COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil The government announces a deal with Pfizer to receive 14 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine by June, and a total of 99 million doses by the end of the year. (The Rio Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in England, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education Millions of students across England return to primary and secondary schools after two months studying at home during the third lockdown as a first step towards a return to normality. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the New Zealand Government has secured 8.5 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, and that they have now secured enough vaccines to vaccinate the entire population of New Zealand. (The New Zealand Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in Syria President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad both test positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the presidential office. They are both reported to be in good health with "minor symptoms". (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte extends the country's strict lockdown until the end of the month and advises against foreign travel until April 15. The curfew from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. will remain in place through the election on March 17, but those working or visiting a voting booth will not be fined for breaching it. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education Millions of students across England return to primary and secondary schools after two months studying at home during the third lockdown as a first step towards a return to normality. (BBC News)
Millions of students across England return to primary and secondary schools after two months studying at home during the third lockdown as a first step towards a return to normality. (BBC News)
President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad both test positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the presidential office. They are both reported to be in good health with "minor symptoms". (Reuters)
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the New Zealand Government has secured 8.5 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, and that they have now secured enough vaccines to vaccinate the entire population of New Zealand. (The New Zealand Herald)
Prime Minister Mark Rutte extends the country's strict lockdown until the end of the month and advises against foreign travel until April 15. The curfew from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. will remain in place through the election on March 17, but those working or visiting a voting booth will not be fined for breaching it. (ABC News)
Protesters block all major roads leading to the capital Beirut amid continued unrest over the crash of the pound, increase in consumer goods prices, mass unemployment and delay of the formation of a new government. (The Independent)
The government announces a deal with Pfizer to receive 14 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine by June, and a total of 99 million doses by the end of the year. (The Rio Times)
2021 Bata explosions The death toll from yesterday's explosions in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, rises to 98 people. More than 615 others are wounded. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Myanmar protests Two people are killed and three others injured in Myitkyina after being shot in the head, as security forces open fire on people protesting against the coup d'état in Myanmar. (Al Jazeera)
A judge in Senegal releases opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on bail, after days of protests as a result of his arrest. Eight people died during the protests. (BBC News)
Austria reports its first case of the Lineage P.2 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Salzburg state. (The Local Austria)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria Austria reports its first case of the Lineage P.2 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Salzburg state. (The Local Austria)
COVID-19 pandemic in East Timor East Timor imposes a "sanitary fence and mandatory confinement" in the capital Dili for the next seven days beginning at midnight. This is the country's first lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Canberra Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece reports its youngest death from COVID-19. The patient was a 37-day-old infant. (Times of Malta)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii, 501.V2 variant Hawaii reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a person from Oahu with no known travel history. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia receives its first shipment of 1.1 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (The Jakarta Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy surpasses 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the second country in Europe to reach the milestone after the United Kingdom. (France 24) The region of Campania enters a lockdown which is expected to end on March 21. (Euronews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, 501.V2 variant Michigan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a child from Jackson County. (WOOD-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia Mongolia reports a record 108 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3,336. (Xinhua News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii, 501.V2 variant Hawaii reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a person from Oahu with no known travel history. (AP) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, 501.V2 variant Michigan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a child from Jackson County. (WOOD-TV) The U.S. surpasses 29 million cases of COVID-19. (KIRO-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnam begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19 starting with health workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Duong Province using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (VietnamPlus)
Cyprus, Greece, and Israel sign an agreement to build the world's largest and deepest submarine power cable that will connect the three Mediterranean countries' power grids at a cost of about $900 million. The project is expected to be completed by 2024. (Kathimerini)
East Timor imposes a "sanitary fence and mandatory confinement" in the capital Dili for the next seven days beginning at midnight. This is the country's first lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Canberra Times)
EuroAsia Interconnector Cyprus, Greece, and Israel sign an agreement to build the world's largest and deepest submarine power cable that will connect the three Mediterranean countries' power grids at a cost of about $900 million. The project is expected to be completed by 2024. (Kathimerini)
Greece reports its youngest death from COVID-19. The patient was a 37-day-old infant. (Times of Malta)
Hawaii reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a person from Oahu with no known travel history. (AP)
Indonesia receives its first shipment of 1.1 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (The Jakarta Post)
Italy surpasses 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the second country in Europe to reach the milestone after the United Kingdom. (France 24)
Michigan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa in a child from Jackson County. (WOOD-TV)
Mongolia reports a record 108 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3,336. (Xinhua News Agency)
The death toll from yesterday's explosions in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, rises to 98 people. More than 615 others are wounded. (Al Jazeera)
The region of Campania enters a lockdown which is expected to end on March 21. (Euronews)
Two people are killed and three others injured in Myitkyina after being shot in the head, as security forces open fire on people protesting against the coup d'état in Myanmar. (Al Jazeera)
Vietnam begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19 starting with health workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Duong Province using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (VietnamPlus)
