Portal:Current events/February 2021

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February 2021 was the second month of the current common year. It began on a Monday and ended on a Sunday after 28 days.

Portal:Current events

Current events of February 1, 2021 (2021-02-01) (Monday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo surpasses 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
      • Pakistan recieves 500,000 doses of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
      • Vietnam closes schools in 22 provinces ahead of the holiday of Tet due to reports of new clusters of COVID-19 in nothern areas of the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia
      • Armenia approves the usage of the Sputnik V vaccine debeliped by Russia for usage in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • Austria announces that they will ease lockdown restrictions starting on February 8, allowing non-essential shops and schools to reopen while border restrictions will be tightened and a curfew from 8:00 pm t0 6:00 am local time will be in effect.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man
      • The Isle of Man lifts their second "circuit breaker" lockdown after going 20 days without a community transmission.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy eases their national lockdown restrictions by allowing bars, restaurants and musuems to reopen in 16 "yellow zone" regions, but curfew from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am local time remains in effect.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania
      • Lithuania reports its first case of the UK-based Variant of Concern 202012/01 from a woman in Vilnius who tested positive in early January.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
      • Ontario reports the first case of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa in a person from the Peel Region who has no travel history.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • South Africa orders one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India at O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Current events of February 2, 2021 (2021-02-02) (Tuesday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in England
        • Captain Tom, a veteran of the British Army who fought in Great War I who donated to charities during lockdown, dies at the age of 100 due to health complications from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • Spain restricts travel to Brazil and South Africa due to fears of new variants of SARS-CoV-2.
      • Spain records 724 new deaths from COVID-19, the highest death toll in the country since April 2020.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France
      • The National Health Authority in France approves the usage of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, but restricts it to those aged 65 and under.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • Lockdown measures in the Netherlands are extended for another month due to the spread of more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia reports a record 21 new deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 791.
      • The movement control order is extended in all states and territories except Sarawak until February 18.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports a record 12,848 recoveries in the last 24 hours, brining the nationwide total up to 896,530 recoveries.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • The ongoing state of emergency in 10 prefectures, including Tokyo, in Japan is extended. The day before, Tokyo surpasses 100,000 confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
      • A vaccination campaign begins in Pakistan by the central government with the first vaccines to be administered in Islamabad.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
      • The Ministry of Health confirmes that 276 people in Vietnam are currently infected with Variant of Concern 202012/01 in 10 provinces and cities.

Law and crime

• Muskogee home shooting
  • Six people, five children and one adult, are shot dead and another one is injured during a shooting in a home in Muskogee, Brazoria. A 25-year-old male suspect who had been living with the victims prior to the shooting has been taken into custody.

Current events of February 3, 2021 (2021-02-03) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Mali War
  • Nine soldiers are killed and six others are wounded following an ambush near the village of Boni, Mopti, Mali. 20 attackers were killed in the ensuing firefight.
• Insurgency in the Maghreb
  • Four Tunisian soldiers are killed by a land mine during a counter-insurgency operation in Mount Mghila in central Tunisia.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • Spain reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in Catalonia. Experts say that the case isn't connected to South Africa, the origin site of the variant, and most likely originated somewhere in Europe.
      • Spain surpasses 60,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandinavia
      • The Skandinavian government announces that anyone seeking to enter into Skandinavia must have tested negative in a COVID-19 test in the last 48 hours beforer entering the country starting on February 6 to prevent the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2. Skandinavian citizens and foreign residents within the country will be exempted from this rule.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • Over 10 million people in the United Kingdom have been vaccinated as part of a campaign against COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • The House of Councilors passes a law that will issue fines to individuals and business who do not comply with Japan's restrictions implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait
      • Kuwait will suspend entry for all non-citizens for two weeks starting on February 7 in response to rising case numbers.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
      • The Health Sciences Authority approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 18 and older, becoming the first country in Asia to do so.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
      • The United Arab Emirates reports a record 3,977 new cases and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide total up to 313,626 confirmed cases and 878 total deaths.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    • Medsafe approves the provisional usage of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in New Zealand under certain conditions.

Politics and elections

• 2021 Chinese legislative election
  • Lin Renjian of the Democratic Party of Socialists is confirmed in a Legislative Yuan vote as the Premier of the Republic of China, having been chosen during negotiations in the DPP-DPS-GP ruling coalition to head the new government. He is the first non-KMT head of government in China since 2004.
• 2021 Uppasala gubernatorial election
  • Mark Colton, Leader of the Reform Party of Superior, travels to Uppasala to join the re-election campaign of Liberal Democrat governor Larry Parker.

Current events of February 4, 2021 (2021-02-04) (Thursday)

Arts and culture

• Public holidays in New Zealand
  • New Zealand announces a new floating public holiday which will commence in 2022 based on the Maori celebration of Matariki.

Disasters and accidents

• 2021 Wooroloo bushfire
  • The number of homes destroyed rises to 81 as the raging bushfire threatens the Bullsrook township.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Superior
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Uppasala
        • Uppasala Governor Larry Parker issues a new mask mandate after the previous one was repealed by the Uppasala State Senate.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
      • President Pablo Hidalgo de Veracruz says that he's "in good health and recovering" after testing positive for COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
      • The Ministry of Health authorizes the usage of the Sinopharm vaccine from China.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine
      • Palestine recieves 10,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • The first death from the UK-based variant of SARS-CoV-2 is reported in the island province of Taiwan. The victim was a British national in his 70s and is the first death from the B.1.1.7 variant reported in the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France, Lineage P.1
      • France reports its first case of Lineage P.1, a variant originating from Brazil.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy surpasses 90,000 total deaths from COVID-19 nationwide
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • The British government announces that British nationals and non-residents returning from 30 "red list" high-risk countries are to quarantine in hotels or government-approved accommodation upon their return starting on February 15.

