Croatia confirms its first case of coronavirus. The patient had stayed in Milan, Italy, from 19 to 21 February, and was hospitalised in Zagreb, Croatia. (The Guardian)
Former Liberal Democrats leader David Steel resigns from the party and announces he will leave the UK House of Lords after a report accused him of “abdicat[ing] his responsibility” when he supported the knighthood of former party whip Cyril Smith, who is accused of child molestation. (The Guardian)
Hundreds of guests are locked down in a hotel in Tenerife, Spain, after a visiting Italian doctor tested positive for the virus. (BBC News)
Iran's deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, tests positive for coronavirus. (CNA)
North East Delhi riots Violent clashes in North East Delhi, India, between Hindu and Muslim protesters over the Citizenship Amendment Act continues leaving 13 people dead and at least 150 injured. (NDTV)
The first case on the peninsula and the fourth in the country is confirmed in Barcelona, Catalonia. The wife of the Italian doctor becomes the fifth infected in Spain. A sixth case is reported in Villarreal. (La Vanguardia)
Turkish-backed rebels recapture the village of Nayrab, west of Saraqib, after days of heavy fighting which has left dozens dead, according to Turkish state media. (Al Jazeera)
Two people from Lombardy, Italy, living in Austria's state of Tyrol, test positive for coronavirus. (The Guardian)
Violent clashes in North East Delhi, India, between Hindu and Muslim protesters over the Citizenship Amendment Act continues leaving 13 people dead and at least 150 injured. (NDTV)
2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis The Spanish and Catalan government meets for the first time after breaking the talks one year ago in the named "Dialogue Board" as a way to solve the constitutional and political crisis between both governments that erupted in 2017. (La Vanguardia)
Syrian civil war, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–present), Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War Turkey's MoD says two Turkish troops were killed in an airstrike in Syria's Idlib Governorate. (Middle East Monitor) Turkey's MoD claims 114 Syrian Army troops were "neutralized" in retaliation. An air defense system, a ZU-23-2 AA gun, an antitank weapon, 3 Tanks, an ammunition vehicle and 2 engineering vehicles were destroyed while 3 tanks were captured. (Akşam)
The Spanish and Catalan government meets for the first time after breaking the talks one year ago in the named "Dialogue Board" as a way to solve the constitutional and political crisis between both governments that erupted in 2017. (La Vanguardia)
102 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 424. Another virus-related death is confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 12. (Sky Tg24)
A 62-year-old man in Seville becomes the first non imported infected case of coronavirus in Spain. (La Vanguardia)
Bob Weighton, aged 111, of Alton, Hampshire, England, is named the oldest living man in the world after the death of Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan at the age of 112. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria In Josefstadt, Vienna, students at Albertgasse high school have been prohibited from leaving the school after one of their instructors was flagged as potentially carrying the virus since he had recently returned from a trip to Northern Italy. (RT)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece confirms its first case in Thessaloniki. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy 102 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 424. Another virus-related death is confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 12. (Sky Tg24)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States In California, San Francisco declares a public emergency. Santa Clara and San Diego counties have made similar declarations. (News AU)
Germany repeals its 2015 ban on advertisements for professional assisted suicide practices, after finding that its prohibition violated the German Constitution. Passive human euthanasia itself has been legal in the republic since 2014. (BBC News)
Greece confirms its first case in Thessaloniki. (Reuters)
In Josefstadt, Vienna, students at Albertgasse high school have been prohibited from leaving the school after one of their instructors was flagged as potentially carrying the virus since he had recently returned from a trip to Northern Italy. (RT)
North East Delhi riots Violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim protesters over the Citizenship Amendment Act continue in North East Delhi, India, leaving 27 people dead and at least 180 injured. (NDTV)
Romania and Georgia report their first cases. (Reuters) (Reuters)
Turkey's MoD claims 114 Syrian Army troops were "neutralized" in retaliation. An air defense system, a ZU-23-2 AA gun, an antitank weapon, 3 Tanks, an ammunition vehicle and 2 engineering vehicles were destroyed while 3 tanks were captured. (Akşam)
Turkey's MoD says two Turkish troops were killed in an airstrike in Syria's Idlib Governorate. (Middle East Monitor)
Violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim protesters over the Citizenship Amendment Act continue in North East Delhi, India, leaving 27 people dead and at least 180 injured. (NDTV)
36 Syrian Army troops and 25 Turkish-backed rebels are killed, bringing the total death toll in Idlib since December to 1,186 opposition fighters and 1,136 Syrian government soldiers. (SOHR)
A cyber attack in Australia forces the cancellation of wool sales across the country. (ABC AU)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Vice President for Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar is infected with the novel coronavirus. (Washington Post)
The decision to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport is found to be unlawful by the Court of Appeal because the British government did not take into account its commitments under the Paris Agreement to combat climate change. (BBC News)
Three Turkish soldiers are killed in Syrian Army attacks in Idlib, bringing the number of Turkish soldiers killed in Syria to 21. (The Jerusalem Post)
Turkey says it has 'neutralized' 1,709 Syrian government elements in Idlib since 10 February 2020 and that it has destroyed 55 tanks, 3 helicopters, 18 armored vehicles, 29 howitzers, 21 military vehicles, 4 Docka anti-aircraft guns, 6 ammunition depots and 7 mortars in the operations. (Anadolu Agency)
236 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 655. Five more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to seventeen. Forty-five people recovered from the disease. (La Repubblica)
A senior Turkish official tells Reuters that Turkey "will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe". (Reuters)
A Turkish sniper kills a Syrian lieutenant colonel in Syria's Tell Abyad countryside. (SOHR)
Airstrikes kill at least 33 Turkish troops and injures 39 others in Jabal Zawiya, Idlib Governorate. (Daily Sabah) (BBC News)
