Millions of people around the world have been forced to cancel plans or limit festivities under fresh Covid-19 lockdowns. After a pandemic year that has seen more than 1.7 million people die from Covid-19, new outbreaks are a reminder that despite emergency vaccine roll-outs, life is unlikely to return to normal quickly.
In Australia - often a rare bright spot in keeping the virus in check - a growing cluster of cases in northern Sydney has confined residents to seaside suburbs and prompted a ban on all but the smallest Christmas family gatherings.
In Europe, much of the continent is enduring resurgent outbreaks. Germany has been forced to cancel its famous Christmas markets and Pope Francis plans to bring the Vatican's Christmas midnight