BBC Breakfast's Louise Minchin teases exciting news this Christmas: 'You might need tissues'

The pre-Thanksgiving spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant among fully vaccinated attendees of a New York City Anime convention was an early sign the variant was able to evade vaccines, according to a study today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Early treatment with the antiparasitic drug ivermectin does not lower the risk of severe disease when given to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, according to a study today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota judge in the sentencing of Kim Potter, a former police officer found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright, appeared to get emotional after handing down a two-year sentence — which she called "an extremely difficult decision."Potter was convicted in December of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the April 11 killing of Wright, a 20-year-old Black driver. Potter, who said she confused her handgun for her Taser in the shooting, was sentenced Friday and received a penalty below state guidelines after the judge found mitigating factors warranted a lesser sentence."This is one of the saddest cases I’ve had in my 20 years on the bench," Judge Regina Chu said during the sentencing.

FILE - An official MLB baseball sits on top of an MLB game-used base with a lock and chain around it to represent the lockout between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Major League Baseball on Friday canceled the first week of spring training games through March 4 in the first public acknowledgement of the disruption caused by the lockout.The announcement came with the work stoppage in its 79th day, and a day after economic talks between the management and the Major League Baseball Players Association lasted just 15 minutes.Negotiators are set to resume talks on core economics on Monday, and MLB said members of the owners’ negotiating committee will attend the session, just the seventh on the central issues of the dispute since the lockout began Dec.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter was sentenced Friday morning to two years in prison after a jury found her guilty of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter in the April 2021 shooting death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright.Presiding Judge Regina Chu said there was no question that Potter is extremely remorseful when she announced a downward departure from state guidelines with a total sentence of 24 months, with 16 months served in prison, and the remaining on supervised release. Potter will receive credit for 58 days served. Kim Potter addresses the family of Daunte Wright during her sentencing in Hennepin County Court.Chu said she found the facts and circumstances of the case justified a downward departure from state guidelines.

EL PASO, Ill. - An Illinois pileup involving over 100 vehicles was reported Thursday night amid a severe winter storm, shutting down a 30-mile stretch of the highway for hours. Interstate 39 was closed through Friday between Normal to Minonk due to the pileup, the Illinois Department of Transportation said. Both directions eventually reopened nearly 24 hours later. Normal, Illinois is part of the Bloomington metropolitan area and is located about 130 miles southwest of Chicago.

Middlesex-London Health Unit reported two deaths and 85 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, though the case count is an underestimate due to widespread transmission and restrictions on testing.London Health Sciences Centre, meanwhile, is caring for 56 inpatients with COVID-19, 14 of whom are in adult critical care, continuing an overall downward trend in hospitalizations.As noted, LHSC is caring for 56 COVID-19 inpatients, with 14 inpatients in adult critical care. Last Friday, there were 87 COVID-19 inpatients, with 20 in adult critical care.Of the 56, there were five or fewer in Children’s Hospital, with five or fewer in pediatric critical care.

The USFL is a new, independent American football league controlled by FOX Sports through NSFL HoldCo, LLC, a new business entity. (Source USFL) (USFL)Here is the full draft order for the first round of the 2022 USFL Draft, as determined by Thursday's draft lottery:1. Michigan Panthers2.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have released new information after officers shot and killed a knife-wielding man they witnessed fatally stabbing his aunt earlier this week. The incident happened Tuesday, at 3:45 p.m. on the 2000 block of South Beechwood Street in Feltonville.Officers responded to a radio call for a person with a weapon, and met with a witness who told that that her son,  36-year-old Thomas Maisano, was inside a home and armed with a knife. The witness also told officers that her sister, 72-year-old Josephine Duggan, was also inside.Police say the four responding officers entered the home and saw Maisano on the second floor in possession of a knife.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A new bill in California would allow private citizens to go after gun makers in the same way Texas lets them target abortion providers.Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday backed legislation that would let private citizens enforce the state’s ban on assault weapons. It’s modeled after a Texas law that lets private citizens enforce that state’s ban on abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected."If Texas can use a law to ban a woman’s right to choose and to put her health at risk, we will use that same law to save lives and improve the health and safety of the people in the state of California," Newsom said at a news conference Friday.Texas and other conservative-led states have tried for years to ban abortions once a heartbeat is detected, at around six weeks of pregnancy, which is sometimes before the person knows they are pregnant.

