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COVID-19 pandemic

Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta

In Mali, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (pictured) resigns and dissolves the government after his arrest in a military coup following months of protests.
Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the World Snooker Championship, defeating Kyren Wilson in the final.
Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei sets a new world record in the men's 5000 metres.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates agree to establish diplomatic relations.

August 20, 2020 (Thursday)

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August 19, 2020 (Wednesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Malian protests, 2020 Malian coup d'état
- President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta announces his resignation on state television. (AP)
- The soldiers who ousted Keïta promise fresh elections within a "reasonable" time. A spokesman for the mutineers says they acted "to prevent further chaos in Mali" while Colonel Ismael Wagué invited civil society and political parties to join a peaceful transition. (Reuters)
- The new military rulers announce the closure of all border crossings and impose a night-time curfew until further notice. (BBC)
- The United Nations Security Council unanimously approves a resolution condemning the coup and calling on the soldiers to return to their barracks and release all detainees. (Reuters)
- The African Union suspends Mali's membership in response to the coup. The suspension will last until "constitutional order is restored". (France 24)

Business and economy

The U.S. Treasury Department blacklists two Emirati companies for conducting business with Iranian airline Mahan Air, which itself is blacklisted for its close ties with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. (New Indian Express)

Disasters and accidents

2020 California wildfires
- Thousands in the San Francisco Bay Area flee their homes after several quick-moving wildfires, apparently sparked by lightning and the heatwave, sweep into the region. Around 50 structures have burned down with another 50 damaged in Vacaville. This group of fires, called the LNU Lightning Complex, has grown to 46,000 uncontained acres. (BBC)
At least 45 migrants, including five children, die in a shipwreck off Libya. And 37 other people survive and are rescued by local fishermen. (BBC)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - Toulouse becomes the first major city in France to make face masks compulsory in all outdoor areas. The new rules will take effect on Friday and apply from 7:00 am to 3:00 am local time for all people ages 12 and up, including those on bikes and kick-scooters. (The Telegraph)
    - France registers 3,776 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, marking a new post-lockdown peak and bringing the total to 225,043. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy reports 642 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number of reported cases since May 23, when the lockdown was eased. (ANSA) (Yahoo News UK)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
    - Iran surpasses 20,000 deaths by COVID-19, the highest toll in the Middle East. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports its highest daily rise in COVID-19 cases since early March, with 297 new cases being reported in the last 24 hours. Nearly 90% of the new cases appeared in Seoul Capital Area, where 166 of them are linked to the Sarang Jeil Church. (Reuters)
- Fiji declares an outbreak of dengue fever and leptospirosis amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Health minister Ifereimi Waqainabete says that between January and July, 3,300 cases of dengue fever and 1,000 of leptospirosis were reported. (RNZ)
Nuclear power in the United Arab Emirates
- The first unit of the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, the first nuclear power station in the Arabian Peninsula, is connected to the country's electrical grid. According to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the completion of three more APR-1400 nuclear reactor units would result in the provision of 25% of the UAE's electricity and a reduction of carbon emissions by 21 million tons a year. (CNBC)

International relations

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
  - Finland imposes "Europe's tightest" border restrictions on several countries which it had considered safe destinations to stop the spread of COVID-19. Travel from most EU member states, as well as Japan and Iceland, will be limited to essential trips starting August 24, with people returning from those countries required to self-quarantine for two weeks. (Yle) (Reuters)
Belarus–European Union relations
- The European Union formally rejects the result of the latest presidential election in Belarus, which saw Alexander Lukashenko re-elected with over 80% of the vote. The European Commission announces it will reroute €53 million away from the Belarusian government to civil society. (Sky News)

