WORLD AGENDA
FEBRUARY 2021

1 Feb, U.S.: President Joe Biden makes his first address to a joint session of Congress, to unveil his “Build Back Better Recovery Plan”, which focuses on infrastructure investment and green energy. It follows his $1.9 trillion rescue plan to combat the public health and economic disasters caused by Covid-19.

2 Feb 15, Russia: Leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny is due to be released from jail after 30 days in detention. He was arrested in Moscow on his return from Germany following treatment for a near-fatal poisoning.

3 Feb 5, U.S.-Russia: The New START Treaty, limiting the nuclear arsenals of the U.S. and Russia, is due to expire. After the U.S. election both countries signalled openness to resuming talks on an extension, but time is short.

4 Feb 19, South Africa: Ace Magashule, Secretary-General of the ANC, appears in court to face 21 charges of corruption and fraud. Magashule is among several party members facing potential prosecution for corruption.

5 Feb 21-25, UAE: Abu Dhabi has invited Israeli arms and defence companies to take part in the International Defence Exhibition and Conference following the normalisation deal between the long-time adversaries last August.

6 Feb 12, China: Chinese New Year begins the Year of the Ox, and the family-focused week of festivities might have to bend to Covid-19 realities.

7 Feb, U.S.: Guitar maker Fender, whose instruments have been played by some of the world’s greatest guitarists, celebrates its 75th anniversary with a limited edition range of electric guitars and basses with unique finishes and premium pickups.

8 Feb, Mars: The Red Planet receives three visitors from Earth, all of which took off in July 2020. The UAE’s Hope orbiter is the first mission to Mars from the Arab world, China’s Tianwen-1 includes an orbiter, lander and rover, and NASA’s Perseverance rover will release the first helicopter to fly on another world.


Sources: NewsAhead, Julie Mullins
Pictures: Getty Images, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Fender
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