2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis The European Parliament votes to strip Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín, and Clara Ponsatí of their parliamentary immunity, allowing Spanish prosecutors to extradite them to Spain and prosecute them for sedition and embezzlement. (The Guardian)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état, Myanmar–United Kingdom relations Myanmar recalls its Ambassador to the United Kingdom Kyaw Zwar Minn after he publicly called for the release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia, variants of SARS-CoV-2 The Estonian government approves new measures to lockdown the entire country from March 11 until April 11 due to the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2, which means that non-essential shops will be closed, primary schools will shift to remote learning, and groups of more than two people will be banned. (Eesti Rahvusringhääling)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella receives the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Wanted in Rome)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev confirms that the government will impose a nationwide curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time from tomorrow until March 22, as well as a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travelers from Africa, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (N1)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella receives the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Wanted in Rome)
Myanmar recalls its Ambassador to the United Kingdom Kyaw Zwar Minn after he publicly called for the release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. (Sky News)
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev confirms that the government will impose a nationwide curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time from tomorrow until March 22, as well as a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travelers from Africa, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (N1)
The Estonian government approves new measures to lockdown the entire country from March 11 until April 11 due to the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2, which means that non-essential shops will be closed, primary schools will shift to remote learning, and groups of more than two people will be banned. (Eesti Rahvusringhääling)
The European Parliament votes to strip Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín, and Clara Ponsatí of their parliamentary immunity, allowing Spanish prosecutors to extradite them to Spain and prosecute them for sedition and embezzlement. (The Guardian)
At least 39 people are dead while 165 others are rescued when two boats sink off the coast of Tunisia while trying to reach Lampedusa, Italy. (Al Jazeera)
Brazil reports a record 1,972 new deaths in the past 24 hours amid slow vaccination rollout and overwhelmed hospitals, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 268,370. (France 24)
British Columbia reports its first three cases of Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. (Vancouver Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan Sudan begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 beginning with medical workers. (Al Arabiya English) COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia receives its first major shipment of 30,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. (Africanews) COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe grants emergency use authorization for four COVID-19 vaccines, including China's CoronaVac and BBIBP-CorV, Russia's Sputnik V, and India's Covaxin. (News24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announces that Alaska will drop its eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine and allow all residents over the age of 16 to receive it, thereby becoming the first state to do so. The state has also led other states in the percentage of its population to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen orders a temporary closure of the country's civil institutions and reduces their on-site employees by 90% for at least a week, with the exception of military and health workers due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. (The Straits Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority approves the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (Bloomberg News) COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippines surpasses 600,000 total COVID-19 cases. (ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Brazil reports a record 1,972 new deaths in the past 24 hours amid slow vaccination rollout and overwhelmed hospitals, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 268,370. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Lineage P.1 British Columbia reports its first three cases of Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. (Vancouver Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen orders a temporary closure of the country's civil institutions and reduces their on-site employees by 90% for at least a week, with the exception of military and health workers due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Lineage P.1 British Columbia reports its first three cases of Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. (Vancouver Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority approves the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (Bloomberg News)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum receives the COVID-19 vaccine. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors from March 12, three days sooner than expected, as part of easing of their national lockdown. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan Sudan begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 beginning with medical workers. (Al Arabiya English)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippines surpasses 600,000 total COVID-19 cases. (ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announces that Alaska will drop its eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine and allow all residents over the age of 16 to receive it, thereby becoming the first state to do so. The state has also led other states in the percentage of its population to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP) COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum receives the COVID-19 vaccine. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia receives its first major shipment of 30,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. (Africanews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine grants approval for the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe grants emergency use authorization for four COVID-19 vaccines, including China's CoronaVac and BBIBP-CorV, Russia's Sputnik V, and India's Covaxin. (News24)
European migrant crisis At least 39 people are dead while 165 others are rescued when two boats sink off the coast of Tunisia while trying to reach Lampedusa, Italy. (Al Jazeera)
Exploration of the Moon The China National Space Administration and Roscosmos sign a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint lunar space station. Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin says that the space station will be a "complex of experimental research facilities created on the surface or in the orbit of the Moon", and will be available for use by "international partners". (France 24)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors from March 12, three days sooner than expected, as part of easing of their national lockdown. (Sky News)
Governor Mike Dunleavy announces that Alaska will drop its eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine and allow all residents over the age of 16 to receive it, thereby becoming the first state to do so. The state has also led other states in the percentage of its population to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP)
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum receives the COVID-19 vaccine. (AP)
Núria Calduch becomes the first female Secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission named by Pope Francis. (Catholic Philly)
Prime Minister Hun Sen orders a temporary closure of the country's civil institutions and reduces their on-site employees by 90% for at least a week, with the exception of military and health workers due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. (The Straits Times)