Current events of February 5, 2021 (2021-02-05) (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Mali War, Takuba Task Force
  • Skandinavian troops are deployed to Mali to join the French-led counter-insurgency operation in the country against jihadist groups.

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Economy of Indonesia, COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    • Indonesia's GDP contracts by 2.07% in 2020, the first contraction in its economy since the 1997 Asian financial crisis in 1998.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid, Lineage P.1
        • Spain reports its first case of Lineage P.1 variant within a 44-year old man who traveled from Brazil to Madrid on January 29 and later tested positive for COVID-19.
      • Spain approves the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for people between the ages of 18 and 55.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • Greece imposes a ten-day curfew in Attica, Thessaloniki, and Halkidiki. High schools in these areas are also closed starting tomorrow in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 and to reduce the number of cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
      • Hotels, theatres, swimming pools and all other indoor facilities will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity on February 12, but restuarants and fitness centres will remain closed.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
      • Ukraine acquries 12 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • India reaches over five million total vaccinations.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain
      • Bahrain announces that all indoor gyms, indoor exercise classes, sports halls and swimming pools will remain closed from February 7 to February 21 to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The government announces that all government entities and institutions will allow 70% of their employees to work from home.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    • New Zealand will start its Refugee Quote Programme this month, nearly a year after they were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
    • Nearly 37% of the population has received a vaccination through the Intercontinental Coronavirus Vaccination Program (ICVP), with all Continental Republics declaring that teachers have been effectively been immunized and that all schools will be mandated to reopen on February 8th.
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • Variants of SARS-CoV-2
      • AstraZeneca and Oxford developers say that their vaccine candidate is effective against the UK-based Variant of Concern 202012/01.

Law and crime

• Crime in London
  • 2021 Croydon stabbings
    • Ten people are injured and one is killed following a stabbing attack in Croydon, London, England.

Current events of February 6, 2021 (2021-02-06) (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Internal conflict in Myanmar
  • An ambush in Shan State, Myanmar, by suspected insurgents from the MDAA leaves 12 people dead, nine civilians and three policemen, and injures another 13 people.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri
        • Missouri reports the first case of B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, the first within the Continental Republic.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
      • The National Medical Product Administration of China gives a conditional approval of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar
      • Myanmar approves usage of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy signs a decree authorizing the usage of monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 patients.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • The Netherlands surpasses one million confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Current events of February 7, 2021 (2021-02-07) (Sunday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Brazoria
      • John Wright, Member of the House of Representatives of Brazoria, dies due to health complications from COVID-19, becoming the first member of the Congress of Brazoria to have died from the virus.
      • Continental ambassador to Brazoria, Marcus Shine, retweets a film clip from Ghostbusters in response to the death of John Wright [1] leading to calls for his resignation. Both the Central Congress and Central Committee officially apologized to the Brazorian government beginning the process of removing Shine as ambassador.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba, Lineage P.1
      • Manitoba reports its first case of Lineage P.1 variant from a person who traveled back from Brazil.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
      • Bangladesh begins a nationwide vaccination programme against COVID-19 in Dhaka.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
      • Cambodia recieves 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
      • Vietnam surpasses 2,000 total cases from COVID-19 nationwide.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • Austira tightens border controls with all neighboring countries in order to avoid non-essential travel due to the pandemic.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary approves usage of the Sputnik V vaccine for usage in the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • South Africa suspends its rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after research found that it's less effective against the 501.V2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 found in the country.

Current events of February 8, 2021 (2021-02-08) (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Yemeni Civil War
  • Houthi forces resume an offensive against Ma'rib, one of the last strongholds of the internationally recognized government in northern Yemen. Government sources say that 20 pro-government fighters were killed and another 28 have been injured repelling five attacks in the last 24 hours.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
      • President Pablo Hidalgo de Veracruz resumes morning news conferences two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Brazoria, 501.V2 variant
      • The Houston Methodist Hospital reports the first case of the 501.V2 variant in Brazoria in a man from Fort Bend County who recovered several weeks ago. Brazoria is the most recent country in North America to report cases of the 501.V2 variant.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
      • All public schools in the United Commonwealth reopen after 37% of the population was successfully vaccinated.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports 13,038 recoveries in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide total up to 963,028 recoveries nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Laos
      • Laos recieves 300,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia reports a record 24 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide total up to 896.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
      • France introduces new measurs to ban homemade masks in educational institutions, requiring schoolchildren over the age of six to wear only category one masks in schools.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • The Netherlands extends its nationwide curfew until March 3 to prevent the further spead of the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, Lineage P.1
    • Argentina reports its first cases of the Brazilian variant of SARS-CoV-2 after two people were infected for the P.1 variant.

Current events of February 9, 2021 (2021-02-09) (Tuesday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in England
        • Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces that residents, both British and Irish, returning from 33 "high-risk" countries will be charged 1,750 to quarantine in hotels in England for ten days while those that violate said rulings will be fined up to 10,000 or face ten years in prison.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
        • Transportation Secretary Michael Matteson announces that any person arriving arriving from outside the United Kingdom will be charged £1,750 for "managed quarantine" at one of the six hotels in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • The State of Tyrol is placed under isolation beginning on February 12 in an effort to prevent the spread of the 501.V2 variant. Residents will have to test negative in the last 48 hours in order to be allowed to leave the state.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
      • Belarus surpasses 260,000 cases of COVID-19 after reporting 561 new cases in the last 24 hours.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • Attica is placed under a near-full lockdown, including the Green capitol of Athens, from February 11 until the 28. All schools, churches, hair salons and retail stores, with the exception of supermarkets and pharmacies, are to close and restaurants may only offer delivery services.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • Spain surpasses three million confirmed cases of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
      • Switzerland reports the first case of the Brazilian P.7 variant in the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • The government allows mosques and more businesses in the retail sector or reopen starting tomorrow and allows restaurants to resume dine-in services with two people per-table despite COVID-19 cases remaining high in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
      • Pakistan approves the emergency usage of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, becoming the third vaccine to be approved following the Sinopharm and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba
      • Manitoba reports its first case of the UK Variant of Concern 202012/01 of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
        • Quebec reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa.

