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February 26, 2021 (Friday)
4.2 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
At least 317 girls are kidnapped by armed bandits raiding a secondary school hostel in the Nigerian state of Zamfara.
An explosion hits the Israeli-owned cargo ship MV Helios Ray in the Gulf of Oman. No injuries are reported among the ship's 28 crew members. Israeli media reports, citing unnamed Israeli government officials, that Iran was likely behind the blast.
Security forces open fire against a crowd of demonstrators during anti-government protests in Nasiriyah, Iraq, killing 3 people and wounding 47 others. Two other protestors have also been killed in the past few days.
An NGO vice-president met with 70 members of the Twa and Bantu in Nyunzu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to ensure lasting peace in the Nyunzu Territory.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) kill three civilians in an ambush on the Beni-Kasindi road. Congolese and MONUSCO troops positioned nearby then clashed with the ADF, forcing them to retreat.
Business and economy
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission temporarily halts the trading of 15 stocks, most of which are penny stocks, out of concern that online users were coordinating to artificially raise their value.
The United States House of Representatives votes 219-212 to pass U.S. President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package, which would provide $1,400 in direct payments. The bill will head to the Senate for a vote.
Disasters and accidents
A small plane crashes in Gainesville, Georgia, U.S., killing three people.
Health and environment
Papua New Guinea reports a record 89 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,228.
Health Canada authorizes the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine and a related vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India.
The Indian government announces that people can choose their COVID-19 vaccination centres when the vaccination campaign expands next week. This will allow people to choose whether they want to receive the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine or the Bharat Biotech vaccine.
Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin issues a new regulation that authorises a mutual assistance vaccine programme so that private companies can buy state-approved vaccines in order to vaccinate their staff.
South Korea begins a mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, with the first doses administered to residents at about 200 nursing homes across the country.
Belgium announces that easing of major COVID-19-related restrictions will be put on hold for another week due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections and the spread of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant.
Authorities in Greater Helsinki order the closure of public and private facilities, such as gyms, indoor sports venues, saunas, playgrounds and swimming pools for two weeks beginning March 1 as part of measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Slovenia reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in a person from Maribor who recently travelled to Africa.
The Spanish health ministry announces that people under 55 who have already been infected with COVID-19 will be given just a single dose of the vaccine, six months after their infection.
Brasília enters a 24-hour lockdown for all non-essential services due to an increase in COVID-19 cases that has pushed the city's intensive care units to near full capacity with more than 80% of beds already occupied.
Ivory Coast becomes the second country to receive coronavirus vaccines via the COVAX initiative, with 500,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India arriving in the country.
The Chamber of Deputies passes a new pandemic law that allows the health ministry and local authorities to shut down trade, production facilities, and events. In turn, the government announces the new state of emergency from February 27 until March 28.
International relations
Myanmar's Ambassador to the United Nations Kyaw Moe Tun addresses the UN in New York, calling for the international community to take the "strongest possible action" to remove the military junta from power.
Law and crime
The UK Supreme Court rules that ISIL supporter Shamima Begum is forbidden from returning to the United Kingdom to appeal the revocation of her citizenship. This overturns the decision by the Court of Appeal, citing four errors in their ruling.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has reportedly identified a suspect in connection to the death of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick during the storming of the U.S. Capitol last month.
Arnel Joseph, a powerful Haitian gang leader, is killed in a gun battle with police in L'Estère a day after escaping from prison during a riot. The death toll from the incident rise to a total of 25 people, including many civilians killed by the inmates after randomly opening fire in the streets. The prison's director, six inmates and police officers are among the dead. Sixty more prisoners who escaped are captured and arrested, while more than 200 others are still on the run.
The Biden administration releases a previously classified intelligence report on the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, confirming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had approved of the assassination.
Sports
The Belarus Olympic Committee elects Viktor Lukashenko, son of President Alexander Lukashenko, as its new President. Lukashenko is currently suspended from the International Olympic Committee meaning Belarusian athletes will likely be forced to compete as an independent team in the upcoming Tokyo Games.
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