Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Lawyers representing imprisoned opposition politicians on a hunger strike in protest against the Ethiopian government expressed concern for the lives of their clients.
- AMERICAS: US President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at boosting the country’s supply chains for advanced batteries, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and semiconductors.
- ASIA: Supporters of Myanmar’s military attacked opponents of the recent coup in downtown Yangon.
- EUROPE: A worker at the Bundestag’s building was charged with spying for Russia after he allegedly provided floor plans of the German legislature’s building to a Russian intelligence agent.
- MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was discharged from the hospital following a “successful surgery” to remove his appendix.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Facebook has banned all accounts tied to Myanmar’s military and military-controlled media.
Top Story
- Armenia: PM Pashinyan warns of coup after army demands his resignation.
- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is warning of an “attempted military coup” after the Armenian military issued a statement demanding Pashinyan and his cabinet’s resignation.
- Pashinyan also urged his supporters to take to the streets of Armenia’s capital city Yerevan, where he was later seen marching with supporters.
- The military demanded Pashinyan’s resignation after Pashinyan’s decision earlier this week to sack the first deputy chief of the military’s General Staff
- Before today, Pashinyan had already faced several mass protests demanding his resignation due to Armenia’s defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.
- Russia, an ally of Armenia, expressed alarm at the developments in the country, where Russia has a military base, and urged all sides to resolve the situation peacefully and within the framework of the constitution.
- Reporting: Reuters, AP, BBC, AFP
Africa
- Region: Egypt affirmed Sudan’s proposal to internationalize arbitration in their dispute with Ethiopia over its construction of the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. (AP)
- Central African Republic: Amnesty International said 14 people, including two civilians, were killed inside a “religious site” in the town of Bambari when they were caught in the crosshairs of fighting between the army and rebel forces. (AFP)
- Ethiopia: Lawyers representing imprisoned opposition politicians on a hunger strike in protest against the government expressed concern for the lives of their clients. (AP)
- Libya: Human Rights Watch accused the country’s authorities of failing to bring to justice those responsible for committing war crimes during the protests that brought down Muammar Gaddafi. (AP)
- Nigeria: Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 10 people in the city of Maiduguri using rocket-propelled grenades, which officials called a “new trend”. (BBC)
Americas
- Argentina: The country’s economy contracted at a lesser rate than expected by the government. (Reuters)
- Bolivia: Health workers in the country are protesting a controversial law they say could limit their right to demonstrate and strike. (DPA)
- Nicaragua: Vice President Rosario Murillo said the country has received its first coronavirus vaccines including an initial donation of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. (Reuters)
- United States: President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at boosting the country’s supply chains for advanced batteries, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and semiconductors. (AP)
- Venezuela: Pro-Maduro lawmakers declared the European Union’s ambassador to Caracas “persona non grata” and gave her 72 hours to leave the country. (DPA)
Asia
- Region: The UN said that India’s coast guard responded to its request to aid a boat carrying Rohingya refugees that was adrift in the Andaman Sea. (AP)
- Region: India and Pakistan have agreed to stop cross-border firing along the disputed border of Kashmir. (Reuters)
- China: President Xi Jinping declared a “complete victory” in Beijing’s efforts to end rural poverty in the country, during a ceremony marking a signature initiative of his eight-year tenure. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: Supporters of the country’s military attacked opponents of the recent coup in downtown Yangon. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: Authorities in Germany and Belgium seized a record amount of more than 23 tons of cocaine that was bound for the Netherlands. (BBC)
- France: Authorities are set to extend the period of the country’s oldest nuclear power plants, which provide up to 70% of the country’s current electricity supply. (AFP)
- Germany: A worker at the Bundestag’s building was charged with spying for Russia after he allegedly provided floor plans of the building to a Russian intelligence agent. (DPA)
- Russia: One person was found guilty of treason for allegedly passing on state secrets to China and was sentenced to eight years in prison. (Reuters)
- Ukraine: Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said the country has recorded an almost 40% increase in new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Israel: The country’s secretive Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center is reportedly undergoing its biggest construction project in recent decades. (AP)
- Saudi Arabia: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was discharged from the hospital following a “successful surgery” to remove his appendix. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: Princess Latifa, the daughter of Dubai’s current ruler, has appealed to British authorities to reopen investigations into the kidnapping of her older sister from the UK more than 20 years ago. (BBC)
- Yemen: The UN warned that the country will face the worst famine the world has seen for decades if donors, especially its Gulf neighbors, do not contribute to the UN’s fundraising efforts for the country. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: Facebook has banned all accounts tied to Myanmar’s military and military-controlled media. (Deutsche Welle)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
- Indonesia
- Mount Sinabung
- Eruption spewed ash 1,500 meters into the sky.
- Sourcing: DPA
- Mount Sinabung
- Indonesia
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 25FEB21)
- Confirmed cases: 112,629,748
- Total recovered cases: 63,560,952
- Deaths: 2,499,202
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (as of 21FEB21)
- Confirmed cases: 6
- Deaths: 4
- Sourcing: WHO
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 21FEB21)
- Confirmed cases: 8
- Deaths: 5
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 25FEB21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (26FEB21)
- Global: The finance ministers and central bank governors of G20 countries will hold a virtual meeting. (to 27FEB)
- Americas: US Ambassador to Guatemala William Popp and Guatemalan Ambassador to the US Alfonso Quinones will deliver remarks at an online event organized by the Wilson Center.
- Europe: The leaders of EU member-states will hold a virtual summit to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.
- Middle East: US Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking will travel to several countries in the Arabian Peninsula. (to 03MAR)
- Middle East: The UN Security Council will hold meetings on the region.
- China: Hong Kong’s coronavirus vaccination campaign is expected to begin.
- Colombia: The government will create a new military command aimed at combating dissident guerrillas.
- India: The government will release GDP data for the third quarter of the country’s economic year.
- Japan: The government is expected to decide on extending its coronavirus state of emergency.
- Libya: Deadline for prime minister-designate Abdel Hamid Dbeibah to announce his Cabinet.
- South Korea: The country’s coronavirus vaccination campaign is expected to begin.
- United States: President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden will visit the state of Texas.
- United States: An FDA advisory committee will meet to discuss a request for the emergency use authorization of Janssen Biotech’s coronavirus vaccine candidate.
- United States: The House’s Oversight and Homeland Security Committees will hold a joint hearing on cybersecurity incidents including the attack targeting SolarWinds.
- United States: Executives of major airlines will reportedly hold a virtual meeting with White House officials over efforts to cut carbon emissions and renewable fuel usage.
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