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World News

Surge in COVID cases worldwide makes for another low-key Christmas

A record number of cases, hospitalisations, and travel restrictions around the world have put a damper on Christmas celebrations for the second year in a row.

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Indonesian community tells the story of Jesus through shadow puppets

A small Indonesian community is celebrating Christmas by performing traditional shadow puppet shows about the birth of Christ as the pandemic shutters most public performances.

World News

Airlines cancel more flights after 8,000 were scrapped over Christmas

Thousands of flights had to be cancelled or delayed due to staff shortages and new entry requirements caused by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

Vatican

Pope Francis prays for pandemic end as COVID-19 cases surge

Pope Francis asked for dialogues and peace during his "Urbi et Orbi address on Saturday, after an estimated 2,000 people attend midnight mass in St. Peter’s Basilica the night before.

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United Kingdom

Third Premier League Boxing Day fixture postponed amid COVID outbreak

A coronavirus outbreak means Everton’s match at Burnley joins two other Boxing Day fixtures to be postponed.

Destinations

COVID-19: Austrian resorts concerned over new tourist entry rules

From December 25, restrictions on people entering Austria from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway will be tighter, as the countries will be classified as "virus variant areas", which means that a quarantine of ten days will be mandatory.

United Kingdom

UK PM Boris Johnson urges public to get vaccinated in Xmas address

The Prime Minister has rejected harsher virus restrictions in England over Christmas despite the UK setting a new record on Thursday of almost 120,000 cases in 24 hours.

United Kingdom

Omicron cases 70% less likely to be hospitalised, UK report suggests

The study from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found people infected with Omicron were 50 to 70 percent less likely to be admitted to hospital than those infected with the Delta variant.

China

Winter Olympics: Beijing 'strongly advises' Olympians to get booster

The organisers also "regret" the decision by the National Hockey League (NHL) not to send players to the Beijing Winter games.

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Santa Claus climbs down building to visit children in a Spanish hospital

Children spending the holidays in a hospital in Barcelona get a much-needed boost from a firefighter dressed as Santa Claus, who greets them from outside a hospital window while hanging from a climbing rope outside the building, due to strict pandemic rules restricting visitors

World

Business Review of the year

There's been a climate of uncertainty that’s hurt the retail sector in particular. Businesses across the world will be hoping for a more stable operating environment in the year to come

Bulgaria

Rum, gin or... COVID shot? Bulgaria bar bids to boost vaccination rate

The bar is the only place in Bulgaria where people do not need a health certificate to get in, but leave with one after getting the jab.

Health news

Swedish company promotes biochip implant to carry your COVID passport

A Swedish tech company is leading the way on implanted microchips to carry COVID passports.

Nigeria

Nigeria destroys more than one million expired COVID-19 vaccines

Officials blamed "vaccine nationalism" in developed countries for hoarding vaccines until they "were about to expire" before donating them.

Travel News

Should your company give you more time off in the pandemic?

With few of us able to go on holiday during the pandemic, should workplaces offer more annual leave to make up for it?

China

China puts 13 million residents in lockdown ahead of Games

Xi’an on Thursday reported another 63 locally transmitted cases, pushing the city’s total to at least 211 over the past week.

Greece

Athens cautious as Greece prepares for another Christmas with COVID

Locals in Athens tell Euronews they are staying away from large crowds during the Christmas period.

United Kingdom

Omicron cases have reduced hospitalisation risk, early studies say

Early studies suggest that Omicron COVID cases have a reduced risk of hospitalisation, compared with the Delta variant.

Belgium

Belgium to close cinemas and theatres amid Omicron spread

Belgium will close cinemas, theatres and ban most indoor activities to curb COVID-19 infections.

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Nigeria destroys around 1M expired COVID vaccines

Nigeria destroys around 1M expired COVID vaccines