Coronavirus: The dangers of weak vaccines

US coronavirus cases on the rise: Epidemiologist Peter Chin-Hong speaks to DW

The total number of omicron cases detected in Germany rose sharply with the latest figures, which were the first to provide testing results and data from a working day after the Christmas break.

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has brought a "tidal wave" of new cases, according to the WHO. France has seen record numbers of positive cases – as have several other EU states. This week, President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to "piss off" the unvaccinated, limiting their access to certain social spaces like restaurants and cinemas as a means of convincing more of them to get their jabs. Meanwhile, more and more EU member states seem to be moving towards making vaccination mandatory. Austria is set to become the first EU country to make the jabs obligatory, as of February – with the measure valid until 2024.

Coronavirus shutdowns are ending across Africa. Officials don't view severe curbs as a suitable tool for containing the spread. Vaccinations alone won't cut it. Now, Africans are seeking a way to live with the virus.

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

A tweet claiming that Covid-19 vaccines were destroyed in Nigeria because of people power has been shown to be untrue. Vaccines were indeed trashed by the authorities, but this was due to low uptake as a result of vaccine hesitancy. We also take a look at a false claim that there are huge protests in Paris right now over pension reforms.

Which COVID-19 vaccines work longest? And what are their advantages and drawbacks?

Some of the vaccines developed to tackle COVID-19 use mRNA technology. Research is underway to deploy it to fight cancer as well. Each patient would get a custom vaccine tailored to his or her tumor that would cause minimal damage to other cells.

The tennis star is prepared to miss the French Open, Wimbledon and any tournament if they require jabs. He told the BBC that he is not against vaccines but wants "the freedom to choose what you put into your body."

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Saturday⁣. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Saturday.⁣

Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth has tested positive for COVID-19

More than 6 million people around the world have died from COVID-related causes, according to the US Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is struggling with a surge in cases.