PHILADELPHIA - A woman is recovering in the hospital after Philadelphia police say she was shot in the face after a bullet fired at an attacking dog may have ricocheted.The incident occurred on the 6100 block of Ogontz Avenue Friday morning around 7:14 p.m. Police say a dog was mauling a small child, and a man with a permit to carry a firearm attempted to shoot the dog.MORE HEADLINES: A 22-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the face after investigators say the bullet intended for the dog may have ricocheted. She was rushed to Albert Einstein Medical Center in Elkins Park in a private vehicle. She was listed in stable condition.Police did not immediately release information on the extent of any injuries to the child or dog.

COVID-19 dashboard, the death involved a person aged 90 or older in Zone 1, the Moncton region. A total of 298 people have died of COVID-19 in the province to date.Hospitalizations have fallen by one since Thursday.

The International Testing Agency confirmed on Friday that the member of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) delegation, figure skater Kamila Valieva, tested positive for a banned substance. Plus, Canadian curler Jennifer Jones’ undefeated streak comes to an end.

Unlike a lot of people, Christian Siriano didn’t take a bit of a step back over the pandemic.

EastEnders this week after a promotional business idea goes wrong.Kim is worried she has lost her mojo, but Lola tries to encourage her fellow Albert Square resident - however, will Kim listen?Since joining EastEnders in 2011, Lola has been involved in dramatic storylines of her own - from relationship troubles, to giving birth to daughter Lexi during a huge event.Lola actress Danielle Harold has also led an interesting life including a life changing appearance alongside TV chef Jamie Oliver and speaking openly about her health battle when she was a teenager.Danielle joined EastEnders in 2011 as Lola, before leaving the soap to pursue other projects four years later.Talking about her exit in 2015, the actress said in a statement: "I've had the most amazing time at EastEnders having been involved in some exciting story lines, including giving birth in a live scene."I'll miss everyone here and am looking forward to the future."Her announcement left both fans and members of the EastEnders team devastated, with Executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins praising Danielle for her performance in the soap, saying: "[She] is a fantastic actress and I genuinely look forward to seeing her since in future roles away from the Square."From there, Danielle had further success with roles in TV series including Casualty, but also forged a career in horror films too.Between 2017-2019, Danielle appeared in a number of horror films including Fanged Up, Two Graves, Monster, Dead Ringer and The Tombs.However, she revealed that she could not wait to return to the role of Lola Pierce, telling Mirror Online: "I was stereotyped – it was the classic prostitute or pole dancing role.

Freedom Convoy” that has held taken over the downtown for the last three weeks.Not only were two protest organizers, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, arrested Thursday evening, Friday’s Emergencies Act debate in the House of Commons has also been cancelled.“A police operation is expected in the downtown core of Ottawa,” speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, said in a tweet on Friday.

NME about what US fans can expect from live music during the next stage of the ongoing pandemic.With some tours and festivals continuing to be postponed and others’ rescheduled dates due to start in the months ahead, some concern and confusion remains over what to expect from the state of live music this year. The producers of Governors Ball music festival, the people behind ticket-selling app Bandsintown, and an infectious disease specialist told us their insights and projections for events and festivals in 2022.Live music discovery and ticket purchasing app Bandsintown have reported an increase of 8 million users in the last six months. Fabrice Sergent, the app’s managing partner, told NME that those numbers were “pretty astonishing,” adding that recent ticket-buying behaviour in the US showed that “demand for live events is very strong.”“In terms of the number of upcoming shows and festivals being announced [in 2022], we’re still at about half of the number that were announced during this same period of time in the US in 2019 and 2020,” he said. Even with 50 per cent less shows, however, Bandsintown still described “a high level of consumer interest”.“We saw a very strong January in terms of the number of tickets sold; it was twice as many as 2019.

