REPUBLICAN FMR SENATOR ENDORSES BIDEN: Republican former Sen. Jeff Flake is announcing that he's crossing party lines and will endorse Democrat Joe Biden for president. Flake is one of more than two dozen former Republican lawmakers who announced today, the first day of the Republican National Convention, that they're endorsing the Democratic presidential ticket. In a move unprecedented in the modern political era, the Republican Party has voted to put forward no platform this year other than their support of Pres. Trump. - https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1165382757167267

From a sister to advisers: The litany of people once close to Trump questioning his fitness for office. Trump niece describes him as an psychologically deeply damaged man. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/24/politics/trump-maryanne-conway-former-officials/index.html

Marseille, a popular tourist city on France's southern coast, has seen a spike in positive coronavirus cases. French authorities have dispatched police to enforce coronavirus regulations. - https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/08/24/marseille-france-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-restrictions-bell-pkg-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn

Indifference to the truth or to the careful stewardship of the institutions of American liberty is not conservative. Disregard for the separation of powers — the centerpiece of our constitutional system — is not conservative. Governing by tweet is not conservative. It’s not even governing. - https://medium.com/@JeffFlake/heres-who-i-ll-be-supporting-for-president-and-why-ce983293fae6

Last minute RNC speaker shakeup - https://twitter.com/ProjectLincoln/status/1297741694125907973

The people who know Donald Trump best are sounding the alarm: our country cannot survive four more years of a Trump presidency.
In our latest ad, a former member of his inner circle & "fixer" — MichaelCohen - has a dire warning for us all. https://twitter.com/American_Bridge/status/1298030438225764352

The world's largest nudist resort is at the center of a Covid-19 outbreak with nearly 150 people testing positive after staying at or visiting the clothing-optional beach destination in southern France.
Local health authorities say 95 people staying at Cap d'Agde Naturist Village, on the Mediterranean coast of France's Occitanie region, were found to have Covid-19, while a further 50 who went through the resort also tested positive on their return home. - https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/nudist-village-france-coronavirus-intl/index.html

How one German state enforces mask-wearing. In one German state, passengers without masks on trains and buses were handed hefty spot fines in a major police operation. But can one-day clampdowns like this normalize masks — and prevent a second coronavirus wave? https://p.dw.com/p/3hQdQ

Trump's 2016 election ushered in a new era of white nationalist movement mobilisation, according to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Movement members had a renewed belief they could enact political change, thanks to Trump's popularity, but the reality of Trump's era left them jaded, and the issues they champion are not going away. The movement could potentially become more dangerous. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/trump-legacy-remain-election-200823215832097.html

Researchers are confirming what many had already suspected: people can become reinfected with covid-19, the first official case reported in Hong Kong. This as health officials in the U.S. urge people to get the flu vaccine. https://fusion.tv/video/601410/hong-kong-first-documented-case-of-covid-19-reinfection-reported/

France reported 4,897 new coronavirus cases on August 23 – the third time in the past week that the daily figure has surpassed 4,000, and the highest tally since the country emerged in May from the two-month lockdown that held the virus back. The score was down to 1,955 on Monday, although the number tends to be artificially low at the start of the week as there is a lag in processing results over the weekend. https://www.france24.com/en/20200825-fears-of-spillover-to-vulnerable-in-europe-as-covid-19-surges-among-young

For a period of three years some people get €1,200 a month for free. They only have to answer researchers' questions about how they're faring with this unconditional income. https://p.dw.com/p/3hWC8

At least 17 dead dolphins have been found on the seashore in Mauritius, more than a month after the huge oil spill caused by a Japanese-owned ship.
The deaths have been caused either by the spill or the authorities' decision to sink the ship's stem, environmental campaigners say - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53917793

"Friendships can deteriorate very quickly if you don't invest in them - it probably only takes about three months," says evolutionary psychologist Prof Robin Dunbar.
So the social strain of lockdown, while hopefully short-term, could have some long-term effects on some friendships, he says. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-53909243

As the second wave of the coronavirus rolls into Europe, some regions are wondering whether they should impose new lockdowns or if people should learn to cope with the pandemic. But what about the countries that never imposed lockdowns in the first place? - https://p.dw.com/p/3hJc8

Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be “unsurvivable” and capable of sinking entire communities. Authorities implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate and worried that not enough had fled. https://apnews.com/bac3a77342fb9d59ada088e9133cb748

Democrats win with a big tent. Fareed argues the diversity displayed at the Democratic National Convention is the party's strength, & pursuing big tent policies is a winning strategy. https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2020/08/23/exp-gps-0823-fareeds-take.cnn

Good by RV! https://edition.cnn.com/videos/weather/2020/08/27/hurricane-laura-brandon-clement-storm-chaser-rv-flips-over-sot-vpx.cnn

New daily infections in the UK increased to 1,522 on Thursday - the highest since mid-June
US President Donald Trump pledges a vaccine before the end of the year, "or maybe even sooner"
About 24.5 million cases have officially been confirmed worldwide so far, with 831,000 deaths - https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-53943522

Coronavirus: Germany's Angela Merkel warns of hard months to come
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the coronavirus pandemic is likely to worsen in coming months. She promised her government would respond by fostering a spirit of social solidarity. https://p.dw.com/p/3hd2r