February 1st - 7th

Image: AFP

Gracie Linthwaite 

This week Germany and Austria send medical aid to Portugal amid a surge in coronavirus cases, Russian opposition lead Alexi Navalny is jailed, and  Myanmar's military takes control of the country, detaining a number of leading politicians.  

Europe 

Europe’s political row over delayed vaccine deliveries has abated somewhat, but there is still frustration in the EU over the slow pace of vaccinations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52380823

Italy:
Mario Draghi has accepted a request from Italy’s president to attempt to form a coalition government as the country battles to contain the coronavirus pandemic and the most severe economic crisis in its postwar history. 
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/mario-draghi-accepts-mandate-to-form-new-italian-government-1.4475286

Portugal:
The surge in coronavirus cases across the country continues, with another 9,000 cases in 24 hours and the number of patients in hospital rising to 6,684. 

Germany and Austria are offering medical help to Portugal, which is being hit severely by the third coronavirus wave. Austria will treat intensive care patients, to be flown from Portugal, to help ease the pressure on Portuguese hospitals. Germany has flown a team of doctors and other specialists to Portugal, along with field hospital beds and ventilators.
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-portugal-to-send-coronavirus-patients-to-austria-as-infections-surge-leaves-hospital-icus-full-12204595

Russia:
Russian opposition leader Alexi Navalny has been jailed despite protests across the country. He had returned to Russia after treatment in Germany for Novichok poisoning. 

The country has expelled three EU diplomats, accusing them on taking part in ‘unauthorised’ rallies supporting Navalny. 
https://www.dw.com/en/russia-expels-european-diplomats-over-navalny-protests/a-56473217

Africa 

Nigeria:
Seven orphans who were kidnapped from an orphanage on the outskirts of the Nigerian capital Abuja two weeks ago, have been released. Gunmen stormed the orphanage in Abuji area on 23 January and kidnapped children aged between 10 and 13. 
https://www.arise.tv/abducted-orphans-released-in-nigeria-woman-who-delivered-ransom-taken-hostage/

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Nigerian finance minister, is to become the first woman, and the first African, head of the WTO.
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business-daily/20210208-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-set-to-make-history-as-first-woman-and-african-to-head-wto

Tanzania: 
Tanzania’s health ministry has denied claims being circulated on social media that hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients. The government has repeatedly been accused of playing down the threat posed by Covid-19. The country says it has no plans to vaccinate, instead advising the public to make a concoction from onions, ginger, lemons and green peppers. 
https://www.itv.com/news/2021-02-06/covid-the-president-who-rejected-the-vaccine-but-pushed-steam-therapy-and-herbal-drinks

Uganda: 
Ugandan opposition politician Bobi Wine has filed a Supreme Court lawsuit against the outcome of last month's presidential election, which he says was rigged. A lawyer for his party, the National Unity Platform, has said they wan the poll to be re-run.
https://www.dw.com/en/uganda-election-bobi-wine-challenges-result-in-court/a-56405583

Uganda’s president has ordered the suspension of a multi-million dollar fund backed by European nations, after complaining that it is run by foreigners and undermines Uganda’s sovereignty. In a letter, Mr Museveni ordered the police to investigate how the finance ministry had allowed foreign donors to have what he called a ‘free rein’ to choose which activities to finance, without needing the consent of the government. Its suspension could have a dramatic impact as it supports the work of local groups that focus on democracy and good governance. 
https://apnews.com/article/europe-yoweri-museveni-east-africa-africa-uganda-e5cae1baff832c8653ceaa56fda09602

Middle East 

Iran:
A British-Irianian academic sentenced to nine years and three months in jail in Iran for co-operating with ‘a hostile state power’ has smuggled himself out of Iran, escaping over the country’s treacherous mountainous border, and is now in Britain. 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/03/academic-jailed-in-iran-pulls-off-daring-escape-back-to-britain-kameel-ahmady

Israel:
Huge numbers of people gathered for the funerals of two prominent rabbis in Jerusalem, breaking the coronavirus restrictions announced by the government. Deputy Prime Minister Benny Gantz has criticised ‘unequal enforcement’ of rules over the gathering. 
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-covid-rabbi-funeral-lockdown-b1795606.html

Asia and Oceania 

Australia: 
At least 71 homes have been destroyed in a bushfire raging out of control near Perth. Hundreds of residents have been told to ignore the lockdown and move to evacuation centres as more warnings are issued. 
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210203-71-homes-destroyed-as-australia-bushfire-rages-near-locked-down-perth

India: 
At least nine people were killed and another 150 are missing and feared dead in northern India after a glacier crashed into a dam, causing major floods. Authorities said that more than 16 people were trapped inside a tunnel. 
https://www.dw.com/en/india-dozens-feared-dead-as-himalayan-glacier-crashes-into-dam/a-56484553

Indonesia:
Indonesia bans mandatory religious attire in schools. The move comes after a Christian student was forced to wear a Muslim hijab in class. 
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/5/indonesia-ban-of-mandatory-religious-attire-in-public-schools

Myanmar: 
The military have taken control and imposed a state of emergency, detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other officials. The army alleges that there were ‘huge discrepancies’ November’s election. The country has blocked the internet as it is being used to oppose the coup. Nationwide citizens have been holding noisy demonstrations, banging pots and pans, as well as taking to the streets to protest. 
https://news.sky.com/story/myanmar-coup-army-takes-control-after-detaining-aung-san-suu-kyi-and-other-key-government-figures-12205019

Vietnam:
Vietnam’s ruling Community Party has re-elected its 76-year-old chief Nguyen Phu Trong for a rare third five-year term. He received an exemption to contest as he was above the age limit of 65. 
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-01/vietnams-ruling-communist-party-president-nguyen-phu-trong/13108026

Americas 

Chile:
Social media footage which shows a police officer in a southern Chilean town shooting dead a street artist has sparked violent protests. The incident took place after the juggler refused to cooperate with a police search by two uniformed men. 
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/police-shooting-of-street-artist-sparks-violent-protests-in-chile-1.5298478

Cuba:
Cuba has announced that it is opening up its economy to private businesses. This is a major reform to the communist country’s state-controlled economy, which is struggling to deal with the worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union.
https://www.ft.com/content/3956b50f-621a-4289-90c3-247a2762fae2

US:
President Biden lays out his foreign policy goals: making the US a global leader again, pulling back its participation in the war in Yemen and confronting Russia and China. 
https://www.dw.com/en/us-biden-outlines-immediate-foreign-policy-goals/a-56461916

Virginia votes to abolish the death penalty. It is likely to become the first southern US state to end executions as a punishment. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/us/politics/virginia-death-penalty-northam.html