Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The US State Department said Saturday it is “deeply troubled” by reports of violence and irregularities surrounding Uganda’s presidential election, which saw Yoweri Museveni win a sixth term in office.
- AMERICAS: Vice President-elect Kamala Harris expressed plans to be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a history-making event in which the first Black, South Asian, and female vice president will take her oath of office from the first Latina justice.
- ASIA: Seven Filipino soldiers, including an air force colonel, died when the helicopter they were flying in crashed in the southern regions during an operation against communist rebels.
- EUROPE: Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny is expected to fly back to Russia on January 17 from Germany despite the Russian authorities’ promise to arrest him and potentially jail him for years.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iran asked the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog to avoid releasing “unnecessary” details on Tehran’s nuclear program, state TV reported Sunday, a day after Germany, France, and Britain said Tehran has “no credible civilian use” for its development of uranium metal.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: At least 14 Conservative MPs, including several ministers, cabinet minister Michael Gove and a number of prominent Tory commentators joined Parler, the social media platform favored by the far right that was forced offline last week for hosting threats of violence and racist slurs.
Top Story
- United States: The country undergoes security preparation for Joe Biden’s inauguration as 46th president.
- Justice Department investigators report that they have not found any evidence yet that the rioters who ransacked the US Capitol last week intended to capture and kill any lawmakers.
- Protesters are expected to descend on statehouses across the United States in support of fraudulent claims that electoral fraud cheated President Donald Trump of a second term, as law enforcement officials prepare for possible violence.
- More than a third of governors have asked the National Guard to help protect their state capitals and aid local law enforcement officers for the upcoming week.
- Trump plans to head to Palm Beach, Florida, hours before Biden takes the oath of office, not following the tradition of attending the inauguration of his successor.
- Reporting: AFP, Reuters, AP, CNN
Africa
- Ethiopia: The Ministry of Health reported the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the East African country rose to 130,772 after another 446 cases were discovered. (Xinhua)
- Nigeria: Multiple Boko Haram insurgents were killed in a gunfight with government troops at a military formation in the country’s northeastern state of Borno, a spokesman for the armed forces reported. (Xinhua)
- Uganda: The US State Department said Saturday it is “deeply troubled” by reports of violence and irregularities surrounding Uganda’s presidential election, which saw Yoweri Museveni win a sixth term in office. (AFP)
- Uganda: Bobi Wine, the pop star turned politician, is under house arrest after losing the country’s presidential election. (The Guardian)
Americas
- Mexico: One day after the nation angered U.S. officials by releasing an entire 751-page U.S. case file against former Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos, the domestic prosecutors who exonerated him released their own version — but with so many pages wholly blacked out it was almost impossible to tell what they’d found. (AP)
- United States: Vice President-elect Kamala Harris expressed plans to be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a history-making event in which the first Black, South Asian, and female vice president will take her oath of office from the first Latina justice. (AP)
- Venezuela: The nation recorded 1,101 deaths from COVID-19, after six new deaths and 450 infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, reported the Minister of Communication, Freddy Ñáñez. (EFE)
Asia
- Indonesia: The death toll of a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that shook West Sulawesi province increased to 62, the national disaster mitigation agency reported. (DPA)
- Philippines: Seven soldiers, including an air force colonel, died when the helicopter they were flying in crashed in the southern regions during an operation against communist rebels over the weekend. (NYT)
- South Korea: United States Forces located in the country (USFK) issued a “shelter in place” directive, ordering part of its service members to stay at home after additional COVID-19 outbreaks were reported inside its barracks. (YNA)
- Thailand: The nation reported 374 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing its total infections to 12,054. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny is expected to fly back to Russia on January 17 from Germany despite the Russian authorities’ promise to arrest him and potentially jail him for years. (RFE)
- Austria: The nation will extend its COVID-19 lockdown until Feb. 8, the APA news agency reported, citing sources familiar with negotiations between the federal and regional governments. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold this year’s Group of Seven (G7) summit at the Cornish seaside resort of Carbis Bay, the federal government announced. (DPA)
- United Kingdom: The government announced additional financial aid to airports before the end of March after the industry called for urgent support as tighter COVID-19 rules for international travelers start on Monday. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Iran: The nation asked the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog to avoid releasing “unnecessary” details on Tehran’s nuclear program, state TV reported Sunday, a day after Germany, France, and Britain said Tehran has “no credible civilian use” for its development of uranium metal. (AP)
- Iran: The nation has warned the United States to stop “illegal actions” taken against its diplomats on U.S. soil, the spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry Saeed Khatibzadeh declared on Saturday. (Xinhua)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: At least 14 Conservative MPs, including several ministers, cabinet minister Michael Gove and a number of prominent Tory commentators joined Parler, the social media platform favored by the far right that was forced offline last week for hosting threats of violence and racist slurs. (The Guardian)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 16JAN21)
- Confirmed cases: 94,563,897
- Total recovered cases: 52,094,326
- Deaths: 2,023,685
- Countries with confirmed cases: 191
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 16JAN21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (18JAN21)
- Europe: 27 EU ministers for European affairs discuss Portugal’s priorities during its 6-month EU Council Presidency, the Future of Europe conference, and Covid-19 coordination
- Europe: EU Parliament plenary week begins
- Europe: Eurostat updates GDP third-quarter figures
- Europe: Eurozone finance ministers hold a videoconference
- China: National GDP numbers released
- Egypt: State airline Egyptair is expected to resume its flights to Qatar after a hiatus of more than three years after ending a diplomatic rift
- Switzerland: The nation closes all shops selling non-essential goods as part of coronavirus restrictions
- Poland: The nation reopens schools for its youngest pupils
- Italy: Ski slopes allowed to reopen after being shut by an emergency decree related to the coronavirus pandemic
- Norway: Parliament reopens after holiday break; Prime Minister Erna Solberg to give a statement on how the government has handled the coronavirus pandemic; Norway faces a general election in September
- United Kingdom: The public inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing is due to re-commence after the Christmas break
- Switzerland: World Economic Forum holds press conference on virtual “Davos Agenda” conference
- Switzerland: The nation closes all shops selling non-essential goods as part of coronavirus restrictions
- United Kingdom: The public inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing is due to re-commence after the Christmas break
- United States: Martin Luther King Day
END
