Portugal reports a record 275 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 10,469. (DGS)
Rioters set fires in the center of Eindhoven and pelted police with rocks at a banned demonstration against coronavirus lockdown measures. Police also faced off with curfew-defying crowds in The Hague, Amsterdam, Enschede, Venlo, Stein, Roermond, Oosterhout, Breda and elsewhere across the Netherlands. More than 100 people have been arrested. It was the worst violence to hit the Netherlands since the pandemic began and the second straight Sunday that police clashed with protesters in Amsterdam. The country has been under a lockdown since December. (AP) (BBC News) (Tasnim)
Serbia reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 variant in a person who travelled from London and later began experiencing mild symptoms. (N1)
Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Clashes broke out in three cities across Israel as police attempted to enforce coronavirus lockdown restrictions in a number of ultra-Orthodox communities. Israel is currently in a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. (Times of Israel)
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-FX satellite dispenser. (BBC News)
The Chicago Teachers Union votes to defy an order by the public schools to return to in-person instructions over COVID-19 concerns. (CBS News)
The Israeli cabinet agrees to close Ben Gurion International Airport and ban all incoming and outgoing international passengers from the airport, beginning at midnight tomorrow. Cargo flights, medical evacuations and firefighting flights are exempted from this rule. (The Washington Post)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Green Bay Packers, 31-26, winning the 2020 NFC Championship and advancing to the Super Bowl. With the Super Bowl being held at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, this will be the first time an NFL team will play the championship game on their home field. They will play the Kansas City Chiefs, who beat the Buffalo Bills 38-24 in the 2020 AFC Championship. (CBC) (AP)
The Union Health Ministry announces that India has become the fastest nation to reach 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (The Economic Times)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic The Israeli cabinet agrees to close Ben Gurion International Airport and ban all incoming and outgoing international passengers from the airport, beginning at midnight tomorrow. Cargo flights, medical evacuations and firefighting flights are exempted from this rule. (The Washington Post)
2021 Italian government crisis Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is set to hand in his resignation tomorrow, due to an ongoing political crisis which began on January 13. (BBC News)
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)
Greek–Turkish relations, Aegean dispute, 2020–2021 East Mediterranean crisis The Greek and Turkish governments conduct the two countries' first direct dialogue regarding the dispute since 2016. (AFP via IBTimes)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion, COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada The United States Supreme Court declines to hear a case from the Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, a church in Dayton, Nevada, that faces restrictions from Governor Steve Sisolak, to consider how far the state should go when imposing restrictions on places of worship. (NBC News)
Mexican drug war Nineteen people are found dead in two vehicles in Camargo, Tamaulipas, near the Mexico–United States border. The victims, who were likely undocumented migrants, were shot and then set on fire. (BBC News)
The Greek and Turkish governments conduct the two countries' first direct dialogue regarding the dispute since 2016. (AFP via IBTimes)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, 501.V2 variant President Joe Biden signs an order banning travel from South Africa due to fears of the 501.V2 variant; the ban is expected to take effect on January 30. Additionally, Biden also extends travel restrictions to Brazil, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and other European countries, which were expected to expire tomorrow under an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. (The Washington Post)
2020–21 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season Cyclone Eloise leaves at least thirteen people dead and more than 8,000 people homeless after making landfall in central Mozambique. Major flooding is also reported in Eswatini, South Africa and Zimbabwe. (Reuters)
Adass Israel School sex abuse scandal Malka Leifer, the former school principal facing 74 charges of child sexual abuse, is extradited to Melbourne, Australia following a six-year delay of the case that allowed for her to be a fugitive in Israel. (AFP via France 24)
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)
Austria begins to require people aged 14 or older to wear FFP2 masks in shops, pharmacies and hospitals, as well as on public transport. (France 24)
Bahrain approves the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use in the country. (Al Jazeera)
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 Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain Bahrain approves the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use in the country. (Al Jazeera) COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong Hong Kong approves the BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in the city. (The Standard) COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports 9,994 new cases and 10,678 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 809,488. (detikHealth) COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey receives 6.5 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia COVID-19 vaccine The Therapeutic Goods Administration approves the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for use in Australia. (ABC Australia) Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, 501.V2 variant 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria, Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic Austria begins to require people aged 14 or older to wear FFP2 masks in shops, pharmacies and hospitals, as well as on public transport. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain Bahrain approves the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use in the country. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California Governor Gavin Newsom lifts the regional stay-at-home order in all areas statewide, including three areas where ICU capacity remains under 15%. (KABC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces that the second state of emergency in the province will be extended to February 8. (CP24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong Hong Kong approves the BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in the city. (The Standard)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports 9,994 new cases and 10,678 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 809,488. (detikHealth)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico Mexico's richest person and billionaire Carlos Slim tests positive for COVID-19. (Forbes)
COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota, Lineage B.1.1.248 Minnesota reports the first U.S. case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 found in Brazil. The patient is a Twin Cities resident who traveled to Brazil. (CNBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Netherlands, 2021 Dutch curfew riots, social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Nevada reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 strain of SARS-CoV-2 in a person with no recent travel history. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces that the second state of emergency in the province will be extended to February 8. (CP24)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain reports a record 93,822 new confirmed cases over the weekend, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,593,582. (elDiario) The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Iván Redondo tests positive for the COVID-19. (La Vanguardia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey receives 6.5 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine reopens schools, restaurants, and gyms as a tough lockdown aimed to prevent a new wave of COVID-19 was ended. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Virginia reports their first case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person from Northern Virginia with no recent travel history. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe surpasses 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Sowetan Live)
COVID-19 vaccine Moderna says that their vaccine would work against the new variants found in South Africa and the United Kingdom. (Reuters)
COVID-19 vaccine The Therapeutic Goods Administration approves the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for use in Australia. (ABC Australia)
Cyclone Eloise leaves at least thirteen people dead and more than 8,000 people homeless after making landfall in central Mozambique. Major flooding is also reported in Eswatini, South Africa and Zimbabwe. (Reuters)
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)
Hong Kong approves the BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in the city. (The Standard)
Indonesia reports 9,994 new cases and 10,678 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 809,488. (detikHealth)
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Two senior leaders of the Tehrik-i-Taliban and three other militants are killed during two separate security operations in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (Al Jazeera)
Kaja Kallas wins the support of the Riigikogu to become the new Prime Minister, the first woman to do so. (ERR)
Malka Leifer, the former school principal facing 74 charges of child sexual abuse, is extradited to Melbourne, Australia following a six-year delay of the case that allowed for her to be a fugitive in Israel. (AFP via France 24)
Mexico's richest person and billionaire Carlos Slim tests positive for COVID-19. (Forbes)
Moderna says that their vaccine would work against the new variants found in South Africa and the United Kingdom. (Reuters)
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)
Nevada reports their first case of the B.1.1.7 strain of SARS-CoV-2 in a person with no recent travel history. (AP)
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)
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces that the second state of emergency in the province will be extended to February 8. (CP24)
Politics of Estonia Kaja Kallas wins the support of the Riigikogu to become the new Prime Minister, the first woman to do so. (ERR)
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is set to hand in his resignation tomorrow, due to an ongoing political crisis which began on January 13. (BBC News)
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)
Spain reports a record 93,822 new confirmed cases over the weekend, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,593,582. (elDiario)
The Canada House of Commons votes to call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to label the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization. (Bloomberg)
The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Iván Redondo tests positive for the COVID-19. (La Vanguardia)
The Therapeutic Goods Administration approves the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for use in Australia. (ABC Australia)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, 501.V2 variant 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)
Turkey receives 6.5 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
Two senior leaders of the Tehrik-i-Taliban and three other militants are killed during two separate security operations in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (Al Jazeera)
Two Swedish filmmakers, who filmed the wreck of the MS Estonia that sank in 1994 for a documentary, face trial for violating a treaty that prohibits visiting the site. (AFP via RTE)
Ukraine reopens schools, restaurants, and gyms as a tough lockdown aimed to prevent a new wave of COVID-19 was ended. (Reuters)
Virginia reports their first case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person from Northern Virginia with no recent travel history. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
2021 Italian government crisis, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigns amid a political crisis over the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Barbados The Caribbean Public Health Agency reports the presence of B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Barbados. (Government Information Service Barbados)
COVID-19 pandemic in Peru President Francisco Sagasti announces a total lockdown in the capital Lima and nine other regions following a significant increase in COVID-19 cases. (Al Jazeera) 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)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland The government extends the Level 5 lockdown restrictions until March 5. They also agree to impose a 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine for all travelers without negative COVID-19 test results as well as all travelers from Brazil and South Africa. (RTÉ)
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigns amid a political crisis over the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (BBC News)
