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

Cyclone Ianos

Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces clash in Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting the introduction of martial law in both countries and mobilization in Armenia.
Bah Ndaw takes office as Mali's interim president following a coup d'état the previous month.
Cyclone Ianos (satellite image shown) stalls over Greece, killing four people and flooding several cities.
At the Primetime Emmy Awards, Schitt's Creek wins in seven comedy categories and Succession wins in four drama categories.

September 30, 2020 (Wednesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - Armenia and Azerbaijan reject peace talks. (AP)

September 29, 2020 (Tuesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - The Armenian Defense Ministry claims that an Armenian Su-25 fighter jet was shot down by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet, killing its pilot. Turkey denies the allegation. (BBC)
  - Five more Azerbaijani civilians are killed during Armenian fire in the country, bringing the death toll among Azeri civilians to 12. At least 35 others are wounded. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan
- September 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - A roadside bomb targeting a civilian bus kills at least 14 people, including five children, in Kajran district, Daykundi Province. Daykundi is considered one of the safest places in the country; this is the second attack in Daykundi this year. (TOLOnews)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Netherlands reports 3,011 new cases in the past 24 hours, a daily record since the beginning of the pandemic, as the country imposes new measures to combat a second wave of infections, according to data published by the National Institute for Health (RIVM). (Reuters via Yahoo News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - 7,143 new cases are reported in the United Kingdom in the last 24 hours, the highest single day of reported cases ever since the beginning of the outbreak. Meanwhile, 71 COVID-19-related deaths are reported at the same time, the highest level since July 1. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - M. Venkaiah Naidu, the vice-president of India, tests positive for COVID-19. He is asymptomatic and quarantined at home. (The Hindu)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Results from Phase I trials find that the vaccine candidate from Moderna works well with older adults. (USA Today)
- The worldwide death toll from COVID-19 exceeds one million. The United States remains the largest contributor, accounting for 21% of the total deaths. (BBC)
Animal welfare and rights in France
- French Minister of Ecology Barbara Pompili announces that mink farms and the use of wild animals in circuses will be phased out, and the breeding and importing of dolphins and killer whales at marine parks are banned effective immediately. (The Independent)

Law and crime

Capital punishment in China
- A court in China sentences a woman to death for poisoning 25 kindergarten children with nitrite in their porridge, killing one. The court said the motives of the woman were "despicable" and "vicious". (CNN)
Hathras gang rape case
- A 19-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh died after she was allegedly gang raped by four upper-caste men, sparking outrage in India from opposition parties. The woman was admitted to a hospital in Delhi two weeks ago with several serious injuries. (CNN) (BBC)
Sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- The World Health Organization announces it will launch an investigation into the allegations regarding its officials committing acts of sexual exploitation and abuse while on mission to control the Kivu Ebola outbreak in the Équateur Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AFP via Manila Bulletin)

Politics and elections

Politics of Togo
- Victoire Tomegah Dogbé becomes the first female Prime Minister of Togo. (CNN)
Amnesty International says it has been forced to halt its Indian operations due to "reprisal" from the government. Amnesty said its bank accounts were frozen and it was forced to lay off staff, and suspend all its campaign and research work. (BBC)
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah dies at the age of 91. Crown Prince Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is named his successor. (BBC) (Al Arabiya)

Science and technology

The United Arab Emirates announces that they will send a space exploration vehicle to the Moon in 2024. (The Hill)

September 28, 2020 (Monday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi insurgency
- 2020 Iraq attacks
  - A missile hits a house in Baghdad, close to the airport. The attack leaves at least five people dead, including three children; two children are injured. (National Iraqi News Agency)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - Seventy-one more Artsakh servicemen are killed during the fight, bringing the death toll among the fighters to 87. Two more Azerbaijani civilians are also killed. A passenger bus in Armenia was hit by an Azerbaijani missile, but no casualties are reported. Authorities in Nagorno reports at least 400 Azerbaijani soldiers dead, but the country has not confirmed. (BBC)

