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

Corey Seager

At least 41 people are killed and 81 others are missing after Typhoon Molave hits the Philippines and Vietnam.
In baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series (MVP Corey Seager pictured).
In Australian rugby league, the Melbourne Storm defeat the Penrith Panthers to win the NRL Grand Final.
Wavel Ramkalawan becomes the first opposition candidate to be elected President of Seychelles since independence in 1976.

October 30, 2020 (Friday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Terrorism in Russia
- A police officer is critically wounded after being stabbed several times by a 16-year-old boy in Tatarstan, Russia. The attacker is shot dead by a fellow officer. The stabbing is investigated as a terrorist incident. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Germany reports a record 18,681 new cases, pushing the total of confirmed cases near 500,000, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, making it the third consecutive time the country sets a new record of daily infections. (RND)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Poland reports 21,629 new cases, the largest jump in the number of cases since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total number of cases to 340,834. It also reaches 5,351 COVID-19 deaths, with 202 deaths in the last 24 hours. (Poland In)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia reports 18,283 new cases in the past 24 hours, a new record for the second consecutive day, taking the nationwide total to 1,599,976, the fourth-highest in the world. (The Moscow Times)
    - Moscow city authorities announces that residents who want to be vaccinated against COVID-19 may be able to do so as early as next month if large volumes of doses are supplied by then. Deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova also said was creating a large network of specialized vaccination rooms with 2,500 high-risk people that already been vaccinated. (News18)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Aegean Sea earthquake
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 hits near the island of Samos, Greece. Damage was caused in the Aegean islands as well as the Aegean Region of Turkey. (BBC)

Law and crime

LGBT rights in Taiwan
- The military of Taiwan conducts the first mass same-sex marriages since the country became the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex unions in 2019. (BBC)

Politics and elections

2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum, 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum
- The results are announced for a referendum on the End of Life Choice Act 2019, which legalizes doctor-assisted euthanasia, with voters approving it. Another referendum on the legalization of the sale and use of cannabis was not approved by voters. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) (Radio NZ)

October 29, 2020 (Thursday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Islamic terrorism in Europe
- Terrorism in France
  - 2020 Nice stabbing
    - Three people are killed at Notre-Dame de Nice in Nice, by an attacker shouting "Allahu Akbar". The city's mayor describes the incident as "terrorism" while police investigate the case. The attacker has been shot and arrested by police. (Reuters)
  - A man is arrested near a church in Sartrouville, Île-de-France, after police received a call from his father. The man had been trying to carry out a stabbing attack and was quoted as saying he was inspired by the Nice attack. (Le Parisien)
  - A man is shot dead by police in Montfavet, Avignon, after threatening police and a trader of a North African background with a handgun. The man was reported to be a member of a far-right French organisation and also having a history of psychiatric treatment. (Libération)
  - 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)
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)

Disasters and accidents

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)
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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - 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 France, COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns
    - 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)
    - Prime Minister Jean Castex announces more details about the second lockdown. In the rules, people will only be allowed to leave the house to buy groceries, commuting to work, medical or pressing family reasons, and for outdoor exercise for one hour per day no further than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from their homes. (Euronews)
    - Île-de-France region, which includes Paris suffers a record traffic jam of a cumulative 706 kilometres (439 mi) in the early evening as people attempted to leave the region or elsewhere before the second lockdown begins. (ITV) (BBC)
  - 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 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 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)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Spanish Congress of Deputies votes to extend the state of emergency for another six months as the Health Ministry reports a record 23,580 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 1.16 million. (The Times) (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
    - Sweden reports 2,820 new infections in the past 24 hours, a new record in a single day since the pandemic began, bringing the total number of cases to 121,167. (Swiss Info)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland, COVID-19 pandemic in Liechtenstein
    - Switzerland reports 9,386 new infections, a new record since the pandemic began, taking the total caseload in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to 145,044. (Reuters)
  - European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic
    - The European Union will finance €220 million to transfer patients in hard-hit countries across borders to prevent hospitals across the continent from getting overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. (RTE)
- 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 the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois
    - Illinois records 6,363 new cases, a new single-day record. (WGN-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
    - Michigan records 3,675 new cases, a new single-day record. (MLive.com)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon
    - Oregon records 575 new cases, a new single-day record. (The Oregonian)
  - Nationally, 87,164 new cases are reported, a new single-day record. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
  - Tunisia announces new measures that include a nighttime curfew, which will remain in effect until November 15. In addition, movement between provinces without essential reasons will be prohibited, schools will be suspended until November 8 and demonstrations, access to places of worship and gatherings of more than four people in public will also be prohibited. (Anadolu Agency)

Law and crime

A riot in Herat Province, Afghanistan, leaves at least eight people dead and 12 others injured. (TOLOnews)

Politics and elections

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)
2020 Belarusian protests, COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
- Amidst ongoing protests against 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)

October 28, 2020 (Wednesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

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)
War in Afghanistan
- Over 100 Taliban insurgents are killed as the Afghan Armed Forces retake parts of Helmand Province. (TOLO News)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Azerbaijan says the death toll from an Armenian cluster missile attack on Barda has risen to 21 with dozens more wounded. Armenia denies carrying out the strike. (BBC)

