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Topics in the news

Alyssa Healy

The World Health Organization declares the coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic, while the Italian government implements a national quarantine.
Global stock markets suffer their largest single-day decline since the Great Recession.
In cricket, the Women's T20 World Cup concludes with Australia defeating India in the final (player of the match Alyssa Healy pictured).
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara win the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

March 11, 2020 (Wednesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2001–present), Afghan peace process
- The Taliban rejects the Afghan government's conditional prisoner release order announced by President Ashraf Ghani. The Taliban say 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government must be released before intra-Afghan dialogue can be initiated. (Al Jazeera)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges 1,400 points and enters a Bear Market. (Fox News)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- The World Health Organization officially declares the outbreak as a pandemic. (CBC)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Italy
  - The patient zero in Italy has been identified as a man from Germany who arrived in the country at the end of January. (Tgcom24)
  - The death toll in Italy rises to 827, as nearly two-hundred more people were confirmed dead today, the largest daily increase in deaths since the outbreak began, while the number of confirmed cases rises to 12,462, according to Protezione Civile. (National Post)
  - Roberto Stella, the president of the medical guild in Varese, has died at the age of 67 after contracting the virus. (Ansa)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in the United Kingdom
  - British MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Health Ministry Nadine Dorries becomes the first UK MP to test positive for COVID-19. (BBC)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Belgium
  - Belgium reports its first death resulting from the coronavirus; a government statement said the patient was 90 years old. (The Straits Times)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Moldova
  - Moldova suspends all schools, universities and colleges for two weeks in order to prevent the spread of the virus. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Indonesia
  - Indonesia confirms its first death from coronavirus. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Ukraine
  - Ukraine bans mass gatherings and closes all schools for three weeks in response to the global coronavirus outbreak. The government says some sporting events might still go ahead but without any spectators. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in South America
  - 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Argentina
    - President Alberto Fernández issues an order saying that all people coming from hard-hit countries will have to self-quarantine for 14 days; failure to do so will be considered a crime. In addition, he analyses the possibility of banning all mass gatherings. (Infobae - Spanish)
  - Honduras confirms its first two cases of coronavirus. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Hungary
  - Hungary declares a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, closing all university campuses and banning large gatherings, while anyone from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran will be refused entry into the country. Senior minister Gergely Gulyás says "These measures are unprecedented in the three decades since the fall of communism". (Bloomberg)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Iran
  - Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports 958 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and 63 more deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period. All Iranians are now warned to stay indoors. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cancels his annual speech marking the Iranian new year on March 20. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Spain
  - Second Vice President of the Congress of Deputies, former Speaker and former Minister Ana Pastor had tested positive of the coronavirus and becomes the highest-ranking official infected. (La Vanguardia)
  - Spanish Ministry of Culture orders in Madrid the closing of all ministry dependent centers, including the museums of El Prado, Reina Sofía, National Library and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. (El País)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Ireland
  - Ireland reports its first death from the coronavirus, an elderly woman with underlying health conditions at a hospital in Dublin. (BBC)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Qatar
  - Qatar announces 238 new cases of confirmed coronavirus in a single day. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Protests erupt in Raleigh, North Carolina, after a police shooting leaves a suspect wounded during pursuit. (ABC News)
Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases
- American film producer Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 23 years in prison for two felony sex crimes. (The Hollywood Reporter) (The New York Times)

Science and technology

2020 in archosaur paleontology
- Oculudentavis khaungraae, the world's smallest dinosaur, is discovered by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. (Newsweek)

Sports

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- Spain's top association football division La Liga and France's Ligue 1 announce that all matches will be played behind closed doors until April 15 in response to the coronavirus. (BBC)
- 2019–20 Scottish Premiership
  - St Mirren F.C. asks fans who are suffering symptoms from influenza-like symptoms or the coronavirus to not attend their upcoming game against Heart of Midlothian F.C.. (BBC)
- 2019–20 NBA season
  - The National Basketball Association is considering to move their games to cities that haven't been affected by the coronavirus. (Newsweek)

