On New Year's Day,
Pope Francis livestreams his message from the library of the Apostolic Palace. He states "the Virgin Mary’s motherly care encourages us to use our God-given time for building up the world and peace, not destroying it." In the Catholic Church, January 1 is the
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
(Catholic News Agency)
Turkey reports its first 15 cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in people who traveled from the United Kingdom and later tested positive for
COVID-19.
(Daily Sabah)
Turkey bans all travelers from the United Kingdom due to the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom.
(AP)
France announces it will tighten curfews in 15
departments beginning tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. local time in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
(France 24)
Israel becomes the first country to vaccinate at least 10% of its population against COVID-19, with around 950,000 doses already administered.
(The Jerusalem Post)
The
Philippines includes the
United States in its
travel ban of countries and territories reported to have new variants of SARS-CoV-2, which comes into effect on January 3. The move comes after the United States reported its first case of
a new variant from the United Kingdom on December 30.
(Xinhua)
The
SingaporeanMinistry of Health announces that long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who had travel history to
South Africa over the past 14 days will be not allowed to enter Singapore starting January 4, due to reports of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the country.
(Hindustan Times)
Bangkok will close all schools, daycare centers for both children and seniors, preschools and tutoring centers from January 4 to 17. Other public facilities will be closed beginning January 2. This comes as the authorities tighten measures to reduce the spread of a new wave of COVID-19.
(CNA)
ChadianPresidentIdriss Déby signs a decree that imposes a
lockdown in the country's capital
N'Djamena for the first time since the pandemic began and also declares a dusk-to-dawn curfew due to a rise in the number of cases.
(Reuters)
On December 31 and into the early hours of January 1, protesters and police clashed in a
New Year's Eve protest which police declared a riot shortly before midnight, alleging the demonstrators' use of violence. Within 30 minutes, police advanced on the demonstration, protesters used
fireworks while officers shot
pepper balls,
rubber bullets, and other "less-lethal munitions". In the wake of the protests, the
Portland Police Bureau order all people in the area to leave immediately. Authorities have not stated the number of protesters arrested.
(The Hill)
Two
French Army personnel are killed when their
armoured personnel carrier hit a
roadside bomb in
Ménaka,
Mali. It is the second attack in the past few days that targeted French military personnel, the first being the December 28
JNIM-claimed bombing that killed three French military personnel.
(Al Jazeera)
The
United Kingdom reports a record 57,725 new cases of
COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total since the beginning of the
pandemic. Another 445 deaths are also reported, bringing the country's death toll to 74,570.
(Sky News)
The United Kingdom reactivates emergency critical-care
COVID-19 hospitals amid a surge in both cases and hospitalizations.
(Reuters)
Gibraltar imposes a second
lockdown for the next 14 days beginning at 10:00 p.m. local time (21:00
GMT) today, in order to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.
(Barron's)
The
Government of Greece announces a one-week closure of all shops that were allowed to reopen during the holiday season, as well as all places of worship beginning tomorrow in order to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases ahead of the reopening of schools on January 11. A curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time will also be imposed.
(Ekathimerini)
Vietnam reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 when a 44-year-old woman who traveled from the United Kingdom later tested positive for COVID-19 while in
quarantine on December 24.
(The Straits Times)
Victoria closes its land border with
New South Wales due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, after several months of open borders. Meanwhile, New South Wales makes wearing masks in public mandatory, while also easing restrictions for southern suburbs of the
Northern Beaches as the number of cases in those areas decrease.
(The Guardian)
Palau receives 2,800 doses of the
Modernavaccine in a special contribution from the United States. The
government announced that it will vaccinate
healthcare workers first and then vaccinate seniors and people with medical conditions.
(RNZ)
The electoral commission of
Niger declares that a second round of the
presidential election will take place on February 21 after no candidate received a majority of the vote. The two candidates will be former minister
Mohamed Bazoum, the leader of the ruling
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, who won the first round with 39.33% of the votes; and former president
Mahamane Ousmane, who won 16.99% of votes.
(Al-Ahram)
Twenty-one more people are found dead and others die of their injuries a day after the attacks in Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye, in
Tillabéri,
Niger, bringing the death toll to 100. More than 75 others are wounded.
(DW)
At least 18 people are killed during a funeral in
Ghaziabad,
Uttar Pradesh,
India, when the roof they were sheltering under during heavy rainfall collapses. Police dispatch rescue workers and
sniffer dogs, and they say that the rescue operation has been completed.
(Reuters)
Prime MinisterErna Solberg announces a series of new nationwide restrictions including a ban on alcohol being served in restaurants and bars and an advisory against having any guests in private residences in order to reduce the spread of a third wave of cases.
(The Hill)
Kuwait announces the suspension of direct commercial
passenger flights to and from the United Kingdom beginning January 6 at 4:00 a.m. in order to reduce the spread of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2.
(Kuwait Times)
Saudi Arabia reopens its air, sea, and land borders, and resumes international passenger flights as well, after borders were closed in December to prevent the spread of the new variant of
SARS-CoV-2 that originated in the UK. People arriving from
South Africa, the United Kingdom, and other countries where the new variant is spreading are required to spend 14 days in another country and present a negative
test result prior to entering Saudi Arabia.
(Al Jazeera)
Thailand reports its first case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a
British national who traveled from the United Kingdom and later tested positive for COVID-19.
(Khaosod English)
Thailand announces it will get two million doses of
CoronaVac starting in February.
(Bangkok Post)
Egypt approves the use of
Sinopharm's
BBIBP-CorV vaccine, with the vaccination campaign expected to start later this month. Egypt plans to buy 40 million doses of this vaccine.
(Al Jazeera)
PresidentUhuru Kenyatta signs an executive order that bans all gatherings except funerals and weddings of up to 150 people. He also extends the nationwide night curfew until March 12.
