Portal:Current events/2020 June 19

June 19, 2020 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil's Ministry of Health reports 54,771 new cases and that there are now 1,032,913 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, becoming the second country in the world, after the United States, to surpass one million cases. (BBC News) (Bloomberg)

International relations

Nuclear program of Iran
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passes a resolution, the first since 2012, calling on Iran to open two of its nuclear sites to international inspectors. Iran strongly opposes the IAEA resolution, which it says was "based on false allegations" from Israel. (Middle East Eye)
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says "sorry is not enough" from British financial institutions that benefited from the Atlantic slave trade, and demands reparations from the United Kingdom. This comes after the Bank of England apologized for the "inexcusable connections" of some of its past governors and directors to slavery. (Reuters)

Law and crime

COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
- Health Minister Obadiah Moyo is arrested and accused of corruption in government procurement of around $60 million worth of medical equipment. (Reuters)
Shooting of Breonna Taylor
- Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announces the immediate termination of LMPD Officer Brett Hankison over violating departmental policy on the use of force against Breonna Taylor. Hankison is one of three officers involved in the shooting, and prior to the incident had previously been investigated and disciplined for alleged misconduct. (The Courier-Journal)
Abortion in Tennessee, Heartbeat bill
- Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Tennessee pass the country's toughest anti-abortion laws, banning the procedure from the moment of fetal heartbeat at around six weeks of pregnancy. Governor Bill Lee hails the law while several organizations say they plan to go to the courts over the issue. (Reuters)
Shooting of Matthew Hunt
- A police officer is killed and another seriously injured in a shooting in Massey, New Zealand. This is the first time a law enforcement officer in New Zealand has been killed in the line of duty since 2009. The shooter fled, injuring a civilian in the process, but he has since been arrested. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian presidential election
- President Alexander Lukashenko announces the arrest of main opposition rival Viktar Babaryka for possible financial crimes. (Moscow Times)
2020 Hong Kong legislative election
- Activist Joshua Wong announces he is running for the legislature, setting up a new legal battle with authorities after he was barred from running in the previous election. (Reuters)
Tens of thousands of protesters descend on the Malian capital of Bamako, demanding President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta resign over his failure to solve the country's myriad of problems. (Reuters)

Science and technology

The world’s second-largest egg is discovered on Seymour Island, Antarctica. The egg, which is also the very first fossil egg from Antarctica and the largest soft-shelled egg ever discovered, may challenge the notion that mosasaurs and plesiosaurs were fully viviparous according to scientists. (CBC)

Sports

Numerous professional wrestlers and others in the professional wrestling industry, particularly in the United Kingdom, are accused of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and other forms of physical and mental abuse on social media, using the hashtag #SpeakingOut. (Sports Illustrated)
- WWE releases a statement, indicating a "zero tolerance" policy on several types of abuse, and later in the day come to terms on the release of Gentleman Jack Gallagher after he is accused of sexual assault (Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online)
- All Elite Wrestling release a statement saying that Jimmy Havoc has entered a rehabilitation facility and will evaluate his status in the company after his treatment is completed, after he is accused of domestic abuse and rape, and of punching a fan. (Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online)
- The National Wrestling Alliance announces that Vice President Dave Lagana has resigned from the company after he is accused of sexual assault. (Pro Wrestling Sheet)