COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine signs an agreement to buy up to 1.8 million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says the first shipment of vaccines could arrive in February. (Business Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia, 501.V2 variant Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya confirms Zambia's first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from South Africa and also confirms that a second wave of the pandemic has emerged. (Xinhua)
COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom approves a vaccine made by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca for use in the country. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says that the rollout of this vaccine will begin on January 4. (BBC News)
El Salvador approves a vaccine made by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca for use in the country. (Reuters)
Germany reports a record 1,129 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, marking the first time that the country has surpassed 1,000 daily deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. (DW)
Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya confirms Zambia's first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from South Africa and also confirms that a second wave of the pandemic has emerged. (Xinhua)
India extends their suspensions of flights from the United Kingdom until January 7 in order to prevent the spread of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Hindustan Times)
Indonesia bans any activities held by the Islamic Defenders Front, a hardline Islamic group led by the controversial cleric Muhammad Rizieq Shihab. The Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Minister Mahfud MD says the ban is necessary because the group no longer has any legal standing as a mass organisation. (The Straits Times)
Islam in Indonesia Indonesia bans any activities held by the Islamic Defenders Front, a hardline Islamic group led by the controversial cleric Muhammad Rizieq Shihab. The Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Minister Mahfud MD says the ban is necessary because the group no longer has any legal standing as a mass organisation. (The Straits Times)
Los Angeles County surpasses 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 and is averaging 150 daily deaths. (KABC-TV)
Malta reports its first three cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom. Two of the cases are reported in people who travelled from the UK, while the third is still being investigated. (Times of Malta)
North Dakota records 96 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours, making it the first time since September 24 that there have been less than 100 hospitalizations in the state. (AP)
Ontario reports a record 2,923 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 178,831. (CBC)
Outgoing U.S. Senator Doug Jones of Alabama announces he will quarantine at his home after his wife tests positive for COVID-19. (AL.com)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson formally signs the agreement into law. (Sky News)
Scientists at the Russian Academy of Sciences announce the discovery of a "well-preserved" woolly rhinoceros carcass in Abyysky District, Sakha, Russia, which was revealed by melting permafrost in August. The Russian Academy of Sciences says that the woolly rhinoceros was likely 3 or 4 years old when it died by drowning in the river, and could be anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 years old. (ABC News)
Scotland reports a record 2,045 new cases in the past 24 hours. (The Herald)
Singapore officially begins its vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with healthcare workers being among the first to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine tozinameran. (CNA)
Taiwan reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 after a teenager who returned from the United Kingdom on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 the following day. (Focus Taiwan News Channel)
Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirms that the country will close all non-essential retail under full level 5 restrictions that will remain in place for at least one month and will also delay the reopening of schools until January 11. Authorities also agree to extend travel bans to South Africa and the United Kingdom until January 6. (RTÉ)
Thailand imposes a ban on large gatherings and events in controlled zones across the country in order to reduce the number of cases. 250 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours. (Bangkok Post) (CNA)
The Czech Republic reports a record 16,329 new cases in the past 24 hours as the positivity rate reaches a new record of 48.5%. (Radio Prague International)
The United Kingdom approves a vaccine made by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca for use in the country. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says that the rollout of this vaccine will begin on January 4. (BBC News)
The United Kingdom's House of Commons approves the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union by 521 votes to 73. (BBC News)
The United States announces plans to impose additional tariffs on certain products from France and Germany, particularly aircraft parts, in retaliation to tariffs imposed by the European Union on similar U.S. products this year. (AFP via The Straits Times)
Toronto reports a record of 1,069 cases in the past 24 hours. (Global News)
Trade negotiation between the UK and the EU The United Kingdom's House of Commons approves the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union by 521 votes to 73. (BBC News) Prime Minister Boris Johnson formally signs the agreement into law. (Sky News)
Turkey receives their first shipment of three million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac. (Hurriyet Daily News)
Ukraine signs an agreement to buy up to 1.8 million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says the first shipment of vaccines could arrive in February. (Business Times)
United States–European Union relations, Trump tariffs The United States announces plans to impose additional tariffs on certain products from France and Germany, particularly aircraft parts, in retaliation to tariffs imposed by the European Union on similar U.S. products this year. (AFP via The Straits Times)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko suggests that the country would hold a referendum on constitutional reforms. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia U.S. Senator David Perdue and his wife test negative for COVID-19, but will quarantine ahead of his upcoming runoff matchup against Jon Ossoff after coming into contact with a person in his campaign who later tested positive for the virus. (CBS News)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia U.S. Senator David Perdue and his wife test negative for COVID-19, but will quarantine ahead of his upcoming runoff matchup against Jon Ossoff after coming into contact with a person in his campaign who later tested positive for the virus. (CBS News) COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips resigns following his trip to Saint Barthélemy while the province was in a lockdown. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia U.S. Senator David Perdue and his wife test negative for COVID-19, but will quarantine ahead of his upcoming runoff matchup against Jon Ossoff after coming into contact with a person in his campaign who later tested positive for the virus. (CBS News)
2020 Malian coup d'état Authorities in Mali charge six people, including former prime minister Boubou Cissé, with an "attempted coup". (AFP via Barron's)
A further 20 million people in England are placed into Tier 4, the level with the strictest COVID-19 restrictions. All secondary schools in England are to remain closed for an additional two weeks. (BBC News)
A Wisconsin pharmacist is arrested after destroying 500 doses of Moderna's vaccine. (NPR)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency Allied Democratic Forces militants kill at least 25 people in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Local officials say most of the victims were farmers working in the fields, and that some victims were decapitated. (DW)