Law and crime

Christianity in Iran
- A court in Iran upholds the sentences of five Christian citizens who were charged with spreading Christianity and acting against national security by organizing and running house churches. (Al Arabiya)
U.S. Attorney General William Barr, in a letter to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, declares that Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, members of "The Beatles" ISIL cell, will not be given the death penalty if found guilty. Prior attempts by the United States to get the UK Home Office to cooperate on the terrorists' prosecution had been stymied due to the latter's long-standing policy of refusing to extradite citizens or aid in their prosecution if the death penalty was sought. (BBC)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian protests
- President Alexander Lukashenko says he has ordered security forces to "end the unrest" in Minsk, saying "People are tired. People demand peace and quiet", while also warning that state workers who joined a general strike will not be given their jobs back, and will instead be "replaced by Russians". (BBC)
- The Ministry of Health confirms that a man has died in hospital after being shot in the head at a protest in the city of Brest on August 11. He becomes the third fatality of the protests so far. (TASS)
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry sacks spokesman Haidar Badawi after claiming in an interview with Sky News Arabia yesterday that Sudan and Israel were working towards a peace deal. Foreign Minister Omar Qamar al-Din stated his Ministry reacted "with astonishment" towards the comments and that the topic was not being discussed. (Al Jazeera)

Science and technology

Discoveries of exoplanets
- Astronomers discover 95 brown dwarfs near the Sun through the Backyard Worlds project. (Space.com)

August 18, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Malian protests, 2020 Malian coup d'état
- Gunfire and a mutiny take place at a military base in Kati, Koulikoro, Mali. Soldiers arrest senior military officers as the government deploys troops to the area. (AP)
- The Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision du Mali (ORTM) headquarters in the capital Bamako are evacuated amid reports of a coup attempt. The French and Norwegian embassies urge their citizens to remain indoors after being notified of mutiny in the Armed Forces. (DW)
- Two security forces later confirm to Reuters that President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé have been detained by the mutinying forces. The two men are believed to have been transported to Kati. (France 24) (Andolu Agency) (Al Jazeera)
- Bamako and the Presidential Palace is reportedly under the control of coup forces with tanks and other military vehicles on the streets. Anti-government protesters set fire to a Ministry of Justice building, while hundreds of opposition supporters gather on the streets to celebrate the coup. (BBC)
- The European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell condemns the attempted coup, rejecting any anticonstitutional change and calls for dialogue. He also announces that contacts are being made to decide the international community's response. (European Union)
Islamic terrorism in Europe
- Three motorcyclists are rammed and left seriously wounded on a motorway in Berlin, Germany during a vehicle-ramming attack. The perpetrator is arrested and identified as an Islamic extremist. (BBC)
War in Afghanistan
- Fourteen rockets strike Kabul, wounding ten people. The rockets mostly struck the diplomatic "Green Zone", which is home to several embassies and the NATO Resolute Support headquarters. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the attack, which the Taliban has denied responsibility for. (Reuters)
Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War
- A Russian major general is killed and two others are injured by a roadside bomb in Syria while en route to Hmeimim Air Base from Deir ez-Zor. (Andolu Agency)

Disasters and accidents

2020 California wildfires
- California Governor Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency to ensure the state receives vital resources as at least 27 wildfires are raging across the state, exacerbating a stifling heat wave. (NBC News via msn.com)
2020 Masbate earthquake
- A 6.6-magnitude earthquake hits Cataingan, Masbate, Philippines, with at least one person reported to have been killed. (The Independent)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France is slated to make face masks mandatory for all shared spaces in offices and factories where there is more than one employee present. The measure is set to begin on September 1. (BBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Chancellor Angela Merkel rules out easing further COVID-19-related public health restrictions amidst a rise in new cases. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - Ireland "significantly" tightens restrictions after a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks. All businesses are told to let employees work from home, new limits are placed on outdoor gatherings, and the government warns people to avoid public transport. The new rules will be in place until at least September 13. (Sky News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announces that Energy Minister Alexander Novak has tested positive for COVID-19. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 vaccine
  - Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces that his country has signed a deal with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to manufacture a vaccine against COVID-19 that the company is developing with the Oxford Vaccine Group. The vaccine is currently in Phase III efficacy trials and AstraZeneca says it is targeting a formulation of results by the end of the year. Morrison states that the deal also allows citizens to receive immediate and free access to the vaccines, if successful. (AFP via SCMP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon
  - The acting government reimposes a curfew for two weeks amid a spike in COVID-19 infections. (Al Arabiya)

International relations

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the military
- South Korea–United States relations, Korean conflict
  - The United States Armed Forces resume joint military exercises with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces after several COVID-19 cases were confirmed at United States Forces Korea bases since February. (AFP via The Manila Times)
Belarus–Lithuania relations, 2020 Belarusian protests
- Lithuanian MPs approve economic sanctions against Belarus over the contested presidential elections. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius says Lithuania is "sending a strong message to the world" and refuses to recognize Alexander Lukashenko as President. (AP)