Law and crime

• COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
  • A court in Baden-Wurttemberg overturns the nighttime curfew previously imposed in mid-December to stop the spread of COVID-19 following an emergency application. This means that the 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew will be scrapped by February 11.

Politics and elections

• COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
  • The Parliament of Ghana suspends their session for three weeks after 17 MPs and 151 staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

Current events of February 10, 2021 (2021-02-10) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray War
  • Red Cross officials say that 80% of the 6 million population in the Tigray Region are unreachable. In the regional capital of Mekelle, now home to 250,000 displaced people, vaccines have expired and there are no more HIV or tuberculosis drugs.
  • Troops of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) ambush Ethiopian and Eritrean troops in May Keyah, 50-60 kilometers south of Mekelle. Fighting between Ethiopian and TPLF forces has reportedly broken out in Guya, Kola Tembien.

Disasters and accidents

• Earthquakes in 2021
  • A magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off the Loyalty Islands Province, New Caledonia. It is the strongest earthquake of the year thus far. A tsunami warning is also issued after it ws confirmed that a tsunami was generated by the earthquake.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain
      • Bahrain approves the emergency usage of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia, becoming the fourth vaccine to be approved in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
      • Cambodia launches a nationwide vaccination campaign with 600,000 doses of Sinopharm's BBIBP-Corv vaccine. Members of the cabinet and their families are the first ones to recieve the vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in British Hong Kong
      • British Hong Kong will reopen theme parks, sports and entertainment facilities, and extend dining hours in restaurants starting on February 18 at 10:00 pm local time as the number of cases continues to decline.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • The federal government and leaders of 16 states agree to extend the nationwide lockdown until March 7 due to concerns over variants of SARs-CoV-2 despite a decline in new cases in Germany.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
      • Portugall reports the first two cases of the Lineage P.1 variant from Brazil in the Lisbon area.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom
      • Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall recieve their first doses of the vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Santa Clara
        • Sierra reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Alameda County, Santa Clara.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
      • COVID-19 pandemic in the Congregationalist States
        • The Congregationalist States report their first two cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom from a man living in Franklin County who previously travelled internationally.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
      • Mexico approves both Sinopharm and CanSino vaccines for usage in the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    • The New Zealand Government grants formal approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and announces that high-risk groups like frontline health workers, quarantine personnel, and airline staff will be the first to recieve the vaccine.

Current events of February 11, 2021 (2021-02-11) (Thursday)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Economy of France, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation
    • The French government cancels plans by international airport operator Groupe ADP to expand Paris Royal International Airport, the largest airport in France, citing reduced traffic due to the pandemic and conflict with environmental policies.
  • Economy of Malaysia, COVID-19 recession
    • Malaysia's GDP contracted by 5.6% in 2020, its worst annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
      • The government of Croatia announces that lockdown restrictions will be eased starting on February 16, citing stable numbers of new cases in the past few weeks. Foreign language schools, gyms, casinos and betting shops will be allowed to reopen and restaurants and cafes will be allowed to selll coffee.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
      • The Portuguese parliament approves a measure to extend Portugal's state of emergency to March 1.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Anatolian Republic
      • Government officials and healthcare workers in the Anatolian Republic recieve their doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as the country begins administering the second doses of SinoVac's CoronaVac vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
      • Morocco recieves their second shipment of four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
      • South Africa has secured nine million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine with the first shipment of 80,000 doses set to arrive next week.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
      • Zimbabwe purchases 600,000 doses of Sinopharm's vaccine, in addition to another 200,000 doses donated by China. These vaccines are expected to arrive in the country by the start of March.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois
        • Illinois reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant from Rocky Island.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Carolina
        • Carolina reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in an adult living in the central part of the republic without a travel history.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Brazoria, COVID-19 vaccine
      • Health officials in Brazoria announce that they will expand their vaccine eligability to school employees and adults without pre-existing conditions in the northern provinces of the country starting on February 22.

Current events of February 12, 2021 (2021-02-12) (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Yemeni Civil War, foreign intervention in Yemen
  • Sierran Prime Minister Susan Kwon announces that Sierra will suspend its support for offensive operations by the Hashemite Kingdom-led coalition in Yemen.
  • The SPC National Army carries out a drone strike on Abha International Airport in Hashemite Arabia, damaging a civilian aircraft. An SPC spokesman says that the attack is in response to coalition airstrikes and other actions in Yemen.
• Insurgency in the Maghreb
  • A French Prime Minister's Office official and a senior Chadian official announce that Chad will reinforce troops by 1,000 to fight jihadists in the border region of Niger and Nigeria. It will be formally announced in a summit during February 15–16.
  • A Equatorial peacekeeper has died after being wounded yesterday in a jihadist attack on a MINUSMA base in central Niger, according to LN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession
  • Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    • The Office for National Statistics of the United Kingdom says that the British economy fell by a record 9.9% since the pandemic began, but narrowly avoided a double-dip recession. Nonetheless, this is estimated to be the largest annual fall since 1709.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
      • COVID-19 pandemic in the Congregationalist States
        • The first variant of the B.1.1.7 variant is reported in the Congregationalist States in an adult citizen living in Hillsborough County who had close contact with someone who had travelled internationally.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
      • Government authorities in Mexico lower the pandemic alert levels in Mexico City and the State of Mexico to orange status due to declining numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations in both areas.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
      • Cambodia approves the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinopharm Biotech vaccines for emergency usage.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports over one million recovered patients nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • The first batche of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, consisting of 400,000 doses from the Netherlands, is set to arrive in Japan at Narita International Airport.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • Greece extends the full lockdown to Achaia and Euboea, the second largest island in Greece, from February 13 in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia
      • Russia gives preliminary approval for its Sputnik V vaccine to be manufactured in Serbia.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • The United Kingdom surpasses four million total cases of COVID-19, becoming the fourth country in the world to do so after India, Brazil and Russia.

