Stories for August 21st 2020

Friday, August 21st 2020 - 10:59 UTC
UN water rights expert questions Chile for placing economic development over human rights

Chile on Thursday faced questioning by a United Nations water rights expert who suggested the government could be placing economic development over human rights through controversial agriculture and energy projects.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 09:49 UTC
Earth Overshoot Day will be reached next Saturday, according to Global Footprint Network scientists

Humanity will have burned through all the natural resources that the planet can replenish for 2020 by Saturday Aug 22, according to researchers who said the grim milestone is slightly later than last year after the pandemic slowed runaway overconsumption.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Oil spill from refinery triggers an environmental disaster along the Venezuelan coastline

A strip of Venezuela's western coastline boasting pristine beaches and fragile ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs could take more than half a century to fully recover from the environmental impacts of a recent oil spill, a researcher said.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 09:18 UTC
Falklands celebrate GCSE results: 96% of students secure points to continue overseas studies

The Falkland Islands government has congratulated students and teachers for the success achieved in this year's General Certificate of Secondary Education, GCSE, exams which open the way to continue tertiary studies overseas, and a greater autonomous future for the Islands.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 09:07 UTC
Chile preparing protocols to regulate the October plebiscite voting

The Chilean congress passed a measure to ensure that safety protocols will be regulated at voting booths during the plebiscite this October. The measure states that the Electoral Service will dictate safety rules regarding social distancing for voting throughout the country.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 09:06 UTC
Major corruption scandal in Mexico targets two former presidents and construction giant Odebrecht

A corruption scandal shaking Mexico's political elite intensified on Thursday as a leaked document containing a raft of allegations raised pressure on several former presidents and senior officials.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Colombia claims Venezuela is working to acquire missiles from Iran

Colombia's President Ivan Duque claimed on Thursday that the government of President Nicolas Maduro in neighboring Venezuela was working to acquire missiles from its ally Iran.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 08:52 UTC
Bolsonaro makes the academic more attendance flexible

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro enacted a law to exempt schools from having to meet a minimum number of school days amid the Covid-19 pandemic, making this academic year more flexible.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 08:50 UTC
Trump accuses Venezuelan president Maduro of blocking humanitarian evacuation flights for US citizens

The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is blocking US citizens in the country from leaving, rebuffing efforts by Washington to arrange humanitarian evacuation flights, a State Department spokeswoman said on Thursday.
Friday, August 21st 2020 - 08:30 UTC
UK/EU Brexit talks now include the unwanted migrants crossing the English channel

The European Union has so far rebuffed British calls for talks on a deal to allow London to send unwanted migrants back to Europe from 2021, and could use the issue as potential leverage in wider Brexit negotiations, diplomats and officials said.