March 10, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Arts and culture

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, is postponed for the first time ever. The festival has been moved from April 2020 to October 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Los Angeles Times) (The New York Times)

Business and economy

Black Monday
- After a 2,000-point drop on Monday, the DJIA futures gain 1,100 points before the NYSE opening bell. (CNN)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Italy, 2020 Italy coronavirus lockdown
  - Italy enters the first day of the nationwide lockdown as the number of infected reaches 10,149. (BBC)
  - Riots continue for the third day in Italian prisons after family visitations were suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Four more inmates died in the incidents, bringing the death toll to 12. The 22 inmates that escaped in Foggia, Apulia, are still wanted. (Il Fatto Quotidiano)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Japan
  - The Cabinet of Japan passes a bill that allows Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus if necessary. (NHK)
- 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak in mainland China
  - Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Wuhan, the epicentre and origin of the global outbreak, after an unprecedented lockdown of the central city of 11 million people. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Moldova
  - Moldova bans all foreigners from entering the country via plane who have been to any country with confirmed cases of coronavirus. (The Straits Times)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Spain
  - Member of the Congress of Deputies and Madrid's city councilor Javier Ortega Smith becomes the first of Spain's high profile infected by the coronavirus. He participated in a political event on Sunday with 9000 people. The Board of the Congress suspends this week's plenary activity after the 52 lawmakers of Vox are called to stay at home. (La Vanguardia) (El Periódico)
  - Community of La Rioja suspends all classes for two weeks. (el diario.es)
  - The Ministry of Transports announces the cancellation of all flights between Spain and Italy. (El Mundo)
  - UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage of humanity of Les Falles of Valencia are postponed for the fifth time in its history. (El Periódico)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Iran
  - Iran reports 881 new confirmed cases and 54 more coronavirus deaths, bringing the total to 8042 cases and 291 deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period. (TRT World)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in the Czech Republic
  - The Czech Republic suspends all schools and bans all events hosting more than 100 people indefinitely in order to contain the virus, according to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. (U.S. News)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Morocco
  - The first death in Morocco is reported, an 89-year-old woman with pre-existing health conditions. (Hespress)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Greece
  - Greek Minister of Health Vasilis Kikilias announces that the country's schools and universities will remain closed for two weeks. (The New York Times)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Denmark
  - Denmark reports a sharp increase in coronavirus patients, with 174 new cases in the past 24 hours, totaling 264 cases in the whole country. (BNO News)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Austria
  - Head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and former MEP Archduke Karl von Habsburg tests positive for virus becoming the first member of a royal family to test positive. (Salzburg24)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Turkey
  - The first coronavirus case in Turkey is confirmed. (NTV)
- Paraguay suspends all school activities and events that involve mass gatherings of people in the country for 15 days as a measure of control due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Infobae in Spanish)

Law and crime

The Canadian government presents a bill that would impose a nationwide ban on conversion therapy that would include minors. (BBC)
InfoWars founder and radio host Alex Jones is arrested for driving under the influence. (CNN)

Politics and elections

2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia
- Vladimir Putin backs a constitutional amendment that would allow him to remain in power after 2024 and make a lifetime presidency possible. (NBC News)
2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Voters in six U.S. states cast their ballots in the primary elections. Former Vice President Joe Biden wins the Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, and Idaho primaries, while U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders wins North Dakota and is ahead in Washington (which has not finished tallying votes). (The New York Times) (CNN)
Riot police repels Venezuela's opposition march downtown Caracas that aimed to regain control of the national legislature. (NBC News)

