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UK declares “omicron emergency” ahead of Christmas

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Highest day since July: UK COVID cases causing major concern

Booster jabs will be offered to everyone over 18 in England from this week, as the UK Prime Minister declares an “Omicron emergency”. 

The target to vaccinate all adults by the end of January will be brought forward by a month.

Some medical appointments could also be postponed so British hospitals are able to focus on administering the booster shots.

“No one should be in any doubt, there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming,” Boris Johnson says.

Christmas covid alert

Mr Johnson gave his update just hours after the UK’s Covid alert level was raised to four.

Level four means a high or rising level of transmission – and the last time the UK was at level four was in May.

“I’m afraid we’re now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant Omicron,” Mr Johnson says.

“It is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back up.”

British prime minister boris johnson

“At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe.”

“And even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS.”

The new booster target means people aged 18 and over in England will be able to get their third jabs from this week – as long as it has been three months since their second dose.

Early data shows that getting a third booster dose prevents around 75% of people getting any Covid symptoms from Omicron.

A further 1,239 new cases of Omicron were announced in the UK on Sunday, bringing the total number of UK Omicron cases to more than 3,000.

The actual number is believed to be much higher.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have already opened up boosters to over-30s – and those aged 18 to 29 in Scotland can get their booster jabs from later in the week. 

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Coldplay kiss-cam moment boosts visibility for Astronomer

Coldplay kiss-cam moment inadvertently boosts awareness of little-known IT company Astronomer amid online speculation and scrutiny

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Coldplay kiss-cam moment inadvertently boosts awareness of little-known IT company Astronomer amid online speculation and scrutiny

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In Short:
– Coldplay concert kiss-cam moment increased interest in IT company Astronomer.
– Astronomer is investigating the incident while providing AI data integration infrastructure.
How a Viral Coldplay kiss-cam moment recently drew attention to a lesser-known IT company, Astronomer. Following an incident at a Coldplay concert where CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were caught on the kiss cam, interest in the company surged.Banner

Post-incident, searches for “What is Astronomer” spiked as Byron’s unexpected appearance prompted comments from Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The company confirmed that Byron is married. By the week’s end, Astronomer had gained unprecedented visibility.

Astronomer has stated its board is conducting a formal investigation into the incident, emphasising accountability in leadership conduct.

Founded in 2018, Astronomer provides critical infrastructure for AI data integration, having worked with prominent companies like Apple and Ford. With over 300 employees and substantial funding, Astronomer leverages Apache Airflow to enhance data orchestration capabilities.

Publicity Impact

Experts suggest the publicity may have mixed effects on the company’s reputation, which is vital in the tech industry.

“On the plus side, we’ve all heard of Astronomer now, right?” Liz Leslie, a San Francisco-based digital marketing director wrote on LinkedIn.

“While the visibility puts a spotlight on who Astronomer is, this is not usually the kind of publicity that brings in new customers,” said Peter Davenport, senior strategic consultant at brand, marketing and communications specialist Definition. “In fact, it threatens to erode trust and authority built over years, especially in industries where reputation and reliability matter most.”


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Travelers to the US face new $250 visa fee

New US visa integrity fee of $250 introduced for travellers amid concerns over implementation and increased costs

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New US visa integrity fee of $250 introduced for travellers amid concerns over implementation and increased costs

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In Short:
– A new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ will apply to all non-immigrant visa applicants in the U.S.
– The fee could deter tourists and international students due to increased costs and budget concerns.

Visitors to the United States will soon face a new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ as mandated by the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This fee applies to all non-immigrant visa applicants, including tourists, business travellers, and international students, and cannot be waived. There are possibilities for reimbursement, contingent on visa compliance.Banner

The fee will be applicable during the U.S. fiscal year 2025 and is subject to inflation adjustments thereafter. It must be paid in addition to existing fees, bringing total costs significantly higher for many visa applicants. Implementation details are unclear, including the process for fee collection and reimbursement, which may take years to establish.

Impact Expected

The new fee could deter B visa holders and international students over budget concerns, particularly as the U.S. prepares for major events in 2026. Furthermore, funding cuts to Brand USA, the organisation responsible for promoting U.S. travel, jeopardise inbound tourism efforts. The U.S. Travel Association indicates additional fees complicate the travel process.


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Trump plans to sue Murdoch over Epstein letter claims

Trump threatens legal action against Murdoch over Wall Street Journal’s report linking him to Epstein’s birthday letter

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Trump threatens legal action against Murdoch over Wall Street Journal’s report linking him to Epstein’s birthday letter

In Short:
– Trump plans to sue Murdoch and News Corp over a false report regarding a letter to Epstein.
– He requests Bondi to release grand jury testimony, but some supporters have mixed reactions.

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to sue Rupert Murdoch and News Corp following a report from The Wall Street Journal. This report alleges Trump wrote a sexually suggestive letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003.In a post on Truth Social, Trump rejected the claims, labelling the letter “FAKE” and criticising the newspaper’s coverage. He stated that he had previously alerted Murdoch to the letter’s inauthenticity, but the publication proceeded with the story.

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Trump further requested Attorney-General Pam Bondi to release any relevant grand jury testimony concerning Epstein, a move that some believe does not meet the expectations of his supporters. Bondi confirmed that the Justice Department is prepared to seek the unsealing of these documents.

Client List

Trump’s commentary on the Epstein allegations highlights a growing division within his supporters regarding Epstein’s supposed client list. Despite claims by many, the FBI has stated it will not release additional documents related to Epstein’s case.

Trump has previously downplayed concerns about the allegations, attributing them to partisan attacks by “Radical Left Democrats.”

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