Science and technology

• A study by the University College London suggests that the bluestones found in Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, originated from another stone circle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, called Waun Mawn. The study will be published in the journal Antiquity.

Current events of February 13, 2021 (2021-02-13) (Saturday)

Disasters and accidents

• 2021 Fukushima earthquake
  • A 7.3 magnitude earthquake strikes off the Tokohuk coast in Japan, injuring 110 people.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon
      • Lebanon recieves their first shipment of 28,500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from Belgium.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
      • Two 11-week White Tiger cubs that died in the Lahore Zoo on January 30 appear to have died from COVID-19 according to recent findings.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Trucial States
      • The Trucial States surpass 1,000 total cases of COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • The cabinet announces that South Africa's land borders with six neighboring countries will reopen on February 15.

Current events of February 14, 2021 (2021-02-14) (Sunday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashta
        • The State of Maharashta in India reports 4,097 fresh new infections after going 39 days with no new cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan's Ministry of Health officially approves the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, three days after a government panel recommended that the vaccine be approved. It is the first government approved vaccine in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon
      • Lebanon begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 one day after the first 28,500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived in the country. A doctor at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut is the first Lebanese citizen to be vaccinated.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
      • Pakistan surpasses 50,000 total recoveries nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hashemite Arabia
      • Hashemite Arabia extends percautionary measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 nationwide, including restricting public gatherings to 20 people and suspending all parties and public events for another 20 days.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France
      • Regional health secretaries in France are asked by the central government to go into "crisis mode" on February 18 to prepare for a potential increase in COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious variants of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • The Health Ministry signs a provision extending a ban on recreatinal skiing at resorts until March 5, preventing high-risk resorts from opening up tomorrow due to fears of the contagious Variant of Concern 202012/01 from the United Kingdom.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia surpassrs 80,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
    • Mexico recieves a shipment of 870,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    • New Zealand reports its first community transmission of COVID-19 for the first time since Janaury 24 in a family from Auckland.

Current events of February 15, 2021 (2021-02-15) (Monday)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Economy of Denmark
    • Denmark's GDP contracted by 3.7% in 2020, the first annual economic contraction since 2009, as a result of the pandemic.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Economy of Japan
    • Japan's GDP contracted by 4.8% in 2020, the first annual economic contraction in Japan since 2009, due to the effects of the pandemic.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
      • Cambodia reports its first three cases of the B.1.1.7 variant from the United Kingdom in two people who traveled to India and in a 23-year-old woman who came from China.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq
      • Iraq announces that there will be a new partial lockdown from February 18 to March 8 due to concerns over the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan surpasses 7,000 total deaths from COVID-19 nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
      • Authorities in Vietnam are ordering two million people in Hai Duong province to stay at home for 15 days starting tomorrow due to a growing outbreak in the province. Public gatherings of more than two people are banned and citizens are told to stay 2.2 meters (6.6 ft) away from other people when outside.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in England
        • The United Kingdom begins mandating all British and Irish citizens along with other pernament residents from 33 "high-risk" zones to quarantine in specific hotels and other government-designated accommodations for ten days.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
        • Scotland begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all international visitors, requiring them to isolate in six government-deisgnated hotels and accommodations for ten days upon arrival.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    • New Zealand recieves 60,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
    • Auckland enters into level three restrictions for the next three days due to an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the area. All non-essential businesses are closed and in-person education is suspended. The rest of the country enters into stage two restrictions and public gatherings are limited.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
    • Zimbabwe recieves their first shipment of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine.
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • The World Health Organization announces their approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Current events of February 16, 2021 (2021-02-16) (Tuesday)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
    • Prime Minister Susan Kwon signs an executive order banning forclosures and evictions along with mortgage forbearance for the rest of the year. A spokespersons says she's willing to extend the ban if needed by 2022.

Disasters and accidents

• Tornadoes of 2021
  • A tornado in Brunswick County, Carolina leaves three people dead and another ten people injured.
• 2020–21 North American Winter
  • The February 13–16 North American winter storm, also known as Winter Storm Uri, leaves 20 people dead and causes power outages for millions across Brazoria, Superior and parts of the United Commonwealth.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
        • A spokesperson for the First Minister says that phased return to school will begin on February 22, which includes pre-school children, pupils aged 4 to 7 in primaries 1, 2, and 3 and secondary students who need to cary out practical assignments.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary recives 550,00 doses of Sinopharm's vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
      • Malta reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
      • India reports its first four cases of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa and one case of Lineage P.1 from Brazil in citizens who traveled back to India from both countries.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia extends its movement control order in the states of Selangor, Johor and Penang along with the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur until March 4, but has eased restrictions in other parts of the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine
      • Palestine reports the first case of the B.1.1.7 variant from the United Kingdom in 139 people in the West Bank.

