Employees of the STB, Bucharest's largest public transport company, go on strike demanding the resignation of its chairman, Adrian Criț. The city authorities, led by the Save Romania Union-backed mayor Nicușor Dan, condemn the strike, blaming it on the Social Democratic Party-backed trade unionist Vasile Petrariu as an attempt to undermine his authority. (Digi24)
Twenty-nine people are killed during a stampede at an open-air Pentecostal church in Monrovia, Liberia. The stampede was triggered by panic after gangsters entered the prayer ground after a collection. (BBC News)
The Philippines reports its first confirmed deaths related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two unvaccinated people in their 60s who had underlying health conditions. (ABS-CBN News)
Bulgaria reports a record for the second consecutive day of 11,181 new COVID-19 cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 841,785. (Bulgarian Press Agency)
The Czech government suspends plans to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for key workers and people over the age of 60, which was expected to come into effect in March. (ABC News)
Kiribati announces a curfew and mandatory face masks after 36 passengers on a charter flight from Fiji test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival. The plane was the first international commercial flight to land in the country since March 2020. Kiribati reopened its borders on January 10th. (Stuff.co.nz)
The Algeriangovernment announces that all elementary and high schools will be closed for 10 days due to an increase in the number of Omicron variant cases in the country. (Arab News)
Mexico reports a record for the second consecutive day of 60,552 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,495,310. (Bloomberg)