Business and economy

Kioxia, the Japanese computer memory manufacturer spun off from Toshiba, postpones its initial public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, citing the volatility of the semiconductor industry caused by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade war between China and the United States. Its initial public offering, which would have launched on October 6, was projected to be Japan's largest for this year. (The Japan Times) (Nikkei Asian Review)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - India surpasses six million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country after the United States to reach that milestone. Meanwhile, 82.5% or more than five million people have recovered.(AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  - The government introduces new nationwide restrictions aimed at tackling the swift spread sweeping across the country, including disallowing fans in professional sports matches and ordering bars and restaurants to close at 22:00 (10:00 p.m.) CEST for the next three weeks. Prime Minister Mark Rutte also advises people to wear face masks when shopping in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, the three cities with the highest rates of infections. (CTV News)

International relations

Foreign relations of the Dominican Republic
- The Dominican Republic's Foreign Ministry fires 781 people in various embassies. (Dominican Today)
Papua conflict, Foreign relations of Indonesia, Foreign relations of Vanuatu
- Indonesia accuses Vanuatu of having an "excessive and unhealthy obsession" about West Papua. The remark comes after Vanuatuan Prime Minister Bob Loughman warned the international community about "human rights violations and abuses" in the region. (RNZ)
Belarus–Russia relations, COVID-19 vaccine
- Russia announces that they have supplied their first batch of their Sputnik V vaccine to Belarus for clinical trails. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis, Trial of Catalonia independence leaders
- The Spanish Supreme Court ratifies a year-and-a-half disqualification sentence to President of the Government of Catalonia Quim Torra. He must abandon the presidency after being accused of disobeying the Central Electoral Bureau. Vice president Pere Aragonès will succeed him ad interim effective September 29. (El Mundo) (Reuters) (BBC)
- Demonstrations take place throughout Catalonia, as well as protests in Barcelona. (El Confidencial) (La Vanguardia)
Corruption in Pakistan
- Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif is arrested amid a corruption scandal. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

Three ministers resign from Bolivia's interim government. One of them, Economic Minister Oscar Ortiz, stated his resignation was in protest of President Jeanine Áñez's decision to sell shares in the state-run electricity company ELFEC close to the upcoming general election. (DW)

Science and technology

Water on Mars
- Scientists in a paper published to Nature Astronomy confirm the existence of four underground saltwater lakes spread out over 75,000 square kilometres (29,000 sq mi) near Mars' south pole. Depending on their salt content, these lakes could be potential holders of life. (Nature)
Discoveries of exoplanets
- CHEOPS announces the observation of WASP-189b, a ultra-Hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits the star HD 133112 (also known as WASP-189) 322-light years away from the Libra constellation. (CNN)

Sports

2020 Stanley Cup playoffs
- 2020 Stanley Cup Finals
  - The Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2004 following their game 6 victory against the Dallas Stars. (USA Today)

September 27, 2020 (Sunday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Mexican drug war
- A mass shooting in Jaral del Progreso, Guanajuato, leaves at least 11 people dead and one injured. (Reuters)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - The Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces clash along the border of the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, formerly known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Several cities in Artsakh, including its capital city of Stepanakert, are under attack. At least 23 people are killed during the battle, of whom 16 are Nagorno-Karabakh servicemen, five Azerbaijani civilians and two Armenian civilians. (BBC)
  - Armenia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh declare martial law and a full mobilization of its Artsakh Defence Army amid an Azerbaijani invasion. Azerbaijani Armed Forces say they have captured six Armenian villages. (The Guardian)
  - In a live televised address to the nation, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declares a general mobilization and orders citizens to "get ready to defend our sacred homeland", following the clashes with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. (The National)
  - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declares martial law, and imposes curfews from 9 pm to 6 am in major cities, including the capital Baku, in response to the clashes between Azeri and Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. (Reuters) (ANI)
  - Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence says advancing Azerbaijani troops have "liberated" the strategic Murovdag mountain peak, which was the scene of a previous battle in 1993, that ended in Armenian victory. (Trend)
Yemeni Civil War
- The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths announces that the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government have agreed to a prisoner swap of 1,081 detainees. The release will include 400 government prisoners and 681 Houthi fighters. (Reuters)

Business and economy

China–United States trade war, Internet censorship in the United States
- The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily blocks U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order banning TikTok from smartphone app stores hours before it was to go into effect, after lawyers representing the app's company ByteDance argued its ban would constitute a form of censorship. (NPR)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announces a plan to lift a nighttime curfew between 9:00 pm to 5:00 am (AEST) local time in Melbourne and ease many restrictions across Victoria, including returning pupils to school and relaxing restrictions on outdoor gatherings effective tomorrow. However, the state introduces a fine of almost $5,000 for those violating any gathering rules. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  - The number of daily new cases in the Netherlands hits a record 2,995 cases in the past 24 hours, according to data from health ministry. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2020 Belarusian protests
- Police carry out mass arrests as thousands of people gather for new protests; more than 50 protesters are arrested. (BBC)
2020 Swiss referendums
- Swiss voters reject the proposal, from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, to end an accord with the European Union that allows free movement of people. (BBC)