March 9, 2020 (Monday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok survives an assassination attempt in Khartoum. No one has claimed responsibility. (Haaretz) (The Guardian)
War in Afghanistan, Politics of Afghanistan
- Ashraf Ghani is sworn in as the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan amidst a rocket attack claimed by ISIL. Abdullah Abdullah proclaims himself as President as well. (AFP via Geo News)
Libyan Civil War, Turkish military intervention in the Second Libyan Civil War, 2019–20 Western Libya offensive
- Nearly 40 Syrian mercenaries recruited by the Turkish Army have fled to Italy, raising the number of Syrian fighters who fled from Libya to Europe to nearly 200. (SOHR)
International military intervention against ISIL
- Two United States troops are killed in a raid against ISIL in Iraq. (ABC)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- Black Monday
  - Oil prices plummet after Saudi Arabia cut its official selling prices over the weekend. (CNN)
  - Before markets open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures posted a 1,300-point drop due to the coronavirus and a fall in the price of oil. The drop would be the most points the Dow has dropped in a single day. (NBC News) (NBC News)
  - The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets 1,800 points on opening, 500 points lower than pre-market futures trading. (MSNBC)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in the United Kingdom
  - The United Kingdom's largest retailer Tesco say they will be restricting the sale of essential food and household items in response to fears of mass panic buying. (BBC) (Daily Mirror)
- The 2020 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) is canceled due to coronavirus fears. This is one of the first major sporting events in the United States to be canceled over the coronavirus. (Bleacher Report) (News AU)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Italy, 2020 Italy coronavirus lockdown
  - The number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 9,172, while the death toll rose to 463. (Corriere della Sera)
  - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extends the lockdown from Northern Italy to the whole country. (CNN)
  - Riots continue at several prisons in Italy after family visitations were suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Inmates took two prison guards hostage in Modena during an attempted escape, while inmates at San Vittore Prison in Milan overpowered guards and occupied the roof. Prisons in Pavia and Rebibbia are set on fire, allowing some prisoners to escape. (Business Insider)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Germany
  - The first two virus-related deaths are confirmed in Germany. (BBC)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Saudi Arabia
  - Saudi Arabia suspends all schools, universities and other educational institutions until further notice in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. (Al Arabiya)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in the United States
  - U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Representative Paul Gosar self-quarantine themselves after having made contact at CPAC with a man confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus. (USA Today)
  - The Grand Princess cruise ship, with at least 21 people aboard who've tested positive for COVID-19, has docked at the Port of Oakland, California, to continue to the next step in the quarantining measures process. The ship was carrying more than 2,000 passengers, as well as 1,100 crew members. The Grand Princess had been idling about 10 miles (16 km) offshore since Thursday (March 5). Disembarking American passengers are being put under mandatory 14-day quarantine at military bases in California, Texas or Georgia. Foreign passengers are being sent to their home countries for the completion of the quarantine. (Fox News)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Cyprus
  - The Minister of Health of Cyprus confirms the first two cases in the island; one a health professional who visited United Kingdom and the other a 25-year-old man who had travelled from Italy. (Cyprus Mail)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in South Korea
  - The infection rate is reduced, but Moon Jae-in said it was "too early to be optimistic". (The Independent)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Israel
  - In order to combat the spread of coronavirus, Israel orders all arrivals from abroad, regardless of country, to self-quarantine. (Times of Israel)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in France
  - The French Minister of Culture Franck Riester announces he is infected by coronavirus, as five members of the National Assembly join the 1,412 cases in the Republic. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Spain
  - The President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso orders the suspension of classes "at all educational levels" between 11 March until 30 March, as the region reports more than 500 cases. (La Vanguardia)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Ireland
  - Ireland cancels all the Saint Patrick's Day parades. (BBC)

International relations

North Korea–South Korea relations
- North Korea fires three projectiles from the coast of Sondok into the sea, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Reuters)

Law and crime

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit confirms a 2016 ruling that Led Zeppelin's 1971 song "Stairway to Heaven" was not unlawfully copied from Spirit's instrumental "Taurus", overturning the so-called inverse ratio rule test. (UPI)

March 8, 2020 (Sunday)

