Global National: Dec. 13, 2021 | Canada's health-care system braces for impact from Omicron variant

Cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant are rising across Canada, triggering fears that hospitals could once again become overwhelmed. Jamie Mauracher explains doctors' warnings to Canadians, and the urgent message to Ottawa from chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam.

The COVID-19 variant is also prompting Nova Scotia to reimpose restrictions. Ross Lord explains how a spike in Atlantic Canada is being traced to an outbreak at one university, and how some schools are taking action to control the spread of the virus.

The United Kingdom is reintroducing some COVID-19 restrictions and ramping up third vaccine doses, as the country reports its first death from the Omicron variant. Crystal Goomansingh explains just how fast the variant is spreading there, and how it's putting pressure on hospitals.

As part of a class-action settlement reached in 2019, the federal government has now formally apologized to people who endured sexual assault, misconduct and discrimination within the Canadian Armed Forces. Abigail Bimman reports on the mea culpa, and the reaction from survivors.

Meanwhile, the federal government also says it's earmarking $40 billion to compensate Indigenous children who were needlessly taken away from their families and communities. This includes money Ottawa was ordered to pay by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, but this is not a formal settlement. Mike Le Couteur explains why, and has the reaction from Indigenous groups.

In the United States, people in Mayfield, Kentucky are still trying to make sense of the tornado that obliterated their entire town. Jackson Proskow has the story of one family's brush with death, and how the community is rallying together to help those in need.

And with Tesla's large success in the energy sector while SpaceX charts new courses in exploring the cosmos, entrepreneur Elon Musk has been named Time magazine's 'Person of the Year' for 2021. But the polarizing billionaire has also caused a fair share of controversy and criticism, so how did he get the title? Eric Sorensen explains.

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