Cuba reports a record 1,012 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 26,686. (Presna Latina)
Egypt receives its first shipment of 50,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India. (Ahram Online)
Israel agrees to transfer 5,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the Palestinians to immunize frontline medical workers. (BBC News)
Israel reports its first reinfection case of the 501.V2 variant in a 57-year-old man who recently travelled to Turkey and who previously recovered from COVID-19. (Times of Israel)
Lebanon surpasses 300,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Daily Star)
Minister for Primary Education Arie Slob announces that primary schools and daycare centres will reopen on February 8, but secondary schools and after-school clubs will remain closed. (Dutch News)
Nguyễn Phú Trọng is re-elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam for a third five-year term as top leader in Vietnam. (Reuters)
Politics of Vietnam Nguyễn Phú Trọng is re-elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam for a third five-year term as top leader in Vietnam. (Reuters)
Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic Police in Brussels, Belgium announce that they have arrested more than 400 people in order to prevent a banned demonstration against anti-COVID-19 measures. (DW)
South Korea extends its social distancing restrictions for another two weeks amid concern around the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays and an increase in the number of cases. (Bloomberg)
The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in France reaches 27,613, the most since December 1. (Reuters)
Vietnam reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a 25-year-old man from South Africa who travelled to Hanoi on December 19 and tested positive for COVID-19 four days later while in quarantine. (AAP via The West Australian)
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan announces a five-day lockdown in the Perth metropolitan, Peel, and South West regions, beginning at 6:00 p.m. AWST, after a quarantine hotel security guard tests positive for COVID-19, possibly of the B.1.1.7 variant. (9 News)
Andorra stops recognizing Juan Guaidó as the interim President of Venezuela. (Diari d'Andorra)
Venezuelan presidential crisis Andorra stops recognizing Juan Guaidó as the interim President of Venezuela. (Diari d'Andorra)
2021 Boğaziçi University protests A total of 159 people are detained at the protests over the appointment of Melih Bulu as the rector of Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey. (Reuters)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état The military hands over power to Min Aung Hlaing and announces a state of emergency for a year, after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy party. (BBC News)
A total of 159 people are detained at the protests over the appointment of Melih Bulu as the rector of Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey. (Reuters)
Armenia approves the use of the Sputnik V vaccine developed by Russia. (Public Radio of Armenia)
Ballot Measure 110 goes into effect in Oregon, making it the first state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of specified Schedule I and Schedule II drugs. (ABC News)
British Columbia confirms 18 cases of the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom and South Africa. (CBC)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, visits Cameroon this week. He hopes peace and reconciliation can be found in the country, which is struggling amid an armed separatist movement in the Southwest and Northwest regions. (Catholic News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia Armenia approves the use of the Sputnik V vaccine developed by Russia. (Public Radio of Armenia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria Austria announces the easing of its lockdown from February 8, allowing non-essential shops and schools to reopen while toughening border restrictions and implementing a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time. (Vienna.at)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia confirms 18 cases of the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom and South Africa. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia confirms 18 cases of the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom and South Africa. (CBC) COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, 501.V2 variant Ontario reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from the Peel Region with no known travel history. (CP24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Isle of Man The Isle of Man lifts its second "circuit-breaker" lockdown after 20 days without a community case. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy eases its national restrictions by allowing the reopening of bars, restaurants and museums in 16 "Yellow-zone" regions. However, a curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. will remain in place. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Tokyo surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Mainichi)
COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Lithuania reports its first case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a woman from Vilnius who tested positive for COVID-19 in early January. (LRT)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia confirms 18 cases of the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom and South Africa. (CBC) COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, 501.V2 variant Ontario reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from the Peel Region with no known travel history. (CP24) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The United States surpasses 26 million cases of COVID-19. (MarketWatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, 501.V2 variant Ontario reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from the Peel Region with no known travel history. (CP24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Pakistan receives 500,000 doses of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine. (The News)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa South Africa receives one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates Dubai closes all bars and pubs for the entire month of February and limit other activities due to rise of COVID-19 cases across the United Arab Emirates. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The United States surpasses 26 million cases of COVID-19. (MarketWatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnam closes schools in 22 provinces ahead of the Tết holiday and ends a Communist Party congress early following the detection of a new cluster of COVID-19 cases in northern areas. (CNA)
Dubai closes all bars and pubs for the entire month of February and limit other activities due to rise of COVID-19 cases across the United Arab Emirates. (ABC News)
Italy eases its national restrictions by allowing the reopening of bars, restaurants and museums in 16 "Yellow-zone" regions. However, a curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. will remain in place. (France 24)
Lithuania reports its first case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a woman from Vilnius who tested positive for COVID-19 in early January. (LRT)
