Eight police officers are killed and 317 others injured in clashes between protesters and security forces. No figures on civilian casualties have been released. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois, Strikes during the COVID-19 pandemic The Chicago Public Schools announces that schools in Chicago, Illinois, has been canceled for a third consecutive day as teachers in the city go on a strike over COVID-19 protocols. (National Review) (Chicago Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan declares a quasi-state of emergency for Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima prefectures, which host U.S. military bases and are reporting an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The quasi-emergency measures will take effect on January 9. (Kyodo News)
Japan declares a quasi-state of emergency for Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima prefectures, which host U.S. military bases and are reporting an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The quasi-emergency measures will take effect on January 9. (Kyodo News)
An armed man claiming to be the brother of Pakistani Al-Qaeda suspect Aafia Siddiqui holds congregants hostage at Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, United States. He is later shot and killed by police. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) (Jerusalem Post)
Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis An armed man claiming to be the brother of Pakistani Al-Qaeda suspect Aafia Siddiqui holds congregants hostage at Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, United States. He is later shot and killed by police. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) (Jerusalem Post)
Authorities say that gunmen have killed more than 50 people, including two soldiers and a police officer, in a raid on a village in Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria. Security forces were forced to flee the area, leaving the militants to burn down shops and kidnap women and children. (Reuters)
Dankade massacre Authorities say that gunmen have killed more than 50 people, including two soldiers and a police officer, in a raid on a village in Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria. Security forces were forced to flee the area, leaving the militants to burn down shops and kidnap women and children. (Reuters)
Nigerian bandit conflict Dankade massacre Authorities say that gunmen have killed more than 50 people, including two soldiers and a police officer, in a raid on a village in Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria. Security forces were forced to flee the area, leaving the militants to burn down shops and kidnap women and children. (Reuters)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations The U.S. State Department approves the delivery of U.S.-made weapons systems from the Baltic states to Ukraine, including FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. (Euractiv)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations The U.S. State Department approves the delivery of U.S.-made weapons systems from the Baltic states to Ukraine, including FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. (Euractiv)
Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis Two men are arrested in Manchester and Birmingham, England, as part of an investigation into the standoff that occurred at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, United States, on Saturday. (The Guardian)
Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis The Federal Bureau of Investigation announces it is officially investigating the standoff at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, U.S., on Saturday as a "federal hate crime" and an "act of terrorism". (WFAA-TV)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announces it is officially investigating the standoff at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, U.S., on Saturday as a "federal hate crime" and an "act of terrorism". (WFAA-TV)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis The U.S. State Department orders its diplomats' families to leave Ukraine, and authorizes voluntary departure of non-essential embassy staff in Kyiv. "Due to the continued threat" of a Russian invasion on Ukraine, American citizens are also urged to leave the country. (France 24)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis The U.S. State Department orders its diplomats' families to leave Ukraine, and authorizes voluntary departure of non-essential embassy staff in Kyiv. "Due to the continued threat" of a Russian invasion on Ukraine, American citizens are also urged to leave the country. (France 24)
Spillover of the Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces intercepts two ballistic missiles over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. The Yemen-based Houthis claim responsibility for the attack. American troops stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base near the capital take shelter in bunkers during the attack. (ABC News)
Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces intercepts two ballistic missiles over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. The Yemen-based Houthis claim responsibility for the attack. American troops stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base near the capital take shelter in bunkers during the attack. (ABC News)
The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces intercepts two ballistic missiles over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. The Yemen-based Houthis claim responsibility for the attack. American troops stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base near the capital take shelter in bunkers during the attack. (ABC News)
At a special Pentagon press briefing, United States Army General Mark Milley and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be "horrific" and could result in "significant casualties". (Reuters)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis War in Donbas The United States Embassy in Kyiv calls on Russia to "fully comply" with the ceasefire in Donbas after pro-Russian forces shelled the strategic Hnutove entry-exit checkpoint and a humanitarian road corridor. (Ukranews) Belarus–Ukraine relations Belarus says that a Ukrainian Air Force drone violated its airspace over a military training area, and that the military forced the aircraft to land. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summons the Ukrainian ambassador in response to the incident. (Belta)
Syrian civil war Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the leader of the Islamic State, dies after killing himself with a suicide bombing during a U.S. Joint Special Operations Command raid and battle in Atme, Idlib Governorate, Syria. Twelve more people are killed during the raid. (BBC News)
War in Donbas The United States Embassy in Kyiv calls on Russia to "fully comply" with the ceasefire in Donbas after pro-Russian forces shelled the strategic Hnutove entry-exit checkpoint and a humanitarian road corridor. (Ukranews)
