International

• Thursday, August 27th 2020 - 09:05 UTC

  Parade of penguins waddling to burrows, a lockdown online hit in Australia

  

  A nightly penguin parade live-streamed from a deserted Australian park has become an online lockdown hit, with hundreds of thousands tuning in to watch the cute creatures waddle back to their burrows from the sea.

• Thursday, August 27th 2020 - 08:50 UTC

  Turkey gives passports to a dozen members of Hamas in Istanbul, claims Israel

  

  Turkey has given passports to a dozen Hamas members in Istanbul, a senior Israeli diplomat said on Wednesday, describing the move as “a very unfriendly step” which his government would raise with Turkish officials.

• Thursday, August 27th 2020 - 08:43 UTC

  Argentina notifies IMF of a request for a new fund arrangement

  

  IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, spoke with Argentina President Alberto Fernández on Wednesday, when conversations for a new credit arrangement were launched. The Managing Director made the following statement at the conclusion of the meeting:

• Thursday, August 27th 2020 - 08:40 UTC

  City of Berlin bans demonstrations this weekend to oppose pandemic measures

  

  The city of Berlin has banned demonstrations planned for this weekend to oppose measures imposed to stem the coronavirus pandemic after organizers of a rally earlier this month failed to ensure marchers wore masks and kept their distance.

• Thursday, August 27th 2020 - 08:20 UTC

  UK government U-turn, face masks mandatory at secondary schools

  

  It will be mandatory for pupils to wear face masks in communal areas of secondary schools in England in places with local lockdowns, Britain's education minister Gavin Williamson said on Wednesday after a government U-turn on enforcing their use.

• Wednesday, August 26th 2020 - 09:18 UTC

  Italy forges closer relations with China and cautions on a re surge of a “cold war”

  

  Italy and China need to forge closer ties, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Tuesday, potentially putting Rome at odds with Washington, which has raised alarm over Beijing's economic ambitions.

• Wednesday, August 26th 2020 - 09:14 UTC

  Spain appeals to the army to help expose people infected with coronavirus

  

  Spain will call in the army to help identify those who have been exposed to people infected with coronavirus as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, August 26th 2020 - 09:00 UTC

  Young people driving the spread of coronavirus in the Americas, Pan American Health Organization

  

  Young people are driving the spread of the coronavirus in the Americas, the head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Tuesday, noting that both deaths and caseloads have doubled in the region over the past six weeks.

• Wednesday, August 26th 2020 - 08:50 UTC

  “Rule Britannia!!” controversy in this year's BBC's Promenade concerts

  

  Every year millions tune in to watch a pomp-laden celebration of all things British with flag-waving music lovers boisterously singing along to patriotic anthems performed on the last night of the BBC's Promenade concerts.

• Wednesday, August 26th 2020 - 08:49 UTC

  Two female Gentoo penguins are raising a baby chick in Spanish aquarium

  

  Two female gentoo penguins are new moms at an aquarium in Spain and are raising the baby chick they adopted as an egg.