Portal:Current events/2021 January 5

January 5, 2021 (Tuesday)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
    - Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announces the increase of the COVID-19 risk level from level 4 to 5, indicating "widespread infection in society", as well as "a risk that treatment capacity at hospitals will be exceeded". In addition, public and private gatherings will be limited to five people. The rules will be in effect until January 17. (The Local Denmark)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of 16 states agree to extend the country's lockdown until January 31. (Euronews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italy's Council of Ministers approves a decree that prohibits travel between the country's regions except for health or work reasons, with people in "red zone" areas only allowed to move once per day. They also extend most lockdown restrictions until January 15. The country will be in a "yellow zone" on January 7 and 8, with eased restrictions and allowing restaurants, bars, shops and malls to open, while on January 9 and 10 the country will be in an "orange zone", with malls closed and restaurants and bars open for takeaway and delivery only. (ANSA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
    - Maltese president George Vella receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Times of Malta)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
      - The Northern Ireland Executive issues a stay-at-home order in Northern Ireland, which is currently in the second week of a six-week lockdown, legally enforceable from January 8, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (BBC News)
    - The United Kingdom reports a record 60,916 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,774,479. (The Independent)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin announces that a nationwide mass vaccination program against COVID-19 will begin on January 13. President Joko Widodo will become the first person in the country to receive a vaccine. (Kontan)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, Variant of Concern 202012/01
    - Iran reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in an Iranian who travelled from the United Kingdom and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Jerusalem Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
    - The Israeli Cabinet agrees to tighten the nationwide lockdown by closing schools and non-essential shops for 14 days. The measures will come into force at midnight between Thursday and Friday. (The Times of Israel)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japan reports a record 4,915 new cases in the past 24 hours. In addition, a record 76 deaths are also reported in the past 24 hours. (The Japan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Oman, Variant of Concern 202012/01
    - Oman reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a resident who travelled from the United Kingdom and tested positive while in quarantine. (Khaleej Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
    - South Korea surpasses 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. (The Korea Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
    - Rwanda bans public and private transport in and out of Kigali and between districts and extends a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time for another 15 days amid a deadly second wave of COVID-19. (Daily Monitor)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
    - Zimbabwe reports 1,365 new confirmed cases and 34 deaths in the past 24 hours, its largest daily increase for both cases and deaths since the pandemic began as the country begins a month-long lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, Variant of Concern 202012/01
    - Georgia reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in an 18-year-old male with no travel history, and who is currently in isolation at home. (WXIA-TV)
  - The U.S. surpasses 21 million cases of COVID-19, just four days after surpassing 20 million cases. (CNN)

International relations

Qatar diplomatic crisis
- Saudi Arabia reopens its border with Qatar, ending the three-year diplomatic crisis. The resolution was brokered by Kuwait and the United States. (NBC News)
Kosovo–United States relations
- Kosovo's parliament unanimously approves deploying the Kosovo Security Force on international peacekeeping missions, following a formal request by the United States Central Command. (Times Union)

Law and crime

2020–2021 United States racial unrest
- Shooting of Jacob Blake, Kenosha unrest
  - Kenosha unrest shooting
    - Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old boy accused of shooting three people (including two killed) during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, will plead not guilty. (Newsweek)
  - Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announces that no charges will be made against Rusten Sheskey, the Kenosha police officer accused of shooting Jacob Blake. (USA Today)
2020 United States election protests
- Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser activates the District of Columbia National Guard due to an organized protest of pro-Trump supporters. (AP)
- A federal judge bans Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio from entering Washington, D.C. (Forbes)
Iran–United States relations
- Iran requests that Interpol issue a red notice for the arrest of U.S. President Donald Trump and 47 other U.S. officials for their role in the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. A similar request was previously rejected by Interpol. (Al Jazeera)
Censorship in Vietnam
- A court in Vietnam sentences three freelance journalists to between 11 and 15 years in prison for anti-state propaganda, criticising the government and "infringing the interests of the Communist Party", among other convictions. (Reuters)
Trump–Raffensperger phone call
- Cleta Mitchell resigns from her law firm after participating in President Trump's phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. (The Hill)

Politics and elections

2020 United States Senate elections
- 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia, 2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia
  - Voters in Georgia head to the polls to cast their votes to determine who will control the United States Senate. Republican Senator David Perdue will face Democrat Jon Ossoff, and incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler will face Democrat Raphael Warnock. (BBC News)

Sports

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith wins the Heisman Trophy, making him the first receiver to do so since Desmond Howard in 1991. (CBS News)
Team USA defeats Team Canada 2–0 in the gold medal game to win the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, while Team Finland defeats Team Russia 4–1 in the bronze medal game. Team USA's Trevor Zegras is named MVP of the tournament. (CBC News)