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COVID-19 pandemic: Disease; Virus; By location; Impact; Portal

Lewis Hamilton

In motor racing, Lewis Hamilton (pictured) breaks the record for the most race wins in Formula One.
The OSIRIS-REx probe touches down and collects a sample from the asteroid Bennu.
Luis Arce is elected President of Bolivia in the general election.
Floods in Hyderabad, India, kill at least 81 people.

October 28, 2020 (Wednesday)

edithistorywatch

October 27, 2020 (Tuesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Peshawar school bombing
- Eight students are killed in a bombing at a madrasa in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (BBC)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Artsakh Defence Minister Jalal Harutyunyan is seriously wounded in an Azerbaijani drone strike on his vehicle in Nagorno-Karabakh. He is replaced by Mikael Arzumanyan until he recovers from his injuries. (Public Radio of Armenia)
- Azerbaijan says an Armenian missile attack on the city of Barda has killed at least four civilians and injured 13 others. (Caspian News)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Atlantic hurricane season
- Hurricane Zeta makes landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 1 hurricane. (Fox News)
- Hurricane Warnings are issued by the National Hurricane Center across the United States Gulf coast from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Mississippi-Alabama border. (Fox News)
The Greek Navy's mine countermeasures vessel HS Kallisto is cut in two in a collision with a container ship. (New Greek TV)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia's Rospotrebnadzor orders all people to wear masks in crowded places starting tomorrow and recommends all restaurants and other late-night establishments to close between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am local time, with all public events banned during that time. (Barrons)
    - Russia reports a record of 320 new deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide death toll since the pandemic began to 26,589. (The Moscow Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - Bulgaria reports 2,243 new infections, a new record of cases since the pandemic began. (Novinite)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France reports 523 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, which includes 292 people that died in hospitals and another 231 people who died in nursing homes. It is the highest number of daily fatalities since the first wave in April as President Emmanuel Macron prepares to announce new restrictions tomorrow. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece reports 1,259 new infections, the highest number in a single day, bringing the nationwide total to 32,752. (Neos Kosmos)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - The number of new confirmed cases in Italy rises by a record 21,994 in the past 24 hours. In addition, the country also reports 221 new fatalities, the highest daily death toll the country has had since May. (ANSA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - La Rioja orders the closure of restaurants and bars in its two largest towns, Logroño and Arnedo, for a month in an attempt to try to curb the second wave of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong announces that it will reopen public beaches and increase the number of people allowed to sit together in bars to four people, and at restaurants to six people, on October 30, as part of a relaxation of social distancing measures. The city's government also said that those venues will be allowed to run on-site services until 2:00 am local time. (South China Morning Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
    - Iran reports 6,968 new cases and 346 deaths in the past 24 hours, its highest daily tally since the pandemic began, pushing the death toll to 33,299 and cumulative total cases to 581,824. (Arab News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
      - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio asked residents on Tuesday to avoid travelling out of state during the upcoming holidays. For those who decide to travel, he urged them to get tested and to quarantine for 14 days. (CNBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin
    - Wisconsin reports 5,262 new cases and 64 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, setting a record number for both cases and deaths since the pandemic began, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (WKOW-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria
  - Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is hospitalized at a military hospital in Algiers, days after he went into self-isolation after suspected COVID-19 cases amongst his aides. (AFP Via Yahoo News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba
  - Manitoba reports 184 new cases, it's highest number yet since the pandemic began. (CBC)
- The United Nations cancels all in-person meetings at its New York City headquarters after five people on the Niger mission tested positive. (Reuters)

International relations

Aftermath of the murder of Samuel Paty
- Thousands rally in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka calling for a boycott of French goods over French President Emmanuel Macron's defense of cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, which Muslims consider to be highly blasphemous. Police prevented the protesters from reaching the French Embassy. (Al Jazeera)
- Iran summons the French ambassador over Macron's "insulting comments" regarding Islam and Muslims. (Republic World)
- Saudi Arabia condemns Macron's "attempts to link Islam with terrorism" but does not join calls for a boycott of France. (Al Jazeera)
- Protesters burn French flags and pictures of Macron outside the French Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. (Rudaw)
- France's Foreign Ministry warns its citizens to take extra security precautions while travelling in Muslim-majority countries as a Muslim backlash against France grows. (Reuters)
India–United States relations
- Following high-level talks in Delhi, India and the United States sign a military agreement on sharing sensitive satellite data. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geospatial Cooperation (BECA) gives the Indian Armed Forces access to a range of sensitive geospatial and aeronautical data for military use. Agreements on nuclear energy, earth sciences and alternative medicine are also signed. (BBC)
Netherlands–Turkey relations
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan files a criminal complaint against Dutch far-right politician and activist Geert Wilders for allegedly "insulting him on social media". Turkish prosecutors accepted the complaint at an Ankara court. Erdoğan's lawyers say Wilders insulted "honour, dignity, character and reputation". (Reuters)

