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Crowds at the Australian Open will be capped at half capacity as authorities in host city Melbourne worry about surging infections. Germany Posts Record Cases for Second Day (1:30 p.m. HK) Germany registered a record number of new Covid-19 infections for a second straight day as the omicron variant continues to spread rapidly in Europe's biggest economy. [Extracted from the article]

German leaders plan to require companies to allow employees to work from home when possible and made urgent pleas for wider vaccine uptake as cases in the country multiply to near-record levels. In the clearest signal yet from the government for a start date, Covid-19 Taskforce Commander Lieutenant General John Frewen said doses of the Pfizer Inc. vaccine have been secured but aren't yet in the country. U.S. Weekly Vaccinations Highest Since May (4:32 p.m. NY) The U.S. administered almost 10 million vaccine doses in the last week, the most since late May, the White House said on Saturday. [Extracted from the article]

South Africa Offers Booster to Health Workers (2:10 p.m. HK) South Africa's government will offer booster Covid-19 shots to healthworkers next month and is planning incentives to improve vaccination rates. (Bloomberg) -- German Health Minister Jens Spahn called for thoseeligible for vaccine boosters to get a third shot to help shield thepopulation from infection during the winter. [Extracted from the article]

China said an expert team from the World Health Organization will visit on Jan. 14 to investigate the origins of the coronavirus, following a rare rebuke last week from the global health group over a delay in travel permits. Malaysia Secures More Vaccine Doses (1:08 p.m. HK) The country will buy an additional 12.2 million of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Monday. [Extracted from the article]

President Donald Trump said the U.S. has enough testing capacity to allow for a phased reopening of the economy, and that he's "not happy" with China over the country's early actions to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Trump Announces $19 Billion in Farm Aid (7 a.m. HK) President Donald Trump announced a $19 billion bailout package for farmers hurt financially by the coronavirus crisis. Nearly 40% of N.J. Deaths Were at Nursing Homes (4:40 p.m. NY) Nearly 40% of coronavirus-related fatalities in New Jersey have taken place at nursing homes, according to data newly disclosed by state officials. [Extracted from the article]

China Slams Trump's WHO Move (3:40 p.m. HK) China criticized Trump's move to temporarily halt funding to the WHO and pledged to support the global health body. Trump's Signature to Appear on Stimulus Checks (11:01 a.m. HK) President Donald Trump's signature will appear on the $1,200 checks being mailed to low- and middle-income households in coming weeks, according to two officials familiar with the decision. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- China criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's move to halt funding to the World Health Organization and pledged to support the global health body. Trump's Signature to Appear on Stimulus Checks (11:01 a.m. HK) President Donald Trump's signature will appear on the $1,200 checks being mailed to low- and middle-income households in coming weeks, according to two officials familiar with the decision. [Extracted from the article]