Stories for 2020

Thursday, October 22nd 2020 - 08:28 UTC
Britain's record borrowing because of Covid-19; total public debt 103,5% of GDP

Britain’s government borrowing in the first half of the financial year was more than six times higher than before the COVID pandemic, official figures showed on Wednesday, taking public debt to its highest since 1960.
Thursday, October 22nd 2020 - 08:10 UTC
Vaccine safety questioned in South Korea: 13 people die from flu shots

At least 13 South Koreans have died after receiving flu shots in recent days, according to official and local media reports, ramping up fears about vaccine safety even as authorities rule out a link.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Bolivian president-elect: “no role” for the winning party leader Evo Morales currently exiled in Argentina

Bolivia's president-elect Luis Arce said on Tuesday that there was “no role” in his government for socialist party leader Evo Morales, who governed for almost 14 years before resigning under pressure last year and fleeing the country.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Venezuelan tanker listing dangerously: fears of a catastrophic spill of 1,3 million barrels of crude

Concerns are growing that an oil tanker carrying millions of gallons of oil could spill its load into the sea between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, causing an ecological catastrophe.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 09:22 UTC
NASA feat: spacecraft grabs a sample of rocks from an asteroid and begins to send back images

NASA spacecraft touched down on the rugged surface of the Bennu asteroid on Tuesday, grabbing a sample of rocks dating back to the birth of our solar system to bring home. The minivan-sized OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, extended its 3.35m robotic arm toward a flat patch of gravel near Bennu’s north pole and plucked the sample of rocks, the space agency's first handful of pristine asteroid rocks.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 09:11 UTC
A FIGAS refurbished BN-2 Islander delivered to Air Alderney

Air Alderney has taken delivery of its first BN-2 Islander in the form of G-BLNI (msn 2188), according to the UK civil aircraft register. The 1987-vintage aircraft was previously operated by the Falkland Islands Government Air Service, FIGAS as VP-FBI. It remains parked at London Biggin Hill, according to Flightradar24 ADS-B data, but is already in Air Alderney's livery.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 09:03 UTC
Multi-faiths event sees Pope Francis wear a face mask for the first time at a public function

Pope Francis wore a mask for the first time at a public function on Tuesday when he and other religious leaders attended a prayer service for peace around the world. The pope wore a white mask during the service at the Rome Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. Previously he wore masks only in a car taking him to his weekly audiences in the Vatican.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 08:58 UTC
Robots will replace 85 million jobs in next five years, but 97 million will be created in tech industries, WEF study

Robots will destroy 85 million jobs at mid-sized to large businesses over the next five years as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates changes in the workplace likely to exaggerate inequalities, a World Economic Forum (WEF) study has found.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 08:49 UTC
US government and 11 sates sue Google; rare bipartisan Democrat/Republican coincidence

The US sued Google on Tuesday, accusing the US$1 trillion company of illegally using its market muscle to hobble rivals in the biggest challenge to the power and influence of Big Tech in decades.
Wednesday, October 21st 2020 - 08:47 UTC
US deaths historic stats jumps 300,000 during pandemic 2020; Hispanics and blacks most affected

Nearly 300,000 more people have died in the United States in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic than would be expected based on historical trends, with at least two-thirds due to COVID-19, a government report released on Tuesday showed, adding that COVID-19 deaths likely were undercounted.