*) Russia considering sending troops to Latin America if tensions with West rise

Russia has raised the stakes in its dispute with the West over Ukraine and NATO expansion after a top diplomat refused to rule out a military deployment to Latin America if tensions with the United States and its allies escalate.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said he could "neither confirm nor exclude" the possibility of Russia sending military assets to Cuba and Venezuela.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan dismissed the statements about a possible Russian deployment to Latin America as "bluster in the public commentary".

*) US arrests far-right militia chief for role in Capitol invasion

Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, has been arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy in the attack on the US Capitol.

10 other people were also charged in connection with the attack on January 6, 2021, when members of the extremist group raided Washington to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.

These are the first charges of seditious conspiracy that the US Department of Justice has brought in connection with the attack led by supporters of former president Donald Trump.

​​​*) UN calls for release of Afghanistan funds to avoid destitution

The United Nations has urged the United States and the World Bank to unfreeze Afghan funds, locked since the Taliban's return to power.

"We must ... rapidly inject liquidity into the economy and avoid a meltdown that would lead to poverty, hunger and destitution for millions," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

He called on Washington to take the lead in helping the country avoid a collapse "because the major part of the world financial system works in dollars".

Washington seized nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank also suspended activities in the country.

*) North Korean hackers stole $400m in cryptocurrency in 2021

North Korea launched at least seven attacks on cryptocurrency platforms that extracted nearly $400 million worth of digital assets last year, blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis reported.

"From 2020 to 2021, the number of North Korean-linked hacks jumped from four to seven, and the value extracted from these hacks grew by 40 percent," the report read.

Pyongyang was accused of using stolen funds to support its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes to circumvent sanctions by a United Nations panel of experts.

North Korea does not respond to media inquiries, but has previously released statements denying allegations of hacking.

And finally …

*) Queen Elizabeth strips Prince Andrew of military roles and HRH title

Queen Elizabeth II's second son Prince Andrew, often called the Queen's "favourite son", has been effectively stripped of his position in royal life as he faces a US civil case for sexual assault.

He will no longer use the "His Royal Highness" title, which designates senior members of the royal family, in any capacity.

Andrew faces a US civil case for sexual assault brought by Virginia Giuffre who said he sexually assaulted her in 2001 when she was 17. She said she was delivered to Andrew by Jeffrey Epstein

Andrew strenuously denies the allegation, claiming to have no memory of meeting Giuffre.

🇺🇸🇰🇵 US hits North Korean officials with sanctions after missile test

🇷🇺🇺🇦 NATO and Russia cite differences on Ukraine crisis as talks end inconclusively

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan's President Tokayev orders rebuilding of riot-hit Almaty

🇾🇪 War in Yemen continues to fuel hunger and economic collapse

🦠 Omicron patients have less hospitalisation and death risk

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

🇷🇺🇺🇸Russia, US take tough stands ahead of more talks on Ukraine

🇭🇰Hong Kong to pass law outlawing more 'national security' crimes

🇰🇵North Korea reportedly test fires another hypersonic missile

🇰🇿Kazakhstan's Tokayev faults mentor for creating 'layer of wealthy people'

🎾🇦🇺Djokovic clarifies movements, Australian visa saga continues

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Kazakhstan: 'Attempted coup' defeated, CSTO troops to leave 'soon’

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said his country has defeated what he called an “attempted coup d'etat” during historic violence last week.

He blamed foreign militants for the violence and promised foreign troops deployed to stabilise his country will vacate "soon".

In a video conference with leaders from several ex-Soviet countries, Tokayev said "armed militants" had used the backdrop of protests to try to seize power.

Last week’s protests were sparked by a fuel price hike.

*) US shatters world record with 1.13 million new Covid cases

The United States has reported at least 1.13 million new coronavirus infections, the highest daily total of any country in the world.

The surge comes as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing in the country.

Meanwhile, flight cancellations, new lockdowns, and border restrictions in other parts of the world are becoming a norm again as the pandemic continues to spread.

​​​*) Russia, US agree to further talks on Ukraine with no major breakthrough

Russia has told the United States that it had no plans to invade Ukraine, as the two sides agreed to more efforts to keep tensions from turning into a full-blown confrontation.

After more than seven hours of negotiations in Geneva on Monday, the Russian and US negotiators both offered to keep talking, though there was no sign of a major breakthrough.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said he had assured his US counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, that those fears were unfounded.

*) North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile amid stalled talks

North Korea has fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile into its eastern sea, its second weapons launch in a week.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday said North Korea likely fired a single ballistic missile from an inland area to its eastern sea.

He said that the South Korean and US militaries were analysing the launch.

Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office and Defense Ministry also said the weapon was possibly a ballistic missile.

And finally …

*) Djokovic free in Australia but deportation threat still exists

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic trained at the Australian Open venue on Tuesday in search of a record 21st Grand Slam.

But his dream hangs in the balance as the government pondered cancelling his visa, again.

The world number one had scored a stunning courtroom victory the day before, overturning the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa on Covid-19 vaccination grounds.

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) More than 160 killed in violent Kazakhstan protests

At least 164 people, including a 4-year-old girl, were killed in Kazakhstan in a week of protests.

The violence marked the worst unrest since the former Soviet republic gained independence 30 years ago.

The office of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Sunday that order has been restored in the country, with authorities regaining control of all buildings that were taken over by the protesters.

About 5,800 people were detained during the unrest.

*) US building fire kills more than a dozen, including children

Nineteen people, including nine children, have been killed in an apartment fire in New York City in what is being dubbed as the one of the city's worst blazes in recent memory.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Sunday's fire "started in a malfunctioning electric space heater" in an apartment unit spanning the second and third floors of the 19-story building.

