WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans were warned again on Tuesday not to travel for Christmas as the latest COVID-19 surge left hospitals struggling to find beds for the sick and political leaders imposed restrictions to try to curb new infections, making for a grim holiday season.
A new, even more contagious variant of the coronavirus quickly spreading across Britain caused more fear in Americans already weary from nine months of the pandemic and prompted talks among top U.S. officials to ban travel from the United Kingdom
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MIDDLE EAST
Israel to hold another national election in March; 4th in 2 years.
Iraq orders vaccines, imposes travel bans amid Covid-19 'new strain'.
KRG asks US forces to deploy along Kurdish-controlled part of Iraqi-Syrian border.
UAE’s economy projected to shrink 6% amid oil slump, COVID-19.
Lebanon's brain drain: Doctors, nurses, engineers leaving amid crisis.
ASIA
Afghanistan conflict: Kabul car bombing kills four doctors.
Millions facing winter power shortages in China as coal supply squeezed.
Russian and Chinese bombers fly joint patrol over Pacific.
'Good riddance,' China says as Germany leaves U.N. Security Council.
South Korea bans dropping anti-Pyongyang leaflets.
Thai seafood market coronavirus infections top 1,000.
Taiwan reports first local COVID-19 transmission since April.
Sydney eases virus restrictions for Christmas.
Tibetan leader welcomes U.S. bill that reaffirms rights, angering China.
AFRICA
CAR rebels seize Bambari city, Russia confirms sending military.
US navy ships arrive in Somalia for withdrawal.
Sudan, Ethiopia hold border talks; area near Tigray contested.
Sisi brushes off possibility of military action in Libya.
UN probe accuses Mali army of war crimes, armed groups of crimes against humanity.
U.S. passes bill to restore Sudan's sovereign immunity.
Tunisia says it does not intend to normalise relations with Israel.
EUROPE
EU and UK in 'final push' for post-Brexit trade deal.
COVID travel ban leaves hundreds of trucks stuck in UK.
Scrap UK coronavirus travel bans, EU urges.
France to reopen border with United Kingdom.
Europe faces slower-than-expected economic recovery, IMF warns.
Putin signs law reinforcing former presidents’ immunity.
AMERICAS
Mutant super-infectious English variant of coronavirus that is feared to spread more easily among children 'is probably already in the US and could even have started in America'.
Trump rejects Covid-19 relief package, calling it 'a disgrace'.
For coronavirus relief, Trump demands Congress increase direct payments to Americans.
President Trump grants several high-profile pardons.
Overdose deaths outnumber COVID-19 deaths more than 3 to 1 in San Francisco.
Biden says huge cyberattack cannot go unanswered.
Not my Hunter! Biden says he STILL believes his son's laptop revelations were Russian disinformation then calls Fox News reporter who asked question 'a one horse pony'.
US economy expanded at record pace in Q3 but COVID threat remains.
Nicaragua essentially bans opposition from 2021 elections.
Marcelo Crivella: Rio mayor arrested over bribery claims.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
AFRICOM sends warning to Al-Shabaab as US troops begin withdrawing from Somalia.
Ahead of first anniversary of Soleimani’s death, Iran still eyeing retaliation against the United States.
Ex-Pakistani PM: Pakistan supports both Taliban, Al-Qaeda.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
S&P 500 ends lower as new COVID storm clouds overshadow stimulus passage.
Google, Facebook, coordinated antitrust response: report.
US blacklists companies with possible military ties.
Charities turn to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for donations.
