Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations, Censorship in Hong Kong Hong Kong's public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong joins mainland China in blocking BBC World News and BBC World Service. (U.S. News and World Report)
Hong Kong's public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong joins mainland China in blocking BBC World News and BBC World Service. (U.S. News and World Report)
Insurgency in the Maghreb A French presidency official and a senior Chadian official announce that Chad will reinforce their troops by 1,000 in order to fight jihadists in the border regions of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. It will be formally announced in a summit on February 15–16. (Reuters)
New York governor Andrew Cuomo announces to extend the operating hours of indoor dining in restaurants in New York City to 11:00 p.m. EST beginning from Valentine's Day as it expands their curfew on restaurants and bars statewide. (WCBS-TV)
The Office for National Statistics says that the economy of the United Kingdom has contracted by a record 9.9% since the pandemic began, but has narrowly avoided a double-dip recession. This is nonetheless estimated to be the largest annual contraction since 1709. (BBC News)
The United Kingdom surpasses four million cases of COVID-19, becoming the fifth country to do so after the United States, India, Brazil, and Russia. (The Independent)
War in Afghanistan 2021 Afghanistan attacks At least four security forces personnel, including a commander, are killed in eastern and southern Afghanistan as clashes with an unidentified terrorist group intensify. Separately, in Kandahar, a Humvee containing explosives detonates, injuring seven police officers. (Reuters)
2021 Afghanistan attacks At least four security forces personnel, including a commander, are killed in eastern and southern Afghanistan as clashes with an unidentified terrorist group intensify. Separately, in Kandahar, a Humvee containing explosives detonates, injuring seven police officers. (Reuters)
Presidency of Joe Biden White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo resigns after making threats towards Politico journalist Tara Palmeri. (BBC News)
Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump The United States Senate votes to acquit former President Donald Trump for the second time when the 57–43 vote in favor of conviction fails to reach the necessary two-thirds majority. Seven Republicans join the entire Democratic caucus in voting for conviction, making it the closest trial vote since the Andrew Johnson impeachment trial of 1868. (The Hill)
The United States Senate votes to acquit former President Donald Trump for the second time when the 57–43 vote in favor of conviction fails to reach the necessary two-thirds majority. Seven Republicans join the entire Democratic caucus in voting for conviction, making it the closest trial vote since the Andrew Johnson impeachment trial of 1868. (The Hill)
At least four security forces personnel, including a commander, are killed in eastern and southern Afghanistan as clashes with an unidentified terrorist group intensify. Separately, in Kandahar, a Humvee containing explosives detonates, injuring seven police officers. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa The cabinet announces that 20 of South Africa's land borders with Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe will reopen on February 15. (TimesLIVE)
Egyptian and American archaeologists discover an ancient mass-production brewery in the ancient Egyptian city of Abydos, likely dating back to the Early Dynastic Period. Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, believes it to be "the oldest high-production brewery in the world". (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The cabinet announces that 20 of South Africa's land borders with Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe will reopen on February 15. (TimesLIVE)
2021 Catalan regional election Catalans head to the polls to elect the new Parliament of Catalonia. (The Washington Post) Pro-independence parties gain a majority of the votes for the first time, though voter participation was the lowest in history. The anti-independence Socialists' Party of Catalonia, led by former national Health Minister Salvador Illa, wins the most seats for a single party. The far-right Vox places fourth and enters Parliament for the first time, winning 11 seats. Citizens, who placed first in the previous election, falls to seventh and loses 30 seats. (The Guardian)
Catalans head to the polls to elect the new Parliament of Catalonia. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics Peru's Foreign Minister Elizabeth Astete resigns amid an uproar over secret vaccination before the country receives one million doses for health workers. (The Washington Post)
Peru's Foreign Minister Elizabeth Astete resigns amid an uproar over secret vaccination before the country receives one million doses for health workers. (The Washington Post)
Chadian President Idriss Déby announces that his government will deploy 1,200 troops to the tripoint of the Burkina Faso–Mali and Burkina Faso–Niger borders. (AFP via France 24)
Insurgency in the Maghreb Operation Barkhane Chadian President Idriss Déby announces that his government will deploy 1,200 troops to the tripoint of the Burkina Faso–Mali and Burkina Faso–Niger borders. (AFP via France 24)
Operation Barkhane Chadian President Idriss Déby announces that his government will deploy 1,200 troops to the tripoint of the Burkina Faso–Mali and Burkina Faso–Niger borders. (AFP via France 24)
Saudi Arabian–Yemeni border conflict The Houthis say that they have struck Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with drones. A Houthi spokesman said on Twitter that the attacks halted operations in the airports for two hours. The Saudi-led coalition says that it intercepted drones heading towards the kingdom but did not confirm the attacks. (Reuters)
Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian–Yemeni border conflict The Houthis say that they have struck Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with drones. A Houthi spokesman said on Twitter that the attacks halted operations in the airports for two hours. The Saudi-led coalition says that it intercepted drones heading towards the kingdom but did not confirm the attacks. (Reuters)
2021 Erbil missile attacks Multiple rockets strike near Erbil International Airport in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, killing a foreign civilian contractor and wounding nine others, including a U.S. service member. (Al Jazeera)
