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COVID-19 pandemic: Disease; Virus; By location; Impact; Portal

Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (pictured) becomes Emir of Kuwait after the death of his half-brother, Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, at the age of 91.
In ice hockey, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Dallas Stars to win the Stanley Cup.
Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces clash in Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting the introduction of martial law in both countries and mobilization in Armenia.

October 3, 2020 (Saturday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- October 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - A car bombing near the district governor’s compound in Shinwar District, Nangarhar Province, kills at least 15 people and wounds another 30. Gunmen tried to enter the district governor’s compound but were killed by security forces. (TOLOnews)
War in Darfur
- The transitional government of Sudan signs a peace deal with the main rebel groups fighting the decades-long conflict. The group Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, which had refused to engage in previous talks, joined this time. The U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, hails the deal as an "historic achievement". (Reuters)

Arts and culture

2020 in archaeology
- Egypt unveils 59 coffins of priests and clerks from the 26th dynasty nearly 2,500 years ago. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - White House outbreak of COVID-19
    - U.S. Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin tests positive for COVID-19, joining U.S. Senators Thom Tillis from North Carolina and Mike Lee from Utah as high profile politicians infected with the coronavirus, who were in attendance at recent events with President Donald Trump. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - India surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, becoming the third country to reach that milestone behind the United States and Brazil. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Solomon Islands
  - Solomon Islands records its first case, a student who arrived from the Philippines. (The Straits Times)

October 2, 2020 (Friday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Azerbaijani forces shell the Artsakh capital of Stepanakert, wounding ten civilians and partially destroying several buildings, including the Artsakh Rescue Service headquarters, according to Armenian officials. (Arab News) (Sputnik)

Business and economy

A consortium between Mohsin and Zuber Issa, owners of the British-based retailer Euro Garages, and the private equity firm TDR Capital acquire a majority stake in the supermarket chain Asda worth £6.8 billion (US$8.7 billion) from American retailer Walmart. Walmart will maintain a minority shareholding. (AFP via Mint)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid
      - The perimeter confinement of Europe's worst hot spot, in Madrid, ordered by the Ministry of Health, begins for two weeks. President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso takes legal action against the resolution. (ABC Australia) (El País)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
    - Slovenia reports 238 new cases, an all-time daily high. (RTVSLO)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - White House outbreak of COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.
    - President Donald Trump announces that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and are in quarantine. (BBC)
    - On the advice of his physician and "out of an abundance of caution", Trump is flown to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. (BBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
  - Tunisia reports 1,308 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, the health ministry says. This is a new record high since the beginning of the pandemic, prompting the government to impose a nightly curfew in Sousse and Monastir governorates. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - AstraZeneca announces that they would resume vaccine trials in Japan. (Japan Today)

International relations

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Australia–New Zealand relations
  - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern finalise plans for a trans-Tasman "travel bubble". Australia will permit the entry of travellers from New Zealand into New South Wales and the Northern Territory if they have stayed in New Zealand for at least two weeks effective October 16. New Zealand, however, has not reciprocated any lifting of travel restrictions for Australian travellers. (The Guardian)
Belarus–European Union relations, European Union–Turkey relations, International reactions to the 2020 Belarusian presidential election and protests
- The European Council agrees on sanctions against Belarus. Opposition by Cyprus is lifted by also agreeing on a warning to Turkey. (Reuters) (The Washington Post)
Cambodia–United States relations
- The Pentagon says it is "concerned" about reports that Cambodia has demolished a U.S.-funded facility at the Ream Naval Base, which could be linked to Chinese military and economic pressure on the country. The Center for Strategic and International Studies says the Cambodian government appears to have razed the building last month. (Reuters)
Russia–Venezuela relations, COVID-19 vaccine
- Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announces that the country will receive shipments of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Islam in France
- President Emmanuel Macron announces a crackdown on "Islamist separatism" in Muslim communities in France, saying a bill tackling Islamist separatism would be sent to parliament early next year. Among the measures, will include a ban on foreign imams, restrictions on home schooling, and the creation of an "Institute of Islamology" to tackle Islamic fundamentalism. (Reuters)

