January 26, 2022

*) Ukraine tells citizens 'sleep well' as US warns Russia ally Belarus Ukraine has sought to reassure the nation that an invasion from neighbouring Russia is not imminent even as its leaders acknowledged the threat is real. Speaking in the second televised speech to the nation in as many days, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians not to panic. He said "we are strong enough to keep everything under control and derail any attempts at destabilisation". *) Taliban praises meeting with Western diplomats in Norway The Taliban has said three days of discussions by its delegates with Western diplomats in Norway went "very well", while the latter said they linked humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to an improvement in human rights. Acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the Taliban government will do "its best to protect Afghanistan from any sorts of problems, attract more assistance". The final day of the Taliban's first official trip to Europe since returning to power in August, the group held talks behind closed doors with several Western diplomats. *) Thousands march for aboriginal rights as Australia marks national day Thousands have rallied against the mistreatment of Indigenous people across Australia as citizenship ceremonies take place to mark the country's national day. Many protesters at rallies across cities dressed in black to mourn the day, with some carrying the Aboriginal flag and "change the date" signs. Some protests were organised online amid concerns of surging Covid-19 cases. *) Houthi rebels 'lose' Harib district to UAE-backed militia Yemen's Houthi rebels have been expelled from a key battleground district by UAE-trained Giants Brigade fighters, the militia claimed. The Iran-backed Houthis lost Harib district south of Marib, the government's last northern stronghold, which they have been fighting to seize for months. The Giants Brigade said "hundreds were killed and wounded on both sides" in battles that lasted for more than two weeks. *) 'Resurrection: Ertug