COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa goes into self-quarantine after one of 35 guests at a charity event that he attended tested positive for COVID-19. (Sowetanlive)
French President Emmanuel Macron announces a second nationwide lockdown from October 30, with all non-essential businesses ordered to close. Unlike the first lockdown in March, most schools and factories will remain open and care home visits will still be allowed. (BBC News)
Ituri conflict The army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo says it killed 33 militiamen and reported the death of two soldiers in days of intense fighting in Ituri province. The army says it seized control of two rebel strongholds held by the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) group, which is accused by the United Nations of committing war crimes. (Reuters)
President Cyril Ramaphosa goes into self-quarantine after one of 35 guests at a charity event that he attended tested positive for COVID-19. (Sowetanlive)
The army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo says it killed 33 militiamen and reported the death of two soldiers in days of intense fighting in Ituri province. The army says it seized control of two rebel strongholds held by the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) group, which is accused by the United Nations of committing war crimes. (Reuters)
The National Weather Service issues Storm Surge Warnings from the mouth of the Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, to Navarre, Florida. (National Hurricane Center)
War in Afghanistan Over 100 Taliban insurgents are killed as the Afghan Armed Forces retake parts of Helmand Province. (TOLO News)
Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of 16 states agree to impose a nationwide partial lockdown from November 2, which means that restaurants, bars, and all leisure facilities are ordered to be closed until November 30, private gatherings will be limited to ten people and social contacts will be limited to two households. However, schools, churches and kindergartens will remain open with strict hygiene measures. The new restrictions will last for at least four weeks. (France 24) (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece reports a record 1,547 new cases, bringing the nationwide total to 34,299 cases, according to data from National Public Health Organization. (NPHO)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia surpasses 400,000 total cases of COVID-19, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to reach the milestone. (CNN Indonesia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy registers a record 24,991 new infections over the past 24 hours, according to health ministry data, bringing the nationwide total of cases to 589,766. (RTÉ)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York surpasses 500,000 total confirmed COVID-19 cases, becoming the fourth state to surpass that number after California, Florida and Texas. (WNBC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania Tonga extends the state of emergency, which includes curfews and restrictions on gatherings, until November 23. The country, which is COVID-19-free, imposed strict measures on March 12. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Poland Poland reports 18,820 new cases and 236 new deaths in the last 24 hours. It is the largest jump in the number of cases and the deadliest day since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total number of cases to 299,049. (Reuters) (Poland In)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Portugal reports a record daily increase with 3,960 new cases, bringing the cumulative counts to 128,382 confirmed cases and 2,395 deaths. (DGS)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record high of 346 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 26,935. (The Moscow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia Slovenia reports 2,605 new cases, a new record since the start of the pandemic. (STA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden Sweden reports 1,980 new infections in the past 24 hours, its highest number in a single day yet, bringing the nationwide total at 117,913. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand's cabinet agrees to extend a state of emergency until the end of November to contain its COVID-19 outbreak. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic reports 15,663 new cases, a record number since the pandemic began, as the country struggles with one of Europe's fastest growing infection rates. (Arab News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York surpasses 500,000 total confirmed COVID-19 cases, becoming the fourth state to surpass that number after California, Florida and Texas. (WNBC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey surpasses 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, becoming the eighth European country to reach the milestone. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine reports a record high of 165 fatalities in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 6,755. (Gordonua)
Greece reports a record 1,547 new cases, bringing the nationwide total to 34,299 cases, according to data from National Public Health Organization. (NPHO)
Hurricane Zeta strengthens to a Category 2 hurricane. (National Hurricane Center)
Indonesia surpasses 400,000 total cases of COVID-19, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to reach the milestone. (CNN Indonesia)
Iran reports a record 415 new fatalities, bringing the death toll since the pandemic began to 33,714. (Barron's)
Italy registers a record 24,991 new infections over the past 24 hours, according to health ministry data, bringing the nationwide total of cases to 589,766. (RTÉ)
Over 100 Taliban insurgents are killed as the Afghan Armed Forces retake parts of Helmand Province. (TOLO News)
Poland reports 18,820 new cases and 236 new deaths in the last 24 hours. It is the largest jump in the number of cases and the deadliest day since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total number of cases to 299,049. (Reuters) (Poland In)
Portugal reports a record daily increase with 3,960 new cases, bringing the cumulative counts to 128,382 confirmed cases and 2,395 deaths. (DGS)
Russia reports a record high of 346 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 26,935. (The Moscow Times)
Scientists announce that last week they discovered a reef structure in the Great Barrier Reef that is 500Â m (1,600Â ft)-tall, surpassing the height of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. The discovery is the first of its type in the region since the 1800s. (BBC News)
Slovenia reports 2,605 new cases, a new record since the start of the pandemic. (STA)
Sweden reports 1,980 new infections in the past 24 hours, its highest number in a single day yet, bringing the nationwide total at 117,913. (Reuters)
Switzerland imposes new restrictions, ordering dance clubs to be closed beginning tomorrow, halting in-person university classes beginning in early November, and placing new limits on sporting and leisure activities. In addition, a requirement to wear masks in all offices and secondary schools as well as outdoors where social distancing is difficult has been indefinitely extended. (Yahoo! Finance)
Thailand's cabinet agrees to extend a state of emergency until the end of November to contain its COVID-19 outbreak. (Reuters)
The Czech Republic reports 15,663 new cases, a record number since the pandemic began, as the country struggles with one of Europe's fastest growing infection rates. (Arab News)