Business and economy

German anti-trust regulator Federal Cartel Office launches an investigation into Amazon and Apple for potentially breaking competition laws, by having the former being the exclusive distributor for the latter's dealerships online. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Atlantic hurricane season
- U.S. President Donald Trump declares a state of emergency for Louisiana ahead of Hurricane Zeta's impending landfall. (Fox 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 National Weather Service issues Storm Surge Warnings from the mouth of the Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, to Navarre, Florida. (National Hurricane Center)
- Hurricane Zeta strengthens to a Category 2 hurricane. (National Hurricane Center)
- Hurricane Zeta makes landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph. In the process, it sets a new record for being the fifth named storm to make landfall in Louisiana in a single season, the previous record being four. (The New York Times)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - 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)
    - 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 Switzerland
    - Switzerland's Federal Office of Public Health reports a record of 8,616 new infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 135,658. In addition, in the last two weeks, the positivity rate has risen from 14% to 32%, higher than the peak of 26% during the first wave. (Le News)
    - 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)
  - 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 France
    - 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)
  - 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 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 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 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - 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 Iran
    - Iran reports a record 415 new fatalities, bringing the death toll since the pandemic began to 33,714. (Barrons)
    - Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf tested positive for COVID-19. (Voice of America)
  - 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 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 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 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)

International relations

France–Turkey relations
- Turkey threatens to take "legal and diplomatic action" in response to French magazine Charlie Hebdo's caricature mocking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay condemns the publication. France responds by saying that the country would not give in to "destabilisation and intimidation attempts." (France 24)

Law and crime

2020 United States racial unrest, Black Lives Matter
- Protesters march through Philadelphia for a second night, demanding racial justice after the killing of Walter Wallace. The marches began peacefully but became more confrontational into the evening and Wednesday morning. Police and the city's office of emergency management said looting was reported in several areas. Protesters try to erect makeshift barricades using bins while police use pepper spray and batons after saying they were attacked by demonstrators. (BBC)
Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot
- An unsealed search warrant reveals the suspects accused in federal court of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer had also discussed South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster as a possible target. (The Detroit News) (The Post and Courier)
The FBI arrests five people in the United States, and charges three more, for spying on opponents of the Chinese Communist Party and trying, among other things, to coerce them to return home to face trial. (BBC)

Politics and elections

2020 Tanzanian general election
- Tanzanians head to the polls to elect their President. Incumbent John Magufuli seeks reelection as his top opposition candidate Tundu Lissu, who returned from exile after a failed assassination attempt, warns of "widespread irregularities". (Al Jazeera)

October 2020 Polish protests
- Approximately 430,000 people participated in 410 protests across the country, according to the police spokesperson Jarosław Szymczyk. (Gazeta Prawna)

Science and technology

Scientists announce that last week they discovered a reef structure in the Great Barrier Reef that is 500 m (1,600 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)

October 27, 2020 (Tuesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

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 killed at least four civilians and injured 13 others. (Caspian News)
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- 2020 Peshawar school bombing
  - Eight students are killed in a bombing at a madrasa in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (BBC)
An Islamic State inmate kills a guard and wounds three others with a metal object at a prison in Rabat, Morocco. The fate of the militant, who was arrested a month ago, is unknown. It is the first terrorist attack in the country since the 2018 murders of two Scandinavian tourists. (The Defense Post)

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 Gulf Coast of the United States 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 North America
  - 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 asks residents to avoid traveling out of state during the upcoming holidays. For those who decide to travel, he urges them to get tested and quarantine for two weeks. (CNBC)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas
      - Arkansas surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 cases and sets a new record of 27 new hospitalizations, bringing the total to 676. (KATV)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky
      - Governor Andy Beshear reports a record-high number of new infections in the state with 1,786 cases. (Courier Journal)
    - 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 new cases and deaths since the pandemic began, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (WKOW-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba
      - Manitoba reports 184 new cases, its highest number since the pandemic began. (CBC)
    - Canada surpasses 10,000 COVID-19 deaths. (CTV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
    - Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum tests positive for COVID-19 but is asymptomatic. (Mexico Daily News)
- 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. This 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 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 Algeria
  - 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)
- 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 traveling 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 shoot and kill Walter Wallace, 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 tries 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)

Sports

2020 World Series
- The Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series after a Game 6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was their first World Series win in 32 years. (ESPN)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- FIFA announces that the President Gianni Infantino tests positive for COVID-19. (BEIN Sports)

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 restrictions to limit most social gatherings to 15 people in Edmonton and Calgary after the province reported record cases. (CBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia
    - British Columbia reports a record 817 new cases over the weekend, including 317 new cases on Saturday, 293 on Sunday, and 207 on Monday. As a result, the provincial health officer Bonnie Henry announces plans to limit gatherings in private homes to no more than immediate household plus your “safe six," which refers to the six additional people in a household’s bubble.(Global News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
    - Premier François Legault announces that restrictions in COVID-19 red zones are being extended until November 23. (Montreal Gazette)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey
    - Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposes a curfew on non-essential businesses in the city at 8 p.m. ET except grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations as COVID-19 cases in New Jersey continue to increase. (WPIX 11)

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 take 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 turn 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)
Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot
- Federal prosecutors announce the discovery of ghost guns and "explosive device components", which raises the possibility of them filing terrorism charges against six suspects accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. (The Detroit News) (Michigan Live)

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 the team have 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)
British Special Boat Service (SBS) special forces storm the Liberian-registered Nave Andromeda after the tanker was suspected to be hijacked by a group of stowaways off the Isle of Wight. The 22 crew members were found safe, and the seven suspected hijackers have been detained by British authorities. (BBC) (The Guardian)

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)