Portal:Current events/March 2021

March 2021 was the third month of that common year. The month, which began on a Monday, ended on a Wednesday after 31 days.

Portal:Current events[edit]

This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from March 2021.

March 1, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Armenian coup d'état attempt, 2020−2021 Armenian protests
- Protesters storm a government building in Yerevan, Armenia, to demand Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation. (Al Jazeera)
War in Donbass
- Ukraine reports multiple ceasefire violations, with one casualty. (UNIAN)
Tigray War
- BBC reporter Girmay Gebru is detained by Ethiopian soldiers along with four other people in Mekelle, Tigray, and they are sent to a military camp for unknown reasons. (BBC News)
Operation Madago Raya
- A gunfight erupts between Indonesian Army and East Indonesia Mujahideen in the Andole Mountain area, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi, resulting in the death of a soldier and two militants. (Kaili Post)
War in Afghanistan
- The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction releases a report accusing the United States of wasting billions of dollars in Afghanistan on buildings and vehicles that were either abandoned or destroyed. The agency says only $343.2 million worth of vehicles and buildings were in good condition. (VOA)

Disasters and accidents

Three members of the Panamanian diplomatic corps in Colombia are killed after the overflow of the Río Frío drags the vehicle they were traveling in. (Infobae)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 vaccination in India
      - Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives his first dose of the Bharat Biotech Covaxin vaccine. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
      - The Philippines begins its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine donated by China, with the first doses administered to healthcare workers in Metro Manila. (Bloomberg)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
    - Jordan approves the emergency use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Roya News English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
    - Syria begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19. Medical health workers are the first to receive the vaccine. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
    - The Czech Republic begins a stricter nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš last week with more police officers and soldiers deployed to enforce the restrictions. (U.S. News and World Report)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France raises age limit for those who receive Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged below 75. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
    - Finland declares a state of emergency amidst an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Prime Minister Sanna Marin says that the emergency controls will allow the government to close schools and restaurants and limit movement between regions. (Euro Weekly News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Slovakia receives the first shipment consisting 200,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine as it signed an agreement to secure two million doses. (Euronews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana
    - President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, and their spouses receive their first doses of the vaccine from the COVAX initiative as Ghana begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19. (BBC Pidgin)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ivory Coast
    - Ivory Coast begins its mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine delivered by the COVAX initiative. Health workers, teachers, and members of the armed forces are the first to receive the vaccine. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
    - President Emmerson Mnangagwa announces a slight easing of the lockdown in Zimbabwe amidst a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. Intercity travel is resumed, and small and large businesses have been allowed to reopen. (EWN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
    - It is reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump have received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the White House prior to their departure on January 20. (The Washington Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, 501.V2 variant
    - Florida reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (Clickorlando.com)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
  - Venezuela approves the emergency use of Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (El Comercio)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, 2021 Myanmar protests
- Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi appears in court to hear two more charges against her. The charges are a colonial-era penal code prohibiting publication of information that may "cause fear or alarm", and a telecommunications law stipulating licenses for equipment. Meanwhile, police disperse protesters with tear gas and stun grenades. (Reuters)
2021 Onești stabbing
- Two workers are stabbed to death during a hostage-taking incident in an apartment building in Onești, Romania. The attacker, a man in his 60s, had a 12-year dispute with the company that was running the building, of which he was the former owner. (Digi 24)
Nicolas Sarkozy corruption trial
- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is sentenced to three years in jail for corruption, after being found guilty of trying to offer a job to a magistrate in return for information about a criminal inquiry into his political party. (BBC News)
Barçagate
- Former president of FC Barcelona Josep Maria Bartomeu is arrested while Mossos d'Esquadra search the FC Barcelona offices. Three other senior staff members are also arrested. (The Guardian)
2021 Texas power crisis, February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files a lawsuit against Griddy, accusing them of charging Texans "outrageous amounts" after the winter storm that resulted in power outages for millions in the state. (Newsweek)

March 2, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - Three female media workers are shot dead in Jalalabad, Nangarhar, while a fourth woman is wounded. The Islamic State claims responsibility for the attack. (Reuters)
Zamfara kidnapping
- All 279 schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Zamfara State, Nigeria, are released by their armed kidnappers. (Reuters)
Somali Civil War
- Islamic terrorist group al-Shabaab publicly executes five people by firing squad for allegedly spying for the American and Somali intelligence agencies in Jilib, Middle Juba. Hundreds of people reportedly gathered to watch the execution. (Anadolu Agency)
2020–2021 Sudanese–Ethiopian clashes
- Fighting between Sudan and Ethiopian-backed forces continues in the last Ethiopian stronghold of Bereket in the disputed border region of Al-Fashaga. Sudan claims Eritrean forces are helping the Ethiopians. (Anadolu Agency)

Business and economy

Anti-Irish sentiment
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission says that it has investigated Britannia Hotels-owned holiday park operator Pontins after a whistleblower revealed Pontins had a blacklist of common Irish surnames to prevent Roma and Irish travelers from booking at its parks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the discrimination is "completely unacceptable". (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

Imperial County car crash
- Thirteen people are killed and eleven others are wounded in a traffic accident in Imperial County, California, US. A semi-truck and an SUV collide; 25 people were in the SUV at the time of the crash. (The Los Angeles Times)
Mount Sinabung in Sumatra, Indonesia erupts, spewing 16,000 feet of ash into the air. (CBS News)
Seven students are killed in a railing collapse, sending people plummeting from a fourth-floor balcony on to an atrium floor during a student assembly at the Universidad Pública de El Alto, Bolivia. Three people are arrested. (Europa Press)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi
      - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signs an executive order that lifts the statewide mask requirement except for K-12 schools and indoor arenas. Indoor arenas are required to limit their capacity to 50% and club areas and suits to 75%. Indoor and outdoor arenas are required to limit capacity to 25% and 50% respectively for K-12 extracurricular activities. (Sun Herald)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon, Lineage P.1
      - Oregon reports its first cases of the Lineage P.1 variant in two people from Douglas County who previously travelled to Brazil. (OregonLive)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Texas
      - Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifts the statewide mask requirement and allows businesses to open at 100% capacity beginning March 10. (The Hill)
    - U.S. President Joe Biden announces that Merck & Co. will produce single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to help his administration goal for vaccinating every adult by the end of May. (The Washington Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba, 501.V2 variant
      - Manitoba reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in Winnipeg. (CBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - Indonesia reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom. (Liputan6.com)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq
    - Iraq receives 50,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccines donated by China as the country officially begins its vaccination campaign. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia surpasses 3,000 cases of COVID-19. (Montsame)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia grants conditional approval for the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, 501.V2 variant
    - The Philippines reports its first six cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (GMA News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hajj
    - Saudi Minister of Health Tawfig Al-Rabiah announces that all pilgrims must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to do the Hajj to Mecca. (Arab News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in United Arab Emirates
    - Spanish media reports that emeritus King of Spain Juan Carlos I was vaccinated in Abu Dhabi, where he is in self-exile. Two of his daughters Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina also received vaccines when they took advantage of a visit to their father on February 6 and 7. (El Confidencial)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece reports 2,353 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total this year, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 194,582. (Greek City Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - Prime Minister Mario Draghi signs a decree that orders the closure of all schools in the worst-hit regions due to the spread of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant. The decree will be in effective from March 6 until April 6. (Eurozone)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Moldova, COVID-19 vaccine
    - Moldova begins their vaccination campaign, with first-line medical staff being administered first. (Xinhua News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia, COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina
    - President Aleksandar Vučić delivers 10,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine to the Bosniak and Croat-dominated federation entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Balkan Insight)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - President Volodymyr Zelenskyi receives his first dose of Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Angola
    - Angola receives 624,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing Initiative. (VOA Portuguese)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
    - Kenya receives 1.02 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing Initiative. (UNICEF)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
    - Nigeria receives 3.94 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India through the COVAX Initiative, which is the largest delivery so far by the initiative. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - Tunisia reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
    - Brazil reports a record 1,641 new deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 257,361. (DW in Brazilian Portuguese)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
    - Venezuela receives 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine donated by China. (EFE)

Law and crime

2020–2021 Belarusian protests
- Tut.By journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich is sentenced to a half-year in prison for reporting personal data on the death of Raman Bandarenka during protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. (AP)

March 3, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Myanmar protests
- Thirty-eight protesters are shot dead and 30 more are wounded by the military and police as protests against the February 1 coup continue across the country. A meeting of ASEAN nations called for restraint of the security forces but failed to unanimously call for the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (BBC News)
Vetlanda stabbing attack
- Seven people are wounded, three of them critically, after being attacked by a man with an axe in Vetlanda, Sweden. Authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack. The perpetrator, a man in his 20s, is shot by police and arrested. (Euronews)
Colombian conflict
- Ten FARC dissidents are killed and three others are wounded when the Colombian Army bombs a base housing them in Calamar, Guaviare. (Al Jazeera)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- Suspected ADF militants kill eight civilians during a shooting attack at a market in Mambelenga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. ADF attacks have increased, with more than 140 people killed by the group since the beginning of the year. (Reuters)
Second Libyan Civil War
- The bodies of four Filipinos, an Austrian, and a Czech, all oil workers who were kidnapped and then murdered in Libya in 2015 by Islamic State terrorists, are found at a cemetery. (Arab News)
Aftermath of the Zamfara kidnapping
- Three people are shot after armed forces open fire at a reunion of students, kidnapped in Zamfara a week ago, and their parents in Jangebe, Nigeria, while the parents protest the kidnapping. (BBC News)
Ten rockets hit the al Asad Airbase hosting US-led coalition forces in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq. No one is directly killed or wounded by the strikes, but an American civilian contractor dies of a heart attack during the impact. (BBC News)
Tigray War
- Following pressure from the international community, Ethiopia releases three reporters working for the BBC, AFP, and Financial Times, alongside two local news reporters and two translators, without charge. No reason was given for their arrest, and it is still unclear if four other journalists have been released. (BBC News)

Businesses and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Economy of Australia
  - The Australian GDP contracted 1.1% in 2020 amid restrictions related to the pandemic. (The Guardian)
- Economy of Brazil
  - The Brazilian GDP contracts 4.1% in 2020 amid disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the country's third worst economic performance after 1981 (-4.25%) and 1990 (-4.35%). (France 24)
2021 United Kingdom budget
- Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivers the 2021 Spring budget to the House of Commons, announcing the government's tax and spending plans for the year ahead, as well as further COVID-19 support measures, including extending the furlough until the end of September and increasing the minimum wage beginning in April. (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

Ten people are killed in a plane crash in Jonglei State, South Sudan. (Al Jazeera)
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes central Greece and is felt in neighbouring countries. Most of the damage is reported in the Greek region of Thessaly. (AP News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 vaccination in India
      - President Ram Nath Kovind receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan receives their first shipment of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Focus Taiwan)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
    - Uzbekistan surpasses 80,000 cases of COVID-19. (AKIPress)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
    - The government announces that they will receive 3,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from France. (Diari d'Andorra)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Lineage P.1
    - Denmark reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from the Capital Region. (CPH Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro
    - Montenegro receives 30,000 doses of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine donated by China. (See News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Polish biotechnology company Mabion S.A. signs an agreement with Novavax to begin commercial-scale production trials for Novavax's future vaccine. (Bloomberg)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Slovakia imposes an overnight curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time, in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The curfew will last until at least March 19. (MedicalXpress)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - The Government of Catalonia announces that 79,000 vaccinated persons were mistakenly recorded as COVID-19 cases. (El Periódico)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
    - Rwanda receives its first shipment of 240,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (New Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal
    - Senegal receives 324,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan
    - Sudan receives over 800,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative, becoming the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to receive it. (UNICEF)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - New Jersey reports its first two cases of the Lineage P.1 variant in Hudson County and 34 cases of a New York variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the northeastern part of the state. (NJ.com)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - São Paulo governor João Doria announces that the entire state will revert to "red phase" restrictions, which means that all malls and non-essential businesses will be closed for two weeks beginning March 6 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (The Rio Times)
China confirms an outbreak of African swine fever in domestic pigs being illegally transported through Funing County in Yunnan province. (The Straits Times)

Law and crime

2021 Australian Parliament rape scandals
- Attorney-General, House Leader, and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter comes forward as the minister accused of raping a woman in 1988, who has since committed suicide, in an anonymous letter sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week. Porter denies the allegations and announces that he will be taking a mental health leave. (ABC Australia)
2018 Toronto van attack
- Alek Minassian is found guilty of murdering 10 people, and attempting to kill 16 more, in a vehicle-ramming attack. (Reuters)
Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- The United States Capitol Police announces that it has obtained intelligence on a "possible plot" by an identified militia group to breach the United States Capitol building on the following day, March 4, which has recently been the subject of QAnon conspiracy theories. In response to the intelligence, the United States House of Representatives announces that it has ended its work for the week. (AP)
A pipe bomb explodes outside a COVID-19 test centre in Bovenkarspel, Netherlands, causing minor damage. No one is wounded in the explosion. (Al Jazeera)
France bans far-right Identitarian nationalist group Génération Identitaire. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin says the movement incites "discrimination, hatred and violence". (France 24)
German intelligence agency Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution formally places far-right oppositional party Alternative for Germany under surveillance, accusing it of aiming to subvert the constitution. It is the first time that a major political party has been placed under surveillance since the end of World War II. (The New York Times)