Astronomers discover the largest known explosion ever in the history of the Universe, which occurred in the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster. It replaces MS 0735.6+7421. As space and ground telescopes that study radio emissions improve (which are better than X-ray observations for detecting these), more similar explosions, or "giant radio fossils", may be found. (Phys) (CNN) (Astrophysics via arXiv at Cornell University)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy 236 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 655. Five more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to seventeen. Forty-five people recovered from the disease. (La Repubblica)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States A woman is diagnosed with the coronavirus after a possible person-to-person transmission. It would be the first case of transmission in the United States with no known contacts to overseas cases. (NBC)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic The Dow Jones Industrial Average enters correction territory after plunging 700 points at opening. (USA Today) Markets are on pace for their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. (Market Watch)
European migrant crisis A senior Turkish official tells Reuters that Turkey "will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe". (Reuters)
Greece confirms its second and third cases and cancels all Carnival-related events. (Reuters)
Markets are on pace for their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. (Market Watch)
Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe announces that all junior and high schools will be asked to close from March 2 until their upcoming spring break to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia blocks all foreign pilgrims from entering the country. This block happens just before the Ramadan fasting. (ABC AU)
Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends entry to the kingdom for the Umrah Islamic pilgrimage and visits to al Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina due to fears over the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus. (Reuters)
Syrian opposition groups backed by Turkey recapture the strategic city of Saraqib, lift the siege on four Turkish observation points and cut the M5 highway. (SOHR) (Xinhua)
The Dow Jones Industrial Average enters correction territory after plunging 700 points at opening. (USA Today)
The first case in San Marino is confirmed. (Alta Rimini)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hold talks amid the escalation in Idlib with Syria and Russia. (AP)
Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are blocked in Turkey, while YouTube and WhatsApp are partially restricted. It is understood that the measures are intended to protect details surrounding troop and equipment deployments. (Netblocks)
2020 Guinean legislative election Guinea's president Alpha Condé announces a postponement of both the general election and referendum slated for March 1. A new date isn't given yet. (BBC News)
Guinea's president Alpha Condé announces a postponement of both the general election and referendum slated for March 1. A new date isn't given yet. (BBC News)
A Turkish drone strike kills 11 Syrian government soldiers on the M5 highway near Idlib. (SOHR)
Chinese Olympic Swimmer Sun Yang is banned from swimming for eight years after being found guilty of doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (News AU)
Doping in China Chinese Olympic Swimmer Sun Yang is banned from swimming for eight years after being found guilty of doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (News AU)
Pope Francis, in tandem with IBM and Microsoft, calls for AI technologies that risk violating human rights, such as facial recognition software, to be regulated. (Reuters)
Roman Polanski wins three César Awards, also for best director, for his movie An Officer and a Spy (French: J'accuse). Several women walk out in protest. Les Misérables wins four Césars, one of them for best film. (Reuters) (Variety)
Syrian attacks on Marat al-Nasan leave more Turkish soldiers wounded, some of them seriously. (SOHR)
Syrian civil war, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020), European migrant crisis Nearly 300 migrants including Syrians arrived in Edirne province, Turkey, on the border with Greece in a bid to go to Europe. Another group of migrants arrived on the coast of Ayvacik in Çanakkale, western Turkey, and wanted to go to the Greek island of Lesbos by boats. Turkish officials announced that the security forces will not intervene to prevent the crossing of any migrants, including those from Syria and other countries like Afghanistan and Iran. (France 24) (Daily Sabah)
464 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 888. Four more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 21. (Il Sole 24 Ore)
A meteor explodes over Croatia. The Croatian Astronomical Union say the meteor disintegrated at an altitude of at least 30 kilometers above sea level. The meteor was likely roughly 2 meters across. (Xinhuanet) (The Dubrovnik Times) (JPL)
Belarus, Monaco, Iceland, Azerbaijan, New Zealand, Lithuania, Mexico and Nigeria confirm their first cases of coronavirus. (BNO News)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Italy 464 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 888. Four more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 21. (Il Sole 24 Ore) Belarus, Monaco, Iceland, Azerbaijan, New Zealand, Lithuania, Mexico and Nigeria confirm their first cases of coronavirus. (BNO News) Cyprus closes four of its checkpoints along the border with Northern Cyprus for the first time since 2003 due to coronavirus concerns. The checkpoints are expected to be reopened within a week. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy 464 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 888. Four more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 21. (Il Sole 24 Ore)
Global stock markets have lost US$6 trillion in value over the last six days. (CNBC)
NATO holds an emergency meeting after Turkey formally triggers Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. (Euronews)
Russia deploys two frigates, Admiral Makarov and Admiral Grigorovich, armed with Kalibr cruise missiles to the Eastern Mediterranean off the Syrian coast. (Reuters) (The Moscow Times)
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco temporarily block the Remain-in-Mexico policy. (Fox News)
The Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 800 points at opening, continuing the worst week since the financial crisis of 2007–08. This week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped 13% and 4,000 points. (MSNBC) (NBC News)
The Geneva Motor Show is cancelled due to the Swiss ban on gatherings larger than 1000 people. (Fox News)
The ITB Berlin, the world's largest tourism trade fair, is cancelled after authorities imposed the restriction that each participant would have to prove they are not a risk. (ITB Berlin)
Turkey calls for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Syria. (Yeni Safak)
Turkish MoD states that last night 329 Syrian Army troops were "neutralized" and asserts that five helicopters, 23 tanks, 10 armored vehicles, 23 artillery and howitzers, five ammunition trucks, one SA-17 and one SA-22 air defense systems, three ammunition depots, two inventory depots and one headquarters building belonging to Syria's military were destroyed. (NTV)