(Anadolu Agency)
New Zealand reports six cases of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in five people who traveled from the United Kingdom and another who traveled from
South Africa, all between December 13 and 25, and who later tested positive for COVID-19.
(Stuff.co.nz)
New York reports its first case of the new SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in a man in his 60s from
Saratoga County who tested positive for
COVID-19 despite having no travel history.
(WNBC-TV)
Austria abandons a plan to allow anyone with a negative
test result to exit the
lockdown a week early, instead extending strict measures and keeping restaurants and non-essential shops closed until January 24.
(RND)
Contrary to the strategy adopted by the United Kingdom,
Spain is expected to maintain its plan to administer two doses per person of the
COVID-19 vaccinetozinameran, which is the recommendation of the manufacturer
Pfizer-
BioNTech.
Germany is also considering the single-dose strategy.
(Reuters)
British Prime MinisterBoris Johnson announces a third nationwide lockdown in
England beginning at midnight. All schools and universities will be closed until mid-February and people will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons like shopping and exercise.
(BBC News)
ScottishFirst MinisterNicola Sturgeon announces that a lockdown in level four areas such as mainland
Scotland will begin at midnight, and that there will be a legal requirement to stay at home for the remainder of the month. Schools will also remain closed.
(The Guardian)
The
United Kingdom reports a record 58,784 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,713,563.
(Sky News)
The
Lebanese Government announces a 25-day nationwide lockdown in the
country beginning January 7 in order to reduce the increase in COVID-19 cases that occurred during the holiday season. A curfew from 6:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. local time will also be in effect until February 1.
(ABC)
A
Malaysiancoroner concludes that 15-year-old French-Irish
tourist Nora Quoirin, who disappeared in August 2019 while vacationing at a resort in
Seremban and whose body was found in a nearby jungle ten days later, had
died by misadventure. Quoirin's family questions the verdict, saying that evidence suggests that her death was caused by
abduction,
homicide, or
sexual assault.
(France 24)
A judge in the United Kingdom blocks the
extradition of
WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange to the United States, citing that it would be "oppressive" to his mental health and also cites the likelihood of Assange committing
suicide if he is sent to the United States. If convicted in the United States, Assange could face up to 175 years in prison.
MexicanPresidentAndrés Manuel López Obrador says that his country is willing to provide
political asylum to Assange.
(DW)(Anadolu Agency)
Kidnapped
Auxiliary Bishop Moses Chikwe, of the
Owerri Archdiocese in
Nigeria, is freed by his captors. Kidnapped last Sunday, police allege that no ransom is paid. International condemnation includes
Pope Francis, during his new year message calling for Bishop Chikwe's release. While in
Imo state, a Catholic women's organization, stage a peaceful protest at the Imo state government house, calling on
GovernorHope Uzodinma, to quicken action for the release of the Auxiliary Bishop.
(Vanguard, Lagos)
Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen announces the increase of the COVID-19 risk level from level 4 to 5, indicating "widespread infection in society", as well as "a risk that treatment capacity at hospitals will be exceeded". In addition, public and private gatherings will be limited to five people. The rules will be in effect until January 17.
(The Local Denmark)
Italy's
Council of Ministers approves a decree that prohibits travel between the country's regions except for health or work reasons, with people in "red zone" areas only allowed to move once per day. They also extend most
lockdown restrictions until January 15. The country will be in a "yellow zone" on January 7 and 8, with eased restrictions and allowing restaurants, bars, shops and malls to open, while on January 9 and 10 the country will be in an "orange zone", with malls closed and restaurants and bars open for takeaway and delivery only.
(ANSA)
The
United Kingdom reports a record 60,916 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,774,479.
(The Independent)
The
IsraeliCabinet agrees to tighten the nationwide lockdown by closing schools and non-essential shops for 14 days. The measures will come into force at midnight between Thursday and Friday.
(The Times of Israel)
Rwanda bans public and private transport in and out of
Kigali and between districts and extends a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time for another 15 days amid a deadly second wave of COVID-19.
(Daily Monitor)
Zimbabwe reports 1,365 new confirmed cases and 34 deaths in the past 24 hours, its largest daily increase for both cases and deaths since the pandemic began as the country begins a month-long lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
(Reuters)
Georgia reports their first case of a new variant of
SARS-CoV-2 in an 18-year-old male with no travel history, and who is currently in isolation at home.
(WXIA-TV)
The U.S. surpasses 21 million cases of COVID-19, just four days after surpassing 20 million cases.
(CNN)
Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old boy accused of shooting three people (including two killed) during a protest in
Kenosha, Wisconsin, will plead not guilty.
(Newsweek)
Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announces that no charges will be made against Rusten Sheskey, the Kenosha police officer accused of shooting Jacob Blake.
(USA Today)
President-electJoe Biden says "It's not a protest, it's an
insurrection", and calls on
President Donald Trump to "demand an end to this siege" by his followers. In response, President Trump released a video saying, "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"
(BBC News)[1]
Tokyo claims a record 1,591 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the
prefecture to 66,343.
(The Japan Times)
Nationwide, a record of more than 6,000 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours.
(NHK World)
The
Czech Republic reports a record of 17,278 new cases in the past 24 hours, 7,965 of which are from
Prague, bringing the nationwide total of cases to 776,967.
(Prague Morning)
Ireland reports a record 7,836 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 121,154.
(Independent.ie)
The
government also agrees to tighten the
lockdown measures including keeping schools closed but allowing
Leaving Cert students to attend three days per week and also suspending non-essential construction projects. These measures will remain in place until the end of January.
(The Irish Times)
San Marino announces that bars and restaurants will close at 5 p.m. until January 15, and that a curfew will begin at 10 p.m. local time.
(San Marino TV)
The
United Kingdom reports a record 62,322 new cases of COVID-19 and a further 1,041 deaths. This is the first time since April that the daily death toll has exceeded 1,000. Major outbreaks are declared at hospitals in
Surrey and
Sussex.
