August 2020

Northamptonshire Police sergeant Scott Renwick had to call the fire service to release him from a pair of handcuffs after he got stuck in them during a demonstration. Via: Cuff justice! Police officer is forced to call 999 for help getting out of his handcuffs

Josh Halliday on failures in England’s coronavirus contact-tracing system as the government replaces the main public health body in the middle of the pandemicBack in March, the World Health Organization stressed the importance of a well-managed contact- tracing system for containing and suppressing outbreaks of Covid-19. Despite having a functioning Read more

2016 candidate urges Democrats to vote in NovemberKamala Harris to accept vice-presidential nominationObama to warn that democracy is on the line in NovemberSign up to our First Thing newsletter 2.57am BST As the Democrats vilify the Trump administration’s record of hardline immigration policies that separated families, Belén Sisa – a Read more

New Zealand reports five new cases; Qantas reports 91% profit drop; Brazil reports 50,000 new infections. Follow latest updatesIran surpasses 20,000 official deaths from Covid-19Australia: Victorian hotel quarantine rooms were unclean, guest claimsSweden records highest death tally in 150 years in first half of 2020Australia – live updates See all Read more

The storm, which contains the remnants of Tropical Storm Kyle, brought heavy gales as it hit Ireland before dominating the UK for the rest of the week. Via: Storm Ellen SAVAGES summer: 900-mile wide 'weather bomb' with 75mph gales hits UK

Cluster of wildfires in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties cover an estimated 46,225 acresShortage of firefighters after prison crews locked down due to Covid-19 2.45am BST Police in Fairfield 50 miles east of San Franciso have issued multiple evacuation orders for neighbourhoods under threat as the LNU lighning complex fire Read more

The proportion of A/A* equivalent grades to be awarded this year is set to rise by almost 30 per cent, as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson faces widespread calls for him to resign. Via: Government U-turn means 1.5million teenagers could get marks equivalent to the old-style A/A* 

Also making the cut are PM Jacinda Ardern and the director-general of health Dr Ashley BloomfieldA celebrity cat, a hardworking civil servant and the prime minister have all been nominated for this year’s New Zealander of the year award.“In this extraordinary year, we know that everyone has a hero,” Miriama Read more