The United States House of Representatives votes 398–14 on a resolution to condemn the military coup in Myanmar. (UrduPoint)
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)
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 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)
Florida surpasses two million cases of COVID-19, becoming the third U.S. state to do so after California and Texas. (The Hill)
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)
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)
Voters head to the polls to vote on who will represent Louisiana's 2nd and 5th congressional districts. (The Washington Post)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
Florida becomes the first U.S. state to surpasses 1,000 cases of SARS-CoV-2 variants. (Tallahassee Democrat)
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)
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)
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)
Clinical trials for the vaccine produced by Oxford and AstraZeneca show that it is 79% effective against COVID-19. (The New York Times)
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)
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)
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)
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)
The United States imposes sanctions against several military officials in Myanmar for its suppression of the protests in response to the coup. (CNN)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Brazil surpasses 300,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the second country to do so after the U.S. (AP)
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)
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)
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 the United States The U.S. surpasses 30 million cases of COVID-19. (Reuters)
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)
Virginia becomes the 23rd U.S. state to abolish the death penalty, and the first Southern state to do so. (The Washington Post)
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)
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)
A tornado emergency was issued by the National Weather Service near Hoover, Alabama. Another emergency was also issued for Brent and Centreville. (Alabama WX)
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)
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)
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)
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 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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)
