Editing 2021 (section)

===January===
* [[January 1]] 
** The [[African Continental Free Trade Area]] comes into effect.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/1/after-months-of-covid-delays-african-free-trade-bloc-launches |title=After months of COVID delays, African free trade bloc launches |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=1 January 2021 |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530113950/https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/1/after-months-of-covid-delays-african-free-trade-bloc-launches |url-status=live }}</ref>
** The normal/global variant of [[Adobe Flash Player]] has been deprecated.<ref name="Adobe Flash End of Life">{{cite web |url=https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/end-of-life.html |title=Adobe Flash Player End of Life |date=January 13, 2021}}</ref>
* [[January 4]] – [[Qatar–Saudi Arabia border|The border]] between [[Qatar]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] reopens.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Salem|first1=Mostafa|last2=Alam|first2=Hande Atay|date=5 January 2021|title=Saudi Arabia and Qatar agree to reopen airspace and maritime borders|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/04/world/qatar-and-saudi-arabia-reopen-airspace-intl/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 6, 2021|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104214649/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/04/world/qatar-and-saudi-arabia-reopen-airspace-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:2021 storming of the United States Capitol DSC09254-2 (50820534063) (retouched).jpg|thumb|Crowd outside the US Capitol on January 6]]
* {{Anchor|January 6}} [[January 6]] – Supporters of [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Donald Trump]] [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|attack the US Capitol]], disrupting [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|certification]] of the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], and forcing [[United States Congress|Congress]] to evacuate. Five people die during the ensuing riot.<ref>{{cite news|title=Police Confirm Death Of Officer Injured During Attack On Capitol|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/insurrection-at-the-capitol/2021/01/07/954333542/police-confirm-death-of-officer-injured-during-attack-on-capitol|newspaper=NPR|date=7 January 2021|publisher=National Public Radio, Inc.|access-date=8 January 2021|last1=Diaz|first1=Jaclyn|last2=Chappell|first2=Bill|last3=Moore|first3=Elena|archive-date=November 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118201030/https://www.npr.org/sections/insurrection-at-the-capitol/2021/01/07/954333542/police-confirm-death-of-officer-injured-during-attack-on-capitol|url-status=live}}</ref> The event is classified as a [[domestic terrorism in the United States|domestic terrorist]] attack, and draws [[International reactions to the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol|international condemnation]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/06/trump-blows-up-us-democracy-the-world-watches-on-in-horror |title=World leaders react with horror to 'disgraceful' storming of US Capitol |website=The Guardian |date=7 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106234000/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/06/trump-blows-up-us-democracy-the-world-watches-on-in-horror |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 10]] – [[Kim Jong Un]] is elected as the [[General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea|General Secretary]] of the ruling [[Workers' Party of Korea]], inheriting the title from his father [[Kim Jong Il]], who [[Death and state funeral of Kim Jong-il|died]] in [[2011]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-politics/north-korea-says-leader-kim-elected-as-general-secretary-of-ruling-party-kcna-idUSKBN29F0OD|title=Mixed signals for North Korean leader's sister as Kim seeks to cement power|work=Reuters|author=Hyonhee Shin|date=11 January 2021|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081208/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-politics/north-korea-says-leader-kim-elected-as-general-secretary-of-ruling-party-kcna-idUSKBN29F0OD|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 13]] – In [[Lyon]], France, the first [[Organ transplantation|transplant]] of both arms and shoulders is performed on an Icelandic patient at the Édouard Herriot Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Double greffe des bras et des épaules à Lyon, une première mondiale|url=https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/sante/os-et-muscles/double-greffe-du-bras-et-des-epaules-a-lyon-une-premiere-mondiale_150843|date=15 January 2021|access-date=24 January 2021|website=Sciences et Avenir|language=fr|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208110702/https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/sante/os-et-muscles/double-greffe-du-bras-et-des-epaules-a-lyon-une-premiere-mondiale_150843|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 14]] – The [[2021 Ugandan general election]] is held. Incumbent president [[Yoweri Museveni]], who has ruled since 1986, wins re-election.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-06-17|title=Uganda to hold elections in early 2021, campaign rallies banned|language=ja|work=Reuters|url=https://jp.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-uganda-election-idUSKBN23N24K|access-date=2021-06-05|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115172733/https://jp.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-uganda-election-idUSKBN23N24K|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Biryabarema|first=Elias|date=2020-07-21|title=Uganda's Museveni seeks re-election to extend rule to four decades|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uganda-politics-idUSKCN24M0YH|access-date=2021-06-05|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112122732/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uganda-politics-idUSKCN24M0YH|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-17|title=Uganda's Museveni wins sixth term, rival alleges fraud|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-uganda-election-idUSKBN29M04E|access-date=2021-06-05|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021172405/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-uganda-election-idUSKBN29M04E|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 15]]