NEW YORK - The battle to unionize Amazon workers is intensifying after labor officials officially set a date for a union election in a Staten Island facility next month.The election, which will be held in-person, is slated for between March 25-30, confirmed the National Labor Relations Board Thursday. The ballot count will be conducted on March 31. An independent and fledgling group called the Amazon Labor Union is spearheading the push.Meanwhile, Amazon workers in a Bessemer, Alabama facility are voting by mail for the second time on whether to form a union.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have released surveillance video of a carjacking that occurred earlier this week as they search for a suspect.The incident occurred Wednesday morning, around 2 a.m. at the Amera gas station on the 4700 block of West Girard Avenue. Police say the victim pulled into the gas station in a white Toyota RAV4.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - As Los Angeles County residents endure rising crime and increasing homelessness, Sheriff Alex Villanueva is slamming what he describes as a political push fueled by defund police activists to fire 4,000 sheriff department employees who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.Villanueva, who oversees the largest sheriff's department in the nation, said he’s the "only one left standing" when providing counterbalance against the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which has progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón "in their back pocket." RELATED: LA County Supervisors move to take COVID vaccine enforcement out of Villanueva's hands"This is nothing but a power grab by the board. And it's shameful, and it's going to be harmful to public safety," Villanueva told Fox News Digital.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter was sentenced Friday morning to two years in prison after a jury found her guilty of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter in the April 2021 shooting death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright.Presiding Judge Regina Chu said there was no question that Potter is extremely remorseful when she announced a downward departure from state guidelines with a total sentence of 24 months, with 16 months served in prison, and the remaining on supervised release. Potter will receive credit for 58 days served. Chu said she found the facts and circumstances of the case justified a downward departure from state guidelines.

With over half of UK’s population now boostered, more and more new studies are suggesting that Covid-19 has an impact on the body's hormonal balance and, as a result, affects menstruation. Even though the effects seem to be different for each woman, there is no denying that Covid-19 and vaccinations are impacting menstrual cycles.

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ivermectin did not prevent patients with Covid-19 from becoming severely ill, a study by Malaysian researchers has revealed. 

tensest standoff with the West since the Cold War, Russia plans to give its nuclear weapons apparatus a practice run this weekend.The multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles set for Saturday follow a warning from U.S. President Joe Biden that Russia could invade Ukraine within days.NATO says Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to keep his promises of withdrawing some of an estimated 150,000 troops assembled around Ukraine’s borders, dashing hopes for an imminent de-escalation of the crisis.

PHILADELPHIA - Work is finished on a multibillion-dollar pipeline system that connects the vast Marcellus Shale gas field in western Pennsylvania to an export terminal near Philadelphia, according to its corporate owner, which faces criminal charges that it fouled waterways and residential water supplies during pipeline construction.Energy Transfer said Wednesday that construction work on its Mariner East pipeline network was completed this month. The announcement was included in the company's fourth-quarter earnings report.

virus and are primed to fight it off if they encounter omicron, or even another variant.About half of eligible Americans have received booster shots, there have been nearly 80 million confirmed infections overall and many more infections have never been reported. One influential model uses those factors and others to estimate that 73% of Americans are, for now, immune to omicron, the dominant variant, and that could rise to 80% by mid-March.This will prevent or shorten new illnesses in protected people and reduce the amount of virus circulating overall, likely tamping down new waves.

PHILADELPHIA - A person of interest is in police custody following in Thursday's shooting a food delivery driver in Center City, according to police.  The incident, which police say started over a parking dispute, occurred near 17th and Chestnut Streets just after 1:50 p.m.According to investigators, a delivery driver who was picking up a food order double parked his vehicle, blocking in another driver.

