COVID-19 pandemic in Kiribati Kiribati goes into lockdown for the first time during the pandemic after dozens of passengers onboard a January 14th charter flight from Fiji test positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Poland Poland reports a record for the second consecutive day of 40,876 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,484,095. (Polskie Radio)
COVID-19 pandemic in Romania Romania surpasses two million cases of COVID-19. (Digi24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 57,212 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.04 million. (The Times of India)
COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa announces a three day lockdown in response to ten positive COVID-19 passengers from repatriation flight. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore Singapore reports its first confirmed death related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in an unvaccinated 92-year-old woman. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Solomon Islands The number of new COVID-19 cases rises to 48, despite ongoing lockdowns in Ontong Java Atoll, Honiara, and Guadalcanal Province. The current outbreak began last week when 23 crew members onboard an illegal fishing vessel from Papua New Guinea tested positive after entering Ontong Java Atoll. (RNZ)
Indonesia reports its first confirmed deaths related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in an unvaccinated 64-year-old man and a vaccinated 54-year-old woman who both had underlying health conditions. (CNN Indonesia)
Japan reports a record for the fifth consecutive day of 54,576 new COVID-19 cases, including a record 11,227 new cases in Tokyo and a record 7,675 new cases in Osaka Prefecture. (Kyodo News)
Kiribati goes into lockdown for the first time during the pandemic after dozens of passengers onboard a January 14th charter flight from Fiji test positive for COVID-19. (CNN)
Poland reports a record for the second consecutive day of 40,876 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,484,095. (Polskie Radio)
Romania surpasses two million cases of COVID-19. (Digi24)
Russia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 57,212 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.04 million. (The Times of India)
Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa announces a three day lockdown in response to ten positive COVID-19 passengers from repatriation flight. (RNZ)
Singapore reports its first confirmed death related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in an unvaccinated 92-year-old woman. (The Straits Times)
The number of new COVID-19 cases rises to 48, despite ongoing lockdowns in Ontong Java Atoll, Honiara, and Guadalcanal Province. The current outbreak began last week when 23 crew members onboard an illegal fishing vessel from Papua New Guinea tested positive after entering Ontong Java Atoll. (RNZ)
Mali War A French soldier is killed in a mortar attack on a military camp in Gao, northern Mali. (France 24)
A French soldier is killed in a mortar attack on a military camp in Gao, northern Mali. (France 24)
President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian resigns on the grounds that the Constitution does not give him enough influence in the country's decision-making process. (Reuters)
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)
At least 16 people are killed and eight others are injured in a fire caused by fireworks at a nightclub in Yaoundé, Cameroon. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 63,205 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.1 million. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 63,205 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.1 million. (Anadolu Agency)
Russia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 63,205 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.1 million. (Anadolu Agency)
Yaoundé nightclub fire At least 16 people are killed and eight others are injured in a fire caused by fireworks at a nightclub in Yaoundé, Cameroon. (Al Jazeera)
2022 Italian presidential election Voting for the election of the President of the Italian Republic begins, with the process expected to take multiple days. (ANSA) In the first round of voting, two-thirds of electors cast blank ballots. (Euronews)
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)
Voting for the election of the President of the Italian Republic begins, with the process expected to take multiple days. (ANSA)
2022 Burkinabé coup d'état Troops detain President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré amid reports of gunfire overnight in the capital Ouagadougou. Access to the internet has reportedly been disrupted nationwide. (BBC News)
Russo-Ukrainian War 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Ukraine–United Kingdom relations The United Kingdom begins withdrawing staff and their dependants from its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, amid fears of a Russian invasion. Around half of all staff are being withdrawn, according to a statement from the Foreign Office. (The Guardian)
Troops detain President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré amid reports of gunfire overnight in the capital Ouagadougou. Access to the internet has reportedly been disrupted nationwide. (BBC News)
2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Ukraine–United Kingdom relations The United Kingdom begins withdrawing staff and their dependants from its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, amid fears of a Russian invasion. Around half of all staff are being withdrawn, according to a statement from the Foreign Office. (The Guardian)
A COVID-19 vaccine pass that requires people over the age of 16 years to be fully vaccinated or show proof of recovery in order to enter bars, restaurants, and other public spaces, and to use inter-regional transport takes effect in France. (Euronews)
A fire at a nightclub in Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, following an armed clash between two groups, kills at least 18 people. (AFP via France 24)
A mass shooting occurs in a lecture hall at the New Campus of the University of Heidelberg in Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. A woman is killed and three other people are injured before the gunman commits suicide. (Evening Standard)
At least 31 ethnic Dinka people are killed in clashes with suspected Murle armed youth in Jonglei State, South Sudan. (AP)
China lifts its lockdown for 13 million people in Xi'an as the number of COVID-19 infections decreases in the city. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 vaccination in Australia The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation gives the final approval for use of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 18 years. The rollout of the vaccine will begin on February 21. (ABC News Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt, COVID-19 drug development Egypt's drug regulator issues an emergency use authorization for Merck's Molnupiravir anti-COVID-19 drug. (Ahram Online)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic A COVID-19 vaccine pass that requires people over the age of 16 years to be fully vaccinated or show proof of recovery in order to enter bars, restaurants, and other public spaces, and to use inter-regional transport takes effect in France. (Euronews)
