Chinese state media reports that the director of the central Wuhan Wuchang Hospital has died from the virus. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic Chinese state media reports that the director of the central Wuhan Wuchang Hospital has died from the virus. (Reuters) Russia says it will temporarily block Chinese citizens beginning on February 20 from entering its territory as authorities look to stem the spread of the pandemic. (Radio Free Europe)
International sanctions during the Venezuelan crisis The U.S. State Department adds Russian oil company Rosneft Trading S.A. to its financial blacklist for helping facilitate the sale of Venezuelan oil. (ABC News)
Russia says it will temporarily block Chinese citizens beginning on February 20 from entering its territory as authorities look to stem the spread of the pandemic. (Radio Free Europe)
The UNHCHR Michelle Bachelet says she is "horrified" by the deliberate targeting of civilians in the recent offensive in northwestern Syria and accuses the parties involved. (Al Jazeera)
Yukos shareholders v. Russia A Dutch appeal court reinstates order for Russia to pay $50 billion over Yukos. (NBC)
Second Libyan Civil War Ceasefire talks between the Tobruk-led government and the GNA are suspended as rocket attacks bombard Tripoli. (BBC News)
Ceasefire talks between the Tobruk-led government and the GNA are suspended as rocket attacks bombard Tripoli. (BBC News)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calls a Turkish intervention in Syria's Idlib Governorate "imminent" after talks with Russia fail to reach what he describes as their "desired result". Erdoğan threatens to launch an operation in Idlib by the end of the month. Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov calls Turkish involvement in the battle "the worst scenario". The countries support opposing sides in the war. (Al Jazeera)
2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries A recanvass of the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses show Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg at an effective tie, with a margin of 0.0004 percentage points of state delegate equivalents between the two candidates. The Sanders campaign has requested a recount, which may change the initial outcome of the caucus. (AP)
A mother and her three children are killed in a car fire in Brisbane, Australia, in a targeted familicide carjacking by former New Zealand Warriors player Rowan Baxter. He was the ex-husband of the woman and father of the children, and he committed suicide at the scene. (News.com.au)
China expels three journalists of The Wall Street Journal over an opinion piece called "China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia" that was deemed racist. The government demanded the newspaper apologize, which it declined. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang says the journalists have five days to leave the country and says the article "denigrated" China's efforts to combat the virus. (BBC News)
Corruption in Mexico, Operation Car Wash Mexican law enforcement launches a corruption inquiry into former President Enrique Peña Nieto, as part of a larger investigation into bribery and money laundering by former Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin involving Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports its first two cases of the virus. Hours later, it was announced both infected people have died. (Times of Israel) (Al Jazerra) COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The Tokyo Marathon reduces the number of runners from 38,000 to an elite group of 200 due to the rising coronavirus fear. (NOJ) Hundreds of passengers aboard the Diamond Princess are allowed to disembark the ship. The vessel has been quarantined since docking in Yokohama on 4 February. Criticism mounts against the Japanese government's handling of the quarantine. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The Tokyo Marathon reduces the number of runners from 38,000 to an elite group of 200 due to the rising coronavirus fear. (NOJ) Hundreds of passengers aboard the Diamond Princess are allowed to disembark the ship. The vessel has been quarantined since docking in Yokohama on 4 February. Criticism mounts against the Japanese government's handling of the quarantine. (Reuters)
Hanau shootings Nine people are killed and five others injured in two mass shootings at shisha bars in Hanau, Hesse, Germany. The attacker also kills his mother and then himself in their apartment. He expressed far-right views in a letter of confession and video. (The Guardian) Twelve Somali soldiers are killed when a suicide bomber and gunmen storm a military base in Lower Shabelle. The militants briefly capture the base before it is reclaimed. Al-Shabaab claim responsibility. (Reuters)
Hundreds of passengers aboard the Diamond Princess are allowed to disembark the ship. The vessel has been quarantined since docking in Yokohama on 4 February. Criticism mounts against the Japanese government's handling of the quarantine. (Reuters)
Mexican law enforcement launches a corruption inquiry into former President Enrique Peña Nieto, as part of a larger investigation into bribery and money laundering by former Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin involving Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht. (Reuters)
Murder of Hannah Clarke A mother and her three children are killed in a car fire in Brisbane, Australia, in a targeted familicide carjacking by former New Zealand Warriors player Rowan Baxter. He was the ex-husband of the woman and father of the children, and he committed suicide at the scene. (News.com.au)