cargo ship carrying vehicles from Germany to the U.S caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday and remains adrift near the Azores Islands.The Portuguese navy rescued all the 22 crew members from the ship, named the Felicity Ace, which was scheduled to arrive in the Port of Davisville, Rhode Island, on Feb. 23.No one was injured, but the Felicity Ace was carrying an unknown number of Volkswagen Group vehicles, including Porsches, in its hold, which has a capacity of 4,000 vehicles."Our immediate thoughts are of relief that the 22 crew of the merchant ship 'Felicity Ace' are safe and well," Porsche said in a statement to Fox News Autos."A number of our cars are among the cargo.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A family that died of heat exhaustion during a grueling summer hike in Northern California sent a last, desperate text pleading for help, authorities said Thursday.The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office released information pulled from the cellphone of Jonathan Gerrish after months of work with an FBI forensics team.One text made shortly before noon on Aug. 15 to a person whose name wasn’t released asked: "Can you help us" and added: "No water or ver (over) heating with baby," the San Francisco Chronicle reported.But the area had bad cellphone service and the text never went through.

CAMBRIDGE, MA - FEBRUARY 17: University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas smiles on the podium after winning the 500 freestyle during the 2022 Ivy League Womens Swimming and Diving Championships at Blodgett Pool on February 17, 2022 in Cambridge, Ma CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - There isn’t much to indicate anything other than a typical college swim meet is taking place this week at Harvard University’s Blodgett Pool.No demonstrations or protests outside the building. But there is evidence of the discussion surrounding the sport during the past year.An "8 Against Hate" sign is displayed above the pool between flags representing each of the schools competing in the Ivy League women’s swimming championship.

COVID-19, a decrease of 68 compared with the previous day. Of those, 119 people were in intensive care units, a decline of five.This comes after a total of 112 patients were admitted while 180 were discharged across the province in the last day.Quebec also recorded 1,837 new novel coronavirus infections as part of its daily tally.

World Health Organization (WHO) said. Genomic sequencing is one of the best methods to identify new variants of the virus. 

Covid patients being forced to wait outside hospitals as the city battles the surging Omicron cases.Hong Kong has seen its highest daily toll of infections recorded – 6,600 cases on Friday (February 18) – since the beginning of the pandemic.The global city's insane "Covid zero" plan backfired when the government failed to keep the cases at bay despite closing its border to the world and maintaining a hellish 21-day quarantine for returning travellers.Videos shared on a local Facebook group show patients waiting on stretchers outside Caritas Hospital in Kowloon as ambulances pulled up at the kerb.Doctors and nurses, all covered in protective gear, are seen going back and forth to the A&E department to tend for the patients.In another video posted by local resident Po Sang, dozens of residents queue up around a block for a Covid rapid test.The mass queue has seen members of the public waiting for up to two hours to get tested.About 11 public hospitals are working beyond capacity, with a waiting time of up to eight hours at emergency rooms.

COVID on Friday, with 352 in intensive care units as figures continue to trend downwards. Hospitalizations are at the lowest point since early January.This is down by 61 hospitalizations and a decrease of four in ICUs since the previous day. Last Friday, there were 1,829 hospitalizations with 435 in ICU.The province recently began distinguishing between those who were admitted to hospital directly because of COVID, and those who were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.Of the 1,281 people in hospital with COVID-19, 51 per cent of them were admitted because of the virus, while 49 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.Of the 352 people in ICUs with the virus, 81 per cent were admitted because of COVID, while 19 per cent were admitted for other reasons.

MUMBAI :

COVID-19 vaccine starting this weekend.The Health Ministry announced the decision Friday based on new advice from the province’s immunization committee.“Note that the booster dose should be administered three months or more after the last dose of vaccine received against COVID-19,” the ministry said in a statement.The committee recommends teenagers who are at higher risk of complications from the virus get the third dose. It will also be made available to anyone older than 12 if they wish to get a booster shot.

Freedom Convoy” encamped for 22 days in the nation’s capital is now underway, with police warning of significant numbers of officers on the ground and urging those involved to remain peaceful.Tactical officers from multiple jurisdictions are on the ground in the core with rifles, while Ottawa Police Service officers could be seen with gas masks and duffle bags on Friday morning.Ottawa police also warned journalists covering the operation to “keep a distance and stay out of police operations for your safety.”“Anyone found within areas undergoing enforcement may be subject to arrest.”A media availability will take place later in the day, police said.Parliament nixed plans for both the House of Commons and the Senate to meet on Friday over the Emergencies Act invocation, with House leaders expressing security concerns. Live updates on the police operation to end the convoy blockade The University of Ottawa also issued a push notification to staff and students warning them to avoid the area due to “increased police action.”“There is a large police presence on Nicholas Street, protesters are being advised to leave immediately,” said police in a tweet Friday.

