U.S. equities rally for a second day, propelling Asian stocks higher as investors continue to look past COVID risks and count down to Christmas. In the U.K., COVID cases top 100,000 for the first time – as Wales and Northern Ireland set out new rules to tackle the Omicron-infused surge. The World Health Organisation warns “no country can boost its way out of the pandemic,” with Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus calling for greater vaccine equity. And Tesla shares rally as Elon Musk says he has almost completed his pledge to sell 10% of his stake in the EV-maker.

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