The African Continental Free Trade Area, the largest free-trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organization in 1995, commences. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 3,321 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 94,492. (The Edge Markets MY)
Malaysia reports a record 3,321 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 94,492. (The Edge Markets MY)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia 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)
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 cryptocurrencies market capitalization reaches US$1 trillion for the first time. (Marketwatch)
Mexico reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom. (Business Standard)
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand reveals that one of its file hosting services storing "sensitive information" was "maliciously" breached. The bank says the breach was contained and that they are investigating the "nature and extent" of "potentially accessed" information. (Radio New Zealand) (AFP via ABS-CBN News)
A barge travelling from Kisangani to the town of Basoko in Tshopo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, sinks in the Congo River. Local authorities report that at least six people were killed and 19 others are missing. (AFP via Business Recorder)
Flint water crisis Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty in connection with the Flint water crisis, which left residents with contaminated water and a Legionnaires outbreak. (AP) (Business Insider)
Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty in connection with the Flint water crisis, which left residents with contaminated water and a Legionnaires outbreak. (AP) (Business Insider)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 3,337 new cases, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 147,855. (The Edge Markets MY)
Malaysia reports a record 3,337 new cases, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 147,855. (The Edge Markets MY)
The United States Department of Justice closes an insider trading probe into U.S. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina without making him face any criminal charges. (MarketWatch)
2021 Baghdad bombings 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)
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)
ISIL insurgency in Iraq 2021 Baghdad bombings 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)
COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer says that they will supply 40 million doses of their vaccine to lower- and middle-income countries. (Business Insider)
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)
Indian farmers' protest 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)
Pfizer says that they will supply 40 million doses of their vaccine to lower- and middle-income countries. (Business Insider)
The World Trade Organization rules that the United States violated the organization's rules when it significantly raised the tariff on some South Korean goods, from 9.49% to 59.72%, in May 2016. (Korean Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick 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) COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario A teen in London, Ontario, dies from COVID-19, making him the youngest person in the area to die from the disease. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick 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)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 4,427 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 141,446. (The Edge Markets MY)
Malaysia reports a record 4,427 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 141,446. (The Edge Markets MY)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, COVID-19 recession, Economy of South Korea South Korea records its worst annual economic growth since 1998 following the Asian financial crisis. Its gross domestic product contracted 1.0 percent in 2020 from 2019. (AFP via Business Times)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on retail 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)
South Korea records its worst annual economic growth since 1998 following the Asian financial crisis. Its gross domestic product contracted 1.0 percent in 2020 from 2019. (AFP via Business Times)
A Palestinian man, attempting to stab two soldiers at a road junction near Nablus in the West Bank, is shot and killed by an Israeli commander. (Reuters)
Israeli–Palestinian conflict A Palestinian man, attempting to stab two soldiers at a road junction near Nablus in the West Bank, is shot and killed by an Israeli commander. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico 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)
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)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 recession The Philippines' GDP contracts 9.5% in 2020, its first annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the country's worst economic performance since records began in 1947. (Nikkei Asia)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 recession The United States's GDP contracts 3.5% in 2020, its first annual contraction since 2009 following the financial crisis of 2007–2008 and the country's worst economic performance since 1946. (Reuters)
Robinhood, TD Ameritrade, and Webull restrict the trade of heavily shorted stocks such as GameStop, AMC, BlackBerry, Nokia, and Koss on their platforms. (CNET)
The Philippines' GDP contracts 9.5% in 2020, its first annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the country's worst economic performance since records began in 1947. (Nikkei Asia)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 recession France's GDP contracts 8.3% in 2020, the country's worst economic performance since World War II. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, COVID-19 recession Spain's GDP contracts 11% in 2020, the country's worst economic performance since the Spanish Civil War. (Marketwatch)
Crime in France 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)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 recession France's GDP contracts 8.3% in 2020, the country's worst economic performance since World War II. (France 24) COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, COVID-19 recession Spain's GDP contracts 11% in 2020, the country's worst economic performance since the Spanish Civil War. (Marketwatch)
France's GDP contracts 8.3% in 2020, the country's worst economic performance since World War II. (France 24)
Spain's GDP contracts 11% in 2020, the country's worst economic performance since the Spanish Civil War. (Marketwatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkmenistan Turkmenistan approves the EpiVacCorona vaccine, becoming the first country outside of Russia to do so. (Business TM)