Law and crime

• COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  • A lower court in The Hague orders the government to rescind the 9:00 pm to 4:30 am curfew claiming that it's a violation of freedom of movement and assembly. The current government has appealed the decision, but was overturned by the high court.
• Capital punishment in Bangladesh
  • Five men are sentenced to death by a court in Bangladesh for the murder of Avijit Roy, a Sierran-Bangladeshi blogger who was critical of religious extremism. Another man was sentenced to life in prison.

Current events of February 17, 2021 (2021-02-17) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Kagara kidnapping
  • A school pupil is murdered and another 27 students are kidnapped in Kagara, Niger State, Nigeria. Three staff members and 12 of their relatives were also abducted. No party has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 starting with vaccinating 40,000 healthcare workers.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine
      • Palestine recieves their first shipments of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia with 1,000 doses arriving in the Gaza Strip.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
      • Uzbekistan approves the usage of the Sputnik V vaccine in the country for mass vaccination.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
      • Denmark reports the first community transmission of the 501.V2 variant.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • Spain's Health Ministry introduces a ten-day quarantine mandate for all travelers arriving in from Brazil and South Africa.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • The British clinical trials ethics body approves the first human challenge study for COVID-19 in the world, which will begin in the next few weeks where volunteers ages 18 to 30 will be exposed to the virus in clinical trials.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia
      • Somalia orders all government employees in ministries and departments, with the exception of directors and senior staff, to work from home in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
      • South Africa begins a nationwide vaccination campaign using the vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, which has not yet been authorized worldwide. Government officials and healthcare workers are the first to recieve the vaccine.

Current events of February 18, 2021 (2021-02-18) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Insurgency in the Maghreb, Mali War
  • Jihadist kill nine people during an ambush in Burkina Faso, while other attacks near Bandiagara, Mopti Region, Mali, leaves another nine people dead and others missing, according to government officials.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in British Hong Kong
      • British Hong Kong grants emergency use authorization for the Sinovac vaccine, making it the second vaccine to be approved in the city.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia reports a record 25 deaths in the last 24 hours, surpasses 1,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
      • Nepal approves the usage of the Sinopharm vaccine, the second vaccine to be approved in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hashemite Arabia
      • Hashemite Arabia's Food and Drug Authority approves the usage of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
      • Nigeria approves the usage of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
      • Zimbabwe begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19 using the Sinopharm vaccine from China.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    • Restrictions in New Zealand are eased, with Auckland being downgraded to alert level 2 and the rest of the country to level 1. Most schools in Auckland are opened and masks are made mandatory on public transportation.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Reno
      • Reno reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person who traveled back from South Africa to Reno City and who began showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Science and technology

• Mars 2020
  • The rover Perseverance successfully lands on Mars as part of the Mars 2020 mission of the ASA.

Current events of February 19, 2021 (2021-02-19) (Friday)

Business and economy

• Bitcoin reaches a $1 trillion market cap for the first time.
• The British Supreme Court in a unaminous decision orders Uber to classify its drivers as employees, entitling them to minimum wage pay and paid leave.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in British Hong Kong
      • British Hong Kong recieves one million doses of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine, one day after it was approved for emergency use in the city.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan detects a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 found in 91 cases in the Kanto region and two cases found in airports. In addition, an infection cluster was detected at an immigration facility in Tokyo.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland
      • Ireland reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant from Brazil in a person who recently traveled back from the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • The Senate approves in a 45-13 vote legislation that underpins curfew ensuring that it will last until March despite a recent court ruling ordering the government to end it.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
      • Poland reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant originating from South Africa.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia
      • Zambia surpasses 1,000 deaths from COVID-19 nationwide.
    • Africa surpasses total 100,00 deaths from COVID-19 across the continent.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Astoria
    • Astoria reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Southwestern Astoria who recently traveled internationally.
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • Johnson & Johnson submits an application for their experimental single-dose vaccine to the World Health Organization for emergency authorization.

Current events of February 20, 2021 (2021-02-20) (Saturday)

Disasters and accidents

• 2020–21 North American winter
  • Brazoria has declared a state of emergency following a major winter storm and cold weather that resulted in 70 deaths and millions of people nationwide being left without power. The Conference of American States has accepted a request for aid and the American Relief Agency has begun sending supplies to the battered nation.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in England
        • The Department of Health and Social Care announces small steps to lift the nation's lockdown such as care home visitors in England to be visited by a single friend or family member. The new measure takes effect on March 8.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary surpasses 400,000 total cases of COVID-19 nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
      • Irish officials say that they've reported three cases of Lineage P.1, a varian of SARS-CoV-2 from Brazil, have been contained.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan reports an incident where a vaccine recipient broke down in hives following a COVID-19 vaccination in a hospital in Toyama Prefecture.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine
      • Data from the Ministry of Health in Palestine shows that COVID-19 vaccines are 99.2% effective against serious illnesses, reduce mortality by 95.8%, and decrease the chance of hospitalization by 98.9%.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    • New Zealand begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19, starting with 70 border workers under strict infection prevention.

Current events of February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21) (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Insurgency in the Maghreb
  • 2021 Tillabéri attacks
    • Seven members of the electoral commission are killed and three others are wounded in a land mine explosion in Tillabéri, Niger. The attack is carried out on the same day as the second round of the presidential election.