Politics and elections

Freedom House, in its annual Freedom in the World report, downgrades India from "free" to "partially free". The report cites the rise in mob violence against Muslims, increased government interference in the judiciary, increased intimidation against journalists and activists, and the government's heavy-handed approach to COVID-19 lockdowns that left millions of migrants stranded as the main reasons for the downgrade. (France 24) (BBC News)
Hungary's ruling party Fidesz withdraws from the conservative European Parliament bloc European People's Party (EPP), after the EPP changed its rules to allow it to expel a party's entire delegation. Fidesz's membership had been suspended since 2019 after it accused then-European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and philanthropist George Soros of conspiring to "flood" Europe with migrants during a national campaign. (DW)

March 4, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Tigray War
- The United Nations calls on Ethiopia to grant them access to the Tigray region to investigate reports of mass murders and sexual violence that may amount to war crimes. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin, Italy announces that for the second time, the Shroud of Turin will be exposed for veneration on social media and websites on Holy Saturday, April 3. (Catholic News Agency)

Disasters and accidents

2021 TAF AS532 crash
- An army helicopter crashes in Bitlis, Turkey, killing 11 military personnel and injuring two others. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - The Robert Koch Institute's Standing Committee on Vaccination officially approves the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged over 65. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - The government orders all schools and non-essential shops in Hungary to close from March 8 until March 22 (for non-essential shops) and April 7 (for schools) due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections. (Swiss Info)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
    - Prime Minister Robert Abela announces that the government will limit indoor gatherings to four households and will ban mass gatherings other than weddings and religious activities beginning tomorrow due to a record increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The government will also restrict the operation of restaurants and snack bars to only offer takeaway services. (Times of Malta)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - Ukraine reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom in two people from Ivano-Frankivsk. (UNIAN)
  - European Commission–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dispute, COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy invokes the European Union powers to block shipment of 250,700 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia amid escalations between the bloc and AstraZeneca. The European Commission endorses the move. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Prime Minister Hun Sen receives a dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied by the COVAX initiative. (The Washington Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait
    - Kuwait's Cabinet decides to impose a curfew from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time for the next month but will allow salons, gyms, and other commercial activities to reopen on March 7 subject to operating restrictions. (Gulf News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
    - The Philippines receives its first shipment of 487,200 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied by the COVAX initiative. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lanka's National Medicines Regulatory Authority approves the use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, becoming the second vaccine to be made available for the general public. (The Hindu)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Lesotho
    - Lesotho receives its first shipment of 36,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (SowetanLIVE)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
    - Zimbabwe becomes the first country in Africa to approve India's Covaxin vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech. (Hindustan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in California
    - Nine great apes in San Diego Zoo becomes the first non-human primates to receive an experimental COVID-19 vaccine. (The Los Angeles Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Maine, 501.V2 variant
    - Maine reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa. (WCSH-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 1,910 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 259,271. (Business Standard)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- The United States Capitol Police requests that the National Guard remain at the Capitol for 60 days in response to a possible second attack on the building. (ABC News)
Police in Bignona, Senegal, open fire against a group of people demonstrating against the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, killing a protester. (Al Jazeera)
Twenty people are killed and others are feared dead after smugglers intentionally throw 80 migrants overboard during a voyage from Djibouti to Yemen. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

The Troubles, Brexit and the Irish border
- The Loyalist Communities Council and other loyalist groups in Northern Ireland inform Prime Minister Boris Johnson that they are withdrawing support for the Good Friday Agreement in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. (DW)
The Indian government's Income Tax Department raids the residences of the founders of Phantom Films due to allegations of tax evasion. Those being interrogated include Anurag Kashyap, Taapsee Pannu, Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Madhu Mantena. The incident prompts the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance and Rahul Gandhi to support the film stars who are being interrogated, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party is using all the arms of the government to stifle the voices of those who support the Indian farmers' protest. (NDTV) (NDTV²)
Italian Democratic Party secretary Nicola Zingaretti resigns, citing infighting over government posts. (Reuters)
The North Dakota House of Representatives votes to expel State Representative Luke Simons (R) following allegations that he threatened and sexually harassed women going back to 2017, when he first took office. This is the first time that either chamber of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly has passed such a vote. (AP)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, 2021 Pakistan Super League
- Pakistan suspends its Twenty20 cricket competition in the Pakistan Super League after seven players tested positive for COVID-19. (RFI)

March 5, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Somali Civil War
- 2021 Mogadishu suicide car bombing
  - At least 20 people are killed and 30 others are wounded by a suicide car bombing outside a restaurant near the port in Mogadishu. (Al Jazeera)
- At least seven soldiers are killed after al-Shabaab militants storm a jail in Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia. More than 400 prisoners are freed during the assault, the majority of whom are Al-Shabaab fighters. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - A female doctor is killed and a child is wounded in Jalalabad, Nangarhar, when a bomb attached to the doctor's rickshaw explodes, while seven workers at a Hazara plaster factory are shot dead in Surkh-Rōd District, Nangarhar. ISIL is suspected to be behind the attacks. (Al Jazeera)
Aftermath of the assassination of Luca Attanasio
- Mwilanya Asani William, the attorney investigating the murder of Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio and two other people in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, is murdered by unknown gunmen during an ambush. (Il Mattino)
Syrian civil war
- One person is killed and 11 others are wounded when rockets strike oil refineries near al-Bab and Jarablus, Syria. (Al Jazeera)
2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest
- The number of farmers who died during the protests, which began in August 2020, increases to 248. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Myanmar protests
- A man is killed after police open fire on a group of protesters in Mandalay. (Reuters)

Business and economy

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on The Walt Disney Company, COVID-19 pandemic in California
- California health officials say that stadiums, Disneyland, and other theme parks can reopen beginning on April 1 with limited capacity. (CNBC)
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
- The United States Senate, in a 58–42 vote, rejects an amendment introduced by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that would raise the minimum wage to $15 after he made efforts to include it in President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package. (The Independent)
The German government reaches an agreement with energy providers to compensate them up to €2.4 billion for loss in income attributed to the phase-out of nuclear power, ending years of litigation. (DW)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Kermadec Islands earthquake
- An 8.1 magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of New Zealand's North Island, initially prompting a tsunami warning. The earthquake was preceded by a 7.4 magnitude foreshock and followed by a 6.1 magnitude aftershock. (Stuff.co.nz)
A minibus and a trailer-truck collide on a highway near Atfih, Middle Egypt, killing 18 people and injuring five others. The truck driver has since been arrested. (AP)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois, Lineage P.1
      - Illinois reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Chicago. (WMAQ-TV)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee, 501.V2 variant
      - Tennessee reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (WSMV-TV)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin, 501.V2 variant
      - Wisconsin reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (WEAU-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba, 501.V2 variant
      - Manitoba reports its first confirmed case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in a person from Winnipeg. (Global News)
    - Health Canada approves the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. (CBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 vaccination in India
      - India administers 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number of daily vaccinations since the program began on January 16. (Livemint)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - The government extends the COVID-19 state of emergency in the Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the capital Tokyo and surrounding prefectures, for the next two weeks until March 21 as the number of new cases have not fallen sufficiently in order to lift the emergency. (The Mainichi Shimbun)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports their first two cases of the B.1.525 variant in two people who travelled from Dubai. (CodeBlue)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan grants emergency use authorisation of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine for people over 60 years of age. (DAWN)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine following separate evaluations of the vaccine's safety and efficacy. (Yonhap News Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy surpasses three million cases of COVID-19. (ANSA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Moldova
    - Moldova becomes the first country in Europe to receive a COVAX initiative shipment of 14,400 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Romania, 501.V2 variant
    - Romania reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in people from Bucharest and Pitești. (Europa FM)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - The fatality count from COVID-19 surpasses 200,000. (Bloomberg)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
    - Nigeria officially launches a vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with a doctor who has spent the past year treating COVID-19 patients becoming the first person to be vaccinated. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
    - Rwanda begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using 392,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca and Pfizer–BioNTech vaccines. (The East African)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda
    - Uganda receives their first shipment of 864,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the COVAX initiative. (The Independent Uganda)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
  - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that Auckland will move to alert level 2 and rest of the country to alert level one beginning March 7 at 6:00 p.m. NZT after no new community cases have been reported. (The Guardian)

International relations

Australia–China relations
- Australia's Special Broadcasting Service suspends China Global Television Network and China Central Television from broadcasting in the country following a human rights complaint from pan-Asian human rights organization Safeguard Defenders. (The Straits Times)
Myanmar–United States relations, 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- The Biden administration sanctions Myanmar's Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs in response to the coup and the military junta's crackdown on protesters. (Reuters)
Pastoral visits of Pope Francis
- Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad in the first ever Papal visit to Iraq. (Washington Post)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- Criminal charges brought in the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
  - A former U.S. State Department official during the Trump administration is arrested and charged for assault and other crimes in relation to the storming of the United States Capitol, thereby making him the first known Trump administration official to be tried in relation to the events of January 6. (CNN)
Protests continue in Senegal against the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, with three more people confirmed dead, bringing the death toll to 4. (BBC News)
A call for a specific law against honour killings begins in India, after a father in Uttar Pradesh beheaded his daughter two days ago, after opposing her relationship with a man. (Al Jazeera)
The Cologne administrative court temporarily bars the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) from placing the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) under surveillance, ruling that BfV's announcement two days ago that it was surveying the party violated an agreement to keep the surveillance classified. The court said that the BfV will have to wait until a lawsuit brought by the AfD on the matter is settled before it can proceed. (DW)

Science and technology

2021 Myanmar protests
- YouTube suspends channels run by Myanmar's military and removes junta propaganda videos for "violating its community guidelines and terms of service". (AP)

March 6, 2021 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Yemeni Civil War
- Ma'rib Campaign
  - Fighting between Houthi forces and pro-government troops in Maʼrib Governorate, Yemen, kills 58 and 32, respectively, in the past 24 hours, according to unnamed military sources. (The Hindu)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
  - The United States Senate votes 50–49 to pass President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package after 24 hours of debate and vote-a-rama sessions on the bill. The amended legislation will head back to the United States House of Representatives for a final vote. (CBS News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 vaccination in India
      - Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
      - Moderna signs a supply deal with the government to supply 13 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine from mid-2021. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei
    - The government announces that it will ease their social distancing measures when Brunei enters a "New Normal" phase on March 8 as the country has reported no community cases in the last 300 days. (The Scoop)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia
    - Saudi Arabia confirms that it will ease COVID-19-related restrictions in entertainment and events and will reopen cinemas, gyms, and sport centres beginning on March 7. (Gulf News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the Republic of Ireland
      - Ireland reaches a milestone of 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered. (The Irish Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - French authorities extend their weekend lockdown to the northern region of Pas-de-Calais, prompting hundreds of thousands of people to stay at home on Saturdays and Sundays due to the spread of COVID-19. (RFI)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi
    - Malawi receives its first shipment of 360,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (VOA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
    - President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
  - Fiji receives its first shipment of 12,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (FBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
  - President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores receive their first doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (France 24)
China confirms an outbreak of the African swine fever in the key pork-producing provinces of Hubei and Sichuan. (The Straits Times)

Politics and elections

Prime Minister Imran Khan wins a vote of confidence in the National Assembly of Pakistan amid boycotts from the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement. (The Hindu)

March 7, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Gaza–Israel conflict
- Three Palestinian fishermen are killed in an explosion off the coast of Gaza. The blast is caused by an unknown weapon, suspected to be a rocket. (Al Jazeera English)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- Khin Maung Latt, a campaign manager from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, dies in police custody after being arrested yesterday. (South China Morning Post)
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
- In retaliation for yesterday's drone attacks against the kingdom, the Saudi-led coalition conducts airstrikes against the Houthis in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. There have been no reports of any immediate casualties. (Reuters)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says that the United States will continue to defend troops and interests. He also says that those who carried out the rocket attack in Iraq will be held accountable. (CNBC)
Nine activists are killed in police raids in the northern Philippines two days after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered government forces to kill communists in the country. (Al Jazeera English)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Bata explosions
- A series of explosions kill 20 people and injure more than 600 others in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. The cause is suspected to be negligence related to use of dynamite at a local military base. Almost all buildings in the city are heavily damaged. (Al Jazeera English)
A fire occurs at a detention center for migrants in Sanaa, Yemen, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 170 others. (ABC News)
At least one person is killed and 40 others are injured when a train derails in Sindh, Pakistan. (Al Jazeera English)
A Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil crashes in Normandy, France, killing National Assembly member and businessman Olivier Dassault and the aircraft's pilot. (The Guardian)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Australia
      - Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and current Health Minister Greg Hunt receive their first doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Nine News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Caledonia
    - New Caledonia orders a strict lockdown for two weeks beginning at midnight tomorrow following the detection of nine COVID-19 cases among non-quarantined travellers arriving from Wallis and Futuna. (Radio France Internationale)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    - Auckland is downgraded to alert level 2 while the rest of New Zealand moves to alert level 1 following confirmation that there are no more community cases. (Stuff)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
    - Israel reopens restaurants, bars, and other entertainment venues for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Middle-school students return to school in some areas and university classes also resume for those who have been vaccinated. Israeli citizens are also allowed to return to Israel without any special permissions. (Haaretz)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - At age 95, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad becomes the oldest person in Malaysia to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Langkawi, Kedah. (Malaysiakini)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
    - Nepal receives 348,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (The Kathmandu Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lanka receives its first shipment of 264,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (The New Indian Express)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
    - Austria suspends vaccinations using the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution while investigating the death of a person who received it. (The Irish Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia
    - North Macedonia grants emergency use authorization for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (Yahoo! Finance)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia, 501.V2 variant
    - Slovakia reports its first seven cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (The Slovak Spectator)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio, Lineage P.1
    - Ohio reports its first cases of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. (The Cincinnati Enquirer)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
  - Ethiopia receives its first shipment of 2.2 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India supplied through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Barron's)