Law and crime

Assassination of Rafic Hariri
- The Special Tribunal for Lebanon finds Salim Ayyash, a senior member of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, guilty of assassinating former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in Beirut in 2005, following a five-year trial. (The Guardian)
2010 G20 Toronto summit protests
- The Toronto Police Service agrees to pay compensation of C$16.5 million (US$12.5M) to about 1,100 protesters who were wrongfully arrested in the city during the 2010 G20 summit. (The Guardian)
MV Wakashio oil spill
- Police in Mauritius arrest the Captain of the ship which spilled huge amounts of petrol off the coast of the country, causing a major environmental disaster. (Reuters)
Papua New Guinea police officers shoot and kill 11 prisoners after a mass jailbreak on Friday. At least 34 prisoners remain at large. (RNZ)

Politics and elections

2020 United States Postal Service crisis
- U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, in response to politicians' criticism that proposed changes to U.S. mail services could slow the handling of mail-in ballots, suspends all mail service changes until after the November election. He also said there will be no changes to retail hours at post offices, mail collection boxes will remain where they are, and no mail processing facilities will be closed. A number of states, including Washington and New York, said they are planning legal moves to block the Postal Service changes. (Reuters)

Science and technology

Microsoft announces it will be ending its support for Internet Explorer on August 17, 2021, after 25 years. (The Independent)

August 17, 2020 (Monday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
- Militants kill a policeman and two paramilitary officers in Srinagar. A spokesman for the police says they thwarted another attack when they recovered improvised explosive devices placed under a bridge. This has been seen as an increase in attacks on security forces in recent months. (Reuters)
Yemeni Civil War
- A Houthi missile attack kills 11 Yemeni government troops, including a senior officer, in Al Jawf. (Al Jazeera)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japan suffers its biggest economic slump on record as its economy's GDP fell 7.8% in April-June quarter. (BBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand's economy suffers its biggest annual contraction since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, with its GDP down 12.2% in the second quarter from a year earlier. It fell a record 9.7% on the quarter, on a seasonally adjusted basis. (Reuters)
China–United States trade war, Chinese espionage in the United States, Concerns over Chinese involvement in 5G wireless networks
- The United States Department of Commerce expands its sanctions on Chinese technological vendor Huawei by adding 38 of the company's affiliates to its "entity list", limiting Huawei's access into U.S. integrated circuits and other technology. The Trump administration has viewed Huawei as "an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance state." (AFP via The Independent)
The bankrupt NPC International announces it will close 300 Pizza Hut locations. (Fox Business)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Sri Lankan blackouts
- Electrical blackouts in Sri Lanka began nationwide due to a transmission technical failure at the Kerawalapitiya Grid-Sub station. (Daily News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - The Basque Country declares a sanitary emergency for the second time since the start of the pandemic, but doesn't foresee a general confinement of the Basque population. (La Vanguardia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
    - With 16 new daily confirmed cases, Andorra exceeds 1,000 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. (Diari d'Andorra)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
  - The Federal Ministry of Aviation announces that international flights from Lagos and Abuja will resume on August 29, after a four-month hiatus. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Australia reports 25 new COVID-19 deaths (all of them in Victoria), the deadliest day since the pandemic began. (ABC News Australia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns
  - President Rodrigo Duterte downgrades the lockdown restrictions on the Greater Manila Area to the level of general community quarantine, effective August 19, following a two-week reimposition of a modified enhanced community quarantine to prevent a "collapse" of the country's health care system. (Reuters)
The Trump administration is pushing ahead with plans to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The first leases to drill for oil and gas could be sold by the end of 2020, and is backed by the Republicans and opposed by environmental groups and some members of Alaska's Indigenous communities. (CNN)

