Lebanon receives its first shipment of 28,500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from Belgium. (Arab News)
Northern Cyprus extends its full-scale curfew until February 22 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Anadolu Agency)
The United Arab Emirates surpasses 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Khaleej Times)
Two 11-week-old white tiger cubs that died in Lahore Zoo on January 30 are believed to have died of COVID-19. (Hindustan Times)
Venezuela receives its first shipment of 100,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency Militants of the Islamic State's Central Africa Province raid the town of Ndalya in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 11 civilians and three members of the armed forces. (AFP via Manila Standard)
Guinea declares a new Ebola epidemic after three people died and four others became ill in the country’s southeast. (Al Jazeera)
Kosovans head to the polls to elect the new Assembly of Kosovo. The Vetëvendosje party is expected to gain most seats as it shows on exit polling data. (Voanews) (DW)
Mexico receives a shipment of 870,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from India. (NDTV)
Militants of the Islamic State's Central Africa Province raid the town of Ndalya in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 11 civilians and three members of the armed forces. (AFP via Manila Standard)
New Zealand reports their first community cases of COVID-19 since January 24. The patients are a family from Auckland. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Saudi Arabia extends precautionary measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, which restricts social gatherings to 20 people and suspends all events and parties, for another 20 days. (Anadolu Agency)
Thailand reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person who travelled from Tanzania and undergoes mandatory quarantine. (Bangkok Post)
The Indian state of Maharashtra records 4,097 fresh infections after 39 days of no infections (Hindustan Times)
The number of recovered COVID-19 patients in Pakistan surpasses 500,000. (Gulf News)
2021 NASCAR Cup Series Michael McDowell wins the 63rd running of the Daytona 500. It is McDowell's first career victory in the Cup Series. (NASCAR.com)
At least 37 people are killed by a bus falling off a bridge into a canal in Madhya Pradesh, India. (Al Jazeera)
Australia receives 142,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (ABC Australia)
Australia suspends its quarantine-free travel bubble arrangement with New Zealand after the discovery of three new community cases in Auckland. (BBC News)
Cambodia reports their first three cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom in 28-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman from India and a 23-year-old woman who travelled from China. (Khmer Times)
Colombia receives their first shipment of 50,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (MedicalXpress)
Iran says that it has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it will no longer allow snap inspections of its nuclear facilities as of February 21. The snap inspections were a condition of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. (Reuters)
Iraq announces that they will re-impose a partial lockdown from February 18 until March 8 after reporting their first cases of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Arab News)
Mexico begins the second phase of its vaccination programme for people over the age of 60 against COVID-19 in more than 300 municipalities. (Al Jazeera)
Michael McDowell wins the 63rd running of the Daytona 500. It is McDowell's first career victory in the Cup Series. (NASCAR.com)
Mississippi reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom. (Daily Journal)
New Zealand receives 60,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (Stuff.co.nz)
Nuclear program of Iran Iran says that it has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it will no longer allow snap inspections of its nuclear facilities as of February 21. The snap inspections were a condition of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. (Reuters)
Zimbabwe receives their first shipment of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. (South China Morning Post)
COVID-19 vaccination in Hungary Hungary receives 550,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. (DW)
COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea South Korea signs an agreement with Novavax and Pfizer to secure additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for 23 million people in the second quarter of this year. (Yonhap News Agency)
Hungary receives 550,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. (DW)
India reports their first four cases of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa and one case of the Lineage P.1 variant from Brazil in people who traveled internationally. (NDTV)
Italy's first case of B.1525 variant found in Naples in a person who had recently travelled from a country in Africa. (The Local Italy)
Malaysia extends their movement control order in Selangor, Johor and Penang as well as the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur until March 4 but eases restrictions in other parts of the country. (CNA)
Malta reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (Times of Malta)
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)
Mexico surpasses two million cases of COVID-19. (AP)
