The World Health Organization reported a 16% global drop in new coronavirus cases last week. Meanwhile, Japan began its first vaccinations ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
The World Health Organization said late Tuesday that the global figure of new coronavirus cases decreased by 500,000 last week to 2.7 million, a 16 percent drop over the previous week.
In the first full week of January, new coronavirus cases had peaked at nearly 5 million.
Last week, nearly all regions of the world have seen a downward trend in new cases, except for the Middle East.
There has also been a global drop in deaths last week, with 81,000 new deaths, a 10 percent decrease over the previous week.
The drop in new global cases and deaths comes as more countries roll out vaccines.
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MIDDLE EAST
U.S., European allies condemn deadly Iraq attack.
Merkel's call to Iran sparks new demands on nuclear deal.
Iran says ready for talks with UN nuclear watchdog chief.
Europe to meet US on Iran as nuclear deadline looms.
Biden speaks to Netanyahu for first time since taking office.
Gaza receives first Covid-19 vaccines after Israel delayed shipment.
Dubai princess Latifa says she is being held hostage in video recordings.
ASIA
Mass anti-coup protests in Myanmar as UN warns of crackdown.
'Terrified' UN envoy issues warning on Myanmar as protesters face down military.
Satellite images show China emptying military camps at border flashpoint with India.
Biden renews 'Quad' with allies despite Beijing pressure.
Wife of North Korea's Kim Jong Un makes first public appearance in a year.
Japan starts COVID-19 vaccinations with eye on Olympics.
Facebook to ban Australian users from reading and sharing news in response to government’s Big Tech bill.
AFRICA
35 dead in Chad herder-farmer clashes.
Gunmen kidnap more than 40 from school in central Nigeria.
US Navy seizes large cache of smuggled weapons off Somalia.
Ethiopia's Tigray region hit by power blackout.
UN's Guterres wants thousands more peacekeepers in C.Africa.
Zanzibar's Seif Sharif Hamad dies weeks after getting Covid.
Central African Republic ex-football boss and 'Rambo' mililiaman deny war crimes at ICC.
Hotel Rwanda hero Rusesabagina in court on terrorism charges.
EUROPE
EU hails deals to get more vaccine shots, tackle variants.
Barcelona protests erupt in violence for second night in a row after Spanish rapper arrested for insulting king (VIDEOS).
New prime minister, Mario Draghi, vows to speed up Italy's Covid vaccinations.
Europe's top human rights court demands Alexei Navalny's release from Russian prison.
Russia rejects European rights court’s order to free Navalny.
Prince Philip, 99, admitted to hospital as a 'precautionary measure'.
AMERICAS
Power outages linger for millions as another icy storm looms.
U.S. conservative radio provocateur and Trump ally Rush Limbaugh dies.
Biden faces backlash from left on student loans.
Biden to take 'executive action' to address SolarWinds breach.
After racial unrest across US, Congress takes another look at reparations.
White House says Biden supports study of slavery reparations.
Mexico calls on rich countries not to hoard coronavirus vaccines.
Jailed suspect in anti-Maduro plot blames Colombia, Guaido.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Taliban keep close ties with Al Qaeda despite promise to U.S..
France vows to 'decapitate' al-Qaeda in Sahel region.
Slow progress for West Africa's latest counter-terrorism plan.
New Zealand lashes at Australia in citizenship row over terror suspect.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
S&P 500, Nasdaq fall as tech slides and inflation concerns weigh.
Saudi Arabia set to raise oil output amid recovery in prices.
Asian markets eye muted start on economic hopes, pandemic fears.
China overtakes US as EU's biggest trading partner.
Google to pay Murdoch's News Corporation for stories.