Science and technology

Discoveries of exoplanets
- Scientists reveal the image of Beta Pictoris c (β Pic c), an exoplanet that is located 63 light years away. (ScienceAlert)
SpaceX announces that they aborted a launch of a GPS Block III satellite two seconds before taking off. (CNET)

October 1, 2020 (Thursday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Two French journalists working for the newspaper Le Monde are seriously injured by Azeri shelling, according to an Armenian government source. Two Armenian journalists are also injured in a separate incident. (Reuters) (Star Tribune)
- Former President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, expresses concern over the escalation of the situation. He also calls for Baku and Yerevan to launch negotiations. (News AM)
- Turkey issues a statement dismissing the demands for a ceasefire from the United States, France, and Russia. (BBC)
- The Armenian ambassador to the United States, Varuzhan Nersesyan, says, "Right now, what is necessary is an intervention of the highest levels, together with other mediators, Russia and France, to stop the violence." (Newsweek)

Business and economy

The Tokyo Stock Exchange halts all trading for the day after it suffered one of the worst technical glitches in its history. It is undecided if it will reopen on Friday. The Nikkei 225 and TOPIX were also impacted, as they rely on the same system. (DW)
The Supreme Court of Ireland rules that the bread used by American restaurant franchise Subway cannot be classified as bread, due to its high sugar content. The franchise henceforth will be required to pay a 13.5% value-added tax for their bread instead of being exempted as before. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Beirut explosion
- The state-run National News Agency says that Lebanon's state prosecution has asked Interpol to detain two Russian citizens, the captain and owner of the MV Rhosus, a ship that carried thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate to Beirut in 2013. (Reuters via U.S. News)
Eight people are killed and ten others are injured as a series of forest fires sweeps through part of eastern Ukraine. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid
      - The Spanish government orders a partial lockdown in Madrid and surrounding areas badly affected by COVID-19 after a rise in cases. Under the new restrictions, residents will not be allowed to leave the area unless they have to make an essential journey. However, Madrid's regional government says that the lockdown is not legally valid. (BBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy reports 2,548 new cases in the past 24 hours, partly due to higher swab tests that were conducted. It is the biggest daily jump of cases in five months and the first time the country has reported more than 2,000 cases since April. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
  - Malaysia reports 260 new cases, the second biggest daily spike since the pandemic began. The sharp increase in infections comes after a surge in travel to and from Sabah for the state elections. The national tally now stands at 11,484 cases with a total of 136 deaths. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - President Donald Trump confirms that top aide Hope Hicks has tested positive for coronavirus and says he and first lady Melania Trump will begin their "quarantine process" while waiting for their own test results. (CNN)

International relations

Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
- After the United Kingdom ignored their demands made in early September to scrap the Internal Market Bill by the end of the month, the European Commission sends a letter to the government of the United Kingdom informing them of its intent to pursue international legal action over the bill, which the European Union claims violates international law by overriding article four of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. (AFP via Asia Times)

Law and crime

2017 Las Vegas shooting
- Amidst the third anniversary of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department backtracks on an earlier decision and has included, in the official death toll, two women who died from gunshot wound complications over the past year, thereby increasing it from 58 to 60. (AP) (The Las-Vegas Review Journal)
Belgium's court of appeal recognizes the genealogical DNA test result of Delphine Boël as the daughter of King Albert II, thereby instating her to the title of Princess of Belgium with the predicate "Her Royal Highness". Having been recognized as the illegitimate daughter of Albert, Boël was given the honorific Jonkvrouw, the lowest rank within the Belgian titled nobility, prior to the decision. (AFP via The Straits Times)

Science and technology

Life on Venus
- According to a study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside, Venus would be able to support life if Jupiter hadn't altered its orbit around the Sun nearly 4 billion years ago. (Phys.org) (CNN)

September 30, 2020 (Wednesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan reject proposals of peace talks citing each other's attempts at obstructing negotiations. (AP)
  - Sali Berisha, former President of Albania, calls for the international community to engage the conflict with greater seriousness. (Trend AZ)
  - United States presidential nominee Joe Biden calls on the Trump Administration to demand Turkey "stay out of the conflict". (New Europe)
  - The Moscow International Film Festival cancels the screening of Gate to Heaven, a film about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. (Meduza)
War in Afghanistan
- September 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - A suicide bomber in a vehicle detonated explosives in Helmand Province at a police checkpoint, killing five security force members and four civilians passing the area. Four other people are wounded. (TOLO News)
  - Taliban insurgents kill a police officer and wound another two in Farang District, Baghlan Province. (TOLOnews)
  - At least three police officers are killed and another three injured when the Taliban attacks Kohistan District, Badakhshan Province. Four Taliban militants are also killed and five others injured in the attack. (TOLOnews)

