An earthquake struck western Afghanistan on Monday — killing at least 26 people, officials said, per AFP.
Details: The 5.3 magnitude quake caused fatalities in the Qadis district in the western province of Badghis after roofs collapsed, province spokesperson Baz Mohammad Sarwary told the news agency.
All athletes, including those from foreign countries, must be vaccinated to compete in events held in France, French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu announced Monday after lawmakers adopted a new coronavirus law Sunday.
Why it matters: It's unclear what the mandate will mean for Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic's ability defend his French Open title in May. Djokovic just left Australia after an appeals court in the country revoked his visa for being unvaccinated.
Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed asked Secretary of State Tony Blinken in a phone call Monday to re-designate the Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist organization, a senior Emirati official told Axios.
Why it matters: Less than a month after he assumed office, President Biden rolled back the Trump administration’s decision to make the designation. He said it hampered humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people. Since then, the Houthis have escalated their attacks against Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region — including an attack Monday in Abu Dhabi.
The Greek government on Monday said that anyone 60 and older will be required to get a vaccine or face a fine.
State of play: Older people who are not inoculated will pay fines starting at around $57 in January followed by a monthly fine of approximately $114 after that if they choose to remain unvaccinated, AP reports.
The International Olympic Committee announced Monday that it will no longer sell tickets to the general public for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics because of "the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic."
Why it matters: Beijing reported its first case of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus over the weekend, just weeks before the city begins hosting the games on Feb. 4.
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever and Ikea were among over 70 brands on Monday to issue a joint statement calling for a global treaty to fight plastic pollution that would include reducing production of the material.
Why it matters: The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) that begins next month will see government officials gather to begin talks next month on a treaty on plastic pollution — "a key growth area for the oil industry," per Reuters.
The world's 10 wealthiest men have increased their fortunes from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion since early 2020, per a report published Wednesday.
Why it matters: "The incomes of 99% of humanity are worse off because of COVID-19," according to the report, published by anti-poverty charity Oxfam ahead of the World Economic Forum's pandemic-delayed Davos Agenda, which begins Monday.
France's National Assembly voted 215-58 on Sunday in favor of pandemic legislation that includes a vaccine pass barring unvaccinated people from venues including restaurants and sports arenas, per Euronews.
North Korea's military fired "two suspected short-range ballistic missiles" eastward from Pyongyang on Monday morning local time, per South Korean and Japanese officials.
Why it matters: The fourth such launch since Jan. 5 comes days after North Korea's military warned of "stronger" action if the U.S. moved to have more sanctions imposed on the country.
President Biden will meet virtually with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Jan. 21 in an effort to "deepen ties" between the two countries, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Sunday.
State of play: Psaki emphasized that the relationship between the two countries is a "cornerstone of peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and around the world."
The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Sunday that classified intelligence on Russia's alleged plans to provoke war with Ukraine through a "false-flag" operation is "the most specific I have ever seen," and the timetable is "very aggressive."
Why it matters: A conventional war on the European continent could break out in a matter of days. It would fundamentally transform Russia's relationship with the West, unleash a wave of refugees and pull the U.S. further into a proxy conflict it has no interest in waging.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Sunday he believes the U.S. is engaged in a new Cold War with Russia.
Why it matters: McCaul's comments on CNN's "State of the Union" come days after diplomatic talks among the United States, European allies and Russia hit a dead end, increasing fears of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation issued a statement Sunday accusing Russia of being behind a cyberattack that affected government and private computer networks as part of its "hybrid war" against the country.
Driving the news: Microsoft this weekend warned it had detected evidence of a "destructive malware operation" designed to look like ransomware and "render targeted devices inoperable."
Why it matters: The code appeared to have been deployed shortly after talks stalled among Russian diplomats, the U.S. and NATO regarding Russia's military buildup at the Ukrainian border, according to the New York Times.
