Guinea declares a new Ebola epidemic after three people died and four others became ill in the country’s southeast. (Al Jazeera)
Health Minister Roberto Speranza signs a provision that extends the ban on recreational skiing at resorts until March 5, effectively preventing ski resorts from opening tomorrow for the first time this season due to the spread of the UK variant and other variants of SARS-CoV-2. (AFP via RFI)
Kivu conflict 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)
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)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict Operation Claw-Eagle 2 According to Turkish authorities, a Turkish military operation against Kurdish PKK fighters in Duhok, Iraq, ends with the death of 48 PKK fighters, three Turkish soldiers, and 13 Turks who had been kidnapped by the PKK. (Reuters)
Lebanon begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19, a day after the first 28,500 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine arrived in the country. A doctor at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut is the first person to be vaccinated. (France 24)
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)
Operation Claw-Eagle 2 According to Turkish authorities, a Turkish military operation against Kurdish PKK fighters in Duhok, Iraq, ends with the death of 48 PKK fighters, three Turkish soldiers, and 13 Turks who had been kidnapped by the PKK. (Reuters)
Rwanda begins a COVID-19 vaccination programme with limited supplies of WHO-approved vaccines acquired through unnamed international partners, making it the first country in East Africa to begin its campaign. Healthcare workers and other high-risk groups will be the first to receive a vaccine. (Reuters)
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 French Direction générale de la Santé asks regional health agencies and hospitals to go into "crisis mode" beginning on February 18 in order to prepare for a possible increase in COVID-19 cases as a result of highly contagious variants of SARS-CoV-2. (The Independent)
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)
Saudi Arabian–Yemeni border conflict The Houthis say that they have struck Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with drones. A Houthi spokesman said on Twitter that the attacks halted operations in the airports for two hours. The Saudi-led coalition says that it intercepted drones heading towards the kingdom but did not confirm the attacks. (Reuters)
The Houthis say that they have struck Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with drones. A Houthi spokesman said on Twitter that the attacks halted operations in the airports for two hours. The Saudi-led coalition says that it intercepted drones heading towards the kingdom but did not confirm the attacks. (Reuters)
Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian–Yemeni border conflict The Houthis say that they have struck Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with drones. A Houthi spokesman said on Twitter that the attacks halted operations in the airports for two hours. The Saudi-led coalition says that it intercepted drones heading towards the kingdom but did not confirm the attacks. (Reuters)
2021 Erbil missile attacks Multiple rockets strike near Erbil International Airport in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, killing a foreign civilian contractor and wounding nine others, including a U.S. service member. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in England The United Kingdom begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all British and Irish citizens and all permanent residents arriving in England from 33 "high risk" countries, requiring them to stay for 10 days at government-designated accommodations. (ITV) (The Irish Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England The United Kingdom begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all British and Irish citizens and all permanent residents arriving in England from 33 "high risk" countries, requiring them to stay for 10 days at government-designated accommodations. (ITV) (The Irish Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland Scotland begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all international arrivals, requiring them to self-isolate for 10 days in one of six government-designated hotels. (STV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland Scotland begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all international arrivals, requiring them to self-isolate for 10 days in one of six government-designated hotels. (STV)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England The United Kingdom begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all British and Irish citizens and all permanent residents arriving in England from 33 "high risk" countries, requiring them to stay for 10 days at government-designated accommodations. (ITV) (The Irish Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland Scotland begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all international arrivals, requiring them to self-isolate for 10 days in one of six government-designated hotels. (STV)
Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian Civil War Israeli airstrikes on Iranian weapons and missile depots near Damascus, Syria, kill six foreign nationals, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The headquarters of the Syrian Army's 4th Armoured Division is also hit. (Jewish Press)
Politics of Peru President Francisco Sagasti appoints Allan Wagner Tizón as new foreign minister, a day after Elizabeth Astete resigned over secretly receiving a vaccination against COVID-19. (Andina)
President Francisco Sagasti appoints Allan Wagner Tizón as new foreign minister, a day after Elizabeth Astete resigned over secretly receiving a vaccination against COVID-19. (Andina)
Scotland begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all international arrivals, requiring them to self-isolate for 10 days in one of six government-designated hotels. (STV)
Syrian civil war Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian Civil War Israeli airstrikes on Iranian weapons and missile depots near Damascus, Syria, kill six foreign nationals, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The headquarters of the Syrian Army's 4th Armoured Division is also hit. (Jewish Press)
The United Kingdom begins a mandatory hotel quarantine for all British and Irish citizens and all permanent residents arriving in England from 33 "high risk" countries, requiring them to stay for 10 days at government-designated accommodations. (ITV) (The Irish Times)
2021 Congo River disaster A passenger barge crashes and capsizes on the Congo River in Mai-Ndombe Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 60 people, while 240 others are reported missing. At least 300 people have been rescued from the river. (Reuters)
