World
Facebook bans Myanmar military accounts citing the coup
The move, which takes effect immediately, applies to the military and entities controlled by the armed forces on both Facebook and Instagram
US in mourning over 500,000 COVID deaths, UK sees hope
Unlike his predecessor Donald Trump, who often sought to minimize the disease, Biden has made the pandemic his top priority
Facebook to restore Australia news pages as deal reached on media law
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had angrily accused Facebook of making a decision to 'unfriend' Australia
China urges US to lift trade restrictions, stop interference
China faces more opposition than ever in Washington due to its trade record, territorial disputes with neighbours
Trump 'offered Kim Jong Un a ride home on Air Force One'
During the Singapore summit, Trump gave Kim a glimpse inside his presidential state car in a show of their newly friendly rapport
Asia
Myanmar blocks Facebook as resistance grows to coup
Service provider Telenor Myanmar confirmed that mobile operators and internet service providers had received a directive to block Facebook
At least 34 killed as quake rocks Indonesia
Rescuers were searching for more than a dozen patients and staff trapped beneath the rubble of the levelled Mamuju hospital
WHO mission to China fails to find animal source of coronavirus
The experts spent one month in China, two weeks in quarantine and the same again on fieldwork
EXPLAINER: What's up between Google, Facebook and Australia?
Google has announced agreements to pay publishers in Australia while Facebook said it blocked users in the country from viewing or sharing
Taiwan claims entrapment after China shows spy 'confession'
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly denounced Taipei for offering support to Hong Kong’s protests
Middle East
Iran executes young wrestler, evoking shock and condemnation
Donald Trump had pleaded for Afkari's life earlier this month, saying his 'sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets'
Afghan's women negotiators face hardline Taliban in peace talks
Their presence at the negotiating table is significant in patriarchal Afghanistan, though they are outnumbered by the rest of the team
UAE suspends issuance of visiting visas to Pakistan, 11 other countries
Infections has been rising in Pakistan and authorities have declared that the country was witnessing the second wave of COVID-19
Saudi Arabia to lift Qatar embargo, easing the Gulf crisis
Kuwait, which had been mediating throughout the dispute, was first to announce the diplomatic breakthrough through its foreign minister
Sudan to join UAE, Bahrain in recognising Israel
Trump said at least five other countries want to come into the deal, which is collectively called the Abraham Accords
Africa
Ousted Mali president Keita leaves country as transition talks begin
West African leaders, fearing the coup could set a precedent that would undermine their power, initially insisted Keita be restored to power
Maduro announces arrest of 'American spy' near Venezuelan refineries
The arrest occurred after a 'plan to cause an explosion' was 'discovered and dismantled' at El Palito refinery, authorities say
Poorer and developing nations face vaccine wait as West locks down supply
Based on advance purchase agreements signed with Pfizer, it is calculated that 1.1 billion doses had been snapped up by wealthy nations
South Africa to store COVID-19 vaccines from India at secret place for fear of theft
South African government had secured 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from India
Mauritius oil spill ship operator to pay $9.4 million
More than 1,000 tonnes of oil is believed to have leaked from the ship, with the rest siphoned out before it spilled
Europe
France passes anti-radicalism bill that worries Muslims
Critics say these provisions are already covered in existing laws
UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, first in the world
Britain’s vaccine committee will decide which priority groups will get the jab first
Russians set for candle-lit Valentine's Day protests after Navalny jailing
Russian law enforcement agencies said on Thursday that people taking part in unsanctioned rallies could face criminal charges
Johnson locks down England as UK COVID-19 cases pass 1 million
Johnson was criticised by political opponents for moving too slowly into the first national lockdown
From Denmark to Greece, European cities announce tighter COVID-19 restrictions
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was inevitable that the country would see a second wave of the coronavirus
Americas
Texas outages below half-million but water crisis persists
More than 320,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
Biden, Modi commit towards greater Indo-US ties; work against COVID, terrorism
A veiled message to Pakistan was also sent, with both countries resolving to 'stand together against the scourge of global terrorism'
House rests Trump impeachment case, defense begins Friday
Trump's lawyers will begin their defense on Friday, arguing that he cannot be held personally responsible for the storming of Congress
Trump trial begins but Republicans signal likely acquittal
The trial is clearly uncomfortable for many Republican senators, who had to flee to safety during the violence
No change in policy on Jammu and Kashmir, says US
A longstanding goal of US policy in South Asia has been to prevent India-Pakistan conflict from escalating to interstate war
Oceania
Australia slams 'heavy-handed' Facebook news blackout
Minister Paul Fletcher had also raised concerns that blocking news media on the popular platform could boost the spread of misinformation
Australian journalist arrested in China for 'supplying state secrets'
Cheng's detention came weeks after Australian authorities raided the homes of Chinese state media journalists
New Zealand ends snap virus lockdown in largest city
New Zealand has been widely praised for its handling of the pandemic, with just 26 deaths in a population of five million
14 million tonnes of microplastics on sea floor: Australian study
The quantity of the tiny pollutants was 25 times greater than previous localised studies had shown
New Zealand detects first community virus case in two months
It is the second time a returnee has developed coronavirus symptoms after being cleared to leave an isolation facility in New Zealand