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 February 2015 infographic
Graphic shows world news and current affairs events scheduled during February 2015
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WORLD AGENDA

World Agenda February 2015

By Jordi Bou

February 1, 2015 - February 28, 2015 - Events include general elections in Nigeria, the release of a U.S. government report on the Keystone XL pipeline, and an aviation safety conference in Montreal. Schools reopen in Liberia following the worst Ebola epidemic on record, celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta begin, and the Deep Space Climate Observatory is launched. The Cricket World Cup begins, and the Oscars are awarded in Hollywood.

WORLD AGENDA FEBRUARY 2014

February 2, Monrovia: Schools reopen in Liberia, expected to be Ebola free by the end of the month, following the worst epidemic of the virus on record. The number of cases is also decreasing in Sierra Leone -- the worst hit country -- and Guinea.

February 2, United States: A State Department review of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, key to the Obama administration's decision on the project, is due. Opposed by environmentalists, the pipeline would carry crude oil from Canada through the U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico.

February 2-5, Montreal: Commercial aircraft should report their position every 15 minutes, the United Nations aviation agency suggests at a safety conference. The move follows the disappearance, with still no trace found, of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 last March.

February 5, London: Events to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta get underway with the four remaining manuscripts displayed together at the Palace of Westminster. The charter laid down the basis for English law, which then spread throughout the world.

February 12 and 18, London and Washington: European and global security summits take place in the wake of the January 7 gun attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 17 people dead. Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president, has cautioned against a knee-jerk reaction. 

February 14, Abuja: Nigeria goes to the polls amid fears of a descent into serious violence as Islamic extremists Boko Haram step up attacks. President Goodluck Jonathan faces a stiff challenge in presidential and parliamentary elections from former military coup leader Muhammadu Buhari.

February 14, Australia and New Zealand: The 11th Cricket World Cup begins. The match on February 15 between defending champions India and arch rivals Pakistan is set to be the most watched in history. Fourteen teams play 49 matches with the final on March 29. 

February 22, Los Angeles: Oscar glory is unveiled with Birdman, a satire directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, a comedy by Wes Anderson, leading the nominations race with nine each. The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, has eight.

February (undated), Victoria: Australia begins its first royal commission into domestic violence, the country's leading cause of death for women under 45, according to the Victoria government. A dramatic increase in reported cases and high-profile incidents highlighted the scale of the problem. 

February (undated), Bali: New Zealander Antony de Malmanche argues the groundbreaking defence that he is the victim of human trafficking at his trial for drug trafficking in Indonesia, which carries the death penalty. He was travelling to see a woman he met online.
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iGRAPHIC EXTRAS

February 1, Rio de Janeiro: The 45,000 capacity Joao Havelange stadium, stage for South America's first time as Olympic host in 2016, is due to reopen after two years of repair work. In 2013 officials found its roof was in danger of collapse. 

February 6, United Nations: International day of zero tolerance to female genital mutilation aims to end a practice which can lead to severe bleeding, infection and infertility. Around 125 million girls and women, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, have suffered FGM.

February 6, Cardiff: Wales versus England opens rugby union's Six Nations Championship with four uncapped players, including Gareth Anscombe, in the Welsh squad. Reigning champions Ireland, along with France, Italy and Scotland are also bidding for the title. 

February 9, Cape Canaveral: SpaceX's Deep Space Climate Observatory is launched onboard rocket Falcon 9. The satellite will be positioned 1.5 million kilometres from Earth to provide early warning of coronal mass ejections, massive bursts of solar wind similar to the Aurora Borealis. 

February 12-19, New York: Alexander Wang is the leading light at NY Fashion Week, first of the big four designer showcases for Autumn/Winter 2015, with emerging talent highlighted in London (February 20-24). Milan Fashion Week starts February 25 and Paris is in March. 

February 14, Beirut: The 10th anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, credited with reconstructing the country after 15 years of civil war. His death triggered the Cedar Revolution leading to the end of occupation by Syrian troops. 

February 15, British Columbia: Canadian shot putter Dylan Armstrong receives his long-awaited 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medal after third-place finisher Andrei Mikhnevich's result was wiped following the discovery of doping offences. Armstrong had finished less than one centimetre behind him. 

February 25, London: Amnesty International publishes its annual report on the state of the world's human rights in 2014. Its report for 2013 documented 159 countries' "violations and abuses inflicted by those in power on those who stand in the way of their vested interests".
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Sources
PUBLISHED: 21/01/2015; STORY: Newsahead, Kate Edgley; PICTURES: Getty Images, Associated Press, NASA
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