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)
2022 Italian presidential election After seven inconclusive ballots, Sergio Mattarella is elected for a second term as President on the eighth ballot. (ANSA)
After seven inconclusive ballots, Sergio Mattarella is elected for a second term as President on the eighth ballot. (ANSA)
Freedom Convoy 2022 Participants in the convoy arrive at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to protest vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. (CTV News Ottawa)
Participants in the convoy arrive at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to protest vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. (CTV News Ottawa)
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)
2021–22 European windstorm season Storm Malik impacts the British Isles, killing two people, and causing widespread damage in Scotland and Northern England. (The Independent)
2022 Russian military exercise controversy Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney announces that the Russian Minister of Defence has agreed to his request that the exercises would be moved outside the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. (RTÉ)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Russia 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) COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a record 94,783 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Russia 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) COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a record 94,783 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a record 94,783 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
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)
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney announces that the Russian Minister of Defence has agreed to his request that the exercises would be moved outside the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. (RTÉ)
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)
Storm Malik impacts the British Isles, killing two people, and causing widespread damage in Scotland and Northern England. (The Independent)
Turkey reports a record 94,783 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
2022 Portuguese legislative election Voters in Portugal head to the polls for a snap parliamentary election. (Reuters)
Voters in Portugal head to the polls for a snap parliamentary election. (Reuters)
2022 European Men's Handball Championship Sweden beat Spain 27–26 in the finals to be crowned champions, their first major title since 2002. (Olympics) (Euro Handball)
Sweden beat Spain 27–26 in the finals to be crowned champions, their first major title since 2002. (Olympics) (Euro Handball)
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)
2021 NFL season 2022 NFL playoffs The Cincinnati Bengals defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, 27–24, to win the AFC Championship, while the Los Angeles Rams defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 20–17, to win the NFC Championship. The Bengals and Rams will meet in Super Bowl LVI, set to be played in SoFi Stadium on February 13. The Rams will also become the second team after the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. (CNN)
2022 Australian Open Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal defeats Russian Daniil Medvedev in five sets to win the men's singles title at the Australian Open. The victory is Nadal's 21st Grand Slam title, which is an all-time record. (The Guardian)
2022 NFL playoffs The Cincinnati Bengals defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, 27–24, to win the AFC Championship, while the Los Angeles Rams defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 20–17, to win the NFC Championship. The Bengals and Rams will meet in Super Bowl LVI, set to be played in SoFi Stadium on February 13. The Rams will also become the second team after the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announces that the National Capital Region and seven other provinces will be downgraded to Alert Level 2, which will allow for resumption of in-person classes and usage of contact sports venues. (Rappler) COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar Qatar begins administering the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged between 5 to 11 years. It comes after the Ministry of Public Health approves the use of the vaccine for this age group. (The Peninsula Qatar)
COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar Qatar begins administering the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged between 5 to 11 years. It comes after the Ministry of Public Health approves the use of the vaccine for this age group. (The Peninsula Qatar)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announces that the National Capital Region and seven other provinces will be downgraded to Alert Level 2, which will allow for resumption of in-person classes and usage of contact sports venues. (Rappler)
North Korea launches a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from its Chagang Province. The missile reached an altitude of 2,000 km before landing in the Sea of Japan. It is North Korea's first IRBM launch since 2017. South Korea's National Security Council holds an emergency meeting in response to the launch. (BBC News) (Reuters)
North Korean missile tests North Korea launches a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from its Chagang Province. The missile reached an altitude of 2,000 km before landing in the Sea of Japan. It is North Korea's first IRBM launch since 2017. South Korea's National Security Council holds an emergency meeting in response to the launch. (BBC News) (Reuters)
Qatar begins administering the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged between 5 to 11 years. It comes after the Ministry of Public Health approves the use of the vaccine for this age group. (The Peninsula Qatar)
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)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal defeats Russian Daniil Medvedev in five sets to win the men's singles title at the Australian Open. The victory is Nadal's 21st Grand Slam title, which is an all-time record. (The Guardian)
The Cincinnati Bengals defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, 27–24, to win the AFC Championship, while the Los Angeles Rams defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 20–17, to win the NFC Championship. The Bengals and Rams will meet in Super Bowl LVI, set to be played in SoFi Stadium on February 13. The Rams will also become the second team after the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. (CNN)
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announces that the National Capital Region and seven other provinces will be downgraded to Alert Level 2, which will allow for resumption of in-person classes and usage of contact sports venues. (Rappler)
Peruvian Prime Minister Mirtha Vásquez resigns in response to a reshuffle of the government by President Pedro Castillo. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in India, COVID-19 vaccination in India Indian President Ram Nath Kovind announces that 90% of adults in India have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (ThePrint)
France–Mali relations The Malian military junta orders the French ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours in response to "outrageous comments" made by the French authorities about Mali's transitional government. (France 24)
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind announces that 90% of adults in India have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (ThePrint)
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)
The Malian military junta orders the French ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours in response to "outrageous comments" made by the French authorities about Mali's transitional government. (France 24)
2022 Brazil floods and landslides Flash flooding and landslides caused by torrential rains kill at least 19 people and leave hundreds more homeless in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. This brings the total death toll from flooding in the country to more than 50 people since the start of the wet season. (BBC News)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Prime minister Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19. (Toronto Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Prime minister Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19. (Toronto Star) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 vaccination in the United States The U.S. FDA issues a full approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 vaccination in the United States The U.S. FDA issues a full approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults. (AP)
Flash flooding and landslides caused by torrential rains kill at least 19 people and leave hundreds more homeless in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. This brings the total death toll from flooding in the country to more than 50 people since the start of the wet season. (BBC News)
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)
Prime minister Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19. (Toronto Star)
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)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–United States relations Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses the United States of trying to "draw Russia into war" in Ukraine as a pretext to impose more sanctions in order to "contain Russia's development". Putin also says that the U.S. has ignored Russia's concerns about the expansion of NATO in Eastern Europe. (BBC News)
2022 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état attempt A coup attempt is made in Guinea-Bissau. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló says that "many" members of the security forces have been killed in a "failed attack against democracy" as both the African Union and ECOWAS condemn the attempted coup. (France 24)
A coup attempt is made in Guinea-Bissau. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló says that "many" members of the security forces have been killed in a "failed attack against democracy" as both the African Union and ECOWAS condemn the attempted coup. (France 24)
Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses the United States of trying to "draw Russia into war" in Ukraine as a pretext to impose more sanctions in order to "contain Russia's development". Putin also says that the U.S. has ignored Russia's concerns about the expansion of NATO in Eastern Europe. (BBC News)
2022 Winter Olympics American bobsledder Elana Meyers announces that she has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics. (Time)
American bobsledder Elana Meyers announces that she has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics. (Time)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports 2022 Winter Olympics American bobsledder Elana Meyers announces that she has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics. (Time)
War in Donbas A Ukrainian Air Force drone strike kills a pro-Russian insurgent on the frontline in Donbas, according to the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. (Skai) The Luhansk People's Republic accuses Ukraine of deploying a 9K33 Osa anti-aircraft missile system in a residential area of Popasna, a majority Russian-speaking city near the frontline. (TASS)
2022 Haiti floods Three people are killed and at least 2,500 families have been evacuated amid heavy rains and flooding in Haiti. (Al Jazeera)
A Ukrainian Air Force drone strike kills a pro-Russian insurgent on the frontline in Donbas, according to the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. (Skai)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, COVID-19 vaccination in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, COVID-19 vaccination in Quebec 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) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The United States surpasses 900,000 deaths from COVID-19. (New York Daily News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Norway 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)
