(CNN) As fears mount over the newly identified coronavirus variant Omicron , governments around the world are scrambling to protect their citizens from a potential outbreak. The new mutation, which is potentially more transmissible, was first discovered in South Africa and has since been detected in Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Czech Republic and Hong Kong. Israel is banning all foreigners from entering the country in response to Omicron fears, authorities announced Saturday. The ban, pending government approval, is expected to last two weeks. Israelis returning from a country on the red list, which includes countries in southern Africa, will be required to isolate for seven days in a designated hotel. There are seven suspected cases of the variant in Israel, in addition to one confirmed case found in a person returning from Malawi, its Health Ministry said. Two Omicron cases have been detected in Australia after … [Read more...]

(CNN) The world is in a "race against time" with the Omicron coronavirus variant , said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, warning during a visit to Latvia that scientists and manufacturers will need weeks to fully understand the new variant. As more cases are identified and governments around the world mobilize to respond to Omicron, an urgent meeting of G7 health ministers will be convened on Monday, the United Kingdom said. It also announced on Sunday new domestic public health rules requiring face coverings in shops and on public transport starting this week. Omicron was first identified by scientists in South Africa, who raised alarm over its unusually high number of mutations on Thursday. Since then, at least a dozen other countries have confirmed cases of the new strain, with several other reporting suspected cases. Vaccine inequity and hesitancy made the Omicron variant more likely, scientists say … [Read more...]

TWO-HOUR SPECIAL DEAN CAIN AND LAURA MCKENZIE TAKE YOU AROUND THE WORLD – From medieval to modern, unique Christmas experiences are found throughout the world. Dean Cain and Laura McKenzie will take you on a stroll down the beautiful streets of London, the origination of the quintessential Christmas story, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”  They will transport you to Australia to view the “Santa On The Run” event, ski indoors in Dubai, watch the penguins come to the shore in South Africa, bring the party outside with bonfires in Spain, and celebrate for almost a month in Mexico!  Feast your eyes on worldly culinary delights, activities, and history all while enjoying some holiday performances by Garrett Clayton, Brandon Rogers, Mikalah Gordon, Elliott Yamin, Luys (Light) Vocal Quartet, Edgar Dance Ensemble, Vahagn Drum Ensemble, triple Olympic® gold medalist and ice dancing champion Tatiana Navka, Russian-American ice dancer Peter Tchernyshev, Russian ice dancer Roman … [Read more...]

London (CNN) Editor's note: The Omicron coronavirus variant has now been identified in dozens of countries globally and this story will no longer be updated. Follow the latest updates on the spread of the variant here . Nations around the world are racing to identify how many cases of the Omicron variant they have, as fears over the new strain force governments to shutter borders and revisit restrictions. The new mutation, which is potentially more transmissible , was first discovered in South Africa and has since been detected in several countries. Here's a list of the places which were reporting cases as of December 1, 2021. Australia: 7 cases Read More Austria: 1 case Belgium: 1 case Botswana: 19 cases Brazil: 2 cases Canada: 6 cases Czech Republic: 1 case Denmark: 4 cases France: 1 case (on Reunion Island) Germany: 9 cases Hong Kong : 4 cases Israel: 4 cases Italy: 9 … [Read more...]

HELSINKI, Finland — Sanna Marin, 34, is set to become the world’s youngest sitting prime minister when she is sworn in this week in Finland, after being elected to the position by her party late Sunday. The country’s coalition government consists of five parties, four of which are led by women, with Ms. Marin now at the helm. Four of the women are under the age of 35, which Finnish political experts say is more significant, symbolic of the rise of a new generation of politicians in the Nordic nation, which has had strong female representation for decades. “The past week has been extraordinary,” she told reporters, according to Helsingin Sanomat , a leading Finnish newspaper. “Now is the time to look ahead. What is needed now is action beyond words to build trust from all government parties.” Formerly the country’s transportation minister, Ms. Marin was voted in by fellow lawmakers in her Social Democratic Party after a turbulent week in which Prime Minister Antti Rinne … [Read more...]

ATLANTA — An October tradition that arrives without fail with every World Series is discussion of resilience and perseverance and how the teams that made it had overcome all manner of season-threatening menaces along the way. Fair enough. But even the “no one believed in us” teams of the past would tip their caps to this year’s Atlanta Braves , who rode a rocky path to the World Series , which is scheduled to begin Tuesday night in Houston. “We have had like 40-foot potholes that we’ve hit, like humongous speed bumps,” Freddie Freeman , the Atlanta first baseman, said over the weekend. “Everything you could possibly see in a road, we hit it.” Let’s consult the trip history. April 1 An Inauspicious Start The season begins in Philadelphia. Atlanta, which reached the National League Championship Series in 2020, is favored to win the N.L. East. Max Fried, the Atlanta starter, pitches five innings and strikes out eight; he gives up just two runs. … [Read more...]