Christmas lights illuminate central Taipei

Thousands of people in New Taipei City celebrated with a Christmas tree light display Saturday evening despite wind and rain.

People began to cheer around the Christmas tree at 1730 local time (09:30 GMT) when the lights were turned on.

They were in ba uoyant mood and seemingly unconcerned with the threat of the omicron coronavirus variant.

Taiwan reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, all contracted overseas, with no fatalities, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center.