Portal:Current events
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Topics in the news
- 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.
- A 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Badghis Province, Afghanistan, kills at least 28 people.
- The Hunga Tonga volcano erupts (satellite animation shown), causing damage in Tonga and tsunamis across the Pacific Ocean.
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 in the capital took shelter in bunkers during the attack. (ABC News)
- Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic
- An COVID-19 vaccine pass that require people aged above 16 years to be fully vaccinated or showing proof of recovery from the disease in France takes effect as the replacement of health pass to enter bars, restaurants, inter-regional transport and other public spaces. (Euronews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic
January 23, 2022
(Sunday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Mali War
- A French soldier is killed in a mortar attack on a military camp in Gao, northern Mali. (France 24)
- 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
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)
January 22, 2022
(Saturday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations
- The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says that, according to the available information, the Russian government is planning to "install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine." (CNN)
- Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach resigns as Inspector of the German Navy following comments at a think tank in New Delhi, in which he called Russia's intention to attack Ukraine "nonsense", saying that Russian president Vladimir Putin "deserves respect", and dismissing the prospects of Ukraine ever regaining Crimea and joining NATO. (The Guardian)
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
- 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- 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)
- 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 Indonesia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- 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 Poland
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- 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 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 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kiribati
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
January 21, 2022
(Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Yemeni Civil War
- Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen, Saada prison airstrike
- A Royal Saudi Air Force airstrike on a prison in Saada, Yemen, kills at least 100 people and injures more than 200 others. Médecins Sans Frontières reports over 200 casualties. The United Nations condemns the attack. (Dawn) (CNN) (BBC News)
- Three children are killed when a missile strikes the port city of Al Hudaydah. (Sky News)
- Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen, Saada prison airstrike
- Syrian Civil War
- Battle of al-Hasakah
- ISIL militants attack Al-Sina'a prison in the city of Al-Hasakah, freeing prisoners and leading to clashes that kill 67 people. (SOHR)
- Battle of al-Hasakah
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
- Bangladesh closes schools, universities, and other educational institutions until February 6 and bans social, political, religious, and state events of more than 100 people amid the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (The Daily Star)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- Japan reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 49,854 new COVID-19 cases. (Jiji Press)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
- Pakistan reports a record 7,678 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.35 million. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore
- The Singaporean Ministry of Health announces the extension of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to people between the ages of 12 and 17 beginning on March 14. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- Poland reports a record 36,665 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,443,217. (Polskie Radio)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
- Romania reports a record 19,649 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- Russia reports a record 49,513 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 10,987,774. (Barron's)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
- The UK Health Security Agency designates the recently discovered Omicron sub-lineage known as BA.2 as a "variant of investigation". (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- Australia reports a record 88 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, including a record 46 deaths in New South Wales, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,976. (SBS News)
- COVID-19 vaccine
- The World Health Organization recommends the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
International relations
- Argentina–Iran relations, AMIA bombing
- Argentina formally requests that Russia arrest Iranian minister Mohsen Rezai, who is on a trip to Russia, based on the accusation by Argentina of Rezai's involvement in the 1994 AMIA bombing. Russia did not immediately respond to the request. (Infobae)
Law and crime
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The French Constitutional Council conditionally approves a new COVID-19 vaccine pass law that would require people over the age of 16 years to be fully vaccinated in order to enter public venues and use intra-regional public transport but rejects the mandatory use of the vaccine pass for political rallies. The new vaccine pass will take effect on January 24. (France 24)
- Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation announces it is officially investigating the standoff at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, U.S., on Saturday as a "federal hate crime" and an "act of terrorism". (WFAA-TV)
January 20, 2022
(Thursday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations
- The U.S. State Department approves the delivery of U.S.-made weapons systems from the Baltic states to Ukraine, including FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. (Euractiv)
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations
- Terrorism in Pakistan
- 2022 Lahore bombing
- Two people are killed and 26 others injured by a bombing in Anarkali, Lahore, Punjab. (Al Jazeera)
- 2022 Lahore bombing
- 2021–2022 social unrest in the French West Indies
- Rioters injure a police officer with live ammunition on the sidelines of unauthorized demonstrations. The administrative building of the Basse-Terre hospital is invaded by about forty people. (Le Figaro)
Disasters and accidents
- 2022 Bogoso explosion
- A truck carrying explosives to a gold mine explodes after crashing into a motorcycle in Apiate, Western Region, Ghana; the explosion destroyed nearby buildings and vehicles, killing 17 people and injuring 59 others. (Reuters)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
- The Austrian National Council votes 137–13 to approve a bill requiring people over 18 years to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning February 1, thereby becoming the first country in the European Union to do so. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic
- French Prime Minister Jean Castex announces that a new COVID-19 vaccine pass will go into effect on January 24 pending approval from the Constitutional Council. The new pass will ban unvaccinated people from entering most public venues and travelling on domestic flights and inter-regional trains. Additionally, the mandate to work from home for more than 3 days per week will be lifted on February 2 and children between the ages of 12 and 17 years will be eligible to receive a booster dose beginning on Monday. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany reports a record for the second consecutive day of 133,536 new COVID-19 cases. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
- Romania reports a record 19,105 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,964,021. (Agerpres)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- Japan reports a record for the third consecutive day of 46,199 new COVID-19 cases and surpasses two million cases of COVID-19. (Nippon.com)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Thailand decides to resume its quarantine-free travel for all vaccinated travellers beginning on February 1 due to low hospitalization and death rates despite the surging COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant. (Nikkei Asia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia
- Western Australia indefinitely suspends the reopening of its borders to fully vaccinated international and inter-state travellers in order to allow people to receive a booster dose due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 drug development
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration grants provisional approval for Pfizer's Paxlovid COVID-19 drug and Merck & Co.'s Molnupiravir COVID-19 drug. (News.com.au)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil
- Brazilian drug regulator Anvisa approves the use of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for children between the ages of 6 and 11 years. (Agência Brasil)
- COVID-19 drug development
- The Medicines Patent Pool signs an agreement with 27 pharmaceutical companies in 11 countries to produce both raw ingredients and finished products of Merck & Co.'s Molnupiravir COVID-19 drug, which will be used in 105 low- and middle-income developing countries. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
Law and crime
- Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis
- Two men are arrested in Manchester and Birmingham, England, as part of an investigation into the standoff that occurred at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, United States, on Saturday. (The Guardian)
- Red Cross cyberattack
- The International Committee of the Red Cross appeals to hackers who stole personal data from the organisation to come forward. (TheJournal.ie)
Politics and elections
- 2022 Barbadian general election
- Mia Mottley and her Barbados Labour Party government are re-elected for a second term in a landslide, winning all 30 seats. (The Guardian)
Science and technology
- Nineteen-year-old Belgian-British pilot Zara Rutherford returns to Kortrijk, Belgium, to complete her five-month circumnavigation, becoming the youngest female pilot to fly solo around the world. (CNN)
January 19, 2022
(Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations
- US President Joe Biden says a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine will result in a more severe penalty than a "minor incursion" as he predicts that Russian President Vladimir Putin "will move in [on Ukraine]; he has to do something". (Reuters)
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Kyiv, Ukraine, in a show of support for Ukraine. During a one-day visit, Blinken will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said yesterday that "Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine" and that "No option is off the table". (France 24)
- Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas warns that the presence of Russian troops in Belarus poses a "direct threat" to Lithuania. (Politico.eu)
- The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force continues flights to Ukraine delivering "thousands" of MBT LAW anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian military. Russia accuses Britain of "fuelling the crisis" by sending lethal weapons to Ukraine. (UK Defence Journal) (The Times)
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Russia–NATO relations
Business and economy
- Employees of the STB, Bucharest's largest public transport company, go on strike demanding the resignation of its chairman, Adrian Criț. The city authorities, led by the Save Romania Union-backed mayor Nicușor Dan, condemn the strike, blaming it on the Social Democratic Party-backed trade unionist Vasile Petrariu as an attempt to undermine his authority. (Digi24)
Disasters and accidents
- Six people are killed in a fire at a nursing home in Moncada, Valencia, Spain. (The Washington Post)
