While the official threshold for a COVID wave has not yet been reached, South Africa is facing a surge of infections driven by omicron sub-variants.

The World Health Organization said more than twice as many people died as a result of the COVID pandemic than official data shows, if including deaths of other causes that might not have occurred in more typical times.

Germany’s disease control agency has lowered its risk assessment for the dangers posed by the coronavirus pandemic to the general population. China has again defended its zero-COVID strategy. DW has the latest.

Posts on social networks have propagated the theory, based on claims by French doctor Didier Raoult, that vaccination has increased Covid-19 infections. FRANCE 24’s Georgina Robertson and Sophie Samaille look at some of the statistics and investigate in this week's show.

Paz Esteban was replaced after a controversy over the use of the Pegasus spyware to hack top Spanish officials' cellphones, as well as spying on Catalan separatists.

Last week, hackers tried to disable the servers of several German authorities and ministries. A Russian group claimed responsibility on Telegram. The Federal Police Office has reported an increase in cybercrime.

Last week, hackers tried to disable the servers of several German authorities and ministries. A Russian group claimed responsibility on Telegram. The Federal Police Office has reported an increase in cybercrime.

A year ago, South Africa celebrated the opening of the continent's first COVID vaccine production line. Now it's at risk of being shut down due to low demand.

State media in North Korea has reported the deaths of six people with a "fever" a day after officials confirmed the country's first COVID-19 infection. More than 180,000 people are said to be isolated for treatment.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that a Chinese intelligence ship was not in Australia's territorial waters but its presence off the northwestern coast was "concerning."

After more than two years of denying the virus had gained a foothold, Pyongyang is now struggling to handle thousands of suspected cases with limited medical capabilities.

As Peru slowly emerges from the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, the government is trying to help the country's Covid orphans. According to the medical journal The Lancet, around 100,000 children in Peru lost at least one of their two parents to the pandemic; more than anywhere else in the world. The poorest Peruvians have been hit the hardest and many Covid orphans and widows are struggling to survive, both financially and emotionally.