The National Hurricane Center forecasts 5–8 feet (1.5–2.4 m) of storm surge for the entire Mississippi coastline. In Louisiana, mandatory evacuations are issued in Terrebonne Parish and Jefferson Parish. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issue a state of emergency for their states. (CNN)
The Robert Koch Institute reports a record 14,964 new infections in the past 24 hours, putting the total number of cases at 464,239. (Welt)
Tonga extends the state of emergency, which includes curfews and restrictions on gatherings, until November 23. The country, which is COVID-19-free, imposed strict measures on March 12. (RNZ)
Turkey surpasses 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, becoming the eighth European country to reach the milestone. (Anadolu Agency)
Ukraine reports a record high of 165 fatalities in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 6,755. (Gordonua)
2020 Belarusian protests, COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus Amidst ongoing protests against Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus abruptly closes its borders with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, while leaving its border with Russia open. Lukashenko insists that the move is to restrict the spread of COVID-19. (AP)
2020 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks Suspected Allied Democratic Forces militants kill at least 18 people and burn down a church in an attack near Oicha in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Reuters)
A man carrying a knife is arrested in Lyon for plotting to attack people aboard a tram, according to police. (Le Parisien)
An hour after the attack in Nice, a French guard is stabbed and wounded by a knifeman outside the French consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The attacker is then arrested by security forces. (The News International)
COVID-19 vaccine Moderna says that it is preparing for the global launch of their potential vaccines, as well as taking $1.1 billion in deposits from governments. (CNBC)
Kivu conflict; Allied Democratic Forces insurgency 2020 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks Suspected Allied Democratic Forces militants kill at least 18 people and burn down a church in an attack near Oicha in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Reuters)
Mexican drug war Authorities in the Mexican state of Guanajuato discover a mass grave containing 59 bodies. (Al Jazeera English)
Moderna says that it is preparing for the global launch of their potential vaccines, as well as taking $1.1 billion in deposits from governments. (CNBC)
Suspected Allied Democratic Forces militants kill at least 18 people and burn down a church in an attack near Oicha in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Reuters)
The French National Assembly overwhelmingly approves new nationwide lockdown measures that were announced yesterday by President Emmanuel Macron by a vote of 399 to 27. Under the new measures, French schools will require all students aged six and over to wear face masks in the classroom. (France 24)
2020 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Zeta kills five people and leaves 2 million without power. (CNN) Hurricane Zeta weakens to a tropical storm. (National Hurricane Center)
2020 Central Vietnam floods Landslides and flash floods caused by Typhoon Molave leave at least 35 people dead and over 50 others missing in central Vietnam. (ABC News)
A former associate of Lev Parnas pleads guilty to defrauding investors in an insurance start-up that paid Rudy Giuliani for consulting work and to lying to federal regulators investigating suspected campaign finance violations. (ABC News)
A riot in Herat Province, Afghanistan, leaves at least eight people dead and 12 others injured. (TOLOnews)
Antisemitism in the UK Labour Party Labour suspends its former leader Jeremy Corbyn following a report into antisemitism within the party's ranks. The report found Corbyn had "politically interfered" in the complaints process. (BBC News)
At least 140 migrants drown when a boat carrying 200 people to the Canary Islands caught fire and then capsized off the coast of Saint-Louis, Senegal. The International Organization for Migration says this is the deadliest shipwreck recorded this year. (CNN)
Authorities in the Mexican state of Guanajuato discover a mass grave containing 59 bodies. (Al Jazeera English)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in India India surpasses eight million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country to pass the milestone after the United States. (Times of India) COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports a record 8,293 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide total to 596,841 cases. (Bloomberg) COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19. (Kyodo News) COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia surpasses 30,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Edge Markets)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria The number of new infections in Austria since the start of the pandemic rises by a record 4,453 cases in the past 24 hours. (OE24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany The number of confirmed cases in Germany surges to a record of 16,774 new infections in the past 24 hours, according to Robert Koch Institute data, taking the total number since the beginning of the pandemic at 481,013. (RTL)
COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois Illinois records 6,363 new cases, a new single-day record. (WGN-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in India India surpasses eight million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country to pass the milestone after the United States. (Times of India)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports a record 8,293 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide total to 596,841 cases. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy surpasses 600,000 cases of COVID-19 after a record 26,831 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The number of swabs taken reaches a record 201,452. (ANSA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19. (Kyodo News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia surpasses 30,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Edge Markets)
COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan records 3,675 new cases, a new single-day record. (MLive.com) Michigan announces new restrictions on gatherings amid rise of cases. (MLive.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon Oregon records 575 new cases, a new single-day record. (The Oregonian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Poland Poland surpasses 300,000 cases of COVID-19 after a record 20,156 new cases were reported. It also reports a record 301 deaths over the past 24 hours. (Yahoo News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Portugal reports a record daily increase with 4,224 new cases, bringing the cumulative counts to 132,616 confirmed cases and 2,428 deaths. (DGS)
COVID-19 pandemic in Romania Romania reports 6,491 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest daily count since the start of the pandemic and the first time the country has reported over 6,000 cases. (Romania Insider)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports 17,717 new cases and 366 new deaths in the last 24 hours. It is the largest jump in the number of cases and deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Moscow Times)
