Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo from January 31 to February 3 and South Sudan thereafter, a trip previously postponed due to his knee ailments. The visit includes meetings with authorities, victims of conflict, and representatives of charitable organizations in Kinshasa, and an ecumenical prayer service and Mass in Juba. The trip aims to awaken and strengthen faith, offer consolation, and heal wounds, especially in the conflict-ridden eastern Congo. The pope has expressed condolences for a recent bombing at a Pentecostal church in Congo and concern for violence in South Sudan, calling for peace and national reconciliation.

Saudi Arabia celebrated the New Year with a special concert at the Hegra archaeological site near Alula. Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its over 100 monumental tombs. The event was organized by Italy's Balich Wonder Studio, which is recognized for their work on Olympic Games ceremonies and other significant shows.

Pope Francis visited Bahrain, marking the first time a head of the Catholic Church has done so and his second trip to a Gulf Arab nation. The visit aimed to improve Catholic-Muslim ties, with Bahrain hosting a small Catholic community of mainly Asian migrants. Despite facing criticism for human rights abuses, Bahrain's government denies such charges. During his visit, Pope Francis called for an end to discrimination and human rights violations, while King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa emphasized religious freedom. At the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue, Pope Francis, alongside Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders, urged religions to unite for peace and against the use of violence. The forum also saw calls for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine from both King Hamad and the Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb of al-Azhar University.

Villa Aurora, a Roman villa with a Caravaggio mural, is at the center of an inheritance dispute following Prince Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisi's death. His widow, Princess Rita, and his sons are contesting the will. The villa, valued for its artistic treasures, has been unsuccessfully auctioned and is set for another auction with a base price of 105 million euros. Art lovers have called for Italian state intervention to make the villa's artworks accessible to the public, but the state has not purchased the property. Princess Rita hopes for a resolution and a new strategy for Villa Aurora before the next auction.

Jamila Afghani, an educator and human rights defender, was awarded the 2022 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity for her work through the Noor Educational & Capacity Development Organization in Kabul. Unable to attend the ceremony, Afghani addressed the audience from Canada, where she fled after the Taliban's takeover. She highlighted the severe restrictions faced by women and girls in Afghanistan. The Aurora Prize Selection Committee chose Afghani from three finalists, including Hadi Jumaan from Yemen and Egyptian lawyer Mahienour El-Massry. The event, attended by former Irish President Mary Robinson, featured prayers, music, and art on San Lazzaro Island in Venice. The Aurora Prize was established by philanthropists of Armenian origin to honor humanitarians on the centennial of the Armenian genocide.

Italy has outlawed fur farming with the Italian Senate's Budget Committee voting to close all existing mink fur farms by the end of June. The decision, which awaits official parliamentary approval, has been hailed by animal rights campaigners as a dream come true. The move follows a Humane Society International/Europe report on the state of fur farming in Italy. The fur industry has declined significantly since the 1990s, with major fashion brands ceasing the use of fur. Italy's Ministry of Agriculture has allocated 3 million euros for farmer compensation.

A ban on cruise liners and ships over 25,000 tons or longer than 180 meters from Venice's Giudecca Canal has come into effect to protect the city's environmental, artistic, and cultural heritage. The Italian government's urgent decree aims to prevent Venice from being listed as an 'endangered' Unesco World Heritage site. Temporary docking has been arranged at Marghera's industrial port, with plans for new docks to accommodate large ships. Activists, including Tommaso Cacciari of No Grandi Navi, view the ban as a victory, while others worry about the economic impact on tourism and local livelihoods dependent on the cruise industry.

Europe is enhancing its border security with a digital fortress to deter illegal migration, using a range of high-tech surveillance tools. The EU has invested heavily in security technology research following the 2015-16 refugee crisis. The Greek-Turkish border is being fortified with a steel wall, observation towers, and AI-driven surveillance systems. Human rights advocates criticize the technological approach, fearing it dehumanizes migrants and could be misused. Migration flows have decreased during the pandemic, but the global migrant population has grown significantly over the past two decades.

COVID-19 cases in the United States have dropped to the lowest rates since June 2020, with optimism growing as vaccination campaigns curb severe cases and virus spread. Despite the positive trend, health experts warn that the potential for new variants remains due to insufficient vaccination coverage. The CDC reports a significant decrease in average daily cases and deaths, and states are easing restrictions, with some using incentives like lotteries to encourage vaccinations. Health experts emphasize the importance of vigilance against new virus strains and the need for a high vaccination rate to fully extinguish the virus.