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Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Canada
  - The first virus-related death is confirmed in Canada. (CBC News)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Albania
  - Albania reports its first case. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Moldova
  - Moldova reports its first case. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Italy, 2020 Italy coronavirus lockdown
  - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extends the quarantine lockdown, to cover all the region of Lombardy and 14 other northern provinces, affecting over a quarter of the national population. (BBC)
  - The number of virus-related deaths in Italy rise to 366, while the confirmed cases are 7,375. (Sky Tg24)
  - Inmates at several prisons in Italy revolt with reports of riots at prisons in Modena, Foggia, Naples, Frosinone and Alessandria due to fears the coronavirus lockdowns will end visits from relatives. At least eight inmates, six in Modena, have died of overdose after assaulting the prison's pharmacy, while about 20 escaped in Foggia. (Open)
  - Chief of Staff of the Italian Army Salvatore Farina tested positive for coronavirus and self-isolates, as well as President of Piedmont Alberto Cirio. (BBC)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Portugal
  - President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa self-isolates after a coronavirus case is confirmed in a school he visited a few days ago. (US News)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Russia
  - 3 new cases registered in Russia (one is in Kaliningrad Region, one is in Belgorod Region, one is in Moscow Region). All of them visited Italy within the past 14 days. (Sputnik)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Iran
  - Twenty-seven people have died from methanol poisoning in Iran after rumours that drinking alcohol can help cure the coronavirus infection, state news agency IRNA reported on Monday. (BOL News)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- California U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris endorses former Vice President Joe Biden in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. (The New York Times)
- Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson endorses Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. (The New York Times)

Sports

2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final
- Australia wins the tournament, beating India by 85 runs, to win their fifth title. (BBC Sport)

March 7, 2020 (Saturday)

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Business and economy

Lebanon says it will default on a eurobond repayment and pursue restructuring its debt. The country has never before defaulted. Lebanon's government debt is about 170% of its yearly gross domestic product. (The Guardian)

Disasters and accidents

Collapse of Xinjia Express Hotel
- A hotel being used for quarantining those with coronavirus collapses in Quanzhou, Fujian, China. Ten people were killed and twenty-three are trapped. Thirty-eight have been rescued alive. (CNN)
Twenty-two people are killed and more than 70 are injured when a tank truck, two buses and another vehicle collide in the road between Damascus and Homs, in Syria. (Reuters)

Health and environment

2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Europe
  - Malta reports its first case of coronavirus. (Reuters)
  - Bulgaria reports its first two cases. (Darik News)
  - 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Italy
    - Nicola Zingaretti, the President of Lazio since 2013 and Secretary of the Democratic Party since 2019, confirmed that he has contracted the virus. (La Repubblica)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Asia
  - The Maldives report its first two confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. (Reuters)
  - 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Iran
    - Newly elected member of parliament Fatemeh Rahbar dies after contracting COVID-19. (Straits Times)
  - 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Japan
    - A 50-year-old man is arrested for breaching quarantine and travelling to two crowded bars in Gamagōri after testing positive for the coronavirus the day prior. He reportedly told family members he intended to spread it and bragged to bar employees that he had tested positive. (Tokyo Reporter)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in South America
  - 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Argentina
    - The Ministry of Health of Argentina confirmed the country's first death due to coronavirus, a 64-year-old man who had travelled to Paris who also had other health conditions. This marks the first death due to coronavirus in Latin America. (Infobae in Spanish)
  - Paraguay reports its first case of coronavirus. (Infobae in Spanish)

Politics and elections

2019 Afghan presidential election
- A spokesman for politician Abdullah Abdullah announces he will hold a parallel presidential inauguration ceremony next week after he declares himself the winner of the election. Incumbent President Ashraf Ghani was declared the winner. (Reuters)

March 6, 2020 (Friday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Kabul shooting
- At least 32 people are killed and 81 are injured when gunmen attack a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. Afghan politician Abdullah Abdullah was present and escapes unharmed. ISIL claims responsibility for the attack. (Reuters)
Two suicide bombers on a motorcycle detonate their explosives near the United States embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, killing a policeman and wounding five others. (Middle East Eye)

