Monday Briefing: Omicron variant found in nearly one-third of U.S. states

The Reuters Daily Briefing Monday, December 6, 2021 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. Myanmar's ousted Suu Kyi is jailed for four years, stock markets stage a tentative rebound, and did Omicron pick up a piece of the common-cold virus? Today's biggest stories A man in costume waits for people to tip him for pictures near a COVID-19 mobile test unit, New York City, December 5, 2021 COVID-19 The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has spread to about one-third of U.S. states, but the Delta version remains the majority of COVID-19 infections as cases rise nationwide, U.S. health officials said. Thailand has detected its first case of Omicron in a U.S. citizen who traveled to the country from Spain late last month, becoming the 47th country to have found the new variant. South Africa is preparing its hospitals for more admissions, as the variant pushes the country into a fourth wave. COVID shots are finally arriving, but Africa can't get them all into arms. Omicron likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly one that causes the common cold - present in the same infected cells, according to researchers. Police fired teargas and used water cannons to disperse protesters pelting officers with cobblestones and fireworks as a demonstration in Brussels over government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions turned violent. Yangon residents beat on pots and pans to protest against a crackdown by soldiers over a protest, in Myanmar, December 5, 2021 WORLD A court in military-ruled Myanmar jailed deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi for four years on charges of incitement and breaching coronavirus restrictions, said a source following proceedings in a case that critics described as "farcical". We detail Suu Kyi's journey from heroine to villain to convict. Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano continued to spew hot clouds of ash, days after a powerful eruption killed 15 people and left dozens more missing. The tallest mountain on the island of Java erupted dramatically on Saturday, blanketing surrounding villages. Russia said it was reinforcing its military base in Tajikistan with 30 new tanks and that its forces at the facility had carried out exercises with missile defence systems, highlighting Moscow's concern about turmoil in Afghanistan. French far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour promised a "reconquest" against decades of decline at his first political rally, as scuffles with anti-racism protesters broke out on its fringes. With echoes of Donald Trump's first campaign for U.S. president, Zemmour promised to slash immigration and taxes to cheers from flag-waving supporters. The United States Embassy in Tokyo warned in a tweet of incidents of suspected racial profiling of non-Japanese by Japanese police. Japan is a mostly ethnically homogeneous country where some people equate more immigrants with a rise in crime, although foreign labor is increasingly needed to make up for a declining and aging population. U.S. The sex abuse trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell enters its second week after jurors last week heard the testimony of a woman who says Maxwell set her up for abuse by late financier Jeffrey Epstein when she was a teenager. Detectives plan to interview an artist connected to the Detroit studio where the parents of a 15-year-old accused Michigan school shooter were found following a manhunt, a local sheriff said. We look at how manslaughter charges against the parents break new legal ground. Former Senator David Perdue plans to challenge Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in next year's election, media reported, opening a new Republican Party rift in a battleground state that handed Democrats their current Senate majority. Bob Dole, who overcame grievous World War Two combat wounds to become a pre-eminent figure in U.S. politics as a longtime Republican senator from Kansas and his party's unsuccessful 1996 presidential nominee, has died at the age of 98. Dole was renowned for a sense of humor that could be self-deprecating, good natured or quite barbed. BUSINESS European stocks opened higher while U.S. futures also traded in the black in a tentative rebound from last week when the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and expectations of tighter U.S. monetary policy rocked global markets. Bitcoin tumbled almost 5% as the start of the week offered little respite to the world's largest cryptocurrency after a bruising weekend where at one point it lost over a fifth of its value. China Evergrande Group shares slumped to a record low as authorities intervened to reassure markets after the heavily-indebted property developer warned on a coupon payment, pushing it closer to default. Alibaba said it will reorganise its international and domestic e-commerce businesses and replace its chief financial officer - changes that come as the tech giant grapples with an onslaught of competition, a slowing economy and a regulatory crackdown. Weaker demand from abroad drove a much bigger than expected drop in German industrial orders, including cars, in October, further clouding the growth outlook for manufacturers in Europe's largest economy. Quote of the day "This will not be the last time a virus threatens our lives and our livelihoods" Sarah Gilbert Oxford vaccine creator Next pandemic could be more lethal than COVID Video of the day Total solar eclipse brings rare darkness to Antarctica Sunlight was completely blocked for a few minutes with the Sun, Moon and Earth in one direct line. And finally… Biden celebrates Bette Midler and Joni Mitchell at Kennedy Center Honors President Joe Biden celebrated artists including Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell and Lorne Michaels at the Kennedy Center Honors, bringing back presidential participation to an annual event skipped by Donald Trump. More from Reuters COVID-19 The Great Reboot Disrupted Legal News Breakingviews Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Share your thoughts You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing. Terms, conditions, and privacy statement © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036