Portal:Current events/2021 March 4

March 4, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Tigray War
- The United Nations calls on Ethiopia to grant them access to the Tigray region to investigate reports of mass murders and sexual violence that may amount to war crimes. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin, Italy announces that for the second time, the Shroud of Turin will be exposed for veneration on social media and websites on Holy Saturday, April 3. (Catholic News Agency)

Disasters and accidents

2021 TAF AS532 crash
- An army helicopter crashes in Bitlis, Turkey, killing 11 military personnel and injuring two others. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - The Robert Koch Institute's Standing Committee on Vaccination officially approves the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged over 65. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - The government orders all schools and non-essential shops in Hungary to close from March 8 until March 22 (for non-essential shops) and April 7 (for schools) due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections. (Swiss Info)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
    - Prime Minister Robert Abela announces that the government will limit indoor gatherings to four households and will ban mass gatherings other than weddings and religious activities beginning tomorrow due to a record increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The government will also restrict the operation of restaurants and snack bars to only offer takeaway services. (Times of Malta)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine, Lineage B.1.1.7
    - Ukraine reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom in two people from Ivano-Frankivsk. (UNIAN)
  - European Commission–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dispute, COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy invokes the European Union powers to block shipment of 250,700 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia amid escalations between the bloc and AstraZeneca. The European Commission endorses the move. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Prime Minister Hun Sen receives a dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied by the COVAX initiative. (The Washington Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait
    - Kuwait's Cabinet decides to impose a curfew from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time for the next month but will allow salons, gyms, and other commercial activities to reopen on March 7 subject to operating restrictions. (Gulf News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
    - The Philippines receives its first shipment of 487,200 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine supplied by the COVAX initiative. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lanka's National Medicines Regulatory Authority approves the use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, becoming the second vaccine to be made available for the general public. (The Hindu)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Lesotho
    - Lesotho receives its first shipment of 36,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (SowetanLIVE)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
    - Zimbabwe becomes the first country in Africa to approve India's Covaxin vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech. (Hindustan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in California
    - Nine great apes in San Diego Zoo becomes the first non-human primates to receive an experimental COVID-19 vaccine. (The Los Angeles Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Maine, 501.V2 variant
    - Maine reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa. (WCSH-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
  - Brazil reports a record 1,910 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 259,271. (Business Standard)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- The United States Capitol Police requests that the National Guard remain at the Capitol for 60 days in response to a possible second attack on the building. (ABC News)
Police in Bignona, Senegal, open fire against a group of people demonstrating against the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, killing a protester. (Al Jazeera)
Twenty people are killed and others are feared dead after smugglers intentionally throw 80 migrants overboard during a voyage from Djibouti to Yemen. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

The Troubles, Brexit and the Irish border
- The Loyalist Communities Council and other loyalist groups in Northern Ireland inform Prime Minister Boris Johnson that they are withdrawing support for the Good Friday Agreement in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. (DW)
The Indian government's Income Tax Department raids the residences of the founders of Phantom Films due to allegations of tax evasion. Those being interrogated include Anurag Kashyap, Taapsee Pannu, Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Madhu Mantena. The incident prompts the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance and Rahul Gandhi to support the film stars who are being interrogated, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party is using all the arms of the government to stifle the voices of those who support the Indian farmers' protest. (NDTV) (NDTV²)
Italian Democratic Party secretary Nicola Zingaretti resigns, citing infighting over government posts. (Reuters)
The North Dakota House of Representatives votes to expel State Representative Luke Simons (R) following allegations that he threatened and sexually harassed women going back to 2017, when he first took office. This is the first time that either chamber of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly has passed such a vote. (AP)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, 2021 Pakistan Super League
- Pakistan suspends its Twenty20 cricket competition in the Pakistan Super League after seven players tested positive for COVID-19. (RFI)