Two policemen are killed by unidentified gunmen at close range in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
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February 19, 2021 (Friday)
3.4 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing, a young protester who was shot in the head last week, dies from her injuries, the first death since the opposition to the coup began and as pressure on the military mounts.
Arts and culture
Buckingham Palace announces that Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex will be stripped of their royal patronages and honourary military appointments following a review of the royal couple's position within the British royal family. The couple will retain their HRH titles but will no longer use them.
Business and economy
The UK Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, orders Uber to classify its drivers as employees, entitling them to minimum wage and paid leave.
Health and environment
Japan detects a new variant found in 91 cases in the Kanto region and two cases detected at airports. In addition, an infection cluster was detected at a Tokyo immigration facility.
The Philippines reports 157 deaths in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total in five months, bringing the nationwide death toll to 11,829.
Health Minister Jan Blatný announces that shops will not be allowed to reopen on February 22, unlike what was previously promised. He also announced that residents will be required to wear FFP2 respirators, nanotowels, or two surgical masks in indoor places and on public transport due to the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant.
Ireland reports their first three cases of the Lineage P.1 variant in people who travelled from Brazil.
Florida reports their first case of the Brazil variant of SARS-CoV-2, making it the fourth state to do so after Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Maryland.
Idaho reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Southwestern Idaho who previously travelled internationally.
Johnson & Johnson submits an application of its experimental single-dose vaccine to the World Health Organization for emergency authorization.
International relations
The United States formally rejoins the Paris Agreement, 107 days after it left the climate accord.
President Biden, in a reversal of the Trump administration's approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, says that the United States will contribute up to $4 billion to COVAX.
Equatoguinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo announces that his country will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi make their first global appearance at a virtual G7 meeting as the countries discuss COVID-19 recovery, trade, social media, free speech, and their approach to China. The countries also commit to offer $7.5 billion in funding for vaccination rollouts in poor countries.
Law and crime
In a 6–1 decision, the Federal Court of Malaysia rules that news portal Malaysiakini can be held in contempt of court over its users' comments against the Malaysian judiciary. Co-founder and editor-in-chief Steven Gan is personally absolved of the charge. The portal will be required to pay RM500,000 (about US$120,000) in fines next week.
Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council secretary Oleksiy Danilov announces sanctions on pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk for allegedly using coal mines in the Luhansk Oblast to finance separatists. The government also announced that it would nationalize a pipeline that transports Russian oil into the rest of Europe, which Medvedchuk was suspected of owning.
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies votes 364–130 to confirm the Supreme Federal Court-mandated arrest of congressman Daniel Silveira (PSL-RJ) for posting videos online threatening the judges of the Court, calling for the Court's extinction and for a new AI-5 – considered the most repressive legal instrument of the former Brazilian military government. His party is also considering his expulsion.
Politics and elections
The opposition Progressive National Party wins 14 of the 15 seats in the House of Assembly, with Washington Misick slated to become the next premier. Outgoing Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson of the People's Democratic Movement loses re-election to her seat.
Argentine Health Minister Ginés González García resigns amid scandal over preferential treatment for the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to his close friends, including journalist Horacio Verbitsky.
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