Allied Democratic Forces militants kill at least 25 people in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Local officials say most of the victims were farmers working in the fields, and that some victims were decapitated. (DW)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces a change, effective January 1, to the wording of the country's national anthem, in which the word "young" in the second line "For we are young and free" is changed to "one", in an effort to reflect the country's long indigenous history. (BBC News)
Authorities in Mali charge six people, including former prime minister Boubou Cissé, with an "attempted coup". (AFP via Barron's)
Brazil detects their first two cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that originated in the United Kingdom. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
China approves BBIBP-CorV made by Sinopharm for general use, after the vaccine was considered to be 79.34% effective. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Victoria tightens their restrictions as three new cases are reported, bringing the total number of cases in the state to six. Under the new restrictions, in-home gatherings will be limited to 15 people, masks must be worn indoors, and people are advised to stay out of the Melbourne city centre on New Year's Eve. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium Health officials report that at least 26 residents of a retirement home in Mol have died from complications related to COVID-19 since a volunteer dressed as Sinterklaas, who later tested positive for the virus, visited the home on December 5. Officials, however, have not confirmed that the volunteer was the source of the outbreak at the home, where 85 others have also tested positive. (AFP via The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Brazil detects their first two cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that originated in the United Kingdom. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips resigns following his trip to Saint Barthélemy while the province was in a lockdown. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in England A further 20 million people in England are placed into Tier 4, the level with the strictest COVID-19 restrictions. All secondary schools in England are to remain closed for an additional two weeks. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Florida confirms its first new case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that originated in the United Kingdom. The individual is a Martin County man with no history of travel. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in France France reports their first case of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a man who travelled from South Africa to the Haut-Rhin region and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia receives their second shipment of 1.8 million doses of CoronaVac from Sinovac. (Jakarta Globe) Indonesia also reports a record 7,356 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 611,097. (Berita Satu)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Tokyo reports a record 1,337 new cases in the past 24 hours. It is the first prefecture to surpass 1,000 daily cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Asahi Shimbun) Nationwide, a record 4,520 new cases are reported in Japan in the past 24 hours. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 4,000 daily cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (NHK World)
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, COVID-19 vaccine China approves BBIBP-CorV made by Sinopharm for general use, after the vaccine was considered to be 79.34% effective. (CNN) The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. The patient is a 23-year-old woman who travelled from the United Kingdom to Shanghai on December 14 and later tested positive for COVID-19. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Portugal reports a record 7,627 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 413,678. (SIC Noticias)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea imposes the highest level of social distancing measures at prison facilities nationwide. These restrictions will remain in effect until January 13. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic reports a record 16,939 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 718,661 as the positivity rate reaches 52%. (Irozhlas)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England A further 20 million people in England are placed into Tier 4, the level with the strictest COVID-19 restrictions. All secondary schools in England are to remain closed for an additional two weeks. (BBC News) The United Kingdom reports a record 55,892 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,488,780. (ITV)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Florida confirms its first new case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that originated in the United Kingdom. The individual is a Martin County man with no history of travel. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin, Grafton vaccine incident A Wisconsin pharmacist is arrested after destroying 500 doses of Moderna's vaccine. (NPR)
COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin, Grafton vaccine incident A Wisconsin pharmacist is arrested after destroying 500 doses of Moderna's vaccine. (NPR)
COVID-19 vaccine The World Health Organization lists the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. (Reuters)
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. (Formula One)
France reports their first case of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a man who travelled from South Africa to the Haut-Rhin region and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Straits Times)
Health officials report that at least 26 residents of a retirement home in Mol have died from complications related to COVID-19 since a volunteer dressed as Sinterklaas, who later tested positive for the virus, visited the home on December 5. Officials, however, have not confirmed that the volunteer was the source of the outbreak at the home, where 85 others have also tested positive. (AFP via The Straits Times)
Hong Kong national security law The Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong orders pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to return to prison on national security law grounds, after a ruling by a lower court released him on bail. Chinese state media had labeled Lai's release as "unbelievable". (Bloomberg)
Indonesia also reports a record 7,356 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 611,097. (Berita Satu)
Indonesia receives their second shipment of 1.8 million doses of CoronaVac from Sinovac. (Jakarta Globe)
Migrants' African routes The Algerian Civil Defence says that 20 people were killed and 11 others injured when a vehicle carrying illegal migrants overturned in Tamanrasset. Tamanrasset is a crossing point for illegal migrants from neighboring countries, specifically Mali and Niger. (AFP via Channelstv)
Mining in Papua New Guinea Two people are confirmed dead and 15 others are feared dead after a landslide at an informal alluvial mining camp in Goilala District, Central Province, Papua New Guinea. (RNZ)
Nationwide, a record 4,520 new cases are reported in Japan in the past 24 hours. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 4,000 daily cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (NHK World)
Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips resigns following his trip to Saint Barthélemy while the province was in a lockdown. (BBC News)
Portugal reports a record 7,627 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 413,678. (SIC Noticias)
Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union, Trade negotiation between the UK and the EU The EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement enters into force at 23:00 GMT, formally ending the Brexit transition period. (BBC News) (The Independent)
South Korea imposes the highest level of social distancing measures at prison facilities nationwide. These restrictions will remain in effect until January 13. (Yonhap News Agency)
Spain and the United Kingdom reach an agreement to keep Gibraltar in the European Union's Schengen Area as freedom of movement between the EU and UK is due to end. (The Guardian)
