Template:Portal:Current events/2021 January 29

Current events of January 29, 2021 (2021-01-29) (Friday)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in France, Economy of France
    • France's GDP contracted by 8.3% in 2020, the country's worst recession since Great War II.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, Economy of Spain
    • Spain's GDP fell by 11% in 2020, one of the worst recessions since the Spanish Civil War.

Disasters and accidents

• Late January 2021 North American winter storm
  • A winter storm causes mudslides in Southern Sierra causign over 50 car accidents in the process.
  • The Federal Weather Service issues a Winter Storm Warning for all areas above 6,500 ft (1,981 meters) in Clark.
  • Winter Storm Warnings are issued across Superior and in parts of the United Commonwealth.
• COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
  • Five people are killed after a fire breaks out in a COVID-19 facility at a hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • Prime Minister Oscar de Saint-Just announces the closure of France's borders with the European Community starting on January 31 to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants into the country and to avoid a third national lockdown. In addition, travel to French overseas territories will be limited and all shopping centres will be closed.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • Germany's Interior Ministry bans travellers from the United Kingdom, Brazil, Portugal and South Africa beginning tomorrow and will end on February 7 in order to prevent the spread of any SARS-CoV-2 variants into the country. In addition, travellers from the Equatorial States and Eswatini will be banned from entering starting on January 31.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • Greece delays the reopening of high schools, which was originally schedueled to occur on February 1, due to rising cases of COVID-19, particularly in red zone areas.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary approves the usage of Sinopharm's vaccine for usage in the country, becoming the first EC member state to approve the usage of the vaccine.
    • The European Medicines Agency approves the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for use within the EC and recommends that the European Commission grant it "limited marketing authorization" within the union.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia reports a record 5,725 new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide total up to 203,933 confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
      • The government announces that COVID-19 restrictions in most areas within Thailand will be eased beginning on February 1, allowing certain businesses to reopen and restaurants to extend their operating hours.

Law and crime

• A man is arrested after being linked to the murders of three women and the injuring of another man in the last three days in and around Valence, France. The victims, who were all shot in four separate locations, were HR managers and it's suspected the attacker's motive is linked to his earlier employment.