Law and crime

2020 United States racial unrest, Killing of Walter Wallace
- Protests break out in Philadelphia after police shot and killed Walter Wallace, 27, who they say had been armed with a knife. There are also reports of vandalism, including looting, spray painting and smashing of windows at a police station. Police also say 30 officers have been injured, many of which were struck by bricks and other debris, and that 91 protesters were arrested. (WCAU-TV)
2020 Tanzanian general election
- Tanzanian political party Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo) reports that its Zanzibar presidential candidate Seif Sharif Hamad has been arrested following condemnation by him and the political party of the shooting deaths of at least seven civilians amid unrest over alleged fraud on the eve of presidential election. Police confirm Hamad's arrest but do not comment. (AP)
LGBT rights in Nigeria
- A Nigerian court throws out a case against 47 men for allegedly publicly engaging in same-sex relationships at a Lagos hotel in 2018, claiming a lack of diligence on the prosecutor's part. (Reuters)
Hong Kong national security law
- Hong Kong pro-independence activist Tony Chung is arrested when he tried to seek asylum at the U.S. Consulate General. He was on bail for alleged national security law offences. (The Guardian)
Australian Aboriginal sacred sites
- A yellow box tree sacred to the women of the Djab wurrung indigenous group in western Victoria is cut down to make way for a new highway. 50 protesters are arrested at the site for violating social distancing laws. (The Guardian)

Science and technology

British telecommunication regulator Ofcom announces that all mobile network providers in the country will be banned from selling locked phones beginning in December 2021. (BBC)

October 26, 2020 (Monday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- A Russian airstrike on a camp run by rebels of the Sham Legion in Kafr Takharim kills at least 35, according to a rebel source. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) puts the death toll at 78. (Reuters)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- A humanitarian ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh breaks down shortly after coming into effect, with both Armenia and Azerbaijan blaming each other for violating the truce. (Al Jazeera)

Business and economy

Chinese financial technology firm Ant Group debuts on the Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchanges, with its IPO worth up to US$34.4 billion. This surpasses Saudi Aramco, whose IPO was worth US$29.4 billion, as the strongest debut on a stock exchange. Jack Ma, whose company Alibaba Group is backing the debut, is expected to become the richest man in China as a result. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

2020 California wildfires
- Fast-moving fires around Orange County, California, United States, force over 70,000 residents to evacuate. Two firefighters are critically injured while battling the blazes. (AP)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports 1,240 new cases, the highest number of infections since the pandemic began in March. The country's cumulative total stands at 27,805. Of those new cases, 927 are from Sabah. (The New Straits Times)
    - Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announces that the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor will be extended until November 9. (Mashable)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
    - China reports 137 asymptomatic cases during a drive to test 4.75 million people in Kashgar. It is the highest number of asymptomatic infections in nearly seven months following the discovery of a cluster of cases linked to a garment factory in Xinjiang. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
    - The government announces that they will impose a curfew between 9:00 pm to 5:00 am local time beginning October 28 and ban Sunday shopping in order to curb the surge of COVID-19 cases. Shops that sell essential goods will have to close on weekdays at 8:00 pm local time and on Sundays. (Radio Prague International)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Netherlands surpasses 300,000 COVID-19 cases after a record 10,353 new cases were reported by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the past 24 hours. (NRC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia's number of new COVID-19 cases surges to a record high of 17,347, putting the nationwide total at 1,531,224. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Victoria reports no new cases for the first time since June 9. (ABC Australia)
  - Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announces the easing of restrictions on pubs, restaurants, religious gatherings, gyms and indoor swimming pools, accommodations, and other facilities in Melbourne effective tomorrow at 11:59 pm AEDT. (Premier of Victoria)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
    - Alberta imposes a restrictions to limit most social gatherings to 15 people in Edmonton and Calgary after the province reported record cases. (CBC)