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China China lifts its lockdown for 13 million people in Xi'an as the number of COVID-19 infections decreases in the city. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 65,109 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11,173,300. (The Moscow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy tests positive for COVID-19 for the second time. (El Periódico)
Egypt's drug regulator issues an emergency use authorization for Merck's Molnupiravir anti-COVID-19 drug. (Ahram Online)
Eight people are killed in a crowd crush at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon. (CNN)
Ethnic violence in South Sudan At least 31 ethnic Dinka people are killed in clashes with suspected Murle armed youth in Jonglei State, South Sudan. (AP)
Former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy tests positive for COVID-19 for the second time. (El Periódico)
Heidelberg University shooting A mass shooting occurs in a lecture hall at the New Campus of the University of Heidelberg in Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. A woman is killed and three other people are injured before the gunman commits suicide. (Evening Standard)
In the first round of voting, two-thirds of electors cast blank ballots. (Euronews)
Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights suspects former Regent of Langkat, a regency in Sumatra, Indonesia, of practicing modern slavery after KPK, in a sting operation, finds a jail-like facility to house the workers. (Tempo English)
Russia reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 65,109 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11,173,300. (The Moscow Times)
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation gives the final approval for use of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 18 years. The rollout of the vaccine will begin on February 21. (ABC News Australia)
The James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration among NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, successfully enters orbit at its target destination, located near the Sun–Earth L2 Lagrange point about 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 mi) from Earth. (AFP via Manila Standard)
The second stage of the Falcon 9 v1.1 used to launch the Deep Space Climate Observatory in 2015 is projected to impact the Moon on March 4, 2022. (arsTECHNICA)
The United Kingdom begins withdrawing staff and their dependants from its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, amid fears of a Russian invasion. Around half of all staff are being withdrawn, according to a statement from the Foreign Office. (The Guardian)
Tropical Storm Ana kills 23 people in Madagascar. (Bloomberg)
Tropical Storm Ana Tropical Storm Ana kills 23 people in Madagascar. (Bloomberg)
Yaoundé stadium disaster Eight people are killed in a crowd crush at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The Japanese government announces that the quasi-state of emergency measures will be expanded to 18 more prefectures including Hokkaido, Osaka, and Fukuoka from January 27 to February 20 amid the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Japan News) COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a record 8,571 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 749,979. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The Japanese government announces that the quasi-state of emergency measures will be expanded to 18 more prefectures including Hokkaido, Osaka, and Fukuoka from January 27 to February 20 amid the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Japan News)
The Australian Government announces that it has purchased the intellectual property rights to the Australian Aboriginal Flag from its designer Harold Thomas for over $20 million (US$14m), allowing for the public use of the flag. (BBC News) (AFP via France 24)
The Japanese government announces that the quasi-state of emergency measures will be expanded to 18 more prefectures including Hokkaido, Osaka, and Fukuoka from January 27 to February 20 amid the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Japan News)
A prison riot in the Mexican state of Colima results in the deaths of nine inmates and seven others being injured. (ABC News)
Bulgaria reports a record 12,399 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 903,676. (Bulgarian News Agency)
Canadian Indian residential school gravesites The Williams Lake First Nation in British Columbia, Canada, discovers 93 potential unmarked graves around the former Saint Joseph's Mission residential school near Williams Lake, British Columbia. (Vancouver Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina Argentina surpasses 8 million cases of COVID-19. (Perfil)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria Bulgaria reports a record 12,399 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 903,676. (Bulgarian News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in France France reports a record 501,635 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (The Connexion)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reduces the mandatory isolation period for close-contact COVID-19 patients to seven days amid an unprecedented increase in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant cases with the country reporting a record for the fifth consecutive day of 67,509 new COVID-19 cases. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a record 8,571 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 749,979. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic reports a record 30,350 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
Four victims of a shooting are found dead inside a home in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The shooting is believed to have happened the night before, and the victims are believed to have known each other. (CTV News)
France reports a record 501,635 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (The Connexion)
History of COVID-19 vaccine development Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech begin a clinical trial to test the safety and immune response of their Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine for adults under the age of 55 years. (NPR)
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech begin a clinical trial to test the safety and immune response of their Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine for adults under the age of 55 years. (NPR)