Politics and elections

Tax returns of Donald Trump
- The New York Times reports that it has obtained more than two decades of tax-return data for Donald Trump and his business enterprises, including The Trump Organization. The documents show that Trump paid no federal income tax in 11 of the last 15 years, and paid just $750 in income taxes in 2016, and $750 in 2017. (BBC)

Sports

2020 NBA playoffs
- The Miami Heat will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals following their 125-113 victory against the Boston Celtics in game 6. (Washington Post)

September 26, 2020 (Saturday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- History of the Syrian Civil War (2020–present)
  - A car bombing kills at least seven people and injures another ten in Ras al-Ayn, al-Hasakah Governorate. (Arab News)
Islamic terrorism in Europe, terrorism in France
- The suspect in the stabbing attack yesterday outside the former headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris is identified as Ali H., an 18-year-old Pakistan-born man. He confessed to his actions and said he acted in vengeance for the magazine's Muhammad caricature republications earlier this year. (LCI) (BBC)
Boko Haram insurgency
- Eleven people are killed and 13 others injured after Boko Haram militants attack a security convoy taking people displaced by an insurgency back to their homes in Borno State, Nigeria. (Reuters)
Security forces kill at least nine insurgents in Lebanon during operations against Islamic State-linked militants that killed four security forces earlier this month and three civilians in August. Three security forces are also injured in this incident. (Arab News)
Militants open fire on an army checkpoint in Araman, Lebanon, killing two members of the security forces. A militant is also killed in the attack. It is the third of a spate of attacks by Islamic State-linked militants in the country since August. (Reuters)
Militants kill at least 15 people in Ethiopia's western Benishangul-Gumuz Region. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
      - Scotland reports 714 new cases, the biggest single-day jump on record since the pandemic began. It amounts to 11.5% of newly-tested individuals, the highest proportion of positivity rate tests. (STV)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
      - Northern Ireland reports 319 new cases in the past 24 hours, setting a new record for the second consecutive day. The previous record was reported yesterday with 273 cases. (The Belfast Telegraph)

Politics

2020 United States racial unrest, George Floyd protests in Portland
- Governor of Oregon Kate Brown declares a weekend state of emergency for Portland, saying white supremacist groups are travelling from out of state to attend an event the Proud Boys allege to be organized to "end domestic terrorism." Thousands of supporters are expected as police prepare for clashes in a city that has become the center of sometimes deadly political violence in the run-up to the November 3 election. (CBC)

September 25, 2020 (Friday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Islamic terrorism in Europe
- A knife attack outside the former headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France, leaves two people wounded. The building is now used by a television production company, and the two wounded victims are workers of the company. The suspected perpetrator and six other people are taken into custody. The interior minister Gérald Darmanin says that the stabbing is an Islamic extremist terror attack. (BBC)
Boko Haram insurgency
- Fifteen security personnel are killed when Boko Haram ambush a convoy of vehicles in which government officials were driven in Borno State, Nigeria. (Xinhua)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Chuhuiv An-26 crash
- A military plane carrying cadets from Kharkiv Air Force University during a training flight crashes in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, killing 26 people and wounding another person. (BBC)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
      - The Ontario government is implementing a number of new province-wide restrictions and public health measures aimed at curbing a surge in new cases. Under these rules, bars and restaurants, including nightclubs, are ordered to close at 11:00 p.m. local time and all strip clubs will be closed until further notice. The orders take effect at 12:01 a.m. local time tomorrow. (CBC)
    - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces that the country has signed a deal with AstraZeneca to buy up to 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine. (Business Recorder)
    - The number of cases in Canada exceeds 150,000. (Sify.com)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - The United States surpasses seven million cases of COVID-19. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - France surpasses 500,000 cases of COVID-19. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - Portugal reports 899 new daily cases, bringing the cumulative total to 72,055 confirmed cases and 1,936 deaths. Ever since the end of national lockdown in May, this has been the sixth time that the country has registered some record increases in new cases, with all six records occurring during the month of September. (DGS)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia reports 7,212 cases, their highest since June 23. (Deccan Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - The number of new cases in Indonesia surges by 4,823 in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide total to 266,845, a new record for the third consecutive day, while at the same time, the number of recovered patients also rises by a record 4,343, exceeding 196,000. (detikNews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
    - Israel tightens restrictions one week after a second lockdown came into effect. Effective this afternoon, all businesses not officially considered essential are ordered closed for the next two weeks, with the possibility of being extended, and travel is restricted to 1 kilometer from people's homes. Other planned rules which would affect protesters and synagogue-goers are not yet approved by parliament. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - The number of deaths in Brazil exceeds 140,000. (The Rio Times)

