Portal:Current events/February 2022

February 2022 was the second month of that common year. The month, which began on a Tuesday, ended on a Monday after 28 days.

Portal:Current events

This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from February 2022.

February 1, 2022 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 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)
- 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)

Disasters and accidents

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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - 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)
  - 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 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 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)
- 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)

International relations

2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Belarus–United States relations
  - The U.S. State Department announces that they have ordered government employees and their families to leave Belarus amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (The Hill)

Sports

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)

February 2, 2022 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

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)
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)
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)
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)

Business and economy

CNN president Jeff Zucker resigns for failing to disclose that he was in a relationship with the network's executive vice president. The relationship was discovered during a misconduct investigation into the network's former anchor Chris Cuomo. (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

Kinshasa power cable collapse
- A power cable collapse kills at least 26 people in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (BBC News)

Health and environment

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)

Politics and elections

Canadian Opposition Leader Erin O'Toole is removed from his leadership position in a 73–45 no-confidence vote by his party. Deputy Leader Candice Bergen is announced as the interim leader of the party. (CBC)
Human rights in Chechnya, Corruption in Russia
- 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]

Sports

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)
Washington Redskins name controversy, Native American mascot controversy
- It is announced that, starting in the 2022 NFL season, the Washington Football Team will be renamed as the Washington Commanders in order to replace the Redskins name, considered a racial slur, which was retired in mid-2020 following the nationwide George Floyd protests. (Reuters) (The Washington Post)

February 3, 2022 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

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)

Disasters and accidents

The oil tanker Trinity Spirit catches fire and explodes off the coast of Nigeria. (Newsweek)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- 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 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 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 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)

International relations

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)

Law and crime

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)

Politics and elections

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)

Sports

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)

February 4, 2022 (Friday)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - 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)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia reports a record for the 15th consecutive day of 168,201 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 12.45 million. (Interfax)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey reports a record 111,157 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Hürriyet Daily News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - The United States surpasses 900,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Whaling in Iceland
- Iceland announces it will end the practice of whaling by 2024, citing the decreasing price of whale meat. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

Politics of Montenegro, 2022 Montenegrin crisis
- The Government of Zdravko Krivokapić is ousted after a motion of no confidence passes 43–11. (Deutsche Welle)

Sports

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)
Iran–United States relations
- An American visa is denied for an Iranian national wrestling team that had a coach who advocated Death to America. (Fox News)

February 5, 2022 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- A pair of Tu-22M3 bombers are seen flying across Belarus amid large joint military drills and tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (AP)
- Protesters gather in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to protest Russian aggression. Code Pink and other anti-war protesters also gather in Topsham, Maine and other cities across the U.S. to protest the escalation. (VOA) (WABI-TV) (San Francisco Chronicle)
Insurgency in Balochistan
- Twenty Baloch Nationalist Army separatists and nine Pakistani soldiers are killed during raids in Panjgur and Nushki, after the BNA attacked two security posts two days ago, killing four soldiers and a civilian. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record 351 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 15,066. (The Standard)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
    - Singapore reports a record 13,046 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 379,681. (The Star)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports a record for the third consecutive day of 36,362 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 971,018. (The Korea Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland
      - Queensland reports a record 21 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the statewide death toll to 268. (News.com.au)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
    - New Zealand reports a record 243 new community transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (RNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
  - Russia reports a record for the 16th consecutive day of 177,282 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 12.63 million. (TASS)

International relations

Iran nuclear deal framework
- The Biden administration announces the restoration of sanctions relief to Iran's civilian nuclear sector, as it attempts to entice Iran back to talks on a nuclear deal. (AP)

February 6, 2022 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Russia–NATO relations
  - French President Emmanuel Macron says that a deal to "avoid war in Ukraine" is "within reach" and that it is legitimate for Russia to raise its own security concerns to NATO. Macron will meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow tomorrow. (BBC News)
Afghanistan–Pakistan border skirmishes
- Five Pakistani troops are killed after "militants from inside Afghanistan" opened fire on a border post in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The army says that it retaliated, causing heavy casualties among the militants. The Taliban government denies that the firing came from within Afghan territory. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

2021–22 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Cyclone Batsirai, a category 4 cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale, kills at least 10 people and displaces more than 48,000 after making landfall in Madagascar. (AFP via France 24)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Honduras
  - President Xiomara Castro tests positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea
  - Prime Minister James Marape tests positive for COVID-19 and returns home after attending the 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. (Voice of America)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
  - Russia lifts its seven-day quarantine guideline for people who had contact with positive COVID-19 patients despite reporting a record 189,071 new cases. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
  - South Korea surpasses one million cases of COVID-19 after reporting a record 38,690 new cases in the past 24 hours. (CNA)

Politics and elections

COVID-19 protests in Canada
- Freedom Convoy 2022
  - Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declares a state of emergency in the capital as a trucker protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates enters its second week. (The Independent)
2022 Costa Rican general election
- A general election is held in Costa Rica. (Al Jazeera)
2021–2022 Tunisian political crisis
- Tunisian president Kais Saied dissolves the nation's Supreme Judicial Council. The Council's leaders declare the dissolution as illegal. (DW)

Sports

2022 Winter Olympics
- New Zealand at the 2022 Winter Olympics
  - New Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins a gold medal in women’s slopestyle, winning New Zealand its first-ever gold medal at the Winter Olympics. (Forbes) (RNZ)
2021 Africa Cup of Nations
- In association football, Senegal win their first international trophy after beating Egypt on penalties in the final at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Senegalese forward Sadio Mané is named the tournament's Best Player. (CNN)

February 7, 2022 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Germany–United States relations
  - German chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with U.S. president Joe Biden during his first visit to the United States in order to discuss the situation in Ukraine, saying that Germany will be "acting together" with the United States if Russia invades Ukraine. (CNN)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
    - Nigeria receives two million doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine donated by the European Union. (All Africa)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, COVID-19 vaccination in South Africa
    - The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority approves the use of the Sinopharm BBIBP COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged above 18 years. (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record for the third consecutive day of 614 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 16,022. (The Guardian)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea ditches its Test-and-Trace strategy and instead focuses on maintaining essential social functions amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Financial Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
  - Australia announces that it will reopen its international borders to fully vaccinated tourists on February 21, after a closure of almost two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Western Australia is expected to continue to close its borders to tourists. (ABC News Australia)

Politics and elections

COVID-19 protests in Canada
- Freedom Convoy 2022
  - In Ottawa, seven people are arrested, more than 500 others are ticketed, and sixty criminal investigations are commenced, for a number of offenses related to the truckers' protest, including violations of the Highway Traffic Act, vandalism, and the smuggling of gasoline. (MSN)
2021–2022 Tunisian political crisis
- Tunisian police close the Supreme Judicial Council building in Tunis and prevent its members and their staff from entering. The legal body was dissolved yesterday by President Kais Saied in a move widely decried within the nation as illegal. (Al Jazeera)

February 8, 2022 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war
  - Israel says that the Syrian military fired an anti-aircraft missile towards its territory, which exploded in mid-air over the north of the country, triggering air raid sirens. However, Syrian state television reports that an Israeli Air Force airstrike occurred near Damascus. (Reuters)
  - The IDF says it has struck several Syrian air defense batteries and radars in response to the missile entering Israeli airspace. (Times of Israel)
Insurgency in the Maghreb
- W National Park land mine attack
  - Eight people, including five park rangers and a soldier are killed by land mines in the W National Park in Benin. (Al Jazeera)
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- Shin Bet officers kill three Palestinian al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades militants in the West Bank after opening fire on their vehicle. Israel says that the men were armed and were responsible for a series of drive-by shootings in recent weeks. Protests occur in the West Bank in response to the killings. (Reuters)
Islamic State insurgency in Iraq
- An Iraqi airstrike kills seven Islamic State members in Hatra District, Nineveh Governorate. (ANI)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict
- In an operation against the PKK, the Turkish Air Force bombards a city in Erbil District. No known casualties are recorded. (Rudaw)
Mali War
- A joint operation by the Malian Armed Forces and the French-led Takuba Task Force kills at least 30 jihadists. A Mirage 2000 fighter jet was involved in the operation, bombing a group of militants on motorbikes. (Reuters)
Felix Tshisekedi and his office report an attempted coup d'etat in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (ABC News)

Business and economy

A planned US$66 billion merger between British semiconductor company Arm Ltd. and American hardware company Nvidia is cancelled after facing regulatory pressures from the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and China. Arm says that it will instead go public sometime before March 2023. If the deal were successful, it would have been the largest merger in the history of the semiconductor industry. (Reuters) (Ars Technica)

Disasters and accidents

2022 Colombia landslides
- Landslides kill at least 14 people and injure 35 in Dosquebradas, Risaralda Department. (BBC News) (DW News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 625 new COVID-19 cases, prompting the government to impose strict social distancing measures in places of worship and hair salons as well as limiting private gatherings to two people beginning on February 10. (Al-Arabiya)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japan reports a record 159 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Jiji Press)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
  - Poland indefinitely postpones its deadline of March 1 for mandatory full vaccination of teachers, members of the army and police officers, due to the current vaccination rate. (AP)

International relations

Slovakia–United States relations
- Thousands of Slovaks protest in Bratislava against a potential military defense treaty between Slovakia and the United States. Police prevented some protesters from entering the National Council building, where the bill is being debated by lawmakers. (ABC News)

Law and crime

Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Europe
- In a letter published by the Vatican, ex-Pope Benedict XVI expresses "my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness," in response to inquiry into his handling of child sex abuse when he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising between 1977 and 1982. In a statement published with the letter, his aides insist that "as an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-up of acts of abuse". (France 24)

Science and technology

Mars sample-return mission
- NASA awards Lockheed Martin a contract to build a next-generation "Mars Ascent Vehicle" to return the first rock samples from Mars to Earth in the 2030s. (Phys)

Sports

2022 Winter Olympics
- Italy at the 2022 Winter Olympics
  - Unexpectedly undefeated in all 11 competitions at the Olympic curling mixed doubles tournament, Italy wins a first historic gold medal in the sport: the curling broom used in the final has been donated to the Olympic Museum. (Eurosport)

