Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron
US President Joe Biden is set to announce new measures against Covid-19 amid a new surge in cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Mr Biden is expected to deliver a “stark warning” of what the winter will look like for unvaccinated Americans, NBC reported. He will also urge those currently vaccinated to receive a booster shot.
To date, 61.4 per cent of Americans have been fully vaccinated, data from the US Centres for Disease Control show. More than 60 million Americans have received a booster shot.
Top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday that the new strategy will also focus on increased testing.
“We really need to flood the system with testing. We need to have tests available for anyone who wants them,” Dr Fauci said.
The president this month introduced a multi-step plan to combat Covid-19 this winter, including easier access to vaccines and boosters, supplying free testing for those without health insurance and extending the federal mask mandate through mid-March.
But a resurgence in Covid-19 cases has threatened to upend holiday plans, forced some states to reinstitute mask mandates and led to the postponement of numerous sporting events.
News organisation CNN has closed its offices to non-essential employees, and Google and Uber are two of a handful of major companies to push back return-to-office dates.
The US is averaging more than 132,000 new cases per day, data from Reuters show, as Americans rush to be tested, leading to long queues at pharmacies and drive-through sites.
Though the Delta variant still remains prevalent in the US, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky predicted that Omicron would soon become the “dominant strain".
Breakthrough infections of the Omicron variant have been reported in some who are fully inoculated, but vaccines have so far remained effective at preventing severe disease, the CDC said.
It is still too early to assess whether Omicron is deadlier than the Delta variant.
To date, more than 800,000 people have perished from coronavirus.
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Company%20Profile
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The Greatest Royal Rumble card
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
