Chile reports a record 26,727 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.075 million. (Xinhua News Agency)
New South Wales reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.2 sublineage. (The Guardian)
Russia reports a record for the eighth consecutive day of 98,040 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.5 million. (ABC News)
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)
The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States agree to suspend Burkina Faso's membership in the bloc in response to the coup d'état. (AFP via RFI)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis Russia–NATO relations, France–Romania relations France announces that it will deploy "several hundred" troops to Romania in order to support NATO's eastern flank amid tensions with Russia. (Times of India)
France announces that it will deploy "several hundred" troops to Romania in order to support NATO's eastern flank amid tensions with Russia. (Times of India)
Russia reports a record for the ninth consecutive day of 113,122 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.61 million. (The Moscow Times)
Russia–NATO relations, France–Romania relations France announces that it will deploy "several hundred" troops to Romania in order to support NATO's eastern flank amid tensions with Russia. (Times of India)
South Korea reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 17,542 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 811,122. (The Korea Herald)
Turkey reports a record 94,783 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
Russia reports a record for the tenth consecutive day of 121,288 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.37 million. (Euronews)
2022 Burkinabé coup d'état The African Union suspends Burkina Faso in response to last week's coup d'état. (Reuters)
2022 Ecuador landslides At least 23 people are killed in and 47 injured in landslides in Quito, Ecuador. (CNN)
At least 23 people are killed in and 47 injured in landslides in Quito, Ecuador. (CNN)
Partygate The initial findings of a report by senior civil servant Sue Gray into allegations of rule breaking at 10 Downing Street during COVID-19 lockdowns are published. (BBC News)
Russia reports a record for the 11th consecutive day of 124,070 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.86 million. (Interfax)
South Africa scraps the mandatory self-quarantine period for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and cuts the mandatory self-quarantine period for symptomatic patients to seven days because 60% to 80% of its population now had COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
The African Union suspends Burkina Faso in response to last week's coup d'état. (Reuters)
The Ecuadoran environmental ministry reports that approximately 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve have been contaminated following an oil spill attributed to a ruptured pipeline. (AFP via RFI)
The initial findings of a report by senior civil servant Sue Gray into allegations of rule breaking at 10 Downing Street during COVID-19 lockdowns are published. (BBC News)
Norway lifts almost all remaining COVID-19-related restrictions except for face mask rules due to the country's high vaccination rate. (The Local Norway)
Quebec Premier François Legault suspends a plan to tax people who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 in order to protect "social cohesion" in the province. (CBC)
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices approves the phase III trial of the Hipra COVID-19 vaccine candidate. (The Olive Press)
Turkey reports a record 102,601 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Hürriyet Daily News)
A power cable collapse kills at least 26 people in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (BBC News)
France begins to lift the mandatory outdoor mask wearing and work from home orders despite a high number of COVID-19 cases. (Euronews)
Kinshasa power cable collapse A power cable collapse kills at least 26 people in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (BBC News)
Over 60 people are killed by CODECO militiamen during a mass stabbing at a camp for internally displaced people in Djugu, Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera)
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby announces that the Pentagon will deploy 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe in order to defend its allies and counter Russian aggression against Ukraine. (NBC News)
Plaine Savo massacre Over 60 people are killed by CODECO militiamen during a mass stabbing at a camp for internally displaced people in Djugu, Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera)
The Czech Republic reports a record 66,970 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Radio Prague International)
Tonga enters a nationwide lockdown after the country reported its first locally transmitted COVID-19 cases. (NPR)
2022 Caribbean Series Professional baseball team Caimanes de Barranquilla defeats the Gigantes del Cibao 4–1 to win the 2022 Caribbean Series and becoming the first Colombian team to win the tournament. (MLB)
Brazil reports a record 298,408 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 26.09 million. (Reuters)
Japan surpasses three million COVID-19 cases after a record 104,270 new cases in the past 24 hours. (Anadolu Agency)
Professional baseball team Caimanes de Barranquilla defeats the Gigantes del Cibao 4–1 to win the 2022 Caribbean Series and becoming the first Colombian team to win the tournament. (MLB)
South Africa's Afrigen Biologics uses the publicly available sequence of the mRNA-based Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to make its own version of the vaccine, which will become the world's first vaccine based on an existing vaccine once it is tested on humans later this year. (Al Jazeera)
The oil tanker Trinity Spirit catches fire and explodes off the coast of Nigeria. (Newsweek)
The Standing Committee on Vaccination issues a recommendation for the approval of the protein-based Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults. (Deutsche Welle)
Twenty people die and 74 others are hospitalized in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after consuming cocaine laced with poison or "cut" with another substance. Nine people are arrested. (BBC News)
Russia reports a record for the 15th consecutive day of 168,201 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 12.45 million. (Interfax)
Turkey reports a record 111,157 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Hürriyet Daily News)
Hong Kong reports a record 351 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 15,066. (The Standard)
New Zealand reports a record 243 new community transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (RNZ)
Queensland reports a record 21 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the statewide death toll to 268. (News.com.au)
Russia reports a record for the 16th consecutive day of 177,282 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 12.63 million. (TASS)
Singapore reports a record 13,046 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 379,681. (The Star)
South Korea reports a record for the third consecutive day of 36,362 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 971,018. (The Korea Herald)
2021–22 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season Cyclone Batsirai, a category 4 cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale, kills at least 10 people and displaces more than 48,000 after making landfall in Madagascar. (AFP via France 24)
Cyclone Batsirai, a category 4 cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale, kills at least 10 people and displaces more than 48,000 after making landfall in Madagascar. (AFP via France 24)
Russia lifts its seven-day quarantine guideline for people who had contact with positive COVID-19 patients despite reporting a record 189,071 new cases. (ABC News)
South Korea surpasses one million cases of COVID-19 after reporting a record 38,690 new cases in the past 24 hours. (CNA)
Hong Kong reports a record for the third consecutive day of 614 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 16,022. (The Guardian)
Nigeria receives two million doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine donated by the European Union. (All Africa)
South Korea ditches its Test-and-Trace strategy and instead focuses on maintaining essential social functions amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Financial Times)
2022 Colombia landslides Landslides kill at least 14 people and injure 35 in Dosquebradas, Risaralda Department. (BBC News) (DW News)
A joint operation by the Malian Armed Forces and the French-led Takuba Task Force kills at least 30 jihadists. A Mirage 2000 fighter jet was involved in the operation, bombing a group of militants on motorbikes. (Reuters)
Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Europe In a letter published by the Vatican, ex-Pope Benedict XVI expresses "my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness," in response to inquiry into his handling of child sex abuse when he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising between 1977 and 1982. In a statement published with the letter, his aides insist that "as an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-up of acts of abuse". (France 24)
Eight people, including five park rangers and a soldier are killed by land mines in the W National Park in Benin. (Al Jazeera)
In a letter published by the Vatican, ex-Pope Benedict XVI expresses "my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness," in response to inquiry into his handling of child sex abuse when he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising between 1977 and 1982. In a statement published with the letter, his aides insist that "as an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-up of acts of abuse". (France 24)
In an operation against the PKK, the Turkish Air Force bombards a city in Erbil District. No known casualties are recorded. (Rudaw)
Japan reports a record 159 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Jiji Press)
Landslides kill at least 14 people and injure 35 in Dosquebradas, Risaralda Department. (BBC News) (DW News)
COVID-19 vaccine Johnson & Johnson officially suspends production of its COVID-19 vaccine. It says production will likely resume later, and that millions of doses remain stocked for distribution per earlier agreements. (CBS News)
Hong Kong reports a record for the fifth consecutive day of 1,161 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 17,808. Hong Kong also reports their first two deaths from COVID-19 since September. (South China Morning Post)
Johnson & Johnson officially suspends production of its COVID-19 vaccine. It says production will likely resume later, and that millions of doses remain stocked for distribution per earlier agreements. (CBS News)
King Felipe VI tests positive for COVID-19, with mild symptoms. (Reuters)
Queen Margrethe II tests positive for COVID-19, with mild symptoms. (NDTV)
Archaeologists announce the discovery of a human tooth in the Grotte Mandrin near Malataverne, France, dating to 54,000 YBP, around 10,000 years before the currently accepted date for the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe. (CNN)
Charles, Prince of Wales, tests positive for COVID-19 for the second time. (Reuters)
COVID-19 vaccination in Australia The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation proposes changing the definition of a fully vaccinated person to only include people who have received a booster dose. (ABC News Australia)
Spain lifts its outdoor mask mandate due to a decline in the spread of the Omicron variant. (GMA News Network)
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation proposes changing the definition of a fully vaccinated person to only include people who have received a booster dose. (ABC News Australia)
Tunisia lifts its nightly curfew due to a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases, but extends the ban on gatherings for one week. (National Post)
