Europe

UK closes Tier 1 Investor visa route over security concerns

London [UK], February 18 (ANI): The UK on Thursday (local time) closed Tier 1 Investor visa route to all new applicants from all nationalities with immediate effect over security concerns.

2022-02-17T19:25:52.320606+00:00 IST

Swiss president tests positive for COVID-19

Geneva [Switzerland], February 18 (ANI/Xinhua): Swiss President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has tested positive for COVID-19, said a government statement on Thursday.

2022-02-17T18:44:24.710165+00:00 IST

Putin, Japanese PM discuss security talks, Ukraine over phone

Moscow [Russia], February 17 (ANI/Xinhua): Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a phone conversation on Thursday to discuss the security talks between Russia and the West as well as the Ukrainian crisis.

2022-02-17T17:13:52.293622+00:00 IST

Singapore High Commissioner called by MEA over remarks by PM Lee during parliamentary debate

New Delhi [India], February 17 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday called the High Commissioner of Singapore to India, Simon Wong over the remarks made by the Prime Minister of Singapore during a parliamentary debate.

2022-02-17T16:31:50.664437+00:00 IST

US intelligence community still looking into recent cyberattack on Ukraine: Austin

Washington [US], February 17 (ANI/Sputnik): The US intelligence community is continuing to gather details about a recent cyberattack on a number of Ukrainian state and bank websites, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Thursday.

2022-02-17T15:56:44.122720+00:00 IST

India has walked the talk on climate issues, we are working together for green transition: EU climate policy chief

Brussels [Belgium], February 17 (ANI): Noting that India has always "walked the talk" on the climate issue, Executive Vice-President of European Commission Frans Timmermans has said the European Union and India working together for the green transition and the 27 member bloc is eager to expand that work.

2022-02-17T15:26:55.308965+00:00 IST

Lukashenko says he will be President 'forever' if West does not stop 'attacking' Belarus

Minsk [Belarus], February 17 (ANI/Sputnik): Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that he will be a president "forever" if the West does not stop "attacking" Belarus.

2022-02-17T10:03:48.109563+00:00 IST

Afghan evacuees in Ukraine urgently departing from country: Reports

Kiev [Ukraine], February 17 (ANI): Forty-four Afghans who were evacuated from their home country by Kiev in September 2021 have decided to leave the country amid the Russia-Ukraine tension, media reported citing Washington Post on Thursday.

2022-02-17T09:02:34.444629+00:00 IST

UK PM, UN Secretary-General stress for implementing Minsk agreements: Office

London [UK], February 17 (ANI/Sputnik): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have discussed the situation around Ukraine, stressing the need to implement the Minsk agreements, Johnson's office said.

2022-02-17T02:26:15.575530+00:00 IST

Scholz, Biden say there is no significant withdrawal of Russian troops: German cabinet

Berlin [Germany], February 17 (ANI/Sputnik): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden said in a phone conversation on Wednesday that there is no significant withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian borders, a spokesperson for the German cabinet told reporters.

2022-02-16T22:11:58.618161+00:00 IST

Ukraine hit by unprecedented cyberattacks: minister

Kiev [Ukraine], February 16 (ANI/Xinhua): The cyberattacks that hit Ukraine's government websites and banks on Tuesday were the largest in the country's history, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said on Wednesday.

2022-02-16T15:49:48.110420+00:00 IST

Maintain calm, travel back to India on commercial flights: Indian embassy in Kyiv

Kyiv [Ukraine], February 16 (ANI): The Indian embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday advised its citizens to maintain calm and not give rise to panic amid the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

2022-02-16T12:19:50.191233+00:00 IST

Belarus ready for dialogue with Ukraine on sensitive issues

Minsk [Belarus], February 16 (ANI/Sputnik): Minsk is ready for a dialogue with Kiev on sensitive issues, including security, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said on Wednesday.

2022-02-16T10:19:00.166743+00:00 IST

Russia does not plan to move its embassy in Ukraine from Kiev

Moscow [Russia], February 16 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia does not plan to move its embassy in Ukraine from Kiev, a source told Sputnik.

2022-02-16T05:56:33.354682+00:00 IST

Dutch govt lifts most COVID-19 measures as country returns to "normal"

The Hague [Netherlands], February 16 (ANI/Xinhua): Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Ernst Kuipers on Tuesday announced a "return to normal" in the Netherlands by lifting most measures against the spread of COVID-19.

2022-02-16T00:36:17.210864+00:00 IST

UK to co-host UN virtual pledging summit to address humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

London [UK], February 16 (ANI): UK on Tuesday (local time) said that it will co-host an upcoming United Nations virtual pledging summit to help address the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

2022-02-15T23:09:09.959613+00:00 IST

Pak MQM leader Altaf Hussain acquitted in 'encouraging terrorism' case in London

London [UK], February 16 (ANI): The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain has been found not guilty of encouraging terrorism in Karachi from London.

2022-02-15T21:00:20.034162+00:00 IST

Unvaccinated Italians 50 and over banned from work starting Tuesday

Rome [Italy], February 15 (ANI/Sputnik): All Italian citizens over 50 who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus or received a medical exemption from vaccination will not be allowed to access their workplaces starting Tuesday.

2022-02-15T14:10:53.569415+00:00 IST

World keeps an eye on Ukraine border, as West sees possible Russian invasion

New Delhi [India], February 15 (ANI): With Western powers and the Ukrainian Government voicing concern over the likelihood of a Russian invasion, which Moscow has repeatedly denied it is planning, much of the international media has kept its eye on the Ukraine border situation.

2022-02-15T12:16:38.886270+00:00 IST

Russia deems Poland's proposal on security dialogue within OSCE 'interesting': Lavrov

Moscow [Russia], February 15 (ANI/Sputnik): Moscow considers Warsaw's proposal to launch a renewed informal dialogue on security in Europe within the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) an interesting perspective, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

2022-02-15T12:14:33.409814+00:00 IST

Russia confirms 166,631 new COVID-19 cases, 704 deaths in past 24 hours

Moscow [Russia], February 15 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia has confirmed 166,631 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, down from 180,456 the day before, and 704 deaths, the federal response center said on Wednesday.

2022-02-15T09:45:54.054064+00:00 IST