Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai Cinemas in Shanghai and Chengdu reopen after a six-month closure. (Reuters)
Cinemas in Shanghai and Chengdu reopen after a six-month closure. (Reuters)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai Cinemas in Shanghai and Chengdu reopen after a six-month closure. (Reuters)
The China National Space Administration successfully launches Tianwen-1, China's first independent interplanetary mission to Mars, from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Wenchang, Hainan. The mission includes an orbiter, lander and rover, which will search for evidence of both current and past life on the planet. (NBC News)
2020 Thai protests, LGBT rights in Thailand An LGBT group gathers at the Democracy Monument, Bangkok, to call for legalization of same-sex marriage in addition to the three demands stated by Free Youths. (Prachatai)
2020 Thai protests An event called "Let's run, Hamtaro" is organised at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. It was initially an online activism, later spread via Twitter, and eventually gathered around 3,000 people. The event consisted of running around the monument whilst singing a jingle from Hamtaro, a famous Japanese cartoon, with some amendments to the lyrics as a satire to political corruption. The well-known lyrics from Hamtaro; "the most yummy things of all are... sunflower seeds!", was amended into a satire "the most yummy things of all are... citizens' taxes!". (Thairath) (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium Belgium announces the unveiling of drastic social distancing measures aimed at avoiding a new lockdown. These measures include restricting social contact outside every household to five people over the next four weeks and limiting crowds at public events to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. This measure will take effect next Wednesday. (France24) Antwerp imposes a curfew from 11.30 p.m. to 6 a.m and the mandatory wearing of face masks in public spaces should a distance of 1.5 meters between individuals not be observed. (The Washington Post)
Astronomers at Pan-STARRS announce the discovery of a small near-Earth object (NEO) HLV2514, which is an Amor asteroid near Mars. The asteroid was first discovered in June 2020 by two 14-year-old Indian schoolgirls who were participating in a NASA project. (CNN)
Exploration of Mars The Mars 2020 mission carrying the Perseverance rover and Mars helicopter Ingenuity successfully launches atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral SLC-41. (Space.com)
The Mars 2020 mission carrying the Perseverance rover and Mars helicopter Ingenuity successfully launches atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral SLC-41. (Space.com)
2020 Khabarovsk Krai protests Protests in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, Russia continue for the fourth consecutive weekend. Protesters demand the release of regional governor Sergei Furgal, who was arrested on charges of murder, which he denies. Thousands of people reportedly join the protest. (Reuters)
Crew Dragon Endeavour makes its first splashdown after successfully completing the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission. (Space.com)
Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Jimmy Lai and Agnes Chow are released on bail. Lai makes no comment while Chow says that her arrest amounts to "political persecution and political suppression". (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain reports 2,935 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number of new cases since the lockdown was lifted in June. (Reuters) Galicia bans smoking in public places over concerns that it increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission. (BBC News) The Canary Islands also intend to ban outdoor smoking when social distancing cannot be guaranteed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The smoking ban will take effect tomorrow, and wearing face masks will be mandatory in all public spaces. (RTÉ)
The Canary Islands also intend to ban outdoor smoking when social distancing cannot be guaranteed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The smoking ban will take effect tomorrow, and wearing face masks will be mandatory in all public spaces. (RTÉ)
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 News)
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 News)
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 News)
Austria expels a Russian diplomat following a report accusing the envoy of being involved in economic espionage after an Austrian who works in a technology company confessed that he carried out espionage for years on behalf of the Russian, who was his intelligence handler. (Al Jazeera)
Austria–Russia relations Austria expels a Russian diplomat following a report accusing the envoy of being involved in economic espionage after an Austrian who works in a technology company confessed that he carried out espionage for years on behalf of the Russian, who was his intelligence handler. (Al Jazeera)
Ant files for an initial public offering of at least 10% of its capital in new shares on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges. (Bloomberg via Al Jazeera)
2020 NBA playoffs All three NBA Playoff games today involving the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers are postponed as teams sit in protest after the shooting of Jacob Blake. (NBA)
All three NBA Playoff games today involving the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers are postponed as teams sit in protest after the shooting of Jacob Blake. (NBA)
Bahrain–United Arab Emirates relations Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs grants first freedom rights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), allowing flights between the UAE and any country to enter Bahraini airspace. Bahrain follows Saudi Arabia in granting such rights to the UAE, which the latter did two days prior following the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE. Like Saudi Arabia and most Arab states, Bahrain currently does not maintain any official relations with Israel nor recognises it. (Arab News) (Reuters)
Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs grants first freedom rights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), allowing flights between the UAE and any country to enter Bahraini airspace. Bahrain follows Saudi Arabia in granting such rights to the UAE, which the latter did two days prior following the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE. Like Saudi Arabia and most Arab states, Bahrain currently does not maintain any official relations with Israel nor recognises it. (Arab News) (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado Governor Jared Polis says that the state might extend its mask mandate in indoor public spaces for another 30 days. (The Denver Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California It is announced that schools in Los Angeles County will remain closed until the winter. (Patch.com) COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado Governor Jared Polis says that the state might extend its mask mandate in indoor public spaces for another 30 days. (The Denver Post) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan records 1,313 new cases, its highest single-day total since April 24. (MLive.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California It is announced that schools in Los Angeles County will remain closed until the winter. (Patch.com) COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado Governor Jared Polis says that the state might extend its mask mandate in indoor public spaces for another 30 days. (The Denver Post) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan records 1,313 new cases, its highest single-day total since April 24. (MLive.com)
Governor Jared Polis says that the state might extend its mask mandate in indoor public spaces for another 30 days. (The Denver Post)
Climate change in the Arctic Satellite imagery shows that a big chunk of ice shattered into many small pieces from the last remaining ice shelf in Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, Greenland. (BBC) The discovery of the perfectly preserved remains of a cave bear, believed to be 22,000 to 39,500 years old (Late Pleistocene), is made in Lyakhovsky Islands, Siberia in the thawing permafrost. (AP)
The United Arab Emirates announces the Emirates Lunar Mission to send a space exploration vehicle to the Moon in 2024. (The Hill) (Gulf Today)
Discoveries of exoplanets Scientists reveal the image of Beta Pictoris c (β Pic c), an exoplanet that is located 63 light years away. (ScienceAlert)
Scientists reveal the image of Beta Pictoris c (β Pic c), an exoplanet that is located 63 light years away. (ScienceAlert)
SpaceX announces that they aborted a launch of a GPS Block III satellite two seconds before taking off. (CNET)
Mars makes its closest approach to Earth since 2018. Mars will not be closer to Earth again until 2035. (Space.com)
Starman, a Tesla Roadster that was launched on a Falcon Heavy rocket three years ago by Elon Musk, makes its closest approach to Mars at a distance of 0.05 astronomical units. (CNN)
2020 in spaceflight Boulders are discovered on the Bennu asteroid by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which is expected to collect samples from the asteroid's surface later this month. (Space.com)
Boulders are discovered on the Bennu asteroid by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which is expected to collect samples from the asteroid's surface later this month. (Space.com)
NASA announces that the SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station would be delayed to mid-November. Furthermore, NASA calls for SpaceX satellite to investigate the issue that caused a GPS Block III to abort two seconds before launching on October 2. (CBS News)
A new decree orders a mask mandate for every outdoor space should social distancing not be guaranteed. (San Marino RTV)
COVID-19 pandemic in San Marino A new decree orders a mask mandate for every outdoor space should social distancing not be guaranteed. (San Marino RTV)
Exploration of the Moon The U.S.-led Artemis Accords are signed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. According to NASA, the Accords aim to establish norms of behavior between countries regarding lunar resource extraction and exploration, outline "safety zones" on the lunar surface where other countries should not interfere, and protect heritage sites on the lunar surface such as the Apollo landing sites. Successive signatories since then have been announced. (Reuters) (The Verge)
The U.S.-led Artemis Accords are signed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. According to NASA, the Accords aim to establish norms of behavior between countries regarding lunar resource extraction and exploration, outline "safety zones" on the lunar surface where other countries should not interfere, and protect heritage sites on the lunar surface such as the Apollo landing sites. Successive signatories since then have been announced. (Reuters) (The Verge)
2020 in paleontology Researchers announce the fossil discoveries of Triassic drepanosaur Skybalonyx skapter at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. (Los Angeles Times) A boy discovers a fossilized hadrosaur skeleton at the Horseshoe Canyon in Alberta, Canada, dating back 69 million years. (BBC News) (Global News)
Researchers announce the fossil discoveries of Triassic drepanosaur Skybalonyx skapter at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. (Los Angeles Times)
2020 Thai protests Two activists in Thailand are arrested on charges of attempting violence against the Queen. Bunkueanun "Francis" Paothong and Ekachai Hongkangwan are set to be charged under Section 110 of Thailand's criminal code and could result in a possible life sentence. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announces new restrictions as cases in the city rise. Masks will be required in public spaces and gatherings will be limited to five people. (Fox News) (KCNC-TV)
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announces new restrictions as cases in the city rise. Masks will be required in public spaces and gatherings will be limited to five people. (Fox News) (KCNC-TV)
Two activists in Thailand are arrested on charges of attempting violence against the Queen. Bunkueanun "Francis" Paothong and Ekachai Hongkangwan are set to be charged under Section 110 of Thailand's criminal code and could result in a possible life sentence. (CNN)
Armenian air defences shoot down three Azerbaijani drones operating in its national airspace, according to the Ministry of Defence of Armenia. (Urdupoint)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Israel COVID-19 vaccination in Israel The Israel Institute for Biological Research announces that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate will be named as Brilife, with phase 1 human trails expected to start during the end of the month. (The Jerusalem Post) COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports 337 new deaths in the previous 24 hours, a new record of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, pushing the death toll in the country to 30,712. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Israel COVID-19 vaccination in Israel The Israel Institute for Biological Research announces that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate will be named as Brilife, with phase 1 human trails expected to start during the end of the month. (The Jerusalem Post)
