Portal:Current events/2021 February 11

February 11, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Sino-Indian border dispute
- China and India announce that they will withdraw troops around Pangong Lake in a disputed area of eastern Kashmir following sustained talks between the two countries. Tensions have been high since border clashes last year killed dozens. (BBC)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation
  - The French government cancels a plan by international airport operator Groupe ADP to expand the Charles de Gaulle Airport, the country's largest airport, citing reduced traffic due to the pandemic and inconsistency with environmental policies. (AFP via RFI)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, COVID-19 recession
  - Malaysia's GDP contracts 5.6% in 2020, its worst annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. (The Straits Times)

Disasters and accidents

Six people are killed and numerous others are injured during a multi-vehicle accident following an ice storm near Fort Worth, Texas. (KXAS-TV)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
    - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announces a slight easing of restrictions beginning on February 16, citing the stable number of new cases in the past few weeks. Foreign language schools, casinos, gyms and betting shops can reopen and restaurants and bars can also sell coffee to go. (The National Herald)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
    - The Portuguese Assembly of the Republic votes to extend their state of emergency, allowing the government to extend their second lockdown until March 1. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
    - The government confirms that starting from February 15, all retail stores will be allowed to reopen and customers will no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 testing result to enter. Schools and universities will also be allowed to resume their classes. Also, skiers will now be allowed to present negative test results from the past seven days instead of just the past 24 hours. (Total Slovenia News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and health workers across the country receive their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine as the country begins to administer second doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
    - Morocco receives their second shipment of 4 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine from India. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the country has secured nine million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, with the first shipment of 80,000 doses arriving next week. (SABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
    - Zimbabwe purchases 600,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, in addition to 200,000 doses donated by China. These vaccines are expected to arrive at the beginning of March. (TimesLive)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in California
    - California surpasses New York to become a U.S. state with highest COVID-19 deaths. (CBS News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois
    - Illinois reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from Rock Island. (WMAQ-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina
    - North Carolina reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant an adult in the central part of the state who had not travel history. (WRAL-TV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma, COVID-19 vaccine
    - Oklahoma health officials announce that the state will expand their vaccine eligibility to school employees and adults with underlying health conditions starting on February 22. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C., Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - Washington, D.C. confirms their first cases of the 501.V2 variant from South Africa and the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. (WRC-TV)
  - U.S. President Joe Biden announces that his administration has finalized a deal purchasing a total of 200 million vaccine doses from Moderna and Pfizer. (NBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - South Australia tightens their border restrictions with Victoria due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Victoria. Travellers from Melbourne will be banned from entering South Australia, though people living in other parts of the state will still be permitted to cross the border. (ABC Australia)
The Democratic Republic of Congo reports their second death of the Ebola virus outbreak in North Kivu province. (NPR)

International relations

Belarus–Russia relations
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expresses his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin as both men face protests. He also criticized the protests in his own country as a "rebellion" during the All Belarusian People's Assembly. (Newsweek)

Law and crime

Censorship in China
- The National Radio and Television Administration bans BBC World News, in response to British telecommunications regulator Ofcom revoking the television license for the state-run China Global Television Network last week. (DW)
Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- Five members of the Proud Boys are arrested on conspiracy charges to breach the United States Capitol. (CNBC)

Politics and elections

National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States
- U.S. President Joe Biden ends former President Donald Trump's nearly two-year emergency declaration on the Mexico–United States border. (Politico)

Sports

2020 FIFA Club World Cup
- Bayern Munich defeats Tigres UANL 1–0 in the final to win the FIFA Club World Cup. Robert Lewandowski is awarded the Golden Ball of the tournament. (CNN)