France officially bans the use of plastic packaging for large vegetables and fruits, such as cucumbers, carrots, and bananas. Spain plans to introduce a similar law in 2023. (The Guardian)
Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war The rebel-held city of Idlib loses its supply of water after Russian Air Force jets bombed a nearby water station. Airstrikes have increased in the past 24 hours with attacks also reported on farms near the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing, and on IDP camps near Jisr al-Shughur which killed three people. (Reuters)
Syrian civil war Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war The rebel-held city of Idlib loses its supply of water after Russian Air Force jets bombed a nearby water station. Airstrikes have increased in the past 24 hours with attacks also reported on farms near the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing, and on IDP camps near Jisr al-Shughur which killed three people. (Reuters)
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake strikes on the border between Yunnan and Sichuan, China, injuring 22 people. (Al Jazeera)
Spillover of the Somali Civil War Six men are killed by suspected al-Shabaab militants in a village in Lamu County, Kenya, near the border with Somalia. (Reuters)
2021 Belarus–European Union border crisis, Belarus–Lithuania relations The Lithuanian government announces that it will not extend the state of emergency at the border with Belarus. (Reuters)
2022 Australian Open, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports 2021 Men's Singles champion Novak Djokovic is detained by the Australian Border Force for failing to provide a valid medical exemption to explain his not being vaccinated against COVID-19 under federal guidelines. The Victoria State Government and Tennis Australia had previously approved Djokovic's exemption under their own guidelines, which was not endorsed by the federal Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. (The Guardian)
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte signs into law a bill outlawing child marriage, with violators facing up to 12 months in prison. Some portions of the law will not go into effect for one year in order to allow Muslim and indigenous communities to prepare. (South China Morning Post)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports 2022 Australian Open The Federal Court of Australia orders that Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic be released from immigration detention and allowed to compete in the Australian Open in order to defend his Championship, and also orders the federal government to pay Djokovic's legal fees. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, COVID-19 vaccination in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, COVID-19 vaccination in Quebec Quebec announces plans to impose a "significant" tax on those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, with exemptions for those who have legitimate medical exemptions from taking the vaccine. However, few additional details were revealed on a policy which would be a first in Canada. (The Globe and Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, COVID-19 vaccination in Quebec Quebec announces plans to impose a "significant" tax on those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, with exemptions for those who have legitimate medical exemptions from taking the vaccine. However, few additional details were revealed on a policy which would be a first in Canada. (The Globe and Mail)
Quebec announces plans to impose a "significant" tax on those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, with exemptions for those who have legitimate medical exemptions from taking the vaccine. However, few additional details were revealed on a policy which would be a first in Canada. (The Globe and Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in South America COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil Brazil begins a COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11 years old with the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine despite objections from President Jair Bolsonaro. (France 24) COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay Uruguay opens its borders to citizens and residents who have been infected with COVID-19. People will need to travel in private vehicles across the border and be in a family "bubble". (Reuters)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports 2022 Australian Open The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Alex Hawke, invokes his ministerial powers under the Migration Act 1958 to cancel Novak Djokovic's visa on "health and good order grounds". (ABC News Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay Uruguay opens its borders to citizens and residents who have been infected with COVID-19. People will need to travel in private vehicles across the border and be in a family "bubble". (Reuters)
A Parisian court fines far-right French television pundit and presidential candidate Éric Zemmour €10,000 for calling unaccompanied migrant children "rapists" and "murderers" during a September 2020 television broadcast. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kiribati Kiribati announces a curfew and mandatory face masks after 36 passengers on a charter flight from Fiji test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival. The plane was the first international commercial flight to land in the country since March 2020. Kiribati reopened its borders on January 10th. (Stuff.co.nz)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa A seventh passenger from a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu, Hawaii, tests positive for COVID-19. The plane landed in American Samoa on January 6, 2022. (Samoa News) COVID-19 pandemic in Kiribati Kiribati announces a curfew and mandatory face masks after 36 passengers on a charter flight from Fiji test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival. The plane was the first international commercial flight to land in the country since March 2020. Kiribati reopened its borders on January 10th. (Stuff.co.nz)
Kiribati announces a curfew and mandatory face masks after 36 passengers on a charter flight from Fiji test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival. The plane was the first international commercial flight to land in the country since March 2020. Kiribati reopened its borders on January 10th. (Stuff.co.nz)
The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force continues flights to Ukraine delivering "thousands" of MBT LAW anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian military. Russia accuses Britain of "fuelling the crisis" by sending lethal weapons to Ukraine. (UK Defence Journal) (The Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia Western Australia indefinitely suspends the reopening of its borders to fully vaccinated international and inter-state travellers in order to allow people to receive a booster dose due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (The Guardian) COVID-19 drug development The Therapeutic Goods Administration grants provisional approval for Pfizer's Paxlovid COVID-19 drug and Merck & Co.'s Molnupiravir COVID-19 drug. (News.com.au)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil Brazilian drug regulator Anvisa approves the use of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for children between the ages of 6 and 11 years. (Agência Brasil)
COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia Western Australia indefinitely suspends the reopening of its borders to fully vaccinated international and inter-state travellers in order to allow people to receive a booster dose due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (The Guardian)
Western Australia indefinitely suspends the reopening of its borders to fully vaccinated international and inter-state travellers in order to allow people to receive a booster dose due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic The French Constitutional Council conditionally approves a new COVID-19 vaccine pass law that would require adults over the age of 16 years to be fully vaccinated in order to enter public venues and use intra-regional public transport but rejects the mandatory use of the vaccine pass for political rallies. The new vaccine pass will take effect on January 24. (France 24)
The French Constitutional Council conditionally approves a new COVID-19 vaccine pass law that would require adults over the age of 16 years to be fully vaccinated in order to enter public venues and use intra-regional public transport but rejects the mandatory use of the vaccine pass for political rallies. The new vaccine pass will take effect on January 24. (France 24)
LGBT rights in France The National Assembly votes to criminalize conversion therapy, with violators facing three years in prison and up to €45,000 in fines. The bill will now be sent to President Emmanuel Macron to be signed into law. (BBC News)
The National Assembly votes to criminalize conversion therapy, with violators facing three years in prison and up to €45,000 in fines. The bill will now be sent to President Emmanuel Macron to be signed into law. (BBC News)
Spillover of the Syrian civil war Jordanian troops kill 27 "armed smugglers" after they tried to cross the border from Syria with a large quantity of amphetamines. Several other smugglers, who were "supported by other armed groups", were wounded, according to a statement from the military. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippine Department of Tourism announces the lifting of quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated tourists from countries under its visa waiver program, effective February 10. (AFP via NDTV) COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a record for the third consecutive day of 16,096 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 793,582. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippine Department of Tourism announces the lifting of quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated tourists from countries under its visa waiver program, effective February 10. (AFP via NDTV)
Ten members of the Sunni Islamist organization Muslim Brotherhood are sentenced to capital punishment by an Egyptian court for their involvement in a deadly attack against security personnel in 2015. (AFP via The Times of Israel)
Spillover of the Somali Civil War Thirteen people are killed after a bus hit a roadside bomb planted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Mandera, Kenya, near the border with Somalia. (VOA)
European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic The European Union restricts the validity of the EU Digital COVID certificate to only nine months after having received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Schengen Visa Info)
The European Union restricts the validity of the EU Digital COVID certificate to only nine months after having received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Schengen Visa Info)
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen signs a law that makes the country the first in the European Union to mandate that people over the age of 18 years receive the COVID-19 vaccine after the Bundesrat voted 47–12 yesterday to approve the law. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen signs a law that makes the country the first in the European Union to mandate that people over the age of 18 years receive the COVID-19 vaccine after the Bundesrat voted 47–12 yesterday to approve the law. (The Guardian)
Australia announces that it will reopen its international borders to fully vaccinated tourists on February 21, after a closure of almost two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Western Australia is expected to continue to close its borders to tourists. (ABC News Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic Australia announces that it will reopen its international borders to fully vaccinated tourists on February 21, after a closure of almost two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Western Australia is expected to continue to close its borders to tourists. (ABC News Australia)
Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis Belarus–United States relations The U.S. State Department tells Americans to leave Belarus immediately due to the threat of war. (National Post) The United States relocates its embassy operations from the capital Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine, citing a "dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces" on the Russia–Ukraine border. (Reuters)
The government of Canada invokes the Emergencies Act for the first time since the law was passed in 1988, thereby giving the federal government temporary powers to deal with ongoing blockades associated with the protests. (CBC News)
Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation The European Court of Justice dismisses Poland and Hungary's challenges against the regulation and confirms that the regulation is in compliance with the treaties of the European Union. This will allow the European Commission to suspend funds from the EU budget to member states that have rule of law issues which are likely to affect the management of EU funds. (Al Jazeera)
The European Court of Justice dismisses Poland and Hungary's challenges against the regulation and confirms that the regulation is in compliance with the treaties of the European Union. This will allow the European Commission to suspend funds from the EU budget to member states that have rule of law issues which are likely to affect the management of EU funds. (Al Jazeera)
The British government ends its immigrant investor programs, known as a Tier 1 (Investor) visa, with "immediate effect". The scheme was introduced in 2008 in order to encourage wealthy people from outside the European Union to invest in the United Kingdom. (BBC News)
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell says that shelling has begun in eastern Ukraine. (La Vanguardia)
The United Nations Security Council convenes in order to discuss Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border. (C-SPAN)
War in Donbas The Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic declare a full military mobilisation, a day after beginning to evacuate civilians to Russia. (Reuters) Two Ukrainian troops are killed and four others are injured by shelling from separatist forces. Separatists have opened fire on more than 30 settlements with artillery, according to the Ukrainian military. (Reuters) Russia launches an investigation following reports that shells landed inside Rostov Oblast, 2 km from the Russia–Ukraine border. At least one structure on a farm is reportedly destroyed. (Reuters) (TASS)
Following the meeting, Biden abruptly cancels plans to go to his home in Delaware for the Presidents' Day holiday. It is a rare occurrence for a U.S. president's travel plans to change in this manner, especially when the plans involve the president leaving Washington, D.C. (CNBC)
War in Donbas The Luhansk People's Republic says that two civilians have been killed by Ukrainian military shelling in the village of Pionerskoye, near the Russia–Ukraine border. Five buildings were also destroyed. (TASS)
Abortion in Colombia The Constitutional Court decriminalizes abortion in all cases for up to six months of gestation, and removes time limits in cases of rape, fetal defects, or if the mother's life is in danger. (Reuters)
The Constitutional Court decriminalizes abortion in all cases for up to six months of gestation, and removes time limits in cases of rape, fetal defects, or if the mother's life is in danger. (Reuters)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis 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) Ukraine urges all citizens to leave Russia immediately, following an increase in tensions in the region. (MSN) Ukraine closes its civilian airspace nationwide due to potential hazards. (Reuters) Russia closes its airspace in a region to the east of its border with Ukraine. (FlightGlobal)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis 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) Ukraine urges all citizens to leave Russia immediately, following an increase in tensions in the region. (MSN) Ukraine closes its civilian airspace nationwide due to potential hazards. (Reuters) Russia closes its airspace in a region to the east of its border with Ukraine. (FlightGlobal)
Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis 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) Ukraine urges all citizens to leave Russia immediately, following an increase in tensions in the region. (MSN) Ukraine closes its civilian airspace nationwide due to potential hazards. (Reuters) Russia closes its airspace in a region to the east of its border with Ukraine. (FlightGlobal)
Russia closes its airspace in a region to the east of its border with Ukraine. (FlightGlobal)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declares martial law across the country in response to the invasion. Zelenskyy also orders a general military mobilization of fit-to-serve Ukrainian citizens, with men between the ages of 18 and 60 years prohibited from leaving the country. (TASS) (CNN)
Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukrainians, Norwegians, and Russians hold a joint anti-war protest in Kirkenes, Norway, calling for Vladimir Putin to be tried at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands. (BarentsObserver) Protesters gather in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. (Reuters) Protesters gather at the Russian consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a second consecutive day to express outrage over the war. (AOL)
Ukrainians, Norwegians, and Russians hold a joint anti-war protest in Kirkenes, Norway, calling for Vladimir Putin to be tried at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands. (BarentsObserver)
Brazil and Venezuela will reopen their border after a two year closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela Brazil and Venezuela will reopen their border after a two year closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela Brazil and Venezuela will reopen their border after a two year closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov says that a Russian delegation has arrived in Gomel, Belarus, to hold talks as part of an effort to end the war. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects Belarus as the country is a non-neutral party in the conflict. Ukraine and Russia eventually agree to hold negotiations on the Belarus–Ukraine border near the Pripyat river tomorrow as the Ukrainian delegation is travelling to the location via Poland for safety reasons. (Belarusian Telegraph Agency) (The Washington Post) (Ukrainska Pravda) (Rzeczpospolita)
368,000 refugees have fled Ukraine since the invasion started, according to an estimate by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (Euronews)
Ukraine sues Russia in the International Court of Justice, seeking an injunction ordering an immediate end to Russian military activities. (Ukrinform)
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan announces that the International Criminal Court will conduct a criminal investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. (CBS News)
Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan announces that the International Criminal Court will conduct a criminal investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. (CBS News)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan announces that the International Criminal Court will conduct a criminal investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. (CBS News)
Foreign relations of Andorra Prime Minister Xavier Espot announces that he will enter urgently to parliamentary procedure on Wednesday so that the General Council can approve the normative framework to apply economic sanctions to Russia. This law will aim to freeze the bank assets of 700 people and 50 companies that the European Union considers to be linked to the invasion of Ukraine. It is the first time in the history of Andorra that sanctions have been applied to a foreign country. (Diari d'Andorra)
Prime Minister Xavier Espot announces that he will enter urgently to parliamentary procedure on Wednesday so that the General Council can approve the normative framework to apply economic sanctions to Russia. This law will aim to freeze the bank assets of 700 people and 50 companies that the European Union considers to be linked to the invasion of Ukraine. It is the first time in the history of Andorra that sanctions have been applied to a foreign country. (Diari d'Andorra)
The European Court of Human Rights orders an immediate cessation of bombarding and targeting of civilian targets in Ukraine. (Europeiska Pravda)
Russo-Ukrainian War Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny calls for more anti-war protests in Russia and across the world, as well as protests against President Vladimir Putin. (The Hill) The International Criminal Court announces that they have opened a criminal investigation into war crimes that have been committed in Ukraine since 2013, including during the invasion. (Business Insider)
The International Criminal Court announces that they have opened a criminal investigation into war crimes that have been committed in Ukraine since 2013, including during the invasion. (Business Insider)
In an unprecedented move, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) suspends all judicial proceedings against Ukraine pending before the ECHR. (Europeiska Pravda)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that over one million Ukrainians have fled the country since the invasion began. (Al Jazeera)
Ukrainian refugee crisis The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that over one million Ukrainians have fled the country since the invasion began. (Al Jazeera)