International relations

Aftermath of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election
- Belarus–United Kingdom relations
  - British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issues a statement that the United Kingdom does not recognize the results of the Belarusian presidential election, which saw President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected. Raab calls the election "fraudulent" and demands an independent investigation into the results. (AFP via The Straits Times)
- Belarus–Ukraine relations
  - Ukraine recalls its Ambassador to Belarus to assess "the new reality" and prospects of further bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. (Reuters)
Netherlands–Russia relations
- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summons the Dutch ambassador in Moscow after surveillance equipment was discovered in the vehicle of a Russian military attaché in The Hague. (CGTN)
Malaysia–Vietnam relations, Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
- Vietnam pressed Malaysia for answers after a Vietnamese fisherman was shot dead when Malaysia’s coastguard attempted to inspect two Vietnamese fishing boats in waters east of Kelantan deemed to be engaged in illegal fishing. Malaysia alleged the 19 crew members aboard the boats “acted aggressively” and threw “diesel bombs” when they were ordered to surrender. (SCMP)

Law and crime

Hong Kong national security law
- Pro-democracy activist Sunny Cheung reportedly flees to the United Kingdom after reporting fears of imprisonment. (HK Free Press)
Aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosions
- Badri Daher, the director general of the Lebanese Customs Administration, is arrested amid the investigation on the storage of ammonium nitrate at the Port of Beirut for six years. (AP via CTV News)
A court in Malaysia jails a teenager until the King's decision for starting a fire that killed 23 people in 2017. He was not eligible for the death penalty due to being a minor at the time of the arson, the court explained. (Reuters)
Two men are charged with the death of Run-DMC member Jam Master Jay in Queens, New York, United States. The killing had remained unsolved as a cold case for 18 years. (NBC News)
The government of Colombia offers a reward of 200M pesos ($53,000; €44,000; £40,000) for information about the four gunmen who burst into a house party and killed eight people in Samaniego in Nariño Department Saturday. (BBC)
George Floyd protests
- George Floyd protests in Washington
  - George Floyd protests in Seattle
    - Eighteen protesters are arrested in Seattle after a protest in the SODO neighborhood is declared a riot. (CNN)

Politics and elections

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
    - Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announces that the Ofqual has discarded the use of an algorithm to award the final grades of GCE Advanced Level and General Certificate of Secondary Education candidates in lieu of the exams that were cancelled due to the pandemic, instead basing the qualifications on teacher-assessed grades. The decision comes after hundreds of students in England protested following the release of the Advanced Level results on August 13, which saw around 40% of teacher-predicted grades downgraded under the algorithm. (The Guardian), (Reuters via The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, WE Charity controversy
  - Bill Morneau resigns as Canada's finance minister following his involvement in the WE Charity scandal. (AAP via The Canberra Times)
2020 Belarusian protests
- President Alexander Lukashenko says he is "ready to share power in Belarus, although not under pressure from the streets". Meanwhile, opposition leader in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urges security forces to defect to her side and says she is prepared to lead the country. (Reuters)
- Addressing workers at a truck factory, Lukashenko states that there will be no fresh elections "until you kill me", he warns. He urges people to let people who want to work to work amid a general strike. He is booed and jeered by the crowd. (Sky News) (Politico)
- The Belarusian state media National State Television and Radio Company of Belarus headquarters in Minsk is reportedly emptied after staff members walked out and joined the general strike. State television is still on air but only showing an empty studio with music playing in the background. (DW)
2020 United States presidential election
- The 2020 Democratic National Convention begins, running until Thursday. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris are expected to be officially nominated for their party's choice for President and Vice President, respectively, in the upcoming election. (NPR)
- In a show of bipartisan support for the Democrats national ticket, four longtime Republicans gave speeches: former Ohio governor John Kasich, former New Jersey governor Christine Whitman, former New York congresswoman Susan Molinari, and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman. (USA Today)
2020 United States Postal Service crisis
- Congressional Democrats have announced investigations and hearings into allegations of widespread mail delays ahead of the coming 2020 United States presidential election, which many expect will see a surge in mail-in voting due to the ongoing pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House of Representatives back from recess several weeks early in order to consider legislation to address the crisis. (The Hill) (Axios)

August 16, 2020 (Sunday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Somali Civil War
- At least 12 people are killed when five al-Shabaab gunmen storm a beachfront hotel in Mogadishu after detonating a car bomb in front of the building. The attackers were later killed by security forces. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

