Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II speaks on coronavirus

While it took just over a year for the global COVID death toll to hit 2.5 million, the next 2.5 million deaths were recorded over the past eight months as the highly contagious delta variant spread around the world.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has urged states to reopen vaccination centers as pressure grows to administer booster shots. Meanwhile, the world has passed five milion COVID deaths. DW has the latest.

Ukraine's vaccination drive has been met with skepticism and people are protesting strict COVID rules. Meanwhile, Turkey is starting to administer booster shots. DW has the latest.

Britain on Thursday (November 4) granted conditional authorization for Drugmaker Merck's COVID-19 pill, molnupiravir, the first pill shown to successfully treat COVID-19. It reduced hospitalizations, and deaths by around 50% in people severely infected with the coronavirus, according to interim clinical trial results announced on October 1. Due to the strong positive results, the Phase 3 trial is being stopped early at the recommendation of an independent group of medical advisers.

Starting Monday, Austria will ban unvaccinated patrons from entering cafes, restaurants and large events. Meanwhile, Australia has met its 80% vaccination target. DW has the latest.

More than 1,000 people demonstrated in the eastern German city against government coronavirus measures. Meanwhile, a domestic intelligence chief warned the COVID deniers' scene was becoming increasingly radicalized.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday the government took accusations of corruption very seriously and would hold lawmakers to account, but added that the process of investigating politicians needed to be changed.

Europe has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 infections since the start of the pandemic, followed by Asia. Meanwhile, Germany's incidence rate hit a new record for the second straight day. Follow DW for the latest.

Britain has backed a $546 million Rolls-Royce funding round to develop the country's first small modular nuclear reactor, in a drive to reach net zero carbon emissions and promote new technology with export potential. Hitting this goal by 2050 will require a huge increase in low-carbon power generation such as wind, solar and nuclear, but while large-scale new nuclear projects have struggled for funding, Britain is now banking on smaller versions.

The move is part of measures to hit the brakes on a wave of new COVID infections in Germany. Meanwhile, APEC leaders have agreed to cut tariffs on COVID vaccines. DW has the latest.

Children between the ages of 5 to 11 are now eligible for a vaccine. Meanwhile, Japan's economy contracted for the first time in two quarters because of infections over summer. DW has the latest.

Pharma giants are earning millions every day with COVID vaccines, but leaving poorer nations in the lurch, an activist alliance says. The WHO reports that the delta variant has "outcompeted" others. DW has the latest.