UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he will not make Christmas gatherings illegal after the UK’s four nations “unanimously” agreed not to scrap their plans entirely.
Mr Johnson is under pressure from doctors to tighten coronavirus restrictions over the five days around Christmas.
The current rules allow up to three households to meet from December 23 to 27.
On the day pubs and restaurants were forced to close again in London, Mr Johnson said the easing of restrictions would go ahead.
“We don't want to criminalise people's long-laid plans," he told Parliament.
But Mr Johnson said that people should exercise “personal responsibility” around the vulnerable.
"By being sensible and cautious, not by imposing endless lockdowns or cancelling Christmas ... that is the way we will continue to work together to keep this virus under control, to defeat it and take the country forward," he said.
Caution and sense were not the watch words of the night in London on Tuesday. This video shows the raucous scenes.
Starmer is Scrooge, says Johnson
Mr Johnson accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who called on the prime minister to review the rules, of wanting to "cancel Christmas".
Meanwhile, Wales tightened its restrictions, now allowing only two households to mix over the five days.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was her recommendation that people should spend Christmas "in your own home with your own household".
The loosened restrictions come amid surging infection rates and the discovery of a new coronavirus strain.
Millions more were placed in the toughest restrictions on Wednesday after London moved to Tier 3.
About 61 per cent of England’s population is now living under those harsh restrictions.
Earlier, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the government would tell Britons to use their common sense at Christmas.
“The law remains unchanged," Mr Jenrick told BBC Radio 4.
"We have and will be providing guidance, and that guidance will reflect that cases are rising. We will be asking people to make an informed judgment.
“That’s why it’s better to treat this as a personal judgment issue, to weigh up the risk to loved ones.”
He said that people might choose to ignore a ban on meeting over Christmas and that it was better for it to be regulated in some way.
“It's not for the government to tell people exactly how to handle this situation,” Mr Jenrick said.
Labour leader warns of grave risk
The government is still expected to set out stronger advice on how to keep elderly relatives safe.
This could include asking people to isolate themselves and reduce social contacts before joining other households.
"The choice is a grim one," Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said.
But Mr Drakeford said the current plans were a "hard-won agreement" that he would not put aside lightly.
The UK recorded another 18,450 cases on Tuesday, bringing the seven-day tally to 137,876, a 29 per cent increase on the week before.
But the number of deaths has fallen by about 4 per cent over the same period. Another 506 fatalities were recorded on Tuesday.
In a rare joint editorial, the British Medical Journal and the Health Service Journal on Tuesday said the government's relaxation of social distancing rules over the holiday could bring a third wave of coronavirus.
Mr Starmer earlier said the government had “lost control of infections”, putting the economy and National Health Service at “grave risk” in the new year.
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London's last night of Tier 2 - in pictures
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SupplyVan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2029%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MRO%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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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
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