MV Wakashio oil spill
- Mauritius says it will seek "compensation from the owner and the insurer" of MV Wakashio, which broke apart the previous day after leaking hundreds of tonnes of fuel oil. The Japanese company in charge of the ship pledged to compensate for the damage. (BBC)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - The number of deaths from COVID-19 in India surpasses 50,000. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - The number of daily new COVID-19 cases in South Korea tops 200 for the first time in five months, with 279 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The cases are traced to several conservative churches in the Seoul Capital Area. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Department of Health announces a new single-day record-high increase of 40,397 recoveries in the Philippines, bringing the total number of patients discharged to 112,586. (Inquirer)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Florida
    - The Florida Department of Health reports 3,779 cases, the state's lowest since June 23. (The Miami Herald)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia
    - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signs an executive order that permits local officials to issue mask mandates in their cities. (Newsweek)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
  - The government orders the closure of nightclubs and makes masks mandatory for 12 hours between 6:00 pm local time and 6:00 am local time. (Euronews)
The temperature reaches 130 °F (54.4 °C) in Death Valley, California amidst a historic heat wave in the western United States. If verified, it is the hottest temperature recorded on Earth in the month of August, and the hottest in any month since 1931. (The Washington Post)

International relations

Belarus–Russia relations, 2020 Belarusian protests
- Russia says it is "ready to assist Belarus in accordance with a collective military pact if necessary" as opposition leader in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya calls for a massive march. (Reuters)
Israel–United Arab Emirates peace agreement
- The United Arab Emirates unblocks telephone lines between the country and Israel, as well as allowing people in the country to access Israeli websites. Israeli Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel congratulates the Emirati government for the move. (AP)
Iran–United Arab Emirates relations
- The Emirati government summons the Iranian chargé d'affaires in Abu Dhabi to protest a speech by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani which called the UAE's peace agreement with Israel "a treacherous act." The Emirati government labeled these remarks as "unacceptable, inflammatory and carrying serious repercussions for the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf region." (Al Arabiya)

Politics and elections

COVID-19 pandemic
- Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
        Hundreds of GCE Advanced Level students protest outside the Department for Education headquarters in London demanding for a reassessment of their final-year performance by the Ofqual, which has used an algorithm to assess students' performances in lieu of the exams that were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics claim the Ofqual's algorithm to be "flawed" as the grades issued differ significantly from those predicted by teachers. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had issued a statement clarifying that students may use their teacher's predicted grades or results from any trial exam, although the Ofqual issued a separate statement favouring teacher evaluations over trial exams. Students are requesting for an intervention from Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (AP via SCMP)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      - Hundreds of protesters at the Plaza de Colón in Madrid demand the government rescinds the compulsory wearing of face masks in public, which had been imposed following the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in July. Protesters claim that such restrictions are an attempt by the government to curtail people's freedoms. (AFP via The Straits Times)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, 2020 New Zealand general election
    - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern postpones the upcoming general election from 19 September to 17 October due to a recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases. (Stuff), (CNN)
2020 Belarusian protests
- Tens of thousands protest in the Belarusian capital Minsk calling for President Alexander Lukashenko to step down. It is believed to be the largest protest in Belarusian history. (The Guardian)
- In a defiant speech, Alexander Lukashenko addresses supporters in Independence Square, Minsk, where he claims Belarus would "die as a state" if new elections were held, and accuses NATO of "massing on the border". Opposition critics say most of those at the rally were coerced into attending and had been bussed in from other parts of the country. (Sky News)
- The Belarusian Ambassador to Slovakia, Igor Leshchenya, defects to the opposition after posting a video declaring his support for the protests. (The Independent)
2020 Thai protests
- More than 10,000 people march against the government, demanding their resignation and a curb to its monarchy's power. The protesters also demand a change in the constitution. Meanwhile, dozens held pro-monarchy counter-protests. (Al Jazeera)
Politics of the Dominican Republic
- Luis Abinader is sworn in as President after winning the 2020 general elections. He succeeds Danilo Medina. (The New York Times)

August 15, 2020 (Saturday)

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Business and economy

Argentine debt restructuring
- The government approves a proposed deal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to restructure around $65 billion in foreign government bonds, following President Alberto Fernández's successful negotiations with creditors and the International Monetary Fund the previous week after the country defaulted in May. The government plans to submit the proposal to the SEC on August 17. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- The MSC Grandiosa disembarks from Genoa, Italy, on a seven-day cruise in the Mediterranean Sea, the first major cruise ship to sail in the Sea in almost five months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