(BBC News)
PremierFrancois Legault announces a curfew from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
EST for whole
province except the
Nord-du-Quebec administrative region from January 9 until February 8. Pharmacies and gas stations will be permitted to remain open during curfew hours.
(CFCF-DT)
The
Louisville Metro Police Department announces the firing of Myles Cosgrove and Joshua Jaynes, the two officers involved in the botched raid of Breonna Taylor's home.
(CBS News)
A judge in the
United Kingdom denies bail to
WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange days after his extradition to the
United States was blocked. The judge cited the risk of Assange escaping the extradition process or refusing to surrender to court if asked to do so. Assange's lawyers will appeal the decision whereas the
U.S. Department of Justice continues to seek his extradition. Assange's partner urges the US to pardon him.
(Reuters)
Twitter locks the personal account of President
Donald Trump for the first time, citing the president's "incitement to violence", and "false claims about the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election". The
social media site warns that further attempts to violate the company's rules could result in a permanent suspension of Trump's account.
(CNBC)
Facebook locks President Trump's account for 24 hours in response to the violence in
Washington, D.C.. In a blog post, the social media site says today's events are an "emergency" for the platform and will be rolling out new rules in response.
(TechCrunch)
A
United States Capitol Police officer injured in yesterday's
riot in
Washington, D.C., is revealed to be on life support as a result of the events. After being erroneously reported as having died earlier, he was finally reported as deceased by the Capitol Police, who name him as Brian D. Sicknick.
(CNN)(ABC News)
Boeing agrees to pay
US$2.5 billion to settle criminal charges claiming that it covered-up design flaws in its
Boeing 737 MAX passenger planes from safety officials. The
U.S. Department of Justice says that the firm chose "profit over candour".
(BBC News)
Elon Musk overtakes
Jeff Bezos by just over US$4 billion to become the richest person in the world.
(CNN)
New York reports a record 17,636 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to
GovernorAndrew Cuomo. It also reports 197 new deaths, which is the highest single-day total since the second week of May.
(WNBC-TV)
China reports 52 locally transmitted cases in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day total since July, as
Hebei, which enters "wartime mode", reports 51 of the cases.
(Al Jazeera)
Indonesia reports a new record for the second consecutive day of 9,321 new cases, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 797,723.
(detikHealth)
Nationwide,
Japan reports a record 7,568 new cases in the past 24 hours. Tokyo reports a record 2,447 new cases, bringing the total number of cases in the prefecture to 68,790.
(The Japan Times)
Malaysia reports a new record for the second consecutive day of 3,027 new cases. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 3,000 cases and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 128,465.
(The Edge Markets MY)
The
United Kingdom reports 1,162 new deaths in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total since April 21, bringing the nationwide death toll to 78,508.
(The Independent)
Palau begins its vaccination program, with outgoing
PresidentThomas Remengesau Jr. and incoming President
Surangel Whipps Jr. receiving the first two doses. The country plans to vaccinate more than 18,000 people with the
Moderna vaccine provided by the United States.
(RNZ)
Brazil surpasses 200,000 deaths of COVID-19, becoming the second country to do so after the
United States, as a record 87,843 cases are reported in the past 24 hours.
(France 24)(Bloomberg)
Australia's financial watchdog is reviewing calculations for transfers worth US$1.8 billion sent to the country from the Vatican since 2014, after the
Vatican and the
Australian Church call for clarification. The transfers ranged from yearly totals of
A$71.6 million (US$55.2 million) in 2014 to A$581.3 million in 2017, with about 47,000 separate transfers. "That amount of money and that number of transfers did not leave the Vatican City", a senior Vatican official with knowledge of the city-state's finances told Reuters last week.
(Reuters)
Rep.
Jake LaTurner (
KS-
2) is notified of his positive COVID-19 diagnosis after the vote on Arizona and goes into isolation, missing the Pennsylvania vote.
(Kansas City Star)
Donald Trump, still disagreeing with the election results that resulted in a victory for
President-electJoe Biden, said through spokesperson
Dan Scavino, "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th."
(Reuters)
Facebook announces that it has extended the lock of Donald Trump's official account for at least the remainder of his term due to the heightened risk of
political violence.
Snapchat also bans Trump from posting on the app until further notice.
(Bloomberg)
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announces a second nationwide
lockdown for the
country that will last three weeks beginning January 10 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
(France 24)
Germany reports a record 1,188 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to data from the
Robert Koch Institute, bringing the nationwide death toll to 38,795.
(Taggeschau)
Greece extends their nationwide lockdown until January 18 but will allow kindergartens, elementary schools and nurseries to reopen on January 11.
(Ekathimerini)
The
Riksdag passes a new law that gives the
government power to impose COVID-19-related lockdowns, such as ordering certain businesses to close or prohibiting public gatherings of certain sizes. The law will take effect on January 10.
(The Washington Post)
London mayorSadiq Khan declares a "major incident" in the capital due to a rise in the number of cases that threatens to overwhelm hospitals.
(Sky News)
The
United Kingdom reports a record 68,053 new confirmed cases and 1,325 deaths in the past 24 hours.
(BBC News)
Bhutan reports its first death from COVID-19 after a 34-year-old man with chronic
liver disease and renal failure, who tested positive for COVID-19, died in a hospital in
Thimphu.
(Reuters)
Indonesia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 10,617 new cases. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 10,000 cases and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 808,340.
(Kompas)
Prime MinisterScott Morrison announces that anyone coming into
Australia must present a negative
COVID-19 test prior to their departure and that masks will be mandatory on all domestic and international
passenger flights. The caps on international arrivals will also be reduced for the next month.
(9 News)
Amid another quarantine lockdown, the next hearing in the trial of current
IsraeliPrime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu is postponed. Netanyahu stands accused, in three separate ongoing cases, of a litany of corruption accusations, including bribery, breach of trust, and fraud.