Turkey–United States relations, Operation Claw-Eagle 2 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accuses the United States of supporting "the PKK terrorists", following the killing of 13 Turkish hostages held captive in Kurdistan Region. Turkey also summons the U.S. ambassador David M. Satterfield in response to the killings. (Daily Sabah)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accuses the United States of supporting "the PKK terrorists", following the killing of 13 Turkish hostages held captive in Kurdistan Region. Turkey also summons the U.S. ambassador David M. Satterfield in response to the killings. (Daily Sabah)
Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, January 6 commission House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces that Congress will establish a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. (AP)
Connecticut reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Fairfield County with no known international travel history, which was notified by health officials in New York. (WVIT-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut, 501.V2 variant Connecticut reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Fairfield County with no known international travel history, which was notified by health officials in New York. (WVIT-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in South America COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia Colombia receives their first shipment of 50,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (MedicalXpress)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut, 501.V2 variant Connecticut reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Fairfield County with no known international travel history, which was notified by health officials in New York. (WVIT-TV) COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi, Lineage B.1.1.7 Mississippi reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom. (Daily Journal)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces that Congress will establish a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. (AP)
Multiple rockets strike near Erbil International Airport in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, killing a foreign civilian contractor and wounding nine others, including a U.S. service member. (Al Jazeera)
2016 Philippine presidential election The Electoral Tribunal unanimously dismisses the electoral protest of former Senator Bongbong Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer) (Rappler)
Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol The NAACP and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson file a lawsuit accusing former President Donald Trump, Trump lawyer and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, and far-right groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers of conspiring to incite the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. The lawsuit, citing the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, also accuses the defendants of disrupting the certification of Biden's victory by Congress. (CNBC)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The White House announces that President Joe Biden will extend the foreclosure ban and mortgage forbearance through the end of June as an effort to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (NBC News)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The White House announces that President Joe Biden will extend the foreclosure ban and mortgage forbearance through the end of June as an effort to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (NBC News)
The Electoral Tribunal unanimously dismisses the electoral protest of former Senator Bongbong Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer) (Rappler)
The NAACP and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson file a lawsuit accusing former President Donald Trump, Trump lawyer and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, and far-right groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers of conspiring to incite the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. The lawsuit, citing the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, also accuses the defendants of disrupting the certification of Biden's victory by Congress. (CNBC)
The White House announces that President Joe Biden will extend the foreclosure ban and mortgage forbearance through the end of June as an effort to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (NBC News)
2020–21 North American winter, February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm A winter storm kills at least 23 people and causes power outages for millions of people across the United States. (The New York Post)
A court in Bangladesh sentences five men to death for murdering Avijit Roy, an American-Bangladeshi blogger critical of religious extremism, six years ago. The men belong to the al-Qaeda-inspired group Ansarullah Bangla Team. Another man was sentenced to life in prison. (Al Jazeera)
A tornado in Brunswick County, North Carolina, kills three people and injures ten others. (The Washington Post)
A winter storm kills at least 23 people and causes power outages for millions of people across the United States. (The New York Post)
Aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar The Myanmar Police Force files new charges against ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi for violating COVID-19 regulations, which may allow her to be held indefinitely without trial. (CBS News)
Capital punishment in Bangladesh A court in Bangladesh sentences five men to death for murdering Avijit Roy, an American-Bangladeshi blogger critical of religious extremism, six years ago. The men belong to the al-Qaeda-inspired group Ansarullah Bangla Team. Another man was sentenced to life in prison. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts, 501.V2 variant Massachusetts reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in a woman in her 20s from Middlesex County. (Masslive) COVID-19 pandemic in the Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic begins to inoculate medical workers as part of a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 following the arrival of the first 20,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico Mexico surpasses two million cases of COVID-19. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts, 501.V2 variant Massachusetts reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in a woman in her 20s from Middlesex County. (Masslive)