February 9, 2022 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Colombian conflict
- Two soldiers are killed during an insurgent attack against Infantry Battalion 21 of the Colombian Army in Granada, Meta. (La FM)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
    - Queen Margrethe II tests positive for COVID-19, with mild symptoms. (NDTV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
    - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša tests positive for COVID-19, with mild symptoms. (Barron's)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - King Felipe VI tests positive for COVID-19, with mild symptoms. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
    - Sweden scraps almost all pandemic restrictions, essentially declaring the pandemic as "over". The move is condemned by scientists in Sweden and abroad, who warn the pandemic still persists and continues to represent serious dangers. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
  - Hong Kong reports a record for the fifth consecutive day of 1,161 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 17,808. Hong Kong also reports their first two deaths from COVID-19 since September. (South China Morning Post)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Johnson & Johnson officially suspends production of its COVID-19 vaccine. It says production will likely resume later, and that millions of doses remain stocked for distribution per earlier agreements. (CBS News)

Sports

2022 Winter Olympics
- ROC at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Doping in Russia
  - Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tests positive for banned substances after winning gold in the team event, delaying the medal ceremony. (AP News)

February 10, 2022 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Belarus–Russia relations
  - Russia and Belarus begin a 10-day military exercise known as "Allied Resolve-2022" amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine. The United States and NATO denounce the exercise, with NATO calling it the biggest deployment of Russian troops since the Cold War. (CNBC)
- Russia–Ukraine relations
  - Ukraine says that Russian Navy drills in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov have made navigation "virtually impossible", stating that the drills are part of a "hybrid war" against the country. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that the Sea of Azov is completely blocked, essentially blockading Ukrainian ports. (Reuters) (BBC News)
- Ukraine–United States relations
  - U.S. President Joe Biden calls on any remaining Americans to leave Ukraine immediately due to increased threats of Russian military action. The U.S. State Department issues a level 4 travel warning, the highest level. (BBC News)
Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso
- Four civilians are killed during a battle between French troops and Ansar ul Islam in Burkina Faso. Ten militants are killed in the clash, which involved support from an attack helicopter. (Reuters)
Yemeni Civil War (2014-present)
- Houthi–Saudi Arabian conflict
  - An airstrike on Abha International Airport in the Saudi Arabian city of Abha injures twelve people. The attack was done by members of the Houthi movement. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Spain lifts its outdoor mask mandate due to a decline in the spread of the Omicron variant. (GMA News Network)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - Charles, Prince of Wales, tests positive for COVID-19 for the second time. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia
    - Western Australia reports a record 37 locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (ABC News Australia)
  - COVID-19 vaccination in Australia
    - The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation proposes changing the definition of a fully vaccinated person to only include people who have received a booster dose. (ABC News Australia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Costa Rica
  - Costa Rican president Carlos Alvarado Quesada tests positive for COVID-19. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
  - Tunisia lifts its nightly curfew due to a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases, but extends the ban on gatherings for one week. (National Post)

Law and crime

Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- A South Korean envoy in New York City is attacked in an unprovoked assault. (Yahoo! News)

Politics and elections

Aftermath of the Second Libyan Civil War
- The interim Government of National Unity, intended to be dissolved by the 2021 Libyan presidential election before its indefinite postponement, chooses former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha to replace the incumbent, UN-recognized Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, for his failure to hold the elections as agreed during the peace process. Dbeibeh rejects the appointment, saying that his replacement must be chosen by the eventual national election as per the aforementioned ceasefire agreement, reigniting fears of renewed warfare. (Al-Jazeera)

Science and technology

Archaeologists announce the discovery of a human tooth in the Grotte Mandrin near Malataverne, France, dating to 54,000 YBP, around 10,000 years before the currently accepted date for the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe. (CNN)

February 11, 2022 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - Russia–NATO relations
      - The Biden administration says that Russia now has enough troops and military equipment in place in order to launch an invasion of Ukraine and warns Americans to leave the country within the next 48 hours. (BBC News)
      - The British Foreign Office advises British nationals to leave Ukraine immediately. (The Independent) (FCDO)
      - It is announced that the United States Armed Forces will deploy 3,000 additional troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to Poland in the "coming days" amid tensions with Russia. (Reuters)
    - Israel begins evacuating embassy staff and diplomats’ families from Kyiv, and also orders a travel warning for all Israelis, saying that a large scale Russian offensive may occur soon. (Times of Israel)
    - Japan urges its citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. There are about 150 Japanese citizens currently living in Ukraine. (Nikkei)
    - South Korea bans all travel to Ukraine and asks its citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. (Newsweek)
  - Satellite imagery records Russia amassing more troops near the Russia–Ukraine border. (Reuters)
Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Israel announces the arrest of eight alleged Iranian spies for organizing a plot to kill an Israeli businessman in Istanbul in retaliation for the 2020 assassination of the chief of Iran's nuclear program, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, widely regarded to be the work of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. Turkish intelligence shared with the Mossad apparently contributed to the arrests, and several Turkish operatives were among those arrested. (Times of Israel)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record 1,325 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 20,119. (South China Morning Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports a record 53,926 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,239,287. (The Korea Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - The Government of France announces that mask mandate in indoor public places will be eased beginning on February 28 as the number of COVID-19 declines. (Euronews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy lifts its outdoor mask mandate and reopens nightclubs as the number of COVID-19 cases declines. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - Russia reports a record 203,949 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 13.7 million. (The Moscow Times)
Koala conservation
- The Australian Government officially lists the koala as an endangered species due to a combination of factors including drought, bushfires, disease and habitat loss. (The Guardian)
Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, Deforestation in Brazil
- Satellite imagery shows 430 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest was deforested in January, five times more than last January. (BBC News)

International relations

Somaliland–Taiwan relations
- Somaliland Foreign Minister Essa Kayd rebukes China's apparent attempts to dictate the unrecognized breakaway state's foreign relations with Taiwan and reaffirms the state's recognition of the Republic of China. (Reuters)
Finland–United States relations
- Finland agrees to a $9.4 billion deal with the United States to purchase 64 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter-jets for its air force. The agreement also includes buying advanced surface-to-surface missiles from Lockheed Martin in order to upgrade the country's missile systems. The munition deliveries are expected to begin by 2025. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Canada convoy protest
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford declares a state of emergency over the protest-related blockades in the City of Ottawa and at the Ambassador Bridge. (CBC)
Crime in Portugal
- Portuguese police, with help from the FBI, arrest an 18-year-old boy for planning an armed attack on a university in Lisbon. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Aftermath of the 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état
- Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, leader of the military junta, is declared president by the Burkinabé Constitutional Council. His "election", deemed retroactively effective since the coup on January 24, will be made official by an inauguration on February 16. (AP)

February 12, 2022 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - All British troops are ordered to withdraw from Ukraine. (The Independent)
    - Multiple nations, including Estonia, Iraq, Palestine, Spain and Taiwan, warn against traveling to Ukraine and urge their citizens to leave the country. (ERR) (NRT) (WAFA) (El País) (Focus Taiwan)
    - Israel declares a state of emergency due to tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (Haaretz)
    - KLM suspends all flights to Ukraine. (NL Times)
    - The Pentagon orders the departure of U.S. troops in Ukraine as tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalate. (CNBC)
    - The United States orders the evacuation of its embassy staff in Kyiv. (CNN)
    - Thousands of people protest against Russian military aggression in Kyiv, chanting "Glory to Ukraine" and "Ukrainians will resist". (Reuters)
Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso
- French forces launch an airstrike on a jihadist camp in southern Burkina Faso, near the border with Benin, killing 40 combatants. The attack was a retaliation for the massacre of nine people (including a Frenchman) in Benin's W National Park earlier that week. (Voice of America)

Business and economy

2018–2022 Turkish currency and debt crisis
- President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announces that the value-added tax (VAT) will be lowered from 8% to 1% on dairy products, fruit, vegetables, and other basic foods. The VAT reduction, aimed at countering soaring inflation, will go into effect on Monday. (Daily Sabah)

International relations

Bahrain–Israel relations
- Bahraini authorities confirm that an Israeli military officer will be stationed inside the country as part of an upcoming international coalition consisting of 34 countries. This is the first time an Israeli officer has been sent to a military post in the Arab World. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Lynching of Mushtaq Ahmed
- A man accused of blasphemy is lynched by a mob in Tulamba, Mian Channu Tehsil, Khanewal District, Punjab, Pakistan. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

COVID-19 protests in Canada
- Freedom Convoy 2022
  - Protesters gather at the Peace Bridge near the Canada–United States border in an attempt to end the COVID-19 mandates in Canada. (USA Today) (Buffalo News)

Sports

2021 FIFA Club World Cup
- In association football, English club Chelsea win their first FIFA Club World Cup title after beating Brazilian club Palmeiras 2–1 after extra time in the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Chelsea defender Thiago Silva wins the tournament's Golden Ball award. (Al Jazeera)

February 13, 2022 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - Operation Unifier
      - Canada withdraws its military advisors from Ukraine and relocates them to an undisclosed destination in Europe. It moves its diplomatic staff to Lviv, suspending all operations at its embassy in Kyiv. (Reuters)
    - Ukraine receives a shipment of FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems from Lithuania. (Reuters)
  - Ukraine formally requests a meeting with Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe within the next 48 hours in response to the crisis. (Daily Sabah)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
    - Schools are reopened in Nepal after being closed for more than a month. (Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports a record of 56,431 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.35 million. (Manila Bulletin)

Law and crime

Eleven people are injured during a mass stabbing by a man riding a bicycle through Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. The suspect is taken into custody. (ABC News) (Albuquerque Journal)
A car bombing in Ashkelon, Israel, kills one person and injures two more. The incident is most likely related to organized crime in Israel. (Times of Israel)

Politics and elections

Canada convoy protest
- Canadian police say a major demonstration at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, has dispersed peacefully. The protesters had been given warnings for several days. (BBC News)
2022 German presidential election
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier is re-elected as president of Germany. (Deutsche Welle)

Sports

2021 NFL season
- The Los Angeles Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23–20, to win Super Bowl LVI. (ESPN)

February 14, 2022 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - Belarus–United States relations
      - The U.S. State Department tells Americans to leave Belarus immediately due to the threat of war. (National Post)
    - The United States relocates its embassy operations from the capital Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine, citing a "dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces" on the Russia–Ukraine border. (Reuters)
  - Russia rejects an official Ukrainian request for a meeting between both countries and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in order to discuss the crisis. (ABC News Australia)
  - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declares February 16 as a "day of unity". On this day, all Ukrainians will be asked to display the national flag from their buildings, and sing the national anthem in unison. Western intelligence has cited the day as the most likely time of a Russian attack against the country. (Reuters)
  - U.S. officials say that Russian troops, along with long-range artillery and missile launchers have begun moving into staging areas near the Ukrainian border after leaving their assembly areas. (CBS News)
Yemeni Civil War
- Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen
  - The Saudi-led coalition airstrikes Sanaa, Yemen, in retaliation for an attack by Houthi forces on the Saudi Arabian city of Abha. A Houthi telecommunications system used to command drones is destroyed. (Al Jazeera)

