Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The European Court of Justice will meet next week to discuss the EU-Morocco accords allowing Rabat to export goods from Western Sahara that are contested by the Polisario Front.
- AMERICAS: The U.S. Justice Department announced that it will appeal a judge’s ruling that the nationwide eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic is unlawful.
- ASIA: The U.S. State Department assessed that North Korea’s draconian measures against COVID-19 have significantly hurt the efforts of outside organizations to deliver humanitarian aid to the impoverished nation.
- EUROPE: Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny is likely to serve his prison sentence near Moscow, according to Russian media sources, although the Kremlin critic’s allies say they are still unsure of his location.
- MIDDLE EAST: An Israeli-owned ship hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman will be inspected in Dubai, where it is due to arrive, a spokesman for Dubai state port operator DP World reported.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: President Joe Biden stated that his administration will make an announcement on Saudi Arabia on Monday following a U.S. intelligence report that found Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had authorized the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Top Story
- United States: Johnson and Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved in the United States; it being the third COVID-19 vaccine approved in the nation.
- Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine was granted emergency authorization in the United States.
- President Joe Biden praised the “exciting” announcement that US regulators had authorized a third COVID-19 vaccine but warned the country could not let its guard down.
- About 3.9 million doses will be available for use right away, according to Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County.
- Results from trials conducted in the US, South Africa, and Brazil showed the vaccine was more than 85% effective at preventing severe illness and 66% effective in preventing moderate disease.
- Biden administration officials are preparing a campaign to tell the message that the vaccine provides adequate protection against the virus and that it will be distributed equally among all communities in the U.S.
- Reporting: Reuters, AFP, CNN, BBC, NBC
Africa
- Region: The European Court of Justice will meet next week to discuss the EU-Morocco accords allowing Rabat to export goods from Western Sahara that are contested by the Polisario Front. (AFP)
- Region: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked the African Union and other international partners to help address an expanded crisis in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region as he condemned possible atrocities in fighting there. (Reuters)
- South Africa: The Department of Health reported the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out is going well with a total of 63,648 people vaccinated in its first week. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Region: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is planning to ask President Joe Biden to consider sharing part of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine supply with its southern neighbor when the two leaders hold a virtual summit on Monday, U.S. and Mexican officials reported. (Reuters)
- Dominican Republic: The president has announced plans to construct a fence along its border with Haiti, which is about 380km (236 miles). (BBC)
- Mexico: In the year since the first COVID-19 case was identified in Mexico, the virus has killed at least 185,257 people and sickened almost 2.1 million. (AP)
- United States: The Justice Department announced it will appeal a judge’s ruling that the nationwide eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic is unlawful. (Reuters)
Asia
- Australia: The AstraZeneca vaccine rollout is about to start by March 8th after the first 300,000 doses arrived in Sydney. (The Guardian)
- Hong Kong: Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists have been charged under the new national security law. (AP)
- Japan: Tokyo reported 329 additional COVID-19 cases, national broadcaster NHK said, for a slight decrease from the previous day’s figure of 337. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: At least three people were killed as police implemented violent crackdowns on anti-coup protests across the country. (EFE)
- North Korea: The U.S State Department assessed that the nation’s draconian measures against COVID-19 have significantly hurt the efforts of outside organizations to deliver humanitarian aid to the impoverished nation. (YNA)
Europe
- Germany: A senior domestic vaccine specialist has asked Berlin to extend its approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine to older people and suggested Chancellor Angela Merkel could get the jab on live television to dispel fears about its safety. (DPA)
- Russia: Opposition leader Aleksei Navalny is likely to serve his prison sentence near Moscow, according to Russian media sources, although the Kremlin critic’s allies say they are still unsure of his location. (RFE)
- United Kingdom: Another 7,434 people in the nation have tested positive for COVID-19, making the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country 4,170,519, according to official figures. (Xinhua)
Middle East
- Region: An Israeli-owned ship hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman will be inspected in Dubai where it is due to arrive, a spokesman for Dubai state port operator DP World reported. (Reuters)
- Palestinian Territories: Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye announced that tightened preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 will be imposed in the territories for 12 more days. (Xinhua)
- Iraq: Infectious disease experts are expressing concern about Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to Iraq, given a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections in the nation. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Media: President Joe Biden stated that his administration will make an announcement on Saudi Arabia on Monday, following a U.S. intelligence report that found Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had authorized the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones:
- Tropical Storm Marian
- Location:16.9S 92E
- Movement: SW
- Wind:90 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Marian
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 28FEB21)
- Confirmed cases: 113,826,206
- Total recovered cases: 64,283,975
- Deaths: 2,526,162
- 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 28FEB21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (01MAR21)
- Global: United Nations Security Council monthly presidency rotates, from the UK to the U.S.
- Global: First day of spring, according to the meteorological season.
- Global: New WTO director-general takes office.
- Europe: U.N. publishes investigation report on Russian opposition leader.
- Cyprus: U.N.-Cyprus negotiations set to resume this month.
- France: Former French president faces corruption verdict.
- North America: U.S. continues National Emergency with respect to Cuba.
- South Korea: Independence Movement Day.
- United Kingdom: St. David’s Day in Wales.
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