The move is part of measures to hit the brakes on a wave of new COVID infections in Germany. Meanwhile, APEC leaders have agreed to cut tariffs on COVID vaccines. DW has the latest.
Germany had ended free coronavirus testing in OctoberImage: Rupert Oberhäuser/picture alliance
Figures from Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) public health authority showed that 45,081 new infections and 228 COVID-related deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours.
A three-member panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans affirmed its ruling despite the Biden administration's position that halting implementation of the vaccine mandate could lead to dozens, or even hundreds, of deaths.
Vaccine mandates are deeply controversial in the United States. Supporters say they are a must to put an end to the nearly two-year coronavirus pandemic, while opponents argue they violate the US Constitution and curb individual liberty.
Meanwhile, calls have been growing louder for making vaccination a requirement even for domestic travel.
Three dozen Democratic lawmakers urged Biden to require domestic airline passengers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or show a negative test result.
COVID-19 Special: Booster jabs
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Asia-Pacific
Pacific Rim leaders have agreed to cut tariffs on COVID vaccines at a virtual summit.
The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit brought together leaders from 21 member economies, including US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, in a bid to chart a path to pandemic recovery.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the group discussed an economic "reset" in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
"APEC leaders are determined to work together to defeat COVID-19," she said.
German Christmas markets — before and during the pandemic
Germany is famed for its Christmas markets, most of which were canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. To mark their return, here's a selection of some of the busiest markets before and during the outbreak.
Image: Michael Probst/AP Photo/picture alliance
Dresden's Striezelmarkt
Established in 1434, Dresden's Striezelmarkt is among the world's oldest Christmas fairs. This year, it opens on November 22. It will be its 587th iteration, no less. It's name — Striezelmarkt — derives from the German word Striezel, meaning Christmas cake. Dresden's Striezelmarkt usually draws an average 2.5 million visitors each year, making it the country's fifth most popular.
Image: Robert Michael/dpa/picture alliance
Striezelmarkt canceled in 2020
Last year, the people of Dresden had to make do without their beloved festive market. Striezelmarkt, like so many Christmas markets across Germany, was called off to help curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The impressive Christmas tree, manger and cheery decorations looked somewhat out of place in the forlorn city center.
Image: Birgit Seifert/Zoonar/picture alliance
Frankfurt Christmas markets are an institution
Busy stalls and crowds of people at Frankfurt's annual Christmas market — prior to the coronavirus outbreak, that is. Look carefully, and you'll spot the medieval "Römer" building in the background — which has housed Frankfurt's city hall since the 15th century. The city began staging Christmas markets as early as 1393.
Image: Michael Probst/AP Photo/picture alliance
A sad exception
The year 2020 marked a sad exception, as this picture from December 13 shows. Frankfurt's fair was called off, leaving city hall square unusually empty for much of the holiday season. The town didn't even illuminate its Christmas tree. Normally, some 2.6 million people flock to the fair — making it Germany's fourth busiest, according to a study by tourism consultancy IFT.
Image: Florian Gaul/greatif/picture alliance
Munich Christkindlmarkt
Munich's annual Christmas market is Germany's third most popular, attracting some 3 million revelers annually. This year, it will open to the public on November 22, like its Dresden and Frankfurt counterparts. Munich Christkindlmarkt is not to be confused with similarly sounding, but far more famous Nuremberg Christkindlmarkt.
Image: Lino Mirgeler/dpa/picture alliance
Police patrols instead of festive cheer
Nuremberg's Christkindlmarkt, held in Bavaria's second-largest city, is known worldwide — pulling in crowds of some 2 million people each season. However, Nuremberg's fair is considerably smaller than the one in Munich, owing to its compact, medieval city center. Last year, both were canceled. Here, police are patrolling Munich's practically deserted Marienplatz in 2020.
Image: Martin Ley/picture alliance
Stuttgart, Germany's second-largest fair
The capital of Baden-Württemberg traditionally hosts a sizable market as well. This year, Stuttgart's Christmas market will open on November 24, and unlike many other fairs, it will remain open until December 30. Stuttgart's Christmas market is Germany's second-most visited fair, drawing an average of 3.5 million people each year.
Image: Christoph Schmidt/dpa/picture alliance
Christmas market meets music festival?
Last year's market was a shadow its former self, with the few remaining stalls shuttered. To ensure the 2021 Stuttgart Christmas market will be a COVID-free success, authorities have decided visitors will be issued wristbands indicating whether they've been vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19, or tested negative for the virus — a bit like attending a music festival.
Image: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/picture alliance
Cologne — Germany's No. 1 festive fair
The Cologne Cathedral Christmas market is a veritable visitor magnet, typically attracting some 4 million people each winter. That makes it the country's most popular by far. It also draws the largest share of foreign guests of all of Germany's Christmas markets. And it's beautiful LED decorations are bound to put you in a festive mood.
Image: Christoph Hardt/Geisler-Fotopress/picture alliance
A cheerless 2020, and glorious comeback?
Last winter, however, the square outside Cologne's landmark cathedral looked rather cheerless without its traditional Christmas market and joyful merrymakers. But this year's fair is bound to make a glorious comeback. And for the first time in a decade, Cologne Cathedral is actually free of scaffolding. What's not to like?
Image: Ying Tang/NurPhoto/picture alliance
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Europe
In the Netherlands, Protesters took to the streets in The Hague after Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced Western Europe's first partial lockdown of the winter on Friday.
Police fired water cannons to disperse crowds, as hundreds gathered against new rules they considered too far-reaching. Among other restrictions, bars, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets will shut down at 8 p.m., instead of midnight, for the next three weeks beginning Saturday.
In Russia, the government published a draft proposal to require QR codes as proof of immunity to COVID-19 from air and railway travelers up to June 1.
The government will decide later on the date when the rule would be implemented, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said.
Russia is currently reporting the highest number of daily infections since the pandemic hit the country and has the third-highest coronavirus death toll in the world after the United States and Brazil.
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Global
A coronavirus expert from the World Health Organization urged countries with climbing cases to tighten up rules to curb the spread of the virus. Maria van Kerkhove said Friday that "the earlier actions can be implemented, potentially the less actions need to be taken."
