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.

France's 2022 presidential race "heats up a notch" after Valérie Pécresse becomes the right's first-ever female candidate and far-right Eric Zemmour holds a "sickening" first political rally. European papers hail Pope Francis for "forcing Europe to face its contradictions" in its failure to help refugees. There's anger and disgust in the US after a Republican poses with guns, just days after a school shooting. Finally, French oysters are to get vaccinated... against herpes!

It is the first time India has opened its borders to foreign travelers since imposing a strict lockdown in March 2020 to curb the spread of COVID.

"I want the highest number of people vaccinated as possible," said New Zealand's Ardern during a press conference in Wellington as she notes record numbers in the vaccination program and the positive impacts of the lockdown. New Zealand reported 68 community cases of Covid-19 Thursday, bringing the total number of community cases to 277.

The US has been under pressure to lift restrictions on international travel. Vaccinated travelers may soon be allowed to enter the country. Follow DW for the latest.

Americans react after the top US health agency announced it was lifting mask-wearing guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

US President Joe Biden encourages children aged 12-15 to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as possible, now that the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the Pfizer shot for their age group.

The Robert Koch Institute for disease control says 12.7 million people have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. On Saturday, hundreds of protesters across Germany demanded stricter lockdown measures.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, top US immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci discussed the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US and around the world. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and White House chief medical adviser welcomed the faster pace of vaccination in the US, saying it gave him hope the situation could be "under control" within a "reasonable" timeframe. He also strongly encouraged people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

The WHO regional director for Africa encourages healthcare workers in Africa to accept the Covax vaccination and warns against the spread of fake news as Ghana becomes the first country to receive vaccines from the global Covax scheme.

For almost three hours, Giuseppe Conte answered various questions from Italian journalists in a traditional end of the year press conference. The prime minister made an appeal to those reluctant to getting vaccinated against Covid-19 to put away their 'ideological' or 'emotional' reactions.

While the milestone was welcome news, the country will likely be unable to reach its initial target for 2020. Results from a study on a Chinese vaccine have been delayed again. Keep up to date with DW.