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Topics in the news

Joseph Muscat

Robert Abela becomes Prime Minister of Malta following the resignation of Joseph Muscat (pictured).
Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts, leading to the suspension of all flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
In Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen is re-elected.
In Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said is named the country's new ruler after his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, dies at the age of 79.

January 15, 2020 (Wednesday)

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January 14, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Security forces block roads leading to intelligence buildings in Sudan as gunfire is heard in the capital Khartoum. (Reuters)
Battle of Chinagodrar
- ISIL claims responsibility for the attack in Chinagodrar, Tillabéri Region, Niger that killed at least 89 Nigerien soldiers. (Reuters)

Business and economy

The United Kingdom bans the use of credit cards to make bets both for online and offline gambling, including the purchase of lottery tickets. The Gambling Commission says the ban will come into effect on April 14. (Reuters)
In India, economic slowdown has adversely impacted employment generation in the country, as nearly 1,600,000 fewer jobs are projected to be created in FY20 compared to 8,970,000 fresh jobs in FY19. (The Economic Times)

Disasters and accidents

At least 57 people are killed and others are missing after avalanches in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir over the last 24 hours, senior government officials say. In Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 10 are killed. (Reuters)
At least one person has died, six were injured and one other missing in an explosion in a chemical plant in Tarragona, Spain.(The Irish Times)

International relations

Foreign relations of Tonga
- Tonga pays an outstanding fee in order not to lose its voting rights at the United Nations General Assembly. Tonga was among seven countries suspended last week for not paying its fees. (RNZ)
Libyan peace process
- General Khalifa Haftar, head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), refuses to sign a ceasefire agreement after talks in Moscow brokered by Russia and Turkey yesterday with Government of National Accord leader Fayez al-Sarraj. He says that the deal "ignores many of the Libyan army's demands." (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

After the conviction of serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga, Mohammad Idris, the mayor of Depok, Indonesia, says he plans to raid the local LGBT community and is condemned by human rights activists. (Reuters)

Science and technology

Microsoft officially ends support for the Windows 7 operating system. Microsoft says its Windows 7 users can still use their computers, but warns they will be at "greater risk for viruses and malware." (CNN)

January 13, 2020 (Monday)

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Arts and culture

92nd Academy Awards
- The nominees for this year’s Academy Awards are announced. Joker receives 11 nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director, the most out of those nominated. (Hollywood Reporter)

Business and economy

The Competition Commission of India launches an antitrust probe into Flipkart and the Indian subsidy of Amazon, alleging that they were promoting certain sellers at the expense of smaller merchants. (Reuters)
Raphael Bostic, President of the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta, says in a speech that he, as a member of the Federal Reserve Board is inclined to keep interest rates at their present, very low, levels. Any evidence of overborrowing or volatility will have to be "systemic" for him to change his mind. (Reuters)
China–United States trade war
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury de-lists China as a currency manipulator. (Reuters).
Visa Inc. purchases financial technology firm Plaid for US$5.3 billion, after it and Mastercard each invested US$250 million into the company last year. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

A sinkhole swallows a bus and several pedestrians on a busy street in Xining, China, killing six people and leaving 16 others injured. According to state media, the sinkhole stretches nearly 10m (32 feet) in diameter. (BBC)

International relations

Libyan peace process
- Representatives of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) and General Khalifa Haftar's rival Libyan National Army (LNA) reach a ceasefire agreement after talks in Moscow between warring factions in Libya, also attended by Russian and Turkish officials. The preliminary agreement was signed by GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj, while Haftar plans to sign it the next day. (RT)

Law and crime

The Lahore High Court, in Punjab, Pakistan, says the death sentence verdict against former ruler Pervez Musharraf last month is unconstitutional, casting into doubt the legitimacy of the verdict. (Reuters)
Murder of Ján Kuciak
- A suspect accepts guilt for having killed the investigative journalist and his fiancée. (CBC)
Human remains are found in a sports bag in Coolock, Dublin. (RTE)

Politics and elections

2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- New Jersey Senator Cory Booker drops out of the U.S. presidential race. (NBC News)

Science and technology

Presolar grains
- Analysis of a meteorite found in Australia in 1969 reveals stardust formed 5 to 7 billion years ago, older than Earth's 4.6 billion year-old sun, making the meteor and its stardust the oldest solid material ever discovered on Earth. (MSN)
Naval Air Station Pensacola shooting
- Apple says it's helping authorities in the Pensacola shooting investigation but refuses to unlock their phones. (BuzzFeed)

Sports

Houston Astros sign stealing scandal
- Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A. J. Hinch are suspended by Major League Baseball for the entire 2020 season after the league concludes its investigation into the team's illegal use of technology to steal signs during the team's championship 2017 season. They are also fired by the organization. (ESPN)
2020 College Football Playoff National Championship
- In college football, LSU defeats Clemson to win the national championship. (NBC News)

January 12, 2020 (Sunday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Four Iraqi soldiers are wounded when mortar shells strike Balad Air Base, 40 miles (64 km) north of Baghdad, which houses U.S. military personnel. The mortars struck the runway inside the base. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Taal Volcano eruption
- The Taal Volcano in southern Luzon, Philippines, spews an ash plume that measures approximately 10 to 15 kilometres (6.2 to 9.3 mi). The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology designates a "level 4" alert level, indicating "an imminent hazardous eruption". (The Guardian)
The government of the Canadian province of Ontario apologizes for issuing a false alert about an incident at a nuclear plant near Toronto and blames a training exercise mistake. Angry local mayors demand an inquiry, saying the emergency message about the ageing Pickering Nuclear Generating Station has caused unnecessary distress. (Reuters)