Disasters and accidents

United States tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2020
- U.S. President Donald Trump approves a disaster declaration for all areas affected by the tornadoes. (WSMV Nashville)
- The National Weather Service concludes the EF3 tornado that went through Davidson, Wilson, and Smith counties was confirmed on the ground for 60.13 miles (96.77 km), becoming the second longest path a tornado has taken in Tennessee. (NWS)

Health and environment

2020 coronavirus outbreak in Asia
- Bhutan confirms its first coronavirus case. (Hindustan Times)
2020 coronavirus outbreak in Europe
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Serbia
  - Serbia reports its first case. (Reuters)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Vatican City
  - The Vatican City reports its first case. (Reuters)

Law and crime

The Committee on the Rights of the Child of the United Nations condemns the government of the Cook Islands for criminalizing homosexual sex. (RNZ)

Politics and elections

2020 Guyanese general election
- Police in Georgetown, Guyana, surround the nation's election commission after there are accusations that the elections results were altered to help incumbent President David A. Granger win the election. (Reuters)

Science and technology

SpaceX CRS-20
- SpaceX successfully launches a Dragon spacecraft in orbit to resupply the International Space Station. This marks the last launch of a Dragon spacecraft, soon to be replaced by Dragon 2, and the 50th successful recovery of a Falcon 9 first stage booster. (Space.com)

March 5, 2020 (Thursday)

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Arts and culture

Egypt reopens the Pyramid of Djoser after a 14-year restoration. The pyramid is deemed the oldest stone structure of its size in the world. (ABC News)

Business and economy

Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
- British airline Flybe collapses into administration with the loss of 2,000 jobs after failing to secure financial support. The airline says the impact of the coronavirus outbreak is partly to blame for its collapse. Flybe provided more than half of UK domestic flights outside London. (BBC)
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average drops again almost 1,000 points over coronavirus fears. (Fox Business)

Disasters and accidents

United States tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2020
- The National Weather Service confirms 13 tornadoes occurred. (USA Today)
- The tornado in Putnam County, Tennessee, is upgraded to an EF4, becoming the strongest tornado of the outbreak. (NBC News)
- The EF3 tornado that went through Davidson, Wilson, and Smith counties was confirmed on the ground for 53.4 miles (85.9 km), becoming the second longest path a tornado has taken in Tennessee. (Washington Post)
- Every person is accounted for at the end of the day, after three people were missing previously. Official death toll from the outbreak is 25. (USA Today)
At least nine people, of whom four are children, are killed and 60 are injured when a fire at a bakery spreads to a crowded market in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. (Reuters)

Health and environment

2020 coronavirus outbreak in Europe
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  - Officials in Republika Srpska reports the first case of coronavirus in the country. (N1 BA)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Italy
  - The Italian government postpones the constitutional referendum, originally scheduled for 29 March. (Reuters), (ANSA)
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in the United Kingdom
  - The first death from the coronavirus is confirmed in England, after a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions dies at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Berkshire, as the number of confirmed cases of the virus rises to over 100. (BBC)
2020 coronavirus outbreak in Asia
- 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Iran
  - Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly member and former Ambassador to Syria, Hossein Sheikholeslam, dies after becoming infected with COVID-19. Iran suspends its parliament indefinitely. (Business Insider)

Law and crime

War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- The International Criminal Court overturns on appeal a previous decision to block an investigation into war crimes allegedly committed by U.S. troops, the Taliban and the Afghan government. (BBC)
A court in Russian-controlled Crimea sentences a Jehovah's Witness to six-years imprisonment for activities of a banned extremist organization, part of a crackdown that activists say violates religious freedom. (Reuters)
The Republican-controlled Arizona House of Representatives passes a bill banning transgender females from women's sports. (Fox News)