(AP)
A court in
Pakistan sentences
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to five years in prison on
terrorism financing charges. Lakhvi, a senior member of the group
Lashkar-e-Taiba, is accused of the
2008 Mumbai attacks, though he was convicted of unrelated charges.
India and the United States welcome the verdict but ask that he be tried for the attacks.
(Reuters)
A court in Pakistan sentences three people to death and a college teacher to 10 years in prison for
blasphemy. Those convicted can now appeal to higher courts and ask for clemency from the
President.
Human rights groups say that the law persecutes
religious minorities including
Shias and the
Ahmadiyya.
(Al Jazeera)
Twitter permanently
suspends Donald Trump's account. According to Twitter, he was suspended to end "the risk of further incitement of violence."
(NBC News)
A nationwide
blackout occurs in
Pakistan, leaving more than 200 million people without power.
SenatorFaisal Javed Khan says that the blackout was apparently caused by a "sudden frequency drop in the power transmission system". Power is gradually being restored in some parts of the country.
(BNO News)
Minnesota reports its first five cases of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that originated from the
United Kingdom. The patients are aged 15 to 37.
(KARE-TV)
The United States surpasses 22 million cases of COVID-19.
(NBC News)
Pope Francis confirms in an interview with Italian broadcaster
Canale 5 that the vaccination campaign in
Vatican City will begin next week and that he will receive the vaccine.
(CNN)(Euronews)
Three people are killed and four others injured in a
shooting spree through several neighborhoods in the
South Side area of
Chicago,
Illinois, as well as
Evanston. The shooter, a 32-year-old man, was shot during a
shootout with responding Evanston police officers and later died in a hospital.
(WMAQ-TV)
Science and technology
The
Parler app is suspended indefinitely from the
App Store by
Apple Inc. Additionally,
Amazon also announces that they will discontinue providing cloud services for Parler due to incitement of violence, which will go into effect on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.
(CNN)(CNBC)
Twenty-two workers are trapped in a gold mine in
Qixia, east China's Shandong province after an explosion tore through the mine at 2:00 p.m.
(Xinhua News)(South China Morning Post)
Six inmates escape from a jail in California. Their whereabouts are unknown and being sought by California police. The six men are considered to be armed and dangerous.
(WGNTV)
Legislative elections are held in
Kazakhstan. The election is criticized for a lack of opposition to the leading party
Nur Otan and is therefore expected to be considered neither free nor fair by international observers.
(Radio Free Europe)
Mainland China reports 103 new cases in the past 24 hours, mainly in
Hebeiprovince, which is the highest single-day total since July 30 and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 87,536.
(CNA)
The
Philippines orders 25 million doses of
Sinovac's
vaccine. 50,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in the country by February.
(Inquirer)
Lebanon declares a
state of emergency and imposes a 24-hour curfew for 11 days beginning January 14 as part of a lockdown that began on January 7. All private and public companies as well as house of worships will be closed with few exceptions and travel restrictions will also be introduced.
(The Daily Star)
Seychelles becomes the first African country to begin vaccination campaign against COVID-19. One of the first to receive the vaccine is the president
Wavel Ramkalawan.
(Africa News)
The
government orders that victims of COVID-19 must be buried where they die, forbidding
viewings and the transfer of corpses as the country experiences a significant increase in the number of cases.
(Xinhua)
The leader of the
Houthi movement,
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, condemns a move by the United States to designate the group as "terrorists" saying that the group "reserves its right to respond to any designation" by the
Trump administration. Iran and the
Norwegian Refugee Council also condemn the designation, saying that it will create more devastation in the impoverished nation.
(Al Jazeera)
Three police officers are killed, two by gunfire and one in a hit-and-run, after a carjacking in
Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. A fourth police officer is also injured. This is the first time in Puerto Rico's recent history in which multiple police officers were killed in one incident. The suspect remains at large.
(AP)
An internal bulletin by the
FBI warns of nationwide armed
protests being planned from January 16 to 20, the day of
Joe Biden's inauguration. The bulletin also warned of an armed group threatening to start a "huge uprising" if there is an attempt to remove Donald Trump from
office via the
25th Amendment.
(ABC News)(AP)
Malaysia reports a record 3,309 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours ahead of the return of
movement control orders in parts of the country, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 141,553.
(The Straits Times)
BavarianMinisters-PresidentMarkus Söder announces that starting from next Monday, people will be required to wear
FFP2 masks while travelling on public transport and when in retail shops in order to improve safety on these areas.
(The Local Germany)
Egypt reopens its airspace to
Qatari aircraft, and will allow the resumption of direct flights between the countries, which have been suspended since 2017.
(Reuters)
PresidentDonald Trump warns that successfully impeaching him from office for his conduct regarding the riot at the
United States Capitol Building would represent a "tremendous danger" to the nation. Trump refused to clarify his statement any further, instead stating that his comments vis-à-vis inciting the incident were "totally appropriate".
(CNBC)
Ahead of Thursday's election,
Ugandan opposition
presidential candidate
Bobi Wine says that
soldiers raided his home and arrested his security guards without providing any explanation. Wine has previously been accused by incumbent
Yoweri Museveni of being "an agent of foreign interests".
(DW)
In retaliation against
Facebook for blocking pro-government accounts, the government of Uganda blocks all social media, including
Facebook and
WhatsApp until further notice.
(Reuters)
Authorities in
Russia ask a judge to jail opposition politician and anti-corruption activist
Alexei Navalny for allegedly breaking a suspended sentence dating back to 2014 and for evading the supervision of Russia's criminal inspection authority. Navalny had previously been asked to return to Russia to report himself to the federal authorities but continues to remain in
Germany. He has vowed to return to Russia ahead of the next parliamentary election.
(Reuters)
Formula One postpones the
Australian and
Chinese Grand Prix due to
COVID-19-related restrictions. The Australian Grand Prix will take place in November instead of March, while the discussion over a new date for the Chinese Grand Prix is ongoing.
