Kamala Harris lashes out at Trump in debut appearance as Biden’s running mate, and Microsoft returns to phone business with folding Androids

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, August 13th.

*) Joe Biden and Kamala Harris vow to rebuild America post-Trump

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris have launched their White House bid, vowing to end the Trump presidency.

Harris, the first Black or Asian woman on a major ticket, ripped into President Trump’s handling of the pandemic, racial injustice and a ravaged economy.

Trump, who earlier called Harris a “fine choice” for vice president, now says he doesn't think she's right for the role.

*) Mauritius says almost all oil removed from damaged Japanese ship

Nearly all remaining oil from a damaged Japanese ship has been removed from off the coast of Mauritius.

The MV Wakashio began leaking oil after it struck a reef and went aground off the Indian Ocean island’s southeast coast on July 25.

The ship leaked about 1,000 tonnes of oil threatening the island nation's tourism sector that’s already hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

*) US State Secretary defends Saudi arms sales after watchdog report

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said his department did everything by the book with regards to arms sales to Saudi Arabia in 2019.

His comments follow a US watchdog report that found the Saudi-UAE arms sale failed to assess threats to civilians.

The report concluded that Washington had skirted laws regulating arms sales to evade concerns about civilian casualties in the war in Yemen.

*) Police find 148 migrants in trucks in North Macedonia

North Macedonian police have discovered 148 migrants crammed into trucks in two separate operations in the country’s central and northern parts.

A majority of migrants, including 29 children, are from Pakistan while others are from Afghanistan, India, Egypt, Iran and Syria.

At least two suspected smugglers, men from North Macedonia, have been arrested.

And finally,

*) Microsoft returns to phone business with folding Android device

Microsoft has announced the Surface Duo, a new Android-powered dual-screen smartphone that will arrive in stores on September 10.

The Surface Duo, retailed at $1,399, folds close like a book and has two traditional screens separated by a hinge but synchronised to work together.

The tech giant has largely abandoned its historic practice of tying all of its products back to its Windows operating system.