Deaths: 2,100,667

Johnson raises fears of lockdown in England continuing into summertime

Boris Johnson raised fears that tough Covid restrictions could continue well into the spring and beyond on Thursday as ministers refused to be drawn on plans for any potential easing of lockdown.

While the vast majority of Tory MPs have toed the line since the new variant of the virus sent cases soaring, Downing Street’s reticence is already causing anxiety among a few backbenchers, who are urging an easing of the restrictions if vaccination rates stay on target. – The Guardian 

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Storm Christoph: Care homes evacuated after rain triggers floods — and more storms are forecast

Severe flood warnings remain in force across parts of northern England after heavy rain from Storm Cristoph caused rivers to burst their banks and forced the evacuation of dozens of care home residents.

Environment Secretary George Eustice chaired a Cobra meeting on Thursday in response to the flooding and warned that more could be on the way next week.

Around 40 residents were assisted out of the Weaver Court care home in Northwich, Cheshire, by fire crews with dinghies on Thursday afternoon, as most of the town centre lay under water. – The Independent  

Emmanuel Macron promises students one euro lockdown meals and a quick return to classes

French president Emmanuel Macron promised university students on Thursday to accelerate a return to face-to-face teaching and access to two meals a day for a euro to help them during lockdown.

Macron made the comments during an exchange with students at the University of Paris-Saclay, west of Paris, who were facing anxious months learning from computer screens and without financial support.

The French head of state said he wanted to accelerate the timetable for the resumption of face-to-face learning one day a week, despite a recent surge of coronavirus infections which shows no signs of abating. – Euronews

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Austrian mayors accused of jumping queue for COVID-19 vaccines 

Austrian authorities have said they are investigating media reports that non-priority citizens, including mayors, have been given COVID-19 vaccines.

Under the country’s government strategy, vaccines should be handed out prioritising residents, employees and medical staff at care homes.

Austria began its vaccination campaign earlier this month using the jab developed by Pfizer/BioNTech.

But reports have claimed that jabs have been given to local elected officials and the relatives of some health workers. – Euronews 

US offers to extend New START nuclear arms treaty with Russia

New US President Joe Biden has proposed a five-year extension with Russia of New START, the last remaining nuclear reduction treaty between the powers, but vowed to pressure Moscow on other fronts.

The treaty, which has limited the United States and Russia to 1,550 nuclear warheads each, expires on February 5 after negotiations stagnated under former president Donald Trump.

“The United States intends to seek a five-year extension of New START, as the treaty permits,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. – Euronews

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Key Pieces of Biden’s National Security Team Moving into Place

One critical piece of U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security team came into place Thursday, while the White House and top lawmakers pushed for the swift confirmation of more key nominees to help take on growing international challenges.

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines became the first of the president’s picks to take office. The first female DNI, she was sworn in early Thursday, less than 24 hours after being confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 84-10. – VOA 

Egypt officials: Bomb kills 1 police and wounds 3 in Sinai

The Daesh has blown up a roadside bomb in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, killing one member of Egypt’s security forces and wounding three others, medical and security officials said late Thursday.

The explosion at dawn Thursday was triggered by a remote-controlled device that targeted an armored vehicle. It was carrying forces on a patrol mission along the Mediterranean coast of the town of Sheikh Zuweid, said the officials, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to brief the media. – Arab News

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COVID-19: Hurdles ahead for Indonesia as it aims to vaccinate 180 million people in 15 months

Logistics aside, feedback from the ground also highlighted data mismatch error and vaccine scepticism, the latter of which is blamed on the lack of effective policy communication on the government’s part.

Indonesia said it has secured more than 300 million doses of vaccines from various producers, and has so far received 3 million ready-to-use vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech and raw materials to produce 15 million doses of vaccines. – CNA

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US charges Indonesian extremist Hambali over 2002 Bali bombings

US military prosecutors have filed formal charges against an Indonesian extremist and two others in the 2002 Bali bombings and 2003 Jakarta attack, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The charges were filed nearly 18 years after the three were captured in Thailand and after each has spent more than 14 years in the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. – CNA

The Investigation: Why the story of Kim Wall’s submarine murder ignores her killer

On 16 January 2018, more than five months after the man who murdered and dismembered journalist Kim Wall’s body was arrested, authorities were finally able to charge him.

In a case that had become known around the world as the “submarine murder”, that charge was the result of a painstaking, dogged investigation by police in Denmark. – Sky News