Pre-Christmas Omicron surge leads to record new British COVID cases
HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/BRITAIN-CASES (UPDATE 1, PIX):UPDATE 1-Pre-Christmas Omicron surge leads to record new British COVID cases
US STOCKS-S&P 500 inches closer to record high as Omicron fears ease
USA-STOCKS/ (UPDATE 3):US STOCKS-S&P 500 inches closer to record high as Omicron fears ease
Ethiopia government says military won't cross into Tigray for now
ETHIOPIA-CONFLICT/:Ethiopia government says military won't cross into Tigray for now
Merck and Pfizer COVID-19 pills effective against Omicron -U.S. FDA official
HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/MERCK & CO-FDA-OMICRON (URGENT):Merck and Pfizer COVID-19 pills effective against Omicron -U.S. FDA official
Lebanon's top Christian party signals possible end of Hezbollah alliance
LEBANON-CRISIS/HEZBOLLAH (PIX):Lebanon's top Christian party signals possible end of Hezbollah alliance
France to report around 88,000 new COVID cases Thursday -health minister
HEALTH–CORONAVIRUS/FRANCE (URGENT):France to report around 88,000 new COVID cases Thursday -health minister
Biden administration says U.S. prepared for Russia talks next month
RUSSIA-UKRAINE/USA (URGENT):Biden administration says U.S. prepared for Russia talks next month
Four injured in fire at Exxon's Baytown, Texas oil refinery
REFINERY-FIRE/EXXON-BAYTOWN (UPDATE 7, PIX):UPDATE 7-Four injured in fire at Exxon's Baytown, Texas oil refinery
Italy reports 168 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, 44,595 new cases
HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/ITALY-TALLY:Italy reports 168 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, 44,595 new cases
India's Modi tells states to beef up health facilities as Omicron cases rise
HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/INDIA (UPDATE 2, PIX, TV):UPDATE 2-India's Modi tells states to beef up health facilities as Omicron cases rise