Disasters and accidents

Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque explosion
- Seven people are killed and 20 others injured by an explosion and fire at a block of flats in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. Firefighters are searching for survivors. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record 2,071 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 25,051. (South China Morning Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
    - Kuwait lifts many of its COVID-19-related restrictions, including allowing foreign travel for unvaccinated and vaccinated citizens and allowing the entry of unvaccinated people into shopping malls as long as they show a negative PCR COVID-19 test from the previous 72 hours. (Al-Arabiya English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore
    - The Singaporean Health Sciences Authority grants interim authorisation for the use of the protein-based Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden, COVID-19 vaccination in Sweden
    - The Public Health Agency of Sweden recommends that people over the age of 80 years, residents of nursing homes, and people receiving at-home care should receive a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (MedicalXpress)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, tests positive for COVID-19. (BBC News)

International relations

Mexico–United States relations
- The United States suspends all imports of Mexican avocados after threats are made against an American plant safety inspector in Uruapan, Michoacán. (AP)
Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute
- The flag of Mauritius is raised on the British-controlled Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean for the first time in history. Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth describes the event as a "historic moment", saying that it was time for the United Kingdom to cede control of the archipelago. (BBC News)

Law and crime

Canada convoy protest
- The government of Canada invokes the Emergencies Act for the first time since the law was passed in 1988, thereby giving the federal government temporary powers to deal with ongoing blockades associated with the protests. (CBC News)
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland announces that, as part of the invoking of the Act, crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe and GiveSendGo must immediately register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and authorizes banks to freeze accounts suspected to be involved in the blockades. (CTV News)
The United States Department of Justice asks Honduras for the arrest and extradition of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who left office less than a month ago. (Reuters)

February 15, 2022 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - Vladimir Putin claims that a "genocide" is occurring in Eastern Ukraine. (Reuters)
    - The State Duma of Russia passes a bill to officially recognise the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in Eastern Ukraine as independent states. The bill has been sent to President Vladimir Putin for final approval. (Xinhuanet) (Deutsche Welle)
  - Russian President Vladimir Putin says that diplomatic talks will continue. Russia also announces that troops will be partially pulled out from the border but that exercises will continue. (Wall Street Journal) (Truthout.org)
  - Several Ukrainian websites, including the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Privatbank, and Oschadbank are affected by cyberattacks. (CBS News)
  - The U.S. and its NATO allies in Europe say that they are ready to retaliate against Russian cyberwarfare on Ukraine depending on the severity of the attacks. (Reuters)
- War in Donbas
  - The Luhansk People's Republic says that a service member has been killed on the frontline by a Ukrainian military sniper, according to its office at the Joint Centre of Control and Coordination. (Urdu Point)
  - An attempted terrorist attack on a memorial rally in the city of Luhansk is reportedly stopped. Russian media blames the Ukrainian Defence Ministry and "special services" of being involved in the attack. A video shows an improvised explosive device being discovered inside a garbage can. (The Jerusalem Post)

Disasters and accidents

Capsizing of the Villa de Pitanxo
- A Spanish-owned fishing trawler, Villa de Pitanxo, sinks off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, killing 10 crew members and leaving 11 others missing. A search and rescue operation is underway. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Indonesia reports a record 57,049 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4.9 million. (Kompas)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japan reports a record 236 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the number of cumulative COVID-19 cases surpasses four million. (The Japan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports a record 57,177 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.46 million. (The Korea Herald)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
    - Vietnam lifts its COVID-19-related curbs on international passenger flights with no limitation on the number of flights in order to restore the travel to pre-pandemic level. (Al-Jazeera)

Law and crime

Canada convoy protest
- 2022 alleged plot to kill Coutts RCMP officers
  - Four men are arrested on suspicion of plotting to murder officers with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The arrests occurred during a protest blockading the Canada–U.S. border near Coutts, Alberta. (The Globe and Mail)
- A number of protestors at Coutts have dispersed after an RCMP raid on a "smaller group within the larger protest" resulted in the seizure of weapons, ammunition, and body armour and the arrests of 13 people on Monday. (CTV News)
- Chief of police of the Ottawa Police Service Peter Sloly resigns amid criticism of his handling of the protests. (CTV News Ottawa)
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández is arrested in Tegucigalpa after the U.S. requested his extradition on charges of drug trafficking. (EFE)

Politics and elections

2022 United States elections
- 2022 Louisville mayoral election
  - In Louisville, Kentucky, council candidate Quintez Brown is charged with attempted murder, a day after he allegedly opened fire on mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg in his campaign office, narrowly missing him. (AP via The Washington Post)

February 16, 2022 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war
  - Syrian state media agency SANA reports that Israel has fired missiles at the Syrian town of Zakiyah, with no recorded casualties. (Toronto Star)

Arts and culture

Cristina Calderón, the last full-blooded Yahgan and last native speaker of the Yahgan language, dies in Chile. (France 24)

Disasters and accidents

2022 Brazil floods and landslides
- 2022 Petrópolis floods
  - At least 117 people are killed by mudslides and flooding in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro. It is the heaviest rainfall registered in the city since 1932. (Reuters)
List of fatal shark attacks in Australia
- A man is killed in a shark attack off Little Bay, Sydney, Australia. It is the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963. A witness estimated that the shark was about 4.5 metres (15 ft) in length. (Reuters)
At least 13 people are killed after wedding guests fall into a well in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. (CNN)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Indonesia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 64,718 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4.96 million. (detikHealth)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 27,831 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3.11 million. (The Star)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports a record 90,443 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.55 million. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
  - Switzerland lifts almost all of its COVID-19-related restrictions, with people no longer needing to show COVID-19 vaccine certificates to enter public venues, due to confidence that infection rates had been uncoupled from hospitalization. (Politico.eu)

Law and crime

Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation
- The European Court of Justice dismisses Poland and Hungary's challenges against the regulation and confirms that the regulation is in compliance with the treaties of the European Union. This will allow the European Commission to suspend funds from the EU budget to member states that have rule of law issues which are likely to affect the management of EU funds. (Al Jazeera)

Sports

Philippine Basketball Association
- The Alaska Aces, the second most successful team in the history of the league with 14 championship titles in 35 years, announced that it will cease to exist after the conclusion of the ongoing 2021 PBA Governors' Cup. (ESPN)

February 17, 2022 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - War in Donbas
    - The Ukrainian government accuses Russian separatists of shelling a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk Oblast using artillery, injuring three civilians. The Luhansk People's Republic says that its forces were attacked by the Ukrainian military with mortars, grenade launchers and machine gun fire. At least 32 shells hit the city, causing power outages and damaging multiple structures. (MSN) (The Guardian)
    - The United Nations Security Council convenes in order to discuss Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border. (C-SPAN)
    - The U.S. State Department confirms that the U.S. deputy ambassador to Russia was expelled from the country. White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre calls the expulsion "unprovoked". (Reuters)
    - The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell says that shelling has begun in eastern Ukraine. (La Vanguardia)
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - Senior British officials say that Russian President Vladimir Putin has now decided to invade Ukraine following "changes in the last 24 hours". (The Times)
    - Germany deploys 130 troops and 60 armoured personnel carriers to Lithuania. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says that the German forces are authorized to defend the country from threats. More troops are expected to arrive later this week. (Reuters)
Mali War, Operation Barkhane
- France and the EU-wide Takuba Task Force announce that they will begin withdrawing from Mali, stating that the military government in place since last year's coup has placed "multiple obstructions" to their counter-terrorism operations. (Al Jazeera)

Disasters and accidents

Panama-flagged car carrier MV Felicity Ace is abandoned approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of the Azores following a severe fire onboard. The ship's entire 22-man crew safely evacuates using lifeboats. (CNN)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia
      - British Columbia lifts most of its COVID-19 restrictions, allowing all businesses to reopen and operate at full capacity. Indoor gatherings and organized events are also permitted to operate without occupancy limits. However, provincial mandates requiring the use of vaccine cards for entry into businesses and the use of masks in indoor settings remain in effect. (CBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in California
      - Governor Gavin Newsom announces that California will become the first U.S. state to approach COVID-19 as an endemic rather than a pandemic. (CBS News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Dominican Republic
    - The Dominican Republic ends all COVID-19-related public health measures, including mask wearing mandates and use of vaccine passes in order to enter public places, despite not reaching 70% of its vaccination target. (U.S. News & World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Indonesia surpasses 5 million cases of COVID-19. (Medcom.id)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japan reports a record 269 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Nippon.com)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
  - New Zealand reports a record 1,929 new community transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (New Zealand Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
  - Swiss President Ignazio Cassis tests positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Canada convoy protest
- Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, two organizers of the protest in Ottawa, are arrested by police. (CTV News)
Designated terrorist organisations in Australia
- Australia designates the entirety of Hamas, including its political wing, as a terrorist organisation, and also designates Atomwaffen Division, Tahrir al-Sham and the Guardians of Religion Organization as terrorist organisations. (SBS News)

Politics and elections

The Kuwaiti Ministers of Defense and the Interior, both members of the ruling Al-Sabah family, resign. The resignations are accepted by the Emir, who appoints a different member of the Al-Sabah family and Mohammad al-Fares, the current Oil Minister, to their respective posts. (Reuters)
The British government ends its immigrant investor programs, known as a Tier 1 (Investor) visa, with "immediate effect". The scheme was introduced in 2008 in order to encourage wealthy people from outside the European Union to invest in the United Kingdom. (BBC News)

