Disasters and accidents
European migrant crisis
At least 39 people are dead while 165 others are rescued when two boats sink off the coast of Tunisia while trying to reach Lampedusa, Italy. (Al Jazeera)
Health and environment
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 pandemic in North America
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
Governor Mike Dunleavy announces that Alaska will drop its eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine and allow all residents over the age of 16 to receive it, thereby becoming the first state to do so. The state has also led other states in the percentage of its population to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum receives the COVID-19 vaccine. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Lineage P.1
British Columbia reports its first three cases of Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. (Vancouver Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors from March 12, three days sooner than expected, as part of easing of their national lockdown. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia, variants of SARS-CoV-2
The Estonian government approves new measures to lockdown the entire country from March 11 until April 11 due to the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2, which means that non-essential shops will be closed, primary schools will shift to remote learning, and groups of more than two people will be banned. (Eesti Rahvusringhääling)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella receives the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Wanted in Rome)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev confirms that the government will impose a nationwide curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time from tomorrow until March 22, as well as a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travelers from Africa, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (N1)
Sudan begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 beginning with medical workers. (Al Arabiya English)
Tunisia receives its first major shipment of 30,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. (Africanews)
Prime Minister Hun Sen orders a temporary closure of the country's civil institutions and reduces their on-site employees by 90% for at least a week, with the exception of military and health workers due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority approves the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (Bloomberg News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
The Philippines surpasses 600,000 total COVID-19 cases. (ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs)
Brazil reports a record 1,972 new deaths in the past 24 hours amid slow vaccination rollout and overwhelmed hospitals, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 268,370. (France 24)