(BBC News)
A
Sudanese Air Force helicopter crashes shortly after taking off in
Sudan's
Al Qadarif state, near the border with
Ethiopia, with the three-person crew surviving the crash, according to officials.
(TRT World)
Indonesia reports a record 11,278 new cases and 306 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 858,043 confirmed cases and 24,951 deaths.
(CNN Indonesia)
Prime MinisterYoshihide Suga announces the suspension of business travel agreements with 11 countries and regions and also restricts entry for all non-resident foreign nationals beginning tomorrow in an attempt to reduce the spread of
COVID-19.
(Nikkei Asia)
China reports 115 new cases in the past 24 hours, the largest single-day total in more than five months, bringing the nationwide number of confirmed cases to 87,706.
(The Straits Times)
Taiwan reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from
South Africa in a
Swazi man in his 30s who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on January 1.
(Taiwan News)
The
United Arab Emirates reports a record 3,362 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 239,587.
(The National)
Portugal reports records for both daily counts of new cases and deaths, with 10,556 new cases and 156 deaths, bringing the nationwide cumulative totals to 507,108 confirmed cases and 8,236 deaths.
(DGS)
Prime MinisterAntónio Costa announces that stricter
lockdown measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will begin on January 15. There will be more exceptions to the new restrictions than there were during the first national lockdown in March and April 2020.
(Expresso)
New Mexico reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a man in his 60s who traveled to the
United Kingdom in December and later tested positive for COVID-19.
(KUTV-TV)
Robert Keith Packer, a
Virginian known for wearing a "Camp Auschwitz" sweatshirt, is arrested for storming the Capitol. Additionally, former
Rocky Mount, Virginia police officers Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker are also arrested.
(The Washington Post)
Opposition politician and anti-corruption activist
Alexei Navalny announces that he will return to
Russia on Sunday, despite risks of being incarcerated upon his return. Navalny says that the charges against him are "fabricated".
(Reuters)
Rioting erupts overnight in the
Belgian capital
Brussels following the death of a 23-year-old black man in
police custody, who was reportedly arrested for violating local COVID-19 restrictions. A police station was set on fire in north of the city, and
King Philippe's vehicle was attacked while travelling through the area.
(BBC News)(Euronews)
Vatican Museums Director
Barbara Jatta, tells
Vatican Radio it is necessary to extend the current closure of the Museums after having previously set 16 January as a possible date for re-opening. The current
Covid-19 situation in Italy does not allow for certainties. Currently there is a seven-kilometre itinerary mapped out through the Vatican Museums for small numbers of visitors, in compliance with anti-Covid precautions.
(Vatican News)
GovernorLarry Hogan announces that the
state will distribute the vaccine next week to teachers, people 75 or older, child care providers, residents of assisted living facilities, people in group homes, and high-risk inmates.
(The Baltimore Sun)
Germany reports a record 1,244 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to data from the
Robert Koch Institute, bringing the nationwide death toll to 43,881.
(Tagesschau)
Portugal reports a new record for the second consecutive day, of 10,698 new daily cases, bringing the nationwide cumulative total of confirmed cases to 517,806.
(DGS)
China reports 138 new cases in the past 24 hours, the biggest single-day increase in more than 10 months, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the outbreak to 87,844. In addition, the country also reports its first death from COVID-19 since April, bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,635.
(ABC Australia)
The
Federal Ministry of Education announces that
schools in
Nigeria will reopen on January 18. Parents have appealed to the ministry to rescind the decision following a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
(Xinhua)
The
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that
Iran has informed them that it has begun installing equipment for the production of uranium metal, another violation in kind in response to Western violations of the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The IAEA says that Iran now has enough enriched uranium to make a
nuclear weapon, but still possesses less than it had before the deal was signed.
(The Independent)
Eight more
Michigan officials are charged along with former
GovernorRick Snyder for their roles in the
Flint water crisis. Former health director Nick Lyon and former state medical executive Eden Wells are also charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of nine people who contracted
Legionnaires' disease during the crisis.
(NBC News)(AP)
Voters head to the polls to elect their next
president and
parliament. The two main presidential candidates are incumbent President
Yoweri Museveni and opposition activist and musician
Bobi Wine. The election has been widely criticized as being unfair, with both the
United States and
European Union cancelling their observations of the election.
(BBC News)
An
EgyptianUNpeacekeeper is killed and another injured after a bomb planted by
jihadists detonates under a truck that was part of a UN logistics convoy.
(UN News)
China reports 144 new cases, the majority in
Hebei and
Heilongjiangprovinces. This is the highest number of daily cases in the past 10 months and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 87,988.
(The Straits Times)
Uttarakhand reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a 44-year old man who was in close contact with people who travelled to the
United Kingdom.
(Hindustan Times)
Indonesia reports a record 12,818 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, including 3,095 in
West Java, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 882,418.
(detikHealth)
The
Philippines extends until January 31 its travel ban on more than 30 countries and territories where cases of
SARS-CoV-2 variants have been reported.
(Arab News)
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson announces the closure of all
travel corridors beginning January 18 at 4:00 a.m.
GMT. He also announces that all travellers must have proof of a negative
COVID-19 test from the previous 72 hours and quarantine for 10 days upon arrival, unless they test negative after five days.
(ITV)
The Chilean government reports 4,471 new cases, the highest daily total since June. A potential new lockdown in the
Santiago Metropolitan Region is under evaluation according to the Ministry of Health.
(ADN Radio)
Paraguay approves the emergency use of Russia's
Sputnik Vvaccine, becoming the fourth South American country to approve the use of the vaccine against COVID-19, after Argentina, Bolivia and Venezuela. Supply of the vaccine will be facilitated by the
Russian Direct Investment Fund.
(PR Newswire)
Tunisia reports a record 4,170 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours as the country enters a four-day
lockdown and also closes all schools until January 24 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
(Reuters)
Russia says that it will withdraw from the
Treaty on Open Skies, following the U.S. withdrawal from the treaty last year. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that the U.S. withdrawal has "significantly upended the balance of interests of signatory states".
