Malaysian PM criticizes caning

The new variant has come with a spike in cases, but it remains to be seen how much it will affect South African hospitals. New COVID infections have jumped from about 200 a day last month to more than 11,500 on Thursday.

A video distributed by the International Olympic Committee is not enough to reassure the tennis world. The Women's Tennis Association is suspending all tournaments in China until it is sure that doubles star Peng Shuai is safe and sound, following the 35-year-old Peng's quickly deleted post on Chinese social media last month denouncing sexual assault by a former vice premier. How far will the ripple effects go?

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Saturday⁣

The United States has approved COVID-19 jabs for children from the age of five and over. But misinformation is circulating and unsettling many parents. DW's Ines Pohl visited a vaccination station in Norfolk, Virginia.

President Joe Biden had scrapped the Trump-era policy on his first day in office. But a Texas judge has now ordered its reinstatement.

France is hosting an international conference to help Libya prepare for elections at the end of 2021. The oil-rich nation is ruled by a fragile unity government put in place after nearly a decade of civil war. European leaders are especially keen to stabilize the country.