World 2021 Timeline

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Showing 75 events on this page. Use search or category filters to narrow the year.
May
04
Major Trends

Singapore announces that social gatherings will be reduced to five people per group, and workplace capacity will be reduced to 50% from May 8 to May 30 as part

Singapore announces that social gatherings will be reduced to five people per group, and workplace capacity will be reduced to 50% from May 8 to May 30 as part of measures to reduce the community spread of COVID-19. In addition, indoor gyms and fitness centers will be closed because they are considered "high-risk settings". (The Straits Times)

May
06
Major Trends

China has "indefinitely" suspended all activity under a China–Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, its state economic planner said.

China has "indefinitely" suspended all activity under a China–Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, its state economic planner said. This has occurred after China imposed sanctions on Australian wine and coal while failing to renew Australian hay import permits, and Australia states cancelled participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative and are reviewing Chinese company Landbridge Group's lease on the Port of Darwin previously provided for 99 years at A$506 million. (Al Jazeera – Suspension) (9News) (Al Jazeera – Port Darwin)

May
06
Major Trends

Gyms, theatres, and cinemas are reopened in Denmark as a part of the easing of restrictions and a reliance of the "corona pass", which confirms that a person ha

Gyms, theatres, and cinemas are reopened in Denmark as a part of the easing of restrictions and a reliance of the "corona pass", which confirms that a person has either tested negative in the past 72 hours, been vaccinated, or recently recovered from COVID-19. (France 24)

May
07
Major Trends

A whole-genome study confirms the existence of four distinct species of giraffes, corroborating the conclusions of a 2016 DNA study; previously, it was believed

A whole-genome study confirms the existence of four distinct species of giraffes, corroborating the conclusions of a 2016 DNA study; previously, it was believed that all giraffes were members of a single species. The study also supports the existence of seven subspecies of giraffes. (Sci-News)

May
08
Major Trends

The European Commission signs a new deal with Pfizer and BioNTech to purchase 900 million doses of its vaccine with an additional option to purchase another 900

The European Commission signs a new deal with Pfizer and BioNTech to purchase 900 million doses of its vaccine with an additional option to purchase another 900 million doses for delivery from 2021 to 2023 which they intend to use as booster shots against the illness and to allow for the vaccination of children and teenagers. (The Irish Times)

May
09
Major Trends

Germany lifts its curfew and some social restrictions, such as requiring a negative test result to enter certain venues, for those who have been vaccinated or w

Germany lifts its curfew and some social restrictions, such as requiring a negative test result to enter certain venues, for those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19. These people are also no longer required to enter quarantine unless they have travelled to a high-risk country. (MedicalXpress)

May
09
Major Trends

South Korea reports that it now holds the world's largest number of standard-essential patents followed by the United States, Finland, and Japan.

South Korea reports that it now holds the world's largest number of standard-essential patents followed by the United States, Finland, and Japan. Standard-essential patents refer to major technologies that are vital in producing standardized products and that must be verified by standards organizations. (Yonhap)

May
09
Major Trends

With multiple electricity pylons near Kabul being destroyed by bomb blasts, electricity supplier Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) is reporting a shortage o

With multiple electricity pylons near Kabul being destroyed by bomb blasts, electricity supplier Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) is reporting a shortage of 530 megawatts of power and announced that it will take 20 days to repair the destroyed pylons. Residents are accusing DABS of discrimination during these outages, as the capital's elite had 24-hour electricity. (TOLO News)

May
10
Major Trends

Ukrainian scientists report that, for an unknown reason, the levels of nuclear radiation have increased in the remains of the Chernobyl power plant.

Ukrainian scientists report that, for an unknown reason, the levels of nuclear radiation have increased in the remains of the Chernobyl power plant. Most areas of containment have shown decreasing radiation levels, however, in one particular room, radiation counts have doubled over the last four years. These radiation levels are high enough to preclude installing sensors. Additionally, fuel containing materials, which were initially the consistency of lava, are disintegrating into radioactive dust. (Popular Mechanics) (Nature)

May
12
Major Trends

A study published in Nature estimates that during the Last Glacial Maximum, low-to-mid latitude land surfaces at low elevation cooled on average by 5.8 °C relat

A study published in Nature estimates that during the Last Glacial Maximum, low-to-mid latitude land surfaces at low elevation cooled on average by 5.8 °C relative to their present day temperatures. The study was based on an analysis of noble gases dissolved in groundwater rather than examinations of species abundances that have been used in the past. (phys.org) (Nature.com)

May
12
Major Trends

Climate change A study published in Nature estimates that during the Last Glacial Maximum, low-to-mid latitude land surfaces at low elevation cooled on average

Climate change A study published in Nature estimates that during the Last Glacial Maximum, low-to-mid latitude land surfaces at low elevation cooled on average by 5.8 °C relative to their present day temperatures. The study was based on an analysis of noble gases dissolved in groundwater rather than examinations of species abundances that have been used in the past. (phys.org) (Nature.com)

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