The European Medicines Agency approves the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine for use within the EU and recommends that the European Commission grant it 'limited marketing authorization' within the union. (CNBC)
Turkmenistan approves the EpiVacCorona vaccine, becoming the first country outside of Russia to do so. (Business TM)
Economic effects of Brexit The United Kingdom announces that it will apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which forms a trade bloc of 11 Asia-Pacific nations. The UK will be the first non-founding country to apply to join the bloc. (BBC News)
The United Kingdom announces that it will apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which forms a trade bloc of 11 Asia-Pacific nations. The UK will be the first non-founding country to apply to join the bloc. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia confirms 18 cases of the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom and South Africa. (CBC) COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, 501.V2 variant Ontario reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant in a person from the Peel Region with no known travel history. (CP24) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The United States surpasses 26 million cases of COVID-19. (MarketWatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The United States surpasses 26 million cases of COVID-19. (MarketWatch)
COVID-19 vaccine GlaxoSmithKline and the German biotech firm CureVac sign an agreement worth 150 million euros ($180.7 million) to develop a vaccine to counter many variants of SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be introduced in 2022. (MarketWatch) Preliminary tests indicate that the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine may reduce transmission of COVID-19 and not simply prevent symptomatic infections. (U.S. News & World Report via MSN)
GlaxoSmithKline and the German biotech firm CureVac sign an agreement worth 150 million euros ($180.7 million) to develop a vaccine to counter many variants of SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be introduced in 2022. (MarketWatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in India COVID-19 vaccination in India India reaches past 5 million vaccinations. (Business Standard)
COVID-19 vaccination in India India reaches past 5 million vaccinations. (Business Standard)
Economy of Indonesia, COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia's GDP contracts 2.07% in 2020, the first economic contraction since the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis in 1998. (Okezone)
Indonesia's GDP contracts 2.07% in 2020, the first economic contraction since the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis in 1998. (Okezone)
COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda Rwanda eases its lockdown in the capital Kigali and allows businesses to resume operations with up to 30% of essential staff. (Anadolu Agency)
Rwanda eases its lockdown in the capital Kigali and allows businesses to resume operations with up to 30% of essential staff. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, COVID-19 recession Malaysia's GDP contracts 5.6% in 2020, its worst annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. (The Straits Times)
Malaysia's GDP contracts 5.6% in 2020, its worst annual contraction since 1998 following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Norway The Norwegian economy contracts by 2.5% in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as their Q4 GDP grew faster than expected by 1.9%. (Bloomberg)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The Office for National Statistics says that the economy of the United Kingdom has contracted by a record 9.9% since the pandemic began, but has narrowly avoided a double-dip recession. This is nonetheless estimated to be the largest annual contraction since 1709. (BBC News)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession COVID-19 pandemic in Norway The Norwegian economy contracts by 2.5% in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as their Q4 GDP grew faster than expected by 1.9%. (Bloomberg) Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The Office for National Statistics says that the economy of the United Kingdom has contracted by a record 9.9% since the pandemic began, but has narrowly avoided a double-dip recession. This is nonetheless estimated to be the largest annual contraction since 1709. (BBC News)
The Norwegian economy contracts by 2.5% in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as their Q4 GDP grew faster than expected by 1.9%. (Bloomberg)
The Office for National Statistics says that the economy of the United Kingdom has contracted by a record 9.9% since the pandemic began, but has narrowly avoided a double-dip recession. This is nonetheless estimated to be the largest annual contraction since 1709. (BBC News)
Victoria returns to Stage 4 restrictions in a five-day "circuit breaker" lockdown due to an ongoing outbreak of the B.1.1.7 variant at the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn. All non-essential businesses are closed, masks are mandatory in all public places, and people are only permitted to leave their homes for essential work, education or care-giving, or for up to two hours a day for essential shopping and outdoor exercise within a radius of 5 kilometres (3.1Â mi) of their homes. All international flights to Melbourne have also been cancelled for the duration of the lockdown. (ABC Australia)
Auckland enters level three restrictions for the next three days in response to an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, closing all non-essential businesses and suspending all in-person education. The rest of the country will enter level 2 restrictions, which will limit public gatherings. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Economy of Denmark Denmark's GDP contracts 3.7% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (DR)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, economy of Japan Japan's GDP contracts 4.8% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (BBC News)
Denmark's GDP contracts 3.7% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (DR)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Economy of Denmark Denmark's GDP contracts 3.7% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (DR) COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, economy of Japan Japan's GDP contracts 4.8% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (BBC News)
Japan's GDP contracts 4.8% in 2020, which is the first annual economic contraction since 2009 due to the impact of the pandemic. (BBC News)
