Elated Sydneysiders defied grey skies and drizzle to celebrate the end of almost four months of lockdown in Australia's largest city, with many embracing a return to cafes and hairdressers. Sydney's more than five million residents have been subjected to a 106-day lockdown, designed to limit the march of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Australia's second-largest city is expected to come out of lockdown despite an increase in infections. Meanwhile, Latvia is diving into a month-long lockdown.

Melbourne reopened Friday after enduring one of the world's most prolonged series of lockdowns, with relieved residents of Australia's second-biggest city heading to bars, restaurants and for much-needed hair cuts.

The state of Brandenburg will introduce new testing rules for nursing homes after a recent deadly coronavirus outbreak. Half of the employees were found to be unvaccinated.

Poultry farmers have been ordered to keep flocks indoors in a bid to stop the contagious avian disease spreading. Europe has seen over 100 outbreaks of bird flu in recent months.

The lockdown starting Monday is expected to last 10 days and a vaccine mandate is set to start in February. Data shows the seven-day incidence rate in the country at around 1,000 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Austrians went back into lockdown after fierce protests over the weekend, for a period of at least 10 days and potentially 20. Elswhere, German logged its highest seven-day incidence of the pandemic. DW has the latest.

Protesters in the Solomon Islands called on the prime minister to resign as riots took place for a second day. Australia said it would send a peacekeeping force to the Pacific nation seized by inter-island tension.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised on Wednesday for a video showing his staffers joking about reports of a party in Downing Street during the COVID lockdown, saying he was furious but that he had been assured there was no party.

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Friday.

Global health body said the new variant has a "substantial growth advantage over delta". More data is still needed to determine the severity of the strain.

The shutdown was initiated over fears of the rapid spread of the omicron variant. Meanwhile, Germany's health minister has ruled out a lockdown before Christmas. Follow DW for the latest.