KEY COVID NOS. WORLDWIDE

Pos   /   Country   /   New Daily cases   /   Total Deaths   /        Daily Deaths /           Active Cases   /           Deaths/1M Pop.

               World    4,63,513              /             53,70,058            /             3,608     /             2,29,58,325               /             688.9

1             USA        64,595   /             8,27,323              /             109        /             1,03,97,475        /               2,478

2             UK          82,886   /             1,47,218              /             45           /             14,30,814            /               2,152

3             France   48,473   /             1,21,493              /             75           /             9,97,447              /               1,855

4             Germany              24,190   /             1,08,963              /             127        /             9,79,673               /             1,294

5             Russia    27,967   /             2,97,203              /             1,023     /             9,32,666              /               2,035

6             Netherlands        13,259   /             20,468   /             48           /             5,80,106              /               1,191

7             Belgium                              /             27,895   /                            /             4,84,347              /               2,392

8             Poland   15,976   /             91,485   /             70           /             4,31,372              /               2,421

9             Vietnam               16,110   /             29,566   /             215        /             4,02,950              /               300

10           Spain                    /             88,708   /                            /             3,98,532              /               1,896

11           Italy       24,259   /             1,35,641              /             97           /             3,62,275              /               2,248

12           Mexico  2,530     /             2,97,835              /             268        /             3,48,792              /               2,275

13           Turkey   16,910   /             80,415   /             171        /             3,05,104              /             939

14           Norway 3,022     /             1,204     /                            /             2,60,268              /             220

15           Honduras                            /             10,428   /                            /             2,44,758              /               1,029

16           Switzerland                        /             11,968   /             1             /             2,29,845              /               1,368

17           Czechia 5,982     /             35,223   /             36           /             2,12,512              /               3,280

18           South Africa       15,465   /             90,348   /             3             /             2,07,213              /               1,496

28           India      6,906     /             4,77,422              /             89           /             83,913   /             341

66           Sri Lanka              551        /             14,752   /             18           /             17,751   /             685

79           Philippines           203        /             50,739   /             64           /             9,729     /             454

80           Pakistan               260        /             28,872   /             2             /             9,589     /             127

85           Bangladesh         211        /             28,048   /             1             /             7,464     /             168

THREAT OF OMICRON LOOMS OVER XMAS HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE, US

As the Omicron variant continued to spread at an alarming rate, the United Kingdom seemed headed for severe restrictions ahead of Christmas. Over 12,000 new cases of Omicron infections were detected in the UK on Sunday, taking the total so far to more than 37,000.

The UK reported a total of 82,886 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, slightly fewer than the over 93,000 on Friday and over 90,000 on Saturday. But the numbers are lower even otherwise during the weekends.

UK’s health minister Sajid Javid said that the situation in the UK was under constant review, and the possibility of more severe restrictions being placed could not be ruled out. “We are assessing the situation, it is very fast moving,” he said.

There has been a major surge in Covid-19 cases across Europe, in the United States, and several countries in southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia, all neighbours of South Africa where the Omicron variant was first detected. In most of these countries, the surge is being powered by the Omicron variant.

Anthony Fauci, one of the topmost public health experts in the United States, issued a warning similar to what scientists have been saying about the UK since the last couple of weeks. Fauci said the spread of Omicron could result in a record number of coronavirus cases,  hospitalisations and deaths in the United States in the coming weeks.

OIC MEETING IN PAKISTAN SEEKS WORLD SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN

The extraordinary conference of the member nations of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) on Afghanistan concluded in Islamabad on Sunday without any direct announcement of economic and humanitarian assistance for the war-ravaged country.

Envoys from 57 Islamic nations and observer delegations participated in the conference in Islamabad, the biggest event on Afghanistan after the fall of the US-backed government in the country.

At the end of the session, a draft resolution was issued that was full of phrases, like the extraordinary session of the OIC council of foreign ministers welcomed the initiative, commended Pakistan’s role, recognised the deep-rooted Islamic values that form the ethos of the Muslim society. Moreover, the resolution carried statements, such as the body of Islamic nations expressed deep alarm at the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It noted with deep concern the breakdown of Afghanistan’s health system, disease outbreaks and severe malnutrition. Furthermore, it urged on necessity for continuation of economic cooperation to the country and reaffirmed strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.

The OIC also resolved Sunday to arrange for a team of international Muslim scholars to engage with the Taliban on issues “such as, but not limited to, tolerance and moderation in Islam, equal access to education and women’s rights in Islam”.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan, during his keynote address at the meeting, warned the global community that situation in Afghanistan would become the biggest “man-made crisis in the world” if it did not act immediately. He also noted that the Taliban had to fulfil the commitments they had made to the international community, which included forming an inclusive government and ensuring women’s rights.

NATO WILL NOT LET RUSSIA DICTATE ITS MILITARY POSTURE, SAYS GERMANY

Nato will discuss Russia’s security proposals but it will not let Moscow dictate the alliance’s military posture, German defence minister Christine Lambrecht said on Sunday on a visit to German troops based in Lithuania to deter a Russian attack. On Friday, Moscow set out a list of demands for the West that includes withdrawing Nato battalions from Poland and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, once part of the Soviet Union.

