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• U.S. surpasses 25 million confirmed COVID-19 cases

• Thousands of National Guard troops reportedly to remain in D.C. through mid-March

• State Department calls on Russia to release detained protesters, Navalny

• Austin orders reports on military's sexual assault prevention programs

• Bucs-Packers, Bills-Chiefs meet in NFC, AFC title games

U.S. surpasses 25 million confirmed COVID-19 cases

The United States on Sunday surpassed 25 million confirmed coronavirus infections, data from Johns Hopkins University shows. The U.S. continues to lead the world in cases, well ahead of India, which has the second highest total, globally, at more than 10.6 million. The U.S. has also recorded the most COVID-19-related fatalities in the world. While the virus continues to surge across the country, and experts warn that a more contagious variant first identified in the United Kingdom could be become the dominant source of infections in the coming weeks, there has been a downward trend in cases in recent days. Bloomberg's COVID-19 vaccine tracker also shows that the U.S. has averaged more than 1 million administered doses per day over the last week.

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Thousands of National Guard troops reportedly to remain in D.C. through mid-March

Federal law enforcement officials informed members of Congress last week that as many as 5,000 National Guard troops must remain in Washington, D.C., through mid-March, four people familiar with the matter told Politico. The troops who stay behind will be protecting the Capitol from what was described as 'impeachment security concerns.' The driving force behind the decision is reportedly the possibility of mass demonstrations — perhaps similar to the deadly riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6 — in support of former President Donald Trump will coincide with Trump's Senate impeachment trial, which is set to begin the week of Feb. 8. Some Guardsmen told Politico they have been given little information about the extension and have questioned why they are subject to combat-like conditions in the nation's capital, though a majority who stick behind will do so on a voluntary basis.

State Department calls on Russia to release detained protesters, Navalny

Police detained more than 3,000 protesters demanding the release of opposition leader Alexey Navalny on Saturday. Navalny, a fierce Kremlin critic and major rival of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was handed a 30-day jail sentence after returning to Moscow from Berlin, where he had spent several months recovering from a poisoning allegedly carried out by Russia's FSB spy agency. Demonstrators reportedly remained in the streets well into the evening despite the arrests and violent clashed with police. Meanwhile, the Biden administration came out in support of the protesters. The U.S. 'strongly condemns the use of harsh tactics against protesters and journalists this weekend in cities throughout Russia,' reads a statement from the State Department. 'We call on Russian authorities to release all those detained for exercising their universal rights and for the immediate and unconditional release of ... Navalny.'

Austin orders reports on military's sexual assault prevention programs

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued his first directive in the role Saturday night, giving the Pentagon's senior leaders two weeks to gather reports on sexual assault prevention programs in the military and send him assessments of what has worked and what hasn't. The move came a day after he was confirmed by the Senate. In his confirmation hearing, the retired four-star Army general promised lawmakers he would prioritize the issue and acknowledged the military must do a better job of handling a problem that has long existed within its ranks. Reports of sexual assault in the military have steadily increased since 2006, The Associated Press notes, including a 13 percent jump in 2018 and a 3 percent jump in 2019 (the data for 2020 is not yet available.) Experts believe sexual assaults remain underreported, though there is some hope that victims have grown more confident in the justice system.

Bucs-Packers, Bills-Chiefs meet in NFC, AFC title games

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET on Fox, pitting two of the NFL's all-time great quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, against one another at legendary Lambeau Field with the NFC championship on the line. Because Brady spent his entire career in the AFC before signing with Tampa Bay in the offseason, he and Rodgers, the league's leading MVP candidate, have never met in the playoffs before. Later, at 6:40 p.m. ET on CBS, the Buffalo Bills aim to upset the defending Super Bowl champions and AFC's top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City's star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is dealing with the aftermath of a concussion from last week's game against the Cleveland Browns, as well as turf toe, so he won't be 100 percent.

5 Things Every Email Needs To Go

5 Things Every Email Needs To Play