(AP)
Opposition activist
Bobi Wine claims victory in the presidential election, despite early results giving incumbent
PresidentYoweri Museveni a wide lead, and calls the results "a joke".
(France 24)
Bobi Wine
tweets that
the military has "taken control" of his home and placed him under
house arrest, just hours after claiming victory in the disputed election.
(Al Jazeera)
Malaysia reports a record 4,029 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 155,095.
(New Straits Times)
Portugal reports records for both daily counts of new cases and deaths, with 10,947 new cases and 166 deaths, bringing the nationwide cumulative totals to 539,416 confirmed cases and 8,709 deaths.
(DGS)(Reuters)
Serbia receives one million doses of Sinopharm's
BBIBP-CorV vaccine. They are the first European country to receive a Chinese-made vaccine.
(AFP via Barron's)
Two judges, both female, are shot dead in an ambush while en-route to their offices at the
Supreme Court in
Kabul; their driver is wounded. Afghan officials claim the
Taliban is responsible, however no one has claimed responsibility for the attack and a spokesman for the Taliban,
Zabihullah Mujahid, says that the group was not responsible.
(Al Jazeera)
More bodies are found under debris in
Sulawesi,
Indonesia, after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the island two days ago, bringing the death toll to 78.
(Reuters)
Oman announces the closure of all land borders for at least one week, beginning tomorrow at 6:00 p.m., as part of measures to reduce the spread of
COVID-19.
(Times of Oman)
The
United Arab Emirates reports a record 3,453 new confirmed cases in a single-day, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 253,261.
(The National)
Massachusetts reports their first case of a more contagious variant of
SARS-CoV-2 in a woman in her 20s from
Boston who traveled to the
United Kingdom and began experiencing symptoms the day after she returned.
(WBZ-TV)
Austria extends their nationwide
lockdown until February 7 in order to reduce the spread of
COVID-19 amid fears about new
SARS-CoV-2 variants. People will also be required to wear full protective masks beginning January 25.
(DW)
Opposition politician and anti-
corruption activist
Alexei Navalny is arrested upon landing in
Moscow, according to a statement from the prison service. The prominent Putin critic was arrested on charges of parole violations and terms of a suspended prison sentence and will be held in custody until a court makes a decision in his case.
(Politico)
Hong Kong reports 107 new confirmed cases, which is the first time in nearly a month that more than 100 cases are reported and brings the total number of confirmed cases in the city to 9,664. This sudden rise in cases is partially due to an outbreak among ethnic minorities.
(South China Morning Post)
Turkmenistan registers the
Sputnik Vvaccine despite having no confirmed cases in the country, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund. It becomes the first country in
Central Asia to approve a Russian-made
vaccine.
(RFE/RL)
Hair salons, health centers, car inspection stations, and non-essential shops in
Greece reopen for the first time since November after the
government eased a nationwide
lockdown in order to revitalize the retail sectors.
(Anadolu Agency)
The
International Energy Agency reports that global
methane emissions in 2020 amounted to about 70 million metric tons, which is 10 percent lower than the estimated amount of methane emissions in 2019. The agency cites the decline in industrial activities, as a result of the pandemic, and the introduction of new emission regulations for the reduction in emissions.
(Bloomberg)
The
COO of
Samsung,
Lee Jae-yong, is sentenced to two and a half years in prison on charges of bribery. Lee was convicted of bribing former South Korean President
Park Geun-hye and was arrested in the courtroom following the verdict.
(The New York Times)
VermontGovernorPhil Scott, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, and other officials quarantine after a contractor that Levine was in contact with tested positive for
COVID-19.
(WPTZ-TV)
Portugal reports a new record for the second consecutive day, of 218 deaths, bringing the nationwide death toll to 9,246. At the same time, the nationwide number of ICU patients reaches a record 670, just below the maximum allocation capacity of 672 ICU beds set the day before.
(DGS)(Reuters)
Israel extends their third nationwide lockdown until January 31 as the country reports its highest number of cases since the pandemic began. They will also require all travelers to present a negative
COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of arrival or face a fine of
NIS 2,500 ($772).
(The Times of Israel)
The
Shizuokaprefectural government issues an emergency alert after three cases of the more contagious variant from the UK are reported in people with no known travel history.
(Kyodo News)
Wisconsin pharmacist Steven Brandenburg is charged with attempted misdemeanor property damage for deliberately trying to defrost doses of
Moderna's
vaccine.
(AP)
A 65-year-old Thai woman is sentenced to 43 years in prison for
insulting the Thai monarchy in online posts in 2014. Her sentence, initially for 87 years, was reduced after she plead guilty to the charges. It is the longest punishment for lèse-majesté handed down in Thai history.
(Reuters on MSN)
An explosion caused by a
gas leak at a residence for priests in
Madrid,
Spain results in four fatalities and injures ten others. It also partially destroys the residence.
(Reuters)
Prime MinisterMark Rutte issues a statement that would ask the
parliament to vote regarding a weekend curfew from 8.30 p.m. to 4.30 a.m. in a parliamentary debate that will begin tomorrow.
(Dutch News)
Portugal reports a record 14,647 new confirmed cases and 219 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide totals to 581,605 confirmed cases and 9,465 deaths.
(Bloomberg)(SIC Notícias)
Acting Health Director-General Patrick Amoth confirms the first cases of the variant found in South Africa. The patients are two people who had traveled to that country.
(Kenyans.co.ke)
A
suicide attack at an open market in
Baghdad,
Iraq, kills at least 32 people and injures 110 others. Attacks have been rare in the country since the 2017 military defeat of
ISIL, making this incident one of the deadliest since then.
(Reuters)
Dubai suspends all entertainment permits issued by the
emirate for establishments due to an increase in violations of
COVID-19 health protocols.