Nine people are killed and five others injured in two mass shootings at shisha bars in Hanau, Hesse, Germany. The attacker also kills his mother and then himself in their apartment. He expressed far-right views in a letter of confession and video. (The Guardian)
The Dominican Republic government fires 139 Foreign Ministry officials. (Dominican Today)
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) A convoy carrying Yemeni Defense Minister Mohammed Ali Al-Maqdashi in Ma'rib Governorate strikes a landmine, killing six people. The Defense Minister survives the blast. (Anadolu Agency)
A convoy carrying Yemeni Defense Minister Mohammed Ali Al-Maqdashi in Ma'rib Governorate strikes a landmine, killing six people. The Defense Minister survives the blast. (Anadolu Agency)
A recanvass of the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses show Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg at an effective tie, with a margin of 0.0004 percentage points of state delegate equivalents between the two candidates. The Sanders campaign has requested a recount, which may change the initial outcome of the caucus. (AP)
Aftermath of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says that high-ranking Malaysian officials believed pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah deliberately downed the plane. (Fox News)
Brazilian Senator Cid Gomes is shot during a clash with striking military police officers in Sobral, Ceará. (AP via Yahoo News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports its first two cases of the virus. Hours later, it was announced both infected people have died. (Times of Israel) (Al Jazerra)
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says that high-ranking Malaysian officials believed pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah deliberately downed the plane. (Fox News)
Iran reports its first two cases of the virus. Hours later, it was announced both infected people have died. (Times of Israel) (Al Jazerra)
The Tokyo Marathon reduces the number of runners from 38,000 to an elite group of 200 due to the rising coronavirus fear. (NOJ)
Twelve Somali soldiers are killed when a suicide bomber and gunmen storm a military base in Lower Shabelle. The militants briefly capture the base before it is reclaimed. Al-Shabaab claim responsibility. (Reuters)
Aftermath of the 2020 Irish general election The 33rd Dáil Éireann meets for the election of the Taoiseach (head of government) and Ceann Comhairle (speaker of parliament). Seán Ó Fearghaíl of Fianna Fáil is re-elected as Ceann Comhairle. No candidate for Taoiseach attains the 80 votes required to form a government. The Dáil adjourns until March 5. (RTÉ) Incumbent Taoiseach Leo Varadkar offers his resignation to President Michael D. Higgins, but will remain as Taoiseach in a caretaker capacity until the formation of a new government. (Sky News)
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar agree to form a unity government by Saturday, in a major step to end the South Sudanese Civil War. (Al Jazeera)
The 33rd Dáil Éireann meets for the election of the Taoiseach (head of government) and Ceann Comhairle (speaker of parliament).
Incumbent Taoiseach Leo Varadkar offers his resignation to President Michael D. Higgins, but will remain as Taoiseach in a caretaker capacity until the formation of a new government. (Sky News)
2020 Dominican Republic municipal elections Protests happen in major Dominican Republic cities over the election problems. (Dominican Today) Col. Ramón A. Guzmán and Claro telecom technician Manuel Antonio Regalado were arrested for the election sabotage. (Dominican Today)
Col. Ramón A. Guzmán and Claro telecom technician Manuel Antonio Regalado were arrested for the election sabotage. (Dominican Today)
Protests happen in major Dominican Republic cities over the election problems. (Dominican Today)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl of Fianna Fáil is re-elected as Ceann Comhairle. No candidate for Taoiseach attains the 80 votes required to form a government. The Dáil adjourns until March 5. (RTÉ)
The California State Legislature unanimously passes a resolution apologizing for the state's role in interning Japanese-Americans during World War II. (The Guardian)
Turkish-backed rebels launch an offensive in the Idlib Governorate against government forces. A Russian air strike kills two Turkish soldiers and injures five others, while Turkey says a retaliatory strike killed 50 Syrian troops. Several tanks and armoured personnel carriers are destroyed near the village of Nayrab. (News AU) (Al Jazeera)
2020 Wallan derailment A XPT train derails in Victoria, Australia, killing two people. (The Guardian)
A 200-car pileup in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada, kills two people and injures 69 others. (News AU)
A XPT train derails in Victoria, Australia, killing two people. (The Guardian)
An 18th-century Ethiopian ceremonial crown, one of the 20 in existence, is returned to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. It was discovered in the Netherlands in 1998, and was held by Dutch authorities until now so it could be returned when the country was more politically stable. (BBC News)
Australia extends its ban on travel from China for the fourth week in a row. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports its first death from COVID-19. (Sputnik) Two Japanese passengers who were on board of the Diamond Princess cruise ship have died from the disease. Both, a man and a woman in their 80s, had underlying health conditions. (BBC News) Australia extends its ban on travel from China for the fourth week in a row. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports its first death from COVID-19. (Sputnik)
Morgan Stanley purchases electronic trading firm E-Trade for US$13 billion, in the largest banking deal since the 2008 financial crisis. (The Guardian)
