WorldWatch 18 Monday January 21 Episode 2

 The Australian Open quarantine issues continue to create controversy with the tennis players not happy with their quarantine conditions. At this point, the organisers are refusing to agree to delay the start of the tournament. Those players who are not in quarantine seem to have a significant advantage in their preparation in the lead up to the tournament. On the other hand, Oksana Kalshnikova, was interviewed on the ABC stating that she had no concerns with having to go into quarantine lockdown.

A poll has indicated that the current Federal Opposition Leader, Albanese, is not popular with the electorate and would lose key seats if an election were held today. There does not appear to be push for a spill in the  Australian Labour Party (ALP) at this stage. Tanya Plibersek is one name that is being floated as a possible alternative.

It is being reported that the Victorian government is going to drop most of the fines that have been issued against people for violating COVID restrictions. Nearly all of the local government areas in NSW have been changed to orange, in regards to the Victorian permit system, from tonight except for the LGA's around the Beralla outbreak. The Premier (Andrews) is also saying that they are not planning to bring hundreds of foreign students to Victoria, as had been rumoured/reported.

News.com.au is reporting that 13 people have died in Norway after receiving the COVID vaccine, the Australian and the ABC are reporting 30 people have died.

There is a cyclone warning in Queensland (QLD). People are asked to listen to emergency broadcasts which will be updated every three hours. Unfortunately, the cyclone's timing clashes with a High Pressure weather system across the centre of Australia meaning that much of the rain is unlikely to penetrate down into the central and southern parts of Australia.

Preparations continue fortifying the White House in preparation for the inauguration, although, controversially, the DC Mayor has indicated that the military presence may persist beyond the inauguration until they deal with 'white supremacy'.

There are concerns being raised about the potential for Republican protests at state capitals around the US on inauguration day. Interestingly, they do not seem overly concerned with the ongoing violent Antifa/BLM riots occurring across the US.

The Russian opposition leader, who was poisoned, has returned to Russia and immediately been arrested.

It is being reported that the Israel Education Minister has banned Israeli human rights groups from entering public schools.

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