After Shanghai recently reported a new daily record for asymptomatic coronavirus infections, the city is locking down in two stages. It's the biggest step taken in the Chinese metropolis since the Covid-19 pandemic began more than two years ago. But some residents are complaining that the cost of China's strict aggressive zero-Covid strategy has become too great. We take a closer look.

China's largest city is testing more than half of its population as it attempts to curb an outbreak of the coronavirus. After more than two years, Italy has ended its state of emergency.

DW speaks to Ben Cowling of the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said his announcement of scrapping obligatory isolation for people infected with COVID was a mistake and sent the wrong signal.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth said COVID-19 had left "one very tired and exhausted" as she talked to health workers and a former patient about her own experience of "this horrible pandemic." Britain's 95-year-old monarch tested positive for COVID in February and was described as having had mild, cold-like symptoms. She later returned to light duties.

Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Akin Abayomi speaks to GuardianTV on how Lagos fought the deadly Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). An infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that killed millions of people all around the world including Lagos.

Some coronavirus restrictions are being eased in Shanghai, despite the Chinese city reporting recent record highs of new cases. Residents have grown increasingly frustrated as they've struggled to find enough food and medicine. We get analysis from Carl Minzner, senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor at Fordham Law School specialising in Chinese politics and law.

Floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rain have caused widespread damage around the port city of Durban. At least 45 people have been killed in recent flooding that hit the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, authorities said on April 12.

A government official says flooding in KwaZulu-Natal province has caused the deaths of 259 people. Many people are still missing and thousands of others have been displaced.

While rich countries borrowed at low rates and saved their economies, poorer nations have spent billions servicing debt. The war in Ukraine will only worsen the pressures on core product prices, officials warn.

At least 306 people have been killed in flooding around Durban in South Africa. On a visit to the stricken city, President Cyril Ramaphosa described the devastation as a "catastrophe of enormous proportions". Also, Amnesty International accuses Mali of stalling war crimes and abuse investigations. And after the French city of Bordeaux, the international tour of an exhibition highlighting the African experience heads to Abidjan in Ivory Coast.

Thousands have been displaced and scores are missing in what is considered to be one of the worst natural disasters on record. South Africa's weather service is warning of even more heavy rains.