Updates with Russia and Ukraine, over 4 million refugees have fled the country, and the UN has named it the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. In Mariupol, 45 buses will be sent to the city to rescue civilians. Due to the halt in exporting grains, the UN forecasts that it'll contribute to the worst global hunger crisis in decades. Russia has drafted 134,500 conscripts into the army but denies any affiliation with Ukraine. The head of French military intel got fired since he failed to predict the Ukraine war.

Ukraine/ Russia:

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, over four million refugees have fled the country. The U.N. refugee agency has called the exodus the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

There is fresh hope for evacuations from Mariupol. Up to 45 buses will be sent to the besieged city to rescue civilians.

As the conflict constrains Ukrainian and Russian grain exports, The United Nations is forecasting the worst global hunger crisis in decades.

Russia has drafted 134,500 conscripts into the army. However, the Russian defence ministry says that they have nothing to do with the war in Ukraine.

The head of French military intelligence has lost his job after failing to predict the Ukraine war.

To ease the rising oil prices, Joe Biden is considering releasing a million barrels a day from the reserve.

Israel/ Palestine:

Two Palestinians were killed and more than a dozen injured in a gun battle when Israeli forces invaded a refugee camp in the occupied Westbank.

The United States:

The number of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that have been seized by US law enforcement has increased by 4,850%.

Oklahoma has sparked a backlash from civil rights groups after becoming the thirteenth state to restrict transgender women and girls’ participation in school sports.

Ukraine/ Russia: Ukraine has been able to reclaim some of its Northern territories ahead of the in-person talks in Turkey. After Joe Biden’s unscripted comments where he said that Putin “cannot remain in power,” Biden has further said he was “expressing moral outrage” rather than suggesting a change in U.S. foreign policy. Ukrtelecom, Ukraine’s telephone and internet company, has suffered a severe cyberattack. The State Special Communications Service of Ukraine has said that Russian forces were responsible. A new report alleges that the Russian convoy that took Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear power plant drove through a highly toxic zone near the plant without anti-radiation gear.

The United States: Florida has signed the “Don’t say gay” bill into law. The "Don't say gay" bill forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. With Joe Biden’s new tax proposal, America’s wealthiest would have a minimum tax imposed on them. January 6th Select Committee Vice-Chair Liz Cheney has said that Trump was warned of the possibility of violence at the Capitol.

The Coronavirus Pandemic: Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. have fallen to their lowest point since the summer. In Shanghai, Covid-19 restrictions have been further tightened as the number of daily cases rose beyond 4,400.

Russia/ Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address, “Our goal is obvious: peace and the restoration of normal life.” Joe Biden has called Putin “a butcher” after pledging a “sacred commitment” to defend NATO members. A Ukrainian MP has warned about Russian soldiers raping and sexually assaulting women during its invasion. Ukrainian Officials say that Russia may try to divide their country as Korea was after the second world war. To reduce the pain felt by U.S. consumers at the gas pump, some states are considering suspending gas taxes.

Afghanistan: The Taliban reversed a deal to allow girls to go secondary school, which has derailed the US plan for their diplomatic recognition.

Coronavirus: Covid “brain fog” may overlap with Alzheimer’s or “chemo brain”.

The 2022 Oscars: Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in the face after Rock made a joke at the expense of Jaden Pinkett Smith.

Ukraine/ Russia: The European Council has accused Russia of committing war crimes. Some Russian missiles in Ukraine have an up to 60% failure rate. U.S. President Joe Biden supports Russia being expelled from G20. The United States has announced new sanctions on more than 400 Russians believed to be part of the country’s elite and will also allow up to 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. Russia is attempting to assert control by abducting Ukrainian civilians. The UN has verified at least 36 cases of civilian detentions where families often denied any information about the fate of those being held.

Environment: Large amounts of methane are leaking from wells and pipelines in New Mexico.

Technology: Europe has agreed on a new large tech law package.

The United States: Several Republican senators have suggested that Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson gave unusually lenient child sex abuse charges. However, these same Republicans had previously voted to confirm judges who had given out prison terms below prosecutor recommendations.

Mexico and Central America: Migration through Mexico and Central America, and people who go missing, will increase in 2022 due to high levels of violence in the region.

Russia/ Ukraine: Biden has landed in Europe for urgent talks with Nato. The U.S. intelligence agency has seen concrete evidence of Russian war crimes. Putin has launched fresh missile strikes into Ukrainian residential areas; however, Ukrainian troops have been able to press ahead with their counteroffensive. A Russian journalist has died in the Kyiv shelling, this is the fifth journalist to die in this conflict.

North Korea: North Korea launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017.

Taiwan/ China: A senior Taiwanese Official said today that he did not see Beijing adopting a "reunification law" because it would put too much pressure on China to set a timetable for bringing the island under its control.

U.S: In 73% of U.S. counties, deaths outpaced births in 2021. This has left the country reliant on immigration to uphold a growing population.

Columbia: The country could elect its first black, female vice-president.

Russia/ Ukraine: Almost 100,000 civilians are trapped in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. These people face starvation as they come under “constant” Russian bombing. Tens of thousands of people have already managed to flee the city. The West has warned of growing Russian brutality as Ukraine attempts to regain parts of its territory. Vladimir Putin’s press secretary has said that they wouldn’t rule out the use of nuclear weapons if Russia faced an existential threat.

The U.S. Supreme Court: Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson has responded to Republican claims that she was unduly lenient on cases regarding sexual abuse imagery.

China plane crash: Heavy rain in Southern China has halted the county’s ability to search for victims and try to recover the flight information black boxes.

U.S. Weather: Large tornados in New Orleans have caused serious damage in the area.

Ukraine and Russia update: The Ukrainian military has told residents to brace for indiscriminate Russian shelling of critical infrastructure. Biden has warned that Russia could turn to chemical weapons. Also, in China, a plane carrying 132 people crashed, with no survivors. Covid-19 is likely to increase the chance of type-2 diabetes and more severe pregnancy complications. As for the climate crisis, there are unusually high temperatures in Antarctica, 30 degrees above normal, and not a single country met WHO's air quality standard in 2021.

Russia/ Ukraine: The Ukrainian military has told residents to brace for indiscriminate Russian shelling of critical infrastructure. Biden has warned that Russia could turn to chemical weapons.

China: A plane carrying 132 people crashed. This disaster was the worst Chinese air crash in more than a decade. So far no survivors have been found.

Coronavirus pandemic: Catching Covid-19 increases the likelihood of developing type-2 diabetes. Coronavirus infections more than double the risk of severe pregnancy complications. China is pursuing its zero-covid strategy. This has led the country to lock down a city of 9 million overnight.

Climate crisis: Unusually high temperatures in Antarctica and the Arctic have shocked researchers. Some temperatures near the North pole were recorded to be 30 degrees above normal.

Air Pollution: Not a single country managed to meet the World Health Organisation's (WHO) air quality standard in 2021.

Ukraine/Russia: Putin has been accused of war crimes after a school and theatre were attacked in Ukraine. A missile fell on a residential building, in Eastern Kyiv, killing one person and injuring four. Volodymyr Zelensky, pleaded with the Russian citizens to challenge the Kremlin. The US House voted overwhelmingly to remove Russia from its preferential trade status with the US, allowing for the US to place higher tariffs on Russian goods. And, in Covid news, Moderna asked the FDA for emergency authorization for adults to get a second booster.