ten miles northwest of Manassas on a training mission at an altitude of 1,000 feet. It lands safely at Manassas Regional Airport west of Washington, DC, and the pilot is taken to hospital where they are treated and released. (CNN)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian presidential election, 2020 Belarusian protests
- During the second day of protests across Belarus, police fire rubber bullets to disperse protesters in the capital Minsk, wounding a journalist. About 30 people are arrested in the city; some protestors were beaten by police. (BBC)
- A protester in Minsk is killed after an explosive device blows up in his hands while he tried to throw it. It is the first death during the protests. (Reuters)
2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election
- Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago cast their votes in the country's general election. (Foreign Brief)
2019–2020 Lebanese protests, aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosions
- 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)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The Mountain West Conference becomes the second NCAA Division I FBS league to call off its football season, as well as all other fall sports. This follows the lead of the Mid-American Conference, which announced an identical plan two days earlier. (Mountain West Conference) (ESPN)

August 9, 2020 (Sunday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- August 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - At least seven policemen are killed and 15 others injured after a car bomb explodes outside a police station in Ghazni, Afghanistan. As yet nobody has claimed responsibility. (TOLONews)
- Afghan peace process
  - Afghanistan's Loya Jirga approves to release 400 "hard-core" Taliban prisoners after deliberation. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says he will sign the order and that doing this, the Afghan government complies with the Taliban demand of freeing prisoners to start intra-Afghan peace talks. (Reuters)
Maghreb insurgency
- Kouré shooting
  - Six French aid workers, their driver, and a local guide are shot dead by gunmen in an attack on a group of aid workers in Kouré, Tillabéri, Niger. (BBC)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia
- 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)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Sparta earthquake
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 hits near the small town of Sparta, North Carolina. Shaking was felt throughout the U.S. East Coast, though no damage and injuries are reported. The earthquake is the largest in the state since 1916. (ABC News)
2020 Vijayawada fire
- At least 11 people are dead and 22 others injured in a fire at a COVID-19 facility centre in India's Andhra Pradesh. (Al Jazeera)
Five people are dead after floods caused by thunderstorms and torrential rains affected Evia, Greece. Dozens of people have been evacuated from the area. (BBC)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    - Victoria reports Australia's deadliest day since the pandemic began in the country, with 17 deaths reported aside from 394 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. (The Guardian)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    - New Zealand marks 100 days without community transmission of COVID-19. (The New Zealand Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - National Public Health Organization reports 203 new COVID-19 cases in Greece in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single day for the country since the pandemic began. (Greek Reporter)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The United Kingdom reports 1,062 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. It is the first time that the country has recorded more than 1,000 new cases since late June. (ITV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - India reports its highest single day record of 64,399 new cases in the last 24 hours. (Times of India)

Law and crime

List of mass shootings in the United States in 2020
- 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 17-year-old Chili's hostess is hospitalized after being attacked at a Chili's restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after telling a large group of women that they may not share a table due to safety regulations regarding the coronavirus. The hostess has no plans to return to the Chili's restaurant where she was attacked. (MSN)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian presidential election, 2020 Belarusian protests
- Citizens of Belarus head to the polls to elect the country's president. Long-ruling Alexander Lukashenko is challenged by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya after her husband and pro-democracy activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski was jailed and banned from the vote like other prominent opposition figures. Protesters and journalists were also detained in the weeks leading to the election. (DW)
- 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) (The Guardian)
- Lukashenko, in power since 1994, declares a landslide victory against the opposition, as riot police clash with protesters in the capital Minsk. Protests in reaction to the disputed results have been reported in at least 20 other Belarusian cities. Fifty civilians and thirty-nine police officers were injured, while at least 3,000 protesters are arrested across the country, one-third of them in Minsk. (BBC) (The Guardian)
- A police van in Minsk rams a group of protesters, hitting one of them. The condition of the victim is unknown, with reports of his death not confirmed. (Mandiner.hu)
- NetBlocks reports that the internet has been "significantly disrupted" in Belarus, with a near total blackout in Minsk. (NetBlocks)