WSJ: Global round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-08-15-2020-11597481096 . News on France, Germany, China and South Korea in last paragraphs.
USA Today: US round-up: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/08/15/covid-news-sturgis-motorcycle-rally-cases-in-europe-blood-plasma/5584062002/ . Sturgis final weekend, FDA approves emergency use of Yale saliva-based test, hint but not proof that blood plasma is effective for COVID-19, US-Canada border to remain closed for another months, problems with contact tracing in Hispanic areas, surge of cases in Europe.
WSJ: Nursing home inspectors untested before entering facilities: https://www.wsj.com/articles/untested-for-covid-19-nursing-home-inspectors-move-through-facilities-11597410002 . Forget public health 101, now we’re failing common sense. The nursing homes are supposed to receive onsite quick testing equipment.
German vaccine company CureVac nearly triples in NASDAQ debut: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/14/coronavirus-vaccine-developer-curevac-raises-213-million-in-ipo.html .
WSJ: Relief package hurdle: Aid to state and local governments: https://www.wsj.com/articles/state-aid-disagreement-provesbig-hurdle-for-coronavirus-talks-11597406398 . Government 101: Every government in the US, at every level, is required to balance its budget every year (the one exception is the federal government, which literally can print money). Obviously, almost every government will have a revenue shortfall in their latest fiscal year, which for almost all ended June 30, and for the current fiscal year. This is a consequence of the pandemic and has absolutely nothing to do with whether a Democrat or Republican is currently in charge of a particular government. Therefore, without aid, almost every government will be forced to slash payroll – the same problem for which we gave aid to private businesses. These payroll cuts will put additional strain on state unemployment programs and also reduce consumer spending, as well as reducing public services.
WSJ: Schools in Europe re-open: https://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-in-europe-reopen-with-little-debatebut-more-masks-and-distancing-11597423822 .
WSJ: US companies concerned about WeChat ban: https://www.wsj.com/articles/corporate-america-worries-wechat-ban-could-be-bad-for-business-11597311003 .
WSJ: US consumer recovery stalls: https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-consumer-spending-this-may-be-as-good-as-it-gets-11597421069 .
WSJ: Buffett sells billions of JP Morgan and Wells Fargo stock: https://www.wsj.com/articles/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-unloads-bank-stocks-11597439228 .