International relations

North Korea–South Korea relations
- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issues an apology to South Korea over the "unfortunate" shooting death of a South Korean official in disputed border waters on Tuesday. (AP)

Law and crime

Juneteenth
- At a campaign rally, United States President Donald Trump is set to make a speech in Atlanta, Georgia, advocating to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. (Fox News)
Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism
- The Dominican Republic assumes the presidency of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE). (Dominican Today)
2019–20 Hong Kong protests
- Police in Hong Kong ban a rally planned by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) to protest the arrest of 12 Hong Kong citizens on grounds of COVID-19 prevention and "violent acts". The organization said they would appeal the decision. (Hong Kong Free Press)
Thousands of protesters, predominantly farmers, block roads and railways in India to protest legislation that would remove government-guaranteed grain prices which are paid to farmers who sell their produce to the government. (Reuters)
Turkey orders the arrest of 82 individuals, including members of the Peoples' Democratic Party, over the violent protests against the inaction of the Turkish Armed Forces in the Siege of Kobanî in 2014. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2020 United States presidential election
- Google and YouTube announce that after the polls close on November 3 for the Presidential election, they will stop allowing political ads even if there is confusion or civil unrest while votes are counted. (NBC News)
Death and funeral of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in state in the United States Capitol Building. She is both the first woman and the first Jewish American to receive such an honor. (CNN)

Sports

2020 Major League Baseball season
- The Miami Marlins advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2003 after their 4-3 win against the New York Yankees. (CBS Sports) (ESPN)

September 24, 2020 (Thursday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- September 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - Five people of the same family, including two children, are killed during an ambush by suspected Taliban members in Patawak village, Darayim District, Badakshan Province. (TOLOnews)

Business and economics

German vehicle company BMW is fined $18 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve allegations that it inflated sales figures between 2015 and 2019. The fine amounts to less than 0.3% of the company's yearly income. (AP)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - French health authorities report a new record of 16,096 daily cases in the last 24 hours, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. The new record comes a day after the government announced new restrictions on bars and restaurants in major cities, including Marseille and Paris, provoking an outcry from local politicians and business owners. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - The government announces a plan to elevate Donegal to Level 3 out of a five-alert level alongside Dublin effective midnight tommorow, which means that authorities will tighten restrictions due to an increase in cases; restrictions include a ban on indoor restaurant dining and an advisory for people not to travel outside the county. The measure will remain in place for three weeks until October 16. (The Irish Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - The United Kingdom sees new cases rise by 6,634 in the last 24 hours, the highest figure ever reported by the Department for Health and Social Care since the beginning of the outbreak. The new record tally brings the total number of cases reported in the country to 416,363. (The Independent)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
  - Indonesia reports a record jump of 4,634 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide total at 262,022, while the death toll from the virus surpasses 10,000. The number of daily cases is the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. (detikHealth)

Law and crime

Claremont serial killings
- Bradley Robert Edwards is found guilty of the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon in Perth, Western Australia, in 1996 and 1997, respectively. He is found not guilty of the murder of Sarah Spiers in 1996, and her body has never been found. Edwards is slated to be sentenced on December 23. (9NEWS)
Internet censorship in Thailand
- The Thai Ministry of Digital Economy and Society files legal complaints against Facebook and Twitter for ignoring requests to take down content, such as those that criticize the royal family. (Reuters)
Hong Kong police arrest veteran activist of the League of Social Democrats Koo Sze-yiu [zh] and Joshua Wong of the defunct Demosisto for violating the anti-mask policy in place under previous year's protests. Other pro-democracy activists condemn the arrests. (The New York Times)