Month: December 2020

Read More 31 December 1920 The birds go by the weather and not by any artificial, hard and fast arrangement of times and seasons There is a winter moth on the curtain; it fluttered in last night. Its presence is normal at this season, and has little to do with the mild weather, but the…

Read More Kerala villagers are reaping the benefits of a scheme that pays them to leave their trees rooted, reducing risk of deforestation In the misty, hilly terrain of Wayanad, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, the people with any access to land in the quiet town of Meenangadi have been out counting their…

Read MoreDr Mahinder Watsa was 80 when he started his hugely popular column, answering people’s queries on sex.Dr Mahinder Watsa was 80 when he started his hugely popular column, answering people’s queries on sex.

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Read MoreNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un is facing the toughest challenges of his nine-year ruleNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un is facing the toughest challenges of his nine-year rule

Read MoreThe Indian army admitted in September that three labourers were killed in staged gun battle after public outcry.The Indian army admitted in September that three labourers were killed in staged gun battle after public outcry.

Read More Prosecution of 10 Hong Kongers detained in mainland China after allegedly attempting to flee to Taiwan also began on Monday Zhang Zhan, a 37-year-old former lawyer and citizen journalist who was arrested in May while reporting from Wuhan, has been sentenced to four years in jail. Zhang was arrested for “picking quarrels and…

Read More From pranksters trolling Trump, to the 96-year-old who won us a new national holiday, these people made us smile this year True to form for an administration that could make the most routine tasks somehow absurd, Donald Trump couldn’t even lose an election without making it weird. With close but clear results, he…

Read More MEPs expected to approve deal despite anger at feeling sidelined by last-minute process Members of the European parliament will start belated scrutiny of the post-Brexit trade agreement on Monday, after EU and UK negotiators finally struck a deal on Christmas Eve. The delays in finalising the agreement have left MEPs with no chance…

Read More Runaway success of the story of Tanjiro – a boy who shows remarkable resilience in the face of obstacles – comes despite the coronavirus pandemic Not even a pandemic has been able to stop an animated film set a century ago from becoming Japan’s highest-grossing movie ever, surpassing sales from Hollywood blockbusters, the…

Read MoreZhang Zhan, who reported on China’s first coronavirus outbreak, has received a four year sentence.Zhang Zhan, who reported on China’s first coronavirus outbreak, has received a four year sentence.

Read More Little-discussed reversal of thinking means plans for formal co-operation look dead Plans for the UK to re-establish formal foreign and security policy links with the European Union, frozen during negotiations over a trade deal, may never be revived, as UK foreign policy focuses on bilateral links in Europe and developing new alliances in…

Read MoreMove is part of Beijing’s clampdown on technology firms that have come to dominate e-commerce and financial services.Move is part of Beijing’s clampdown on technology firms that have come to dominate e-commerce and financial services.

Read MoreZhang Zhan is one of a number of people facing trial for exposing initial chaos of COVID-19 response in Wuhan.Zhang Zhan is one of a number of people facing trial for exposing initial chaos of COVID-19 response in Wuhan.

Read More After almost 12 months of charting developments as Covid sweeps the world, I look forward to better news next year Join the million-plus people supporting independent Guardian journalism In February this year, when I was offered the job of liveblogger and reporter on the Guardian’s foreign desk in Australia, my boss told me…

Read MoreGovernment is facing criticism over its vaccine programme, which is seen as being too slow.Government is facing criticism over its vaccine programme, which is seen as being too slow.

Read More Beloved bird that inspired toys and a picture book remembered by conservationists as a ‘precious taonga [treasure]’ A much-loved and extremely rare white kiwi has died following surgery, prompting an outpouring of grief among conservationists in New Zealand. Manukura the North Island brown kiwi hatched in captivity in May 2011 with a rare…

Read More President Cyril Ramaphosa expected to announce new restrictions in attempt to slow the surge See all our coronavirus coverage South Africa’s Covid-19 surge has taken the country to more than 1 million confirmed cases as president Cyril Ramaphosa called an emergency meeting of the national coronavirus command council. The country’s new variant of…

Read More (NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville blew himself up in the explosion, and appears to have acted alone, federal officials said Sunday. Investigators used DNA and other evidence to link the man, identified as Anthony Quinn Warner, to the mysterious…

Read MoreLin Qi, 39, was the founder of Yoozoo which developed a popular Game of Thrones online game.Lin Qi, 39, was the founder of Yoozoo which developed a popular Game of Thrones online game.

Read More Move comes after Republicans voiced anger over the delay, which resulted in millions of Americans losing unemployment aid See all our coronavirus coverage Donald Trump has signed the Covid-19 relief and spending bill after days of delays, preventing a mid-pandemic government shutdown. The announcement on Sunday night after Republicans urged him to act…

Read MoreRelief bill is crucial to payments to jobless Americans, and funding for federal government operations.Relief bill is crucial to payments to jobless Americans, and funding for federal government operations.

Read More (WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) — President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown. The massive bill includes $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies…

Read MoreExperts are preparing to travel to Wuhan to investigate how COVID-19 emerged as China questions origins and spread.Experts are preparing to travel to Wuhan to investigate how COVID-19 emerged as China questions origins and spread.

Read MoreGovernment said to be considering new measures to tackle outbreak amid threat of fast-spreading new variant.Government said to be considering new measures to tackle outbreak amid threat of fast-spreading new variant.

Read More There can be no return to the relations of the past. The question for 2021 is how to find a new settling point Australians have had a rude awakening this year. Convinced for a decade that the Asian century was theirs for the taking, the downward spiral of Australia’s relationship with China has…

Read MoreThe measure restores unemployment benefits and averts a partial US government shutdown.™The measure restores unemployment benefits and averts a partial US government shutdown.™

Read More From Australian bushfires to Atlantic hurricanes, insurance damages were the highest annual total ever, says Christian Aid study The world’s 10 costliest weather disasters of 2020 saw insured damages worth $150bn, topping the figure for 2019 and reflecting a long-term impact of global warming, according to a new report. The same disasters claimed…

Read MoreConductor Gustavo Dudamel believes music can lead the way and wants to inspire young people.Conductor Gustavo Dudamel believes music can lead the way and wants to inspire young people.

Read More Alec Baldwin’s wife says she grew up as ‘Hilary’ in Boston before moving to Spain Alec Baldwin’s wife says she grew up as ‘Hilary’ in Boston before moving to Spain

Read More The order by Israeli Public Security Minister Amir Ohana to withhold Covid-19 vaccines from Palestinian prisoners was discriminatory and contradicted the guidelines by the country’s own Health Ministry, human rights groups said. Ohana told Israeli prison officials to hold off administering jabs to Palestinian inmates until further notice, and provide the vaccine only…

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Read MoreThe grim milestone comes after a new variant of coronavirus is identified in the country.The grim milestone comes after a new variant of coronavirus is identified in the country.

Read More Police chief says no-one else believed to be involved in shocking incident Police chief says no-one else believed to be involved in shocking incident

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