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February 20, 2021 (Saturday)
2.6 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
At least 130 Russian airstrikes have killed 21 members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the past 24 hours in the Badia desert, according to the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Disasters and accidents
U.S. President Joe Biden declares a major disaster in Texas following a severe winter storm and cold weather that left at least 70 people dead and millions of others without power. The declaration allows federal funds to be spent and made available to affected people.
Health and environment
New Zealand begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19, starting with 70 border workers under strict infection prevention measures.
Irish health officials say that the three cases of the Brazilian variant of SARS-CoV-2 have been contained.
The British Health Secretary announces a small step to ease the nation's lockdown, allowing care home visitors in England to be regularly visited by a single friend or family member. This change will take effect on March 8.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announces the approval of the CoviVac vaccine for domestic use in Russia, becoming the third vaccine to be approved despite not yet having undergone any clinical trials.
The Philippines reports 239 deaths in the past 24 hours, the second-highest number of daily reported deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing the nationwide death toll to 12,068.
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.
Data from the Health Ministry show that COVID-19 vaccines are 99.2% effective against serious illness, reduce mortality by 95.8% and decrease the chance of hospitalization by 98.9%.
The United States surpasses 28 million cases of COVID-19.
Law and crime
The Department of Justice and the FBI announce that they are investigating whether Alex Jones, Roger Stone, and Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander played any role in inciting the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol.
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.
Looting, barricades, and riots are reported during the fifth consecutive night of protests mainly in Barcelona, Spain, over the imprisonment of rapper Pablo Hasél. Several protesters break windows at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palau de la Música Catalana and also attempt to storm the Stock Exchange of Barcelona.
The Moscow City Court upholds the three-year prison sentence against opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. Navalny now faces slander charges. His defense had previously said that the European Court of Human Rights had labeled his arrest as "unlawful".
Politics and elections
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha survives a second vote of no-confidence in the House of Representatives, accused of mismanagement of the economy, mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption, and abuse of human rights.
Sports
Naomi Osaka defeats Jennifer Brady in final to win the Women's Singles. She is the first player to win a fourth Grand Slam singles title since Maria Sharapova on 2012 French Open.
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