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Portal:Current events/2016 February 20

{{Current events|year=2016|month=02|day=20|content=

;Armed conflicts and attacks

;Arts and culture

;Disasters and accidents

  • 2015–16 South Pacific cyclone season
  • Cyclone Winston
  • Hundreds of evacuation centres are activated in Fiji as Cyclone Winston makes landfall in Fiji's outer islands and heads towards islands with higher population. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-20/category-five-cyclone-winston-bears-down-on-fiji/7186080 (ABC News Australia)]
  • A curfew of 6pm is introduced with power out in many areas of Fiji. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-20/cyclone-winston-reaches-fijis-biggest-islands/7186792 (ABC)]
  • A "state of natural disaster" is declared for the next 30 days with Cyclone Winston classified as the strongest storm on record in the Southern Hemisphere. [http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/02/20/cyclone_winston_batters_fiji.html (Slate)]

;International relations

  • Syrian Civil War
  • President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan proclaims Turkey's right to launch operations in Syria against “terrorist organizations.” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu tells reporters, "The only thing we expect from our U.S. ally is to support Turkey with no ifs or buts." [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/02/21/turkey-says-it-has-right-to-launch-strikes-in-syria.html (Fox News)] [http://www.businessinsider.com/a-multifaceted-catastrophe-turkey-has-so-alienated-everyone-it-cannot-convince-anyone-to-do-anything-2016-2 (Business Insider)]
  • Peace process
  • The main Syrian opposition group says a temporary truce is possible if the Syrian government's allies, including Russia, "halt all fighting" in the war-torn country. A pause in Russian bombardments appears unlikely. [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0VT0H0 (Reuters)] [https://web.archive.org/web/20160221091453/http://www.voanews.com/content/syrian-rebels-ready-for-truce-if-russia-halts-airstrikes/3199672.html (Voice of America)]

;Law and crime

  • Jat protesters shut down 70% of Delhi's water supply meaning the Indian city could run out of water by the end of the weekend. At least nine people are killed in fighting. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Jat-quota-stir-Water-supply-cut-Delhi-may-go-dry-today/articleshow/51073879.cms (The Times of India)] [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35624547 (BBC)]
  • Calais migrant crisis
  • French authorities give up to 1000 migrants, mostly Syrians and Iraqis, until 8 p.m. local time on 23 February to leave the Calais jungle camp. Those who refuse to leave will be forcibly removed by police. [http://news.sky.com/story/1645330/calais-jungle-migrants-get-eviction-deadline (Sky News)]
  • 2016 Kalamazoo shootings
  • Seven people are killed and another injured in multiple shooting incidents in Kalamazoo County in the American state of Michigan. A 45-year-old man was later arrested in the city of Kalamazoo. [https://www.rt.com/usa/333151-michigan-random-shooting-victims/ (RT)] [http://www.independent.ie/world-news/man-arrested-after-six-killed-in-michigan-shootings-34471613.html (AP via Irish Independent)]
  • A planned refugee shelter is set on fire in Bautzen, German state of Saxony. [http://www.dw.com/en/planned-refugee-shelter-in-eastern-german-town-of-bautzen-set-on-fire/a-19063792 (Deutsche Welle)] [http://www.dw.com/en/german-lawmakers-condemn-anti-refugee-right-wing-extremism-in-saxony/a-19071065 (Deutsche Welle²)]

;Politics and elections

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