New Mexican Attorney General Hector Balderas sues Google for allegedly collecting private information of the state's schoolchildren without parental consent. (Reuters)
South Korea reports its first death from COVID-19. (Sputnik)
The Guardian reveals that Australian ambassador to Myanmar Andrea Faulkner met with Commander-in-chief of the Burmese Armed Forces Min Aung Hlaing last month to discuss improving relations between the two nations and possibly training Hlaing's officers in Australia, among others. Human Rights Watch criticized this meeting as enabling Hlaing's genocide against the Rohingya. (The Guardian)
Turkey formally requests the deployment of Patriot surface-to-air missile systems by its NATO ally United States on the Syria–Turkey border to deter Syrian and Russian air strikes on its troops. (The Telegraph) (Al Masdar News)
Two Japanese passengers who were on board of the Diamond Princess cruise ship have died from the disease. Both, a man and a woman in their 80s, had underlying health conditions. (BBC News)
Weeks after the First Lady of Lesotho Maesiah Thabane was arrested and charged with the killing of former First Lady Lipolelo Thabane, it is announced that current Prime Minister of Lesotho Tom Thabane will also be charged with the murder in the upcoming hours. He also announced he will be stepping down at the end of July citing old age. (Reuters)
2020 Iranian legislative election Parliamentary elections are being held in Iran. The election is criticized for the barring of around 9,000 candidates, thus raising the concerns of an unusual low voter turnout. (DW) (The Guardian)
Parliamentary elections are being held in Iran. The election is criticized for the barring of around 9,000 candidates, thus raising the concerns of an unusual low voter turnout. (DW) (The Guardian)
A 64-year-old woman was killed after being attacked by a man with a hammer in Toronto, Canada. The victim was chosen at random. The attacker left a note on the victim's body, expressing support for terrorism. He was arrested and charged with terrorism offences. (Canada.com)
India and Pakistan have engaged in a military confrontation across the de facto border in Kashmir; Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged fire near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir. One Pakistani soldier died in the exchange of fire. (Hindustan Times)
Kashmir conflict India and Pakistan have engaged in a military confrontation across the de facto border in Kashmir; Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged fire near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir. One Pakistani soldier died in the exchange of fire. (Hindustan Times)
Prime Minister of Lesotho Tom Thabane fails to appear in court for the murder of his former wife, and his son says he has traveled to South Africa to see a doctor. Police warn that if he does not return, they will issue an arrest warrant. (Reuters) (Independent Online)
The Constitutional Court of Thailand orders the Future Forward Party to be dissolved. (ABC News)
The major opposition party PRM asked for protection for its presidential security chief. (Dominican Today)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Afghan peace process A seven-day "reduction of violence" between United States troops, Afghan troops, and the Taliban is due to start at midnight local time (19:30 UTC). If the partial truce is successful, a US–Taliban agreement on withdrawing American troops would be signed on February 29. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy confirms 18 more coronavirus cases in the country, bringing the confirmed cases to twenty-one. All eighteen are Italian citizens. (Corriere della Sera) COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy Eleven municipalities of the province of Lodi are put on lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, leaving around 50,000 people affected. (Metro) Israel and Lebanon report their first cases of 2019-nCoV coronavirus. (Al Jazeera) North Korea cancels this year's Pyongyang Marathon due to concerns about coronavirus. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy confirms 18 more coronavirus cases in the country, bringing the confirmed cases to twenty-one. All eighteen are Italian citizens. (Corriere della Sera) COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy Eleven municipalities of the province of Lodi are put on lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, leaving around 50,000 people affected. (Metro)
COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy Eleven municipalities of the province of Lodi are put on lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, leaving around 50,000 people affected. (Metro)
Eleven municipalities of the province of Lodi are put on lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, leaving around 50,000 people affected. (Metro)
Israel and Lebanon report their first cases of 2019-nCoV coronavirus. (Al Jazeera)
Italy confirms 18 more coronavirus cases in the country, bringing the confirmed cases to twenty-one. All eighteen are Italian citizens. (Corriere della Sera)
North Korea cancels this year's Pyongyang Marathon due to concerns about coronavirus. (Al Jazeera)
The Protest in Black continues into the fourth day. (Dominican Today)
Wells Fargo is set to pay $3 billion over their 2016 scandal of creating fake accounts in customers' names. (NBC News)
2020 Togolese presidential election Voters in Togo head to the polls to elect the country's president. Incumbent president Faure Gnassingbé, accused of an authoritarian rule, seeks to run for a fourth term which was made possible by a constitutional amendment in 2019. (DW)
2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries Senator Bernie Sanders wins the Nevada Caucus. (CNN)