International relations

France–Turkey relations, aftermath of the murder of Samuel Paty
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calls on all Turks and the Muslim world to boycott France over French President Emmanuel Macron's crackdown on radical Islam in French society. Erdoğan says Muslims in France are now "subjected to a lynch campaign similar to that against Jews in Europe before World War II". The leaders of Germany, Italy and the Netherlands condemn Erdoğan's comments and declare their support for France. (BBC)
Japan rejects the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons after all nuclear powers boycott the treaty. This rejection happened days after the United Nations said there was enough signatories for it to go into effect and following pressure from atomic bomb survivors to adopt it. Japan states it is unrealistic to pursue the treaty with both nuclear and non-nuclear states being sharply divided over it, and instead the country will serve as a bridge to narrow the gap between the two sides. (ABC News)

Law and crime

Three men are killed in a murder–suicide at a farm located in Kanturk, County Cork, Ireland. (RTE)
U.S. Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court nomination
- Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed by a vote of 52–48 in the United States Senate and is sworn in as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. She is expected to take the second of two necessary oaths and fully become a Justice on October 27. (NPR)
Mass shootings in the United States
- Two people are killed and eight others injured in a mass shooting at a post-funeral gathering in Greenwood, Mississippi. Police believe the shooter used an AR-15 style rifle, but no suspects are in custody. (USA Today)
Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Demonstrations took place across dozens of cities in Italy against the new restrictions to curb the second wave of COVID-19. The protests in Milan, Turin and Trieste turned violent, where petrol bombs were thrown at officers. Twenty-eight people are arrested in Milan. In Naples the protests continue for the fourth day. (The Washington Post)

Politics and elections

2020 Chilean national referendum
- 78% of the voters approve the process to draft a new Constitution, replacing the one established during the Pinochet dictatorship. (BBC)
- A constituent assembly will be elected in April 2021 after 79% of the voters in the referendum chose this option to write the new Constitution. (Financial Times)
2020 Lithuanian parliamentary election
- Preliminary results show the opposition Homeland Union winning the most seats in parliament, thus making a change of government highly realistic. (Politico)

Science and technology

Lunar water
- NASA confirms water has been spotted on the sunlit surface of the moon. (Fox News)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- AC Milan announces that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and winger Jens Petter Hauge have tested positive for COVID-19 three days after playing against Celtic in the UEFA Europa League. The club also said that three other members of have also gone into isolation after testing positive. (BBC)

October 25, 2020 (Sunday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Sinai insurgency
- Fourteen people are killed after bombs planted by Islamic State militants explode near civilian homes in Bir al-Abd, Egypt. The bombs were placed when militants attacked several villages in the town in July, forcing people to flee their homes, who then returned a month later when soldiers secured the area. (Associated Press)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Azerbaijani troops continue to advance inside Nagorno-Karabakh, capturing the town of Qubadlı, the administrative capital of Qubadli District. (Anadolu Angency)

Arts and culture

Cardinals created by Francis
- Pope Francis announces the creation of 13 new cardinals, including the elevation of Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington who will become the first African-American cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. The elevation is scheduled to occur on November 28. (The Washington Post)