International relations

Japan–Saudi Arabia relations
- Japanese PM Shinzō Abe arrives in Saudi Arabia in his first visit to the Middle East, where he expects to mediate between the United States and Iran amid heightening tensions. (The Japan Times)

Politics and elections

Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, 2019–20 Iranian protests
- Protests continue for a second day despite a large deployment of security forces. (BBC)
The Gambia warns ousted leader Yahya Jammeh not to return to the country, saying his safety cannot be guaranteed if he returns without permission, a government spokesman says. A spokesman for Jammeh's party says he could arrive back at any time from exile in Equatorial Guinea. (BBC)
2019 Malta political crisis
- Robert Abela wins the Partit Laburista leadership election, succeeding Joseph Muscat as Prime Minister after Muscat's resignation. (BBC) (CNN)

Science and technology

Chinese espionage in the United States
- The U.S. Department of the Interior halts its civilian drone program indefinitely out of concerns that China, who manufactured the fleet via the SZ DJI Technology Company, is using it for espionage. (Reuters)

January 11, 2020 (Saturday)

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Armed conflict and attacks

Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, 2019–20 Iranian protests
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps admits it mistakenly shot down the Ukraine International Airlines plane as it took off from Tehran, killing all 176 aboard. (ABC News)
- Vigils in Iran that were held for the victims subsequently turn into protests. According to Twitter videos, hundreds of protesters in Tehran call for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)
- The British ambassador to Iran, Robert Macaire, is arrested during anti-government protests, after attending a vigil and then, according to BBC, getting his hair cut. According to Tasnim News Agency he was arrested "on suspicion of organising, provoking and directing radical actions". U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab states the arrest is in "flagrant violation" of international law. More than an hour later, Macaire is released from custody. (The Guardian)
Libyan peace process
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel announces she will hold peace talks in Berlin to help end the Second Libyan Civil War. Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Government of National Accord leader Fayez al-Sarraj express support for the peace initiative. (Reuters)
- Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar say they accept a ceasefire starting on 12 January, conditional on their rivals' acceptance. (Reuters)
Iraqi protests (2019–present)
- Hundreds walk the street in mourning after popular journalist Ahmad Abdessamad and his cameraman were killed by unidentified gunmen the night before. (France24)
War in Afghanistan
- Two United States troops are killed and another two troops wounded by a roadside bomb. The Taliban later claim responsibility. (Reuters) (CBS News)
Battle of Chinagodrar
- The death toll from the attack on Niger's armed forces on Thursday rises to over 89 Niger soldiers. (NY Times)

Disasters and accidents

A large winter storm system in the midwestern and southern United States kills 12 people. (Associated Press)

International relations

North Korea–United States relations
- After U.S. President Donald Trump sends birthday wishes to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea state media says that "although Chairman Kim Jong-un has good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true sense of the word, 'personal'", and that it is not enough to resume denuclearization talks. It further stated that the country would not be led on the basis of Kim's feelings. (Reuters) (BBC)
United Kingdom–United States relations, Death of Harry Dunn
- The U.S. State Department rejects an extradition request from the Home Office for the unlawful killing of Harry Dunn, describing it as "highly inappropriate" and "establish[ing] an extraordinarily troubling precedent". (BBC)

Law and crime

More than a dozen Saudi servicemen are expelled from the United States, following a review by the Department of Defense in the aftermath of a shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola last month by a Royal Saudi Air Force member. (CNN)

Politics and elections

2020 Taiwanese presidential election, 2020 Taiwanese legislative election
- Taiwanese voters head to the polls to elect a president and a new session to the Legislative Yuan. Incumbent pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen defeats anti-independence challenger Han Kuo-yu in a landslide victory by more than 20%. (South China Morning Post)
- The governing Democratic Progressive Party retains its majority in the Yuan, albeit with fewer seats. Most of the seats lost are taken by third parties instead of the KMT. (Taiwan News)
Oman names Haitham bin Tariq al-Said as its new head of state after the death of Sultan Qaboos. (CNN)
Politics of Northern Ireland, Executive of the 6th Northern Ireland Assembly
- Following a deal brokered by the British and Irish governments, the Northern Ireland Executive is restored with Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster as First Minister and Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill as deputy First Minister, ending three years of political deadlock. The previous government had collapsed in 2017 as the result of a renewable energy scandal involving Foster. (Euronews)
Thousands of protestors march in Warsaw against a controversial law proposed by the Sejm that would allow the Polish government to discipline judges that question their reform policies. Critics say the law would undermine the independence of the judiciary, and risks Poland's membership in the European Union. (Reuters)

January 10, 2020 (Friday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752
- After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggests the plane was downed by an Iranian missile, Iranian authorities reject this theory. Iranian civil aviation chief says he is "certain" the plane was not hit by a missile, still asserting the cause was "mechanical failure". (BBC News)
2020 Quetta bombing
- A bombing claimed by the Islamic State at a mosque in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, kills at least 15 people and wounds 18 others, three days after a motorcycle bombing in the city killed two. (The New York Times)