Russia is also demanding a legally binding guarantee that Nato will give up any military activity in Eastern Europe and Ukraine and an effective Russian veto on future Nato membership for Ukraine — which the West has already ruled out. “We need to solve the current tensions on the diplomatic level but just as well by putting up a credible deterrence,” Lambrecht told reporters in Rukla on her first visit to German troops abroad.

The combat units, deployed three years after Moscow’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea in 2014, are meant to stall an assault and buy time for additional Nato troops to arrive at the frontline. “We will discuss Russia’s proposals...But it cannot be that Russia dictates to Nato partners their posture, and that is something that we will make very clear in the talks (next week at the Nato council),” she added.

JOHNSON LEFT REELING AFTER HIS BREXIT MINISTER QUITS

British PM Boris Johnson was left reeling on Sunday after his Brexit minister resigned, ending a difficult week during which his Conservative party suffered a humiliating defeat in by-election and his own MPs rebelled over new coronavirus curbs. David Frost, a trusted ally of the PM and former Brexit negotiator, sent his resignation letter late on Saturday following reports that he was to leave his post in January. “It is disappointing that this plan has become public and in the circumstances I think it is right for me to write to step down...,” he said in the letter, published by the Downing Street. Frost told the PM he had “concerns about the current direction of travel” regarding coronavirus regulations and tax rises. Johnson responded that he was “very sorry” to receive the resignation. The Mail on Sunday reported that Frost handed in his resignation a week ago, but had been persuaded to stay on until the New Year.

Johnson is already reeling from a rebellion by 100 of his MPs in a parliamentary vote over coronavirus measures and the stunning loss of a 23,000-majority seat in a byelection. That was partly blamed on reports that his staff and aides had held parties last Christmas despite virus restrictions. Foreign secretary Liz Truss, meanwhile, will become Britain’s lead negotiator with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol, the PM’s office said on Sunday.

CHINA TENNIS STAR DENIES MAKING ASSAULT CHARGES

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said on Sunday that she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her, and that a social media post she had made early last month had been misunderstood.

Ms. Peng’s well-being became a matter of concern among the global tennis community and rights groups when she appeared to allege that a former Chinese Vice-Premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her in the past. After that post, she was absent from public view for three weeks.

“First, I need to stress one point that is extremely important, I have never said or written that anyone has sexually assaulted me, I have to clearly stress this point,” she said in a video posted by Lianhe Zaobao, a Singapore media outlet.

FRANCE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE MOM’S NAME

France will make it easier for citizens to take their mother’s name once they are adults, justice minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said on Sunday. He said the government would support a bill proposed by ruling LREM party lawmaker Patrick Vignal to allow kids, when they turn 18, to easily change their family name through a simple procedure. Citizens will be free to keep their father’s family name, take their mother’s family name or take both in whichever order they wish. It is already possible for French citizens to change their family name, but it is a long and difficult procedure that requires them to prove to the justice ministry a legitimate reason for doing so. “Nobody should have to reveal their intimate reasons for changing their name to the state,” he said. The law will be voted on in coming weeks. He told Elle magazine the new legislation will make it easier to change the family name of people raised by single mothers or by two fathers or two mothers. “It will be a law that will favour equality between parents.”

UAE SAYS WILL STOP CENSORING MOVIES, INTRODUCES 21+ RATING

The United Arab Emirates announced on Sunday that it will no longer censor films released in cinemas, the country’s latest effort to boost its brand as a liberal hub attractive to foreigners. Instead of cutting sensitive scenes that could offend traditional Islamic sensibilities, the Emirati Media Regulatory Authority will introduce a new 21+ age category for viewers. “The movies will be screened in cinemas according to their international version,” the authority said in a Twitter post. Censors in the UAE, like elsewhere in the Middle East, have long removed scenes in cinematic releases that show nudity, homosexuality, sex and other content deemed inappropriate — sometimes leading to plot holes.

Foreigners outnumber locals nearly nine to one in the federation of seven sheikhdoms. The diversity of culture and religion in the tourismdependent country has at times been at odds with its Islamic laws and traditions. But that’s changing as the nation promotes its socially liberal environment to lure international workers. The government has reformed its Islamic legal code and next year will change its weekend to Saturday-Sunday to align with the Western businesses and markets. Late last year, the UAE revamped an array of laws. These included lifting a ban on unmarried couples living together and loosening restrictions on alcohol.

LEFTIST GABRIEL BORIC WINS CHILE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Leftist candidate Gabriel Boric has won Chile's presidential election after an early concession from his far-right rival, José Antonio Kast.

Mr Kast conceded defeat barely an hour and a half after polls closed, and with around half of ballots counted.

With most of the votes counted, Mr Boric won with 56% and Mr Kast trailed with 44% of the votes.

The election has been one of the most polarised in recent decades and comes after mass anti-government protests.

Both candidates offered starkly different visions for the country, and both are outsiders representing political parties that have never been in government.

At 35-years-old, Mr Boric will become one of the world's youngest political leaders, and the youngest president in Chile's history.