- Twenty-nine people are killed during a stampede at an open-air Pentecostal church in Monrovia, Liberia. The stampede was triggered by panic after gangsters entered the prayer ground after a collection. (BBC News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- The Japanese government announces that it will place Tokyo and 12 other prefectures under a quasi-state of emergency from January 21 to February 13 amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases due to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, with the country reporting a record for the second consecutive day of 41,487 new cases of COVID-19. (Kyodo News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
- The Philippines reports its first confirmed deaths related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two unvaccinated people in their 60s who had underlying health conditions. (ABS-CBN News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
- Vietnam reports its first three locally transmitted cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Ho Chi Minh City. (Hanoi Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
- Bulgaria reports a record for the second consecutive day of 11,181 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 841,785. (Bulgarian Press Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- The Czech government suspends plans to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for key workers and people over the age of 60, which was expected to come into effect in March. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany reports a record 112,323 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Deutsche Welle)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa
- A seventh passenger from a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu, Hawaii, tests positive for COVID-19. The plane landed in American Samoa on January 6, 2022. (Samoa News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kiribati
- Kiribati announces a curfew and mandatory face masks after 36 passengers on a charter flight from Fiji test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival. The plane was the first international commercial flight to land in the country since March 2020. Kiribati reopened its borders on January 10th. (Stuff.co.nz)
- COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
- The Algerian government announces that all elementary and high schools will be closed for 10 days due to an increase in the number of Omicron variant cases in the country. (Arab News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
- Mexico reports a record for the second consecutive day of 60,552 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,495,310. (Bloomberg)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Politics and elections
- Westminster lockdown parties controversy
- Conservative Party MP Christian Wakeford crosses the floor to the opposition Labour Party, stating that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's behaviour has been "disgraceful". There are growing calls within the ruling Conservative Party for Johnson to resign amid public outrage over "Partygate". (Reuters)
January 18, 2022
(Tuesday)
Business and economy
- Argentine debt restructuring
- Argentine minister of economy Martín Guzmán warns that the International Monetary Fund will "lose legitimacy" if it fails in negotiations with the country, with Guzmán citing his country's growth of nearly 10 percent as an argument. (Ámbito)
- Puerto Rican government-debt crisis
- A federal judge signs a plan to restructure Puerto Rico's economy, allowing it to start repaying debt to creditors and lifting it out of bankruptcy. (AP News)
- Microsoft announces that it will acquire gaming company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. If the acquisition is successful, Activision Blizzard will become part of Xbox Game Studios, which will become the world's third-largest gaming company behind Tencent and Sony Interactive Entertainment. (Reuters)
Disasters and accidents
- 2022 Antananarivo floods
- At least ten people are killed by floods in Antananarivo, Madagascar. (Africanews)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong orders the culling of 2,000 small animals, such as hamsters, chinchillas and rabbits, closes pet shops, and sends 100 people to a quarantine camp after nearly a dozen hamsters imported from the Netherlands and sold at Little Boss pet shop were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant which also spread to two people. (Bloomberg)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
- Japan reports a record 32,197 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (The Mainichi)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
- Nepal reports a record 10,258 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 972,198. (La Prensa Latina)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
- Bulgaria reports a record 9,996 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 830,604. (Bulgarian Press Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- France reports a record 464,769 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain Yolanda Díaz and Minister of Science and Innovation Diana Morant both test positive for COVID-19. (El Periódico)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City
- The Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and his deputy Edgar Peña Parra both test positive for COVID-19. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
- COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay
- Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez tests positive for COVID-19. (Yahoo! News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- Australia reports a record 77 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (SBS News)
- COVID-19 drug development
- Merck & Co. and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics sign an agreement with UNICEF to distribute up to 3 million courses of their COVID-19 antiviral pill molnupiravir to 100 low and middle-income countries in the first half of the year. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia