The importance of keeping an eye on the rest of the world while the country retires for Christmas

From Bethlehem to Tehran, our home and foreign correspondents on news were ready to respond while most remained paralysed by mince pies

Once again heaving with bodies on 2 January, the Tube was a reminder this week that while some occupations may allow for a couple of weeks’ holiday over the festive period, journalism is one that doesn’t exactly offer the same.

For this editor was also on the refreshingly quiet Tube to the office on 31 December and 1 January, the latter of which was a journey accompanied by many people only appearing to head home.

Throughout the Christmas period, The Independent’s newsdesk was perhaps a bit quieter than usual, but always staffed, and our foreign correspondents similarly remained always available at the end of a phone.