Fighting between Sudan and Ethiopian-backed forces continues in the last Ethiopian stronghold of Bereket in the disputed border region of Al-Fashaga. Sudan claims Eritrean forces are helping the Ethiopians.
S&P 500
+0.00%
$7,483
BTC
+2.04%
$61,329
OIL (WTI)
-0.09%
$68
March 2, 2021 (Tuesday)
3.4 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
All 279 schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Zamfara State, Nigeria, are released by their armed kidnappers.
Islamic terrorist group al-Shabaab publicly executes five people by firing squad for allegedly spying for the American and Somali intelligence agencies in Jilib, Middle Juba. Hundreds of people reportedly gathered to watch the execution.
Three female media workers are shot dead in Jalalabad, Nangarhar. A fourth woman is wounded. The Islamic State claims responsibility for the attack.
Business and economy
The Equality and Human Rights Commission says that it has investigated Britannia Hotels-owned holiday park operator Pontins after a whistleblower revealed that Pontins had a blacklist of common Irish surnames to prevent Roma and Irish Travellers from booking at its parks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that the discrimination is "completely unacceptable".
Disasters and accidents
Thirteen people are killed and eleven others are wounded in a traffic accident in Imperial County, California, US. A semi-truck and an SUV collide; 25 people were in the SUV at the time of the crash.
Seven students are killed in a railing collapse, sending people plummeting from a fourth-floor balcony on to an atrium floor during a student assembly at the Universidad Pública de El Alto, Bolivia. Three people are arrested.
Health and environment
Brazil reports a record 1,641 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 257,361.
Oregon reports their first cases of the Lineage P.1 variant in two people from Douglas County who previously travelled to Brazil.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifts the statewide mask requirement and allows businesses to open at 100% capacity beginning March 10.
Manitoba reports their first two cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in Winnipeg.
Indonesia reports their first two cases of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom.
Iraq receives 50,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccines donated by China as the country officially begins its vaccination campaign.
Malaysia grants conditional approval for the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinovac Coronavac vaccines.
Saudi Minister of Health Tawfig Al-Rabiah announces that all pilgrims must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to do the Hajj to Mecca.
Spanish media reports that emeritus King of Spain Juan Carlos I was vaccinated in Abu Dhabi, where he is in self-exile. Two of his daughters Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina also received vaccines when they took advantage of a visit to their father on February 6 and 7.
Angola receives 624,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing Initiative.
Nigeria receives 3.94 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India through the COVAX Initiative, which is the largest delivery so far by the initiative.
Tunisia reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom.
Greece reports 2,353 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total this year, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 194,582.
President Aleksandar Vucic delivers 10,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine to the Bosniak and Croat-dominated federation entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signs an executive order that lifts the statewide mask requirement except for K-12 schools and indoor arenas. Indoor arenas are required to limit their capacity to 50% and club areas and suits to 75%. Indoor and outdoor arenas are required to limit capacity to 25% and 50% respectively for K-12 extracurricular activities.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi signs a decree that orders the closure of all schools in the worst-hit regions due to the spread of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant. The decree will be in effective from March 6 until April 6.
Kenya receives 1.02 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing Initiative.
U.S. President Joe Biden announces that Merck & Co. will produce single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to help his administration goal for vaccinating every adult by the end of May.
Moldova begins their vaccination campaign, with first-line medical staff being administered first.
Law and crime
Tut.By journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich is sentenced to a half-year in prison for reporting personal data on the death of Raman Bandarenka during protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Get the app