February 18, 2022 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - War in Donbas
    - The Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic order mandatory mass evacuations of civilians from their respective capital cities, Donetsk and Luhansk. Around 700,000 people are expected to be evacuated to Russia with the first buses carrying civilians to the Russian border already travelling to Rostov Oblast. Russian President Vladimir Putin orders lump-sum allowances of 10,000 rubles (130 US dollars) to be paid to refugees from Donbas. (MSN) (TASS)
    - A UAZ-469 jeep is blown up outside of a building of the Donetsk People's Republic government in Donetsk city. No injuries are reported. (The Jerusalem Post)
    - Russia confirms that the Druzhba pipeline is on fire in rebel-held Luhansk Oblast after a massive explosion cut off gas to almost a hundred households. Transit supplies to Europe were not affected and continue as usual. (Reuters)
    - Additional explosions are reported in Luhansk. The Luhansk People's Republic authorities state that a gas station has been blown up. (Metro) (National Post)
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - The British government relocates its embassy from Kyiv to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, and again urges its citizens to leave the country while they still can. (Reuters)
    - Estonia delivers a shipment of U.S.-made FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. (Reuters)
    - U.S. President Joe Biden says that Vladimir Putin will launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the "coming days" and that Russian troops will try to capture the capital Kyiv. (Reuters) (Mirror)
    - Anti-war protesters gather in Burlington, Vermont to call for a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict amidst fears of a war with Ukraine. (MyChamplainValley.com) (WCAX-TV)
Mali War
- Eight Malian soldiers and 57 Islamist militants are killed during a gunfight in the Archam region, after 40 civilians were killed there during terrorist attacks last week. (Al Jazeera)
- Mali's ruling military junta demands that French forces leave the country "without delay" after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a withdrawal of troops in an "orderly fashion" in the coming months. (France 24)
Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
- Denmark recalls its frigate HDMS Esbern Snare from the Gulf of Guinea following a request from NATO to increase readiness and contribute to deterrence in Europe. The warship has been conducting anti-piracy measures in the Gulf since October. (The Local)
Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Israel's Iron Dome fails to intercept a Hezbollah-operated military drone from Lebanon that penetrated seventy kilometers into Israeli airspace. The drone flew for forty minutes before returning to Lebanon. Israeli jets fly at very low altitude over Beirut in response to the incident. (Times of Israel) (ABC News)

Disasters and accidents

2021–22 European windstorm season
- At least seventeen people are killed in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom as Storm Eunice impacts northwestern Europe. Millions are also left without power. (BBC News) (Dutch News) (Euronews)
- England records a record wind gust of 122 mph (196 kmh) on the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. (Reuters)
- The Grain Power Station in Kent, England, goes offline following the collapse of one of its towers and the roof of The O2 Arena in London is severely damaged due to high winds. (BBC News) (ITV News)
- The roof of the ADO Den Haag Stadium, in The Hague, the Netherlands, is severely damaged. (The Guardian)
Eleven people are missing after a ferry travelling between Greece and Italy catches fire. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
  - South Korea reports a record 109,831 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.75 million. (Al Jazeera)

International relations

India–United Arab Emirates relations
- India and the United Arab Emirates sign a free trade agreement over digital goods, raw materials, and apparels. It is the first major trade deal signed by India since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power in 2014. (Moneycontrol)
Poland–United States relations
- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announces the sale of 250 M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Poland amid tensions with Russia. The Polish Land Forces will become the first European military to operate the American M1 Abrams. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Canada convoy protest
- The Ottawa Police Service makes over 100 arrests, including the arrest of protest organizer Pat King. Police accuse protestors of assaulting officers with one person being arrested after allegedly throwing a bicycle at a horse with a mounted officer on it. (CBC News) (MSN)

Sports

2022 Winter Olympics
- LGBT athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games
  - Timothy LeDuc becomes the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics. They competed in figure skating with their skating partner Ashley Cain-Gribble for the United States. (HuffPost)

February 19, 2022 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - War in Donbas
    - The Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic declare a full military mobilisation, a day after beginning to evacuate civilians to Russia. (Reuters)
    - Two Ukrainian troops are killed and four others are injured by shelling from separatist forces. Separatists have opened fire on more than 30 settlements with artillery, according to the Ukrainian military. (Reuters)
    - Russia launches an investigation following reports that shells landed inside Rostov Oblast, 2 km from the Russia–Ukraine border. At least one structure on a farm is reportedly destroyed. (Reuters) (TASS)
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Vladimir Putin is planning "the biggest war in Europe since 1945" and that Russia intends to launch an invasion that will encircle the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. (BBC News)
Somali Civil War
- 2022 Beledweyne bombing
  - Fourteen people are killed by an al-Shabaab suicide bomber at a restaurant in Beledweyne, Somalia. (The Guardian)

International relations

International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
- Russia–United States relations
  - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris warns that the United States will impose sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine. (NBC News)
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges sanctions on Russia before a potential invasion occurs. (CBS News)

Law and crime

Canada convoy protest
- Ottawa police continue clearing protesters on Parliament Hill. Over 170 people have been arrested since Thursday as part of an effort to end the protests. (NBC News) (India Times)
- Freedom Convoy demonstrators admit that the protests are near the end. (The Washington Post)
Jeffrey Epstein associate Jean-Luc Brunel is found dead inside his cell at La Santé Prison in Paris. Brunel faced allegations of sexual assault spanning three decades and of participating in the sex trafficking ring run by Epstein. (Sky News)

Sports

2022 Winter Olympics
- Slovakia at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics
  - The Slovakia men's hockey team wins their first medal at the Winter Olympics after defeating Sweden in the men's tournament. (The Hockey News)

February 20, 2022 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Belarus–Russia relations
    - Military exercises between Belarusian and Russian forces in Belarus are extended amid tensions with Ukraine. Around 30,000 Russian troops are currently stationed in Belarus, according to NATO. (Reuters)
    - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a decision by Russia and Belarus to extend military drills is Moscow following its "playbook" for an invasion of Ukraine. (New York Post)
  - France–Russia relations
    - Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron announce that they will work toward a ceasefire agreement in order to avert war with Ukraine. (Firstpost)
  - Russia–United States relations
    - Biden has agreed "in principle" to meet with Putin in French-brokered summit talks as long as Russia does not invade Ukraine, the White House says. (CNN)
  - The United States says it has intelligence indicating orders have been sent to Russian military commanders to proceed with an incursion on Ukraine. (NBC News)
  - U.S. President Joe Biden holds a National Security Council meeting on the ongoing crisis. (Barron's)
  - Following the meeting, Biden abruptly cancels plans to go to his home in Delaware for the Presidents' Day holiday. It is a rare occurrence for a U.S. president's travel plans to change in this manner, especially when the plans involve the president leaving Washington, D.C. (CNBC)
  - Biden speaks with Macron on diplomacy with and deterrence efforts against Russia, after Macron and Putin agreed to work towards a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. (Asian News International)
  - Satellite imagery shows a shift in Russia's military deployment around Ukraine, with several units or troops deployed outside of bases or training grounds and some positioned along tree lines, according to an analysis by Maxar Technologies, who released the imagery. (CNA)
- War in Donbas
  - The Luhansk People's Republic says that two civilians have been killed by Ukrainian military shelling in the village of Pionerskoye, near the Russia–Ukraine border. Five buildings were also destroyed. (TASS)
Australia–China relations
- Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton reveals that a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy destroyer fired at a Royal Australian Air Force Boeing P-8 Poseidon over the exclusive economic zone of Australia with a military-grade laser weapon as the ship transited through the Arafura Sea last week. (Sky News Australia)
Seven children are killed and five more are injured during a Nigerian Air Force airstrike in the Maradi region of Niger. The army reported that the airstrike was the result of "a mistake on the border". (Al Jazeera)

Business and economy

Suisse secrets
- Leaked data from Credit Suisse exposes the identities of over 30,000 of the bank's clients whose anonymous numbered Swiss bank accounts, which collectively held over $100 billion, had allowed them to keep their identities secret. Its clients included heads of state (such as king Abdullah II of Jordan), human rights abusers, drug traffickers, intelligence officials, and individuals under sanctions or involved in financial crimes such as tax evasion or corruption, among others. The secret data from Switzerland's second largest bank was leaked about 1 year ago to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and was analyzed by the non-profit Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and 46 other news organizations, including The New York Times, Le Monde and The Guardian. (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) (AP) (The Guardian) (The New York Times)
The controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam begins producing electricity, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attending the inauguration of the dam. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Italy
      - The Italian Health ministry recommends that severely immunocompromised people should receive a fourth dose of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine at least 120 days after receiving their previous booster. (U.S. News & World Report)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID-19 with "mild cold-like symptoms". (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in California
    - COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area
      - The Point Bonita Lighthouse, a lighthouse located at the Marin Headlands near Sausalito, reopens to visitors for the first time after two years of closure due to the pandemic. (CBS News)

International relations

Cross-Strait relations
- Taiwan announces that its army will conduct live military drills next month which will simulate an invasion attempt of its islets of Dongyin and Kinmen, and its coast guard will conduct similar drills near Pratas Island, amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China. (South China Morning Post)
Nepal–United States relations, Millennium Challenge Corporation's Nepal Compact
- Hundreds of protestors gather outside the Nepalese parliament in Kathmandu in order to protest a United States grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation for infrastructure projects, stating the deal undermines Nepal's sovereignty. Several protesters are injured following clashes with police. (BBC News)

Sports

2022 Winter Olympics
- The closing ceremony for the Winter Olympics is held in Beijing. (NPR)
2022 NASCAR Cup Series
- Rookie Austin Cindric wins the 64th running of the Daytona 500, becoming the ninth driver to score his first career Cup Series victory in the event. (Fox Sports)
Juwan Howard, head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, strikes Joe Krabbenhoft, assistant coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team, in an altercation following a 76–61 loss to the Badgers. Howard says Greg Gard, the Badgers' head coach, touched him in the handshake line, and that he was also upset that Gard had called a timeout with 20 seconds left in the game, which Gard had done to avoid a 10-second violation. (Sports Illustrated)

February 21, 2022 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - International recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic
    - The European Union says it is prepared to issue sanctions against Russia if the country recognizes the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, breakaway regions of Ukraine that declared independence in 2014. Ukraine considers the quasi-states terrorist organizations. (Reuters)
    - Russian President Vladimir Putin signs decrees recognising the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic with immediate effect. He also asks the parliament to ratify the treaties on friendship and mutual aid with the breakaway territories. (BBC News) (Axios) (CNN)
    - President Putin addresses the nation and declares that Ukraine is a country with "no tradition of independent statehood and an artificial creation of Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin", and that the country has become a "U.S. puppet regime rife with corruption". He also reiterates his claim that Ukraine joining NATO would be a security risk to Russia. (Reuters) (CNN International) (Sputnik)
  - Russian Armed Forces are deployed to the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk for a "peacekeeping mission", shortly after Russia recognized the independence of the republics. (Axios)
  - A senior U.S. official says Russian troops could move into the separatist regions of Ukraine by the end of the day. (CNN)
  - A large column of military vehicles, including tanks, is reported on the outskirts of Donetsk city hours after Russia formally recognised the self-proclaimed republic as an independent state. (Reuters)
  - Russia says that it has killed five Ukrainian soldiers who tried to infiltrate its territory. Ukraine disputes the claim as "fake news". (Reuters)
- Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - The U.S. State Department evacuates its remaining diplomats in Ukraine to Poland. (The Straits Times)
  - National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan states that the United States will rally the international community to hold Russia accountable should it invade Ukraine. (CBS News)
  - The U.S. says it will impose sanctions on the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic in response to Putin recognizing their independence and sovereignty. (The Guardian)
- War in Donbas
  - Separatist forces shell the village of Zaitseve, Donetsk Oblast, killing two Ukrainian soldiers and a civilian. (The Times of Israel)

