Jul 17, 2020 - World

Queen knights 100-year-old who raised more than $40 million for U.K.'s National Health Service

Queen Elizabeth II knights Captain Sir Thomas Moore at Windsor Castle. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II on Friday knighted Capt. Sir Tom Moore, 100, who raised more than $40 million for charities supporting the U.K.'s National Health Service earlier this year, in what Buckingham Palace believes is the first time the ceremony has been performed in a socially-distanced format, per the BBC.

The big picture: While the 94-year-old monarch had suspended other such ceremonies during the coronavirus pandemic, she made an exception for Moore, who first set out to raise just £1,000 ($1,250) by walking laps in his garden. The World War II veteran called the event "the most special of days for me".

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer, Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath
Updated 6 mins ago - Science

Gulf Coast braces for Zeta after storm strengthens into hurricane

Hurricane Zeta's forecast path. Photo: National Hurricane Center

Louisiana Gov. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a state of emergency Monday as Zeta strengthened into a hurricane and threatened Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as it moved towards the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The state of play: Zeta was expected to make landfall on the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula Monday night, bringing with it a "dangerous storm surge" and "heavy rainfall" as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Service said.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 39 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Politics: The swing states where the pandemic is raging — Pence no longer expected to attend Barrett confirmation vote after COVID exposure.
  2. Health: 13 states set single-day case records last week
  3. Business: Where stimulus is needed most.
  4. Education: The dangerous instability of school re-openings.
  5. World: Restrictions grow across Europe.
  6. Media: Fox News president and several hosts advised to quarantine.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Stef W. Kight, Rebecca Falconer
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court rejects request to extend Wisconsin absentee ballot deadline

Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The Supreme Court in a 5-3 decision Monday rejected an effort by Wisconsin Democrats and civil rights groups to extend the state's deadline for counting absentee ballots to six days after Election Day, as long as they were postmarked by Nov. 3.

Why it matters: All ballots must now be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in Wisconsin, a critical swing state in the presidential election.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow