COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa announces that he has tested positive for COVID-19. (Politico.eu)
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 Spain, COVID-19 vaccination in Spain The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices approves the phase III trial of the Hipra COVID-19 vaccine candidate. (The Olive Press)
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 Turkey Turkey reports a record 102,601 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Hürriyet Daily News)
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)
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)
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa announces that he has tested positive for COVID-19. (Politico.eu)
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 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 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)
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices approves the phase III trial of the Hipra COVID-19 vaccine candidate. (The Olive Press)
Three people are killed and at least 2,500 families have been evacuated amid heavy rains and flooding in Haiti. (Al Jazeera)
Turkey reports a record 102,601 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Hürriyet Daily News)
2022 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état attempt Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló says that gunmen tried to kill him and his entire cabinet at the government palace yesterday during the coup d'état attempt. The heavy gunfire, which lasted for five hours, resulted in the deaths of at least four attackers and two guards. The attackers are said to be "linked to drug trafficking in the country". (BBC News)
Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló says that gunmen tried to kill him and his entire cabinet at the government palace yesterday during the coup d'état attempt. The heavy gunfire, which lasted for five hours, resulted in the deaths of at least four attackers and two guards. The attackers are said to be "linked to drug trafficking in the country". (BBC News)
Denmark at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics Six players from the Danish men's national hockey team test positive for COVID-19 ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics. (The Hill)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports 2021–22 NHL season 2022 National Hockey League All-Star Game It is announced that Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin will miss the upcoming NHL All-Star game after testing positive for COVID-19. (ESPN) Denmark at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics Six players from the Danish men's national hockey team test positive for COVID-19 ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics. (The Hill)
Ituri conflict; 2021–2022 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks 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)
Mass government-organized protests against the Yangulbayev family occur in the Russian city of Grozny, Chechnya. The Chechen government claimed that protests were spontaneous and gathered 400,000 men, "not counting women," though the total population of Grozny is 325,000 people. [1] Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, Rospotrebnadzor did nothing because they "couldn't find protest organizers."[2] Earlier a member of the Russian State Duma, Adam Delimkhanov, stated that he will rip the heads off of Yangulbayevs and those who translate his speech from the Chechen language to Russian.[3][4]
Six players from the Danish men's national hockey team test positive for COVID-19 ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics. (The Hill)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis Belarus–Russia relations A video is shown of troops from the Armed Forces of Belarus and the Eastern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces conducting military drills and "combat cohesions" in Belarus amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (TASS) (ABC News) 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)
A power cable collapse kills at least 26 people in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (BBC News)
A video is shown of troops from the Armed Forces of Belarus and the Eastern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces conducting military drills and "combat cohesions" in Belarus amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (TASS) (ABC News)
Belarus–Russia relations A video is shown of troops from the Armed Forces of Belarus and the Eastern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces conducting military drills and "combat cohesions" in Belarus amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (TASS) (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic reports a record 66,970 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Radio Prague International) COVID-19 pandemic in France France begins to lift the mandatory outdoor mask wearing and work from home orders despite a high number of COVID-19 cases. (Euronews) COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany surpasses ten million COVID-19 cases. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga Tonga enters a nationwide lockdown after the country reported its first locally transmitted COVID-19 cases. (NPR)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic reports a record 66,970 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Radio Prague International) COVID-19 pandemic in France France begins to lift the mandatory outdoor mask wearing and work from home orders despite a high number of COVID-19 cases. (Euronews) COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany surpasses ten million COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in France France begins to lift the mandatory outdoor mask wearing and work from home orders despite a high number of COVID-19 cases. (Euronews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany surpasses ten million COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic reports a record 66,970 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Radio Prague International)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga Tonga enters a nationwide lockdown after the country reported its first locally transmitted COVID-19 cases. (NPR)
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)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict Turkish airstrikes target PKK and SDF positions in Northern Iraq and Syria, killing 12 people and injuring 17 others. (Middle East Eye)
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)
Turkish airstrikes target PKK and SDF positions in Northern Iraq and Syria, killing 12 people and injuring 17 others. (Middle East Eye)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in India India surpasses 500,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the third country to do so after the United States and Brazil. (The Times of India) COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan surpasses three million COVID-19 cases after a record 104,270 new cases in the past 24 hours. (Anadolu Agency) COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, COVID-19 vaccination in Malaysia Malaysia begins administering COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years using the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in France France surpasses 20 million COVID-19 cases. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, COVID-19 vaccination in Germany 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) COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves the use of the protein-based Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults over the age of 18 years. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in France France surpasses 20 million COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, COVID-19 vaccination in Germany 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in India India surpasses 500,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the third country to do so after the United States and Brazil. (The Times of India)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan surpasses three million COVID-19 cases after a record 104,270 new cases in the past 24 hours. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, COVID-19 vaccination in Malaysia Malaysia begins administering COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years using the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, History of COVID-19 vaccine development 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves the use of the protein-based Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults over the age of 18 years. (The Guardian)
Four senior aides to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resign, including Downing Street Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfield, Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds, Downing Street Director of Communications Jack Doyle, and political adviser Munira Mirza, amid controversy over the Prime Minister's handling of the Partygate scandal. (Reuters)
Germany–Russia relations, Media freedom in Russia, Censorship in Germany Russia withdraws the press credentials of all Deutsche Welle staff and closes the German media organization's studio in Moscow in response to German regulators blocking the Russian television channel RT Deutsch. (Deutsche Welle)
Japan surpasses three million COVID-19 cases after a record 104,270 new cases in the past 24 hours. (Anadolu Agency)
Malaysia begins administering COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years using the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (CNA)
Partygate Four senior aides to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resign, including Downing Street Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfield, Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds, Downing Street Director of Communications Jack Doyle, and political adviser Munira Mirza, amid controversy over the Prime Minister's handling of the Partygate scandal. (Reuters)
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)
Russia withdraws the press credentials of all Deutsche Welle staff and closes the German media organization's studio in Moscow in response to German regulators blocking the Russian television channel RT Deutsch. (Deutsche Welle)
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 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves the use of the protein-based Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults over the age of 18 years. (The Guardian)
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)
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)
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)
2022 Winter Olympics The 2022 Winter Olympics begin in Beijing. (CNN) Dutch journalist Sjoerd den Daas is interrupted and dragged away by a Chinese security guard as he broadcasts live from the ongoing Olympics. (Newsweek)
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)
Dutch journalist Sjoerd den Daas is interrupted and dragged away by a Chinese security guard as he broadcasts live from the ongoing Olympics. (Newsweek)
Politics of Montenegro, 2022 Montenegrin crisis The Government of Zdravko Krivokapić is ousted after a motion of no confidence passes 43–11. (Deutsche Welle)