Business and economy

Suisse secrets
- In response to yesterday's leak of client data from Credit Suisse, Switzerland's second largest bank, the EU's European Commission is asked to "re-evaluate Switzerland as a high-risk money-laundering country" by the European People's Party, which is the group with the largest number of seats in the European Parliament. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Gbomblora explosion
- At least 63 people are killed and 40 others injured by an explosion at a gold mine in Gbomblora, Poni, Burkina Faso. (Reuters)
An Iranian F-5 jet crashes into a school in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, killing both pilots as well as a person on the ground. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record 7,533 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the territory to 60,383. (The Standard)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
    - Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh tested positive for COVID-19 while leading his country delegation in Cairo. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea surpasses 2 million COVID-19 cases. (The Korea Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
  - COVID-19 pandemic in England
    - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that he is lifting domestic coronavirus restrictions in England, including the legal requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate, from February 24. As part of the plan, free self-testing will end by April 1. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, COVID-19 vaccination in South Africa
  - South Africa changes its COVID-19 vaccination rules to allow mixing of vaccines between the Pfizer–BioNTech and Janssen COVID-19 vaccines for second and third doses and also reduces the interval between the second and third doses of the Pfizer vaccine in order to increase the country's vaccination rate. (CNA)

International relations

Israel–Morocco relations
- Morocco's trade minister, Ryad Mezzour, and Israel's economy minister, Orna Barbivai, sign a trade deal in Rabat. (National Post)
China–United States relations
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announces that China will sanction American defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon after the United States approved a US$100 million missile defense repair deal between the two companies and Taiwan. (Al Jazeera English)

Law and crime

Abortion in Colombia
- The Constitutional Court decriminalizes abortion in all cases for up to six months of gestation, and removes time limits in cases of rape, fetal defects, or if the mother's life is in danger. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Aftermath of the 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état
- Burkinabé President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba orders an inquiry into the deaths of two civilians during last month's coup d'état. (Agence France-Presse via Barron's)

February 22, 2022 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- International recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic
  - Syria voices support for Russia's recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent states. (Reuters)
- Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Anti-war protesters gather at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, to oppose President Vladimir Putin's decision to send soldiers to separatist regions in Ukraine. (CTV News)
  - Protesters also gather at the Russian Embassy in Kyiv to protest ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (Firstpost)
  - The United States calls the Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine "an invasion". (CTV News)
  - The Russian parliament ratifies the friendship and cooperation treaties with the DPR and LPR, following Putin's request made the previous day. (TASS)
  - The foreign ministers of European Union member states agree on a package of new sanctions against Russia. (Al Jazeera)
- Germany suspends the Nord Stream 2 project in response to Russia's recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent states. (Deutsche Welle)
The U.N. Security Council unanimously passes a resolution declaring that Iraq is no longer required to pay out to victims of its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Iraq had paid out US$50 billion to 1.4 million claimants, including one claim to the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation that totaled US$14.7 billion, by the time of the resolution's passage. (Toronto Star)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces a citywide testing campaign due to surge of the cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. It is planned to test each citizen three times during the campaign. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
    - Singapore reports a record 26,032 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 622,293. (CNA)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks
- A public inquiry into the 2020 shootings in Nova Scotia, Canada, that killed 22 people is opened. (CBC News)
Persecution of Christians in North Korea, Religion in North Korea
- A South Korean state commission confirms that retreating North Korean soldiers murdered over 1,150 South Korean Christian civilians in the early stages of the Korean War due to a state anti-religion campaign. (The Korea Times)

Politics and elections

20th National Congress of the People's Party (Spain)
- The secretary general of the People's Party, Teodoro García Egea, resigns after a scandal over alleged spying on the President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso. (Swissinfo)

February 23, 2022 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - Ukraine announces the mobilization of its military reserves with a maximum service length of one year for reservists between the ages of 18 and 60 years. (The Hill)
    - Ukraine urges all citizens to leave Russia immediately, following an increase in tensions in the region. (MSN)
    - Ukraine closes its civilian airspace nationwide due to potential hazards. (Reuters)
    - Russia closes its airspace in a region to the east of its border with Ukraine. (FlightGlobal)

Arts and culture

Tunisia announces that they will remove Death on the Nile from theaters over Gal Gadot’s role in the film and her normalization of Israel. (Al Mayadeen)

Business and economy

2021–2022 global energy crisis
- Brent Crude oil reaches its highest price since its 2014 peak, at $99 per barrel, amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea
      - South Korea approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years. (AP)
    - South Korea reports a record 171,452 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,329,182. (The Straits Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia, COVID-19 vaccination in Cambodia
    - Cambodia begins its COVID-19 vaccination rollout for children over the age of three years, becoming the world's first country to administer vaccines for children under the age of five years. (Bangkok Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record 8,674 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 75,248. (South China Morning Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, COVID-19 drug development
  - The Canadian government signs an agreement with AstraZeneca to procure 100,000 doses of the Evushield COVID-19 antibody therapy for use in high-risk patients. (CTV News)

Politics and elections

Canada convoy protest
- Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau revokes the state of emergency that was declared under the Emergencies Act on February 14. (Reuters)

February 24, 2022 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Battle of Chernobyl
    - Russian troops enter the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Ukraine says that Russian forces have captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls the attack on Chernobyl a "declaration of war on all of Europe". (Daily Sabah) (The Independent) (Unian)
  - Attack on Snake Island
    - Ukraine reports that Russian Navy warships have attacked Snake Island near the Danube Delta. (IndiaTV)
  - Battle of Sumy
    - Russian troops enter Sumy and take control of the road leading from Kyiv to Moscow. Battles for strategic cities on the railway to Sumy are also underway. (Novoye Vremya)
  - Battle of Antonov Airport
    - Russian gunships bombard Hostomel Airport near Kyiv. Ukraine says that three helicopters were shot down in defence. Russian Airborne Forces seized control of the airport, but the Ukrainian Ground Forces have recaptured the airport. (The Moscow Times) (Reuters) (Ukrinform)
    - An-225 Mriya, the largest aircraft in the world by weight and by wingspan, is destroyed during a Russian air strike on the suburb of Kyiv. The plane did not manage to leave Hostomel before hostilities began. (Radio Liberty Ukraine)
  - Battle of Kyiv, Kyiv Offensive
    - The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, announces a curfew in the capital from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Reuters)
  - Russian President Vladimir Putin orders a military operation to "demilitarise and denazify" Ukraine. Putin also warns of "consequences you have never seen in history" for anyone who tries to interfere or "create threats for our country". (CNN) (AP)
  - Ukraine confirms that Russian Ground Forces have entered Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr Oblasts and have also crossed the border from occupied Crimea. Russian troops also attack the port cities of Odesa and Mariupol in amphibious landings. (CNN) (The Business Standard)
  - Russia announces that they have taken control of the North Crimean Canal in the Kherson Oblast and have restored the supply of water to Crimea. (Reuters)
  - Russian ballistic and cruise missiles strike multiple Ukrainian cities and airfields, with eighteen people being killed in Odesa. A missile also strikes the Ministry of Defence intelligence headquarters in Kyiv. (CNN) (NDTV) (Reuters)
  - A Ukrainian Air Force Antonov An-26 is shot down and crashes in Obukhiv, killing five crew members, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. (Interfax)
  - An attack on a military unit in Podilsk kills six civilians and injures seven others. (BBC News)
  - Ukraine's military reports that at least 137 of its soldiers have been killed in Eastern Ukraine, with a senior Ukrainian government official estimating that hundreds of Ukrainian troops have been killed by airstrikes. Ukraine's military also says that 50 Russian soldiers have been killed in action. (The Wall Street Journal) (CNN) (The Guardian)
  - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declares martial law across the country in response to the invasion. Zelenskyy also orders a general military mobilization of fit-to-serve Ukrainian citizens, with men between the ages of 18 and 60 years prohibited from leaving the country. (TASS) (CNN)
  - The Russian Armed Forces says that its "lightning offensive" has crippled the Ukrainian military and suppressed its air defense systems. However, the Ukrainian Air Force says that it is repelling Russian invaders. (TASS) (BBC News)
  - The Russian Defence Ministry says that it has destroyed 83 Ukrainian "above-ground military facilities", including 11 aerodromes. (Reuters)
  - Ukraine says that it has shot down six Russian warplanes and two helicopters, and destroyed dozens of enemy armored vehicles, according to its Joint Centre of Control and Coordination. However, Russian military representatives deny the claims. (Mil.gov.ua) (Firstpost)
  - Russia says that two Russian civilian ships have been hit by anti-ship missiles in the Sea of Azov, causing multiple deaths. Russia subsequently restricts access for civilian vessels on the Sea of Azov. (Ynet) (Reuters)
  - A Turkish-owned vessel is bombed off the coast of Odesa, according to Turkey's Directorate General of Coastal Safety. No casualties are reported. (Daily Sabah)
- Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Russia–NATO relations
    - Romania, Poland, and the Baltic states agree to trigger article 4 of NATO's North Atlantic Treaty in response to Russian aggression. (ERR) (Digi24)
    - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock states that Germany will "launch the full package with the most massive sanctions against Russia." (EURACTIV)
  - Russia–Ukraine relations
    - Ukraine suspends diplomatic relations with Russia in response to the invasion. (The Times of Israel)
  - Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda announces that he will sign a decree declaring a state of emergency and asks Seimas to ratify it in an extraordinary session. (ERR)
  - Moldova declares a state of emergency in response to the invasion. Hundreds of Ukrainians are crossing the border, according to President Maia Sandu. (National Post)
  - Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova close their airspaces to commercial aircraft. (ABC News Australia) (Reuters)
  - U.S. President Joe Biden orders Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to send 7,000 troops to Germany in order to assist NATO allies. (Reuters) (Army Times)
Afghanistan conflict
- Eight polio vaccination workers are killed by unknown gunmen in Kunduz and Takhar, leading to the suspension of the vaccination campaign in the two provinces. The campaign was launched nationwide in November 2021. (VOA)
Israel's role in the Syrian Civil War
- Israel fires several missiles towards Damascus, Syria, killing three Syrian soldiers. (The Washington Post) (Times of Israel)

