Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
US Army To Sack Unvaxxed
The United States (US) Army is to discharge soldiers who refuse to comply with a mandatory vaccination rule, saying they pose a risk to their comrades.
Football's Seven-Billion Bill
The pandemic has left Europe's football clubs with a massive seven-billion-euro hole in their bank accounts after two years of cancelled games and empty stadiums, a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) report finds.
'Period Of Tranquility'
Europe could soon enter a "long period of tranquility" despite the Omicron variant due to high vaccination rates and the end of northern hemisphere winter, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
Please Release Me
Tearful Belgian skeleton sled racer Kim Meylemans is freed from a virus isolation facility and allowed to enter the Beijing Olympic Village after an emotional post on Instagram.
More Stars Shun Spotify
Neil Young's former bandmates from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have asked their labels to remove their recordings from Spotify, the latest musicians to take a stand over misinformation on the platform.
Germany's Fourth Jab
Germany follows several other European countries and Israel in recommending a fourth vaccine shot for at-risk groups.
Canada Protest Warning
Stragglers from the rowdy "Freedom Convoy" anti-vaxxer and anti-mask protests that brought the Canadian capital Ottawa to a standstill for two days are a "determined and highly volatile group of unlawful individuals", police warn as a new protest is planned for this weekend.
Sweden To Lift Rules
Sweden will lift most of its restrictions next Wednesday as the pandemic enters a "whole new phase", the authorities say.
New Zealand Not Open Till October
New Zealand will not fully reopen its borders until October as it cautiously dismantles some of the world's toughest pandemic border restrictions.
Jabbed 'Should Not Need Tests'
A coalition of travel-related organisations calls on the US to stop requiring vaccinated passengers to present a negative test before boarding US-bound flights.
Italy Eases Rules
Italy is easing several restrictions, including an end to distance learning for primary and secondary students regardless of the number of cases in a class.
Czechs Drop Vaccine Pass
Czechs will no longer have to show vaccination certificates to enter restaurants, cultural and sports events from next week.
Nearly 5.7 Million Dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,698,322 million people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Thursday.
The US has recorded the most COVID deaths with 894,316, followed by Brazil with 628,960 and India on 498,983.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to COVID-19, the WHO estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.