Business and economy

The Metro of Lahore, Pakistan, opens to the public. (Daily Pakistan)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - Prime Minister Boyko Borisov tests positive for COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France registers a record 52,010 new confirmed infections over the past 24 hours, according to a statement from the health ministry, taking the nationwide total to 1,138,507 and becoming the world's fifth highest number of cases after the United States, India, Brazil and Russia. (NBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - In an agreement with regional authorities, Italy's Giuseppe Conte government orders cinemas, swimming pools, and gyms to close tomorrow in a further attempt to curb the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Bars and restaurants will have to close by 6:00 pm local time. The new rules will last until November 24. (CBS News)
    - The number of confirmed cases in Italy reaches a new record of 21,273 cases in the last 24 hours. It is the first time that daily new cases have surpassed 20,000 since the pandemic began. (The Washington Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary registers a record of 3,149 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide total of cases since the pandemic began to 59,247. (Hungary Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The number of new infections in the Netherlands jumped by 10,203 cases in the past 24 hours, hitting a new record not seen since the beginning of the pandemic, according to data released by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declares a second nationwide "state of alarm" (known as state of emergency) to allow regional authorities to set different hours for the curfews as long as they are stricter, close regional borders to travel, and limit gatherings to six people not in the same household. The nationwide curfew begins between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am local time, except in the Canary Islands. The emergency decree can be extended from an initial 15 days to six months depending on parliamentary approval. (Euronews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - Reserve Bank of India's Governor Shaktikanta Das tested positive for COVID-19. (The Hindu)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Yang di-Pertuan Agong King Al-Sultan Abdullah rejects a proposal by embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to declare a state of emergency to fight a surge of COVID-19 cases. (Kompas) (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lankan authorities increase the COVID-19-related curfew zones to 56 police divisions to control the spread of the virus through community-level transmission. (The New Indian Express)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announces the easing of restrictions on gyms, religious gatherings, indoor swimming pools, and other facilities in Regional Victoria effective October 27 at 11:59 pm AEDT. He delays an announcement about easing restrictions in Melbourne pending the outcome of tests connected to an outbreak in the northern suburbs. (ABC Australia)
  - It is announced that Tasmania will reopen to much of Mainland Australia, which was deemed as "low-risk" states, and New Zealand tomorrow. The state was the first Australian jurisdiction to close its borders in March and has not recorded a case in more than 70 days. (The Canberra Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
    - Ontario reports 1,042 new cases, a new record since the start of the outbreak, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 70,373. (Global News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
    - Quebec surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19, becoming the first province in Canada to hit the milestone since the pandemic began in March. (The Star)

Law and crime

Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Dozens of far-right protesters in Rome clash with riot police during a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions when 200 masked militants belonging to Forza Nuova hurl flares and firecrackers at police. Police arrest seven protesters and reported two officers injured. (TRT World)
- More than 2,000 people protest in Naples in the evening against the announced measures. (Il Messaggero)

Politics and elections

Elections in Canada
- 2020 British Columbia general election
  - Premier of British Columbia John Horgan is projected to win a majority of seats for the New Democratic Party; he is the first BC NDP leader to be reelected in the province's history. (CBC) (Vancouver Sun) (CTV)
2020 Seychellois general election
- In an upset election, Wavel Ramkalawan is declared the winner after defeating incumbent Danny Faure of the ruling United Seychelles party, which has been in power since the 1970s. The liberal candidate received 54% of votes cast to win the election. (AP)
2020 Lithuanian parliamentary election
- Lithuania holds the second round of parliamentary elections amidst an economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first round was held on October 11. (The Standard)
2020 Chilean national plebiscite
- A referendum to start the process to draft a new constitution is held in Chile. The referendum was one of the announcements made after the 2019–20 Chilean protests. Over 78% vote in favour of abandoning the 1980 Constitution. (France 24)
2019–20 Iraqi protests
- Thousands of Iraqis take to the streets in Baghdad and major southern cities, including Basra and Najaf, to both mark the anniversary of the protests and renew calls to end corruption. Security forces in central Baghdad threw tear gas to prevent marchers from crossing strategic bridges, injuring at least six, and around 43 officers were injured after protesters threw Molotov cocktails at them. (AP)
Crisis in Venezuela during the Bolivarian Revolution
- Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López arrives to Madrid, Spain, after spending the last year in the Spanish embassy to avoid house arrest. (Al Jazeera)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- In football, former Barcelona and Brazil player Ronaldinho tests positive for COVID-19 and is in self-quarantine. (Goal.com)
- The Tennessee Titans are fined $350,000 for violating the NFL's COVID-19 protocols. (Associated Press via WJRT-TV)

