Europe

China calls on Germany to not support Taiwan independence secessionist forces

Berlin [Germany], January 2 (ANI): A Chinese diplomat in Germany has called on the new German government to abide by the one-China principle and not play the "Taiwan card" or send wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

2022-01-02T09:08:17.694206+00:00 IST

Over 10 rocket test-firings performed by Russian Pacific Fleet in 2021

Moscow [Russia], January 2 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia's Pacific Fleet carried out more than ten rocket test-firings this past year, the Russian Eastern Military District informs.

2022-01-02T04:43:46.231995+00:00 IST

Number of coronavirus patients at New York hospitals nearly doubles in past 10 days

New York [US], January 2 (ANI/Sputnik): The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the US state of New York almost doubled in the past ten days amid the spread of the Omicron variant, according to the latest data on Governor Kathy Hochul's website.

2022-01-02T02:31:02.218262+00:00 IST

People in France set-ablaze 874 cars on new year's eve as part of tradition

Paris [France], January 2 (ANI): People in France torched nearly 874 vehicles across the country to mark the New Year as part of their decades-old tradition, a media report said.

2022-01-01T22:42:22.781803+00:00 IST

France's cumulative number of COVID-19 cases tops 10 mln mark

Paris [France], January 2 (ANI/Xinhua): The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in France on Saturday surpassed the 10 million mark, with 2,19,126 new cases detected in the past 24 hours.

2022-01-01T21:52:29.659848+00:00 IST

London-based Indian origin restaurateur Amritpal Singh Maan makes it to UK New Year Honours list

London [UK], January 1 (ANI): Amritpal Singh Maan, a philanthropist who has provided over 200,000 meals to those in need since the COVID-19 pandemic began, has been awarded OBE in recognition for his services to charity and community. He is among those honoured by the Queen in the New Year Honours List 2022.

2022-01-01T17:16:42.042838+00:00 IST

Finnish President says Russian proposals for NATO challenge European security

Helsinki [Finland], January 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Saturday that Europe should not be merely listening to Russia and NATO discussing a new security architecture for Europe, which he said was in conflict with the current order.

2022-01-01T15:44:55.769507+00:00 IST

Russia registers 19,751 new cases of COVID-19 in past 24 hours

Moscow [Russia], January 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia recorded 19,751 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, which brings the cumulative total to 10,519,733, the federal response center said Saturday.

2022-01-01T09:44:33.202097+00:00 IST

UK New Year's Honours List 2022 Out: Tony Blair, Covid experts and Olympians honoured

London [UK], January 1(ANI): Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will be knighted with the highest possible rank in the list, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.

2022-01-01T07:31:43.427490+00:00 IST

Canada records 41,210 new COVID-19 cases

Ottawa [Canada], January 1 (ANI/Xinhua): Canada is going through its worst spike in COVID-19 cases yet, driven by the Omicron variant, with 41,210 new cases reported on Friday evening, an all-time high for daily cases since the pandemic hit the country in February 2020.

2022-01-01T06:37:59.332756+00:00 IST

France slams Iran for space launch as nuclear talks progress

Paris [France], January 1 (ANI/Sputnik): The French foreign ministry said on Friday that Paris was upset about Iran's recent space launch, all the more so because it came at a time when nuclear talks with Tehran were showing signs of progress.

2022-01-01T00:44:38.457506+00:00 IST

Nations enter 2022 with scaled-down celebrations as Omicron raises fear of abrupt infection surge

London [UK], January 1 (ANI): Nations across the world are welcoming 2022 with low-scale celebrations due to the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 which is rallying infections and raising hospitalizations in a large number of countries.

2021-12-31T22:53:29.297706+00:00 IST

Boris Johnson says UK in better position than last year as COVID-19 infections soar

London, December 31 (ANI/Sputnik): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said that the United Kingdom is in "an incomparably" better position than this time last year in terms of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the country currently seeing a record number of infections caused by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

2021-12-31T13:12:31.078740+00:00 IST

OSCE confirms receiving letter from sanctioned Ukrainian media

Vienna [Austria], December 31 (ANI/Sputnik): The Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Teresa Ribeiro, received the letter in which sanctioned Ukrainian outlets ask for assistance in the resolution of the freedom of the press issue in Ukraine, Ribeiro's office.

2021-12-31T12:52:19.096305+00:00 IST

Russia needs more people, Bill passed to ease citizenship rules

Moscow [Russia], December 31(ANI): According to the Russian Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a bill to State Duma on Wednesday to simplify the process of attaining citizenship for people living within the border of the Soviet Union and their children.

2021-12-31T08:55:44.348692+00:00 IST

Russia confirms 20,638 new COVID-19 cases

Moscow [Russia], December 31 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia has confirmed 20,638 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 10,499,982 the federal response center said on Friday.

2021-12-31T08:48:50.786583+00:00 IST

Russia in contact with US over normalizing visas: Russian Foreign Minister

Moscow [Russia], December 31 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia is permanently raising the problem of normalizing issuing visas during the contacts with the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Sputnik.

2021-12-31T06:30:17.948092+00:00 IST

EU backs arms embargo on Myanmar military govt over recent violence

Brussels [Belgium], December 31 (ANI): The European Union policy chief has said that in view of the escalating violence in Myanmar, increased international preventive action is required, including an arms embargo and the bloc stands ready to impose further sanctions against the military regime.

2021-12-31T01:23:51.722336+00:00 IST

Spain registers record 1,61,688 new COVID-19 cases over past 24 hours

Madrid [Spain], December 31 (ANI/Sputnik): Spain has confirmed 1,61,688 new coronavirus cases within the past 24 hours, marking thus the largest daily increase since the start of the pandemic, the national Ministry of Health said.

2021-12-30T23:50:45.102217+00:00 IST

Lithuanian volunteers may face jail for 'Harboring' migrant at the border - report

Moscow [Russia], December 30 (ANI/Sputnik): The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service launched a prejudicial inquiry into volunteers of the non-governmental Sienos Grupe organization, who allegedly harbored a migrant at the Belarusian border and might face up to 6 years, according to the country's legislation, the Lithuanian media reported on Thursday.

2021-12-30T16:54:54.731251+00:00 IST

Over 30,000 French Police officers contracted COVID-19 since start of pandemic: Reports

Paris [France], December 30 (ANI/Sputnik): As many as 35,000 French police officers have been infected with coronavirus since the first outbreak emerged in the country, the BFMTV broadcaster reported on Thursday, citing a police source.

2021-12-30T15:50:35.027877+00:00 IST