Crowd surge at Liberia church gathering kills 29

Boosters, lockdown, laissez faire — here's a look at how countries around the world are reacting to the omicron variant.

After China ended 2021 with its biggest one-week number of coronavirus cases in two years, the government countered with one of the strictest responses in the world. Total lockdowns have returned to China, with millions of people forced to stay home. But there has been a backlash, with reports of food shortages and harsh penalties for those breaking the rules. We take a closer look.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees have congregated on the banks of the Ganges to mark Makar Sankranti, amid soaring COVID-19 infections.

Health officials are worried the sheer number of new infections will once again overwhelm the Himalayan country's fragile health care system.

A stampede at a church gathering in Liberia's capital Monrovia killed 29 people overnight, the deputy information minister told state radio on Thursday. A large rush of people at a church gathering in Liberia's capital Monrovia has left at least 29 people dead overnight into Thursday, according to authorities.

Inflation fed by high oil and gas prices hit record levels in Europe for the third month in a row, extending pain for consumers and sharpening questions about future moves by the European Central Bank. Once again, soaring energy prices played a major role, rising a painful 28.6%.

Decades of conflict has made Iraq a hotbed for trafficking. From weapons to drugs, Iraq has dominated headlines. However, less attention has been focused on the trafficking of wild animals. In fact, the Middle East is considered one of the hubs of animal trafficking. Our correspondent in Iraq, Lucile Wassermann, went to meet the players in the trading of wildlife to understand the drivers behind it.

Global stock markets have taken a beating as investors rush for safe havens amid an escalation in geopolitical tensions over Ukraine. Russian stocks and bonds as well as the ruble are among the biggest losers.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, says the geopolitical volatility and limited supplies mean oil prices will continue to rise and are likely to pass well beyond the symbolic $100 per barrel level.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed the lives of many Ukrainians. DW reporter Oleksandr Kunyzkyj visited the western city of Lviv which has seen thousands of people arriving from different parts of the country.

A group of conservationists is using environmental DNA to track animals in Liberian forests to help better understand their intricate biodiversity and ensure further protection of these environments.

Crude oil futures touched 13-year highs on Monday as the US and UK signalled a willingness to include the previously untouched Russian energy sector in sanctions. Meanwhile, more US firms and Chinese social media giant TikTok are suspending Russian operations, and new UK laws to sanction Russian oligarchs could mean big changes for London's luxury real estate market.