Politics and elections

2021 Swiss referendums
- Swiss voters approve a ban on full-facial coverings in public, known popularly as a so-called "burqa ban", and a free trade agreement with Indonesia, while rejecting a government proposal to introduce nationwide electronic IDs, which would be required to open a bank account or request official documents. (NPR)

Sports

2020–21 Scottish Premiership
- Rangers wins the Scottish Premiership, the top-flight league in Scottish football, for the first time since 2011 after their rivals Celtic failed to win against Dundee United. It is Rangers manager and former England captain Steven Gerrard's first trophy as a manager, and the win also denies Celtic a record 10th consecutive Premiership title. (BBC Sport)
2021 FC Barcelona presidential election
- Former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta wins the club's 14th presidential election with 54.2% of the votes. (Sky Sports)

March 8, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Myanmar protests
- Two people are killed and three others injured in Myitkyina after being shot in the head, as security forces open fire on people protesting against the coup d'état in Myanmar. (Al Jazeera)
Multiple people are injured by a homemade bomb accidentally detonating in a classroom at Newaygo High School in Newaygo, Michigan, United States. (WWTV-TV)

Arts and culture

Aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- Myanmar's State Administration Council revokes the licence of five media companies, namely Myanmar Now, Khit Thit Media, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Mizzima, and 7Day, amidst the crackdown on press outlets covering anti-coup protests. (VOA)

Business and economy

EuroAsia Interconnector
- Cyprus, Greece, and Israel sign an agreement to build the world's largest and deepest submarine power cable that will connect the three Mediterranean countries' power grids at a cost of about $900 million. The project is expected to be completed by 2024. (Kathimerini)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Bata explosions
- The death toll from yesterday's explosions in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, rises to 98 people. More than 615 others are wounded. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in England, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
      - Millions of students across England return to primary and secondary schools after two months studying at home during the third lockdown as a first step towards a return to normality. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy surpasses 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the second country in Europe to reach the milestone after the United Kingdom. (France 24)
    - The region of Campania enters a lockdown which is expected to end on March 21. (Euronews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
    - Austria reports its first case of the Lineage P.2 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Salzburg state. (The Local Austria)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece reports its youngest death from COVID-19. The patient was a 37-day-old infant. (Times of Malta)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - Prime Minister Mark Rutte extends the country's strict lockdown until the end of the month and advises against foreign travel until April 15. The curfew from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. will remain in place through the election on March 17, but those working or visiting a voting booth will not be fined for breaching it. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in East Timor
    - East Timor imposes a "sanitary fence and mandatory confinement" in the capital Dili for the next seven days beginning at midnight. This is the country's first lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Canberra Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Indonesia receives its first shipment of 1.1 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (The Jakarta Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia reports a record 108 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3,336. (Xinhua News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
    - President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad both test positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the presidential office. They are both reported to be in good health with "minor symptoms". (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
    - Vietnam begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19 starting with health workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Duong Province using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (VietnamPlus)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii, 501.V2 variant
    - Hawaii reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a person from Oahu with no known travel history. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, 501.V2 variant
    - Michigan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a child from Jackson County. (WOOD-TV)
  - The U.S. surpasses 29 million cases of COVID-19. (KIRO-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - The government announces a deal with Pfizer to receive 14 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine by June, and a total of 99 million doses by the end of the year. (The Rio Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
  - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the New Zealand Government has secured 8.5 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, and that they have now secured enough vaccines to vaccinate the entire population of New Zealand. (The New Zealand Herald)

Law and crime

Killing of George Floyd
- The trial of former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin begins in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Chauvin's trial is the first time that a judge in Minnesota has authorized cameras to show a full criminal trial. (The Independent)
Operation Car Wash
- Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Edson Fachin rules that all convictions of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must be nullified. This ruling restores Lula's political rights and thus clears the way for his presidential candidacy in 2022. (France 24)
A judge in Senegal releases opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on bail, after days of protests as a result of his arrest. Eight people died during the protests. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

2019–2021 Lebanese protests
- Protesters block all major roads leading to the capital Beirut amid continued unrest over the crash of the pound, increase in consumer goods prices, mass unemployment and delay of the formation of a new government. (The Independent)
Libyan Crisis, Libyan peace process
- Parliament meets in the central city of Sirte to vote on the approval of the interim Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. Voting is expected to take place tomorrow. (Al Jazeera)

March 9, 2021 (Tuesday)

Disasters and accidents

European migrant crisis
- At least 39 people are dead while 165 others are rescued when two boats sink off the coast of Tunisia while trying to reach Lampedusa, Italy. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska
      - Governor Mike Dunleavy announces that Alaska will drop its eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine and allow all residents over the age of 16 to receive it, thereby becoming the first state to do so. The state has also led other states in the percentage of its population to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota
      - North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum receives the COVID-19 vaccine. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Lineage P.1
      - British Columbia reports its first three cases of Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. (Vancouver Sun)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
      - First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors from March 12, three days sooner than expected, as part of easing of their national lockdown. (Sky News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia, variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - The Estonian government approves new measures to lockdown the entire country from March 11 until April 11 due to the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2, which means that non-essential shops will be closed, primary schools will shift to remote learning, and groups of more than two people will be banned. (Eesti Rahvusringhääling)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italian President Sergio Mattarella receives the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Wanted in Rome)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia
    - Prime Minister Zoran Zaev confirms that the government will impose a nationwide curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time from tomorrow until March 22, as well as a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travelers from Africa, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (N1)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine grants approval for the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan
    - Sudan begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 beginning with medical workers. (Al Arabiya English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
    - Tunisia receives its first major shipment of 30,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. (Africanews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
    - Zimbabwe grants emergency use authorization for four COVID-19 vaccines, including China's CoronaVac and BBIBP-CorV, Russia's Sputnik V, and India's Covaxin. (News24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Prime Minister Hun Sen orders a temporary closure of the country's civil institutions and reduces their on-site employees by 90% for at least a week, with the exception of military and health workers due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. (The Straits Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority approves the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (Bloomberg News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Philippines surpasses 600,000 total COVID-19 cases. (ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 1,972 new deaths in the past 24 hours amid slow vaccination rollout and overwhelmed hospitals, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 268,370. (France 24)

International relations

United States–Venezuela relations, Immigration policy of the Joe Biden administration
- The Biden administration grants temporary protected status to Venezuelans living in the United States. The decision will allow thousands of Venezuelan migrants to stay and work legally in the U.S., and it will remain in effect for 18 months. (BBC News)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état, Myanmar–United Kingdom relations
- Myanmar recalls its Ambassador to the United Kingdom Kyaw Zwar Minn after he publicly called for the release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. (Sky News)

Politics and elections

2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis
- The European Parliament votes to strip Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín, and Clara Ponsatí of their parliamentary immunity, allowing Spanish prosecutors to extradite them to Spain and prosecute them for sedition and embezzlement. (The Guardian)
Núria Calduch becomes the first female Secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission named by Pope Francis. (Catholic Philly)

Science and technology

Exploration of the Moon
- The China National Space Administration and Roscosmos sign a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint lunar space station. Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin says that the space station will be a "complex of experimental research facilities created on the surface or in the orbit of the Moon", and will be available for use by "international partners". (France 24)

March 10, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Australian frontier wars
- The Victoria State Government announces the establishment of a truth commission into genocidal violence against the state's Indigenous population from the late 18th century to the early 20th century, as part of a process towards developing a treaty. (The Guardian)
Colombian conflict
- The armed forces kill twelve people in an operation in the Guaviare Department against a group run by a former FARC leader. Defense Minister Diego Molano Aponte says that there were child soldiers present at the camp but declines to say if they were killed or state their ages. (The New York Times)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States House of Representatives votes 220–211 to pass the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which extends weekly jobless benefit payments of $300 until September, sends $1,400 checks to individuals, and funds other coronavirus relief programs for states and businesses. The stimulus bill will be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature. (The Wall Street Journal) (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

An overnight fire at an OVHcloud server farm in Strasbourg destroys a data center and damages another, taking millions of .fr websites offline in France, including government websites, banks, online shops, and news websites. (Reuters)
A bus carrying dozens of pilgrims plunges into a ravine in Indonesia's Java island, killing at least 27 people. (Arab News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan surpasses 600,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (MLive)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, 501.V2 variant
      - New Jersey reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (NJ)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan
      - Saskatchewan surpasses 30,000 cases of COVID-19, and 400 related deaths. (Global News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka, 501.V2 variant
      - Karnataka reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (Mint)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
    - Jordan approves the emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Gulf News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia reports a record 109 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3,481. (Big News Network)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - Pakistan begins COVID-19 vaccination rollout for those aged 60 years or older as part of the second phase of their vaccination programme. (Al Jazeera)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
    - Kenya approves the emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Bloomberg News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius
    - Mauritius imposes a two-week nationwide lockdown for the second time since the pandemic began, with only essential services able to continue to operate, after the discovery of 14 local COVID-19 cases. (Barron's)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania
    - The President of Tanzania John Magufuli has not been seen in public since February 27. Opposition leaders call for the release of information as rumors grow that he is on a ventilator at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. (Yahoo! News) (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Togo
    - Togo begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah Dogbé is the first person to receive the vaccine. (Togo First)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - Bulgaria reports 3,502 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total since December 11, and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 266,805. (Novinite)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
    - The Government of Malta announces that, due to record numbers of new cases, all theatres, museums, and gyms will be closed, all organised sports and religious activities will be banned, and gatherings will be limited to four people. The government also announces that all educational institutions will be closed as of March 15 and travel to Gozo will be restricted to residents and essential activities. (The Malta Independent)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Poland reports 17,260 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total since November, and it subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,828,313. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
    - Fiji begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine donated by the COVAX initiative. Ten frontline workers are the first to receive doses of the vaccine. (Fiji Sun)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea
    - The government of Papua New Guinea approves the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. Prime Minister James Marape says that vaccination will not be compulsory and will initially be directed at health workers, people over 50 years of age and people with underlying health conditions. (RNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 2,286 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours as intensive care units in 25 of 27 regional capitals reach near-full capacity, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 270,656. (National Post) (BBC News)

Politics and elections

Libyan Crisis
- Libyan peace process
  - At an extraordinary session in Sirte, the Libyan parliament votes 121 to 11 to approve a new Government of National Unity led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. The new interim unity government will govern Libya until a general election is held in December. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Armenian coup d'état attempt
- The government says a decree by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan dismissing the Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan is now legally effective despite President Armen Sarksyan refusing to sign the decree into force. (Reuters)
Ivorian Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko dies of cancer at a private hospital in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. (France 24)

March 11, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Israel–Iran proxy conflict
- U.S. and Arab officials disclose a clandestine Israeli naval operation against vessels in the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea carrying Iranian oil and weaponry to Syria since 2019. At least twelve Iranian vessels have been bombed with limpet mines, according to U.S. officials. (The Wall Street Journal)
2021 Myanmar protests
- Twelve protesters are killed as security forces open fire on anti-coup protests. (CBC News)
Militants raid a school in Zamfara, killing a student during an attempted mass kidnapping. As the kidnap fails, the attackers fled and started shooting in the streets, killing twelve more people. It is the second school attack in Zamfara in two weeks. (AllAfrica)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
  - U.S. President Joe Biden signs the $1.9 trillion relief package into law. (CNBC)
- Economy of Brazil, COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - The National Congress of Brazil approves an $8 billion spending package to help deal with the second wave of the pandemic in the country. (Financial Times)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Cairo clothing factory fire
- At least 20 people are killed and 24 others injured in a fire at a clothing factory in Cairo, Egypt. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Italy
      - The Italian Medicines Agency bans a batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines as a precautionary measure following the death of three military officers in Sicily who had been vaccinated. (Ansamed)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - Belarus reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in the United Kingdom. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, COVID-19 pandemic in Norway, COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland
    - The Danish Health Authority temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for two weeks as a "precaution" following reports that some vaccinated people had experienced blood clots, causing one person to die after receiving the vaccine. It has not been determined whether there is a link between the vaccine and the clots. Norway and Iceland have also suspended their use of the vaccine. (CNBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports a record 8,312 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 489,172. (Hungary Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announces that kindergartens, hair salons, bookshops, libraries, pre-schools and primary schools will be allowed to reopen March 15, as a part of the country's gradual easing of its two-month lockdown. (U.S. News & World Report)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
    - Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden and Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland, test positive for COVID-19. (The Local Sweden)
  - The European Commission grants the approval of single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for general use. It comes after the European Medicines Agency recommends the conditional marketing authorisation for the vaccine. (The Brussels Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Cambodia reports its first death from COVID-19. The patient is a 50-year-old man from Phnom Penh. (Khmer Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
    - Iran receives a shipment of 150,000 doses of the Indian Covaxin vaccine. (The Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine
    - The Gaza Strip receives 40,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from the United Arab Emirates. (Ynet)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announces a uniform curfew in Metro Manila for two weeks beginning on March 15 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Rappler)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency extends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 65 and older as overseas trials show its effectiveness. (The Korea Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Benin
    - Benin receives a shipment of 144,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Ecofin Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Eswatini
    - Eswatini receives a shipment of 20,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
    - Rwandan President Paul Kagame becomes the first head of state in East Africa to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Africanews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota, 501.V2 variant
    - Minnesota reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in South Africa. The patient is a person from the Twin Cities area who became ill on January 24 and tested positive on January 29. (KSTP-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state), Lineage P.1
    - Washington (state) reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in Brazil. The patient is a person from the King County. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Dakota, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - South Dakota reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in the United Kingdom. (Rapid City Journal)