Ontario reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from the Peel Region with no known travel history. (CP24)
Pakistan receives 500,000 doses of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine. (The News)
South Africa receives one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. (ABC News)
The Isle of Man lifts its second "circuit-breaker" lockdown after 20 days without a community case. (BBC News)
The military hands over power to Min Aung Hlaing and announces a state of emergency for a year, after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy party. (BBC News)
Twelve people are killed when two vessels sink close to a port on Colombia's Pacific coast, in Tumaco. (The Canberra Times)
2021 Italian government crisis President Sergio Mattarella invites former President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi to form a new government following the resignation of Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister. (AFP via RTE)
President Sergio Mattarella invites former President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi to form a new government following the resignation of Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister. (AFP via RTE)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état Burmese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest in the capital Naypyidaw after the military coup that overthrew her government. (Financial Times)
2021 Sunrise, Florida shootout Two FBI agents are killed and three others are wounded during a shootout in Sunrise, Florida, while serving an arrest warrant. The gunman is later found dead. This is the deadliest incident involving FBI agents since 1986. (BBC News) (Orlando Sentinel)
Burmese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest in the capital Naypyidaw after the military coup that overthrew her government. (Financial Times)
Captain Tom, a British Army veteran who served in World War II and who donated to charities during the lockdown, dies from COVID-19 at the age of 100. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in England Captain Tom, a British Army veteran who served in World War II and who donated to charities during the lockdown, dies from COVID-19 at the age of 100. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The Japanese government extends an ongoing state of emergency in 10 prefectures, including Tokyo, which surpassed 100,000 cases yesterday. (UPI)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England Captain Tom, a British Army veteran who served in World War II and who donated to charities during the lockdown, dies from COVID-19 at the age of 100. (The Guardian) COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces a phased return to school for Scotland's youngest children, with nurseries and all primary pupils from P1 to P3 planned to be back in the classroom beginning on February 22. (BBC News)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, American Rescue Plan The United States Senate votes 50–49 to pass a budget resolution that would allow Democrats to pass President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package without support from Republicans. (Business Insider)
The Japanese government extends an ongoing state of emergency in 10 prefectures, including Tokyo, which surpassed 100,000 cases yesterday. (UPI)
Tigray War Three Ethiopian opposition parties say that at least 52,000 civilians have died in Tigray. (Bloomberg)
Two FBI agents are killed and three others are wounded during a shootout in Sunrise, Florida, while serving an arrest warrant. The gunman is later found dead. This is the deadliest incident involving FBI agents since 1986. (BBC News) (Orlando Sentinel)
2020–21 Premier League, Manchester United F.C. 9–0 Southampton F.C. Manchester United defeats Southampton 9–0 to equal the record for the largest winning margin in a Premier League match, equalling that of Leicester City's 0–9 victory against the same team in the previous season and their own 9–0 win against Ipswich Town in 1995. (ABC Australia)
2021 Muskogee shooting Five children and one adult are killed, and another person wounded, during a mass shooting at a home in Muskogee, Oklahoma. A 25-year-old male suspect who had been living with the victims is taken into custody. (Associated Press)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état China blocks a United Nations Security Council statement formally condemning the military coup in Myanmar. (BBC News)
A peer-reviewed result published in the journal The Lancet finds Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to be 91.6% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 infection. It is the third major vaccine candidate to exceed 90% efficacy, along with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. (CBS on MSN)
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announces that he will step down as CEO during the third quarter. Current Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy is expected to replace him. (CNBC)
China blocks a United Nations Security Council statement formally condemning the military coup in Myanmar. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra Andorra surpasses the 10.000 COVID-19 cases. (Diari d'Andorra)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick, Variant of Concern 202012/01 New Brunswick reports its first two cases of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Toronto Star) COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Saskatchewan reports its first two cases of the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the Regina area. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in France The French National Authority for Health approves the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged under 65. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 12,848 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 896,530. (detikHealth)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan, COVID-19 vaccine Kyrgyzstan is expected to receive 504,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in March. (24.kg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 21 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 791. (The Star) Malaysia extends its movement control order in all states and territories except Sarawak until February 18. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico Mexico approves the use of Sputnik V vaccine in the country. (CTV News)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick, Variant of Concern 202012/01 New Brunswick reports its first two cases of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Toronto Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick, Variant of Concern 202012/01 New Brunswick reports its first two cases of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Toronto Star) COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Saskatchewan reports its first two cases of the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the Regina area. (CBC) COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico Mexico approves the use of Sputnik V vaccine in the country. (CTV News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan launches the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in Pakistan, with the first dose of Sinopharm's vaccine administered to a doctor in Islamabad. (DAWN)
