TOP HEADLINES 

· Russia's Sputnik V vaccine induces a "robust neutralizing" antibody response to the Omicron variant, which is further strengthened by the Sputnik Light booster, the Russian Direct Investment Fund said.

A preliminary lab study by the Gamaleya Center shows that Sputnik V demonstrates "high virus-neutralizing activity" against Omicron and "is expected to provide a strong defense against severe disease and hospitalization," the statement said. 

· Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is up to four times more likely to cause inflammation of the heart muscle, a very rare side effect, than its rival vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech, according to a Danish study published in the British Medical Journal.

The study, in which almost 85 percent of Danes, or 4.9 million individuals, aged 12 and older participated, investigated the link between mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and heart inflammation, also known as myocarditis or myopericarditis.

· The German government is looking into whether the UK should be classified as a virus variant area, said a Health Ministry spokesperson. The government is expected to make a decision later on Friday, said the spokesperson.

Under German COVID rules, travelers returning from virus variant areas must quarantine for two weeks, even if they are vaccinated. Britain is currently experiencing a record surge in cases in part due to the more contagious Omicron variant.

· Nightclubs will close in Wales after December 26 in response to the rising number of cases. Social distancing will also be reintroduced in shops and workplaces as the country's first minister Mark Drakeford prepares for the "storm of Omicron." 

· The European Union drug regulator will not decide whether to approve Merck & Co's COVID-19 pill until after Christmas, according to Reuters, as the region scrambles to boost its arsenal of drugs to fight the Omicron variant.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will, however, rule before Christmas on whether to give Gilead's intravenous antiviral drug Remdesivir full marketing approval, the source said.

· Sweden will reintroduce some economic support measures for companies to help them get through a renewed onset of the pandemic that has led to rising infections and the re-imposition of some restrictions this month.

The measures agreed between the Social Democrat minority government and the opposition include support for lost income for very small firms and subsidies for workers on shorter hours.

· Austria said it was temporarily loosening its lockdown for those not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 over Christmas and New Year's Eve thanks to a drop in infections.

"Christmas should show us once again how important contact with our loved ones is and how precious time together is," Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said.

· European Union governments have agreed to exercise an option to buy more than 180 million doses of a version of the COVID-19 vaccine adapted for the Omicron variant developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, the head of the European Commission said.

Pfizer and BioNTech began the development of a prototype Omicron-specific vaccine on November 25 and said they could have it ready in March.

· Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called for the English Premier League to offer more clarity on the games being postponed due to COVID-19, telling reporters that transparency was essential to maintain fairness.

The Premier League has postponed five games that were scheduled for the weekend due to COVID-19 outbreaks at various clubs. Arsenal's trip to Leeds United on Saturday, however, is set to go ahead.

"Well, health-wise, I hope we're doing everything we can to protect everybody. (But) we need more clarity on why those games are not being played and what you need not to have a game played so you can maintain the fairness of the competition," Arteta said.

FROM OUR GLOBAL COLLEAGUES

CGTN EUROPE: Italian anti-vaxers hold COVID-19 contagion parties to get green pass

CGTN ASIA: Chinese mainland records 77 confirmed COVID-19 cases

CGTN AMERICA: U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpasses 800,000: JHU

CGTN AFRICA: Pfizer shot less effective against hospitalization in S. Africa: study