Portal:Current events/2020 December 29
Appearance
December 29, 2020
(Tuesday)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- Senate Majority LeaderMitch McConnellblocks an attempt bySenateDemocratsto increase the direct payments from$600 to $2,000. However, McConnell also said that the Senate will consider a process to provide $2,000 in stimulus checks toAmericans,a measure that is supported by both Democrats andPresidentDonald Trump.(NBC News)(Business Insider)
- The first commercialBoeing 737 MAXflight in the United States sinceworldwide groundingsbegan in March 2020 occurs. The flight, between New York City'sLaGuardia AirportandMiami International Airport,was operated byAmerican Airlines.(CNBC)
Disasters and accidents
- 2020 Petrinja earthquake
- A magnitude 6.4earthquakestrikesPetrinja,Croatia,destroying half of the town. Several other cities in the country are also affected. At least seven people are killed, five of whom were inGlina,one in Petrinja, and one inŽažina.Several others are also injured.(BBC News)
- TheKrško Nuclear Power Plantin neighboringSlovenia,which produces around 20 percent ofthe country's electricity,is shut down as a precaution. Preventive inspections at the plant are ongoing.(AFP via NDTV)(IAEA)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.
- Vice President-electKamala Harrisand her husbandDoug Emhoffreceive theModernavaccine.(CBS News)
- President-electJoe Bidenannounces that three more officials will join hisCOVID-19 Advisory Board.(Politico)
- COVID-19 pandemic in California
- Californiaextends a regionalstay-at-home orderinSouthern Californiaand theSan Joaquin Valleydue to rise of hospitalizations in the state.(NBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado,Variant of Concern 202012/01
- Coloradoreports the United States' first case of a new variant ofSARS-CoV-2from theUnited Kingdom.The patient is a man in his 20s who is in isolation inElbert Countyand has no travel history.(The Washington Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky
- GovernorAndy Beshearannounces that thestatewill extend itsmask mandatefor another 30 days after reporting 2,990 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.(WKYT-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
- Ontarioreports a record 2,553 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, along with 1,939 new cases yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 175,908.(Global News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec,Variant of Concern 202012/01
- Quebecreports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who had been in contact with a family member who travelled from the United Kingdom on December 11 and tested positive for COVID-19 on December 13.(Montreal Gazette)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
- Northern Irelandreports a record 1,566 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 68,762.(RTÉ)
- A record 53,135 new cases are reported in theUnited Kingdomin the past 24 hours.(ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
- Irelandreports a record 1,546 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 88,439.(The Irish Times)
- Ireland officially begins avaccinationprogramme against COVID-19 usingPfizer-BioNTech'stozinameranvaccine, with a 79-year-old woman fromDublinbecoming the first person to receive the vaccine.(RTÉ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus,COVID-19 vaccine
- Belarusbegins vaccinations withRussia'sSputnik Vvaccine.(The Moscow Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- Denmarkextends its hardlockdownuntil January 17 due to substantial increases in numbers of cases and hospitalizations in the country.(The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Koreareports a record 40 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 859.(Al Jazeera)
- United States Forces Koreabegins avaccinationprogramme against COVID-19 using theModernavaccine.Healthcare providers and first responders are among those who will initially receive the vaccine.(Stars and Stripes)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India,Variant of Concern 202012/01
- Indiareports six cases of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who travelled from theUnited Kingdomand are now in isolation.(BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan,501.V2 variant
- Japanreports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 fromSouth Africain a 30-year old woman who arrived in Japan on December 19 and later tested positive for COVID-19.(The Japan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan,Variant of Concern 202012/01
- Pakistanreports its first cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from theUnited Kingdom.The patients are three people who travelled from the UK toSindhand later tested positive for COVID-19.(The Hindu)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
- ThePhilippinesextends its travel ban to 19 "flagged" countries and territories from midnight until January 15 in order to preventnew variantsof SARS-CoV-2 from entering the country.(CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates,Variant of Concern 202012/01
- TheUnited Arab Emiratesreports the first case of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 originated from the United Kingdom.(Gulf News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia,501.V2 variant
- Queenslandreports Australia's first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 fromSouth Africain a woman who arrived in the state on December 22 and later tested positive for COVID-19.(ABC Australia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa
- Thegovernment of Samoasuspends travel from the United Kingdom and South Africa in response to a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in those countries.(RNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia,501.V2 variant
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina,COVID-19 vaccine
- Argentina begins a vaccination campaign using the RussianSputnik Vvaccine.(Europa Press)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Chile,Variant of Concern 202012/01
- Chilereports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a resident ofPanguipulliwho traveled fromMadridon December 23.(La Tercera)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina,COVID-19 vaccine
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
International relations
- United Kingdom–Vietnam relations
- The United Kingdom andVietnamsign afree trade agreement,which will take effect on December 31, following a meeting between UKForeign SecretaryDominic Raaband his Vietnamese counterpartPham Binh Minhat theState Guest HouseinHanoi,Vietnam.(Reuters)
Law and crime
- Shooting of Tamir Rice
- TheUnited States Department of Justiceannounces it will notchargethe twoCleveland police officerswho killed Tamir Rice.(NBC News)
- 2020–2021 United States racial unrest,Shooting of Breonna Taylor
- TheLouisville Metro Police Departmentannounces that they willfireJoshua Jaynes and Myles Cosgrove, two of the officers involved in the botched raid of Breonna Taylor's home.(The New York Times)
- TheInvestigative Committee of Russiaaccuses opposition leader and anti-corruption activistAlexei Navalnyof fraud for allegedly using public funds from his organization for personal needs. The accusation comes after the federal prison service demanded that Navalny report to its office today or face jail time.(DW)
- Jonathan Pollard,a convicted spy who spent 30 years in prison in theUnited Statesfor spying, returns toIsrael.(The Times of Israel)(Politico)
Politics and elections
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
- COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria
- PresidentAbdelmadjid Tebbounereturns toAlgeriafollowing treatment inGermanyfor COVID-19 since November.(AFP viaBarron's)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria
- Abortion in Argentina
- Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Bill
- TheSenatebegins to debate the legalization ofabortionup until the 14th week of pregnancy. If passed, Argentina will become the thirdLatin Americancountry to allow abortion to be performed on demand, afterCubaandUruguay.TheCatholic Churchopposes the move. The bill has already been approved by thelower house.(Reuters)
- Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Bill