More than five dozen people were injured and 13 people were still in critical condition in the hospital.

​​​*) Thousands left homeless as blaze hits Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh

In Southern Bangladesh, a fire swept through a Rohingya refugee camp, destroying tents and leaving thousands homeless.

Sunday’s fire burnt about 1,200 houses, leaving more than 5,000 people homeless.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the blaze that hit Camp 16 in Cox's Bazar.



*) Aid groups halt work in Ethiopia's Tigray after air strike

Aid organisations have suspended their operations in an area of northwest Tigray in Ethiopia, said the UN agency for humanitarian affairs.

The suspension comes a day after 56 civilians were reportedly killed in the area by an air strike over the weekend.

The agency did not give further details.

Much of Tigray remains cut off from the world, with limited communications for humanitarian workers who have found their work severely constrained by a months-long government blockade.

And finally …

*) 'Power of the Dog', 'West Side Story' win top prizes at untelevised Golden Globes

"The Power of the Dog" and "West Side Story" have won top film prizes at an untelevised Golden Globes that was largely ignored by Hollywood.

Jane Campion's dark Western "The Power of the Dog" became the second film directed by a woman to win the best drama prize.

Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" remake claimed best comedy or musical, as well as lead and supporting actress prizes for stars Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose.

*) Peacekeepers of Russia-led military bloc begin Kazakhstan mission

Russian paratroopers have been deployed to Kazakhstan for a peacekeeping operation, along with troops from four other former Soviet republics.

The deployment came in response to an appeal from the president of Kazakhstan to help stabilise the country amid a wave of protests sparked by a fuel price rise.

Reports of casualties continue to emerge from the oil-rich country.

The media reported dozens of protesters killed while the Kazakh interior ministry said 26 "armed criminals" had been "liquidated".

*) Trump's Twitter alternative TRUTH Social to be launched next month

Former US president Donald Trump's new media venture plans to launch its social media app Truth Social on February 21st.

TRUTH Social, the Trump Media & Technology Group alternative to Twitter, offers features to follow other people and trending topics.

Its message equivalent to a tweet will be dubbed "truth".

The app's launch would come 13 months after Facebook and Twitter banned Trump over his encouraging supporters to participate in the January 6th Capitol attack.

​​​*) Banned from Olympics, North Korea blames Covid and 'hostile forces'

A letter from North Korea to China blamed "hostile forces" and Covid-19 risks for not being able to attend the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Pyongyang also accused the United States of trying to prevent the Games' success.

But, North Korea had already been suspended from the International Olympic Committee until the end of 2022 in September for refusing to send a team to the Tokyo Summer Games.

*) Almost 100,000 children lost parents to Covid in Peru

Covid-19 has killed at least one parent or primary caregiver for nearly 100,000 children in Peru, its government has reported.

"Unfortunately our country has almost 98,000 children who lost their father, mother or guardian during the pandemic," said Peru's Minister of Women Anahi Durand, citing figures published in the medical journal The Lancet.

Peru has the world's highest coronavirus death rate, with more than 6,000 Peruvians per million having died from the disease.

And finally …

*) Djokovic family lashes out at his treatment in Australia

Novak Djokovic's family and fans have railed against the tennis superstar's shock detention in Australia.

His father Srdjan Djokovic said his son was the victim of a "political witch hunt" and "corona fascism", and should be freed.

Fans also chanted "free Novak" outside Melbourne's Park Hotel which now serves as a detention centre.

The vaccine-sceptic tennis ace was detained on arrival in Australia, and his visa was revoked, earlier this week due to Covid-19 restrictions.

*) Fuel protests turn deadly in Kazakhstan

Dozens of protesters have been killed in Kazakhstan overnight as riots over fuel prices resumed for the fifth day.

In the main city of Almaty, armoured personnel carriers and ground troops could be seen in the main square after a night of deadly clashes.

A Russia-led military alliance is sending "peacekeeping forces" after President Tokayev asked for help to quell protests.

The White House and United Nations urged Kazakh authorities to show "restraint" in dealing with civil unrest.

*) North Korea claims second successful hypersonic missile test

North Korea has successfully tested a hypersonic missile in the first major weapons test by the nuclear-armed nation this year.

The North Korean state news agency reported a second test of what Pyongyang claims are hypersonic gliding missiles.

The United States, Japan and Canada condemned the test which came amid stalled denuclearisation talks


​​​*) Military bases hosting US troops in Iraq and Syria come under attack

Iraqi military bases hosting US troops in Iraq's western Anbar province and the capital of Baghdad have been hit by rockets.

In Syria, eight rounds of indirect fire landed inside a base with members of the US-led coalition.

No casualties were reported.

The attacks began on Monday on the anniversary of a US air strike that killed Iran's General Qasem Soleimani.

*) Novak Djokovic denied entry to Australia, has visa cancelled

Australia has denied entry to Novak Djokovic and cancelled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to Covid vaccination rules.

The top-ranked tennis player announced on Tuesday that he had “exemption permission” and landed in Australia the next day.

But Australian border authorities didn't accept the exemption or let him in.

“The rule is very clear,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a news conference, adding that Djokovic didn’t have a valid medical exemption.

And finally …

*) Turkiye showcases all-electric 'smart' car in Las Vegas event

Turkiye's technology brand TOGG has unveiled the first Turkish ‘smart’ car, currently known as the "Transition Concept Smart Device".

The electric fastback can be integrated with smart cities around the world.

The all-electric vehicle was showcased at the world's largest Consumer Electronics Show, in the US city of Las Vegas.