Law and crime

2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis
- Catalan politician Meritxell Serret surrenders to the Supreme Court after three years in self-imposed exile in Belgium following the declaration of independence in 2017 and her imputation of a crime of disobedience. (The Washington Post)

Politics and elections

Andrew Cuomo sexual harassment allegations, New York COVID-19 nursing home scandal
- The New York State Assembly's judiciary committee is authorized to initiate an impeachment investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo. Earlier that day, more than 50 state lawmakers had called for Cuomo's resignation in the wake of the allegations and his handling of deaths at nursing homes due to COVID-19. (CNN)
Constitution of Kyrgyzstan
- The Kyrgyzstan Parliament approves a new referendum on a draft constitution that would expand the powers of President Sadyr Japarov and allow him to run for office again after his term ends. The referendum will be held on April 11. (Business Recorder)
China's National People's Congress passes the "decision on improving the electoral system of Hong Kong", which will rewrite the election rules in Hong Kong to ensure a system of "patriots governing Hong Kong". This is seen by many Western countries as further eroding the freedoms of the Hong Kong people. (NPR)
Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Leo Boccardi, until now apostolic nuncio in Iran, as apostolic nuncio in Japan. (Holy See Press Office)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
- COVID-19 pandemic in São Paulo (state)
  - Governor of São Paulo João Doria announces the suspension of all professional sports from March 15 until March 30 amid a rise of the number of COVID-19 cases. (AP)

March 12, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Kaduna kidnapping
- Thirty students and several staff members are kidnapped from a school in Kaduna State, Nigeria, by a group of gunmen. (AP)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Bulgaria
      - Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announces the suspension of the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine following the death of a 57-year-old woman from Plovdiv after she received her dose. (Euractiv)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - The French Haute Autorité de Santé approves the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (U.S. News & World Report)
    - France surpasses four million cases and 90,000 deaths of COVID-19. (Business Standard)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - A lockdown will start on March 15 and last until April 6 for the Italian regions of Lombardy, Apulia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont, Lazio, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, and Marche, thereby bringing the total number of regions under lockdown in the country to 11. The Autonomous Province of Trento is also placed under a lockdown, while strict measures are imposed for eight more regions. Between April 3–5, the entire country will be placed under a lockdown. (Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata)
    - The Italian Medicines Agency approves the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
    - Belarus reports 1,186 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 300,146 cases. (Belarusian Telegraph Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey reports 14,941 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total this year, and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,850,930. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Azerbaijan
    - Azerbaijan approves general use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Yahoo! Finance)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - Japanese health authorities reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a traveler aged 60s from the Philippines. The variant is different from the Brazil, South African, and UK variants. (Kyodo News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia receives 14,400 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through COVAX initiative. (World Health Organization)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - Pakistan surpasses 600,000 cases of COVID-19. (Geo News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, 501.V2 variant
    - Sri Lanka reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant, which originated in South Africa, in a person who travelled from Tanzania and is currently staying at a quarantine centre. (Ada Derana)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand postpones the public vaccination of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his cabinet using the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of side-effects in some vaccinated people. (Financial Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona, Lineage P.1
    - Arizona reports its first three case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which originated in Brazil. (The Arizona Republic)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
    - New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul receives a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Catholic Health in Buffalo. (USA Today)
  - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
    - The United States surpasses 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses that have been administered. (CNBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports 85,663 new confirmed cases and 2,216 more deaths from COVID-19, surpassing India as the country with the second-highest number of cases in the world, and also bringing Brazil's total cases to 11,363,380. (Bloomberg News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
  - Auckland returns to alert level 1 and lifts all COVID-19-related restrictions aside from their face mask requirement on public transport after no community cases were found. (The New Zealand Herald)
- The World Health Organization grants emergency use approval for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, becoming the third vaccine to be approved after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. (Forbes)

International relations

Greece–United Kingdom relations
- In an interview with Greek newspaper Ta Nea, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain is the legitimate and legal owner of the historic 2,500-year-old Elgin Marbles amid growing calls to return the marbles to Greece. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Hong Kong national security law, 2021 arrests of Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries participants
- An upper court in Hong Kong denies bail for a second time to 11 of the 47 defendants in the case, citing national security risks. Among those who were again denied bail are prominent activists and politicians such as Leung Kwok-hung, Claudia Mo, Jimmy Sham, Lester Shum, and Fergus Leung. The remaining defendants either withdrew their bail application or remain in custody under other circumstances. (South China Morning Post)
Aftermath of the killing of George Floyd
- The family of George Floyd, the man killed while in police custody last May, settles their lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis for $27 million. (Star Tribune)
Death of Sarah Everard
- A Metropolitan Police officer is charged with kidnapping and murder. (BBC News)
2019 Bolivian political crisis
- The Bolivian office of the Prosecutor General issues an arrest order for former interim President Jeanine Áñez, five former members of the national cabinet and the former leadership of the Armed Forces, accusing them of the crimes of sedition and terrorism. (The Guardian)

March 13, 2021 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - A car bombing near a police station in Herat Province kills at least eight people and wounds more than 50 others. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Myanmar protests
- Twelve people are killed after soldiers open fire on protesters in Mandalay, Yangon, and Pyay. A 13-year-old child is among those killed, the youngest victim of the unrest to date. (Reuters)

Arts and culture

Avatar retakes its place as the world's highest-grossing film of all time from Avengers: Endgame following a domestic release in China. (CNBC)

Disasters and accidents

A Kazakh Air Force Antonov An-26 crashes in Almaty, killing four crew members on board and wounding two others. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France reaches a milestone of five million people having received their first vaccination shot. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (country)
    - Georgia receives 43,200 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine distributed through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Agenda)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports a record 9,444 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 507,627. (Hungary Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Wales
      - Wales begins to ease their first step of lockdown restrictions, with "stay-at-home" replaced by "stay local". According to new rules, four people from two households can meet outside and outdoor sports can be resumed. (The Daily Telegraph)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
    - Jordan's health minister resigns after six COVID-19 patients die due to a lack of supplemental oxygen at a hospital ward in Al-Salt. (BBC News)
    - Jordan receives 144,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine distributed through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Roya News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia reports a record 169 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3,833. (Xinhua News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, Lineage P.1
    - The Philippines reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who travelled from Brazil. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
    - Ethiopia begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in order to reduce the number of COVID-19 infections, a week after the country received 2.2 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
    - Tunisia begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Sputnik V vaccine. Health workers, soldiers, people over age 65, and people with underlying conditions are the first to receive the vaccine. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in California
    - PlainSite public data reveal 450 workers at the Tesla Factory in Fremont have tested positive for COVID-19 since Tesla CEO Elon Musk reopened the building last May. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Australia reports its first local COVID-19 cases in two weeks, when a doctor in Brisbane tests positive. (The Independent)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva receives his first dose of the CoronaVac vaccine. (France 24)
  - Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso member Silvio Favero, known for introducing a bill against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, dies from COVID-19 in Cuiabá, Brazil. (Euro Weekly News)

International relations

China–United Kingdom relations, Hong Kong protests
- The United Kingdom formally declares China to be in breach of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, saying that China is now in "a state of ongoing non-compliance" of the treaty. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says that the UK will "continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong". (Financial Times)

Law and crime

Death of Sarah Everard
- A Metropolitan Police officer is remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey in London on March 16. (BBC News)
- At a candlelight vigil in Clapham, mourners defying COVID-19 gathering restrictions clash with police officers attempting to disperse them, resulting in four arrests. The actions of the police draw condemnation from several officials, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Priti Patel. (Evening Standard)
2020–21 United States racial unrest, Shooting of Breonna Taylor
- People rally in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first anniversary of the death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot by officers who forced entry to her home using a no-knock warrant. Surrounding roads are closed off, but many felt the security measures were excessive. (BBC News)
2019 Bolivian political crisis
- Former interim President Jeanine Áñez is arrested by police and is accused of participating in an alleged coup d'état against ousted President Evo Morales in November 2019. Before being arrested, Áñez denounced the arrest and stated that the "persecution had begun". (BBC News)

Politics and elections

2021 Western Australian state election
- The Labor Party wins the state election in Western Australia, in one of the biggest landslide victories in the country's history. (ABC Australia)

March 14, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Myanmar protests
- Security forces kill at least 54 anti-coup protesters in several cities, thirty-seven of whom were in Yangon. A policeman is also killed. It is the protests' deadliest day. The civilian Vice President, Mahn Win Khaing Than, says that they will pass legislation to "give people the right to defend themselves against the military" and calls for a "revolution" to overthrow the junta. Meanwhile, a junta spokesman labels the protesters as "criminals" but refuses to elaborate. (BBC News)
- People armed with axes and crowbars attack and set ablaze ten Chinese factories and a hotel in Yangon, resulting in injuries to several Chinese nationals. Some protesters have accused the Chinese government of supporting the Burmese military. (BBC News)

Arts and culture

63rd Annual Grammy Awards
- The 63rd Grammy Awards is held in Los Angeles. (CNN)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - Labour minister Élisabeth Borne tests positive for COVID-19. (Le Point)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - The Government of Ireland temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine following reports from the Norwegian Medicines Agency regarding serious blood clots developing in four people who received the vaccine, one of whom later died. (Irish Examiner)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Italy
      - Piedmont temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine after a teacher in the town of Biella reportedly died after receiving the vaccine. (Euro Weekly News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Netherlands suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine until March 29 following reports of Denmark and Norway regarding possible serious side effects. (RTÉ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Lineage P.1
    - Alberta reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil. (Edmonton Journal)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain
  - Bahrain eases some of its COVID-19-related restrictions, allowing restaurants, cafés, swimming pools, and sport facilities to reopen, but restricts gatherings to no more than 30 people. (Gulf Today)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - AstraZeneca provides an update that from more than 17 million people given a vaccination dose in the UK and EU, there is no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch, or in any particular country. (The Guardian)

March 15, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Myanmar protests
- Twenty anti-coup protesters are gunned down by soldiers. (Reuters)
- The military junta expands the provisions of Myanmar's martial law, which is perceived as an attempt to legitimize their violent pushback against anti-coup protesters. (AP)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency, 2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks
- At least 15 civilians are killed during a mass stabbing in Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ADF is suspected to be behind the attack. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

Catholic Church and gay marriage
- The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican body responsible for promulgating Catholic doctrine, rules that priests cannot bless same-sex unions or marriages, calling any such blessing "not licit". (The New York Times) (Vatican Press Office)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- British chocolate maker Thorntons announces it will be permanently closing down all of its stores, with the loss of about 600 jobs, thereby ending its 110-year presence on the high street. The company says it has been massively hit by the pandemic lockdowns and adds that high street conditions are too severe to continue. The company will continue sales online and through supermarkets. (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

Three people are killed and one injured when a small plane crashes in Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. (KGO-TV)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
    - The Andorran government announces the suspension of the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine as of March 16. (Andorra Difusió)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
    - Cyprus suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine until March 18 pending review from the European Medicines Agency following reports of possible serious side effects among vaccinated people in other EU countries. (Cyprus Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia
    - Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tests positive for COVID-19. (ERR)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - The Ministry of Health detects a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a cluster of eight cases in a hospital in Lannion, Brittany. Many of these cases can't be detected by PCR tests. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Nine of the 20 regions, as well as the autonomous province of Trentino, enter a strict state of lockdown, in the government's latest attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Two other regions are also currently in lockdown. (Euronews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia
    - Latvian health authorities temporarily suspend the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following reports of blood clot issues among vaccinated people. (Barron's)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - The Directorate-General of Health temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following reports of "rare, but severe" suspected side-effects among vaccinated people in other countries. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
    - Slovenia suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following reports of cases of blood clots in vaccinated people in other countries. (MedicalXpress)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey reports 15,503 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total this year, and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,894,893. (U.S. News and World Report)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City
    - The Vatican Museums and the Palace of Castel Gandolfo's gardens closes for third time for the duration of the last lockdown decree of the Italian Government. (Vatican News)
  - Germany, Italy, France, and Spain suspend the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood clots. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - The Ministry of Health temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine while awaiting a WHO review amidst reports of cases of blood clots in vaccinated people from several European countries. (Nikkei Asia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
    - Jordan reports a record 9,417 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 486,470. (Roya News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives
    - The Maldives Food and Drug Authority approves the emergency use of the Pfizer–BioNTech and the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccines. (Raajje)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - President Arif Alvi and First Lady Samina Alvi receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Tribune)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil signs a deal with Pfizer to purchase 100 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia
  - Somalia receives their first shipment of 300,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Anadolu Agency)