(Khaleej Times)
Moscow MayorSergei Sobyanin announces that as part of an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, museums and libraries will reopen beginning tomorrow, while theatres and cinemas will be allowed to accommodate more patrons. In addition, colleges, sports schools and children's clubs will resume in-person attendance, but university students will continue studying remotely.
(The Moscow Times)
Sri Lanka reopens to foreign tourists after a nearly 10-month pandemic closure, however tourists are required to receive multiple
testings and follow
quarantine measures that have been put in place.
(AP)
A
Vatican tribunal convicts two former executives of the
Institute for Religious Works (the IOR, commonly known as the Vatican bank) on embezzlement and money-laundering charges.
Angelo Caloia, who was president of the IOR from 1999 to 2009; and two lawyers who had acted as IOR consultants, were found guilty of arranging to profit from the sale of Vatican properties.
(AP)
Portugal reports a record of 234 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 9,920.
(DGS)
Portugal also reports their first case of the
501.V2 variant that originated in
South Africa. They do not indicate whether the individual travelled.
(RTP)(Reuters)
Belgium declares a ban on non-essential travel in and out of the country from January 27 through March 1 in order to curb the spread of
SARS-CoV-2 variants.
(VRT)(France 24)
Farmer leaders allege a conspiracy to kill four of them and create disturbance during their proposed tractor rally on
Republic Day in
Delhi.
(Business Standard)
Organisers of the
Tour de Normandie cancel the annual seven-day bicycle race that was scheduled for May due to the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second year that it has been cancelled.
(Cycling News)
Federal officials announce that all indoor portions of the
National Mall and memorial parks will be closed to the public to combat the spread of COVID-19.
(NBC News)
New Brunswick's
Edmundston region begins a 14-day
lockdown. Non-essential travel is prohibited in and out of the area. In addition, all non-essential businesses, schools and public spaces are closed, and all indoor and outdoor gatherings among people of different households are prohibited.
(The Toronto Star)
Malaysia reports a record 4,275 new confirmed cases and 4,313 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide totals to 180,455 confirmed cases and 137,019 recoveries.
(Malay Mail)
Portugal reports a record 15,333 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 624,469. The country also reports a record 274 deaths in the past 24 hours, surpassing 10,000 deaths from COVID-19.
(SIC Notícias)
Tunisia bans gatherings including demonstrations and extends their curfew to between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. local time until February 14 in an attempt to reduce the spread of
COVID-19.
(The Washington Post)
Amazonas Governor
Wilson Lima announces new, tougher restrictions to curb the spread of
COVID-19, beginning January 25. People will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential purposes such grocery shopping.
(CNN Brasil)
A
Tacoma, Washington police officer drove through a downtown crowd, running over at least one person and sending them to the hospital. The officer was responding to calls that a group of people were blocking a downtown intersection when the crowd surrounded on the police car,
Tacoma Police Department said.
(NBC)
Eleven of the
miners who went missing two weeks ago in
Qixia,
Shandong,
China, after the
gold mine where they worked
collapsed, are rescued alive. Another miner is found dead, while ten others are still missing.
(BBC News)
France imposes new border restrictions that require travellers from other
European Union countries arriving by air or sea to present negative
PCRtest results obtained in the previous 72 hours.
(France 24)
The
Russian government accuses the
United States of "interfering in Russian domestic affairs" after some U.S. officials criticized the police crackdown on protests backing jailed opposition leader
Alexei Navalny.
(RFERL)
The two major political parties
Reform Party and
Centre Party agree to form a government, whose
Prime Minister will be
Kaja Kallas, who will become the first female to take the office. She is succeeding
Jüri Ratas, who resigned following a corruption scandal that involves his party.
(Politico)
SpaceX successfully launches a record 143 satellites into orbit on a single rocket in its Transporter-1 mission. The payload consisted of 120
CubeSats, 12 microsatellites, 10
Starlink satellites, and 1 transfer stage. It is also the maiden flight of the
SHERPA-FXsatellite dispenser.
(BBC News)
British multinational retailer
Debenhams announces that it will permanently close all of its
brick and mortar stores in the United Kingdom, with the loss of 12,000 jobs, after being bought by online fashion retailer
Boohoo.com.
(AFP via RFI)
Nine of the
miners who went missing during a
mine collapse in
Qixia,
Shandong,
China, are found dead by
rescue workers. Yesterday another miner was found dead, bringing the death toll to 10, while eleven others were rescued alive. Another miner is still missing.
(BBC News)
More than 180 people were arrested in 10
Dutch cities as protesters against the curfew and
lockdown clashed with riot
law enforcement overnight for a third night in a row.
(BBC News)
Australia suspends their travel bubble with
New Zealand for the next 72 hours after New Zealand's first community case in months was confirmed to be of the 501.V2 variant from
South Africa.
(BBC News)
Brandon Straka, the
WalkAway movement founder and "
Stop the Steal" activist who spoke at a rally held by pro-Trump supporters, is arrested on a felony charge of interfering with police during the
storming of the
United States Capitol.
(Politico)
A driver rams pedestrians with his vehicle during a series of hit-and-runs attack in
Portland, Oregon, killing a person and injuring five others.
(Oregon Live)
Thailand reports a record of 959 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, including 914 cases in
Samut Sakhon reported yesterday evening, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 14,646.
(Bangkok Post)
The
United Arab Emirates reports a record 3,601 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 285,147.
(Arab News)
Uzbekistan lifts its restrictions aimed to combat the spread of COVID-19 and announces that concert halls will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity.
(Trend)
The
Cayetano Heredia University says that a volunteer in the local trial of a coronavirus vaccine produced by China's
Sinopharm Group has died from COVID-19-related pneumonia. The university said that the volunteer had received the placebo.
(Reuters)
The highly pathogenic
H5N8avian influenza is reported in two backyard hobby grey crowned cranes in
Central Italy, who are killed along with ten healthy birds to prevent spread.
