Israelis entered a third lockdown on Sunday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging that it, alongside a vaccination campaign unequalled in its speed, would free them of the coronavirus pandemic earlier than any other nation.

European Union nations have kicked off a coordinated effort to give COVID-19 vaccination to adults among their 450 million citizens, a moment of hope on the continent.

Meanwhile, fears grow over a new variant of the coronavirus that is spreading across the United Kingdom with Japan barring the entry of all non-resident foreign nationals as a precaution against the strain.

Thailand is scrambling to contain a COVID-19 outbreak connected to a seafood market in a southern province, and residents of Sydney – Australia’s largest city – are awaiting word on whether any public New Year’s Eve celebrations will be allowed.