October 24, 2020 (Saturday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- October 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - Taliban insurgency
    - The Taliban kills at least six security forces and injures two others in Nimruz Province. (TOLOnews)
  - At least nine people are killed and another one injured after two bombs explode in Ghazni, Ghazni District, Ghazni Province. (TOLOnews)
  - October 2020 Kabul suicide bombing
    - A suicide bombing kills at least 24 people and injures another 48 in Kabul. The Islamic State claims responsibility for the attack. (BBC)
Syrian Civil War
- A United States drone strike kills 17 members of al-Qaeda in Idlib, including eleven leaders. Five civilians were also killed. (Military News)
Anglophone Crisis
- Kumba school massacre
  - A mass shooting at a school in Kumba, Southwest, Cameroon kills at least six children and wounds eight others in an attack apparently committed by Ambazonian separatist insurgents. The United Nations office reports eight children were killed. A spokesman for the separatist movement expresses "shock and disgust" over the attack. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Two pilots are killed after a U.S. Navy T-6B Texan II trainer aircraft crashes in Alabama. (NBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
    - The number of new infections in Austria rises by a record of 3,614 cases, pushing the total confirmed cases to 79,770 cases. (Today Online)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - The Brussels regional government, headed by its minister-president Rudi Vervoort, orders sports and cultural facilities to close and imposes a curfew lasting between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am local time. In addition, masks once again become mandatory in public spaces, shops must close at 8:00 pm local time, and public gatherings of more than four people are banned. The measures will last until November 19. (The Brussels Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
    - Sofia's mayor Yordanka Fandakova announces that it will close nightclubs and discos tomorrow for two weeks in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. She also urges universities to switch to online education and appeals to businesses to have as many employees work from home as possible. (BNR)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
    - The number of new confirmed cases in the Czech Republic surpasses the 15,000 mark for the first time, when health authorities report a record of 15,252 new cases in a single day. (Radio Prague)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France reports 45,422 new cases of infections, the highest single-day spike in the country since the pandemic began, according to a statement from the Health Ministry. In turn, the total number of cases topped 1.08 million. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Germany surpasses 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, as the Robert Koch Institute reports a record 14,714 new cases in the last 24 hours. Germany is the twentieth country to surpass the 10,000 death milestone. (The Straits Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy reports a further record of 19,644 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, as the government considers further restrictions to contain a COVID-19 resurgence. (Al-Arabiya English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Luxembourg
    - Luxembourg reports a record 862 new infections in the past 24 hours, pushing the overall total to 13,713 cases as a curfew is introduced in the country. (RTL Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - President Andrzej Duda tests positive for COVID-19. (DW)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - Portugal reports a record daily increase of 3,669 new cases, bringing the cumulative counts to 116,109 confirmed cases and 2,297 deaths. (DGS)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Slovakia reports 2,890 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest tally yet since the pandemic began, as the country launches an experimental testing program for its population. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Jakarta surpasses 100,000 total COVID-19 cases, becoming the first province in Indonesia to reach that milestone. (Berita Satu)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports 1,228 new infections, a record daily jump since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total number of cases to 25,742. Of those new cases, 449 of them are from Sabah. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Authorities in Sri Lanka close at least two fishery harbours and many stalls after 609 COVID-19 cases are linked to the country's main fish market. (Deccan Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
    - Chile surpasses 500,000 cases of COVID-19, while active cases reach a record low of 9,900. (National Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia
    - Colombia surpasses one million confirmed COVID-19 cases, becoming the second Latin American country to surpass that milestone in less than a week. (AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois
    - Illinois reports 6,161 new cases, the most in one day since the pandemic began. (WLS-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
    - Michigan reports 3,338 new cases, a new single-day record. (MLive.com)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico
    - New Mexico reports a record high of 875 new cases in a single day, bringing the statewide total to 41,040. (The Santa Fe New Mexican)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio
    - The Ohio Department of Health reports 2,858 new cases in Ohio in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record, thus pushing the statewide total to 195,806. (WKBN-TV)

Law and crime

Domestic terrorism in the United States
- A report published three days earlier by the Center for Strategic and International Studies finds that white supremacist and other far-right groups have perpetrated a majority of domestic terrorist attacks and plots in the first eight months of 2020. It also notes a rise in terrorist incidents perpetrated by far-left groups, as well as a decrease in fatalities from domestic terrorist attacks during that same time period compared to recent years. (The New York Times via MSN)

Politics and elections

2020 Egyptian parliamentary election
- The first round of parliamentary elections starts in Egypt. The election is under criticism as most candidates are aligned with the pro-government Nation's Future Party, curbing the expectations for political change. (Al Jazeera)
Crisis in Venezuela during the Bolivarian Revolution
- Prominent opposition figure Leopoldo López leaves the Spanish embassy in Caracas and flees to Spain via Colombia, according to his own party, which did not elaborate how he escaped from Venezuela. López had been at the embassy for over a year to avoid house arrest. (Reuters)

