Covid-19: Is China’s vaccine diplomacy working?

July 12 marks the fifth anniversary of a landmark ruling by the independent Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague that rejected China's claims to contested islands in the South China Sea. Despite the 2016 ruling, Beijing has deployed forces to prevent fishers from the Philippines from accessing the waters.

US President Joe Biden has unveiled a new plan to tackle his country's COVID-19 emergency. Announcing the measures on his first full day in power, he said drastic action is needed.

With Europe still grappling with Covid-19, Talking Europe speaks to Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The EESC is the body that brings together European employers, trade unionists and representatives of social, occupational, economic and cultural organisations.

It's hoped that protein-based vaccines will help push the global COVID-19 vaccination program in poorer countries. Those who oppose vaccination are interested in them, too.

German doctors and their staff have been facing aggression and threats from vaccine opponents. They have described having frayed nerves as pandemic fatigue sets in among patients and medical staff.

With Europe still grappling with Covid-19, Talking Europe speaks to Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Thursday.⁣

The court has agreed to hear arguments about the Biden administration's vaccine or testing requirement for large employers, and a separate vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.

The head of the World Health Organization says rich countries are merely prolonging the pandemic by fueling vaccine inequality. "No country can boost its way out of the pandemic," he says.

Instead, mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a laboratory to teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.

A new report by Amnesty International details China's systematic persecution of the Uyghur minority. It shows how Beijing has carried out a campaign of repression against the predominantly Muslim minority, incarcerating millions in so-called "reeducation" camps. Will this report finally make the international community act? Phil Gayle asked Joanne Mariner from Amnesty International.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Friday.⁣⁣