International relations

Brexit
- The European Union notifies the United Kingdom of its intent to start an infringement procedure. According to the EU, the UK breached the Northern Ireland Protocol by unilaterally extending the grace period related to trade on the island of Ireland beyond April 1. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Death of Brian Sicknick, aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- Two men are arrested and charged by the United States Department of Justice for assaulting police officer Brian Sicknick during the storming of the United States Capitol. (CNN)
Legality of euthanasia
- Portugal's Constitutional Court rejects a bill legalizing assisted suicide for terminally ill patients as unconstitutional. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Cabinet of Joe Biden
- The United States Senate votes 51–40 to confirm U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior, thereby making her the first Native American to head the department and the first to be confirmed to a Cabinet post. Haaland is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo. (CNBC) (Indian Country Today)

March 16, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in the Maghreb
- 2021 Tillabéri attacks
  - Gunmen in Niger kill at least 58 people after ambushing a convoy returning from a market and then attacking a nearby village. (Al Jazeera)
Yemeni Crisis
- Protesters storm the Presidential Palace in Aden, Yemen, amidst anger over the lack of services and poor living conditions. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Myanmar protests
- Thousands of residents flee Hlaingthaya Township in western Yangon amidst fears of a massacre by the military after martial law was declared in the industrial suburb. (Reuters)

Arts and culture

The Israel Antiquities Authority finds fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Cave of Horror, believed to be hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome 1,900 years ago. In addition, a 10,500-year-old weaving basket made of woven flowers is also found. (Haaretz) (ABC Australia)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in England, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
      - England reports their first two cases of the new P.3. variant, which was originally detected in the Philippines and has been designated as a "variant of investigation". (The Independent)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania
    - Lithuania suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following three reports of suspected serious adverse thromboembolic reactions among vaccinated people in the country. (Baltic Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, 501.V2 variant
    - Russia reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa. (The Moscow Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in San Marino
    - San Marino surpasses 5,000 people vaccinated and becomes the fifth country in the world in terms of vaccine administrations in proportion to its population. (San Marino RTV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia
    - Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabić announces a five-day nationwide lockdown from tomorrow until March 21, which will close all non-essential shops. Students in the lower grades of primary schools will most likely switch to online classes from March 22 for at least one week. (See News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Emeritus queen consort Sofía receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (El Mundo)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
    - The Public Health Agency of Sweden temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine pending a review from the European Medicines Agency following reports on abnormal blood clotting in vaccinated people. (NPR)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Cambodia reports a record 105 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,430. (Khmer Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Gujarat
      - The Gujarat state government decides to extend the curfew timing by two hours to 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. IST in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot until March 31. (The Economic Times)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi, 501.V2 variant
      - Delhi reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa. The patient is a 33-year old man from Kerala. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga receives his first dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine ahead of an April visit to the United States to meet President Joe Biden. (Nikkei Asia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand resumes their vaccination rollout using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after it was temporarily suspended due to safety concerns. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is one of the first people to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. (CNBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts, Lineage P.1
    - Massachusetts confirms its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant that originated in Brazil. (The Boston Globe)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea-Bissau
  - Guinea-Bissau suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine until May amid safety concerns regarding the vaccine, including fears about blood clots. (Urdu Point)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 2,841 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 282,400. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Moderna begins testing its vaccine in babies and children aged six months to 11 years in the U.S. and Canada. (The Wall Street Journal)

International relations

Integrated Review, United Kingdom and weapons of mass destruction
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that the UK's nuclear weapon arsenal will increase from 180 to 260 warheads, and that the UK will shift its foreign policy focus to the Indo-Pacific region, while remaining committed to NATO. The government's review also identifies Russia as the "most acute threat" to British security. (BBC News)

Law and crime

2021 Atlanta spa shootings
- Eight people, including six Asian-American women, are murdered and another is wounded in mass shootings near Atlanta, Georgia, United States. (CNN) (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

March 17, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Mali War
- At least 33 soldiers are killed and 14 others are wounded in an attack on a military post in Gao. (Al Jazeera)
Internal conflict in Myanmar
- Nearly 200 civilians, mostly Catholics, are forced to flee their villages due to renewed fighting between the military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Myanmar’s conflict-stricken Kachin state. (UCA News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan
    - Kazakhstan suspends talks with AstraZeneca for purchasing its vaccine amidst fears of blood clots in many countries. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon
    - Lebanon suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine pending a review from the international health agencies following fears of blood clots in vaccinated people. (Naharnet)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine
    - The Palestinian National Authority receives 61,440 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 37,440 of the doses are the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the other 24,000 doses are the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Times of Israel)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
    - Uzbekistan receives its first shipment of 660,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and distributed through the COVAX initiative. (AKI Press)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports a record 195 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,421. (Hungary Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - The Government of Poland announces a new national lockdown, which will close all cultural venues and non-essential shops for three weeks beginning on March 20 as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase. (Politico.eu)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine reports a record 289 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 28,986. (UNIAN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
    - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo receives the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (The New York Daily News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota, variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - North Dakota reports their first four cases of the California variant of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, the state also reports seven cases of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (The Bismarck Tribune)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 90,303 new confirmed cases from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide case total to 11,693,838. (Reuters)

International relations

Russia–United States relations
- U.S. President Joe Biden says that Russian president Vladimir Putin "will pay a price" for reportedly leading efforts to influence the 2020 United States presidential election and that he has "no soul" and is "a killer". (RFE/RL)
- Russia recalls its Ambassador to the United States in order to figure out what to do and where to move in terms of relations with the U.S. (TASS)
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay is expected to be reelected as head of the agency after no other candidates were nominated. (Reuters)
Pope Francis expresses his concerns over the tense situation in Paraguay due to a deepening health and political crisis in the South American nation which have led to protests and instances of violence in recent days. In his message, the Pope appeals for dialogue to prevail over violence. (Vatican News)

Law and crime

Same-sex marriage in Japan
- The Sapporo district court rules that prohibiting same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

2021 Dutch general election
- The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy of incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte finishes first in the nation's general election. The liberal Democrats 66 party is projected to equal their best-ever result, finishing second with 24 seats. A record of 17 parties are also in track to enter the House of Representatives. (DutchNews.nl)
- According to exit polls, turnout was at 82.6%, the highest since 1986. (Euronews)
Politics of Tanzania
- President John Magufuli dies of heart complications, which are believed to have resulted from COVID-19. Vice President Samia Suluhu is expected to succeed him and become Tanzania's first female president. (Al Jazeera)

March 18, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Mexican drug war
- Gunmen ambush a police convoy in Coatepec Harinas, State of Mexico, killing eight police officers and five prosecution investigators. It is the deadliest attack on law enforcement in the country since October 2019. The National Guard has been deployed to search for the killers. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra
      - Maharashtra reports a record 25,833 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours. (NDTV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announces that the government will lift the COVID-19 state of emergency in the Greater Tokyo Area on March 21 after approval from an expert panel due to a decrease in the number of cases. (Kyodo News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan receives his first dose of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (ANI News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - The Bulgarian Ministry of Health announces that it will ban gatherings of more than 15 people and will close theatres, cinemas, and gyms on March 22 as well as kindergartens, schools, and most non-essential shopping malls due to an increase in deaths from COVID-19. (Bulgarian News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - Prime Minister Jean Castex announces a new month-long lockdown in 16 departments across the country, including Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, and parts of Normandy, beginning tomorrow night, in order to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Independent)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Gibraltar
    - UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces that Gibraltar has vaccinated its entire adult population against COVID-19, thus becoming the first in the world to do so. (ITV News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - Andalusia reports its first case of the A.23.1 COVID-19 variant that originated in Uganda. (ABC.es)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announces a three-week lockdown in the city beginning on March 20 which will close all cultural institutions and many non-essential shopping and entertainment malls due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. (Ukrinform)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
    - São Paulo Senator Major Olímpio dies from COVID-19, becoming the third member of the Brazilian Senate to die from the virus. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
    - Chile reports a record 6,200 cases in the past 24 hours, which is the largest single-day total since June. (T13)
    - Due to the large number of cases, several cities are put under lockdown, including downtown Santiago. Almost 9 million people will be under quarantine as of March 27. (La Tercera)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Antarctica
  - The Chilean Air Force announces that part of its staff in Antarctica has been vaccinated against COVID-19, making them the first people on the continent to receive a vaccine. (U.S. News and World Report)

International relations

Russia–United States relations
- Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachyov says Russia wants an apology or explanation from the United States after President Joe Biden referred to Vladimir Putin as a soulless killer and may retaliate with a reasonable next step unless it gets one. (CTV News)
China–United States relations
- Representatives from China and the U.S. meet in Anchorage, Alaska, for diplomatic talks. (CNN)
North Korea–United States relations
- North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hu says his country will continue to reject talks with the United States until the latter stops "its hostile policy". (Yonhap News Agency)
Malaysia–North Korea relations
- North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will sever ties with Malaysia after a Malaysian court ruled a North Korean national, Mun Chol Myong, could be extradited to the United States to face charges of money laundering. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Legality of euthanasia
- The Spanish Congress of Deputies votes 202–141 to definitively approve the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide for people with serious and incurable diseases who want to end their lives, making Spain the fourth country in the European Union to do so. (RTE)

Politics and elections

2021 Dutch general election
- Annemarie Jorritsma of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Kajsa Ollongren of the Democrats 66 party are appointed as scouts (informateur) for the next cabinet formation. (DutchNews.nl)

March 19, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Houthi–Saudi Arabian conflict
- A Houthi drone strike on a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in the capital Riyadh causes a large fire. The Houthis say that they launched six drones at a Saudi Aramco facility and vow to continue operations against Saudi Arabia as long as its aggression against Yemen continues. (Al Jazeera)

Disasters and accidents

Volcanism in Iceland
- A volcano erupts south of Fagradalsfjall in Reykjanes, southwestern Iceland, according to the Meteorological Office. The eruption follows 40,000 earthquakes detected in the last month. (Iceland Monitor) (Daily Mirror) (Morgunblaðið)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
      - The Food and Drug Administration approves the emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Rappler)
    - The Philippines reports a record 7,103 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 648,066. (ABS-CBN News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports 39,670 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day total since November 28, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.5 million. (The Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
    - Nepal grants emergency use authorization for the Indian Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the third country to do so. (Hindustan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - The French National Authority for Health limits the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged over 55 years old after it was discovered that three patients who suffered blood clots are younger than 55 years old. (The New York Times)
    - Prime Minister Jean Castex receives his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - Prime Minister Boris Johnson receives his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (Sky News)
    - The United Kingdom reports a new single-day total of 660,276 doses of the vaccine administered. (U.S. News and World Report)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
    - Finland suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after reporting two cases of unusual blood clotting in the brain in vaccinated people. (Yle)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia
    - A 27-year-old nurse dies in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia, from presumed anaphylactic shock following an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine jab. (RFE/RL)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Germany resumes its use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after the European Medicines Agency declares it to be safe and not associated with an increased risk of blood clots. (The Los Angeles Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports a record 213 deaths and 10,759 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,841 and the nationwide case total to 549,839. (Hungary Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Poland surpasses two million cases of COVID-19. (Daily Sabah)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
    - Kenya reports a record 28 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,982. (Nation)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Seychelles
    - Seychelles approves the emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. (UrduPoint)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi, 501.V2 variant
    - Mississippi reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa, in a person in Harrison County. (Mississippi Today)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 90,570 new confirmed cases from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11,871,390. (The Rio Times)

International relations

Myanmar–United States relations, 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- The United States House of Representatives votes 398–14 on a resolution to condemn the military coup in Myanmar. (UrduPoint)

Politics and elections

The Troubles
- The head of the Loyalist Communities Council, David Campbell, says that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement is under threat under the current conditions of Brexit and Northern Ireland. Campbell warns that it could unleash a "political crisis" and says that the Northern Irish Protocol breaches the 1998 accord. (Reuters)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko names former Interior Minister Yury Karayeu and Health Minister Vladimir Karanik as possible successors to lead the country. (TASS)

March 20, 2021 (Saturday)

Arts and culture

The Vatican announces that Pope Francis has designated the Archdiocese of Quito in Ecuador as the host of the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress. (Catholic News Agency)

Disasters and accidents

March 2021 Miyagi earthquake
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, causing tsunami waves of up to 1 metre (3.3 ft). As a precaution, Tohoku Electric Power shuts down the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant and Tokyo Electric Power Company checks the condition of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was struck by the massive earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. (DW)
The Australian state of New South Wales is battered by a storm, causing flooding in various towns and parts of Sydney. (ABC Australia)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports 40,953 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day total since November 29, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11,555,284. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - Prime Minister Imran Khan tests positive for COVID-19, two days after being vaccinated. (Dawn)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Philippines reports a new record for the second consecutive day of 7,999 confirmed cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 656,056. (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom
    - The United Kingdom reports a new single-day record of 711,156 doses of the vaccine administered. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Florida
    - Florida surpasses two million cases of COVID-19, becoming the third U.S. state to do so after California and Texas. (The Hill)
    - Miami Beach imposes a curfew due to crowds on spring break. It will take effect beginning at 8:00 p.m. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New York, Lineage P.1
    - New York reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil. The patient is a Brooklyn woman in her 90s in Mount Sinai Hospital who had no travel history. (NBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
  - Chile reports a record 7,084 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 925,089. (Globe Live Media)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea
  - Richard Mendani becomes the first incumbent member of the National Parliament to die from COVID-19. (PNG Facts)

Politics and elections

2021 United States House of Representatives elections
- 2021 Louisiana's 2nd congressional district special election, 2021 Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election
  - Voters head to the polls to vote on who will represent Louisiana's 2nd and 5th congressional districts. (The Washington Post)
  - Julia Letlow, the wife of late Representative-elect Luke Letlow, wins the special election to the 5th congressional district, thereby becoming Louisiana's first female Republican Representative. The special election to the 2nd congressional district will head to an April 24 runoff between the top two finishers Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson. (CNN)

