World roundup: January 28 2022

Stories from Iran, China, Burkina Faso, and more

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

SYRIA

While the Syrian Democratic Forces militia continues its standoff with an estimated 60 to 90 rioting inmates of its prison facility in Hasakah, its forces are also patrolling around the prison for signs of any Islamic State fighters/cells. The SDF seems intent on waiting the rioters out to see if they’ll surrender, either individually or en masse, as their supplies run out. But any new external attacks could complicate that plan. Amid unconfirmed reports that the SDF discovered the bodies of 18 of its own personnel in the prison on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has updated its estimates of the death toll since fighting began in Hasakah last Thursday to at least 180 IS members (attackers and rioters), 73 SDF personnel, and seven civilians. With the prison still an active combat zone I would treat those counts as preliminary.