MV Wakashio oil spill
- The Japanese bulk carrier Wakashio, which stranded on a reef in Mauritius last month, breaks in half. Approximately 1,000 tonnes of oil spilled into the ocean. Most of the oil had been pumped out before the ship broke in half in the afternoon. Around 166 tonnes of oil remained after the break, and authorities are working to remove it. Scientists call it the biggest environmental disaster ever in Mauritius. France says it will help with the cleanup. Japan's ministry of environment announced that it will send officials and other specialists to look at the damage. (Reuters)
Two lighter vessels capsize in the Bay of Bengal, near the island of Bhasan Char in Bangladesh. The country's Inland Water Transport Authority report that 13 crew members from one vessel en route to the Narayanganj District from Chittagong are missing, while all 12 crew members from the other vessel were rescued. (Anadolu Agency)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
    - Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen mandates the wearing of face masks on all public transport in the country, effective August 22, in an effort to control the spread of the virus. (AFP via Daily Sabah)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - The daily number of new COVID-19 cases in France tops 3,000 for the first time since lockdown eased. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
    - Malta reports 72 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. It is the highest single increase in new cases in the country since the pandemic began. (Times of Malta)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - Ireland reports 200 new cases but no deaths in the last 24 hours. This is the highest number of daily cases since May. (The Irish Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, COVID-19 vaccine
    - Russia announces the production of the first batch of its Sputnik V vaccine. (Hindustan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports 166 new cases of COVID-19. From that number, 139 were traced to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and a significant portion of them were linked to cluster infections involving churchgoers. It is the highest number of reported new cases since March 11. (Kyodo News)
    - After a spike in new cases, the government decides to tighten social distancing measures in Seoul and surrounding areas. Many measures that are to be implemented include restricting numbers of gatherings and sports events played behind closed doors. (Tempo)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Minister of State Owned Enterprises and chief of the COVID-19 recovery team, Erick Thohir, announces that the government would bar foreign visitors until the completion of a vaccine. Indonesian scientists are testing a COVID-19 vaccine with Sinovac Biotech, which Thohir says is likely to be completed next year. (Kyodo News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria
    - Algeria begins to reopen their mosques, beaches, cafes, and parks five months after their lockdown. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    - President Cyril Ramaphosa announces a plan to ease nearly all restrictions on the economy from August 17, including lifting a controversial ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco that had been imposed in July, as infections peak. (BBC)

International relations

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  - The government of the Netherlands issues a travel warning advising the public not to travel to some places, including Paris, the region surrounding Marseilles, Brussels, Ibiza and Mallorca. The warnings come as a response to an increase in new cases in Spain, France and Belgium. (NL Times)
Aftermath of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election
- The leaders of the Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, issue a joint statement calling on Belarus to hold a new "free and fair" election with international observers. (RFE/RL)
Poland–United States relations
- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak sign an agreement in Warsaw to redeploy about 1,000 U.S. troops from Germany to Poland so as to bring the total to 5,500. The agreement also includes a potential increase to 20,000 U.S. troops if Poland is under threat. (BBC)
Israel and the United Nations
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi condemns the UN Security Council's decision not to extend an arms embargo on Iran. Ashkenazi argues that Iran "will lead to further Middle East instability". (Reuters)
Afghanistan–France relations, Afghan peace process
- Amidst the release of "hardcore" Taliban prisoners, the French government asks the Afghan government not to release those involved in the killing of French citizens. (Reuters)

Law and crime

George Floyd protests
- George Floyd protests in Georgia
  - Antifa militants, far-right groups, and pro-Confederacy groups clash at Stone Mountain, near the city of Stone Mountain, Georgia. (The Daily Beast)
- George Floyd protests in Michigan
  - Members of the right-wing group Proud Boys clash with counter-protesters in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with police carrying out nine arrests, including a local newspaper reporter. (AP)
2020 Thai protests
- Student activist Parit Chiwarak is released on bail after being arrested on Friday for co-organising a rally in July. He was charged with violating the COVID-19 measures and breaching internal security. Protests have been taking place in Thailand since July against the government. Parit Chiwarak has said he will continue to protest against the government and for reforms in the Thai monarchy. (Reuters)
Thai King Vajiralongkorn commutes the death sentence of two Burmese nationals convicted of the rape and murder of two British backpackers in 2014 in Ko Tao. The royal decree was issued to commemorate the birthday of the King, on July 28, to "illustrate the king's clemency". The pair now serve life in prison. (BBC)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian protests
- President Alexander Lukashenko issues an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he considers the protests "not a threat to just Belarus anymore". Statements by both sides contained a pointed reference to the Union State between the two countries. Meanwhile, opposition candidate leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is exiled in Lithuania, calls for more protests. (Reuters)

