SURGE HUBS BUILT AS COVID 'INSURANCE POLICY'

Extra hospital beds are being made available across England as daily coronavirus cases continue to rise. Latest figures show more than 183,000 Covid19 infections reported in 24 hours. While hospitalisations remain relatively low, the National Health Service has announced it will build eight 'surge hubs' incase of an influx of admissions. Laura Makin-Isherwood reports.

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GERMANY'S COVID CASES "2 TO 3 TIMES HIGHER" THAN OFFICIAL DATA: HEALTH MINISTER

Germany's Health Minister has warned the country's coronavirus incidence rate is likely much higher than government data suggests. 

His warning comes as several countries across Europe post record-breaking case numbers, fuelled largely by the more infectious omicron variant. 

For more, Trent Murray reports from Berlin. 

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NIGHTINGALE 'SURGE HUBS' SET UP IN ENGLAND

'Surge hubs' for covid-19 patients are being set up in eight locations
in England in case there's a major surge in hospitalisations.

The so-called 'Nightingale' units are being built to house around 100
patients each.

The National Health Service says it's on a 'war footing'.

Layla McCay is director of policy at the NHS Confederation.

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India's daily COVID-19 tally nearly doubles in three days

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India's daily COVID-19 tally has jumped once again by nearly 43%.

The country reported more than 13,000 fresh infections on Thursday – nearly double the number reported three days ago.

Authorities are urging people to stay indoors but say it's too early to impose harsh restrictions.

Ishan Garg has more from New Delhi.

 

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Maxwell convicted of underagegrooming girls for Epstein

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been found guilty of sexual
abuse charges.

Maxwell has been convicted of working with Jeffrey Epstein to recruit,
groom and sexually abuse young girls.

William Denselow reports from outside the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan.

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Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell found guilty of sex trafficking for Epstein

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been found guilty of grooming
and sex trafficking underaged girls for disgraced financier Jeffrey
Epstein.

She was found guilty of five of the six charges.

Nick Harper reports.

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Dow Jones hot streak continues for sixth day

The Dow Jones has notched its sixth straight day of gains as the
so-called Santa rally continues on Wall Street.

But it was a tough day for the U.S. airline sector as travel
disruptions continue.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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Leaders of U.S. and Russia due to speak on Thursday amid troop build up

U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to hold a phone call this week, as fears grow of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Biden warned Putin of 'severe consequences' if that happened.

FSN's Caroline Malone reports from Washington DC.

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US defends no testing to end Covid-19 isolation

US health officials have defended new guidelines that do not require
Covid-19 positive patients to test after ending isolation.

It comes a day after the US reported it's highest ever total for new
daily infections.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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[ALT] CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said they're not advising
mandatory testing as false positive results are likely.

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Addressing reporters, Chief Medical Advisor to the President, Dr.
Anthony Fauci spoke about the latest data on Omicron's
transmissibility.

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CDC Director hopes to have answer on Covid booster shots for kids soon

The Director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
says approval for children aged 12-15 to get a Covid-19 vaccine
booster shot could be days or weeks away.

This comes as pediatric hospitalizations and infection levels are
surging across the U.S.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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Thousands of Indian doctors protest in the capital to accelerate the admission of medical students

Doctors and medical associations in India say they will stop providing medical services from Wednesday, after hundreds of protesting doctors were detained by police forces in Delhi.

 Amid a shortage of hospital staff, demonstrators have been calling on the government to accelerate the admission of medical students, a process which has stalled.

Sreoshi Mukherjee reports from New Delhi.

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UK PM URGES BOOSTER HOLD-OUTS TO GET JABBED

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's urging 2.4 million eligible people
to come forward for their covid-19 booster vaccine.

He says the nearly 33 million booster jabs already administered have
contributed to England not bringing in tougher restrictions over the
Christmas and New Year periods.

Some pharmacists are warning of problems with supplies of rapid covid
tests after isolation was shortened to a week for people who test
positive for covid-19, but are testing negative on days 6 and 7.

The Prime Minister says the Omicron wave is being mitigated by the
vaccination programme.

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The Prime Minister says vaccines are allowing New Year festivities to
go ahead in England.

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U.S. reports new daily Covid-19 record

The United States has reported it's highest ever daily figure for new
Covid-19 infections, with cases topping 440,000.

It comes as health officials are facing criticism for reducing
isolation periods for positive patients.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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UAE Bans Flights From Uganda Over Omicron

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have added Uganda to their travel red list… by suspending all passenger flights from the country.

 

The decision was made over concerns related to the spread of the omicron COVID-19 variant.

 

Uganda has registered a spike in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, and health authorities attribute the cases to the Omicron variant.

 

Michael Baleke reports from Kampala;

 

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WARNINGS OVER COST-OF-LIVING 'CATASTROPHE'

It's being warned millions of families in the UK will see a
significant hit to their incomes in 2022.

The Resolution Foundation says higher energy bills will be accompanied
by stagnant wages and tax rises.

It calls it a 'cost of living catastrophe'.

Torsten Bell from the Resolution Foundation says it'll be a difficult
year for living standards.

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India's daily COVID-19 tally rises by 44% as Omicron spreads

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India's daily COVID-19 numbers have jumped by 44% as Omicron spreads across the country.

The country registered nearly 10,000 new infections on Wednesday.

While the tally may be far less than the ones being reported by nations such as the UK and the US, some experts are seeing this as the beginning of a third wave.

Ishan Garg reports.

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HK Police Raid Pro-Democracy Stand News Outlet, Arrest Six

In Hong Kong, hundreds of national security police have raided the office of a popular opposition news outlet.

Six people including senior staff were arrested for conspiracy to publish seditious publications.

Patrick Fok reports.

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Mixed close on Wall Street with Omicron in focus

It was a mixed close for the U.S. markets Tuesday as investors weigh
the impact of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

The S&P 500 fell from a record high but the winning streak for the Dow
Jones continues.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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New York to expand testing to keep kids in school

Children will return to New York City classrooms in the New Year
despite a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Officials say vaccinations and increased testing will help keep the
country's largest public school system safe.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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Save the Children blame Myanmar military for deaths of two staff members

The charity Save the Children has blamed Myanmar's military for the
deaths of two of its staff members.

The organization has called on the United Nations Security Council to
take action.

William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York.

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