Key Storylines
- AFRICA: More than 13 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia face severe hunger as dry conditions cause severe drought across the Horn of Africa.
- AMERICAS: Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry called for renewed efforts to organize elections while his opponents seek the creation of a transition government.
- ASIA: Hundreds of people protesting vaccine and mask mandates drove a convoy to New Zealand’s capital Wellington and converged outside Parliament.
- EUROPE: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to host French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Berlin to discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions along the Russian-Ukrainian border.
- MIDDLE EAST: Talks to revive the nuclear deal will resume in Vienna after the United States and Iran signaled their willingness to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Peter Thiel, one of the longest-serving board members of Meta, the parent of Facebook, announced he would step down from the company in order to focus on the US midterm elections.
Top Story
- Europe: French President Emmanuel Macron Travels to Ukraine After Talks With Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
- French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv as fears of a possible Russian invasion mount.
- French President Emmanuel Macron heads to Kyiv to discuss a possible Russian invasion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a day after high-stakes talks at the Kremlin.
- Macron said the coming days will be crucial to de-escalating the Ukraine standoff, after five hours of talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
- The French president said he had made proposals of “concrete security guarantees” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who suggested some of the ideas could help ease the crisis.
- The visit by Macron to Ukraine comes at a time when Six Russian warships are heading to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean for naval drills.
- AP, AFP, BBC, AlJazeera, Reuters
Africa
- Region: More than 13 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia face severe hunger as dry conditions cause severe drought across the Horn of Africa. (WFP)
- Ethiopia: Authorities in the Oromia region accused a rebel group of killing more than 160 civilians and burying 87 bodies in a mass grave. (BBC)
- Malawi: The meteorological department issued flood warnings for several central and northern regions of the country and urged residents to remain vigilant. (BBC)
- Nigeria: Abba Kyari, a senior police officer indicted in the US on money laundering charges may be extradited if necessary. (BBC)
- Tunisia: Western envoys and the UN rights chief urged President Kais Saied to restore a key judicial watchdog, warning that scrapping it threatens the rule of law. (AFP)
Americas
- Haiti: Prime Minister Ariel Henry called for renewed efforts to organize elections while his opponents seek the creation of a transition government. (Reuters)
- Honduras: A dispute over who would lead the newly-elected Congress has been resolved, removing an obstacle to President Xiomara Castro’s planned anti-corruption reforms. (Reuters)
- United States: The Biden administration is launching an outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their taxes so they can receive payments from the expanded child tax credit. (AP)
- Venezuela: The headquarters of the El Nacional newspaper were awarded to Nicolas Maduro ally Diosdado Cabello following his victory in a defamation lawsuit against the paper. (AFP)
Asia
- Region: The United States and Japan reached a deal to partially lift steel tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. (NYT)
- Hong Kong: Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the city’s toughest social-distancing restrictions yet, including limits on private gatherings. (AP)
- Nepal: A leaked government report accuses China of encroaching on the two countries’ shared border. (BBC)
- New Zealand: Hundreds of people protesting vaccine and mask mandates drove a convoy to Wellington and converged outside Parliament. (AP)
- Taiwan: The United States approved a $100 million support contract aimed at boosting the island’s missile defense systems. (AP)
Europe
- Region: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to host French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Berlin to discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions along the Russian-Ukrainian border. (DPA)
- France: Europe Minister Clement Beaune said the country will drop its requirement of a negative Covid test for vaccinated travelers from outside the European Union, as daily infection numbers continue to decrease. (AFP)
- Germany: Foreign minister Annalena Baerbock received a firsthand account of the humanitarian and military situation in Eastern Ukraine. (DPA)
- Russia: A Moscow court will start hearing two new cases against jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny next week that could see his prison sentence extended by more than 10 years. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced renewed pressure to apologize to opposition leader Keir Starmer for what critics have called a misleading “Trumpian” attack on him last week. (AFP)
Middle East
- Afghanistan: A UN report warned that under Taliban rule foreign terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom in the country. (AP)
- Iran: Talks to revive the nuclear deal will resume in Vienna after both Washington and Tehran signaled their willingness to reach an agreement as soon as possible. (AFP)
- Palestinian Territories: Two potential successors to President Mahmoud Abbas were named to top posts in the PLO at a meeting boycotted by his Islamist rivals. (Reuters)
- Yemen: International charity group Oxfam said a yearlong battle over the strategic Yemeni city of Marib has displaced about 100,000 people. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: Peter Thiel, one of the longest-serving board members of Meta, the parent of Facebook, announced he would step down from the company in order to focus on the US midterm elections. (NYT)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to Report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to Report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to Report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to Report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 08FEB22)
- Confirmed cases: 397,832,539
- Deaths: 5,752,804
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 08FEB22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (09FEB22)
- Australia: Visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (to 13FEB)
- Cambodia: Treason trial of former opposition leader Kem Sokha to continue.
- China: Beijing Winter Olympic Games. (to 20FEB)
- Germany: Meeting between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Council President Charles Michel.
- Mexico: Visit by US Climate Envoy John Kerry.
- Thailand: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Senior Officials’ Meeting in Pattaya. (to 27FEB)
- Ukraine: Visit by Polish Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman Zbignew Rau. (to 11FEB)
- United States: Senate Foreign Relations Committee top secret briefing on Iran.
- United States: Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing on Afghanistan.
END