August 14, 2020 (Friday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir
- Islamist insurgents kill at least two police officers and injured another in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The attack comes days after the first anniversary of the revocation of Kashmir’s constitutional autonomy. (Reuters)
Moro conflict
- Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari surrenders Abduljihad Susukan, a sub-commander of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf militant group, to the Philippine National Police in Davao City, following the latter's involvement in the 2015 Roseller Lim and Samal Island kidnappings and beheadings. Susukan surrendered to Misuari in April 2020. (AP via CBC News)

Arts and culture

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts and cultural heritage
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
  - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says that museums and cultural institutions in New York City will be allowed to reopen on August 24 at a 25% capacity. (New York Times)

Disasters and accidents

2020 wildfire season
- 2020 California wildfires
  - The Lake Fire in Santa Clarita and Palmdale grows to over 10,000 acres, prompting evacuations in the Lake Hughes area. (CBS News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France reports 2,846 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, as well as more than 12,300 new cases this week, making it the highest number of cases since the lockdown was eased in May. (The New York Times) (The Telegraph)
    - The government declares Paris and Marseilles as "active zones", or high-risk zones. The move allows local authorities in those designated areas to impose restrictions. (DW)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Amid an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, the government of Spain closes all nightclubs and bans smoking in public sites in the event that the social distancing is not assured. (CBS News) (Politico)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece announces that they would limit public gatherings to 50 people and impose a midnight curfew on bars and restaurants in Athens and other areas. This measure is to last until August 24 in parts of the country where infection numbers have risen. (Greek Reporter)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
  - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the current Alert Level settings will be extended for another 12 days. (Newshub)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
  - Education Secretary Leonor Briones suspends the commencement of the 2020–21 academic year for primary and secondary schools until October 5 due to the continuous rise of cases in the country. (Kyodo News via The Mainichi)

International relations

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Germany declares all of Spain except for the Canary Islands a high risk region following a spike of COVID-19 cases in the country. Designations as risk regions are typically followed by the German Foreign Ministry warning against touristic travel to those areas and mean people returning from those areas face a test or two weeks' compulsory quarantine. (France 24)
Belarus–Lithuania relations, 2020 Belarusian presidential election, 2020 Belarusian protests
- Lithuania becomes the first EU state to openly reject the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko as President of Belarus. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda says "We can not call Mister Lukashenko legitimate because there were no free democratic elections in Belarus". (Urdu Point)
Sanctions on Iran
- The United Nations Security Council has resoundingly rejected a United States bid to extend a global arms embargo on Iran. In a Security Council vote, United States only got support from the Dominican Republic for its resolution to indefinitely extend the arms embargo on Iran, leaving it far short of the minimum nine "yes" votes required for adoption. Eleven members on the 15-member body, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, abstained while Russia and China opposed extending the ban but did not need to use their vetoes. (AlJazeera) (Guardian)

Law and crime

2020 Belarusian protests
- Amnesty International says "widespread torture" is taking place inside detention centres in Belarus, with more than 6,700 people detained since protests against Lukashenko broke out following the disputed presidential election result. Amnesty International says detainees described being stripped naked, beaten and threatened with rape. The BBC also reports evidence of torture, including at the Okrestina detention centre in Minsk. (CNN) (BBC)
2020 Thai protests
- Thai police arrest a student leader over an anti-government protest last month. The student was arrested in the outskirts of Bangkok while traveling to a protest. Human Rights Watch reports that he will be charged with breaching multiple laws. Police declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. (Reuters)
The United States Department of Justice says Yale University is illegally discriminating against White Americans and Asian Americans in its undergraduate admissions process, following a two-year investigation into the university. A Yale spokeswoman "categorically" denies the federal accusations. (BBC)