Key Storylines
- AFRICA: A Ugandan judge ordered the release of opposition candidate Bobi Wine, as he ruled that Uganda’s security forces could not detain the presidential challenger inside his own home.
- AMERICAS: US President Joe Biden is set to reinstate coronavirus travel restrictions on travelers from Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom and 26 other EU countries.
- ASIA: Indian and Chinese soldiers again brawled along the contested Himalayan border between their two countries.
- EUROPE: Russia accused Western countries of encouraging protests in support of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, as the foreign ministers of EU member-states prepare to discuss a response to the situation, with some calling for increased EU sanctions on Moscow.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iran’s Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation from Indonesia over its seizure of Iranian and Panamanian-flagged tankers.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Australia’s securities regulator said a server it was utilizing for file transfers, including credit license applications, was breached and that some information was viewed but not downloaded.
Top Story
- Mexico: President López Obrador tests positive for COVID-19.
- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is the latest world leader to test positive for COVID-19.
- President López Obrador made the announcement on Twitter and added that he is currently experiencing mild symptoms and is under medical treatment.
- The announcement comes as Mexico registers its highest levels of infections and deaths to date.
- He added that he will continue working from home, and will talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin today about acquiring the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine.
- President López Obrador refused to impose any coronavirus lockdowns in Mexico and chose to focus on keeping the country’s economy open and running.
- Reporting: DPA, AP, NYT, BBC, WaPo, Bloomberg, WSJ
Africa
- Central African Republic: The International Criminal Court took into custody a former commander of the “Seleka” faction, Mahamat Said Abdel Kain, who is suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. (Reuters)
- Libya: The Petroleum Facilities Guard stopped the export of oil from the ports of Ras Lanuf, Es Sider, and Hariga over a pay dispute. (Reuters)
- Somalia: Heavy fighting is taking place in the town of Bulo Hawo, near the country’s border with Kenya, between the government and the state of Jubbaland’s armed forces. (AP)
- Uganda: A judge ordered the release of opposition candidate Bobi Wine, as he ruled that the country’s security forces could not detain the presidential challenger inside his own home. (AP)
- Zimbabwe: The number of coronavirus deaths now exceeds 1,000 in the country amid a spike in infections that also claimed the lives of three government ministers. (Reuters)
Americas
- Brazil: Thousands of people took to the streets for a second consecutive day calling for the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro. (AP)
- Colombia: The country’s FARC party changed its name to the Common People’s Party in a bid to move away from the FARC acronym that also identifies as the country’s Marxist rebel force for decades. (AFP)
- United States: President Joe Biden is set to reinstate coronavirus travel restrictions on travelers from Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom and 26 other EU countries. (AP)
Asia
- Region: A US aircraft carrier group conducted a freedom of navigation exercise in the South China Sea, marking the first such routine operation under new US President Joe Biden. (AFP)
- Region: Australia suspended its quarantine-free air travel bubble with New Zealand for 72 hours due to concerns over a case of a more transmittable strain of the coronavirus being reported in New Zealand. (DPA)
- Region: Indian and Chinese soldiers again brawled along the contested Himalayan border between their two countries. (AFP)
- Region: North Korea’s acting ambassador to Kuwait, Ryu Hyun-woo, reportedly defected to South Korea. (BBC)
- China: The country overtook the US as the top global destination for new foreign direct investment, according to UN figures. (BBC)
Europe
- Region: Russia accused Western countries of encouraging protests in support of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, as the foreign ministers of EU member-states prepare to discuss a response to the situation, with some calling for increased EU sanctions on Moscow. (BBC)
- Region: Greece and Turkey are set to hold their first direct discussions on their dispute over natural gas reserves and maritime borders. (AFP)
- Estonia: The country’s two biggest political parties – the center-right Reform Party and the ruling, left-leaning Center Party – struck a deal to form a new government that will be led by the Reform Party’s Prime Minister-Designate and Chairwoman Kaja Kallas. (AP)
- Netherlands: Politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte, condemned the rioters who clashed with police in around ten towns and cities across the country over the weekend, on the second night of a coronavirus curfew. (AP)
Middle East
- Region: Israel opened an embassy in the United Arab Emirates, in another historic milestone since the two countries normalized ties four months ago. (AFP)
- Iran: The country’s Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation from Indonesia over its seizure of Iranian and Panamanian-flagged tankers. (Reuters)
- Israel: Authorities extradited child sex abuser Malka Leifer to Australia after years of extradition hearings. (Guardian)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: Australia’s securities regulator said a server it was utilizing for file transfers, including credit license applications, was breached and that some information was viewed but not downloaded. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 25JAN21)
- Confirmed cases: 99,245,800
- Total recovered cases: 54,805,212
- Deaths: 2,130,387
- Countries with confirmed cases: 191
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 25JAN21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (26JAN21)
- Global: The Finance and Central Bank Deputies of G20 countries will hold a virtual meeting.
- Global: The World Economic Forum’s “Davos Agenda” will be held virtually, with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva expected to speak during the event. (to 29JAN)
- Global: The IMF will release an update to its World Economic Outlook.
- Asia: Maldives’ Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel will hold a virtual meeting with China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lou Zhaohui.
- Europe: Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides will meet with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.
- Middle East: Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash will speak at the 14th International Conference of the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Israel. (to 28JAN)
- Middle East: The UN Security Council will hold an open debate on issues related to the region.
- Australia: Australia Day – 1788
- Chile: Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez will visit and meet with President Sebastian Pinera. (to 27JAN)
- India: Farmers are expected to hold a tractor parade in protest of the government’s new agriculture laws.
- India: Republic Day – 1950
- Libya: The candidacy process for key institutional appointments, including the heads of the central bank, electoral commission, anti-corruption commission, and supreme court, as part of the ongoing efforts to create a new government in the country, will open.
- Russia: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will visit and meet with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the 2015 nuclear deal, as well as the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
- United States: The Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations is scheduled to hold a business meeting.
- United States: The Senate is expected to hold the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.
- United States: The Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation will hold hearings on the nomination of Gina Raimondo to be Secretary of Commerce.
- Vietnam: The 13th National Congress of the country’s ruling Communist Party will be held. (to 02FEB)
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