Stories for August 2020

Monday, August 17th 2020 - 08:10 UTC
Australian marathon swimmer breaks the men's record for number of English Channel crossings, 35

An Australian marathon swimmer on Sunday (Aug 16) became the second woman to break the men's record for number of Channel crossings - and avoided new UK quarantine rules on French arrivals on her return.
Monday, August 17th 2020 - 08:02 UTC
“A” Level exams controversy becomes a political time bomb for Boris Johnson

The British government was criticized by lawmakers in its own party on Sunday after a mounting row over English exam grades awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, in the latest hit to its reputation.
Monday, August 17th 2020 - 07:58 UTC
New Zealand's PM Jacinda Arden postpones the general election to October 17

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday postponed the general election by four weeks to Oct 17 but ruled out delaying it any further, as the country tackles a new outbreak of the coronavirus.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:55 UTC
Bolsonaro's approval ratings on the rise while disapproval plunges ten points

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro received the best approval rating of his term on Friday, boosted by his popularity among recipients of COVID-19 stimulus payments despite the carnage the pandemic has caused in Brazil.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:52 UTC
Health care workers in Peru protest demanding better pay and working conditions

Health care workers in Peru held a demonstration demanding better pay and working conditions as more of their colleagues become infected with the coronavirus. Members of medical workers’ unions appealed for government help during a rally outside the Health Ministry.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Falklands Day celebrated with a presentation at FIGO in London

Falklands Day is the celebration of the first sighting of the Falkland Islands by John Davis in 1592 and is commemorated on 14 August. It was once seen as the National Day of the Falklands but has largely been replaced by Liberation Day which commemorates the end of the Falklands War.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:44 UTC
Spain closes nightclubs and bans drinking and smoking in outdoor public areas

Spanish authorities ordered the closure of nightclubs, banned drinking in outdoor public areas, and smoking when keeping a safe distance from people is impossible, among other measures imposed on Friday to try to stem a coronavirus resurgence.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:32 UTC
Argentina's social distancing extended until August 30; daily infections are above 7,000

Argentina extended until Aug 30 restrictions taken against the coronavirus, President Alberto Fernandez said on Friday, underlining that the country's lockdown would continue in its current form in and around capital city Buenos Aires.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:31 UTC
European Union agrees to buy 300 million doses of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine

The European Union has agreed to buy at least 300 million doses of AstraZeneca's potential COVID-19 vaccine in its first such advance purchase deal, which could weaken plans led by the World Health Organization (WHO) for a global approach.
Saturday, August 15th 2020 - 09:29 UTC
Taiwan to purchase 66 new generation F-16 fighters; Beijing furious

Taiwan finalized the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from US aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin on Friday, in a US$62 billion, a 10-year deal sure to anger Beijing. Underscoring the sensitivity of the transaction, the Pentagon announced the contract without specifying the buyer, but a source confirmed it was Taiwan.