Arts and culture

Eurovision Song Contest 2022
- It is announced that Russia will participate in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy despite invading Ukraine. (AOL)
Iraq unveils three monumental structures in Hatra in an effort to restore the city after it was destroyed by the Islamic State in 2015. (France 24)

Business and economy

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- A massive selloff occurs on the Moscow Stock Exchange, which prompts its operator to trigger circuit breakers twice in three hours. The Russian ruble's exchange rate falls to a record low of ₽89.98 per US dollar. (Rzeczpospolita) (Reuters)
- The National Bank of Ukraine pegs the official hryvnia rate to the US dollar at ₴29.25, bans foreign currency purchases on the interbank market and introduces cash withdrawal limits. The central bank also orders a suspension of all transactions with Russian accounts and introduces unlimited short-term liquidity loans for banks. (National Post) (Ekonomichna Pravda)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong begins rolling out COVID-19 vaccine passports for people over the age of 12 years. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 31,199 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3.3 million. (The Star)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
    - Singapore suspends a plan to ease and simplify COVID-19-related rules, including home gatherings, which was expected to begin tomorrow due to an increase in new COVID-19 cases. (Bloomberg)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 23,557 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.79 million. (Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Canada
      - Health Canada approves Medicago's CoVLP COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults, making it the first domestic vaccine to be approved for use in Canada. (The Vancouver Sun)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Maine
      - Maine surpasses 2,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Portland Press Herald)
- European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - The European Medicines Agency recommends the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for teenagers over the age of 12 years and also approves the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 6 and 11 years. (The Journal.ie)

International relations

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
  - Russia–European Union relations
    - The European Union says that it will introduce the "strongest, harshest package" of sanctions on the Russian economy in response to the invasion. (AP)
  - Russia–New Zealand relations
    - The New Zealand government is expected to introduce a package of sanctions against Russia that includes a ban on the entry into and transit through the country of Russian government officials and other people connected to the invasion, as well as a ban on the export of goods to Russian military and security forces. (RNZ)
  - Russia–South Korea relations
    - South Korean president Moon Jae-in announces that the country will impose economic sanctions against Russia. (Reuters)
  - Russia–United Kingdom relations
    - Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that the United Kingdom will impose sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs. Russian airline Aeroflot will also be banned from operating flights to the UK due to the invasion. (BBC News)
  - Canada–Russia relations
    - Canada terminates all export permits with Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. (U.S. News & World Report)
  - Russia–United States relations
    - U.S. President Joe Biden announces sanctions against Russia and vows that additional sanctions could be coming. He also reaffirms that the U.S. will not directly intervene in Ukraine but will continue to defend NATO. (NBC News) (BuzzFeed)
  - India–Russia relations
    - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a telephone meeting. During the meeting, Modi called for Russia and Ukraine to "end the violence". (Telangana Today)
  - Latvia and the Czech Republic suspend issuing visas to Russian citizens. (RusTourismNews)

Law and crime

Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- 2022 anti-war protests in Russia
  - Protesters in Russia are detained as people gather in cities across the country in order to protest Putin's invasion of Ukraine. (The Moscow Times) (Newsweek)
  - Russian activist Marina Litvinovich is detained by Moscow police after calling for anti-war demonstrations across Russia. (Reuters)
- Anti-war protesters gather at Russian embassies in many countries to oppose President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. (Axios) (CBS News)
- Protesters gather at 10 Downing Street to denounce Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to call for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the United Kingdom to support Ukraine. (The Big Issue) (The New York Times)
Murder of George Floyd
- Three former Minneapolis police officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane and Tou Thao, are found guilty of violating the civil rights of George Floyd under government authority. (NBC News)
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov signs a decree that bans the slaughtering of cattle during funerals in the country. (AKIpress)

Sports

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- UEFA announces that the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final will be moved from Saint Petersburg, Russia, in response to the invasion of Ukraine. (Sky News)
- Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel says that he will not participate in the 2022 Russian Grand Prix, which is expected to be held on September 24 in Sochi. (RACER) (CTV News)

February 25, 2022 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Kyiv offensive, Battle of Kyiv
    - The Ukrainian military says that it has blown up a bridge in order to prevent Russian forces from advancing to Kyiv. (Ukrinform)
    - Ukraine says that Russian troops have entered Kyiv and heavy fighting is underway. Videos on social media show tanks advancing through the city's Obolon neighbourhood. Gunfire and explosions are also reported in the city's Podilskyi District. (BBC News) (The Guardian)
    - The US Department of Defense says that Russia is losing momentum in its attack on Ukraine. (CNN)
  - Millerovo air base attack
    - Ukrainian OTR-21 Tochka missiles attack the Millerovo air base in Rostov oblast, Russia, destroying two Russian Air Force warplanes according to Ukrainian officials. Images appear to show the airbase on fire. (Newsweek) (RostovGazeta)
  - Battle of Starobilsk
    - A column of Russian soldiers is defeated by the Ukrainian army in Starobilsk. (Gazeta.ua)
  - Battle of Ivankiv
    - Ukrainian airborne assault troops engage Russian soldiers at Ivankiv and Dymer. (Gazeta.ua)
  - Battle of Chernihiv
    - A captain and corporal from the Russian 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Chernihiv. (Gazeta.ua)
  - Battle of Sumy
    - Russian forces reportedly retreat from Sumy. (Channel 24)
  - Battle of Chernobyl
    - The Ukrainian government's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate says that higher than usual gamma radiation levels have been detected in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone after the power plant was captured by Russia. (The Telegraph)
  - Battle of Antonov Airport
    - The Russian Defence Ministry says that Russian Airborne Forces have recaptured the strategic Hostomel Airport near Kyiv, after assaulting the airbase with 200 helicopters. (BBC News)
- Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
  - Ukraine–NATO relations, 2022 NATO virtual summit
    - During an emergency NATO summit, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announces that NATO will provide weapons to Ukraine. He also announces that the NATO Response Force will be activated for the first time in history. (Reuters) (Stars and Stripes)
  - Kazakhstan–Russia relations
    - Kazakhstan will deny Russia’s request for troops to join the war. It will also not join Putin’s recognition of Donetsk People's Republic or Luhansk People's Republic. (NBC News)
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses European leadership of "inaction" in face of the Russian invasion, saying "Like World War II, you said never again, but here it is again and you're not doing enough to respond". Zelenskyy also calls on citizens across the European Union to protest and force their governments to take more decisive action. (The Business Standard)
- A Moldovan-flagged chemical tanker is hit by a missile near the Port of Odesa, seriously injuring two crew members, according to Moldova's naval agency. It is unclear who launched the missile. (Reuters)
- Russian President Vladimir Putin urges the Armed Forces of Ukraine to "take power in your own hands" and overthrow the Ukrainian government, which he referred to as a "gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis". (The Guardian)
- Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warns both Finland and Sweden that they could face "detrimental military and political consequences" if they attempt to join NATO. (The Guardian)
Colombian conflict
- At least 23 FARC dissidents are killed by the Colombian Army during an operation in Arauca Department. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Eurovision Song Contest 2022
  - Russia is disqualified from competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine. (Euronews)
- Expo 2020
  - The Dubai expo will be open to all nations despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

2022 Sumatra earthquake
- At least seven people are killed and 85 others are injured by an earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia. The 6.2 magnitude earthquake is felt as far away as Malaysia and Singapore. (The Straits Times)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record 10,010 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, which is the first time that the territory has reported more than 10,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Indonesia reports a record 61,631 new COVID-19 recoveries in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 4.73 million. (detikNews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan
    - The Kyrgyzstan Health Ministry announces that the country plans to purchase doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, as well as around 100,800 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Trend)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 32,070 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3.33 million. (Malay Mail)

International relations

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
  - Russia–Taiwan relations
    - Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang announces that Taiwan will impose sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. (Financial Post)
  - Russia–United Kingdom relations
    - Russia bans all British airlines from its airspace and airports in response to the UK's ban on its flag carrier Aeroflot. (Reuters)
  - Russia–European Union relations
    - The European Union freezes all assets held by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the EU. (National Post)
  - Russia–United States relations
    - The Biden administration announces that the U.S. will join the European Union in imposing sanctions on Putin. (NBC News)
  - The Council of Europe announces the suspension of Russia's membership. (The Business Standard)
  - The Council of the OECD formally terminates the accession process of Russia to the organisation. (OECD)
- Russia–Ukraine relations
  - Russian President Vladimir Putin tells Chinese President Xi Jinping that Russia is willing to hold talks with Ukraine. (Reuters)
  - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges Vladimir Putin to engage in talks in order to end the conflict. (Armenpress)
  - Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov says that Russia has agreed to hold talks and will send a delegation to Minsk, Belarus. (The Wall Street Journal)
  - Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak says that the country is ready to hold talks with Russia on neutral status in order to implement a ceasefire. A time and place is expected to be announced. (Reuters) (The Independent)
  - President Zelenskyy calls for Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to serve as a mediator in talks between Ukraine and Russia. (Times of Israel)
- Foreign relations of the Federated States of Micronesia
  - The Federated States of Micronesia suspends diplomatic ties with Russia. (Barron's)
- China–Russia relations
  - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urges Russia to respect the "territorial sovereignty" of Ukraine and to "put an end to civilian casualties by resuming negotiations." (CNN)
- Belarus–Ukraine relations
  - Secretary of the Belarus Foreign Ministry Anatoly Glaz says that Belarus is ready to help bring peace to Ukraine amid reports of possible peace talks in Minsk. (Belta)
Nuclear program of Iran
- Russia–United States relations
  - U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price says that the U.S. will still engage with Russia in efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)

Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
  - Brazil and Venezuela will reopen their border after a two year closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Ukrainians, Norwegians, and Russians hold a joint anti-war protest in Kirkenes, Norway, calling for Vladimir Putin to be tried at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands. (BarentsObserver)
- Protesters gather in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. (Reuters)
- Protesters gather at the Russian consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a second consecutive day to express outrage over the war. (AOL)

