Portal:Current events/2020 November 16

November 16, 2020 (Monday)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation
    - Korean Air announces that it will acquire Asiana Airlines for 1.8 trillion KRW (US$1.6 billion) to help the South Korean airline industry continue to grow amid uncertainties during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Korea Herald)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Atlantic hurricane season
- Hurricane Iota strengthens into a category 5 hurricane as it approaches Nicaragua. (The Washington Post)
List of explosions
- An LP gas truck explodes on Federal Highway 15D in Nayarit, Mexico, killing at least 14 people. Most of the victims died inside their vehicles. (The Independent) (El Universal)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
      - COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia
        Philadelphia bans nearly all indoor gatherings, both public and private, between November 20 and January 1 as part of new restrictions in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases. In addition, high schools will be reverted to remote learning, restaurants will only be allowed to have takeaway or delivery, and businesses like movie theaters, arcades, and bowling alleys are ordered closed again. (NPR)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in California
      - Governor Gavin Newsom announces that he has pulled an "emergency brake", which means that starting the following day, California will implement more closures and stricter restrictions, which will cover 41 counties containing 94% of the state's population. (The Guardian)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan surpasses 8,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19. (MLive.com)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico
      - New Mexico begins its two-week lockdown announced by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on November 13 in an attempt to curb COVID-19 infections. Under the latest public health order, people are being asked to stay at home, and only essential businesses will remain open. (KOB-TV)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Texas
      - Texas surpasses 20,000 total confirmed deaths from COVID-19 and becomes the state with the second-highest number of reported deaths in the United States, behind only New York. (ABC News)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.
      - U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos of Illinois and Tim Walberg of Michigan announce they have tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, Representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin said publicly he was isolating after a possible exposure to the virus. (CNN)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
      - Alberta reports a record 91 new fatalities in the last 24 hours. (Airdrie Today)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Nunavut
      - Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Patterson announces that Nunavut will close all non-essential services, businesses and organizations, as well as schools and daycare centres for two weeks beginning November 18, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the territory. (CBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia reports a record 22,778 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 1.95 million. (Anadolu Agency)
    - Buryatia becomes the first Russian republic to return to a lockdown, as it closes restaurants, shopping malls, and other places of public gathering for two weeks. (The Moscow Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - The number of hospitalized patients in France reaches an all-time high of 33,497. (Le Figaro)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - Portugal reports a record 91 new fatalities, bringing the nationwide death toll to 3,472. (Portugal Resident)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
    - Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announces a ban on public gatherings of more than eight people beginning November 24, as part of measures aimed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Sweden. (RTE)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
    - Iran reports a record 13,053 new cases and 486 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the worst-hit country in the Middle East to 775,121 and the nationwide death toll to 41,979. (Al Arabiya)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - Prime Minister Imran Khan announces a temporary ban on political rallies and gatherings of more than 300 people in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan. (Deccan Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - The Northern Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania announce that their borders with South Australia are indefinitely closed, as the state's second wave reaches 17 cases. (News.com.au)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Moderna's preliminary results show their vaccine candidate is 94.5% effective at preventing COVID-19 infections. The results also suggest that in cases of COVID-19 infection after vaccination, the vaccine appeared to prevent severe illness. (The New York Times)

International relations

Russia–Sudan relations
- Russian President Vladimir Putin approves the construction of a new Russian Navy facility in Sudan. The naval base will be built near Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast, and will hold up to 300 military and civilian personnel. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Capital punishment in Iraq
- Iraq hangs 21 convicted terrorists and murderers at the Nasiriyah Central Prison in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate. The interior ministry did not provide details of the crimes of those executed but stated they were all convicted under a 2005 counter-terrorism law. (DW)

Politics and elections

2020 United States presidential election
- Plaintiffs aligned with President Donald Trump's re-election campaign and the GOP announces that they will drop lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Georgia challenging ballots and attempting to block the states from certifying their election results. (Forbes) (CNBC)
2020 Belarusian protests
- Retirees protest in Minsk, marking the 100th straight day protests broke in Belarus since President Alexander Lukashenko won his 6th term in a widely rejected election. (AP)