Lockdowns cripple Chinese economy

As Amnesty publishes a report detailing allegations of police racial discrimination during coronavirus lockdowns, Spain’s former Justice Minister tells FRANCE 24 that the claims must be investigated, and if proven, prosecuted. Juan Fernando Lopez-Aguilar, chair of the EU Parliament’s Justice and Civil Liberties committee, also calls for abuses of civil liberties during EU states’ coronavirus responses, to be punished, if proven.

German state health ministers say restrictions imposed amid future coronavirus outbreaks should be localized on a small scale. This comes as the slaughterhouse behind a major lockdown resumes operations.

Many scientists hoped for the biggest annual fall in man-made emissions this year due to coronavirus measures which have grounded planes and kept commuters at home. But the UN described such a forecast as a "tiny blip."

Black Friday, the biggest shopping day in the US, will be more like a bleak Friday for brick-and-mortar retailers as shoppers continue their migration online. Still, city centers are here to stay.

Domestic abuse spikes during the holidays and the coronavirus lockdown will only make things worse. One-quarter of all women experience abuse in their lives and lockdown measures are making it harder to get help.

As much of the world tightens lockdowns to stem coronavirus, Dubai has flung its doors open, branding itself as a sunny, quarantine-free escape -- despite a sharp rise in cases. While mask-wearing and social distancing are strictly enforced, life in the tourism-reliant emirate looks much like normal, with its restaurants, hotels and mega-malls open for business. Daily detected cases hover in the mid-3,000s across the United Arab Emirates, which has a population of under 10 million, with 745 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

Consecutive lockdowns in the restive region for security and COVID reasons, coupled with a shutdown of high-speed internet and mobile connectivity, have hurt students' educational opportunities.

A study by the UNCTAD said online sales accounted for almost a fifth of turnover last year. One online retail giant in Africa, Berlin-based Jumia, stood out for a stellar first half of 2020.

A study by the UNCTAD said online sales accounted for almost a fifth of turnover last year. One online retail giant in Africa, Berlin-based Jumia, stood out for a stellar first half of 2020.

Lockdowns and other restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus crisis have led to a rise in teenage pregnancies in Africa. Aid organizations are warning of a regression in girls' rights to education and health.

As French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants to "piss off" the unvaccinated people in his country to push them into getting Covid-19 vaccines, the head of the European Parliament’s Human Rights Committee tells FRANCE 24 that while she is unconvinced by the phrasing, "it's really important to have a higher rate of vaccination in Europe and elsewhere, to guarantee that we don't go back to lockdowns".

China's economy grew by 8.1 percent last year, but the expansion slowed towards the end of 2021. FRANCE 24's Cole Stangler takes a closer look at the factors holding up growth, from sluggish retail sales to the high cost of Covid-19 lockdowns.