Science and technology

Media freedom in Russia
- Russia announces that it has partially restricted access to Facebook. (CNET)

Sports

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- 2021–22 UEFA Champions League
  - UEFA announces the relocation of this year's Champions League final from the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France near Paris, in response to the crisis. (CNN)
- 2022 Formula One World Championship
  - The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile cancels this year's edition of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi initially scheduled for September 25, stating that "it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances". (BBC Sport)

February 26, 2022 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Kyiv offensive, Battle of Kyiv
    - Russian Ground Forces attempt to attack an army base near Kyiv on Victory Avenue as well as an electricity generating station in the city. The Ukrainian military says that they repelled both attacks. (Reuters)
    - A residential tower block near Kyiv International Airport is hit by a missile. (Al Jazeera)
    - Ukraine's army claims that its air defences shot down two Russian Ilyushin Il-76 transport planes carrying paratroopers near the cities of Vasylkiv and Bila Tserkva in Kyiv Oblast, but did not provide any video evidence or details on crash sites. Ukraine also claims that a Sukhoi Su-25 attack jet was shot down. (Times of Israel)
  - Battle of Melitopol
    - The Russian Armed Forces report that they have captured the city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. However, this claim is disputed. Russian state media says that Russian troops entered the city after facing "no resistance". (Reuters) (TASS)
  - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posts a video of himself in the capital Kyiv amid rumors that he left the country. (Times of Israel)
  - The Russian Navy warns that all civilian ships and vessels attempting to approach the Ukrainian Black Sea coast will be destroyed as "terrorist threats". (Ukrainska Pravda)
  - Poland says that around 100,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border since the invasion began. (Reuters)
  - Russian President Vladimir Putin issues orders to expand the offensive, after declaring peace talks "dead". (Bloomberg)
  - The Ukrainian military destroys rails at all railway junctions leading to Russia as part of an attempt to prevent Russian military supplies from being delivered by freight trains. (Ukrainska Pravda)
  - Sergey Aksyonov, the head of the Republic of Crimea, says that supplies of water via the North Crimean Canal returned after Russians destroyed the dam that prevented the flow of water from the Dnieper river. (TASS)
  - Russian forces shell the city of Sartana, Ukraine, and the nearby village of Buhas, killing ten Greek nationals. (Al Jazeera)

Business and economy

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
  - In an official joint statement, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, agree to remove some Russian banks from SWIFT. The group also commits to "imposing restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions." (The Guardian)
  - Several computer chip manufacturers, including TSMC and Intel, halt supplies of their products as a result of sanctions against Russia. (The Washington Post)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea reports 112 deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record. (AP)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
    - The United Arab Emirates removes the mandatory face masks mandate in outdoor spaces, making the use of them optional. (The National)

International relations

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, International reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
  - Estonia–Russia relations
    - Estonia announces that it will close its airspace to all Russian airlines. (Reuters)
- Turkey–Ukraine relations
  - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that Turkey is making efforts for an immediate ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. (Reuters)
- In a phone call, French President Emmanuel Macron calls for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. During the phone call, Lukashenko also called reports of Belarus potentially having nuclear weapons "fake news". (Big News Network) (Belta)
Nuclear program of Iran
- Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announces that Iran will be studying a rough draft aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. (Times of Israel)

Law and crime

Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- 2022 anti-war protests in Russia
  - Around 3,000 anti-war protesters across Russia have been detained since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine. (Times of Israel)
- Protesters gather at the Russian embassy in London. During the protest, demonstrators are seen throwing eggs at the embassy, and call for Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine. (The Independent)
- Around 200 demonstrators in Taipei, Taiwan call for the war to end. (Taiwan News)
- Iranian police disperse protesters chanting "Death to Putin" outside the Ukrainian embassy in Tehran. (Iran International)
- Protesters gather in Kansas City, Salt Lake City, the Space Needle in Seattle, and other cities across the U.S. to stand in solitary with Ukraine and call for peace. (The Kansas City Star) (The Salt Lake Tribune) (Seattle Times)
- Several Freedom Convoy truckers gather at the Grant Park in Chicago to protest in solitary with Ukraine. (Jalopnik)

Politics and elections

Education in Afghanistan
- Universities reopen in Afghanistan to male and female students for the first time since the Taliban took power 6 months ago. (VOA)

Science and technology

Internet censorship in Russia
- Russia blocks access to social media platform Twitter. (The Verge)

February 27, 2022 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Battle of Kharkiv, Battle of Kyiv
    - Russian Ground Forces begin targeting gas and oil pipelines outside Kharkiv and Kyiv in an attempt to incapacitate their defenses, with multiple explosions being reported at an oil depot near Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast. (BBC News)
    - The Ukrainian Army announces that they remain in control of Kyiv. Additionally, regional governor Oleh Synyehubov announces that Ukraine remains in control of Kharkiv. (India Today) (Daily Sabah)
    - Ukraine's military says that it has destroyed a convoy of 56 tanks near the capital Kyiv and killed Chechen General Magomed Tushayev. (Times of Israel)
  - Kherson offensive
    - Russian troops enter the port city of Berdiansk and seize all administrative buildings, according to the city's mayor. (The Jerusalem Post) (Ukrinform)
  - 368,000 refugees have fled Ukraine since the invasion started, according to an estimate by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (Euronews)
  - Russian President Vladimir Putin orders Russia's nuclear forces placed on high alert, in response to what he considered "aggressive statements" by NATO members. (AP)
  - Ukraine says that they have used Baykar Bayraktar TB2 drones against Russian forces. (The Wall Street Journal)
  - The European Union says that it will provide fighter aircraft and finance €500 million in procurement and delivery of weapons to Ukraine, the first time that the EU has done so. The EU will also provide €50 million in medical supplies. (Ukrinform) (Reuters)
  - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen allows volunteers to join Ukrainian soldiers to fight against Russia. (Jyllands Posten)
Syrian civil war
- Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war
  - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that a Turkish drone has targeted Tell Rifaat near the Aleppo Governorate. No casualties are reported. (Kurdistan 24)

Business and economy

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
  - Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan freeze all assets of the Russian Central Bank and the Russian National Wealth Fund under their jurisdiction, preventing the usage of more than a third of Russia's $630 billion of foreign exchange reserves. (Rzeczpospolita) (The Japan Times)
  - British Petroleum liquidates its 19.75% stake in Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft. (The Daily Telegraph)
  - Norway's sovereign fund will divest its Russian holdings. (Reuters)
  - The Russian ruble experiences extreme buy–sell spreads. While the currency exchanges in banks offer a range of 70–90 rubles per US dollar and 80–100 rubles per euro, sell quotes vary from 100 rubles to over 150 rubles for 1 US dollar. Panic selling is suspected as a reason for the fluctuations. (The Wall Street Journal) (Izvestiya)

Disasters and accidents

2022 Eastern Australia floods
- Six people are killed and another is missing during heavy floods in Queensland. (7 News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - Hong Kong reports a record 26,062 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the territory to 138,955. (The Standard)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - The Thailand Public Health Ministry calls for hospitals in Thailand to treat COVID-19 like an endemic instead of a pandemic beginning on March 1. (The Nation)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
      - New York City Mayor Eric Adams announces that the city will lift their vaccine mandate for indoor businesses and dining on March 7. (NBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
  - The Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications announces that they have extended the suspension of passenger flights from South Africa until March 31. (Andina)

International relations

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, International reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Russia–Ukraine relations
  - Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov says that a Russian delegation has arrived in Gomel, Belarus, to hold talks as part of an effort to end the war. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects Belarus as the country is a non-neutral party in the conflict. Ukraine and Russia eventually agree to hold negotiations on the Belarus–Ukraine border near the Pripyat river tomorrow as the Ukrainian delegation is travelling to the location via Poland for safety reasons. (Belarusian Telegraph Agency) (The Washington Post) (Ukrainska Pravda) (Rzeczpospolita)
  - Ukraine sues Russia in the International Court of Justice, seeking an injunction ordering an immediate end to Russian military activities. (Ukrinform)
  - During a meeting intended to approve a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Russian delegate Oleg Anisimov apologizes to Ukraine and says that there was "no justification" for invading Ukraine. (Politico.eu)
- Russia–European Union relations, Canada–Russia relations
  - The European Union and Canada close their airspaces to Russian aircraft. (Reuters)
- Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits
  - Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the foreign minister of Turkey, triggers the wartime clause of the Montreux Convention and limits movements of military vessels whose bases are not on the Black Sea coast. (Reuters)
- Belarus–European Union relations
  - The European Union imposes sanctions on Belarus, forbidding the import of some commodities, including timber, steel, oil-derived fuels and cement. (Ekonomichna Pravda) (Reuters)
- Israel–Russia relations, Israel–Ukraine relations
  - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offers to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. (Axios)
- Germany–Ukraine relations
  - Germany announces it will send weapons to Ukraine. (The Wall Street Journal)
2021–2022 North Korean missile tests
- North Korea says that it has tested a ballistic missile that entered the sea. (AP)
China–European Union relations
- China and the European Union will host a virtual summit on April 1 as part of an effort to deescalate the economic and geopolitical tensions between the two governments, particularly with respect to Lithuania. (Politico.eu)

Law and crime

Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Anti-war demonstrators gather in Minsk, Belarus, to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite Belarus's involvement in the invasion. Around 440 people are detained in the protests. (Times of Israel) (Interfax)

Politics and elections

2022 Belarusian constitutional referendum
- Belarus holds a constitutional referendum. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état
- The ruling military junta of Burkina Faso, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, says that it is considering beginning a thirty-month transition to democracy. (Bloomberg)

Science and technology

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Censorship in the European Union
  - The European Union bans the Sputnik news agency and RT, both state-sponsored news outlets which are widely considered to be promoting Russian propaganda. (Reuters)

Sports

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
- Boycott of Russia and Belarus
  - FIFA prohibits Russia from playing under its own flag, but will allow the country to compete under a neutral banner of "Football Union of Russia", which is similar to how the International Olympic Committee requires Russian athletes to compete at the Olympics under the name of the Russian Olympic Committee. International football matches that would have taken place in Russia may only be played without spectators in other, neutral countries. However, several teams, including all possible playoff opponents for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, refuse to compete against the Russian team. (The Guardian)
  - The International Judo Federation suspends Russian president Vladimir Putin's titles as the honorary president and ambassador of the federation, "in light of the ongoing war... in Ukraine". (AFP via RFI)
  - Latvian ice hockey club Dinamo Riga withdraws from the Kontinental Hockey League in protest of the invasion, joining Finland club Jokerit. (Sportsnet)
2022 FIFA World Cup
- The Associated Press reveals that Qatar, the host of the World Cup, paid more than $10 million for "Project Riverbed", a covert influence campaign run between 2012 and 2014 by a former CIA operative's company, which was aimed at neutralising Theo Zwanziger's criticism of FIFA's decision making process for Qatar's host bid, which Zwanziger accused of being corrupt. (AP)
2022 EFL Cup Final
- Liverpool beat Chelsea 11–10 in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley Stadium to win the 2021–22 EFL Cup and claim a record ninth cup title. (The Guardian)

