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Kate Middleton and Prince William have unveiled their highly anticipated Christmas card for 2021. It features a beaming Duke and Duchess of Cambridge alongside their children Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and three-year-old Prince Louis. The card shows the family on holiday in Jordan and will be sent out to family, friends and charities as part of an annual Christmas tradition. The caption on the Cambridges’ social media accounts read: “Delighted to share a new image of the family, which features on this year’s Christmas card.” Gallery: See the Cambridge family Christmas card and other royal cards throughout the years – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge unveil annual Christmas card featuring George, Louis & Charlotte (Evening Standard/MSN news)
Banksy has designed a T-shirt that he is selling to raise funds for four people accused of pulling down a statue during a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol. A T-shirt that Banksy has designed is being sold by the artist to raise funds for four people accused of criminal damage. The street artist hopes the proceeds will allow the four people facing trial for criminal damage in relation to the toppling of the statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston to “go for a pint”. Banksy said on his website: “Next week the four people charged with pulling down Colston’s statue in Bristol are going on trial.” Charges against the four defendants allege that they, without lawful excuse, jointly and with others, damaged the statue, a listed monument belonging to the city council – Banksy designs and sells T-shirt so four accused of toppling slaver statue can ‘go for a pint’ (Sky News/MSN news)
A booster dose sees the risk of symptomatic infection with the Omicron variant “significantly reduced”, according to health officials who have urged all those eligible to make sure they get their third jab. An additional 448 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have been reported across the UK, bringing the total number to 1,265. Dr. Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UKHSA, said while their early data should be treated with caution, it indicates that “a few months after the second jab, there is a greater risk of catching the Omicron variant compared to Delta strain”. Speaking to broadcasters, Mr Gove said the Omicron variant is doubling every two to three days in England “and possibly even faster in Scotland”. 448 additional confirmed cases of the #Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been reported across the UK. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 Omicron cases in the UK is 1265 – Covid: Boosters urged in face of Omicron spread as Michael Gove warns of ‘concerning situation’ (Evening Standard/MSN news)
Some Treasury staff who worked on the Autumn Spending Review last year had office drinks while England was in lockdown. Civil servants had drinks in the office during the November lockdown in 2020, according to The Times – PA Wire. A Treasury spokesman said: “A number of HMT staff came into the office to work on the Spending Review 2020.” Government chief whip Mark Spencer insisted Downing Street staff “were not drinking alcohol” and partying during Covid restrictions after it emerged the Prime Minister’s press chief addressed staff at one event last Christmas – Treasury staff had office drinks during November 2020 lockdown (Independent/MSN news)
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