Omani state television announces the death of the Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said aged 79. At the time of his death he was the longest serving head of state in the Middle East and Arab world. (Reuters)
Rock musician Ozzy Osbourne announces that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. (ABC News)
A leading group on the prevention and control of the outbreak is established, led by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The leading group decides to extend the Spring Festival holiday to contain the outbreak. (Xinhua News)
Billie Eilish sweeps the major categories winning Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist. (Los Angeles Times)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Mainland China A leading group on the prevention and control of the outbreak is established, led by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The leading group decides to extend the Spring Festival holiday to contain the outbreak. (Xinhua News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mainland China A leading group on the prevention and control of the outbreak is established, led by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The leading group decides to extend the Spring Festival holiday to contain the outbreak. (Xinhua News)
The United Kingdom's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport begins a public consultation on decriminalizing the failure to pay the television licence fee. Currently, failure to pay the fee while using a television can result in fines and imprisonment. (BBC News)
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, is postponed for the first time ever. The festival has been moved from April 2020 to October 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Los Angeles Times) (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema Actor Tom Hanks reports that he and his wife Rita Wilson have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after visiting Australia where he was filming Elvis. (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in California, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American television California Governor Gavin Newsom bans gatherings of more than 250 people. The ban puts several television shows filmed in the Los Angeles metropolitan area with live audiences on hiatus. (New York Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state), Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American television It is announced that all Broadway theatres will go dark until the week of April 13, by order of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The ban also affects several television shows which film with live audiences in New York City. (Playbill) (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state), Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American television It is announced that all Broadway theatres will go dark until the week of April 13, by order of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The ban also affects several television shows which film with live audiences in New York City. (Playbill) (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema Actors Idris Elba and Kristofer Hivju reveal they have both tested positive for COVID-19. (Fox News) (Variety)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema Actors Idris Elba and Kristofer Hivju reveal they have both tested positive for COVID-19. (Fox News) (Variety)
Iran bans the traditional Persian fire festival Chaharshanbe Suri. (Outlook India)
List of events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The 2020 Glastonbury Festival, scheduled for June 24–28, is cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. (BBC News)
The 2020 Glastonbury Festival, scheduled for June 24–28, is cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television Actor Daniel Dae Kim tests positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television Actor Daniel Dae Kim tests positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York Former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein tests positive for COVID-19. He is put in isolation at the Wende Correctional Facility. (The Daily Beast)
Former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein tests positive for COVID-19. He is put in isolation at the Wende Correctional Facility. (The Daily Beast)
Cameroonian musician and songwriter Manu Dibango dies from COVID-19 in Paris, France. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in France Cameroonian musician and songwriter Manu Dibango dies from COVID-19 in Paris, France. (BBC News) France reports 2,444 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 240 more deaths, bringing the country's total to 22,300 cases and over 1000 deaths. (France 24)
China's Film Bureau closes cinemas that had re-opened after the epidemic's first wave, without giving a reason. (The Guardian)
Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China China's Film Bureau closes cinemas that had re-opened after the epidemic's first wave, without giving a reason. (The Guardian)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China China's Film Bureau closes cinemas that had re-opened after the epidemic's first wave, without giving a reason. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain The city council of Pamplona announces the suspension of the San Fermín festival scheduled for July, for the fifth time in its history. (The Guardian)
The city council of Pamplona announces the suspension of the San Fermín festival scheduled for July, for the fifth time in its history. (The Guardian)
At least five people are killed and twenty others injured by a car bomb during an Eid festival in Baidoa, Bay. No claims of responsibility have been reported. (AFP via Al Arabiya)
Lithuania bans Russian state-owned television network RT due to its connection with Dmitry Kiselyov, who is sanctioned by the European Union for his role in the 2014 Ukrainian crisis. (LRT)
Lithuania–Russia relations Lithuania bans Russian state-owned television network RT due to its connection with Dmitry Kiselyov, who is sanctioned by the European Union for his role in the 2014 Ukrainian crisis. (LRT)
Indian film actor Amitabh Bachchan is hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19. His son, Abhishek Bachchan, also tests positive. (CNN)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom Popular music magazine Q announces it is ceasing operations after 34 years in print amid an accelerated downturn in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Popular music magazine Q announces it is ceasing operations after 34 years in print amid an accelerated downturn in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Musician Drake breaks the record for the most top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing Madonna. (Billboard)
The official music video for BTS' Dynamite breaks the all-time record on YouTube for the highest number of views on a single video in 24 hours, generating 101,100,000 views in its first 24 hours. (NY Daily News)
Irreecha The Oromo people celebrate the Irreecha thanksgiving festival amid political tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Washington Post)
The Oromo people celebrate the Irreecha thanksgiving festival amid political tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Washington Post)
Luis Fonsi's Despacito music video becomes the first video on YouTube to surpass seven billion (7,000,000,000) views. (Archive)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, COVID-19 pandemic in New York New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that movie theaters in counties with no cluster zones in the state can reopen on October 23 with restrictions up to 25% in capacity with a maximum of 50 people per screen. However, movie theaters in New York City will remain closed. (Variety)