** The [[Lao People's Revolutionary Party]] elects [[Thongloun Sisoulith]] as its new [[General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party|General Secretary]], replacing retiring chief [[Bounnhang Vorachith]]. Sisoulith is elected for a five-year term as top leader in [[Laos]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Laos Communist Party names PM Thongloun as new leader |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-laos-politics/laos-communist-party-names-pm-thongloun-as-new-leader-idUSKBN29K0YU |date=15 January 2021 |access-date=15 January 2021 |work=Reuters |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201235045/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-laos-politics/laos-communist-party-names-pm-thongloun-as-new-leader-idUSKBN29K0YU |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[COVID-19 pandemic]]: The global death toll from [[COVID-19]] passes 2 million.<ref>{{cite web|date=15 January 2021|title=COVID-19: Global coronavirus deaths pass two million – just over a year since outbreak began|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-global-coronavirus-deaths-pass-two-million-just-over-a-year-since-outbreak-began-12188462|access-date=15 January 2021|publisher=Sky News|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115180258/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-global-coronavirus-deaths-pass-two-million-just-over-a-year-since-outbreak-began-12188462|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 22]] – The [[Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]], the first legally binding international agreement comprehensively to prohibit nuclear weapons, comes into effect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082702|title=Guterres hails entry into force of treaty banning nuclear weapons|date=22 January 2021|website=UN News|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424161740/https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082702|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 24]] – [[2021 Portuguese presidential election]]: Incumbent president [[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]] is reelected.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ames |first=Paul |date=25 January 2021 |title=President Rebelo de Sousa wins landslide reelection in Portugal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/president-rebelo-de-sousa-wins-landslide-re-election-in-portugal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228043549/https://www.politico.eu/article/president-rebelo-de-sousa-wins-landslide-re-election-in-portugal/ |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=Politico}}</ref>
* [[January 26]] – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeds 100 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 January 2021|title=COVID-19: 100 million coronavirus cases recorded worldwide – a year after virus first officially diagnosed|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-100-million-coronavirus-cases-recorded-worldwide-a-year-after-virus-first-officially-diagnosed-12191487|work=Sky News|access-date=27 January 2021|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214220316/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-100-million-coronavirus-cases-recorded-worldwide-a-year-after-virus-first-officially-diagnosed-12191487|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 27]]
** A [[Abortion in Poland|near-total ban on abortion]] comes into effect in Poland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland: Thousands protest as abortion law comes into effect |date=2021-01-28 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/poland-thousands-protest-as-abortion-law-comes-into-effect/a-56363990 |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=DW.COM |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206102418/https://www.dw.com/en/poland-thousands-protest-as-abortion-law-comes-into-effect/a-56363990 |url-status=live }}</ref>
** The [[GameStop short squeeze]] reaches its peak of $483 per share, as the result of influence from the online community, [[r/wallstreetbets]], drawing international attention.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.cato.org/cato-journal/fall-2021/gamestop-episode-what-happened-what-does-it-mean |title= The GameStop Episode: What Happened and What Does It Mean? |publisher=CATO JOURNAL |date=18 October 2021 |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211021205459/https://www.cato.org/cato-journal/fall-2021/gamestop-episode-what-happened-what-does-it-mean |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 29]] – COVID-19 pandemic: The European Union invokes [[Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol]] following a row over [[COVID-19 vaccine]] supplies before reversing the decision.<ref>{{cite news |title=What is Article 16 and why did the EU make a U-turn after triggering it? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-article-16-and-why-did-the-eu-make-a-u-turn-after-triggering-it-12202915 |date=31 January 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021 |agency=Sky News |archive-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081208/https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-article-16-and-why-did-the-eu-make-a-u-turn-after-triggering-it-12202915 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 31]] – [[Nguyễn Phú Trọng]] is re-elected for a third five-year term as the [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Vietnam ruling Communist Party chief Trong re-elected for third term |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-politics-congress/vietnam-ruling-communist-party-chief-trong-re-elected-for-third-term-idUSKBN2A005T |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=Reuters |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131234636/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-politics-congress/vietnam-ruling-communist-party-chief-trong-re-elected-for-third-term-idUSKBN2A005T |url-status=live }}</ref>