Sports

2020 Summer Olympics, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 Summer Olympics
- The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announces that overseas spectators will be banned from entry to Japan to watch the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Paralympics due to risk of spread of COVID-19. (The Japan Times)

March 21, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- Russian–Syrian hospital bombing campaign
  - Seven civilians are killed and 16 others are wounded in a Syrian government airstrike on a hospital in Atareb, Aleppo Governorate. (Al Jazeera)
- Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war
  - Russian jets strike gas facilities in the town of Sarmada, Idlib Governorate, near the border with Turkey, and strike Qah with a surface-to-surface missile, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense. Turkey says it has sent a statement to Russia asking for the attacks to stop immediately. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Afghan peace process
  - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin makes an unannounced trip to Afghanistan ahead of a May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from the country. (ABC News)
Insurgency in the Maghreb
- 2021 Niger attacks
  - Suspected ISIL-linked militants kill 22 people in a series of raids on three villages in Tahoua Region, Niger. (Reuters)

Business and economy

The Turkish lira plunges by 15% after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan fires Governor of the Central Bank Naci Ağbal. He is replaced by Erdoğan ally Şahap Kavcıoğlu. (Bloomberg)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Rajasthan
      - The Rajasthan state government imposes a curfew in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Sagwara, and Kushalgarh from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. IST beginning tomorrow. The government will also require travelers from other states to carry a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours beginning March 25 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines
      - The government places the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under the "general community quarantine" and bans all mass gatherings and cross-border travel in those provinces from tomorrow until April 4. (Rappler)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - Bulgaria surpasses 300,000 cases of COVID-19. (Bulgarian News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
    - The number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU reaches a record 1,334 people. (Europa FM)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The United Kingdom reports 33 deaths in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily total since October 5. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey surpasses three million cases of COVID-19. (Daily Sabah)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - Florida becomes the first U.S. state to surpasses 1,000 cases of SARS-CoV-2 variants. (Tallahassee Democrat)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, 501.V2 variant
  - South Africa concludes the sale of their Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines to the African Union after the country stopped using these vaccines because they were found to be not highly effective against the 501.V2 variant. (News24)

Politics and elections

2021 Republic of the Congo presidential election
- Citizens in the Republic of the Congo head to the polls to elect their President. Incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso is expected to extend his 36-year rule as his main rival Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas remains hospitalized in France, where he was evacuated after contracting COVID-19. (Reuters)

March 22, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Yemeni Civil War
- Houthi–Saudi Arabian conflict, Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
  - Saudi Arabia proposes a ceasefire in Yemen to end the conflict against the Houthi movement. (Al Jazeera)
Insurgency in the Maghreb
- 2021 Niger attacks
  - The death toll from yesterday's raids in Tahoua, Niger, rises to at least 137. A security official blames ISIL for the attacks in a volatile region, which has seen an increase in these types of attacks in the past few months. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)
2021 Guangzhou bombing
- A man detonates a bomb in a government building in Guangzhou, China, killing four people and himself, along with injuring five others. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Balukhali fire
- A massive fire at the Balukhali refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh, leaves at least 15 people dead, 550 injured, 400 missing, and 45,000 homeless. (Reuters)
Forty-five people are killed during a stampede at a stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where hundreds of people were paying their last respects to President John Magufuli, who died on 17 March. (Al Jazeera)
Two Taiwanese F-5E fighter jets collide with each other during a training exercise, with one pilot being declared dead and another missing. (UPI)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports 46,951 new cases and 212 deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest daily case total since November and also the highest daily death total since January. (The Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
    - Jordan reports a record 109 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,985. (Roya News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Philippines reports a record 8,019 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 671,792. (ABS-CBN News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Premier Su Tseng-chang receives a dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as the country begins its vaccination campaign. (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - The Ministry of Health orders private sector doctors to assist public hospitals as the public health system becomes overwhelmed by an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary grants emergency use approval for the CanSino Biologics Convidecia and Indian Covishield COVID-19 vaccines. (Daily News Hungary)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
    - Swissmedic approves the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Swiss Info)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
    - Clinical trials for the vaccine produced by Oxford and AstraZeneca show that it is 79% effective against COVID-19. (The New York Times)

International relations

China–European Union relations
- The European Union imposes sanctions against several officials in China for human rights abuses in Xinjiang. These sanctions are Europe's first since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. (Reuters)
Myanmar–United States relations
- The United States imposes sanctions against several military officials in Myanmar for its suppression of the protests in response to the coup. (CNN)

Law and crime

2021 Boulder shooting
- Nine civilians and a police officer are killed during a mass shooting at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, United States. A suspect has been arrested. (BBC News)
People protest in Bristol, United Kingdom, against the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would give the police more power to deal with protests. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

2021 Republic of the Congo presidential election, COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of the Congo
- Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas, the opposition presidential candidate, dies from COVID-19 on a plane en route to France for treatment, a day after the election. (Al Jazeera)

March 23, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Afghan peace process
  - Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani rejects the United States peace plans, but says that he is open to holding a new presidential election in six months. (Business Recorder)
  - Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar says that China is working closely with the country to restore peace there. He also urges India to play a role in restoring peace in the country. (The New Indian Express) (The Economic Times)
  - United Nations special envoy on Afghanistan Deborah Lyons says that efforts by the United States and Russia should be "focused and coherent" and complement peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. She also urges an end to the violence in the country. (Reuters) (ReliefWeb)
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- A bombing in Chaman, Balochistan, Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan, kills three people and injures 13 others. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack. (Reuters)
Naxalite insurgency
- At least five security personnel and a driver are killed when Naxalites attack their bus with an IED as it crossed a bridge over a culvert in Chhattisgarh, India. This is the biggest Naxalite attack of the year so far in the region. (Times of India)

Disasters and accidents

2020 California wildfires
- Zogg Fire
  - Investigations into the 2020 fire that destroyed 56,338 acres in northern California conclude that the fire began when a gray pine tree fell on power lines belonging to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. (Bloomberg via MSN) (San Francisco Chronicle)
The Suez Canal is blocked in both directions after the Panamanian-flagged container ship Ever Given runs aground north of Egypt's Suez Port. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - President Moon Jae-in receives a dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in preparation for a visit to the United Kingdom to attend the G7 summit in June. (The Hill)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Tajikistan
    - Tajikistan begins their vaccination campaign against COVID-19 on the orders of President Emomali Rahmon. (AKIPress)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that the country imposes an "emergency brake" and extends their nationwide lockdown until April 18, which including the closure of shops from April 1 to April 5, amidst a spike of the COVID-19 cases. (DW)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy reports 551 new deaths in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day figure since January, thus bringing the nationwide death toll to 105,879. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - President Vladimir Putin receives a dose of a domestically-produced COVID-19 vaccine; it is unknown which of Russia's current three vaccine candidates was administered. Earlier in the day, the government had announced this ambiguity was deliberate, before noting that "all three Russian-made vaccines are absolutely reliable and effective." (Reuters via MSN)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine reports a record 333 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 30,431. (Kyiv Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state)
    - Georgia reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil. It was found in a resident in Newton County. (WMAZ-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 3,251 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 298,843. It is the first time that Brazil has recorded more than 3,000 deaths from COVID-19 in a single day. (France 24)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Pfizer says that they plan to develop new vaccines for other viruses following the success of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate. (CNBC)

Law and crime

2021 Boulder shooting
- The suspect in yesterday's mass shooting at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, which resulted in the deaths of ten people, is charged with ten counts of murder. (CNN)

Child corporal punishment laws
- The Senate of Colombia unanimously votes to approve a bill that prohibits corporal punishment, and any form of violence, as a form of correctional punishment for the upbringing of children and adolescents. (DW)

Politics and elections

2021 Israeli legislative election
- Israelis go to the polls for the fourth time in less than two years. (BBC News)
Killing of Jamal Khashoggi
- Agnès Callamard, Special Rapporteur appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, reveals that a senior Saudi Arabian official twice threatened to have her "taken care of" if the UN did not obstruct her investigation of the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi, who had been critical of the al-Saud dynasty, was murdered and dismembered by Saudi agents in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in 2018 under what is believed to be the direct orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (The Guardian)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- During a news conference in Naypyidaw, the Tatmadaw defended the reimposition of the junta and claimed that ousted national leader Aung San Suu Kyi was corrupt, tantamount to graft. No supporting evidence for these allegations was offered outside of the taped testimony of a former colleague of Aung San Suu Kyi, Phyo Min Thein, who has been detained by the military since the coup began. (AP)

March 24, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in the Maghreb
- 2021 Niger attacks
  - At least 10 people are killed during attacks at two villages in the Tillabéri Region, Niger. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Afghanistan–United States relations
  - The Defense Inspector General releases a report accusing the United States for failing to charge partner nations for the use of American military aircraft. The report also says that the Department of Defense had no way of knowing how many dollars have been lost. (Air Force Times)
Aftermath of the Second Libyan Civil War
- Mahmoud al-Werfalli, a commander loyal to Khalifa Haftar, is killed alongside his cousin after unknown gunmen open fire on their vehicle in Benghazi. (Al Jazeera)
Tigray War
- Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed admits for the first time that Eritrean troops entered Ethiopia's Tigray Region and fought the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front, and that they may have been involved in war crimes. Abiy says that Eritrean forces promised to leave the region as soon as Ethiopia's military was able to "control the border". (Al Jazeera)

Business and economy

COVID-19 recession, COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City
- Pope Francis issues a decree that cuts the 10% of the cardinals' and other officials' salaries in view of the fact that the Vatican foresees a financial deficit of 50 million euros this year. (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Suez Canal obstruction
- The Suez Canal remains blocked for a second consecutive day after the container ship Ever Given got stuck during a dust storm. The Suez Canal Authority says that tugboats are continuing to try to move the 220,000-ton ship as more than 100 cargo ships wait to pass. (The Guardian)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - Belgium announces new strict lockdown measures, which will close schools and non-medical contact professions such as hairdressers, restrict operation of non-essential shops, and ban outdoor gatherings of more than four people. These measures will begin on March 26 and will last for at least four weeks. (The Brussels Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - Bulgaria reports a record 4,851 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 312,741. (Bulgarian News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot becomes the second member of the government to be admitted to a hospital with COVID-19 after Élisabeth Borne, who has already been discharged. (Politico.eu)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that yesterday's decision to impose a five-day nationwide shutdown has been reversed. She says that the plan was a "mistake" and apologizes for it. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland
    - Iceland will close schools, swimming pools, gyms, and bars at midnight and lower the limit on gatherings from 50 people to 10 people. These measures will be enforced for the next three weeks following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Iceland Review)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Poland reports a record 29,978 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,160,671. The country also surpasses 50,000 deaths from COVID-19. (TVN24 English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine reports a new single-day record for the second consecutive day of 343 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 30,773. (Kyiv Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
  - Mongolia reports a record 218 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 5,610. (Montsame)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
      - Alberta reports its first two cases of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil linked in a community transmission. (Global News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - The U.S. surpasses 30 million cases of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil surpasses 300,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the second country to do so after the U.S. (AP)

Politics and elections

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
- Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok resigns amid a wave of mass resignations after President Zuzana Čaputová demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Igor Matovič over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The education minister also resigned. (DW)

Law and crime

Capital punishment in the United States, Capital punishment in Virginia
- Virginia becomes the 23rd U.S. state to abolish the death penalty, and the first Southern state to do so. (The Washington Post)
Bárcenas affair, Corruption in Spain
- Former Prime Ministers José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy testify as witnesses at the National Audience in a corruption trial affecting the People's Party. The main defendant, Luis Bárcenas, claims that Rajoy and Aznar received cash payments from a slush fund, which they deny. (Euronews)

March 25, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Afghan peace process
  - U.S. President Joe Biden warns that the country will not meet the May 1 deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan. However, he also said that it is unlikely that troops will remain in the country next year. (Reuters)
- The Bundestag approves a new mandate to let Germany continue to station up to 1,300 Bundeswehr soldiers in Afghanistan until January 31, 2022. (Reuters)

Arts and culture

The 2021 redesign of the £50 note, featuring British mathematician Alan Turing on the reverse, is officially unveiled by the Bank of England. It is slated to enter circulation on June 23, Turing's birthday. (ABC News)

