World News Briefs -- January 19, 2021 (Night Edition)

 

Daily Mail: 'To heal we must remember': Joe Biden and Kamala Harris pray for the COVID dead in front of D.C.'s reflecting pool on day U.S. virus death toll surpasses 400,000 - as the Empire State Building pulses in red 

 * Joe Biden and Kamala Harris prayed for the COVID dead in their first joint appearance in DC on Tuesday 

 * The ceremony was held as the US reached the grim milestone of more than 400,000 coronavirus deaths 

 * In a speech, Biden said 'To heal we must remember. It's hard sometimes to remember. That's how we heal' 

 * Harris also offered her own remarks, in which she insisted the American people are 'united in spirit' 

 * More Americans have died from COVID-19 than those killed during World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined 

 * It comes on the final full day in office of President Donald Trump, who repeatedly downplayed the threat, mocked masks, railed against lockdowns and promoted unproven and unsafe treatment 

 * Tuesday's ceremony was held almost exactly one year to the day that the first coronavirus case was detected in Seattle on January 21 

 * A new model from the University of Washington predicts the U.S. will hit 567,000 deaths by May 1 

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris used their first joint appearance in Washington D.C. Tuesday to mark the loss of more than 400,000 American lives to COVID – hours after the grim total was reached. 

They both appeared with First Lady-in waiting Jill Biden and Second Gentleman-in waiting Doug Emhoff in a sign of their determination to change the tone from Donald Trump’s administration. 

The ceremony was held in front of the Lincoln Memorial, to mark the illumination of 400 lights situated around the Reflecting Pool to pay tribute to the 400,000-plus Americans who have now lost their lives to COVID-19. 

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 MIDDLE EAST 

Iran imposes sanctions on Trump, senior US officials. 

Qatar calls on Gulf nations to engage in diplomacy with Iran. 

Biden administration 'to declassify report' into Khashoggi murder. 

Iraqi cabinet votes to delay general election until October 10. 

Swiss open money-laundering probe of Lebanon’s central bank. 

Turkey hits Twitter, Periscope, Pinterest with advertising ban. 

American embassy in Israel will stay in Jerusalem says Joe Biden's Secretary of State pick Antony Blinken - but he will seek a Palestinian state. 

Israeli tanks strike Hamas positions after rocket attack: military. 

Israel publishes data-for-vaccines deal with Pfizer. 

 ASIA 

China's capital steps up COVID-19 measures as outbreak persists. 

In parting shot, Trump administration accuses China of 'genocide' against Uighurs. 

Biden intelligence pick favors 'aggressive' stance on China threat. 

Afghan officials: Taliban attacks, violence kills dozens. 

Billions in aid needed to help Afghan children in 2021: NGO. 

Kashmir: Militants target non-locals amid tensions over land laws. 

Blinken says U.S. plans full review of approach to North Korea. 

North Korea approves smaller increase in 2021 budget, reports say. 

South Korea's Moon taps ex-adviser as foreign minister in bid to revive North Korea talks. 

Thai court gives record 43-year sentence for insulting king under lese majeste law. 

 AFRICA 

Fighting in Sudan’s Darfur region leaves more than 130 dead. 

Tense calm in Darfur as troops deployed after clashes kill 155. 

Clashes between Tunisian police, rioters continue in wake of revolution anniversary. 

In war-weary CAR, humanitarian crisis deepens amid fresh violence. 

Libyan leaders approve interim executive mechanism: UN. 

Tensions escalate between Ethiopia and Sudan. 

U.N. peacekeepers killed in Central African Republic; 2021 toll rises to 9. 

Uganda accuses U.S. envoy of subversion for trying to visit Bobi Wine. 

 EUROPE 

Italian PM Giuseppe Conte survives confidence vote in Senate. 

UK sets new record for COVID-19 deaths as mortuaries warn they are being overwhelmed. 

Coronavirus: Germany extends COVID lockdown until February 14. 

Germany to house Covid rule breakers in refugee camps as bodies pile up in Eastern hotspots. 

Kremlin critic Navalny ordered held for 30 days, urges Russians to 'take to the streets'. 

Russia shrugs off sanctions, rejects global calls for Navalny's release. 

Russia vows to complete Nord Stream 2 despite new US sanctions. 

Italian police find stolen 500-year-old painting of Christ in Naples cupboard. 

 AMERICAS 

Donald Trump records farewell speech saying this 'is only just beginning', extends best wishes to Biden administration. 

Biden arrives in Washington with daunting agenda as Senate hears first cabinet picks. 

US will not lift Covid-19 travel bans despite Trump statement, Biden team says. 

California is first state to pass 3m Covid cases. 

Chief Justice John Roberts does NOT want to preside over Donald Trump's second impeachment trial - meaning Senate will have to decide if Kamala Harris will take his place.

'Biden is going to help all of us': Honduran caravan migrant explains why 8,000 South Americans are heading for US border after President-elect pledges to give 11 million an eight-year path to citizenship.

U.S. punishes oil network for helping Venezuela evade sanctions. 

Covid: Brazil approves and rolls out AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines. 

Trudeau says will keep pushing Biden to save Keystone pipeline. 

 TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR 

US ‘terrorist’ designation of Yemen’s Houthis comes into effect. 

France's Macron says success in Sahel enables operational change. 

US soldier arested in plot to blow up NYC 9/11 Memorial. 

 ECONOMY/BUSINESS/FINANCE 

Asian markets set for modest upswing after gains on Wall Street.

IEA now expects slower growth in oil demand for first half of 2021. 

Merkel, Macron, Xi and Modi to speak at virtual Davos Forum. 

Netflix keeps growing in pandemic, tops 200 mn subscribers.

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