Portal:Current events/2021 February 25

February 25, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Yemeni Civil War
- Ma'rib Campaign
  - Houthi forces attack Ma'rib, with ballistic missiles amidst an ongoing offensive to capture the city. (Al Arabiya English)
2021 Kaduna and Katsina attacks
- Gunmen kill 36 people, wound several others, and burn down houses when they attack two villages in Kaduna and Katsina States, Nigeria. Several attackers are also killed during an air operation by security forces. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Armenian coup d'état attempt, 2020−2021 Armenian protests
- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warns of an attempted military coup against him after the army demands that he and his government resign. In response, Pashinyan dismisses the head of the general staff of the armed forces and calls on his supporters to rally in his support. (Reuters)
Central African Republic Civil War
- At least 14 people are killed at a religious site in Bambari, Central African Republic, amid clashes between armed groups and security forces. (Al Jazeera)
Mali War
- Nine soldiers are killed and nine others are wounded during a long exchange of fire with armed groups in Bandiagara, Mali. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Myanmar protests
- Pro-military counter-protesters attack anti-coup protesters during a rally against the military junta in Yangon. Some counter-protesters were armed with knives and clubs, while others used slingshots and threw stones to attack their opponents. (Voice of America)
At U.S. President Joe Biden's direction, the U.S. military launches airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia group Kata'ib Hezbollah's structures in Abu Kamal, Syria, killing 17 Popular Mobilization Forces militants. The airstrikes are described as retaliation for a recent rocket strike in Erbil, Iraq, which left two people dead and 13 others wounded, including American military personnel. (Al Jazeera)
Ituri conflict
- Seven civilians are killed by CODECO militiamen in Banyari Kilo sector, Djugu Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Radio Okapi)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Fukushima earthquake
- A man in his 50s is confirmed to be the first fatality of the February 13 earthquake that struck near Fukushima, Japan, after his body is found buried in his destroyed home. (Kyodo News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
    - The government confirms that bars, cafés, and restaurants can reopen their outdoor terraces on March 1. (The Dubrovnik Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
    - Cyprus announces that it will allow high schools, gyms, and indoor sports facilities such as swimming pools to reopen on March 1 as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to decrease. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic, 501.V2 variant
    - The Czech Republic reports their first cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in a group of people who travelled to Zanzibar. (Radio Prague International)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
    - Prime Minister Sanna Marin announces "tier-two" lockdown restrictions for the next three weeks, which includes the closure of bars and restaurants, expanded remote learning, and a ban on gatherings of more than six people beginning March 8 due to the spread of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant. (Yle)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary extends their nationwide lockdown restrictions until March 15 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2. (Hungary Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - Ireland reports its first case of the B.1.525 variant first detected in Nigeria. (Independent.ie)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain
    - Bahrain becomes the first country to approve the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use. It is also the fifth vaccine to be approved in the country. (Arab News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
    - The National Medical Products Administration grants conditional approval for a single-dose vaccine made by CanSino Biologics and a vaccine made by Sinopharm. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lanka receives 500,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from India. (The Hindu)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
    - Syria's health ministry confirms that the government has received COVID-19 vaccines from an unnamed "friendly country", adding that healthcare workers will be the first to be vaccinated beginning next week. (AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria, Lineage B.1.1.7
  - Algeria reports their first two cases of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant in a healthcare worker from Algiers and a person who traveled to France. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
  - Argentina receives the first shipment of 904,000 doses of Sinopharm's BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (Buenos Aires Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belize, Lineage B.1.1.7
  - Belize reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant in a member of the British Army Training Support Unit Belize who has been infected with this variant. (Breaking Belize News)
2020–21 H5N8 outbreak
- Afghanistan reports an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu on a poultry farm in Herat Province. (Hindustan Times)
Western Cape reports their first case of African Swine Fever at two small farms in Mfuleni, Eerste River in Cape Town, South Africa. (News24)

International relations

India–Pakistan relations
- India and Pakistan issue a joint statement indicating that both sides agree to stop firing at each other at the disputed Line of Control border in Kashmir. (DW)
Uyghur genocide, China–Netherlands relations
- The Dutch House of Representatives votes to recognize the Chinese government's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority as genocide, becoming the first European Union country to do so. (Reuters)
The governing body of the International Civil Aviation Organization appoints Juan Carlos Salazar of Colombia as the new Secretary-General of the Organization succeeding Fang Liu of China. (ICAO)

Law and crime

LGBT rights in Malaysia, judiciary of Malaysia
- The Federal Court, in a landmark decision, unanimously declares that Selangor's sharia law provision on "unnatural sex" is invalid and unconstitutional, as such offences fall under the jurisdiction of federal law. (Malay Mail) (CNA)
Tax returns of Donald Trump
- Former U.S. President Donald Trump's tax returns are given to New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. (ABC News)
USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal
- Former USA Gymnastics coach John Geddert dies from suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound off Interstate 96 in Michigan, shortly after being charged with human trafficking and sexual assault of a minor. (BBC News)
2021 Croix-des-Bouquets jailbreak
- Notable gang leader Arnel Joseph and other detainees escape from prison in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, during a riot that also resulted in the death of eight people inside the jail, including the prison's director. Casualties are also reported in the city's streets. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

LGBT rights in the United States
- The United States House of Representatives votes to pass the Equality Act. The bill will now head to the Senate for a vote. (NBC News)

Science and technology

Facebook bans all accounts related to Myanmar's military, the Tatmadaw, as well as ads from military-controlled companies following the military coup against Aung San Suu Kyi and the military seizure of power on February 1. (CBS News)

Sports

2020 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
- Despite losing the last match 2–1 to São Paulo, Flamengo wins their seventh Brasileirão and eighth national championship overall. (UOL)