Disasters and accidents

Tornado outbreak of March 24–26, 2021
- Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declares a state of emergency for 46 counties as the National Weather Service predicts a severe weather outbreak and possible tornado outbreak. (WBMA-TV)
- The National Weather Service issues a particularly dangerous situation tornado watch after level 5 "high risk" watches are issued for parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. (AL.com)
- A tornado emergency was issued by the National Weather Service near Hoover, Alabama. Another emergency was also issued for Brent and Centreville. (Alabama WX)
2021 Suez Canal obstruction
- The Suez Canal Authority suspends navigation through the Suez Canal until the grounded container ship Ever Given can be refloated. The waterway has now been blocked for three consecutive days. (France 24)
February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm, February 15–20, 2021 North American winter storm, 2021 Texas power crisis
- The official death toll from the major winter storms that struck Texas and triggered statewide blackouts last month rises to at least 111, more than double the previous reported numbers. It is also believed that the storms could become the costliest weather disaster in the state's history. (NBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq
    - Iraq receives 336,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine distributed through the COVAX vaccine sharing initiative. (Arab News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Philippines reports a record 8,773 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 693,048. (ABS-CBN)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19. (Yonhap News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - The Thailand Food and Drug Administration grants emergency use authorization for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, thereby becoming the third vaccine to be made available for local use. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Albania
    - Albania receives their first shipment of 192,000 doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine. (Albanian Daily News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - The Government of France extends the partial lockdown to the departments of Rhône, Aube, and Nièvre due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections. The restrictions will begin at midnight tomorrow. (Euronews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports a record 272 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 19,224. (Daily News Hungary)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Poland will close barbers, hairdressers, and beauty shops from March 27 until April 9, as well as kindergartens and nurseries, while restricting the capacity at essential shops, churches, public markets, and post offices amidst the rising number of the COVID-19 cases. (The First News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine reports a record 16,669 new confirmed cases and 362 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,596,575 and the nationwide death toll to 31,135. (Ukrinform)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
    - Brazil reports a record 100,158 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Global News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
    - Chile reports nearly 50,000 active cases of COVID-19, a new record for the country. The country also announces that the entire Santiago Metropolitan Region will be put under lockdown beginning next Saturday. (BíoBíoChile)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia
    - Colombia grants emergency use authorization for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Europa Press)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Peru
    - Peru reports a record 11,260 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,492,519. (The Rio Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia, variants of SARS-CoV-2
      - Virginia reports its two first cases of the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 variant first detected in California. (U.S. News and World Report)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
    - Mexico surpasses 200,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
    - AstraZeneca announces that the efficacy rating of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been lowered to 76%, following new analyses of the trial run in the United States. Earlier in the week, the company had been criticized for advertising its vaccine with a 79% efficacy rating using what critics claimed was outdated data. (Forbes)
  - Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
    - Pfizer and BioNTech begin a clinical trial testing of their COVID-19 vaccine on healthy children between the ages of six months and 11 years, which is considered a crucial step towards vaccinating children. (CNBC)

International relations

Andorra–Spain relations
- King Felipe VI of Spain makes the first ever state visit by a Spanish king to Andorra. (El Periódico)
Aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- The United States and the United Kingdom impose sanctions on Burmese conglomerates Myanma Economic Holdings and Myanmar Economic Corporation, citing the crackdown and human rights violations committed by the military junta since taking power on February 1. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2020–2021 Belarusian protests
- Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya calls for a "Freedom Day" and renewed protests against President Alexander Lukashenko in order to mount pressure for him to resign amidst a disputed election last year. (Reuters)

March 26, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Tigray War
- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announces that Eritrean troops will withdraw from the Tigray Region after pressure mounted on them on accusations of human rights violations. The announcement came after a meeting with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. (DW)
War in Donbass
- Four Ukrainian troops are killed and two others are wounded in a separatist rocket attack on a military position in the Donetsk Oblast. It is the worst loss of life in a single attack for Ukrainian forces since 2019. (Euronews)
Colombian conflict
- A car bombing in front of the City Hall of the municipality of Corinto, Cauca, Colombia, wounds 16 people and is attributed to drug trafficking terrorism. (El Periódico)
At least four people are killed in Chittagong, Bangladesh, when police open fire at protesters during a demonstration against a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, 2020–2021 Belarusian protests
- Belarus is disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest after their entry Galasy ZMesta's song "Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)" was deemed inappropriate by the European Broadcasting Union due to its "political subtext". Galasy ZMesta has been known for mocking the protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. (BBC News)

Business and economy

Transport in Romania
- The Bucharest Metro stops operating as a result of a strike by the trade union of the metro. The government and Metrorex condemn the strike as illegal. (Digi 24)

Disasters and accidents

Sohag train collision
- At least 19 people are killed and 185 others are injured after two trains collide in Sohag, Egypt. Passengers triggered the emergency brakes on the first train; a second train following on the same track was not stopped. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Suez Canal obstruction
- The Suez Canal Authority accepts an offer from the United States Navy to deploy an assessment team of dredging experts to assist in efforts to remove the stranded Ultra Large Container Vessel Ever Given. The Suez Canal has now been blocked for four consecutive days. (CNN)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra
      - The Maharashtra state government imposes a night curfew beginning on March 28, due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (India Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia reports a record 437 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 6,332. (AKIPress)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Philippines reports a record 9,838 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, with the country surpassing 100,000 total active cases. This also brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 702,856. (Rappler)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
    - The government's spokesman Kyriacos Koushos tests positive for COVID-19. (Cyprus-Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports a record 11,265 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 614,612. (Budapest Business Journal)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - Ireland introduces a mandatory hotel quarantine for travellers from 33 high-risk countries, mostly in South America and Africa. Travellers from these countries will be required to quarantine for 14 days at a government-designated facility. (The Irish Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Poland reports a record for the third consecutive day of 35,143 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,189,966. (Polskie Radio)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine reports a record 18,132 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,614,707. (Kyiv Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
    - President Uhuru Kenyatta announces a lockdown and curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Nakuru counties beginning tomorrow due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (RFI)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritania
    - Mauritania begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 after receiving 500,000 doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine from China. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
    - Brazil reports a record 3,650 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (The Rio Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia
    - The Colombian National Institute for Drug and Food Surveillance grants emergency use authorization for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (El Periódico)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico
      - New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. (San Francisco Chronicle)
    - The Biden administration announces that the United States is expected to receive 11 million doses of the vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin
    - Wisconsin confirms their first cases of the Lineage P.1 and 501.V2 variant of SARS-CoV-2. (WBAY-TV) (Madison.com)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona, 501.V2 variant
    - Arizona reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa. (The Arizona Republic)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Maine, Lineage P.1
    - Maine reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil. (Central Maine)

International relations

Cross-Strait relations
- Taiwan reports the largest ever incursion into its air defence identification zone by People's Liberation Army Air Force warplanes. The fleet of Chinese aircraft, including Xian H-6 strategic bombers and Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, flew south of the island over the Bashi Channel, according to a statement from Taiwan's Defence Ministry. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara names Patrick Achi as Prime Minister following the death of Hamed Bakayoko. (Al Jazeera)

March 27, 2021 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in Cabo Delgado
- Battle of Palma
  - In the fourth day of a siege in Palma, Mozambique, several people are killed by ISIL-linked militants. Local civilians are killed in streets and buildings, with reports of beheadings. A South African man and a British citizen are murdered after a hotel and an evacuation convoy are attacked; other foreigners are also suspected to have been killed. At least 21 soldiers are shot dead while responding to the hotel attack. (The Times) (The Telegraph)
  - Islamist militants have taken control of Palma after outnumbered government forces withdraw from the town, according to security forces. (The Guardian)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - Three people are killed in a car bombing in Kandahar Province. (Lokmat)
2021 Myanmar protests
- More than 114 anti-coup protesters are killed by the military as junta leader Min Aung Hlaing celebrates Armed Forces Day and promises to "protect people and strive for democracy". The protests erupted across the country despite a warning by state television that protesters could be "shot in the head and back". (Reuters) (WGAU)
Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano accuses FARC splinter group Dagoberto Ramos Mobile Column of being responsible for yesterday's car bombing in Corinto, Cauca Department, that injured 43 people, eleven of whom were public officials. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

At least 18 people are killed and 24 others are injured when an apartment complex building collapses in Cairo, Egypt. (Al Jazeera)
A Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter crashes into a glacier near Anchorage, Alaska, killing five people, including Czech billionaire Petr Kellner. One crew member survived and has been hospitalized. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines
    - Enhanced community quarantine in Luzon
      - The government announces that the Greater Manila Area will be placed under enhanced community quarantine, which includes a curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time, for one week from March 29 to April 4. (Inquirer)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan
    - Bhutan launches their largest vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that was received from India. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Cambodia reports a record 179 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,157. (Khmer Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
      - First Minister Arlene Foster receives her first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Irish Times)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Wales
      - Wales lifts their "stay local" rules that have been imposed since December, allowing people to travel freely within the country. They also allow up to six people from two different households to meet and exercise outdoors, as well as resumption of organised outdoor activities and sports for people under the age of 18. (The Independent)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey reports 30,021 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total this year, thereby bringing its cumulative case total to 3,179,115. (Arab News)

International relations

China–Iran relations
- Iran–China 25-year Cooperation Program
  - China and Iran sign a 25-year cooperation agreement at a live televised ceremony in Tehran, following a two-day state visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The accord is expected to significantly increase Chinese investment in Iran, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan–United States relations, Afghan peace process
  - United States envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad visits Turkey in an effort to encourage parties to accelerate negotiations and end the conflict. (Voice of America)
China–United States relations, Canada–China relations
- China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs places sanctions against the chair and vice-chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and Canadian MP Michael Chong. Beijing’s sanctions followed those imposed by the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada earlier this week for what they say are violations of the rights of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. (Reuters)

Law and crime

One person is killed and six others are wounded in a mass stabbing in and around a public library in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (CBC News)
List of mass shootings in the United States in 2021, Crime in Virginia
- A series of shootings occur on the oceanfront of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Friday night. They consist of a mass shooting that left eight people injured; a subsequent, fatal shooting by a police officer; and an unrelated fatal shooting that occurred nearby. (CNN)

Politics and elections

Voter suppression in the United States, 2020–21 Georgia state elections
- Changes to Georgia voting laws which have been called voter suppression results in the MLB looking to proposals to move the MLB All-Star Game this July in Atlanta. Civil rights groups also urged the PGA to pull the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Newsweek)

Thousands of women protest in Istanbul over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. (Reuters)
Scottish National Party MP Kenny MacAskill defects to the newly formed Scottish nationalist Alba Party, becoming the party's first MP in the House of Commons. (BBC News)

Science and technology

COVID-19 misinformation by governments
- Facebook blocks the account of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro for spreading fake news related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as alleged miraculous remedies to combat the disease. (El Mundo)

March 28, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - Two guards are killed at a water dam near the Pashtun Kot, Faryab, by the Taliban. (Hindustan Times)
  - Over 20 civilians are killed in an operation launched by Afghan security forces against the Taliban. (Anadolu Agency)
  - Three police officers are killed in a roadside bomb blast in Laghman. (Xinhuanet)
  - Five pro-government militia men are killed in an overnight attack in the Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. (The News International)
Terrorism in Indonesia
- 2021 Makassar cathedral bombing
  - Twenty people are wounded in a double suicide bombing outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. (CNA)
2021 Myanmar protests
- Myanmar's security forces open fire on a funeral being held for a person killed in Yangon, with no casualties reported. The Kachin Independence Army also attacks a police station, prompting the military to conduct airstrikes. (Reuters)

Business and economy

Tencent Music announces that, starting tomorrow, it will repurchase up to US$1 billion of its own stock over the next year in response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission tightening its auditing standards for foreign firms listed on American stock exchanges. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra
      - Maharashtra reports a record 40,414 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours despite a nightly curfew, thereby bringing the total of confirmed cases to 2.71 million. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia surpasses 7,000 cases of COVID-19. (Marketwatch)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - The National Command and Operation Centre announces an immediate ban on all indoor and outdoor gatherings across Pakistan as well as weddings beginning April 5 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Tribune)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia
    - North Macedonia receives their first shipment of 24,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (UNICEF)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
    - Prime Minister Janez Jansa announces a circuit-breaker lockdown from April 1 to 12, which will close all non-essential businesses and in-person cultural and religious venues, ban gatherings of more than 10 people, and shift schools to remote learning. (STA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom
      - The number of people who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom surpasses 30 million. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
  - A lockdown begins across the entirety of Chile, despite its successful vaccination programme, as the hospital occupancy rate reaches 95%. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
  - Mexico publishes revised figures, indicating that the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 is 60% higher than previously reported. The revised total is 321,000, thereby making it the country with the world's second-highest number of deaths. (BBC News) (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

2019–2022 Sudanese transition to democracy
- The Sudanese transitional government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North sign an agreement in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, holding that the new government will maintain the separation of church and state and uphold the right to worship for all religions. (VOA)
Janikhel incident
- Thousands of protesters in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province break through police barricades and attempt to march to Bannu, and eventually reach Islamabad, in order to demand a government probe into the deaths of four youths near Janikhel. The protesters allege that the youths were tortured and killed by security forces. (Reuters)
Dianne Feinstein becomes the longest serving U.S. Senator from California, surpassing Hiram Johnson. (Los Angeles Times)

