News Headlines - 21 July 2020
Several aspiring democratic candidates for the upcoming legislative elections have vowed not to sign a form declaring China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong. Refusal to sign has been reason cited by the authorities when disqualifying candidates in previous elections... Signatories of the confirmation form agree to uphold three specific articles of the Basic Law relating to China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong including Article 1 which states that the city “is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China.”
▽Govt. to compensate canceled Go To travel bookings | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Japan's government is again shifting its policy on a major campaign to shore up tourism hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic... Under the "Go To" campaign that begins on Wednesday, the government offers subsidies to partially cover people's domestic travel costs.
However, visits to Tokyo and travel by Tokyo residents were excluded last week, due to a spike in coronavirus infections in the Japanese capital... Akaba told reporters that people will not be asked to pay cancellation fees for bookings made between July 10, when the campaign's starting date was announced, and July 17, when Tokyo was excluded.
▽Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in hospital for medical tests
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has been admitted to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh for medical tests, the royal court said in statement early on Monday.
The king was admitted for inflammation of the gallbladder, said the announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
▽River Thames 'severely polluted with plastic' - BBC News
The River Thames has some of the highest recorded levels of microplastics for any river in the world.
Scientists have estimated that 94,000 microplastics per second flow down the river in places.
The quantity exceeds that measured in other European rivers, such as the Danube and Rhine.
▽Giants' Alyssa Nakken first woman coach in major league game | Daily Mail Online
Alyssa Nakken, the first female coach in major league history, set another precedent on Monday night by becoming the first woman serve as a first base coach during an MLB game.
Nakken, 30, worked Monday's exhibition against the Athletics in Oakland, and although that may not be her role during the upcoming regular season, manger Gabe Kapler was eager to give her that experience.
