South Africa is more heavily dependent on coal than perhaps any other country. But for the world to combat a climate catastrophe, countries like South Africa need to move away from coal. https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/11/02/south-africa-coal-addiction-mckenzie-pkg-ovn-intl-hnk-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/project-planet/

China's government has urged families to stock up on essential supplies in case of emergencies.
No reason was given for the notice from the Ministry of Commerce, but it came amid ongoing coronavirus lockdowns and concerns over vegetable supplies after unusually heavy rain damaged crops.
The ministry also asked local authorities to keep supply chains running smoothly and prices stable. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59133027

Europe is facing a potentially devastating winter that could see half a million people die with Covid-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday, as it sounded the alarm over a surge in cases and bemoaned stuttering vaccination rollouts on parts of the continent.
Much of Europe is battling spikes in infections, with Germany on Thursday reporting its highest number of daily new cases since the pandemic began. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/04/europe/europe-covid-winter-who-projection-intl/index.html

Scholz makes calls to 'winterproof' country against COVID. German Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for heavier prevention measures amid a record rise in cases. State premiers are also set to meet next week to discuss next steps in tackling the fourth wave of the virus.
"We have to make our country winterproof, so to speak," said Scholz, who is also finance minister and Chancellor Angela Merkel's probable successor. "What we need now is for the country to pull together in one direction, so that we can get through this winter."
https://p.dw.com/p/42rvF

Germany is deep into its fourth wave of the coronavirus, but yet again its authorities and politicians seem ill-prepared. Has no one learned from the mistakes?
Wayne Gretzky, still considered the best ice hockey player of all time, famously said that the secret of his success was simple: "Most players are pretty good, but they skate where the puck is. I skate to where the puck is going to be."
https://p.dw.com/p/42sT0

One of Germany's top virologists has warned that a further 100,000 people will die from Covid if nothing's done to halt an aggressive fourth wave.
Case numbers have soared and Germany on Wednesday registered its highest rate of infection since the pandemic began, with almost 40,000 cases in a day.
"We have to act right now," said Christian Drosten, who described a real emergency situation.
Doctors in the intensive care Covid ward at Leipzig University Hospital warn this fourth wave could be the worst yet.
https://bajanews.site/qi1lYA

Nearly two years into a global health crisis that has killed more than 5 million people, infections are again sweeping across parts of Western Europe, a region with relatively high vaccination rates and good health care systems but where lockdown measures are largely a thing of the past. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-germany-europe-western-europe-be9a84ddaf7b9b3cc927d47428683201

Austria is days away from ordering millions of unvaccinated people to stay at home, its chancellor said Thursday, in a rare move that underscores the increasing exasperation of European leaders towards those who have not yet been inoculated against Covid-19. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/12/europe/austria-unvaccinated-lockdown-europe-covid-intl/index.html

A federation of imbeciles has ensured that Germany is being hit extremely hard by the fourth wave – much worse than many other European countries. https://www.spiegel.de/international/coronavirus-in-deutschland-wenn-impfverweigerer-auf-ein-land-ohne-politische-fuehrung-treffen-1636729575-a-1495255a-25af-4b8e-9727-4ea7f26db55f

I hope for love at first sight. I don't just want a one-night stand, I am intelligent, faithful and loyal. I love car rides, and lived in Greece for a while," reads Paris' profile on Tinder. If that weren't enough to seal the deal, his last line might do the trick: "Let me be your protector!"

There's just one small catch: Paris is a dog. He lives in an animal shelter in Munich.

"A marketing agency from Munich came up with the idea. We then selected and created seven profiles for cats and seven for dogs," says Kristina Berchtold from the Munich Animal Welfare Association. "The algorithm recognized they were animals and blocked them at first. But Tinder unblocked the accounts after we talked to them, and even gave us advertising." https://p.dw.com/p/42wI7

German doctors are reporting increasing abuse in their clinics and more threats of violence by mail from anti-vaxxers across the country.
A number of doctors' organizations reported an aggressive atmosphere and frayed nerves in many German clinics.
This comes as the coronavirus pandemic reaches unprecedented infection rates in the country: On Thursday, Germany reported the highest number of new cases of any country in the world, with 50,377.
One of the most concerning reports came from the eastern state of Saxony, where the 7-day incidence rate of new infections is highest (569 per 100,000 inhabitants) and the vaccine uptake rate is lowest (only 57% of the Saxony population are fully vaccinated). Across Germany, 67.5% of the population is currently vaccinated.
"The aggression and extremism among people has become significantly worse," said Erik Bodendieck, chairman of the Saxony Medical Association and himself a general practitioner. "Some doctors have even received death threats." https://p.dw.com/p/42wG9

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced on Sunday that a lockdown for unvaccinated people will begin on Monday.
"We must raise the vaccination rate. It is shamefully low," Schallenberg told a news conference announcing the new measure.
People who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID will only be allowed to leave their homes for specific purposes, like going to a doctor, getting groceries, going to work — or getting vaccinated. https://p.dw.com/p/42y7J

Germany has never had as many coronavirus cases as it has now. Until now, Germany has done well compared to other European countries. In the summer, the pandemic looked like it was under control. Not any longer. German hospitals are filling up – mainly with the unvaccinated. https://youtu.be/nYCiVgEq0FQ

To refresh the memory - 2021 didn't start well for the European Commission. Its roll-out of the #COVID19 vaccine has been widely slammed as too little and too late.
But now it has decided to invest millions into researching new Coronavirus variants. Tim Sebastian asks European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas if the EU's latest initiatives are enough to silence the criticism. Join the discussion and let us know what you think. Is this a success story waiting to be told as Schinas claims or is the European Commission's incompetence costing lives? https://youtu.be/reGsA-6xYmo

Munich's iconic Christmas market has been canceled for the second year in a row due to a significant rise in Covid-19 cases in Germany.
The "bitter news" was announced by the city's mayor Dieter Reiter, who said he'd been left with no choice but to call off the popular event, which usually attracts around three million people annually, as the country grapples with record breaking infection rates.
"It is bitter news that I have today for all Munich residents and especially also for the stall owners," Reiter said in a statement. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/munich-cancels-2021-christmas-market/index.html

4% to 5% of unvaccinated cause all the trouble in Ireland. Ireland will impose a midnight curfew on bars, restaurants and nightclubs from November 18 as the country sees a new surge in Covid-19 cases, despite having one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/11/17/ireland-covid-19-cases-rise-new-curfew-leo-varadkar-ctw-intl-vpx.cnn

Germany's Covid cases hit record high with Merkel warning of 'dramatic' situation. Germany reported its highest single day surge of Covid-19 infections as Chancellor Angela Merkel said the "dramatic" situation was the result of the fourth wave "hitting our country with full force." https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/18/europe/germany-covid-merkel-record-intl/index.html

Austria announces Europe's first nationwide vaccine mandate and reimposes lockdown as Covid-19 soars https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/19/europe/austria-national-lockdown-intl/index.html

COVID: Germany faces 'national emergency'
A fourth wave of COVID infections has seen case numbers reach record levels in Germany. The health minister has said a lockdown "can't be ruled out." https://p.dw.com/p/43DtI

The Violence of the Fourth Wave - "One Thing We Have Learned Is that COVID Is an Asshole"
Doctors and nurses at the intensive care ward in Leipzig University Hospital are fighting desperately to save the lives of corona truthers. It can be a thankless task.

https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-violence-of-the-fourth-wave-one-thing-we-have-learned-is-that-covid-is-an-asshole-a-9da60dbf-6311-472a-9fdf-60a6442b1235