February 28, 2022 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Battle of Kharkiv
    - Dozens of people are killed and hundreds more are injured in a massive MLRS attack on Kharkiv, according to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. Videos appear to show cluster munitions being used in the rocket attack. (The Guardian) (Sky News)
    - Hennadiy Matsehora, the mayor of Kupiansk who surrendered the city to the Russians in exchange for peace the previous day, is now indicted for treason by Ukrainian officials. (Ukrainska Pravda) (Ukrainska Pravda 2)
  - Kyiv offensive
    - A 64-kilometre (40 mi) long convoy of Russian Ground Forces armoured vehicles, tanks and artillery continues to advance towards Kyiv. (BBC News)
  - Battle of Okhtyrka
    - Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova confirms that Russian forces attacked Okhtyrka with a vacuum bomb. (Reuters) (The Independent)
  - Zhytomyr Airport attack
    - Russia attacks the Zhytomyr Airport using Iskander ballistic missiles launched from Belarus. (The Times of Israel)
  - Kherson offensive
    - The Russian Defence Ministry says Russian Ground Forces have captured the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and that the plant's operations have continued normally under the guard of soldiers. However, Ukraine denies that the power plant has been seized by Russian forces. (Reuters)
  - Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis
    - Ukraine–NATO relations
      - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. However, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg state that NATO and the U.S. have ruled out imposing a no-fly zone. (Axios)
    - Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov accuses the European Union of "hostile behaviour" towards Russia, and says that the arming of Ukraine was an "extremely dangerous and destabilising factor". Peskov says that Western arms supplies to Kyiv shows that Moscow was justified in demilitarising Ukraine. (Reuters)
    - Dmitry Peskov says that Vladimir Putin's nuclear deterrent order remarks were in response to comments made by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. (The Independent)
    - Latvia allows volunteers to participate in the Russo-Ukrainian war. (Reuters)
  - Belarus–Ukraine relations
    - Belarus is expected to directly deploy its armed forces in Ukraine, thereby aiding Russia in its invasion. However, a senior U.S. defense official says that there are no indications that Belarusian troops have been deployed yet. (The Washington Post) (The Hill)
  - France–Russia relations
    - The office of French President Emmanuel Macron states that during a phone call with the Russian President, "Putin confirmed his willingness to make commitments" to stop attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and secure major roadways. (Times of Israel) (Reuters)
  - The United Nations reports at least 406 civilian casualties in Ukraine. (CNN)
  - The Ukrainian engineer of the Russian yacht Princess Anastasia attempts to scuttle the vessel in the port of Mallorca, Spain, damaging the yacht's engine room. (Newsweek)
  - Two ethnic Greeks are killed after the city of Sartana is bombarded by the Russian Air Force. (Greek City Times)
  - Ukrainian Air Force pilots begin arriving in Poland to begin taking control of fighter aircraft donated by European Union countries. The Ukrainian government says that the EU is handing over 70 fighter jets to its air force including 28 MiG-29s from Poland, 12 from Slovakia, 16 from Bulgaria, and 14 Sukhoi Su-25s from Bulgaria. Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said he had rejected the request. European Union security chief Josep Borrell later clarified that the donations were done "bilaterally" by individual EU member states and not from the EU itself. (Politico)

Business and economy

2022 Russian financial crisis
- The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) raises the interest rate from 9.5% to 20%, the highest rate since 2003. The Russian ruble also loses more than a quarter of its value at the beginning of trading, with ranges of 100–120 rubles to the US dollar. (The Guardian) (Reuters)
- The CBR orders all companies receiving foreign currency to exchange 80% of the revenue into rubles, in an attempt to stabilise the market. (Forbes Russia)
- Russia institutes capital controls, banning all trading of Russian securities by foreign legal entities. (Reuters)
- The Moscow Stock Exchange, which did not open for trade on Monday, will remain closed until Saturday, as Russian regulators attempt to contain the selloff of Russian assets and rubles. (The Wall Street Journal) (The Daily Telegraph)
- President Vladimir Putin ordered a ban on transferring hard currency, such as U.S. dollars and euros, abroad, including by servicing foreign debt. Whether this constitutes a debt default is unclear. (Bloomberg)
2021–2022 global energy crisis
- Petrol prices in the United Kingdom reach an all-time high, according to the RAC. (BBC News)
An EU subsidiary of Sberbank is declared to be "failing or likely to be failing" by European banking regulators. The bank's assets amount to €13.64 billion. (The Wall Street Journal) (Ekonomichna Pravda)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Gujarat
      - Gujarat will lift their COVID-19 restrictions on March 2. (New Indian Express)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
    - A third team of medical health experts arrive in Hong Kong amid an increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases. (Shanghai Daily)
- History of COVID-19 vaccine development
  - Novavax says that it will pursue full approval for its COVID-19 vaccine during the second half of this year. (Reuters)

International relations

Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, International reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Russia–Ukraine relations
  - A Ukrainian government delegation arrives in Belarus for peace talks with the Russian delegation in an attempt to end the war. (The Independent Uganda)
  - Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak announces that peace talks have begun as part of an effort to end the war. During the talks, Ukraine calls for a ceasefire to end the war. (Reuters) (BBC News)
  - Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky says that Russia and Ukraine are interested in reaching an agreement aimed at ending the war. (Forexlive)
  - The first round of peace talks conclude. Both delegations will return to their respective capitals for consultations prior to a second round of talks, which will be held at the Belarus–Poland border. (Mint)
- Russia–European Union relations, Russia–United Kingdom relations
  - In retaliation of the Russian aircraft ban, Russian authorities prohibit EU and UK airlines from landing in or crossing Russian airspace. (Bloomberg)
- Russia–Monaco relations
  - Monaco, a city favoured by Russian oligarchs, adopts sanctions against Russia in line with current EU sanctions. (Reuters)
- Russia–Switzerland relations
  - Breaking from a historic tradition of Swiss neutrality, Switzerland says it will adopt all EU sanctions on Russia effective immediately in response to the invasion. Swiss banks are believed to hold billions of dollars in Russian funds. (Reuters)
- Russia–United Kingdom relations
  - The United Kingdom bans Russian ships from docking at its ports. (Politico)
- Canada–Russia relations
  - Canada bans the importation of Russian crude oil, becoming the first G7 member to ban the importation of Russian oil. Canada also approves the delivery of 100 Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifles and 2,000 anti-tank rockets to Ukraine. (CBC)
- Belarus–United States relations, Russia–United States relations
  - The United States closes its embassy in Minsk, Belarus, and allows "non-essential staff" at its embassy in Moscow to leave the country amid war in neighbouring Ukraine. (The Independent)
  - The United States announces it is expelling 12 Russian people in New York who are a part of Russia's delegation to the United Nations, saying they are "intelligence operatives" who have "abused their privileges of residency" by engaging in "espionage activities." (The Hill)
- Ukraine–United States relations
  - The United States says it will continue to provide arms to Ukraine to aid that country in its defense against Russian aggression. (MilitaryNews)
- Sweden–Ukraine relations
  - Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announces that the country will send military equipment, including anti-tank launchers, to Ukraine, breaking with a doctrine of not sending arms to countries that are engaged in active conflict. (The Defense Post)
Nuclear program of Iran
- Diplomats from the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, and Iran gather in Vienna, Austria to seek a deal to revive the 2015 Iran deal. (Euronews)
- An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson says that efforts to revive the 2015 Iran deal could succeed if the U.S. and other Western powers take steps to solve three issues. These three issues include the extent to which sanctions would be rolled back, providing guarantees that the U.S. will not withdraw from the deal again, and resolving questions over uranium traces found at several old but undeclared sites in Iran. (Al Arabiya)
- France calls for the talks to end this week and for Iran and the Western countries to reach an agreement to revive the deal. (Times of Israel)
Taiwan–United States relations
- U.S. President Joe Biden announces that the U.S. will send a delegation to Taiwan in order to reaffirm its commitment to the country. (The Washington Post)
2021–2022 North Korean missile tests
- The KCNA says that the missile test that North Korea conducted on Sunday was to develop a "reconnaissance" satellite system. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Russo-Ukrainian War
- 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan announces that the International Criminal Court will conduct a criminal investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. (CBS News)
Lynching in the United States
- The U.S. House of Representatives votes 422–3 to pass the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, a bill that would make lynching a federal crime in the U.S. (The Washington Post)

Politics and elections

2022 Belarusian constitutional referendum
- Belarus approves the adoption of the changes to the Constitution of Belarus according to President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal, with just over 65% support, according to Belarusian electoral officials. (France 24)
- Belarus confirms that it has revoked its status as a non-nuclear state, thus allowing the country to host and develop its own nuclear weapons. President Lukashenko says that he could ask Russia to return nuclear missiles to his country if any nuclear weapons are transferred to Poland or Lithuania. (Reuters)
Potential enlargement of the European Union
- Accession of Ukraine to the European Union
  - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs an application for the country to join the European Union. (Newsweek)
Yemeni Civil War
- The United Nations Security Council votes in favour of a British-drafted resolution to place an arms embargo on the Houthis. (Voice of America)

Science and technology

IPCC Sixth Assessment Report
- A report from the second IPCC working group is published, focusing on adaptation to climate change and population vulnerability. (The Conversation)
Discoveries of exoplanets
- In new research published by the Nature journal, it is revealed that the Hot Jupiter exoplanet WASP-121b has clouds of metal and rains gems. (Joe)

Sports

International reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- FIFA and UEFA suspend all Russian football clubs from international competitions and also ban the Russian national football team from competing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. UEFA also ends its sponsorship with Russian energy firm Gazprom. (BBC Sport)
- The International Ice Hockey Federation suspends all Russian and Belarusian clubs, as well as the respective national teams of the two countries, from its competitions. It also withdraws Russia's hosting rights of the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. (USA Today)

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