Disasters and accidents

2020 California wildfires
- A fourth person is found dead in Northern California as a result of the Zogg Fire. (ABC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Slovakia reports 567 new cases in the past 24 hours, the largest single-day tally since the pandemic started in the country. (Reuters)
    - The government approves the declaration of the state of emergency due to rising cases in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Igor Matovič states that the state of emergency will be imposed for 45 days starting tomorrow. It is the second time that the state of emergency has been imposed by the country. (TASR)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
    - The government declares a state of emergency and imposes tighter measures, including limiting gatherings and banning musicals and opera, in an attempt to combat a surge of the disease before it overwhelms the health system. The measures start on October 5 and will be in effect for 30 days. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - Belgium's death toll from COVID-19 surpass 10,000. (RTÉ)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
    - Romania reports 2,158 new cases in the past 24 hours, a daily record since the beginning of the pandemic. (Romanian Journal)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - The number of recovered patients in Indonesia surges by 4,510 to reach 214,947. This is the largest single-day increase of recoveries since the beginning of the outbreak. (detikHealth)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
    - Israel's Knesset passes a law that bans mass protesting during the country's lockdown in a move the opponents claim to criminalize demonstrations calling for Benjamin Netanyahu to resign as prime minister. It allows the government to restrict people from traveling more than 1 kilometer from their homes to demonstrate, and outdoor gatherings of more than 20 people are banned. (The Guardian)

Law and crime

2017 Las Vegas shooting
- A United States court approves an $800 million settlement for the victims and relatives of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. (AFP via The Times of India)
George Floyd protests, 2020 United States racial unrest
- George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon
  - Alan Swinney, a member of the Proud Boys, is arrested by Portland Police for assault, unlawful use of weapon and tear gas, menacing and pointing a firearm at another individual during two incidents in August. (The Hill) (Reuters)
An Indian court acquits 32 people, including former Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani and former leader of the ruling BJP Uma Bharti, of their role in the demolition of the former Babri Masjid. (BBC)
A French court rejects the extradition appeal of Rwandan businessman Félicien Kabuga, believed to be the financier of the Rwandan genocide, clearing for him to be sent to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for trial. (DW)
A court rules that the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company are responsible for the damages caused during a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Furthermore, the operator of the plant is required to pay $9.5 million in damages to survivors. (ABC News)
German-Kurdish singer Hozan Canê is released from her Istanbul prison, after being arrested and convicted in 2018 for allegedly being a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party. She is currently barred from leaving the country as her trial will continue on October 20. (DW)

Politics and elections

Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is sworn in as the new Emir of Kuwait. (Reuters)

Science and technology

A new species of truffle, Hysterangium bonobo, is discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Sci News)

September 29, 2020 (Tuesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - The Armenian Defense Ministry says that an Armenian Su-25 fighter jet was shot down by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet, killing its pilot. Turkey says it is untrue. (BBC)
  - Five more Azerbaijani civilians are killed during Armenian fire in the country, bringing the death toll among Azeri civilians to 12. At least 35 others are wounded. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan
- September 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - A roadside bomb targeting a civilian bus kills at least 14 people, including five children, in Kajran district, Daykundi Province. Daykundi is considered one of the safest places in the country; this is the second attack in Daykundi this year. (TOLOnews)

Business and economy

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airlines, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States Department of the Treasury reaches a deal with seven of the major U.S. airlines to allocate around $25 billion in loans from the $2.2 trillion budget approved under the CARES Act to assist in their financial recovery amid the pandemic. (AFP via Bangkok Post)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Netherlands reports 3,011 new cases in the past 24 hours, a daily record since the beginning of the pandemic, as the country imposes new measures to combat a second wave of infections, according to data published by the National Institute for Health (RIVM). (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - 7,143 new cases are reported in the United Kingdom in the last 24 hours, the highest single day of reported cases ever since the beginning of the outbreak. Meanwhile, 71 COVID-19-related deaths are reported at the same time, the highest level since July 1. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu tests positive for COVID-19. He is asymptomatic and quarantined at home. (The Hindu)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Results from Phase I trials find that the vaccine candidate from Moderna works well with older adults. (USA Today)
- The worldwide death toll from COVID-19 exceeds one million. The United States remains the largest contributor, accounting for 21% of the total deaths. (BBC)
Animal welfare and rights in France
- French Minister of Ecology Barbara Pompili announces that mink farms and the use of wild animals in circuses will be phased out, and the breeding and importing of dolphins and killer whales at marine parks are banned effective immediately. (The Independent)

Law and crime

Hathras gang rape and murder
- A 19-year-old Dalit woman died in Delhi after she was allegedly gang raped in Uttar Pradesh by four upper-caste men, sparking outrage in India from opposition parties. The woman was admitted to a hospital in Delhi two weeks ago with several serious injuries. (CNN) (BBC)
Sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- The World Health Organization announces it will launch an investigation into the allegations regarding its officials committing acts of sexual exploitation and abuse while on mission to control the Kivu Ebola outbreak in the Équateur Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AFP via Manila Bulletin)
A court in China sentences a woman to death for poisoning 25 kindergarten children with nitrite in their porridge, killing one. The court said the motives of the woman were "despicable" and "vicious". (CNN)

Politics and elections

Politics of Togo
- Victoire Tomegah Dogbé becomes the first female Prime Minister of Togo. (CNN)
Amnesty International says it has been forced to halt its Indian operations due to "reprisal" from the government. Amnesty said its bank accounts were frozen and it was forced to lay off staff, and suspend all its campaign and research work. (BBC)
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah dies at the age of 91. Crown Prince Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is named his successor. (BBC) (Al Arabiya)

Science and technology

The United Arab Emirates announces the Emirates Lunar Mission to send a space exploration vehicle to the Moon in 2024. (The Hill), (Gulf Today)

September 28, 2020 (Monday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Moro conflict
- During a shootout with soldiers in Sulu, Philippines, Abu Sayyaf militants kills an Indonesian fisherman who was abducted early this year. A militant of the group also died in the fight. (The Manila Times)
Iraqi insurgency
- 2020 Iraq attacks
  - A missile hits a house in Baghdad, close to the airport. The attack leaves at least five people dead, including three children; two children are injured. (National Iraqi News Agency)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - Seventy-one more Artsakh servicemen are killed during the fight, bringing the death toll among the fighters to 87. Two more Azerbaijani civilians are also killed. A passenger bus in Armenia was hit by an Azerbaijani missile, but no casualties are reported. Authorities in Nagorno reports at least 400 Azerbaijani soldiers dead, but the country has not confirmed. (BBC)

Business and economy

Kioxia, the Japanese computer memory manufacturer spun off from Toshiba, postpones its initial public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, citing the volatility of the semiconductor industry caused by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade war between China and the United States. Its initial public offering, which would have launched on October 6, was projected to be Japan's largest for this year. (The Japan Times) (Nikkei Asian Review)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - India surpasses six million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country after the United States to reach that milestone. Meanwhile, 82.5% or more than five million people have recovered.(AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  - The government introduces new nationwide restrictions aimed at tackling the swift spread sweeping across the country, including disallowing fans in professional sports matches and ordering bars and restaurants to close at 22:00 (10:00 p.m.) CEST for the next three weeks. Prime Minister Mark Rutte also advises people to wear face masks when shopping in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, the three cities with the highest rates of infections. (CTV News)

International relations

Foreign relations of the Dominican Republic
- The Dominican Republic's Foreign Ministry fires 781 people in various embassies. (Dominican Today)
Papua conflict, Foreign relations of Indonesia, Foreign relations of Vanuatu
- Indonesia accuses Vanuatu of having an "excessive and unhealthy obsession" about West Papua. The remark comes after Vanuatuan Prime Minister Bob Loughman warned the international community about "human rights violations and abuses" in the region. (RNZ)
Belarus–Russia relations, COVID-19 vaccine
- Russia announces that they have supplied their first batch of their Sputnik V vaccine to Belarus for clinical trails. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis, Trial of Catalonia independence leaders
- The Spanish Supreme Court ratifies a year-and-a-half disqualification sentence to President of the Government of Catalonia Quim Torra. He must abandon the presidency after being accused of disobeying the Central Electoral Bureau. Vice president Pere Aragonès will succeed him ad interim effective September 29. (El Mundo) (Reuters) (BBC)
- Demonstrations take place throughout Catalonia, as well as protests in Barcelona. (El Confidencial) (La Vanguardia)
Corruption in Pakistan
- Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif is arrested amid a corruption scandal. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

Three ministers resign from Bolivia's interim government. One of them, Economic Minister Oscar Ortiz, stated his resignation was in protest of President Jeanine Áñez's decision to sell shares in the state-run electricity company ELFEC close to the upcoming general election. (DW)

Science and technology

Water on Mars
- Scientists in a paper published to Nature Astronomy confirm the existence of four underground saltwater lakes spread out over 75,000 square kilometres (29,000 sq mi) near Mars' south pole. Depending on their salt content, these lakes could be potential holders of life. (Nature)
Discoveries of exoplanets
- CHEOPS announces the observation of WASP-189b, a ultra-Hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits the star HD 133112 (also known as WASP-189) 322-light years away from the Libra constellation. (CNN)

Sports

2020 Stanley Cup playoffs
- 2020 Stanley Cup Finals
  - The Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2004 following their game 6 victory against the Dallas Stars. (USA Today)

September 27, 2020 (Sunday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Mexican drug war
- A mass shooting in Jaral del Progreso, Guanajuato, leaves at least 11 people dead and one injured. (Reuters)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - The Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces clash along the border of the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, formerly known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Several cities in Artsakh, including its capital city of Stepanakert, are under attack. At least 23 people are killed during the battle, of whom 16 are Nagorno-Karabakh servicemen, five Azerbaijani civilians and two Armenian civilians. (BBC)
  - Armenia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh declare martial law and a full mobilization of its Artsakh Defence Army amid an Azerbaijani invasion. Azerbaijani Armed Forces say they have captured six Armenian villages. (The Guardian)
  - In a live televised address to the nation, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declares a general mobilization and orders citizens to "get ready to defend our sacred homeland", following the clashes with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. (The National)
  - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declares martial law, and imposes curfews from 9 pm to 6 am in major cities, including the capital Baku, in response to the clashes between Azeri and Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. (Reuters) (ANI)
  - Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence says advancing Azerbaijani troops have "liberated" the strategic Murovdag mountain peak, which was the scene of a previous battle in 1993, that ended in Armenian victory. (Trend)
Yemeni Civil War
- The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths announces that the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government have agreed to a prisoner swap of 1,081 detainees. The release will include 400 government prisoners and 681 Houthi fighters. (Reuters)

Business and economy

China–United States trade war, Censorship of TikTok
- The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily blocks U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order banning TikTok from smartphone app stores hours before it was to go into effect, after lawyers representing the app's company ByteDance argued its ban would constitute a form of censorship. (NPR)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announces a plan to lift a nighttime curfew between 9:00 pm to 5:00 am (AEST) local time in Melbourne and ease many restrictions across Victoria, including returning pupils to school and relaxing restrictions on outdoor gatherings effective tomorrow. However, the state introduces a fine of almost $5,000 for those violating any gathering rules. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  - The number of daily new cases in the Netherlands hits a record 2,995 cases in the past 24 hours, according to data from health ministry. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2020 Belarusian protests
- Police carry out mass arrests as thousands of people gather for new protests; more than 50 protesters are arrested. (BBC)
2020 Swiss referendums
- Swiss voters reject the proposal, from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, to end an accord with the European Union that allows free movement of people. (BBC)

Politics and elections

Tax returns of Donald Trump
- The New York Times reports that it has obtained more than two decades of tax-return data for Donald Trump and his business enterprises, including The Trump Organization. The documents show that Trump paid no federal income tax in 11 of the last 15 years, and paid just $750 in income taxes in 2016, and $750 in 2017. (BBC)

Sports