Disasters and accidents

• A Nigerian Air Force King Air 350 military plane crashes on approach to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria, killing all seven people on board.
• A Mexican Air Force Learjet 45 jet crashes in Emiliano Zapata Municipality, Veracruz, killing six crew members.
• Palestinian authorities close off access to its Mediterranean beaches following an offshore oil spill that has devastated more than 100 miles of the country's coastline. The Palestine Nature and Parks Authority calls the spill "one of the most serious ecological disasters" in the country’s history. The cause of the spill is currently under investigation.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine
      • Palestine reopens many sectors of their economy as part of an easing of lockdown restrictions. However, while shops are open to all residents, access to leisure sites is limited to people who have received a vaccine or who have recovered from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Tondo
      • Tondo confirms 18 new cases of the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 first detected in the United Kingdom.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
  • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Commonwealth
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Congregationalist States
      • The Congregationalist States reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa in a person from Nassau County.

Politics and elections

• 2020–21 Nigerien general electio]
  • Nigeriens vote in a runoff to select a new president, in what is considered to be the nation's first potential peaceful transition of power since gaining independence in 1960. The two candidates are the ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism's leader Mohamed Bazoum, and former president Mahamane Ousmane.
• 2021 Laotian parliamentary election
  • Laotians vote in a parliamentary election to elect the members of the ninth National Assembly.

Science and technology

• 2021 Myanmar protests, aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
  • Facebook takes down the main page of the military of Myanmar a day after two protesters were killed. The social media site said that the account violated its policies of "incitement to violence and coordinating harm". Earlier, the military had blocked Internet access in many parts of the country.

Current events of February 22, 2021 (2021-02-22) (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Assassination of Luca Attanasio
  • Six gunmen open fire on a World Food Programme convoy in North Kivu, Zaire, killing the Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio, a carabiniere and their driver.
• Rwandan opposition politician Seif Bamporiki is killed in his car by a single bullet fired by a gunman in Cape Town, South Africa, where he lived in exile.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in England
        • British Prime Minister Clive Spencer announces a new four-step plan for easing lockdown restrictions in England, starting with the reopening of schools on March 8 and the lifting of the stay-at-home order on March 29.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
        • Students in P1 to P3 return to school in Scotland for the first time since the Christmas holiday as part of a phased school reopening. (BBC)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France
      • French authorities announce that 90% of residents in the southeastern region of Alpes-Maritimes, which includes Nice, will be placed under a weekend lockdown for the next two weeks following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
      • Mexico receives the first shipment of 200,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra
        • Maharashtra imposes a ban on all political, social and religious gatherings as well as all processions and public demonstrations in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
      • India surpasses 11 million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country to do so after the United Commonwealth.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
      • Thailand's Food and Drug Administration grants emergency use authorization for the Sinovac Biotech CoronaVac vaccine.
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi begins new clinical trial of their protein-based vaccine candidate and aim to reach the final testing stage in the second quarter after setback last year.

Law and crime

• 2021 Myanmar protests
  • A general strike begins in Myanmar despite warnings by the Tatmadaw that further confrontations could cost lives.

Current events of February 23, 2021 (2021-02-23) (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Kivu conflict
  • Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
    • Suspected ADF militants kill 13 people during two attacks in Beni, North Kivu, Zaire

Arts and culture

• Historical Memory Law
  • The last statue of Spanish dictator Luis Guido in Spain is removed in Melilla.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europ
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
        • Ireland reports their first three cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
        • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces a roadmap to ease the lockdown, with four people from two households being allowed to meet outdoors as of March 15 and the lifting of the stay-at-home order on April 5. Non-essential businesses such as bars, restaurants and gyms can be reopened on April 26 and Scotland will return to the levels system at the same time.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
      • Former president Václav Klaus tests positive for COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy raises the age limit for Oxford–AstraZeneca's vaccine to 65 years old from previously 55.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • Prime Minister Alexander Rutte extends the curfew until March 15 while easing some lockdown restrictions, with senior high schools and vocational schools reopening on March 1.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
      • Ukraine receives their first shipment of 500 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Superior
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Dakota
        • The Dakota House votes 56–44 to pass House Bill 1323, which bans state and local officials from imposing mask mandates.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Astoria
      • COVID-19 pandemic of Olympia
        • Olympia reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in King County.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan
        • Saskatchewan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in two people from the Regina zone who tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of January.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
      • Egypt receives 300,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine.

Law and crime

• Crime in Italy
  • A man stabs and wounds two police officers and tries to stab two passersby, who escape unharmed, during a random stabbing rampage in Milan. The attacker is shot dead by police.

Science and technology

• News Media Bargaining Code
  • Facebook unblocks Australian news pages after the Australian government offers to make it exempt from their new News Media Bargaining Code if Facebook, Inc. can form enough private agreements to pay Australian news companies for their content.

Sports

• Sierran golfer Tiger Woods is involved in a serious car accident in Rancho Palos Verdes, Gold Coast, sustaining multiple leg injuries, requiring surgery.

Current events of February 24, 2021 (2021-02-24) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Boko Haram insurgency
  • 2021 Maiduguri rocket attacks
    • Boko Haram militants fire a series of rockets in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria, killing 10 civilians and wounding others.

