Spain has introduced new Covid rules on face masks, the latest country to tighten restrictions as the highly contagious Omicron variant threatens to bring widespread infection.
German health experts fear the Omicron mutation will very soon be the dominant strain in the country, after outbreaks in Denmark, Portugal and the UK driven by the variant.
Belgium also imposed sweeping restrictions, including bans on fans at sports games and the cancellation of most indoor cultural events, but stopped short of ordering a full lockdown. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said: “We’re taking these measures precisely because we want to prevent that lockdown.”
In Austria, restaurants will close early from December 27 and stricter entry requirements have been announced for people from countries where the variant is already dominant, including the UK and the Netherlands.
In Sweden, from Thursday new rules include a limit of 50 people at private gatherings and the need for a vaccination pass for public events where there are more than 500 people.
The number of customers in shops will be limited, and restaurants will be able to serve only seated guests.
Europe was earlier this week told to brace for a wave of Omicron cases over the winter as the World Health Organisation said: “We can see another storm coming.”
Spain will return to wearing face masks outdoors as part of a package of measures, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.
A booster vaccination programme is also picking up speed among the population where about 80 per cent have been inoculated.
Catalonia has already announced it will impose a curfew, shut night clubs, limit gatherings and cut restaurant occupancy to stem a surge in case numbers in the region, which includes Barcelona.
In Germany, the head of the Robert Koch Institute for disease control said the Omicron variant could be the dominant form of the virus by mid-January.
Lothar Wieler expects a recent decline in new coronavirus infections in the country to be reversed as Omicron cases rapidly spread.
Mr Wieler said there was an infection wave of “unseen momentum” threatening to overwhelm the healthcare system.
“In the past few days, the number of cases has been declining, but unfortunately, this is not a sign of easing," he said. "We need to get the still very high case numbers down."
Katharina Reich, co-leader of Austria's new Covid crisis team, described the Omicron variant as "the next epidemiological challenge".
"What we do know is that Omicron is fast and we need to react quickly.”
Countries are racing to distribute booster shots in the hope that they will prevent the need for damaging lockdowns.
However, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said boosters would only prolong the wait for developing countries to hand out first and second doses, giving the virus more chance to mutate.
Only half of WHO member states have reached the end-of-year target of vaccinating 40 per cent of their populations, but the target could have been reached if doses were more equally shared, Dr Tedros said.
“No country can boost its way out of the pandemic. Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with the planned celebrations without the need for other precautions.”
The spread of Omicron has overshadowed preparations for Christmas for a second year running, with politicians warning of public fatigue over restrictions.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he sympathised with people who “don’t want to hear another word about variants and mutations” at Christmas.
But, he said, Germany could not turn a blind eye to the crisis, after his government agreed to a package of new restrictions with the country’s 16 states.
Private gatherings will be limited to 10 people from December 28, including for the vaccinated, and traditional New Year fireworks will be banned.
“This is no the time for parties and cosy evenings with lots of people,” Mr Scholz said.
Portugal is imposing new measures despite being one of the world’s most vaccinated countries, with 87 per cent of people having had two doses.
A negative test will be needed to enter cinemas, theatres, sports events and weddings until January 9, while outdoor New Year gatherings will be limited to 10 people.
Finland made its move on Tuesday by ordering early closures for hospitality venues on Christmas Eve. EU citizens will be required to show a negative test at the Finnish border.
Opening hours will be limited into January after the Nordic nation reached an all-time infection peak, with 23,000 new cases in the past two weeks.
“We must take this situation seriously and react accordingly,” said Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
In France, no new restrictions are planned for the time being, but ministers are not ruling them out, with case numbers expected to rise as high as 100,000 a day.
Health Minister Olivier Veran said Omicron would be dominant in France by early January. Paris has cancelled its New Year celebrations.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that there would be no further Christmas restrictions in England, although he urged people to take a test before visiting elderly relatives.
Ministers are keeping people in suspense about possible New Year measures as they examine the severity of Omicron and its effect on hospital admissions.
“We’re going to keep a constant eye on the data and do whatever it takes to protect public health,” Mr Johnson said.
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Captain Marvel
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn
4/5 stars
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
