Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Hush-Hush Lockdown
With only a week to go before the Beijing Winter Olympics, China locks down an area 100 kilometres from the capital but makes no public announcements about it.
EU Chief Slammed
The European Union's (EU) own watchdog blasts European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for keeping secret text messages with Pfizer's CEO about purchasing vaccine doses, saying it "constituted maladministration".
France's Record Growth
France's economy grew at its fastest rate in more than half a century last year, according to official data, rebounding by seven percent fuelled in part by massive government support.
Austria: Anti-Vaxxer Network 'Scary'
Radicalised anti-vaxxer activists are crossing borders to join protests where extremist ideology is being spread, Austria's new intelligence chief tells AFP, calling the trend "very scary" as the country makes vaccines mandatory.
UK Police Deny Probe Delay
London police deny delaying a report into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street that have put Prime Minister Boris Johnson's future in jeopardy.
Philippines To Reopen To Jabbed
The Philippines will re-open to fully vaccinated tourists from most countries on 10 February nearly two years after closing its borders to contain the virus.
Morocco Flight Ban To Go
Morocco is to end its two-month ban on flights to the kingdom on 7 February amid pressure from the key tourism sector to reopen the country.
Finland Scales Back Curbs
Finland will scale back some of its restrictions from Tuesday as the strain on its healthcare system eases despite the Omicron wave.
5.6 Million Dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,635,702 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Friday.
The US has recorded the most COVID deaths with 878,467, followed by Brazil with 625,085, India on 492,327 and Russia 329,443.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.