Portal:Current events/2020 August 10

August 10, 2020 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

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 News)

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 News) (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 News)
August 2020 Midwest derecho
- A powerful derecho with winds over 100 mph sweeps across the Midwestern United States and leaves four dead and causes $11 billion USD in damage.

Health and environment

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. Activist Agnes Chow was also arrested. (The Guardian) (South China Morning Post)
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 News)
- A protester in Minsk is killed after being shot by police officers. It is the first death during the protests. (Euronews)
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