Sports

2020 AFL season
- Richmond defeats Geelong by a 31-point margin in the 2020 AFL Grand Final at The Gabba in Brisbane. (News.com.au)

October 23, 2020 (Friday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- Taliban insurgency
  - October 2020 Afghanistan attacks
    - The Taliban kills at least 20 Afghan soldiers in Khash Rod District, Nimroz Province. (TOLOnews)
Second Libyan Civil War
- The United Nations mission for Libya announces that the warring parties in the war have agreed to a "permanent ceasefire in all areas of Libya." The UN says it is an "important turning point towards peace and stability in Libya." The Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, based in the east, had been at war with the Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli. (Al Arabiya)

Disasters and accidents

2020 California wildfires
- The Pacific Gas and Electric Company announces that it may cut power to 1 million customers in California to prevent the spread of new wildfires. (ABC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid
      - The Madrid regional government announces new restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 when the current state of emergency expires tomorrow. Under the new rules, bars and restaurants will have to close by midnight and will not be able to accept new patrons after 11:00 pm local time, and socializing with people outside of one's household will be prohibited between midnight and 6:00 am local time. Outside of these hours, social gatherings will be limited to a maximum of six people. Capacity at theaters and cinemas, as well as indoor sports facilities, will be reduced to 50%. Parks and gardens will be closed between midnight and 6:00 am local time. (El Pais in English)
    - The regional government of Castile and León orders a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time that will take effect tomorrow and last for two weeks. (RTVE)
    - The Governments of Catalonia, Euskadi, Extremadura, Asturias, Melilla, and La Rioja urge the national government to declare a state of emergency. (La Vanguardia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
      - Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveils parts of the draft five-level system of restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, ranging from Level Zero to Level Four. The new system will come into force on November 2 if the draft is approved by Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh, next week, and the application of different levels in different areas will be reviewed on a weekly basis. (ITV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - Belgium's Consultative Committee announces that it will tighten its restrictions on social contacts by banning fans from sporting events, closing amusement parks, and imposing a limit of 200 people allowed in theatres, concert halls, and cinemas. The measures take effect immediately and will last for four weeks until November 19, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 threatening to overwhelm hospitals. (The Brussels Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France surpasses one million COVID-19 cases after a record 42,032 new infections are reported in the last 24 hours, becoming the second European Union country to reach the milestone after Spain and the seventh country in the world to reach the same level. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy reports 19,143 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new record for the third consecutive day since the pandemic began, taking the nationwide total to 484,869. (ANSA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Flevo hospital in Almere begins to transfer two of its COVID-19 intensive care patients by helicopter to a hospital in Muenster, near the Dutch-German border, as hospitals in the Netherlands come under increasing strain from a second wave of infections. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - After Poland reports the highest single-day record of 13,632 new infections, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announces the designation of the country as a "red zone" area, which means that tomorrow it will partially close schools, with only grades one to three attending classes, restrict gatherings to five people, and restrict the operations of restaurants, cafés, and pubs to only serve take-away or delivery services. He also advises people over 70 years of age to stay home. (Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - The Portuguese Parliament approves a bill that imposes the mandatory use of a mask for people over ten years of age in crowded outdoor areas if social distancing cannot be implemented, as requested by the government, as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19. The measures will be in effect for 70 days. (The Star)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
    - The number of new cases since the beginning of the pandemic in Romania rises by a record of 5,028 in the past 24 hours, as new restrictions are introduced in Bucharest and other cities. (Digi 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia reports 17,340 new cases, a new record high in the past 24 hours, raising the cumulative case total to 1,480,646. Despite the rise, authorities pledge not to reimpose strict lockdown measures across the country and declare the epidemic "under control." (CBS News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas
    - The Arkansas Department of Health reports 1,337 new infections in the last 24 hours, a new record high since the pandemic began. In total, there are 104,135 confirmed and probable cases. (Arkansas Online)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina
    - North Carolina reports a record number of new COVID-19 cases in the state, with 2,716 new cases in 24 hours. (WBTV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio
    - Ohio reports 2,518 new cases, a new record high for a single day. (WLWT)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon
    - Oregon reports 550 new infections in the last 24 hours, a new record high since the pandemic began. 135 of them were from Multnomah County. (KGW8)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
    - Pennsylvania reports 2,219 new cases of COVID-19, its highest single-day amount since April. (WPVI-TV)
  - The United States reports a new record of 83,757 new cases in a single day. In total, nearly 8.5 million cases have been reported since the pandemic began. (CNBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
    - The number of new cases since the beginning of the pandemic in Iran rises by a record of 6,134 in the past 24 hours and pushes the overall count up to 556,891. This is the first time that new cases have surpassed more than 6,000. In addition, health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari warns that 30 of 31 provinces are in the red zone with a high risk of COVID-19 infection. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports 10 deaths from COVID-19, making it the deadliest day since the beginning of the outbreak. (The Edge Markets)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson resume their Phase III trials in the United States for a COVID-19 vaccine after previously pausing them as a result of complications with some volunteers. (Wall Street Journal)

