A sign reading 'Stay safe' in Regent Street, in London, as a slew of nations moved to stop air travel from southern Africa over the new omicron COVID-19 variant

WHO says newest COVID variant has many mutations

Full Episode

A sign reading ‘Stay safe’ in Regent Street, in London, as a slew of nations moved to stop air travel from southern Africa over the new omicron COVID-19 variant, Nov. 26, 2021.

Alberto Pezzali/AP

The World Health Organization has announced after a meeting on Friday that the new omicron variant of COVID-19 “has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.” Also, a major resurgence in vinyl is putting a strain on the few record plants left to press them, as well as the chemical used to make the vinyl. And, many people are wondering where their purchases are as they get stuck in the backlogs of global supply chains.

In This Episode

New COVID variant raises concerns, travel restrictions imposed
UK, France at odds over migrant deaths
Church of Sweden apologizes for abuses of Indigenous people in Arctic Europe
French law aims to protect indie bookshops
Spain looks to renewables amid energy price hikes
Supply and demand for vinyl records
Plastic ban goes after bubble tea straws
US addiction to “fast fashion” has environmental impact on Ghana
Where’s my stuff?
A beloved London pub gets destroyed — then rebuilt