Portal:Current events/2020 August 16

August 16, 2020 (Sunday)

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 News)

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 News)

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 p.m. local time and 6:00 a.m. 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)