COVID-19 pandemic in California American music producer Phil Spector, who was convicted for the 2003 murder of American actress Lana Clarkson, dies from COVID-19 at a hospital in Northern California. (Los Angeles Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California American music producer Phil Spector, who was convicted for the 2003 murder of American actress Lana Clarkson, dies from COVID-19 at a hospital in Northern California. (Los Angeles Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Massachusetts reports their first case of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a woman in her 20s from Boston who traveled to the United Kingdom and began experiencing symptoms the day after she returned. (WBZ-TV)
Events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan Taiwan cancels the upcoming Taiwan Lantern Festival for the first time since 1990, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases on the island. (The Straits Times)
Taiwan cancels the upcoming Taiwan Lantern Festival for the first time since 1990, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases on the island. (The Straits Times)
Dublin cancels their annual Saint Patrick's Day festival for the second year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will instead be held virtually on a special online TV channel. (RTÉ)
Events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland Dublin cancels their annual Saint Patrick's Day festival for the second year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will instead be held virtually on a special online TV channel. (RTÉ) Cork, Limerick, and Ennis have all cancelled their respective Saint Patrick's Day parades for the second year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (RTÉ)
COVID-19 pandemic in England Organisers announce that the Glastonbury Festival has been cancelled for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Guardian)
Events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England Organisers announce that the Glastonbury Festival has been cancelled for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Guardian)
Organisers announce that the Glastonbury Festival has been cancelled for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Guardian)
Two Swedish filmmakers, who filmed the wreck of the MS Estonia that sank in 1994 for a documentary, face trial for violating a treaty that prohibits visiting the site. (AFP via RTE)
British broadcasting regulator Ofcom revokes the license of China Global Television Network (CGTN), an English-language Chinese news network, after concluding the network was "ultimately controlled" by the Chinese Communist Party. China responds to the move by accusing BBC News of spreading "fake news" about COVID-19. (Reuters)
China–United Kingdom relations British broadcasting regulator Ofcom revokes the license of China Global Television Network (CGTN), an English-language Chinese news network, after concluding the network was "ultimately controlled" by the Chinese Communist Party. China responds to the move by accusing BBC News of spreading "fake news" about COVID-19. (Reuters)
China–United Kingdom relations, Censorship in China China's National Radio and Television Administration bans BBC World News, in response to British telecommunications regulator Ofcom revoking the television license for the state-run China Global Television Network last week. (DW)
China's National Radio and Television Administration bans BBC World News, in response to British telecommunications regulator Ofcom revoking the television license for the state-run China Global Television Network last week. (DW)
Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations, Censorship in Hong Kong Hong Kong's public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong joins mainland China in blocking BBC World News and BBC World Service. (U.S. News and World Report)
Hong Kong's public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong joins mainland China in blocking BBC World News and BBC World Service. (U.S. News and World Report)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state), COVID-19 pandemic in New York City New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that movie theatres in New York City can reopen with 25% capacity on March 5, in line with rules currently in place for locations in the rest of the state. (CNBC)
Australia–China relations Australia's Special Broadcasting Service suspends China Global Television Network and China Central Television from broadcasting in the country following a human rights complaint from pan-Asian human rights organization Safeguard Defenders. (The Straits Times)
Australia's Special Broadcasting Service suspends China Global Television Network and China Central Television from broadcasting in the country following a human rights complaint from pan-Asian human rights organization Safeguard Defenders. (The Straits Times)
Avatar retakes its place as the world's highest-grossing film of all time from Avengers: Endgame following a domestic release in China. (CNBC)
Bulgaria reports a record 5,176 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 338,426. (Bulgarian National Television)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria Bulgaria reports a record 5,176 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 338,426. (Bulgarian National Television)
2021 Hualien train derailment At least 50 people are killed and 156 others are wounded when a Taroko Express train, headed for the celebration of the Tomb Sweeping festival, derails in Hualien, Taiwan. (BBC News)
At least 50 people are killed and 156 others are wounded when a Taroko Express train, headed for the celebration of the Tomb Sweeping festival, derails in Hualien, Taiwan. (BBC News)
Video-sharing platform LiveLeak shuts down after 15 years. The website has been controversial over the years, hosting videos such as the killing of captives by ISIL, the execution of Saddam Hussein and anti-Islamic film Fitna, which have resulted in the website's subsequent censorship in multiple countries. (Mashable)
International reactions to the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, China–Israel relations Israel condemns an "antisemitic" report by China's state-owned China Global Television Network that claims that "wealthy Jews dominate the finance, media and internet sectors" in the United States. The report also claims that Israel is an American puppet state. The Israeli Foreign Ministry calls on CGTN to take down the video, citing its "racist and dangerous" ideas. (France 24) (The Jerusalem Post)
Israel condemns an "antisemitic" report by China's state-owned China Global Television Network that claims that "wealthy Jews dominate the finance, media and internet sectors" in the United States. The report also claims that Israel is an American puppet state. The Israeli Foreign Ministry calls on CGTN to take down the video, citing its "racist and dangerous" ideas. (France 24) (The Jerusalem Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey partially reopens restaurants, gyms and cafés as well as shortens its nightly curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. as part of a gradual normalization plan, although a full lockdown remains imposed on Sundays. Primary school students also return to classrooms and movie theatres are allowed to reopen at 50% capacity. (Hürriyet Daily News)
Turkey partially reopens restaurants, gyms and cafés as well as shortens its nightly curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. as part of a gradual normalization plan, although a full lockdown remains imposed on Sundays. Primary school students also return to classrooms and movie theatres are allowed to reopen at 50% capacity. (Hürriyet Daily News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece imposes a night-time curfew from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. and bans all music on the island of Mykonos in an effort to reduce the local spread of COVID-19. These restrictions would last until July 26. (The Hill)
Greece imposes a night-time curfew from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. and bans all music on the island of Mykonos in an effort to reduce the local spread of COVID-19. These restrictions would last until July 26. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro Montenegro closes all discos and nightclubs as well as bans all indoor gatherings and music festivals due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Nightclubs could be reopened on August 2, but only for those who have been vaccinated, tested negative, or who have recovered from COVID-19. (N1)
Montenegro closes all discos and nightclubs as well as bans all indoor gatherings and music festivals due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Nightclubs could be reopened on August 2, but only for those who have been vaccinated, tested negative, or who have recovered from COVID-19. (N1)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece imposes a curfew and a full ban on music in entertainment venues on the islands of Crete and Zakynthos in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures will be in effect until August 13. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka suspends state festivals and public gatherings until September 1 and restricts the number of people to 25 for funerals and 150 for weddings amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. (France 24)
Greece imposes a curfew and a full ban on music in entertainment venues on the islands of Crete and Zakynthos in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures will be in effect until August 13. (Reuters)
Sri Lanka suspends state festivals and public gatherings until September 1 and restricts the number of people to 25 for funerals and 150 for weddings amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. (France 24)
For the first time since the offensive began, the Taliban commandeers Mi-17 helicopters captured from the Afghan Air Force. The militants were filmed flying the aircraft over the city of Kandahar. The jihadist group has also seized several UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. (MSN)