Morocco receives its second shipment of 500,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
New Zealand announces that it will withdraw its forces from Afghanistan by May. (Radio New Zealand)
South Korea signs an agreement with Novavax and Pfizer to secure additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for 23 million people in the second quarter of this year. (Yonhap News Agency)
The first batch consisting 80,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrives at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, which is unapproved for general use in South Africa and worldwide. (SABC News)
Astronomers announce the discovery of HD 110082 b, a sub-Neptune exoplanet that is three times larger than Earth and which orbits a relatively young star. (Phys.org)
Denmark reports their first community transmission of the 501.V2 variant. (The Local Denmark)
Discoveries of exoplanets Astronomers announce the discovery of HD 110082 b, a sub-Neptune exoplanet that is three times larger than Earth and which orbits a relatively young star. (Phys.org)
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)
North Dakota reports their first case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Grand Forks Herald)
The British clinical trials ethics body approves the world's first COVID-19 human challenge study, which will begin in the next few weeks. Volunteers aged 18 to 30 will be exposed to the virus in the trial. (BBC News)
The European Commission signs a deal with Moderna to secure additional 300 million doses of the vaccine in the European Union. (DW)
The first shipment of the Sputnik V vaccine donated by Russia arrives in Gaza after Israel allows the shipment of 1,000 vaccines, which was previously blocked. (The Guardian)
Hong Kong grants emergency use authorization to the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine, making it the second vaccine to be approved in the city. (Quartz)
Houthi forces take control of the Marib Dam, al-Balaq, Dahwan, and Athaf mountains, and the Kholan area, among others, as coalition forces retreat. This is the first time since 2015 that the Houthis control Marib Dam, which gives the Houthis fire control of the southern road to Marib. (ISWNews)
Malaysia reports a record 25 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby surpassing 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. (The Star)
Nepal approves the emergency use of the Sinopharm vaccine, which is the second vaccine to be approved in the country. (Deccan Herald)
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)
Nigeria approves the emergency use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. (Bloomberg)
Saudi Arabia's Food and Drug Authority approves the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Gulf News)
Hong Kong receives one million doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine, a day after it was approved for emergency use in the city. (South China Morning Post)
Hong Kong suspends the import of poultry meat and products from bird flu-affected areas in South Korea, Germany and Poland due to spread of highly pathogenic H5N8 in those areas. (The Straits Times)
Idaho reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Southwestern Idaho who previously travelled internationally. (Idaho Statesman)
Ireland reports its first three cases of the Lineage P.1 variant in people who travelled from Brazil. (RTÉ)
Poland reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (TVN24)
The Philippines reports 157 deaths in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total in five months, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 11,829. (ABS-CBN News)
The United States formally rejoins the Paris Agreement, 107 days after it left the climate accord. (The Guardian)
Two policemen are killed by unidentified gunmen at close range in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. (The Indian Express)
2021 Australian Open Naomi Osaka defeats Jennifer Brady in the final to win the Women's Singles. She is the first player to win a fourth Grand Slam singles title since Maria Sharapova at the 2012 French Open. (BBC News)
Kuwait bans entry to all non-Kuwaiti citizens until "further notice", while its citizens returning from abroad must quarantine at a hotel for a week, and then spend a further week in quarantine at home. (Reuters)
Naomi Osaka defeats Jennifer Brady in the final to win the Women's Singles. She is the first player to win a fourth Grand Slam singles title since Maria Sharapova at the 2012 French Open. (BBC News)
Russia reports their first case of human transmission of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu in seven workers at a poultry farm in the southern part of the country. (The Daily Telegraph)
Taiwan grants emergency use authorization for the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Straits Times)
Three people are killed, including the gunman, and two others are wounded during a shooting at a gun store and indoor shooting range in Metairie, Louisiana. (CNN)
Argentina approves the emergency use of Sinopharm's vaccine. (La Tercera)
Ivan Dodig and Filip Polášek win the Men's Doubles by defeating Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury. (Reuters)
Rwanda will allow individual and non-contact outdoor sports activities to resume on February 23 due to a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. (New Times)
Serbia receives their first shipment of 150,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, making it the first country in the Western Balkan region to receive vaccines. (N1)
