2021 Belarus–European Union border crisis The Lithuanian government announces that it will not extend the state of emergency at the border with Belarus.
COVID-19 pandemic Chicago Public Schools announces that public schools in Chicago, Illinois, will cancel in-person classes amidst a rise in cases of COVID-19.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorses the use of booster shots of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 12.
Australia announces rapid antigen tests will be made free to concession card holders amid a nationwide shortage, but resists calls for universal free access.
Argentina confirms their first locally transmitted cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. In response, the government implements self-testing in order to avoid queues at testing centers.
Polish President Andrzej Duda tests positive for COVID-19 for the second time. He previously tested positive in October 2020.
France reports a record for the second consecutive day of 332,252 new cases of COVID-19, which is also the highest daily total recorded in any European nation since the beginning of the pandemic.
The Draghi Cabinet signs a decree that makes COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for people over the age of 50 years and also mandates that public and private sector workers of this age group need to show proof of vaccination or recovery or face fines of between €600 and €1,500 beginning on February 15.
Italy reports a record for the second consecutive day of 189,109 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 6,566,947.
South Korea signs an agreement to buy an additional 400,000 doses of Pfizer's Paxlovid COVID-19 drug.
Singaporean Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announces that COVID-19 vaccine booster shots will be mandatory beginning on February 14 in order for people to maintain fully vaccinated status.
Iloilo City reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a 46-year-old man who traveled from Kenya.
Israel reports a record 11,978 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,423,289.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his First Lady Michal Herzog receive their fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as Israel launched the second booster dose vaccination campaign.
India reports its first confirmed death related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 73-year-old man who died last week at a hospital in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Landslide Fourteen people are killed and three others are injured by a landslide at a construction site in Bijie, Guizhou, China.
2022 Philadelphia apartment fire Twelve people are killed and two others are injured in a fire at a row house converted into apartments in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
64th Annual Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards is postponed amidst concerns of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
79th Golden Globe Awards It is announced that the upcoming Golden Globe Awards will be held without a live audience or celebrities due to COVID-19 concerns.
Kivu conflict Two soldiers and 18 rebels are killed in a clash between Banyamulenge rebels and government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2022 Kazakh protests President Tokayev requests military assistance from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, saying that "terrorist gangs are overrunning strategic facilities across the country."
President Tokayev dismisses former president and Security Council of Kazakhstan Chairman Nursultan Nazarbayev. Protesters also seize control of Almaty International Airport with all flights to and from the airport being cancelled.
The government of Kazakhstan resigns following the protests, with Alihan Smaiylov becoming acting Prime Minister. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also announces the reintroduction of the price cap on liquefied petroleum gas.
The presidential residence and offices of Äkim of Almaty Bakhytzhan Sagintayev are set on fire by protesters.
Eight police officers are killed and 317 others injured in clashes between protesters and security forces. No figures on civilian casualties have been released.