current Events/2022 January 7

• 2022 Kazakh protests
  • Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issues his security forces a shoot-to-kill without warning order in an attempt to end the ongoing protests. (Reuters)
  • The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that Russian troops deployed to Kazakhstan have maintained control of the Almaty International Airport and secured critical government buildings in Nur-Sultan, including the Ak Orda Presidential Palace. (Bloomberg) (The New York Times)

Disasters and accidents

• Chongqing explosion
  • Sixteen people are killed and 10 others injured by a gas explosion in Chongqing, China. (CNN)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
      • COVID-19 testing
        • The Food and Drug Administration begins accepting requests for certification of COVID-19 antigen test kits for home use. Previously, antigen test kits were only available for professional use. (CNN Philippines)
      • The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases places 14 more provinces and cities under Alert Level 3 from January 9 to January 15. Five areas including Metro Manila were already placed into Alert Level 3 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan declares a quasi-state of emergency for Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima prefectures, which host U.S. military bases and are reporting an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The quasi-emergency measures will take effect on January 9. (Kyodo News)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka
      • Sri Lanka begins its COVID-19 vaccination rollout for children between the ages of 12 and 15 years using the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (MedicalXpress)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer tests positive for COVID-19 and begins a period of self-isolation. (Politico.eu)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
      • Bulgaria imposes a rule that requires almost all travellers aged above 12 years from the European Union and the United Kingdom to have a negative PCR test in the previous 72 hours along with a valid COVID-19 certificate prior to arrival, in order to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Euronews)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • German chancellor Olaf Scholz and the leaders of 16 states agree to reduce the isolation period for people who have received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and also toughen the requirement to enter bars and restaurants to include a booster shot or a negative test result in addition to proof of vaccination or recovery as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the country. (ABC News)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales
      • New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet announces that the state will suspend elective surgeries as well as ban singing and dancing in hospitality venues, entertainment facilities and major recreation facilities due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. These restrictions will be in effect until January 27. (News.com.au)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Territory
      • The Northern Territory reports a record for the third consecutive day of 412 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the territory-wide total of confirmed cases to 1,686. (ABC News Australia)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
    • Argentina reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 110,553 new cases of COVID-19. (Infobae)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, COVID-19 drug development
    • Mexican health regulator COFEPRIS grants emergency use authorization for Merck & Co.'s anti-COVID-19 drug Molnupiravir for the treatment of severe disease. (Reuters)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria
    • Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari announces that Nigeria is working on developing its own COVID-19 vaccine. (CNN)

Law and crime

• Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
  • The three defendants convicted in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery are sentenced to life in prison. Travis and Greg McMichael are sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, while William Bryan is sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. (NBC News)

Science and technology

• Discoveries of exoplanets
  • Researchers from the University of Bern announce the discovery of TOI-2257 b, an eccentric exoplanet that orbits near a red dwarf. (Phys.org)