1. Two Die Amid Kenosha Unrest Over Police Shooting

Now it’s fatal. As police clashed with protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over Sunday’s police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, new gunfire erupted early today, killing two men and wounding another. The incident came after a confrontation between protesters and a group of armed men defending a gas station. President Donald Trump urged deployment of the National Guard — something Gov. Tony Evers did Monday. Meanwhile, Blake, who was repeatedly shot in the back as he walked away from police, is reportedly paralyzed, with his attorney saying it’s “going to take a miracle” for him to ever walk again.

Sources: USA Today, Washington Post, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

2. Softer RNC Day 2 Blurs Official Roles and Campaign

From the White House Rose Garden to a Jerusalem rooftop, Republicans made full use of executive power to promote President Trump’s reelection campaign during yesterday’s second day of the Republican National Convention. The departure from strictly separating official and campaign duties sparked both outrage and a congressional investigation, in the case of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s speech from a diplomatic trip to Israel. The day also softened Monday’s divisive tone, with first lady Melania Trump expressing the “deepest sympathy” for pandemic victims, while her husband swore in five people of color as new citizens.

Sources: CNN, Fox News, NYT

3. Hong Kong Arrests Pro-Democracy Lawmakers

The victim has become the defendant. That was the observation made by Lam Cheuk-ting as he was taken away by Hong Kong police today in Beijing’s latest clampdown on dissent. Lam and Democratic Party colleague Ted Hui were arrested on suspicion of “rioting” in connection with a July 2019 protest when a pro-government mob attacked them with rods and rattan canes. Since June, when Beijing passed a security law imposing its authority over the previously semiautonomous territory, other supporters of last year’s mass pro-democracy demonstrations have also been arrested and could now be extradited to the mainland.

Sources: SCMP, Bloomberg

4. US Charges Teva With Fixing Drug Prices

They were effective, but not safe from the law. That’s the gist of the Justice Department's description of practices allegedly used by generic drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to collude with competitors to keep prices high. “No company is too big to be prosecuted” for conspiring to overcharge millions of Americans for prescription drugs, a department official said. Some other firms in the indictment, Apotex, Taro and Sandoz, admitted wrongdoing and agreed to penalties. But Teva, which refused the feds’ settlement offers, said it “firmly rejects the allegations” and will see the government in court.

Sources: Reuters, WSJ (sub)

5. Also Important ...

A half-million people have been ordered to evacuate ahead of a “life-threatening storm surge” when Hurricane Laura hits Texas’ Gulf Coast tonight. The Kremlin has denied accusations that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. And the U.N. Security Council has rejected a U.S. attempt to reimpose sanctions on Iran.

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1. Prepare for Pandemic Piracy

After putting piracy on the ropes in recent years, some fear that the high seas may again be troubled by desperate, waterborne robbers, OZY reports. While hot spots like the Gulf of Guinea have seen attacks drop to the lowest levels since the 1990s, Nigeria may be too busy fighting COVID-19 to patrol those waters and discourage hijackers. Meanwhile, potential pirates are facing worse poverty, exacerbated by pandemic restrictions and low oil prices. And their anticipated assaults could also find new targets, like the cruise ships that are just starting to venture out again. 

Sources: OZY

2. Palantir Files IPO, Goes Off on Silicon Valley

The valley wasn’t green enough. That’s how data analytics firm Palantir sees its place relative to the rest of the tech world, according to CEO Alex Karp. He wrote that the “engineering elite of Silicon Valley” shun business with U.S. security agencies while cozying up to rivals in China. Reflecting the ongoing controversy over the company’s focus on helping intelligence agencies handle data, Karp’s letter accompanied the prospectus for its direct-listing IPO. Last week, Palantir, which Karp founded in 2003 with venture capitalist Peter Thiel, moved its headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Denver.

Sources: The Verge, WSJ (sub)

3. Researchers Map Virus’s Spread From February Conference

It was, appropriately, a biotech gathering. The Biogen conference in Boston attracted professionals from around the world, but one was infected with COVID-19. Over two days, the virus spread to dozens of participants, who took it as far away as Australia and Singapore. In study results released Tuesday, researchers explained how they were able to genetically identify a unique viral substrain they believe spread to 20,000 Boston-area residents, including 122 in homeless shelters. Scientists hope their genetic sleuthing will expose early pandemic mistakes, so officials can make better decisions.

Sources: Washington Post, Boston Globe

4. ‘Predatory’ NYC Art Exhibit Canceled

He wouldn’t take a pass. Lifetime free admission is what the Whitney Museum of American Art offered photographer Gioncarlo Valentine in exchange for using his work in “Collective Actions: Artist Interventions in a Time of Change.” The museum also didn’t ask Valentine and other artists for permission to use their work, which it acquired at a discount from a fundraiser for See In Black, a collective of African American photographers aiming to “dismantle white supremacy and systematic oppression.” Yesterday the Whitney canceled the exhibit and its curator apologized, promising to “study and consider” how it organizes such shows.

Sources: NPR, Vulture, ARTnews

5. Lionel Messi Calls It Quits With Barcelona

It’s the end of an era. The Argentine superstar gave formal notice Tuesday that he’s ending his contract with Barcelona after nearly two history-making decades. The relationship’s fate was apparently sealed Aug. 14 by Barca’s 2-8 drubbing from Bayern Munich, which advanced to take the Champions League crown. But Barcelona is threatening a legal battle, claiming Messi should have notified them by June if he wanted to leave for free before 2021, regardless of the pandemic-delayed season. If they win, his reported destination, Manchester City, might have to pay an $826 million release fee.

Sources: ESPN, AP