Pictured: A graph comparing the 7-day average deaths per million people in the UK, Germany and France. While the UK in particular is seeing similar numbers to that of the first wave, Germany is seeing far higher numbers than in the Spring during the second wave. Germany's Robert Koch Institute said a record 1,244 deaths were confirmed on Thursday
* Germany considering tighter measures as over 25,000 new cases recorded
* Experts concerned the current measures are not strict enough for new variant
* In France, government is expected to announce new Covid-19 measures soon
* Unlike some of its neighbours a full lockdown appears off the agenda for now
* France has promised to expand its currently lagging vaccination programme
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering a 'mega-lockdown' and suspending public transport as Germany recorded a 24-hour record of 1,244 coronavirus deaths.
The new record came on Thursday as experts warned the lockdown will have to get tougher to combat the mutant UK strain, that is yet to take hold in Germany.
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MIDDLE EAST
57 killed in deadliest Israeli strikes on Syria in years.
Iran works on uranium metal for reactor fuel in new breach of nuclear deal.
US blacklisting of Houthis 'could tip Yemen into huge famine'.
Lebanon begins round-the-clock curfew.
Israel hits 2 million vaccinated.
Israel to push Biden to take it easy on Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt.
ASIA
China possibly committed ‘genocide’ against Xinjiang Muslims.
China reports first Covid death in more than six months as WHO investigators arrive.
Two members of WHO team blocked from entering China over failed coronavirus antibody test.
Pakistani military says Indian fire kills soldier in Kashmir.
US imposes sanctions on China's CNOOC oil company over South China Sea.
South Korea calls Japan 'closest neighbor' amid tensions.
South Korean court upholds ex-President Park's 20-year prison sentence.
Up to 1m Hindus gather in India as festival goes ahead amid Covid fears.
AFRICA
Election Day in Uganda: Rapper hopes to unseat sitting president.
Ethiopia: Humanitarian crisis worsens in Tigray.
UN refugee chief 'very worried' for Eritreans in Ethiopia.
Sudan says Ethiopian military aircraft crossed border.
Five civilians killed in Algeria roadside bomb blast.
In Pictures: Panic grips Bangui residents after rebel attack.
EUROPE
Covid-19: France to introduce 6pm curfew, offer vaccines to all those at high risk.
Dutch government faces collapse over child benefits scandal.
Jailed Lukashenko opponent Kolesnikova defiant in Belarus.
Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia, Azerbaijan ‘violated laws of war’.
Pope Francis receives vaccine.
AMERICAS
US officials warn ‘full resurgence’ of Covid in major population centers.
US capital locks down as security threats mount.
Covid Brazilian variant sparks South America travel ban.
Mobile internet brings food and fuel to communist-run Cuba.
New Year & new economic woes for Cubans as prices surge.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
‘Irresponsible’: Bangladesh slams Pompeo’s al-Qaeda attacks claim.
Daesh/ISIS flourishing in Afghanistan: Pakistani army.
Afghanistan foils ISIS plan to assassinate the top US envoy to Kabul.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Wall Street ends lower as investors weighed stimulus hopes and bleak jobs data.
Airbnb CEO says travel never going back to the way it was before pandemic.
US clamps down on China tech, blacklists CNOOC.
Samsung unveils S21 smartphone lineup, cuts price from last year.
China trade surplus with US widens 7.1% to $317 bn in 2020.
It could be never’: Parler CEO says social app may not return.
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