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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating at least 86 cruise ships for Covid-19 infections, while another three are being monitored after positive cases were reported onboard. According to the CDC's website, 86 ships are under investigation for coronavirus outbreaks with a yellow status, while three ships have an orange status, meaning they have recorded Covid-19 cases on board but do not satisfy the agency's criteria for investigation at this time. Under the CDC standards, cruise ships with a yellow status must meet at least one of the following criteria: "at or above the investigation threshold for crew COVID-19 cases; at or above the investigation level for guest COVID-19 cases." There are no ships in the red status area, defined as "at or above the CDC investigation level for passenger and crew" by the CDC. According to the CDC, the color-coding scheme is for foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in US waters.

Sajid Javid has stated that there will be no more Covid restrictions in England before the new year. However, the health secretary advised people to "be cautious" and celebrate New Year's Eve outside if possible. Ministers will continue to monitor the statistics, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who advised individuals to get their "first, second, or booster jab as soon as possible." In the meantime, both England and Scotland recorded a spike in cases over the holidays. On December 25, 113,628 new illnesses were reported in England, followed by 103,558 on December 26 and 98,515 on December 27. For the same three days in Scotland, preliminary data revealed 8,252 instances on Christmas Day, 11,030 the next day, and 10,562 on Monday. Over the Christmas holiday, only partial Covid data for the UK was disclosed; full information will be released later this month. For many reasons, including people being less likely to receive a test on Christmas Day and dat

On Saturday night, Vladimir Putin faced increased international isolation and the possibility of pariah status as long-time allies abruptly turned against him in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, and western nations plotted more significant military and financial measures against Moscow. Russia's president was left by his important ally, China, as his prospects of a fast victory faded in the face of stiff opposition from Ukrainian army and citizen volunteer armies, and his ultimatum demanding Kyiv's capitulation was fiercely brushed aside by Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The most remarkable development was Germany's announcement on Saturday night that it would provide 1,000 anti-tank weaponry and 500 Stinger missiles from its own military stocks to Ukrainian soldiers. "The Russian assault on Ukraine is a watershed moment," Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said, signaling a significant shift in his country's postwar military postur

Even if further measures are implemented, the government is likely to exempt weddings and funerals from any new Covid limitations. Ministers feel that "important life events" should not be disrupted. This exception will hold even if Boris Johnson decides to limit the number of individuals who can meet indoors for socializing as a result of the latest Omicron numbers, according to The Times. The Prime Minister will receive his first data briefing on the coronavirus figures since before Christmas on Monday, as he considers whether to impose New Year's Eve restrictions to help limit the spread of the new Omicron variety. On the 26th and 27th of December, additional measures came into effect in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, although governments have so far refrained from enforcing new laws. Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will brief Boris Johnson. If the numbers aren't as bad as expected

Ministers in the United Kingdom have been told that they cannot wait for additional research on the Omicron variation to be completed before acting to prevent a "very substantial wave of infections" that might overwhelm the NHS. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced on Friday night that 75 further instances of the variation had been discovered in England, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 134. "We have started to notice cases where there are no ties to travel, suggesting that we have a modest bit of community transmission," said Dr Jenny Harries, the agency's director. The government has been quietly persuaded by some of its own scientific experts to tell people to work from home until Christmas if they can, when more will be known about the dangers posed by the new type. The Sage committee's most recent meeting, the contents of which were revealed on Friday, reflected growing concern over the variant's spread. Experts