AFCON 2021: Match venues, dates and stadium capacity

A deadly apartment fire in Xinjiang has triggered a wave of anti-zero-COVID protests across several cities in China. How will the Communist Party react as the movement gains momentum?

Protesters are demanding easing of COVID curbs in Beijing and Shanghai. People also took to the streets in the western Xinjiang's capital Urumqi after deaths in an apartment fire were blamed on lockdowns.

Two more teams qualify for the World Cup last 16, meaning that there are still 13 squads looking to book their place. If you thought the matches were exciting so far, they're bound to get even tougher over the coming days. Portugal make it through with a double from Bruno Fernandes, as do Brazil despite Neymar’s absence. Plus, Cameroon come from behind in a 3-3 thriller against Serbia, while Ghana beat South Korea 3-2.

In a DW interview, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he hoped Chinese authorities would "respect" the protesters' freedom, and expressed that he did not see a way out of Russia's war on Ukraine "at this point in time."

Authorities in at least seven districts in Guangzhou announced lifting temporary lockdowns. State media also cited a top official as saying the virus was weakening.

Young Cameroonians living with HIV/AIDS are fighting to end the stigma associated with the virus. Many patients still lack access to life-saving anti-retroviral drugs.

Statements by authorities suggesting a relaxation of pandemic control measures look more like a move to relieve political pressure than a turnaround in policy. Experts say fully opening is still too risky.

So close yet so far for the indomitable lions of Cameroon as Vincent Aboubacar's 92nd minute strike snatched victory over Brazil. But they still crash out after the Swiss recorded a brilliant win over Serbia in a five-goal thriller.

The New Zealand government is to investigate its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The country's zero-tolerance policy on the spread of the disease was initially praised but later criticized for its wider cost.

Judges have ruled that Germany should be able to take part in the EU's €750-billion COVID-19 reconstruction fund. The court rejected two complaints that participation hands too much power from Berlin to Brussels.

China has said it will allow COVID patients with mild symptoms to isolate at home, it has also reduced the scope of lockdowns where cases are noticed and made regional travel easier. This follows widespread protests.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino heaped praise on the Qatar 2022 World Cup thus far, saying teams from across the world are competitively closer than ever before with all six geographical permanently inhabited continents having representatives in the knockout stages for the first time in history.