The United States Embassy in Kyiv calls on Russia to "fully comply" with the ceasefire in Donbas after pro-Russian forces shelled the strategic Hnutove entry-exit checkpoint and a humanitarian road corridor. (Ukranews)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis A pair of Tu-22M3 bombers are seen flying across Belarus amid large joint military drills and tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (AP) Protesters gather in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to protest Russian aggression. Code Pink and other anti-war protesters also gather in Topsham, Maine and other cities across the U.S. to protest the escalation. (VOA) (WABI-TV) (San Francisco Chronicle)
Protesters gather in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to protest Russian aggression. Code Pink and other anti-war protesters also gather in Topsham, Maine and other cities across the U.S. to protest the escalation. (VOA) (WABI-TV) (San Francisco Chronicle)
A planned US$66 billion merger between British semiconductor company Arm Ltd. and American hardware company Nvidia is cancelled after facing regulatory pressures from the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and China. Arm says that it will instead go public sometime before March 2023. If the deal were successful, it would have been the largest merger in the history of the semiconductor industry. (Reuters) (Ars Technica)
A South Korean envoy in New York City is attacked in an unprovoked assault. (Yahoo! News)
Belarus–Russia relations Russia and Belarus begin a 10-day military exercise known as "Allied Resolve-2022" amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine. The United States and NATO denounce the exercise, with NATO calling it the biggest deployment of Russian troops since the Cold War. (CNBC)
Russia and Belarus begin a 10-day military exercise known as "Allied Resolve-2022" amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine. The United States and NATO denounce the exercise, with NATO calling it the biggest deployment of Russian troops since the Cold War. (CNBC)
Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic A South Korean envoy in New York City is attacked in an unprovoked assault. (Yahoo! News)
Russia–NATO relations The Biden administration says that Russia now has enough troops and military equipment in place in order to launch an invasion of Ukraine and warns Americans to leave the country within the next 48 hours. (BBC News) The British Foreign Office advises British nationals to leave Ukraine immediately. (The Independent) (FCDO) It is announced that the United States Armed Forces will deploy 3,000 additional troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to Poland in the "coming days" amid tensions with Russia. (Reuters)
The Biden administration says that Russia now has enough troops and military equipment in place in order to launch an invasion of Ukraine and warns Americans to leave the country within the next 48 hours. (BBC News)
Finland agrees to a $9.4 billion deal with the United States to purchase 64 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter-jets for its air force. The agreement also includes buying advanced surface-to-surface missiles from Lockheed Martin in order to upgrade the country's missile systems. The munition deliveries are expected to begin by 2025. (Reuters)
Finland–United States relations Finland agrees to a $9.4 billion deal with the United States to purchase 64 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter-jets for its air force. The agreement also includes buying advanced surface-to-surface missiles from Lockheed Martin in order to upgrade the country's missile systems. The munition deliveries are expected to begin by 2025. (Reuters)
Canada convoy protest Canadian police say a major demonstration at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, has dispersed peacefully. The protesters had been given warnings for several days. (BBC News)
Canadian police say a major demonstration at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, has dispersed peacefully. The protesters had been given warnings for several days. (BBC News)
War in Donbas The Luhansk People's Republic says that a service member has been killed on the frontline by a Ukrainian military sniper, according to its office at the Joint Centre of Control and Coordination. (Urdu Point) An attempted terrorist attack on a memorial rally in the city of Luhansk is reportedly stopped. Russian media blames the Ukrainian Defence Ministry and "special services" of being involved in the attack. A video shows an improvised explosive device being discovered inside a garbage can. (The Jerusalem Post)
An attempted terrorist attack on a memorial rally in the city of Luhansk is reportedly stopped. Russian media blames the Ukrainian Defence Ministry and "special services" of being involved in the attack. A video shows an improvised explosive device being discovered inside a garbage can. (The Jerusalem Post)
The Luhansk People's Republic says that a service member has been killed on the frontline by a Ukrainian military sniper, according to its office at the Joint Centre of Control and Coordination. (Urdu Point)
Estonia delivers a shipment of U.S.-made FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. (Reuters)
Poland–United States relations U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announces the sale of 250 M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Poland amid tensions with Russia. The Polish Land Forces will become the first European military to operate the American M1 Abrams. (Reuters)
Biden speaks with Macron on diplomacy with and deterrence efforts against Russia, after Macron and Putin agreed to work towards a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. (Asian News International)
Belarus–Russia relations Military exercises between Belarusian and Russian forces in Belarus are extended amid tensions with Ukraine. Around 30,000 Russian troops are currently stationed in Belarus, according to NATO. (Reuters) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a decision by Russia and Belarus to extend military drills is Moscow following its "playbook" for an invasion of Ukraine. (New York Post)
The United States says it has intelligence indicating orders have been sent to Russian military commanders to proceed with an incursion on Ukraine. (NBC News)
China–United States relations Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announces that China will sanction American defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon after the United States approved a US$100 million missile defense repair deal between the two companies and Taiwan. (Al Jazeera English)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announces that China will sanction American defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon after the United States approved a US$100 million missile defense repair deal between the two companies and Taiwan. (Al Jazeera English)
