Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Suspected Islamist insurgents have killed at least 50 civilians and wounded nearly 20 in simultaneous attacks on two villages in Niger.
- AMERICAS: Mexico recorded 6,359 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 344 additional deaths, bringing its total to 1,443,544 infections and 126,851 deaths.
- ASIA: The Thai government held off from ordering new nationwide business shutdowns amid a new wave of COVID-19 cases but allowed some provincial governors to set their own restrictions and pleaded with the public not to travel.
- EUROPE: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Germany increased by 10,315 to 1,765,666, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases reported.
- MIDDLE EAST: An Israeli official dismissed as “nonsense” an allegation by the Iranian foreign minister that Israel was attempting to trick the United States into waging war on Iran.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: India approved two COVID-19 vaccines, one made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and the other developed in India, for emergency use.
Top Story
- United States: Republican members of congress are planning to challenge President Elect’s Biden victory on January 6th, despite little chance of success.
- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said he will spearhead an effort by nearly a dozen Republican senators to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
- The President’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, encouraged his former House colleagues to “fight back” in a tweet, endorsing the move.
- GOP Sens. Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) said that they will oppose efforts by at least a dozen of their Republican colleagues to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College win next week.
- Biden’s transition spokesman, Mike Gwin, dismissed the effort as a “stunt” that will not change the fact that Biden will be sworn on Jan. 20.
- Reporting: Reuters, CNN, The Hill, AP
Africa
- Mali: Two French soldiers died in a mission and a third was injured when an improvised explosive device struck their armored vehicle. (Reuters)
- Niger: Suspected Islamist insurgents have killed at least 50 civilians and wounded nearly 20 in simultaneous attacks on two villages in the nation. (EFE)
- Tanzania: Three people were killed and 66 others injured after a passenger train derailed in the central region. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Colombia: The nation recorded 11,528 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 1,666,408. (Xinhua)
- Mexico: The nation recorded 6,359 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 344 additional deaths, bringing its total to 1,443,544 infections and 126,851 deaths. (Reuters)
- United States: Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who recently lost his life due to COVID-19 complications, was remembered in a memorial service. (AP)
Asia
- India: The nation’s COVID-19 tally increased to 10,323,965 on Sunday as 18,177 more cases were registered during the past 24 hours. (Xinhua)
- Pakistan: Eleven laborers of a coal mine were killed and three others injured when unknown gunmen shot gunfire at them in Bolan district of southwestern Balochistan province. (Xinhua)
- South Korea: President Moon Jae-in’s approval rating has reached an all-time low, while public disapproval of his performance also has hit its highest point. (YNA)
- Thailand: The government held off from ordering new nationwide business shutdowns amid a new wave of COVID-19 cases but allowed some provincial governors to set their own restrictions and pleaded with the public not to travel. (Reuters)
Europe
- Germany: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the nation increased by 10,315 to 1,765,666, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases reported. (Reuters)
- Russia: The number of new COVID-19 cases in the nation increased by 24,150 in the past 24 hours, which is the lowest figure since November 25. (TASS)
- United Kingdom: Liverpool’s council leaders have asked for another national lockdown to contain the new strain of Covid-19 and prevent a “catastrophe”. (Telegraph)
Middle East
- Region: An Israeli official dismissed as “nonsense” an allegation by the Iranian foreign minister that Israel was attempting to trick the United States into waging war on Iran. (Reuters)
- Iraq: A mock funeral procession marked the anniversary of the assassination of Qassim Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike that heightened fears of a military escalation in the region. (AP)
- Israel: The number of active COVID-19 cases in the nation is at 50,299, the highest since Oct. 12, 2020. (Xinhua)
- Saudi Arabia: The kingdom announced the ending of its ban on all international flights as well as land and sea entry. (Xinhua)
Tech & Communications
- Health Tech: India approved two COVID-19 vaccines, one made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and the other developed in India, for emergency use. (NYT)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 03JAN21: 84,662,676
- Total Recovered Cases as of 03JAN21: 47,680,715
- Deaths as of 03JAN21: 1,837,397
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 191
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (04JAN21)
- Global: OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee meeting
- United States: President-elect Biden travels to Georgia to campaign on behalf of the Democratic ticket
END