(Reuters)
Samyukt Kisan Morcha protestors
storm the
Red Fort in
Delhi, clashing with police. One protestor is killed and more than 80 police officers are injured. Protest leaders blame the violence on "rogue elements", and say they will continue to dispute the government's
agriculture acts.
(BBC News)
Sixteen people are dead and eight injured after three bombs explode in
Balad,
Mogadishu and
Dinsoor. The attacks are claimed by
Al-Shabaab. The deadliest attack is in Balad, which result in 14 soldiers killed.
(Anadolu Agency)
Mexico reports a record 27,944 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to over 1.8 million.
(Business Standard)
Indonesia reports a record 387 deaths and 10,974 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide totals to 28,855 deaths and 831,330 recoveries.
(detikNews)
Cyprus announces a cautious easing of the second nationwide
lockdown beginning February 1 following a decline in the number of
COVID-19 cases that peaked after
Christmas.
(France 24)
North Macedonia reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 variant of
SARS-CoV-2 in a person with no known travel history who recovered on January 22.
(Xinhua)
Prime MinisterRobert Abela announces the imposition of new measures to stop the curve: restaurants, kiosks, and snack bars must remain closed for the entire month of February from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., bars are completely closed, recommends that schools postpone the two days of school holidays for Carnival.
(Times of Malta)
GameStop stock briefly tops US$500 before dropping 36% from Wednesday's closing. Trading was halted multiple times due to the climb and the crash.
(CNBC)
South Carolina reports the United States' first two cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in
South Africa in people with no known travel history.
(NPR)
Portugal reports new daily records for both cases and deaths, with 16,432 new cases and 303 deaths, bringing the nationwide cumulative totals to 685,383 confirmed cases and 11,608 deaths.
(DGS)
Vaccine developer
Novavax announces that
their vaccine candidate is 89% effective in preventing severe COVID-19, based on trial data from the United Kingdom; their vaccine was less effective against
new variants of the virus, based on data from South Africa.
(Reuters)
One protester is shot dead and many more are wounded after attempting to storm a government building during an anti-lockdown riot in
Tripoli,
Lebanon. The municipality building was set on fire before protesters pulled back to the city's main square.
(Reuters)
Google removes major
Australian news sites from some of its search results in an "experiment" in reaction to the
Australian government's calls for Google to pay these sites for their content.
(The Guardian)
The
CDC issues a rule requiring all travelers using
public transportation to wear a mask while boarding, during the trip, and while disembarking. The rule also states face shields, bandanas, and scarves are not permissible forms of face covering.
(Politico)
Trudeau announces new measures to take effect "in the coming weeks" that will require incoming travelers to undergo mandatory
PCR testing upon arrival and
quarantine in a hotel for a maximum of three days at their own expense.
(AP)
Greece delays the reopening of high schools, which was scheduled to begin on February 1, due to an increase in the number of
COVID-19 cases, particularly in red zone areas.
(Ekathimerini)
The
government announces that
COVID-19 restrictions will be eased in most areas of the
country beginning February 1, allowing some businesses to reopen and restaurants to extend their operating hours.
(Bangkok Post)
Pharmaceutical company
Johnson & Johnson announces their single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is 66% effective in preventing moderate disease and 85% in preventing severe disease during a global trial.
(Politico)
Migrants
set fire to the Napier
Barracks at
Shorncliffe Army Camp in
Kent after "reports of a disturbance". The
Home Office says people "set about destroying the barracks", after being told that they were being moved due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the camp.
Kent Police say that the fire caused "a significant amount of damage" and is investigating it as a suspected
arson attack.
(BBC News)
A man is arrested after being linked to the
murders of three women and the wounding of a man in the past three days in and around
Valence,
France. The victims, who were shot in four separate locations, were
HR managers; the attacker's motives are suspected to be linked to his earlier employment.
(BBC News)
South Carolina reports its first case of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the
United Kingdom. The patient is a person from the
Pee Dee region who previously travelled internationally.
(WLTX-TV)
Cuban authorities announce that the country will tighten its measures to reduce the spread of
COVID-19 and require all
tourists to isolate after visiting the island until they
test negative.
(AP)
Indonesia reports a record 14,518 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, 4,601 of which are from
West Java, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,066,313.
(detikHealth)
Malaysia reports a record 5,728 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 209,661.
(New Straits Times)
Tunisia becomes the third country in
Africa to register the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine after the country approves the vaccine for one year.
(Al-Arabiya)
Former
Tigray Region president and fugitive
Debretsion Gebremichael speaks out for the first time since going into hiding following the
fall of Mekelle to
federal forces in November 2020, saying "They [the federal government] have temporary military dominance", and "we are engaged in extended resistance". His current whereabouts are unknown.
(Reuters)
A
suicide bomberblows himself up outside the Afrik Hotel in
Mogadishu,
Somalia, while gunmen storm the hotel and open fire. Five people are killed in the
al-Shabaab attack, including a former
military general; ten civilians are wounded. The three other attackers are shot dead during a gun battle with security forces.
(BBC News)
Israel reports its first reinfection case of the 501.V2 variant in a 57-year-old man who recently travelled to
Turkey and who previously recovered from COVID-19.
(Times of Israel)
Vietnam reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a 25-year-old man from
South Africa who travelled to
Hanoi on December 19 and tested positive for COVID-19 four days later while in quarantine.
(AAP via The West Australian)
Police in
Brussels,
Belgium announce that they have arrested more than 400 people in order to prevent a banned demonstration against anti-
COVID-19 measures.
(DW)
Shirlene Ostrov resigns as chairwoman of the
Hawaii Republican Party following a series of tweets posted by vice chairman
Edwin Boyette on the party's
Twitter account defending people who supported the
QAnon conspiracy theory. Additionally, Boyette resigned on January 24th after the tweets were posted the day before.
(AP)