2021 Myanmar protests, aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état Myanmar's military junta deploys Tatmadaw troops and cuts Internet services in many parts of the country hours after security forces fired live rounds to disperse a demonstration in the northern state of Kachin. (The Straits Times)
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)
A passenger barge crashes and capsizes on the Congo River in Mai-Ndombe Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 60 people, while 240 others are reported missing. At least 300 people have been rescued from the river. (Reuters)
An Ebola vaccination campaign begins in the city of Butembo, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Health workers are the first to be vaccinated. (Reuters)
At least 37 people are killed by a bus falling off a bridge into a canal in Madhya Pradesh, India. (Al Jazeera)
Auckland enters level three restrictions for the next three days in response to an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, closing all non-essential businesses and suspending all in-person education. The rest of the country will enter level 2 restrictions, which will limit public gatherings. (The Guardian)
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)
Bishop David Zubik of the Pittsburgh Diocese announces that four Catholic elementary schools are merging to form two schools for the school year beginning in fall 2021. The decision comes after more than a year's deliberation and hours of study. (Catholic News Agency)
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)
Connecticut reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Fairfield County with no known international travel history, which was notified by health officials in New York. (WVIT-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe receives their first shipment of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. (South China Morning Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Australia suspends its quarantine-free travel bubble arrangement with New Zealand after the discovery of three new community cases in Auckland. (BBC News) Australia receives 142,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (ABC Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia, Lineage B.1.1.7 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia Colombia receives their first shipment of 50,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (MedicalXpress)
COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut, 501.V2 variant Connecticut reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Fairfield County with no known international travel history, which was notified by health officials in New York. (WVIT-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Economy of Denmark Denmark's GDP contracts 3.7% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (DR)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq, Lineage B.1.1.7 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan surpasses 7,000 deaths from COVID-19. (ABS-CBN News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, economy of Japan Japan's GDP contracts 4.8% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi, Lineage B.1.1.7 Mississippi reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom. (Daily Journal)
COVID-19 pandemic in South America COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia Colombia receives their first shipment of 50,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (MedicalXpress)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency scales back Q1 vaccination targets to 750,000 people due to delayed shipments from COVAX and the decision not to use the AstraZeneca vaccine on people aged 65 or older until more efficacy data becomes available. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut, 501.V2 variant Connecticut reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Fairfield County with no known international travel history, which was notified by health officials in New York. (WVIT-TV) COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi, Lineage B.1.1.7 Mississippi reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom. (Daily Journal)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnamese authorities order two million people in Hải Dương province to stay at home for 15 days beginning tomorrow due to a growing COVID-19 outbreak in the province. Gatherings with more than two people are banned, and when leaving their homes, residents must stay 2 metres (6.6 ft) from others. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe receives their first shipment of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. (South China Morning Post)
COVID-19 vaccine The World Health Organization announces the approval of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Forbes)
Denmark's GDP contracts 3.7% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (DR)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Economy of Denmark Denmark's GDP contracts 3.7% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (DR) COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, economy of Japan Japan's GDP contracts 4.8% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (BBC News)
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)
Israeli airstrikes on Iranian weapons and missile depots near Damascus, Syria, kill six foreign nationals, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The headquarters of the Syrian Army's 4th Armoured Division is also hit. (Jewish Press)
Japan's GDP contracts 4.8% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (BBC 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)
Multiple rockets strike near Erbil International Airport in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, killing a foreign civilian contractor and wounding nine others, including a U.S. service member. (Al Jazeera)
Myanmar's military junta deploys Tatmadaw troops and cuts Internet services in many parts of the country hours after security forces fired live rounds to disperse a demonstration in the northern state of Kachin. (The Straits Times)
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)
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirms that three members of a family in Auckland who tested positive for COVID-19 are infected with the UK variant and that this is not connected to any managed isolation or quarantine facilities. (TVNZ)
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency scales back Q1 vaccination targets to 750,000 people due to delayed shipments from COVAX and the decision not to use the AstraZeneca vaccine on people aged 65 or older until more efficacy data becomes available. (Reuters)
