World 2021 Timeline

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Jan
01
Politics / Government

COVID-19 pandemic in Chad Chadian President Idriss Déby signs a decree that imposes a lockdown in the country's capital N'Djamena for the first time since the p

COVID-19 pandemic in Chad Chadian President Idriss 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)

Jan
01
Immigration / Law / Policy

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Nuclear program of Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has notified it of its intention to enrich uranium

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Nuclear program of Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has notified it of its intention to enrich uranium to 20% purity, in accordance with a law recently passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Iran did not specify when this enrichment would begin. The December 2020 bill, adopted after the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, instructs the government to increase uranium enrichment if sanctions against Iran are not eased within two months. (France 24) (BBC News)

Jan
01
Immigration / Law / Policy

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has notified it of its intention to enrich uranium to 20% purity, in accordance with a law recently passed by t

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has notified it of its intention to enrich uranium to 20% purity, in accordance with a law recently passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Iran did not specify when this enrichment would begin. The December 2020 bill, adopted after the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, instructs the government to increase uranium enrichment if sanctions against Iran are not eased within two months. (France 24) (BBC News)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in England COVID-19 pandemic in London The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools

COVID-19 pandemic in England COVID-19 pandemic in London The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools in London will remain closed for at least two weeks at the start of the new term on January 4. It was previously announced that only schools in 23 of the 32 boroughs would be closed. (BBC News)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in London The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools in London will remain closed

COVID-19 pandemic in London The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools in London will remain closed for at least two weeks at the start of the new term on January 4. It was previously announced that only schools in 23 of the 32 boroughs would be closed. (BBC News)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia extends the recovery phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide except for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Sabah as

COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia extends the recovery phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide except for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Sabah as well as other locations under a conditional and enhanced MCO until March 31 due to a substantial increase in the number of new cases. (The Straits Times)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, 501.V2 Variant The Singaporean Ministry of Health announces that long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who had travel h

COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, 501.V2 Variant The Singaporean Ministry 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)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Bangkok will close all schools, daycare centers for both children and seniors, preschools and tutoring centers from January 4 to 1

COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand 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)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippines includes the United States in its travel ban of countries and territories reported to have new variants of

COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines 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)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England COVID-19 pandemic in London The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Willi

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England COVID-19 pandemic in London The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools in London will remain closed for at least two weeks at the start of the new term on January 4. It was previously announced that only schools in 23 of the 32 boroughs would be closed. (BBC News) COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man, Variant of Concern 202012/01 The Isle of Man reports two cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (BBC News)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Turkey reports its first 15 cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in people who traveled from the Unite

COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, Variant of Concern 202012/01 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)

Jan
01
Major Trends

Malaysia extends the recovery phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide except for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Sabah as well as other locations under

Malaysia extends the recovery phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide except for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Sabah as well as other locations under a conditional and enhanced MCO until March 31 due to a substantial increase in the number of new cases. (The Straits Times)

Jan
01
Major Trends

On New Year's Day, Pope Francis livestreams his message from the library of the Apostolic Palace.

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)

Jan
01
Health / Disasters

The Singaporean Ministry of Health announces that long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who had travel history to South Africa over the past 14 days wi

The Singaporean Ministry 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)

Jan
01
Culture / Society

The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools in London will remain closed for at least two weeks at t

The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools in London will remain closed for at least two weeks at the start of the new term on January 4. It was previously announced that only schools in 23 of the 32 boroughs would be closed. (BBC News)

Jan
02
Politics / Government

2020–21 Nigerien general election The electoral commission of Niger declares that a second round of the presidential election will take place on February 21 aft

2020–21 Nigerien general election 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)

Jan
02
War / Conflict / Security

Mali War Operation Barkhane Two French Army personnel are killed when their armoured personnel carrier hit a roadside bomb in Ménaka, Mali.

Mali War Operation Barkhane 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)

Jan
02
Politics / Government

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 majorit

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)

Jan
02
Politics / Government

COVID-19 pandemic in Greece The Government of Greece announces a one-week closure of all shops that were allowed to reopen during the holiday season, as well as

COVID-19 pandemic in Greece 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)

Jan
02
Politics / Government

COVID-19 pandemic in Palau, COVID-19 vaccine Palau receives 2,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine in a special contribution from the United States.

COVID-19 pandemic in Palau, COVID-19 vaccine Palau receives 2,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine 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)

Jan
02
War / Conflict / Security

Operation Barkhane Two French Army personnel are killed when their armoured personnel carrier hit a roadside bomb in Ménaka, Mali.

Operation Barkhane 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)

Jan
02
Politics / Government

Saïd Bouteflika, the brother and special advisor of former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is cleared of conspiracy charges following a retrial.

Saïd Bouteflika, the brother and special advisor of former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is cleared of conspiracy charges following a retrial. Saïd Bouteflika had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2019 for "undermining the authority of the armed forces" and "conspiring against the authority of the state" following his brother's resignation in the context of the 2019–20 Algerian protests. (Arab News)

Jan
02
War / Conflict / Security

Somali Civil War Five people are killed, including two Turkish nationals, after an al-Shabaab suicide bomber blew himself up near the Mogadishu-Afgooye road con

Somali Civil War Five people are killed, including two Turkish nationals, after an al-Shabaab suicide bomber blew himself up near the Mogadishu-Afgooye road construction work. Fourteen people are injured, including four other Turkish citizens. (The Guardian)

Jan
02
Politics / Government

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 begin

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)

Jan
02
War / Conflict / Security

Two French Army personnel are killed when their armoured personnel carrier hit a roadside bomb in Ménaka, Mali.

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)

Jan
02
Immigration / Law / Policy

COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Victoria closes its land border with New South Wales due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, after several months of open borders.

COVID-19 pandemic in Australia 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)

Jan
02
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom reports a record 57,725 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total since the

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom 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)

Jan
02
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Vietnam reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 when a 44-year-old woman who traveled

COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, Variant of Concern 202012/01 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)

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