Stories for October 2020

Monday, October 5th 2020 - 09:01 UTC
New Caledonia votes to remain as a French Overseas Territory

Voters on the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia were on course to reject breaking away from France in a referendum on Sunday, partial results showed. With votes from 282 out of 304 polling stations tallied, the partial results showed the “no” camp ahead with 53.6% support after expanding its lead as results came in from the capital, Noumea, traditionally a bastion of pro-Paris loyalty.
Monday, October 5th 2020 - 09:01 UTC
Johnson does not want to end Brexit transition without a new trade deal, but can live with such an outcome

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not particularly wish for the Brexit transition period to end without a new trade deal in place but believes that Britain could live with such an outcome, he said on Sunday.
Monday, October 5th 2020 - 08:40 UTC
US extends “No Sail Order” for cruise vessels until October 31st

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the extension of a No Sail Order for cruise ships through October 31, 2020. This order continues to suspend passenger operations on cruise ships with the capacity to carry at least 250 passengers in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
Monday, October 5th 2020 - 08:37 UTC
Trump drives past supporters outside the hospital; US president could return to the White House on Monday

United States President Donald Trump drove past supporters on Sunday outside the hospital where he was being treated for COVID-19, after announcing on Twitter a “surprise visit” to his backers.
Monday, October 5th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Saudi Arabia cautiously resumes pilgrimage to the Grand Mosque in Mecca

Mask-clad Muslims circled Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths on Sunday, as Saudi authorities partially resumed the year-round umrah pilgrimage amid extensive health precautions after seven-month coronavirus hiatus.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Concern in the White House about the presidential election; Trump in quarantine at Army hospital

White House officials sought to project an air of business as usual on Friday despite President Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, but aides privately expressed concern about the presidential election and showed signs of rising worry about the coronavirus.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:54 UTC
Bolsonaro nominates liberal judge to the Supreme Court triggering reaction from evangelical supporters

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday nominated a judge with a record of flexible rulings to the country’s Supreme Court, frustrating evangelical members of his conservative base who had been promised one of their own for the opening.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:36 UTC
Boris Johnson’s Cunning Plan; If PM Johnson is Blackadder, who is his Baldrick?

By Gwynne Dyer – “I’ve got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel,” said Blackadder’s sidekick Baldrick in the BBC’s brilliant historical comedy series ‘Blackadder.’ In fact, he said, “I have a cunning plan” in almost every episode, but the plans hardly ever worked, and it became a popular catch-phrase.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:36 UTC
Merkel and UK remain optimistic on a post Brexit-deal, but “the fisheries gap is unfortunately very large”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had no breakthrough to announce on Friday as a week of EU talks with Britain ended, but remained optimistic that sealing a deal on a post-Brexit trade relationship was still possible before the end of the year.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:30 UTC
Energy companies appeal a climate change damages lawsuit which reaches US Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal by energy companies including BP PLC, Chevron Corp, Exxon Mobil Corp, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC contesting a lawsuit by the city of Baltimore seeking damages for the impact of global climate change.