International relations

Israel–Sudan normalization agreement, Israel–Sudan relations
- Israel and Sudan agree to establish diplomatic relations. (BBC)

Law and crime

Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Hundreds of people protests in Naples after stricter COVID-19 measures were imposed in the city and the whole region of Campania. The protestors clashed with police, wounding seven officers with smoke bombs, burning trash bins and chanting against the President of the region, Vincenzo De Luca. Two people are arrested. (Il Fatto Quotidiano) (ITV)
George Floyd protests, 2020 United States racial unrest
- George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
  - Federal prosecutors announce that Ivan Harrison Hunter, an alleged member of the Boogaloo Bois, has been charged for firing an AK-47 at a police station in Minneapolis during protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd. (NBC News)
Rohingya genocide case
- The Gambia announces that they have submitted a lawsuit against Myanmar for their role in the Rohingya genocide at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. (Dhaka Tribune) (The Daily Star)
The decomposed remains of seven people, believed to be undocumented migrants, are discovered in a fertiliser container in Asunción, Paraguay. The container set off from Serbia on 21 July and travelled through Croatia, Egypt, Spain and Argentina en route to Paraguay. Three of the seven were identified as being from Morocco and one from Egypt. According to the coroner, asphyxiation was the likely cause of death. (BBC)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- 2020 NFL season
  - The Washington Football Team announces that quarterback Dwayne Haskins will face fines for violating COVID-19 protocols before their game against the New York Giants. (Washington Post)

