First omicron-related death reported in UK

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK’s first reported death from the omicron variant of the coronavirus and said restrictions were in place to help mitigate an upcoming tidal wave of cases. Now, Brits are lining up for booster shots and bracing for new restrictions during the holiday season. Also, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has taken a hard line against his political opponents. That’s led members of the Belarus Free Theater to conclude that they need to leave the country. Plus, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dropped a playlist on Spotify for his Southeast Asia trip to Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar. It includes a rock ballad called “Terlalu Manis,” or “Too Sweet,” by Slank, one of the most popular Indonesian rock bands ever.

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