Red Cross officials report that 80% of Tigray's 6 million people are unreachable. In the regional capital of Mekelle, which is now home to 250,000 displaced people, vaccines have expired and there are no longer any HIV or tuberculosis drugs. (Associated Press) (Europe External Programme with Africa)
The China National Space Administration space probe Tianwen-1 enters into planetary orbit around Mars. It is the first Chinese spacecraft to reach Mars. A rover will be deployed to explore the Martian surface sometime in May. (BBC News)
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirms that Iran has carried out its plan to produce uranium metal at a nuclear facility in Isfahan, a major breach of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Uranium metal is essential to making the core of a nuclear weapon. (Reuters)
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by all adults worldwide, including people over age of 65 and recommends an interval of 8 to 12 weeks between the doses. (Financial Times)
Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) forces ambush Ethiopian and Eritrean troops in May Keyah, 50–60 kilometers south of Mekelle. Fighting between the TPLF and Ethiopia is also reported in Guya, Kola Tembien. (Europe External Programme with Africa)
2020 FIFA Club World Cup Bayern Munich defeats Tigres UANL 1–0 in the final to win the FIFA Club World Cup. Robert Lewandowski is awarded the Golden Ball of the tournament. (CNN)
Bayern Munich defeats Tigres UANL 1–0 in the final to win the FIFA Club World Cup. Robert Lewandowski is awarded the Golden Ball of the tournament. (CNN)
Belarus–Russia relations Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expresses his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin as both men face protests. He also criticized the protests in his own country as a "rebellion" during the All Belarusian People's Assembly. (Newsweek)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expresses his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin as both men face protests. He also criticized the protests in his own country as a "rebellion" during the All Belarusian People's Assembly. (Newsweek)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation France's government cancels a plan by international airport operator Groupe ADP to expand Charles de Gaulle Airport, the country's largest airport, citing reduced traffic due to the pandemic and inconsistency with environmental policies. (AFP via RFI)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal The Assembly of the Republic votes to extend its state of emergency, allowing the government to extend its second lockdown until March 1. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia The government announces that starting from February 15, all retail stores will be allowed to reopen and customers will no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 testing result to enter. Schools and universities will also be allowed to resume their classes. Also, skiers will now be allowed to present negative test results from the past seven days instead of just the past 24 hours. (Total Slovenia News)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the country has secured nine million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, with the first shipment of 80,000 doses arriving next week. (SABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and health workers across the country receive their second doses of COVID-19 vaccine as the country begins to administer second doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in France, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation France's government cancels a plan by international airport operator Groupe ADP to expand Charles de Gaulle Airport, the country's largest airport, citing reduced traffic due to the pandemic and inconsistency with environmental policies. (AFP via RFI) COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, COVID-19 recession Malaysia's GDP contracts 5.6% in 2020, its worst annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. (The Straits Times)
Four Pakistani soldiers and four militants are killed in an attack on a security outpost in South Waziristan, according to the Inter Services Public Relations. (Pakistan Observer)
France's government cancels a plan by international airport operator Groupe ADP to expand Charles de Gaulle Airport, the country's largest airport, citing reduced traffic due to the pandemic and inconsistency with environmental policies. (AFP via RFI)
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Four Pakistani soldiers and four militants are killed in an attack on a security outpost in South Waziristan, according to the Inter Services Public Relations. (Pakistan Observer)
President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the country has secured nine million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, with the first shipment of 80,000 doses arriving next week. (SABC News)
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and health workers across the country receive their second doses of COVID-19 vaccine as the country begins to administer second doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
The Assembly of the Republic votes to extend its state of emergency, allowing the government to extend its second lockdown until March 1. (ABC News)
The government announces that starting from February 15, all retail stores will be allowed to reopen and customers will no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 testing result to enter. Schools and universities will also be allowed to resume their classes. Also, skiers will now be allowed to present negative test results from the past seven days instead of just the past 24 hours. (Total Slovenia News)
China–United Kingdom relations, Censorship in China China's National Radio and Television Administration bans BBC World News, in response to British telecommunications regulator Ofcom revoking the television license for the state-run China Global Television Network last week. (DW)
China's National Radio and Television Administration bans BBC World News, in response to British telecommunications regulator Ofcom revoking the television license for the state-run China Global Television Network last week. (DW)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia South Australia tightens its border restrictions with Victoria due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Victoria. Travelers from Melbourne will be banned from entering South Australia, though people living in other parts of the state will still be permitted to cross the border. (ABC Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California surpasses New York as the U.S. state with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths. (CBS News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announces a slight easing of restrictions beginning on February 16, citing the stable number of new cases in the past few weeks. Foreign language schools, casinos, gyms and betting shops can reopen and restaurants and bars can also sell coffee to go. (The National Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany will close its border with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region beginning on the evening of February 14 because of a high risk of variants of SARS-CoV-2. (Eurozone)
COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois, 501.V2 variant Illinois reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Rock Island. (WMAQ-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, COVID-19 recession Malaysia's GDP contracts 5.6% in 2020, its worst annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro Montenegro's Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices approves the purchases of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. (Vijesti)
COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco Morocco receives their second shipment of four million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine from India. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina, 501.V2 variant North Carolina reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant an adult in the central part of the state who had no travel history. (WRAL-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio Ohio Governor Mike DeWine lifts a statewide curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. EST, citing drop of COVID-19 cases. (Patch.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic The Chamber of Deputies votes down an appeal by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to extend the state of emergency beyond February 14. (Radio Prague International)
COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C., Variants of SARS-CoV-2 Washington, D.C. confirms its first cases of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa and the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (WRC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe purchases 600,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, in addition to 200,000 doses donated by China. These vaccines are expected to arrive at the beginning of March. (TimesLive)
Illinois reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Rock Island. (WMAQ-TV)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 pandemic in Germany The German Badminton Association (DBV) cancels the upcoming 2021 German Open in Mülheim an der Ruhr scheduled for March 9 to 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kompas)
Kurdish-Turkish conflict Three Turkish soldiers are killed by PKK separatists in Iraqi Kurdistan. (Al Jazeera)
Malaysia's GDP contracts 5.6% in 2020, its worst annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. (The Straits Times)
Montenegro's Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices approves the purchases of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. (Vijesti)
Morocco receives their second shipment of four million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine from India. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
North Carolina reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant an adult in the central part of the state who had no travel history. (WRAL-TV)
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine lifts a statewide curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. EST, citing drop of COVID-19 cases. (Patch.com)
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announces a slight easing of restrictions beginning on February 16, citing the stable number of new cases in the past few weeks. Foreign language schools, casinos, gyms and betting shops can reopen and restaurants and bars can also sell coffee to go. (The National Herald)
The Chamber of Deputies votes down an appeal by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to extend the state of emergency beyond February 14. (Radio Prague International)
The Democratic Republic of Congo reports its second death of the Ebola virus outbreak in North Kivu province. (NPR)
The German Badminton Association (DBV) cancels the upcoming 2021 German Open in Mülheim an der Ruhr scheduled for March 9 to 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kompas)
Three Turkish soldiers are killed by PKK separatists in Iraqi Kurdistan. (Al Jazeera)
Zimbabwe purchases 600,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, in addition to 200,000 doses donated by China. These vaccines are expected to arrive at the beginning of March. (TimesLive)
2020–2021 Belarusian protests, Elections in Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko says that the country will hold a referendum that would change their constitution before January 18, 2022. (AP)
Mali War A Togolese peacekeeper has died after being wounded yesterday in an attack on a MINUSMA base near Douentza in Mopti, central Mali, which wounded 28 peacekeepers, according to United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. (UrduPoint)
2020 Summer Olympics The Chairman of Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Yoshiro Mori resigns due to a scandal over sexist remarks he made about women. (NBC News)
A Togolese peacekeeper has died after being wounded yesterday in an attack on a MINUSMA base near Douentza in Mopti, central Mali, which wounded 28 peacekeepers, according to United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. (UrduPoint)
Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol The United States Senate votes by unanimous consent to award United States Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal for keeping rioters away from the Senate chamber during the storming of the United States Capitol. (The Washington Post)
An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 strikes 35 kilometres west of Murghob, Tajikistan. The tremors are felt as far away as northern India and Pakistan. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Chile President Sebastián Piñera receives the first dose of the Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine. (United News of India)
President Alexander Lukashenko says that the country will hold a referendum that would change their constitution before January 18, 2022. (AP)
President Sebastián Piñera receives the first dose of the Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine. (United News of India)
The Chairman of Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Yoshiro Mori resigns due to a scandal over sexist remarks he made about women. (NBC News)
The United States Senate votes by unanimous consent to award United States Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal for keeping rioters away from the Senate chamber during the storming of the United States Capitol. (The Washington Post)
A study by University College London suggests that the bluestones that form Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, likely originated from another stone circle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, called Waun Mawn. (AFP via Dawn)
British Columbia reports Canada's first case of the Nigerian variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a young person from the Interior Health region who is currently self-isolating. (Vancouver Sun)
Cambodia approves the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinovac Biotech vaccines. (Cambodianess)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia Cambodia approves the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinovac Biotech vaccines. (Cambodianess) COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia The number of recovered COVID-19 patients in Indonesia surpasses one million. (detikHealth) COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan receives their first shipment of 400,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from Belgium. (The Japan Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Pakistan approves the emergency use of China's CanSinoBio vaccine, becoming the fourth vaccine to be approved in the country. (DAWN)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia reports Canada's first case of the Nigerian variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a young person from the Interior Health region who is currently self-isolating. (Vancouver Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia Cambodia approves the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinovac Biotech vaccines. (Cambodianess)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia reports Canada's first case of the Nigerian variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a young person from the Interior Health region who is currently self-isolating. (Vancouver Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece extends their full lockdown to Achaia and the island of Euboea beginning February 13 in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Ekathimerini) COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia Russia gives a preliminary approval for its Sputnik V vaccine to be manufactured in Serbia. (The Moscow Times) COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece extends their full lockdown to Achaia and the island of Euboea beginning February 13 in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Ekathimerini)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia The number of recovered COVID-19 patients in Indonesia surpasses one million. (detikHealth)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan receives their first shipment of 400,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from Belgium. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico Mexican authorities lower the pandemic alert level in Mexico City and the State of Mexico to orange status due to a decrease in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations. (MedicalXpress)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire, Lineage B.1.1.7 New Hampshire reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 variant in a person from Hillsborough County who had close contact with someone who travelled internationally. (Patch.com)