March 29, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- The New Zealand Defence Force withdraws their troops from Afghanistan, ending New Zealand's involvement in the war. (Newshub)
Insurgency in the Maghreb
- Three soldiers are killed and seven others are wounded when two military posts are attacked in Kafolo and Téhini, Ivory Coast. Two attackers are also killed and four more are arrested. (Reuters)
2021–2022 Myanmar protests
- The United States suspends its diplomatic trade engagement with Myanmar, which sought to help integrate the country into the global economy, following an escalation in violence perpetrated by the Burmese military against anti-coup protesters, until what Katherine Tai says would be "the return of a democratically elected government." (CNN)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Balongan refinery explosion
- One person is dead, twenty others are injured, and three are missing after an explosion at the Pertamina oil refinery in Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia. (The Guardian)
2021 Suez Canal obstruction
- The grounded container ship Ever Given is refloated and towed north, allowing the Suez Canal to reopen. At least 369 ships are now waiting to pass through the canal. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in England
      - Lockdown restrictions in England are relaxed as new COVID-19 laws enter force, formally ending the government's "stay at home" order, allowing the resumption of outdoor sports, and allowing people to meet in groups of up to six outdoors. (Sky News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Albania
    - Former Prime Minister and member of the Parliament Bashkim Fino dies from COVID-19 at the age of 58. (Balkans News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announces that a full weekend lockdown will be put in place during Ramadan and that restaurants will only be able to offer delivery and takeout due to an increasing number of high-risk cities across the country. (Hurriyet Daily News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
    - Bangladesh reports a record 5,181 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 600,895. This forces the government to impose further restrictions across the country. (Dhaka Tribune)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan
    - Kyrgyzstan begins its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using China's Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (Barron's)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
    - Mongolia reports a record 575 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 7,589. (AKI Press)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - President Arif Alvi and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak both test positive for COVID-19. (The News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Philippines reports a record 10,016 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 731,894. (ABS-CBN News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
      - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that the state will expand their vaccine eligibility to adults 30 and older beginning tomorrow, and to anyone aged 16 and older beginning on April 6. (The New York Times)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Texas
      - Texas expands their vaccine eligibility to all adults. (KTBC-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Lineage B.1.1.7
  - Brisbane enters a three-day lockdown after a reported outbreak of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant, with some minor lockdown measures extending to the rest of Queensland. (News.com.au)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
  - Due to the increase of cases in the country, President Sebastián Piñera introduces a constitutional reform to postpone the regional, local, and Constitutional Convention elections, scheduled for April 10 and 11. (La Tercera)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
  - Morocco suspends all flights to Spain and France due to the worsening of the epidemiologic situation in Europe. (La Razón)

Law and crime

State v. Chauvin, Killing of George Floyd, George Floyd protests
- The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for his involvement in the killing of George Floyd begins in Hennepin County, Minnesota. A series of protests in the United States and around the world occurred in 2020 in response to the killing. (The Washington Post)
Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot
- A judge orders three men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to stand trial, after a three-day preliminary hearing. Threat of terrorism charges are dismissed against two of the defendants. (ABC News)
2020–2021 Belarusian protests
- Belarusian authorities charge opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya with terrorism for allegedly attempting to stage false flag bombings in the capital Minsk and Barysaw. (Euronews)
A court in Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany, sentences a 52-year-old man to nine years and 10 months in prison for removing several screws from high-speed rail tracks in a failed attempt to cause trains to derail. His motive was not established. (DW)
Russian anti-corruption activist and politician Ivan Zhdanov, head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and an ally of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accuses authorities of detaining his father in order to pressure him on his anti-government activities, including mass protests to call for the release of Navalny. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2021 Australian Parliament House sexual misconduct allegations
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces a reshuffle of his Cabinet in light of recent controversies. Michaelia Cash becomes Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister, replacing alleged rapist Christian Porter, who is instead made Industry, Science and Technology Minister. Peter Dutton becomes Leader of the House, replacing Porter and Defence Minister, replacing Linda Reynolds, who was criticised for her handling of a rape allegation among her ministerial staff. Reynolds is instead made Government Services Minister. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro
- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announces a Cabinet reshuffle, naming new Defence, Justice, and Foreign Ministers, as well as a new Attorney General, Secretary of Government and Chief of Staff amidst a rise of the COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as the mismanagement of the government handling of the pandemic. Former Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva allegedly resigned over pressure from Bolsonaro to make the Armed Forces publicly support him. (O Estado de S. Paulo) (O Estado de S. Paulo₂) (Al Jazeera)
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan removes Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in light of rising inflation and Shaikh's defeat in the recent Senate elections. Minister of Industries and Production Hammad Azhar is selected to replace him. (Reuters)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa calls on all members of the ruling African National Congress that are facing charges of corruption or other serious crimes to resign from their positions within 30 days and threatens to suspend those who do not comply. (Reuters)
The Houthi government in Sanaa, Yemen, deports several Yemenite Jewish families to the United Arab Emirates after reaching an agreement with the families to leave Yemen. Four elderly Yemenite Jews remain in the country. (Al Monitor)

March 30, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Mali War
- Mali wedding airstrike
  - A report by the United Nations mission in Mali concludes that an airstrike conducted by France in Mopti on January 3 killed 19 civilians at a wedding. The French military maintains that it had killed rebel fighters identified by aerial surveillance, and denies that a wedding had taken place in Bounti. (Al Jazeera)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - Gunmen kill three female polio vaccination health workers in Jalalabad, Nangarhar. (Al Jazeera)
2021–2022 Myanmar protests
- The death toll since the protests began officially surpasses 500. Pro-democracy activists launch a "garbage strike" in Yangon as rebel groups demand that the military stop the bloodshed or face retaliation. (DW)
Insurgency in Cabo Delgado
- Following the fall of Palma to Islamist militants, Portugal announces it will be deploying 60 special forces troops to Mozambique in the coming weeks to train local forces amid an intensifying insurgency. (France 24)
A 65-year-old woman from the Philippines is critically wounded after being assaulted by a man during a racist attack in New York City. The perpetrator, a man in his 30s who was previously in prison for murdering his mother, is charged with hate crime assault. (Reuters)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - President Joe Biden signs the PPP Extension Act of 2021, a bill that would extend the Paycheck Protection Program deadline from March 31 to May 31. (CBS News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Italy
      - Prime Minister Mario Draghi and his wife Maria Serenella Cappello receive their first doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (ANSA)
    - The Government of Italy will impose a mandatory five-day quarantine for all travelers from other European Union member states until April 6. These travelers must also take a COVID-19 test at the end of the quarantine period. The only exceptions are for reasons of "proven necessity and urgency". (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - German health authorities suspend the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine in people under the age of 60 after new data showing a rise in unusual blood clots in the head was released. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece reports a record 4,340 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 260,077. (Ekathimerini)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey reports a record 37,303 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3.27 million. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
    - Brazil reports a record 3,780 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thus bringing the nationwide death toll to 317,646. (Anadolu Agency)
    - Brazil's health regulator Anvisa said Bharat Biotech's Covaxin did not meet its manufacturing standards. The Brazilian government previously signed a contract to buy 20 million doses. Bharat said in a statement that they would appeal the decision. (The Rio Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
    - Venezuela receives more than 115,000 doses of the EpiVacCorona vaccine as part of trials of the Russian vaccine candidate. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
  - Ethiopia receives 300,000 doses of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (The National Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea
  - Papua New Guinea begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied from Australia. Prime Minister James Marape is the first person to receive a dose of the vaccine. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
  - Pakistan reports 100 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest recorded in a single day of the year so far, thus bringing the nationwide death toll to 14,434. The number of patients in critical care with COVID-19 also reaches an all-time high of 3,749. (Dawn)
- COVID-19 vaccine, Lineage B.1.1.7
  - Trials for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine show that it is 90% effective against COVID-19 and the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2. (UrduPoint)

Law and crime

Sex trafficking in the United States
- An investigation is opened into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R–FL) over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and violated federal sex trafficking laws by allegedly paying her to travel with him. Gaetz denied the allegations. (The New York Times)

Politics and elections

2021 Hong Kong electoral reform
- China's National People's Congress Standing Committee members vote in favor of amendments of the Hong Kong Basic Law Annex I and II to overhaul the electoral system. The amendments are widely seen as a move to further reduce the influence of the opposition pro-democracy camp in the wake of the widespread anti-government protests of 2019 and the electoral landslide of the 2019 District Council election. (Hong Kong Free Press)
Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro
- In a meeting with recently-appointed Defence Minister Walter Souza Braga Netto in the early hours of the day, the commanders of all three branches of the Brazilian Armed Forces – General Edson Leal Pujol (Army), Admiral Ilques Barbosa Junior (Navy), and Brigadier Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez (Air Force) – announce their intention to resign from their posts as soon as new successors are found. The collective resignation announcement comes less than a day after the dismissal of former Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva and is allegedly a move to signal the Armed Forces' opposition to any military interference in politics. (O Estado de S. Paulo)

Sports

2021 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament
- In college basketball, the UCLA Bruins advance to the Final Four as an 11th seed after defeating the Michigan Wolverines, becoming the fifth team to do so after LSU in 1986, George Mason in 2006, VCU in 2011, and Loyola–Chicago in 2018. They will also become the second team to reach the Final Four after starting in the First Four since the 2011 VCU Rams. They will play the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who defeated the USC Trojans. (Sports Illustrated)

March 31, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Internal conflict in Myanmar
- Kachin conflict
  - The Kachin Independence Army says that it attacked a police station in Kyaukgyi village-tract in Shwegu Township, Kachin State, injuring at least one officer. They claim that the police there are involved in killing civilians during the ongoing protests. (Irrawaddy)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- ADF gunmen attack a village in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 23 civilians. Two attackers are shot dead by responding security forces. (Al Jazeera)
War in Donbass
- Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of "provoking armed confrontation" with pro-Russian separatists in the war-torn eastern portion of the country. Putin also said that Ukraine failed to comply with the July 2020 ceasefire of the conflict, which has killed over 14,000 people since it broke out in 2014. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
2021 Nigerien coup d'état attempt
- Gunfire erupts in the streets of Niamey, Niger, during an attempted coup d'état by soldiers. The coup was foiled and the perpetrators were arrested. (France 24)
Indonesian National Police headquarters shooting
- A woman opens fire at the Indonesian National Police headquarters in Jakarta before being shot dead by police. A male accomplice flees the scene. No other casualties are reported. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - Bulgaria reports a record 5,176 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 338,426. (Bulgarian National Television)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - President Emmanuel Macron announces the extension of the "light lockdown" to the rest of the country, which includes a school closure from April 12 to April 26, a one-month domestic travel ban, and closure of non-essential businesses beginning April 3 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (The Wall Street Journal) (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - The Rosselkhoznadzor approves the Carnivac-Cov, which is the world's first COVID-19 vaccine for nonhuman animals. (NBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
    - Ukraine reports a record 407 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 32,825. (Kyiv Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
    - Bangladesh reports a record 5,358 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 611,295. (Dhaka Tribune)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
    - Jordan reports a record 111 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 6,858. (Roya News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lanka receives 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine from China. Vaccination of Chinese nationals could commence first as the Medicines Regulatory Authority says that the vaccination of Sri Lankans will begin after a study by a committee of experts. (Lanka Business Online)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - Restrictions temporarily increase in towns surrounding Byron Bay, New South Wales, after people linked to a recent outbreak of the UK variant in Brisbane spread the virus. Mask wearing is made mandatory indoors and private gatherings are limited to 30. (The Guardian)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga
    - Tonga receives its first shipment of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the COVAX initiative. (Matangi Tonga)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - For the second consecutive day, Brazil reports a record total of 3,950 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, thereby bringing the number of deaths to 321,515. The total of 66,868 deaths in the past 31 days marked the most lethal month in the country for the duration of the pandemic. (G1)
  - Brazil's health regulator Anvisa approves the emergency use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (The Brazilian Report)

International relations

China–Philippines relations, Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
- The Philippines says that a Chinese maritime fleet "manned by militias" have now spread to wider areas inside its exclusive economic zone after occupying the disputed Whitsun Reef, and defying its demands for the flotilla to be withdrawn from its waters. Chinese diplomats say that the boats were sheltering from rough seas and denies the involvement of militias. (Reuters)
Myanmar–United States relations, 2021 Myanmar protests
- The U.S. State Department orders all "non-emergency" diplomats and their families to leave Myanmar amid worsening violence in the country. (France 24)

Law and crime

2021 Orange, California office shooting
- At least four people are killed and another injured during a mass shooting at an office building in Orange, California, United States. The attacker is shot and wounded by responding security forces. (CNN)
Far-right terrorism in the United Kingdom
- A young man, 16, from Newcastle, receives a non-custodial sentence after admitting to inviting support for banned neo-Nazi terror group National Action, plus multiple offences of inciting terrorism and stirring up racial hatred. The young man, who founded his own neo-Nazi cell at the age of 15, is the third-youngest UK terror convict. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

2021 Dutch general election
- The new members of the House of Representatives are installed by Speaker Khadija Arib. (NOS)
1973 Chilean coup d'état
- Newly declassified documents released by the US National Security Archive shows that Brazil supported the coup d'état that overthrew Chilean President Salvador Allende, and raised power to dictator Augusto Pinochet. (The Rio Times)

Elections and referendums

Recent

March
- 17: Netherlands, House of Representatives
- 19: Curaçao, Estates
- 21: Republic of Congo, President
- 23: Israel, Knesset
- 28: Turkmenistan, Assembly

Upcoming

April
- 4: Bulgaria, National Assembly
- 6: Greenland, Inatsisartut
- 9: Djibouti, President (1st)
- 9: Samoa, Legislative Assembly
- 11: Benin, President (1st)
- 11: Chad, President
- 11: Chile, Constitutional convention
- 11: Ecuador, President (2nd)
- 11: Kyrgyzstan, Constitutional referendum
- 11: Peru, President (1st), Congress
- 14: Cayman Islands, Parliament

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Trials

Sport

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Recent deaths

March

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Ongoing conflicts

Africa

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Cameroon
- Anglophone Crisis
Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
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Central African Republic
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ethiopia
- Tigray War (spillover)
Ethiopia and Sudan
- Sudanese–Ethiopian clashes
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Mali
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  - Russo-Ukrainian War

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Iraq and Syria (map)
- International military intervention against ISIL
Israel and Gaza
Israel and Syria
- Israeli-Syrian border conflict
Syria
Turkey
- Kurdish–Turkish conflict
Yemen and Saudi Arabia

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