Topics in the news
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Roch Marc Christian Kaboré
- In Burkina Faso, a coup d'état led by military officer Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba deposes President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (pictured).
- Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk and peace activist Thích Nhất Hạnh dies at the age of 95.
- Belgian-British pilot Zara Rutherford becomes the youngest woman to fly solo around the world.
- Microsoft announces its forthcoming acquisition, pending regulatory approvals, of video game company Activision Blizzard.
January 29, 2022 (Saturday)
January 28, 2022 (Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Russia–NATO relations
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that Russia is not interested in starting a war after U.S. President Joe Biden warned Ukraine that Russia may invade Ukraine in February. (NBC News)
- At a special Pentagon press briefing, United States Army General Mark Milley and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be "horrific" and could result in "significant casualties". (Reuters)
- Belarus–NATO relations
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says that Belarus might go to war if they or Russia are attacked. Lukashenko also insists that his country does not want to go to war with Ukraine. (Politico EU)
- Russia–NATO relations
- Insurgency in Balochistan
- 2022 Kech district attack
- Ten Pakistan Army soldiers are killed in an insurgent attack in Kech District, Balochistan, Pakistan. The separatist Baluch Liberation Front claims responsibility for the attack. The army says that it has killed one of the attackers and arrested three others in a clearance operation. (Reuters)
- 2022 Kech district attack
Business and economy
- Chinese espionage in the United States
- The Federal Communications Commission votes unanimously to revoke the authorisation of China Unicom to operate in the United States, citing national security and espionage concerns. The Chinese telecommunications operator must stop providing telecoms services in the U.S. within 60 days. (BBC News)
Disasters and accidents
- The Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, collapses, causing a gas leak. Ten people are injured, none of them seriously. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales
- New South Wales reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.2 sublineage. (The Guardian)
- Australia reports a record 98 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, including a record 35 deaths in New South Wales. (SBS News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- 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)
- 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 Australia
International relations
- 2022 Burkinabé coup d'état
- 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)
- Foreign relations of Rwanda, Foreign relations of Uganda
- The Rwandan foreign ministry announces the reopening of the country's border crossing with Uganda following political tensions between the two countries that led to the closure of the border crossing for three years. (AFP via Seychelles News Agency)
January 27, 2022 (Thursday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- The United States rejects Russia's demand that Ukraine be barred from joining NATO. (BBC News)
- U.S. President Joe Biden, during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, says "the Russians could invade Ukraine in February". (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)
- 2022 Dnipro shooting
- Five people are killed and five more are injured in a mass shooting at a Yuzhmash production facility in Dnipro, Ukraine, after a member of the Ukrainian National Guard opens fire. (The Straits Times)
- Aftermath of the 2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes
- Two civilians are killed while 21 more people are wounded near the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan after troops from both countries engage in a battle. (Al Jazeera)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
- Finland reports its first ten cases of the Omicron sub-lineage named BA.2 sublineage in Southwest Finland. (Yle News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany reports a record for the second consecutive day of 203,136 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 9.2 million. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- Russia reports a record for the seventh consecutive day of 88,816 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11,404,617. (Azeri Press Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain reports its first two cases of the Omicron sub-lineage named BA.2 sublineage in Catalonia. (The Olive Press)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
- Turkey reports a record 82,180 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The government's Plan B restrictions, including mandatory usage of face masks on public transport and in shops, and usage of NHS COVID passports for large events are lifted in England. (Sky News)
- European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 drug development
- The European Medicines Agency conditionally approves the use of the Pfizer's anti-COVID-19 oral drug Paxlovid for high-risk adult patients. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
- Brazil reports a record for the second consecutive day of 228,954 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 24.7 million. (Business Standard)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea reports a record for the third consecutive day of 14,518 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 777,497. (Asian News International)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
Politics and elections
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Anti-war activists gather at the White House in Washington, D.C. to call for diplomacy and for the Biden administration to not antagonize Moscow. Protesters also call for NATO to be disbanded. (Press TV)
- Xiomara Castro is officially sworn in as the 56th President of Honduras, making her the country's first female president. (AFP via NDTV)
January 26, 2022 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Syrian civil war
- Battle of al-Hasakah
- The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces recapture a prison in al-Hasakah from Islamic State. (Al Jazeera)
- Battle of al-Hasakah
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces that the United States has given a written response to Russia, aimed at the de-escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The response, coordinated with European allies and Ukraine, addresses Russia's demands and actions. (CNN)
- Mali War
- The Malian junta demands that Denmark withdraw its forces from the country, saying they were never given authorization to participate in the ongoing European-led peacekeeping operations. (AP)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany reports a record 164,000 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Al-Arabiya)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- Hungary reports a record 20,174 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,471,276. (Daily News Hungary)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- Poland reports a record 53,420 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,637,776. (Polskie Radio)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- Russia reports a record for the sixth consecutive day of 74,692 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.3 million. (The Moscow Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, COVID-19 vaccination in Israel
- Israeli Health ministry approves the second round of booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people aged above 18 years who have underlying medical conditions. (The Times of Israel)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea reports a record for the second consecutive day of 13,102 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 762,983. (The Korea Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, COVID-19 vaccination in Israel
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
International relations
- Canada–Ukraine relations
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the extension of Operation Unifier for three years. Sixty more troops will also be deployed to Ukraine in the coming days. Trudeau's government also announces a shipment of non-lethal equipment and intelligence sharing. (CTV News)
Law and crime
- 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)
January 25, 2022 (Tuesday)
Arts and culture
- 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 France24)
Disasters and accidents
- Millions of people are left without electricity after a major power outage affects Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan's energy ministry reports that the power outage had been triggered by an "energy imbalance" in Kazakhstan's power grid. (Al Jazeera)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- 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
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- 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 the Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic reports a record 30,350 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
- 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 Bulgaria
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
- History of COVID-19 vaccine development
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Law and crime
- 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)
- A prison riot in the Mexican state of Colima results in the deaths of nine inmates and seven others being injured. (ABC News)
- 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)
January 24, 2022 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 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)
- Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen
- 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)
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Ukraine–United Kingdom relations
- 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)
Disasters and accidents
- 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)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- 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 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 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 mainland China
- 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 Europe
Law and crime
- 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)
- A fire at a nightclub in Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, following an armed clash between two groups, kills at least 18 people. (AFP via France24)
- 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)
Politics and elections
- 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)
Science and technology
- 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)
January 23, 2022 (Sunday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 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)
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Mali War
- A French soldier is killed in a mortar attack on a military camp in Gao, northern Mali. (France 24)
Disasters and accidents
- 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)
Health and environment
- 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
Politics and elections
- 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)