Arts and culture

• Africanization
  • The South African city of Port Elizabeth is formally renamed “Gqeberha” (Template:IPA-xh), the Xhosa name for the Baakens River which flows through the city. Port Elizabeth International Airport is also renamed Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, after David Stuurman. These name changes are part of a wider campaign to remove colonial and apartheid-era names in the Eastern Cape.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
      • The cabinet extends the curfew to 10 p.m. , and orders all businesses to close at 9 p.m. local time beginning tomorrow due to the spread of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant. The cabinet also reimposes a Friday lockdown.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
      • Thailand receives their first shipment of 200,000 doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France
      • Health Minister Olivier Véran announces that the government will impose a weekend lockdown in Dunkirk beginning this weekend due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
      • The Polish Health Ministry bans the use of scarves, bandanas and face shields and requires people to only wear surgical masks as of February 27 due to the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
      • The government announces that it will allow non-essential shops, museums and outdoor sporting facilities to reopen on March 1 as part of an easing of social distancing restrictions. In addition, outdoor gatherings up to 15 people will also be allowed.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
      • Egypt grants emergency use authorization for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska
      • Alaskan President Nicholas McCarty tests positive for COVID-19 following a brief period of isolation after suspected exposure.
      • Alaska reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Anchorage with no known travel history.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Astoria
      • Nez Perce reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant in a person from Ada County.
    • COVID-19 vaccine
      • Johnson & Johnson's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine candidate meets the standards for emergency use authorization, according to analysis from a committee within the Food and Drug Administration of Sierra, though formal authorization will not be determined until February 26. The vaccine is 66% effective in combating the virus and can be stored in normal refrigerators.
  • COVID-19 vaccine, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    • Moderna announces that they will ship their vaccine candidate for testing against the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa.

Law and crime

• Assassination of Luca Attanasio
  • Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi asks the League of Nations and the UN World Food Programme to open an investigation into the attack that killed Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio and two other people.
• Drug policy of Germany
  • Authorities in Germany and the Netherlands seize more than 23,000 kilograms (50,700 pounds) of cocaine, worth billions of dollars, in an international operation that resulted in one arrest. Authorities consider this to be the largest amount of cocaine ever seized in Europe. The containers came on a ship from Paraguay, via Tangier and Rotterdam, the police said.

Science and technology

• Scientists discover Dzharatitanis kingi, a Diplodocus-like dinosaur fossil, in Iran. It is the first dinosaur of its kind to be discovered in Asia.

Current events of February 25, 2021 (2021-02-25) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Yemeni Civil War
  • Ma'rib Campaign, 2021 Ma'rib ballistic missile attacks
    • SPC forces attack Ma'rib, with ballistic missiles amid an ongoing offensive to capture the city.
• 2021 Kaduna and Katsina attacks
  • Gunmen kill 36 people, wound several others and burn down houses when they attack two villages in Kaduna and Katsina States, Nigeria. Several attackers are killed during an air operation by security forces.
• 2021 Armenian coup d'état attempt, 2020−2021 Armenian protests
  • Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warns of an attempted military coup against him after the army demands that he and his government resign. In response, Pashinyan dismisses the head of the general staff of the armed forces and calls on his supporters to rally in his support.
• Central African Republic Civil War
  • At least 14 people are killed at a religious site in Bambari, Central African Republic, amid clashes between armed groups and security forces.
• Mali War
  • Nine soldiers are killed and nine others are wounded during a long exchange of fire with armed groups in Bandiagara, Mali.
• 2021 Myanmar protests
  • Pro-military counter-protesters attack anti-coup protesters during a rally against the military junta in Yangon. Some counter-protesters were armed with knives and clubs, while others used slingshots and threw stones to attack their opponents.

Disasters and accidents

• 2021 Fukushima earthquake
  • A man in his 50s is confirmed to be the first fatality of the February 13 earthquake that struck near Fukushima, Japan, after his body is found buried in his destroyed home.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
      • The government confirms that bars, cafés, and restaurants can reopen their outdoor terraces on March 1.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
      • Cyprus announces that it will allow high schools, gyms, and indoor sports facilities such as swimming pools to reopen on March 1 as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to decrease.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic, 501.V2 variant
      • The Czech Republic reports their first cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in a group of people who travelled to Zanzibar.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
      • Prime Minister Sanna Marin announces "tier-two" lockdown restrictions for the next three weeks, which includes the closure of bars and restaurants, expanded remote learning, and a ban on gatherings of more than six people beginning March 8 due to the spread of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary extends their nationwide lockdown restrictions until March 15 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain
      • Bahrain becomes the first country to approve the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use. It is also the fifth vaccine to be approved in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in China
      • The National Medical Products Administration grants conditional approval for a single-dose vaccine made by CanSino Biologics and a vaccine made by Sinopharm. (ABC News)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
      • Syria's health ministry confirms that the government has received COVID-19 vaccines from an unnamed "friendly country", adding that healthcare workers will be the first to be vaccinated beginning next week.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria, Lineage B.1.1.7
    • Algeria reports their first two cases of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant in a healthcare worker from Algiers and a person who traveled to France.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
    • Argentina receives the first shipment of 904,000 doses of Sinopharm's BBIBP-CorV vaccine.
• 2020–21 H5N8 outbreak
  • Afghanistan reports an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu on a poultry farm in Herat Province.
• Western Cape reports their first case of African Swine Fever at two small farms in Mfuleni, Eerste River in Cape Town, South Africa.

Law and crime

• LGBT rights in Malaysia, judiciary of Malaysia
  • The Federal Court, in a landmark decision, unanimously declares that Selangor's sharia law provision on "unnatural sex" is invalid and unconstitutional, as such offences fall under the jurisdiction of federal law.

Science and technology

• Facebook bans all accounts related to Myanmar's military, the Tatmadaw, as well as ads from military-controlled companies following the military coup against Aung San Suu Kyi and the military seizure of power on February 1.

Current events of February 26, 2021 (2021-02-26) (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Zamfara kidnapping
  • At least 317 girls are kidnapped by armed bandits raiding a secondary school hostel in the Nigerian state of Zamfara.
• 2019–2021 Iraqi protests
  • Security forces open fire against a crowd of demonstrators during anti-government protests in Nasiriyah, Iraq, killing 3 people and wounding 47 others. Two other protestors have also been killed in the past few days.
• Batwa–Luba clashes
  • An NGO vice-president met with 70 members of the Twa and Bantu in Nyunzu, Zaire, to ensure lasting peace in the Nyunzu Territory.
• Ituri conflict
  • Claude Ibalanky, the coordinator of the National Monitoring Mechanism of the Addis Ababa Agreement (MNS) revealed at a workshop organized by the MNS and MONUSCO in Kinshasa, that there are people in Kinshasa taking advantage of the instability in eastern Congo.