October 22, 2020 (Thursday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- Officials in Takhar Province, Afghanistan, report that 12 civilians, 11 of them children, were killed by an airstrike on a madrasa. The central government says it killed 12 Taliban fighters. (BBC)
Syrian civil war
- The Sunni Muslim Grand Mufti of Damascus Sheikh Mohammed Adnan Afiouni is assassinated in a car bombing in the Syrian capital, according to state media. (Reuters)
Terrorism in France
- French police launch a terror investigation into a racist attack on Sunday, in which two Muslim women were repeatedly stabbed near the Eiffel Tower while the perpetrators, believed to be two other women, shouted racial slurs at the victims. The attack came as tensions mount over the murder of Samuel Paty. (Al Jazeera) (Euro Weekly News) (National Turk)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois
      - Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces a new restrictions banning indoor service for bars without a food license and impose non-essential business curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. CT for two weeks from tomorrow. In addition, all liquor sales at all establishments must end at 9 p.m. and all Chicagoans should refrain from gatherings of more than six people or any social gatherings after 10 p.m. (Chicago Tribune)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii
      - Hawaii registers 14 additional COVID-19 fatalities, which have now pushed the state's death toll to 203. (Hawaii News Now)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey
      - Governor Phil Murphy goes into quarantine after two of his staffers tested positive for COVID-19. (WNBC)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)
      - Governor Jay Inslee announces that the state's COVID-19 cases have officially surpassed 100,000. (Daily Hive)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan reports 43 new deaths, its highest single-day total since May 30. (WJRT-TV)
    - The Food and Drug Administration approves remdesivir to treat COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. The drug, manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Gilead under the brand name Veklury, is the first fully approved COVID-19 treatment in the United States. (BBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      - It is announced that the Canadian government and Alberta are launching a pilot program to test eligible returning travelers for COVID-19, allowing them to leave quarantine in two days once they receive a negative result instead of a normal two-week quarantine. The move could potentially bring relief to the country's struggling airline and tourism industries. Starting November 2, the new testing option will be offered at the Coutts land border crossing in southern Alberta and Calgary International Airport. (CBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - Prime Minister Jean Castex announces that 38 more departments, as well as French Polynesia, will be placed under curfew starting October 24. In total, 54 departments will now adhere to the new hourly limitations between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am local time, affecting almost 46 million people in these areas. (BBC)
    - The number of new confirmed cases in France hits an alarming record high of 41,622 in the last 24 hours, making it the first time the country has reported more than 40,000 new cases. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - The number of new confirmed cases in Greece hits a record high of 882 in the past 24 hours, making it the highest number in a single day since the pandemic began, bringing the cumulative total to 28,216. (Greek Reporter)
    - Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announces new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. These measures include the "compulsory" use of masks both indoors and outdoors and imposition of a curfew between 12:30 am and 5:00 am local time in all areas deemed as high-risk zones, including Athens and Thessaloniki, starting October 24. (Medical Xpress)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - Portugal reports a record daily increase with 3,270 new cases, bringing the cumulative counts to 109,541 confirmed cases and 2,245 deaths. (DGS)
    - Portugal announces that tomorrow, the municipalities of Felgueiras, Lousada, and Paços de Ferreira will go into a partial lockdown, which means that people will only be able to leave home for work, school, or other essential activities. In addition, visits to care homes will be banned, events can only be attended by a maximum of five people, and commercial outlets must close by 10:00 pm local time. (National Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
    - The number of new confirmed cases in Austria surges to a record 2,435 in the past 24 hours, making it the highest single-day increase yet since the pandemic began. (Hindustan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - Belgian incumbent Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès is admitted to an intensive care unit nearly a week after testing positive for COVID-19. (Sky News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
    - Minister of Health Constantinos Ioannou announces the imposing of a curfew in Limassol and Paphos districts and a mask mandate for all outdoor spaces. (Cyprus-Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, Germany has recorded more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day, when the Robert Koch Institute reported 11,287 new infections in 24 hours. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy reports a record high in new infections, topping 16,000 daily cases for the first time since the start of the pandemic. According to data from the Health Ministry, the nationwide total has reached 465,726 cases. (Daily Sabah)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Prime Minister Igor Matovič announces that Slovakia will shut down most of its schools and require the population to stay home apart from work, essential shopping, and nature trips between October 24 and November 1, in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. He also plans to go ahead with nationwide free testing of 5.5 million people across the country. (Yahoo News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - The Health Ministry reports a record high of 20,986 new cases in Spain in the last 24 hours and put the cumulative 14-day incidence rate at 349 infections per 100,000 inhabitants. (El Pais in English)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal
    - On the first day of Durga Puja, West Bengal records its highest single-day spike of 4,157 new cases in the past 24 hours as doctors warn that the number could rise massively given a large number of gatherings in markets, shopping malls, and restaurants. (The Week)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
  - Morocco's Ministry of Health reports 4,151 new cases in the past 24 hours. This is the highest number of reported infections in a single day, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 186,731. (Morocco World News)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Moderna announces that they have fully enrolled their trial, with around 30,000 participants. (The Washington Post)

International relations

Taiwan–United States relations
- The United States Department of State approves a $1.8 billion weapon sales deal with Taiwan. (Al Jazeera)
Iran–United States relations, Iran–Iraq relations, Iranian intervention in Iraq
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury says it has blacklisted Iraj Masjedi, the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, saying he has overseen the training and support of Shia militia groups, which are responsible for attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Killing of George Floyd
- A Hennepin County, Minnesota judge drops the third-degree murder charge against former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, who was filmed kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for nearly nine minutes in May. He still faces second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. (NPR)
2020 Thai protests
- Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha lifts the "severe" state of emergency that was imposed in Bangkok to crack down on the protesters. (CNN)
Authorities announce the May arrest of a 19-year-old man from Kannapolis, North Carolina, who had allegedly been plotting to kill Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, after police towed his van and recovered firearms and explosives from it. He is being charged with possession of child pornography in relation to video and images later found in his electronic devices. (WTVD) (WGHP)