WASHINGTON - Three popular powdered infant formulas recently linked to bacterial contamination are being recalled in the U.S. after four babies were hospitalized, including one who died, according to U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities have announced two arrests following an investigation into situation where police say a Philadelphia family was held captive throughout a weekend.Police say the situation began back on Friday, Feb. 4 when a 45-year-old man was robbed and abducted by three suspects in front of his home on the 4600 block of Decatur Street in Holmesburg. Philadelphia Police Captain Jack Ryan told reporters that the "criminal gang" ten entered the home and held the family of three, including a 10-month-old child, captive throughout the weekend.When the victim’s father and a friend came to the house during the weekend, police say they were also held captive by the group. During the weekend, police say the suspects forced the victim to withdraw significant amounts of cash from various banks as his family continued to be held hostage. Ryan says at one point during the weekend one of the family members was tortured.

World Health Organisations (WHO), however, cautioned that the number of cases was low as there was a drop in the testing rate globally. 

House of Commons debate on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s use of the Emergencies Act to handle the so-called “freedom convoy” demonstrations has been cancelled on Friday.There is no indication at this time that the additional debate on Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be cancelled, and a vote is still expected to be held “early next week,” according to the government.A note from Speaker Anthony Rota noted the cancellation is spurred on by an impending police operation set to take place by Parliament Hill and around Ottawa’s downtown core.“The #HoC will not sit today, Friday, February 18. A police operation is expected in the downtown core of Ottawa.

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vaccinated 80% of its adult eligible population. 

ROSWELL, Ga. - Sixteen-month-old Lock Samples has grown up sticking out.Everywhere the Roswell, Georgia toddler goes, his mother Katelyn Samples says, he turns heads."We can't go anywhere without someone making a comment, whether it's the park or Publix," Samples says. "People come up to us, they ask to touch it.

severe thunderstorms in the South and near whiteout conditions in the Midwest is quickly pushing through the Eastern Seaboard, and will produce its final spat of wet weather on Friday.Forecast models show rain and snow will be possible in the Northeast and scattered showers will impact areas mainly along I-95 from the mid-Atlantic into Florida.Accumulations of snow will be limited to interior regions of the Northeast and New England, while the big cities and coastal communities see mostly rain.Snow is possible in interior sections of the Northeast and New England, with rain likely for the big cities and along the coast. (FOX Weather) Rainfall totals in the Southeast are also expected to remain light and a widespread outbreak of severe storms is not anticipated.All the precipitation is expected to be offshore by Friday evening.Meteorologists say the front will leave behind cooler air in its wake, with temperatures from Florida into the Northeast taking a temporary plunge over the weekend.Expected rainfall through Friday.

Lewis Hamilton has won Sports Personality of the Year and accepted the award from home as the socially distanced ceremony saw Gary Lineker play keepie-uppie with a toilet roll.  Captain Tom Moore introduced tonight's ceremony on BBC One before he was given a special honour for his fundraising efforts, while Marcus Rashford was also praised for his campaigning.

Naga Munchetty addresses Carol Kirkwood's brutal BBC Breakfast swipeThis means, Gemma and Gorka have been living apart from each other for over a month.Despite their distance, this hasn’t stopped the former Hollyoaks actress from sending her support from home.Tonight, Gorka struggled to hold back tears as Gemma and their daughter Mia sent him and Maisie a good luck message on Strictly: It Takes Two.The sweet message comes ahead of the show’s final this weekend.Gemma’s beau and Maisie will compete for the Glitterball trophy against HRVY and Janette Manrara, Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse and Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer.Discussing the final contestants on The Steph Show, the Hits radio host said it was a “tough call” on who could win the