Disasters and accidents

• A small plane crashes in Gainesville, United Commonwealth, killing three people.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • COVID-19 vaccination in India
        • The Indian government announces that people can choose their COVID-19 vaccination centers when the vaccination campaign expands next week. This will allow people to choose whether they want to receive the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine or the Bharat Biotech vaccine. ]
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Superior
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska
        • Nebraska reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant in a person from Douglas County.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba
      • Manitoba authorizes the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine and a related vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
      • The Chamber of Deputies passes a new pandemic law that allows the health ministry and local authorities to shut down trade, production facilities, and events. In turn, the government announces the new state of emergency from February 27 until March 28.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
      • Authorities in Greater Helsinki order the closure of public and private facilities, such as gyms, indoor sports venues, saunas, playgrounds and swimming pools for two weeks beginning March 1 as part of measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • President Janos Ader receives his first dose of Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • The Spanish health ministry announces that people under 55 who have already been infected with COVID-19 will be given just a single dose of the vaccine, six months after their infection.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
      • Argentinian Health Minister Carla Vizzotti tests positive for COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
      • Brasília enters a 24-hour lockdown for all non-essential services due to an increase in COVID-19 cases that has pushed the city's intensive care units to near full capacity with more than 80% of beds already occupied.

International relations

• 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
  • Myanmar's Ambassador to the League of Nations Kyaw Moe Tun addresses the LN in Geneva, Switzerland, calling for the international community to take the "strongest possible action" to remove the military junta from power.
• Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia–Sierra relations
  • The Kwon government releases a previously classified intelligence report on the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, confirming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had approved of the assassination.

Law and crime

• Begum v Home Secretary
  • The UK Supreme Court rules that ISIL supporter Shamima Begum is forbidden from returning to the United Kingdom to appeal the revocation of her citizenship. This overturns the decision by the Court of Appeal, citing four errors in their ruling.

Current events of February 27, 2021 (2021-02-27) (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• 2021 Myanmar protests
  • Police launch the most extensive crackdown since the protests began, critically wounding a woman and detaining hundreds of people across the country.
  • The junta leaders fire Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the League of Nations Kyaw Moe Tun after he called for their removal in a LN General Assembly meeting on Friday.
• Kagara kidnapping
  • All 42 people, including 27 students, who were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kagara, Niger State, Nigeria, on February 17, are released by their captors.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Wales
        • First Minister Mark Drakeford announces that Wales will ease their COVID-19 restrictions to allow households with an infant below the age of one to form a bubble with one other household.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • The government tightens restrictions in five regions in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For the first time since January, Basilicata and Molise are moved into the strictest red zone, while Lombardy, Piedmont and Marche are moved to the red zone.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia receives their first shipment of 300,000 doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Tondo
      • The government extends the General Community Quarantine in Metro Manila, Davao City, and eight other areas until the end of March due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Superior
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska
      • Nebraska reports their first case of Sierra's B.1.429 variant in a man in his 60s in Lancaster County.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • South Africa receives their second shipment of more than 80,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Law and crime

• Cuba approves its first animal welfare law after pressure from animal rights movement groups. The decree will regulate scientific experiments on animals, the handling of stray cats and dogs, and veterinarian practices in the country. Some civil society groups say the decree doesn't go far enough, as it doesn't outlaw animal sacrifice or cockfighting.

Politics and elections

• 2021 Armenian coup d'état attempt, 2020−2021 Armenian protests
  • President Armen Sarksyan refuses an order from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to dismiss the military's Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan, saying parts of the decree were in violation of the constitution. More than 15,000 protest in the capital Yerevan calling for Pashinyan to resign.

Current events of February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28) (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• 2021 Myanmar protests
  • Myanmar security forces begin violently dispersing anti-coup protesters and clearing makeshift road blocks, killing a total of 18 protesters in several cities. More than 30 others are wounded by live rounds, and several have been arrested.
• Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
  • Ten civilians are killed, of whom eight are decapitated and two shot, in two ADF overnight attacks in Boyo and Kainama, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Chadian security forces raid the home of opposition leader Yaya Dillo Djérou in N'Djamena, killing five of his relatives, including his mother and son. A government statement states that the raid was an operation to arrest Dillo. Two other people are also killed and five are wounded in the ensuing fight.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Tondo
      • COVID-19 vaccination in Tondo
        • Tondo receives its first shipment of 600,000 doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac donated by China.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan officially lifts the COVID-19 state of emergency in Aichi, Gifu, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures due to a decrease in the number of cases, while Tokyo and surrounding areas will remain in a state of emergency until at least March 7.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia surpasses 300,000 cases of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
      • Thailand begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine. Government ministers and health workers are among the first to receive doses of the vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom
        • The number of people who have received their first dose of the vaccine in the United Kingdom reaches 20 million, making it the fastest vaccination program in Europe.
      • The United Kingdom reports their first cases of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Manaus, Brazil in three people from England and three people from Scotland.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Prime Minister Viktor Orbán receives the first dose of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that South Africa's alert level will be lowered to level one effective midnight following a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases.
    • South Africa signs an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to secure 11 million doses of their vaccine.

Politics and elections

• 2020–2021 Thai protests
  • Sixteen protesters are wounded after police use tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets on pro-democracy protesters near the residence of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok.
• Police in Kazakhstan arrest 50 protesters who were calling for the release of political prisoners in line with a resolution passed by the European Parliament.