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Tuesday

The U.N. predicts that 2021 global tourism losses will barely improve over last year

Arriving South Korean tourists receive flower garlands at Phu Quoc international airport on November 20, 2021, as the island welcomes its first international tourists to arrive after a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine passport scheme kicked off this month in Vietnam. NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images

Business

The U.N. predicts that 2021 global tourism losses will barely improve over last year

The recent emergence of the highly transmissible omicron variant presents another potential hurdle as the tourism industry prepares for the upcoming winter holiday season.

Greece will mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for anyone over 60, or make them pay fines

Patients queue to get vaccinated against COVID-19, in Aristotelous Square, in the center of the Greek city of Thessaloniki on November 26, 2021. Sakis Mitroldis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Sakis Mitroldis/AFP via Getty Images

Europe

Greece will mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for anyone over 60, or make them pay fines

Anyone who refuses to get vaccinated will face monthly fines of 100 euros, or roughly $114. The monthly fine is substantial for retirees — the average pension is 730 euros a month.

Asia

China critics hope the WTA will inspire outcry about alleged human rights violations

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai made an assault allegation, then disappeared. She's re-emerged, but the Women's Tennis Association's unflinching support may inspire a wider outcry over China's actions.

China critics hope the WTA will inspire outcry about alleged human rights violations

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A former member of the Islamic State is convicted in the death of a Yazidi girl

The Iraqi Taha Al-J. is led into the courtroom at Frankfurt's Higher Regional Court before the verdict is pronounced in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday. Frank Rumpenhorst/AP hide caption

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Frank Rumpenhorst/AP

A former member of the Islamic State is convicted in the death of a Yazidi girl

A German court on Tuesday convicted the man of genocide and committing a war crime over the death of a 5-year-old Yazidi girl he had purchased as a slave and then chained up in the hot sun to die.

Health

The omicron variant might have originated in someone with a suppressed immune system

How did the coronavirus end up mutating into the omicron variant? One hypothesis is that it spent months replicating in the body of someone whose immune system was suppressed by uncontrolled HIV.

The omicron variant might have originated in someone with a suppressed immune system

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National Security

The U.S. has lifted the terrorist label on Colombia's FARC

The U.S. State Department removed Colombia's FARC rebel group from its list of international terrorist organizations.

The U.S. has lifted the terrorist label on Colombia's FARC

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Asia

A stronger China tests America's 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan

Rather than clarify its political intentions, the U.S. has stayed vague about Taiwan for four decades to maintain peace. But there are signs of a shift toward more clarity these days.

A stronger China tests America's 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan

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Barbados has removed the Queen of England as head of state and is now a republic

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Kareem Smith, a journalist with 'Barbados Today,' about the country removing the Queen of England as its head of state and what that means for Barbadians moving forward.

Barbados has removed the Queen of England as head of state and is now a republic

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Health

What we know about the omicron variant

The omicron variant of the not been found in the United States yet. Here's what's we known about it, how dangerous it's likely to be, and whether vaccines or new drugs will be effective against it.

What we know about the omicron variant

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Barbados breaks with the queen and becomes the world's newest republic

Barbados's Prime Minister Mia Mottley, left, asks the country's new president, Sandra Mason, seated at right, to make Barbadian singer Rihanna the country's 11th National Hero during a ceremony to declare Barbados a republic Tuesday. Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty Images

Barbados breaks with the queen and becomes the world's newest republic

With cheers and fireworks, the island nation became a parliamentary republic, swore in its first president and declared Barbadian-born Rihanna a national hero.

1 in 3 people working at Australia's parliament are sexually harassed, a report finds

Members of the Australian Parliament are sworn in on the first day of Federal Government in Canberra in 2008. An Australian government-commissioned report released on Tuesday, Nov. 30, revealed the alarming extent of sexual harassment among those working for some of its highest legislative and elected offices. Mark Graham/AP hide caption

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Mark Graham/AP

1 in 3 people working at Australia's parliament are sexually harassed, a report finds

A new report details the stunning culture of sexual harassment and bullying in Australia's parliamentary offices. It comes after another wave of #MeToo protests rocked the country in March.

The omicron variant was in Europe a week before South Africa reported it

Dutch health authorities say they've identified early cases of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus — including one from a sample taken the week before South Africa raised the alarm about the mutated variant. Other cases were found through tests at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images

The Coronavirus Crisis

The omicron variant was in Europe a week before South Africa reported it

The rapidly spreading variant was identified in retests of samples that were taken on Nov. 19 and 23 in the Netherlands, according to a Dutch health agency.