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan states that the United States will rally the international community to hold Russia accountable should it invade Ukraine. (CBS News)
Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis The U.S. State Department evacuates its remaining diplomats in Ukraine to Poland. (The Straits Times) National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan states that the United States will rally the international community to hold Russia accountable should it invade Ukraine. (CBS News) The U.S. says it will impose sanctions on the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic in response to Putin recognizing their independence and sovereignty. (The Guardian)
The United States calls the Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine "an invasion". (CTV News)
Ukraine announces the mobilization of its military reserves with a maximum service length of one year for reservists between the ages of 18 and 60 years. (The Hill)
Anti-war protests in Russia Protesters in Russia are detained as people gather in cities across the country in order to protest Putin's invasion of Ukraine. (The Moscow Times) (Newsweek) Russian activist Marina Litvinovich is detained by Moscow police after calling for anti-war demonstrations across Russia. (Reuters)
Israel fires several missiles towards Damascus, Syria, killing three Syrian soldiers. (The Washington Post) (Times of Israel)
Israel's role in the Syrian Civil War Israel fires several missiles towards Damascus, Syria, killing three Syrian soldiers. (The Washington Post) (Times of Israel)
Russian activist Marina Litvinovich is detained by Moscow police after calling for anti-war demonstrations across Russia. (Reuters)
Canada terminates all export permits with Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. (U.S. News & World Report)
Canada–Russia relations Canada terminates all export permits with Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. (U.S. News & World Report)
Kyiv offensive, Battle of Kyiv The Ukrainian military says that it has blown up a bridge in order to prevent Russian forces from advancing to Kyiv. (Ukrinform) Ukraine says that Russian troops have entered Kyiv and heavy fighting is underway. Videos on social media show tanks advancing through the city's Obolon neighbourhood. Gunfire and explosions are also reported in the city's Podilskyi District. (BBC News) (The Guardian) The US Department of Defense says that Russia is losing momentum in its attack on Ukraine. (CNN)
The US Department of Defense says that Russia is losing momentum in its attack on Ukraine. (CNN)
Nuclear program of Iran Russia–United States relations U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price says that the U.S. will still engage with Russia in efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)
Latvian ice hockey club Dinamo Riga withdraws from the Kontinental Hockey League in protest of the invasion, joining Finland club Jokerit. (Sportsnet)
Battle of Okhtyrka Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova confirms that Russian forces attacked Okhtyrka with a vacuum bomb. (Reuters) (The Independent)
Belarus–United States relations, Russia–United States relations The United States closes its embassy in Minsk, Belarus, and allows "non-essential staff" at its embassy in Moscow to leave the country amid war in neighbouring Ukraine. (The Independent) The United States announces it is expelling 12 Russian people in New York who are a part of Russia's delegation to the United Nations, saying they are "intelligence operatives" who have "abused their privileges of residency" by engaging in "espionage activities." (The Hill)
The United States closes its embassy in Minsk, Belarus, and allows "non-essential staff" at its embassy in Moscow to leave the country amid war in neighbouring Ukraine. (The Independent)
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova confirms that Russian forces attacked Okhtyrka with a vacuum bomb. (Reuters) (The Independent)
Belarus is expected to directly deploy its armed forces in Ukraine, thereby aiding Russia in its invasion. However, a senior U.S. defense official says that there are no indications that Belarusian troops have been deployed yet. (The Washington Post) (The Hill)
Belarus–Ukraine relations Belarus is expected to directly deploy its armed forces in Ukraine, thereby aiding Russia in its invasion. However, a senior U.S. defense official says that there are no indications that Belarusian troops have been deployed yet. (The Washington Post) (The Hill)
International reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine FIFA and UEFA suspend all Russian football clubs from international competitions and also ban the Russian national football team from competing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. UEFA also ends its sponsorship with Russian energy firm Gazprom. (BBC Sport) The International Ice Hockey Federation suspends all Russian and Belarusian clubs, as well as the respective national teams of the two countries, from its competitions. It also withdraws Russia's hosting rights of the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. (USA Today)
The United States says it will continue to provide arms to Ukraine to aid that country in its defense against Russian aggression. (MilitaryNews)
Ukraine–United States relations The United States says it will continue to provide arms to Ukraine to aid that country in its defense against Russian aggression. (MilitaryNews)
The Russian Armed Forces warn Kyiv residents to leave the city as its armoured convoy approaches the city's outskirts. The Russians also warn people living around the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine to evacuate, with the stated purpose of "thwarting informational attacks against Russia". (Reuters) (TASS) (The Guardian)
Kyiv offensive A Russian military convoy that is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) long continues to advance toward Kyiv, as the invasion enters its sixth day. (BBC News) A senior U.S. defense official asserts that the convoy has "stalled" amid the Ukrainian military response and fuel and food shortages, but also warns that the Russian troops are "certain to regroup". (NBC News)
A Western intelligence report indicates that China had some level of knowledge about the Russian invasion of Ukraine as it requested Russian officials not to invade during the 2022 Olympic Games. China disputes the accuracy of the reports, saying they are a way to shift blame on the country and smear it. (The New York Times)
China–Russia relations A Western intelligence report indicates that China had some level of knowledge about the Russian invasion of Ukraine as it requested Russian officials not to invade during the 2022 Olympic Games. China disputes the accuracy of the reports, saying they are a way to shift blame on the country and smear it. (The New York Times)
An emergency special session of the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for Russia to end the invasion. (The Washington Post) (The Guardian)
