The famous fiction writer and Pulitzer Prize-winner, Shirley Ann Grau passed away. She was born on July 8, 1929, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. She wrote six novels and four short stories which are all set in the Deep South, from New Orleans to north Louisiana and Alabama. Her first book, The Black Prince was published in 1954.
President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko has won his sixth consecutive term with 80.23 per cent of the vote at the country’s presidential election. A former English teacher Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, who emerged as Lukashenko’s main rival at the elections gets 9.9 per cent of the vote.
Minsk is the capital while Belarusian Rouble is the currency of Belarus.
The former defence minister and retired army general, Walter Roger Martos Ruiz becomes new Prime Minister of Peru. His appointment was confirmed by President of Peru, Martin Vizcarra. Ruiz will succeed Pedro Álvaro Cateriano Bellido. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Government Palace in Lima.
Lima is the capital while Peruvian Sol is the currency of Peru.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin has announced that a COVID-19 vaccine named “Sputnik V” developed in the country has been registered for use. Russian Ministry of Health has given regulatory approval for what it claims is the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute. Russia is the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine.
Mohamed Ould Bilal has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Mauritania. The appointment was made by the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Mohamed Ould Bilal is a veteran public administrator and has served as the head of the country’s national water agency, a presidential aide and a cabinet minister.
Lebanon’s parliament on August 13, 2020 approved a state of emergency while citing exceptional circumstances in the country after a massive explosion in Beirut on August 4.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that its planet hunter TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) has found 66 new exoplanets or world beyond our solar system.