COVID-19 vaccination in Israel The Israel Institute for Biological Research announces that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate will be named as Brilife, with phase 1 human trails expected to start during the end of the month. (The Jerusalem Post)
COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac appears to be safe in providing protection against COVID-19, as preliminary results of Phase III clinical trial in Brazil show. São Paulo's Instituto Butantan, one of Brazil's leading biomedical research centres carrying out the trials, says CoronaVac proved to be safe after its two doses were applied to 9,000 volunteers, but said data on how effective it is in protecting people against COVID-19 will not be released until it has been tested on all 15,000 volunteers in newly expanded trials. (South China Morning Post)
Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac appears to be safe in providing protection against COVID-19, as preliminary results of Phase III clinical trial in Brazil show. São Paulo's Instituto Butantan, one of Brazil's leading biomedical research centres carrying out the trials, says CoronaVac proved to be safe after its two doses were applied to 9,000 volunteers, but said data on how effective it is in protecting people against COVID-19 will not be released until it has been tested on all 15,000 volunteers in newly expanded trials. (South China Morning Post)
The Israel Institute for Biological Research announces that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate will be named as Brilife, with phase 1 human trails expected to start during the end of the month. (The Jerusalem Post)
2020 in spaceflight, New Frontiers program NASA's OSIRIS-REx space probe successfully lands and collects samples from the asteroid Bennu. The samples will be returned to Earth in 2023. (CNN) (BBC News)
NASA's OSIRIS-REx space probe successfully lands and collects samples from the asteroid Bennu. The samples will be returned to Earth in 2023. (CNN) (BBC News)
Russia–United States relations Two United States F-22 fighters intercept a pair of Russian Tu-95 bombers in international airspace near Alaska. (Fox News)
Two United States F-22 fighters intercept a pair of Russian Tu-95 bombers in international airspace near Alaska. (Fox News)
The Palm Fountain in Palm Jumeirah opens to the public in Dubai and breaks the Guinness World Records for the world's largest fountain display. (Khaleej Times)
Chinese financial technology firm Ant Group debuts on the Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchanges, with its IPO worth up to US$34.4 billion. This surpasses Saudi Aramco, whose IPO was worth US$29.4 billion, as the strongest debut on a stock exchange. Jack Ma, whose company Alibaba Group is backing the debut, is expected to become the richest man in China as a result. (BBC News)
Lunar water NASA confirms water has been spotted on the sunlit surface of the moon. (Fox News)
NASA confirms water has been spotted on the sunlit surface of the moon. (Fox News)
Bahrain grants emergency use approval for a vaccine candidate produced in a partnership between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing company Group 42 on frontline workers. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain; COVID-19 vaccine Bahrain grants emergency use approval for a vaccine candidate produced in a partnership between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing company Group 42 on frontline workers. (Reuters)
SpaceX Crew-1, Expedition 64 SpaceX successfully launches its Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying three NASA astronauts, Michael S. Hopkins, Victor J. Glover, Shannon Walker and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi to the International Space Station. It is the first crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft and the first night launch in the United States since STS-130. (BBC News)
SpaceX successfully launches its Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying three NASA astronauts, Michael S. Hopkins, Victor J. Glover, Shannon Walker and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi to the International Space Station. It is the first crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft and the first night launch in the United States since STS-130. (BBC News)
Citing safety concerns, the National Science Foundation announces that the 57-year-old Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico will be decommissioned. Earlier this month, a second cable supporting the 900-ton instrument platform snapped. The platform is suspended 450 feet (137 meters) above the fixed radio dish, which is 1,000 feet (305 meters) in diameter. (NSF)
COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issues a new public health order that requires people aged five or older to wear a face mask when they are indoors or in an enclosed space with anyone outside their household or living unit. The mandate is effective immediately and will expire after 60 days. (WAOW-TV)
Governor Tony Evers issues a new public health order that requires people aged five or older to wear a face mask when they are indoors or in an enclosed space with anyone outside their household or living unit. The mandate is effective immediately and will expire after 60 days. (WAOW-TV)
Copernicus Programme SpaceX successfully launches the European Space Agency's satellite altimeter Copernicus Sentinel-6 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The satellite will monitor global sea levels with high accuracy, enhance weather forecasting, and provide detailed information on ocean currents to support ship navigation near coastlines. (NASA.gov)
SpaceX successfully launches the European Space Agency's satellite altimeter Copernicus Sentinel-6 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The satellite will monitor global sea levels with high accuracy, enhance weather forecasting, and provide detailed information on ocean currents to support ship navigation near coastlines. (NASA.gov)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Osaka reports 490 new cases in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the pandemic began. (Nihon Keizai Shimbun) Japan surpasses 2,000 total COVID-19 deaths. (Nippon.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, COVID-19 testing The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) begins to introduce saliva tests to detect active COVID-19 infections in children between the ages of 3 and 16 in all DHA facilities and DHA-run screening centers across Dubai. These tests are more than 90% accurate, making them a viable alternative to nasal swab tests which are uncomfortable and harder to use to test children. (Gulf News)
