2022年1月13日星期四

Thursday Briefing: Americans grapple with prolonged testing woes amid Omicron surge

Thursday, January 13, 2022

by Linda Noakes

Hello

Here's what you need to know.

Poland warns Europe is at the greatest risk of war in 30 years, Omicron spreads in China ahead of the Winter Olympics, and was Boris Johnson's apology heartfelt enough?

Today's biggest stories

A man gets a COVID-19 test in the Manhattan borough of New York City, January 12, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

COVID-19

Long lines snake around entire city blocks as Americans scramble to get tested for COVID-19. At-home testing kits fly off the shelves at pharmacies and drug stores. Demand that surged before the holidays has yet to subside in the new year. As the Omicron variant pushes infections to record levels people across the country have voiced frustration with the paucity of tests.

The Chinese port city of Tianjin reported an increase in COVID-19 infections as it stepped up efforts to rein in an outbreak that has spread the Omicron variant to another city.

AstraZeneca said that preliminary data from a trial showed that its COVID-19 shot, Vaxzevria, generated an increase in antibodies against the Omicron and other variants when given as a third booster dose.

Omicron causes milder illness compared with previous versions of the coronavirus. But here's why you should still try to avoid catching it.

A coronavirus pandemic which lasts five years, another pandemic in a decade, and ever more transmissible variants are among the scenarios life insurers are predicting after COVID-19 claims jumped more than expected in 2021.

A Ukrainian navy sailor is seen onboard a gunboat in the Azov Sea port of Berdyansk, January 12, 2022. REUTERS/Anastasia Vlasova


WORLD

Europe is nearer war than it has been in 30 years, Poland's foreign minister warned during the third round of diplomacy this week aimed at defusing tensions over Russia's demand that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO. Russia said that talks had so far failed to bridge fundamental differences over the Ukraine crisis and Moscow's demands that NATO pull back from central and eastern Europe.

Denmark warned of a rising espionage threat from Russia, China, Iran and others, including in the Arctic region where global powers are jostling for resources and sea routes.

The Biden administration imposed its first sanctions over North Korea's weapons programs following a series of North Korean missile launches, including two since last week. The sanctions targeted six North Koreans, one Russian and a Russian firm Washington said were responsible for procuring goods for the programs from Russia and China.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized for attending a "bring your own booze" gathering at his official residence during Britain's first coronavirus lockdown, as a senior figure in his party and opponents said he should resign.

Tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic was included in the Australian Open official draw though uncertainty hung over his participation with the government yet to decide whether to cancel the top seed's visa for a second time.

U.S.

President Joe Biden will seek to rally Senate Democrats in a meeting at the Capitol today to unite and alter the chamber's rules to pass voting-rights legislation.

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell blasted Biden's push for a voting-rights bill. "The president's rant yesterday was incoherent, incorrect and beneath his office," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

The congressional committee investigating the deadly attack on the Capitol asked House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to voluntarily answer questions about Donald Trump's actions on the day of the riot.

The armorer overseeing weapons used in the filming of the Western 'Rust' sued the prop supplier, alleging his company distributed live ammunition on the set where police say actor Alec Baldwin fired a round that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

U.S. prosecutors have charged a man with supplying performance-enhancing drugs to athletes at the Tokyo Olympics, a first under a federal law allowing criminal charges against doping conspirators at events involving U.S. athletes, broadcasters and sponsors.

BUSINESS

Jittery global financial markets saw signs of stabilization, with major equity bourses and bond yields holding their ground and the dollar wilting after the highest U.S. inflation reading in nearly 40 years.

Sports streaming service DAZN is nearing a deal to acquire Britain's BT Sport in an estimated $800 million transaction that will give it access to sought-after rights to the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League matches, sources told Reuters.

Taiwanese chip firm TSMC expects strong growth to accelerate in coming years due to booming semiconductor demand, as the tech giant reported a record quarterly profit and said it plans to spend at least a third more than last year.

Cash-strapped Chinese developers are scrambling to negotiate new terms with their bondholders to avoid defaults, with Shimao Group and Yuzhou Group the latest seeking extensions on their maturing debt.

A desire by British shoppers to celebrate Christmas at home spurred Tesco and Marks & Spencer to the top of the festive retail pile, with demand for premium food, wine and champagne helping both to upgrade profit forecasts.

Quote of the day

"All of this required us to invent things that had never been done before"

NASA begins process of bringing new space telescope into focus

Video of the day

Costa Concordia rescuer relives tragedy

Mario Pelligrini was among the rescuers who brought thousands to safety from the doomed cruise ship. The terrified faces he saw that night haunt him ten years on.

And finally…

Pope makes surprise visit to Rome record store

Pope Francis, a lover of classical music, slipped out of the Vatican to visit old friends who run a record shop and came away with a CD.

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

© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.
3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036

没有评论:

发表评论