The Myanmar Police Force files new charges against ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi for violating COVID-19 regulations, which may allow her to be held indefinitely without trial. (CBS News)
Tornadoes of 2021 A tornado in Brunswick County, North Carolina, kills three people and injures ten others. (The Washington Post)
2021 Myanmar protests Protesters in the capital Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and the country's largest city Yangon stage a record number of demonstrations against military junta since February 1 coup. Many of public and private employees and civil servant join demonstrations despite military's warning. (Voice of America)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania Zanzibar's first Vice President, Seif Sharif Hamad, dies from COVID-19. (The Citizen)
Protesters in the capital Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and the country's largest city Yangon stage a record number of demonstrations against military junta since February 1 coup. Many of public and private employees and civil servant join demonstrations despite military's warning. (Voice of America)
Zanzibar's first Vice President, Seif Sharif Hamad, dies from COVID-19. (The Citizen)
COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland, Lineage P.1 Maryland reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a deceased adult aged older than 65 living in Washington metropolitan area, who had international travel. (The Baltimore Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland, Lineage P.1 Maryland reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a deceased adult aged older than 65 living in Washington metropolitan area, who had international travel. (The Baltimore Sun) COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota, Lineage B.1.1.7 North Dakota reports their first case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Grand Forks Herald)
Maryland reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a deceased adult aged older than 65 living in Washington metropolitan area, who had international travel. (The Baltimore Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria Nigeria approves the emergency use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. (Bloomberg) COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe begins its vaccination programme against COVID-19 using China's Sinopharm vaccine. Health minister and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is the first person to receive the vaccine. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe begins its vaccination programme against COVID-19 using China's Sinopharm vaccine. Health minister and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is the first person to receive the vaccine. (Anadolu Agency)
Iran–United States relations, United States sanctions against Iran The Biden administration rescinds the UN sanctions placed on Iran by his predecessor Donald Trump, seen as a potential step towards rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The "snapback" of sanctions had been ignored by the rest of the world. (AP)
The Biden administration rescinds the UN sanctions placed on Iran by his predecessor Donald Trump, seen as a potential step towards rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The "snapback" of sanctions had been ignored by the rest of the world. (AP)
Zimbabwe begins its vaccination programme against COVID-19 using China's Sinopharm vaccine. Health minister and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is the first person to receive the vaccine. (Anadolu Agency)
2020–21 North American winter February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm, 2021 Texas power crisis In Texas, power is restored to millions of homes, but millions of people lack safe drinking water and 325,000 homes and businesses remain without power. (Reuters)
A coalition of technology companies including Facebook, Google, and Amazon, as well as the United States Chamber of Commerce, file a federal lawsuit against the U.S. state of Maryland for passing a gross revenue tax on digital ads by non-media companies. It is the first tax of its kind in the nation. (The Verge)
Alphabet Inc. agrees to begin paying News Corp for news content. News Corp CEO Robert Thomson credits the ACCC's proposed legislation with making the deal possible. (The New York Times)
Brazil surpasses 10 million cases of COVID-19, being the second country to do so after the United States. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Brazil surpasses 10 million cases of COVID-19, being the second country to do so after the United States. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada, 501.V2 variant Nevada reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person who travelled from South Africa to Reno and who later began showing symptoms of COVID-19. (U.S. News and World Report)
COVID-19 pandemic in South America COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Brazil surpasses 10 million cases of COVID-19, being the second country to do so after the United States. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela Venezuela launches a vaccination program against COVID-19 using Sputnik V vaccine starting with frontline health workers. (VOA)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada, 501.V2 variant Nevada reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person who travelled from South Africa to Reno and who later began showing symptoms of COVID-19. (U.S. News and World Report)
February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm, 2021 Texas power crisis In Texas, power is restored to millions of homes, but millions of people lack safe drinking water and 325,000 homes and businesses remain without power. (Reuters)
In Texas, power is restored to millions of homes, but millions of people lack safe drinking water and 325,000 homes and businesses remain without power. (Reuters)
Israel and Syria carry out a Russian-mediated prisoner exchange. An Israeli woman who crossed the border into Syria's Quneitra Governorate and was detained by the Syrian military, is returned in exchange for two Syrian shepherds held by the Israel Defense Forces. (BBC News)
Israel–Syria relations Israel and Syria carry out a Russian-mediated prisoner exchange. An Israeli woman who crossed the border into Syria's Quneitra Governorate and was detained by the Syrian military, is returned in exchange for two Syrian shepherds held by the Israel Defense Forces. (BBC News)
