FACTBOX-Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus

* Japanese health officials have detected a new coronavirus variant, which differs from those found in Britain and South Africa, in four travellers from Brazil's Amazonas state. * The Philippines has secured 25 million doses of vaccines developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, with the first 50,000 expected to arrive in February.

Russia announced a clinical trial of a one-dose "Sputnik-Light" version of its coronavirus vaccine to offer a temporary solution for countries with high infection rates, as Indonesia gave Sinovac Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine its first emergency use approval outside China. DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

* Eikon users, see COVID-19: MacroVitals https://apac1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/cms/?navid=1592404098 for a case tracker and summary of news. EUROPE

* Britain said it would ramp up its COVID-19 vaccination programme to at least 2 million shots a week. * Portugal reported a record daily increase in the number of deaths from the coronavirus as the country geared up for a new lockdown this week.

* Spain will send convoys of COVID-19 vaccines and food to areas hit by the heaviest snowfall in decades. ASIA-PACIFIC

* Mainland China saw its biggest daily increase in COVID-19 cases in over five months, the country's health authority said, as new infections in Hebei province surrounding Beijing continued to rise. * India has signed a purchase order with vaccine producer Serum Institute to procure AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, a source said.

* A World Health Organization team of international experts tasked with investigating the origins of the pandemic will arrive in China on Jan. 14, Chinese authorities said. * Japanese health officials have detected a new coronavirus variant, which differs from those found in Britain and South Africa, in four travellers from Brazil's Amazonas state.

* The Philippines has secured 25 million doses of vaccines developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, with the first 50,000 expected to arrive in February. AMERICAS

* Brazilian researchers will announce more efficacy data on Tuesday for the coronavirus vaccine made by China's Sinovac, an official said, after medical experts and regulators criticized what they called an incomplete disclosure last week. * U.S. President-elect Joe Biden may speed up distribution of vaccines to states, and said he would deliver a plan costing "trillions" of dollars this week.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA * The health ministry of the Palestinian Authority has approved the main Russian vaccine against COVID-19, Sputnik V, for use in Palestinian self-ruled territory, Russia's sovereign wealth fund said.

* Seychelles has started vaccinating its population with doses from China's Sinopharm vaccine, President Wavel Ramkalawan said. * Algeria has become the first African country to register Russia's Sputnik V vaccine for use.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS * Pfizer's partner BioNTech boosted the 2021 delivery target for its vaccine to 2 billion doses, up from 1.3 billion previously.

* An international trial testing convalescent blood plasma on COVID-19 patients with moderate and severe illness has halted enrolment of severely ill COVID-19 patients after it found no benefit, trial investigators said. ECONOMIC IMPACT

* World shares slipped from record highs on Monday as caution over rising cases saw some profit-taking from investors, while Treasury yields remained close to 10-month highs, indicating expectations for global reflation from anticipated U.S. fiscal stimulus. * China's factory gate prices fell last month at their slowest pace since February, official data showed on Monday.

* Brent crude oil prices fell as much as $1 per barrel on Monday, hit by renewed concerns about global fuel demand amid tough lockdowns around the world, as well as a stronger U.S. dollar. (Compiled by Veronica Snoj, Anita Kobylinska and Ramakrishnan M.; Edited by Shailesh Kuber and Andrew Heavens)