Europe

World Economic Forum meet scheduled for January deferred till summer 2022 over Omicron concerns

Geneva [Switzerland], December 20 (ANI): The planned World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting 2022 on Monday was deferred due to surging cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

2021-12-20T14:21:33.994101+00:00 IST

EU Foreign Policy chief warns against 'excluding' Brussels from security talks with Russia

Brussels [Belgium], December 20 (ANI/Sputnik): EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell claims that Moscow could try to exclude the European Union from talks on security guarantees.

2021-12-20T04:01:06.522265+00:00 IST

COVID Omicron variant: Netherlands re-imposes strict lockdown, UK too mulls over new measures

London [UK], December 19 (ANI): Across Europe there is a looming sense of dread over the surge in COVID-19 Omicron variant cases, forcing the Netherlands on Sunday to re-impose strict lockdown and UK mulling over new restrictive measures to contain the virus.

2021-12-19T16:23:16.345527+00:00 IST

NATO countries to discuss Russia's security proposals next week: German Minister

Berlin [Germany], December 19 (ANI/Sputnik): NATO will discuss Russia's proposals on security guarantees next week, while being resolute about not allowing Moscow to "dictate" the alliance how to act, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Sunday.

2021-12-19T15:37:17.359557+00:00 IST

Portugal starts vaccinating children amid Omicron variant

Lisbon [Portugal], December 19 (ANI/Xinhua): Portugal started vaccinating children ages 5-11 against COVID-19 on Saturday, said the country's Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

2021-12-19T14:37:43.640163+00:00 IST

Russia confirms 27,967 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours

Moscow [Russia], December 19 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia has confirmed 27,967 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 10,214,790, the federal response center said on Sunday.

2021-12-19T09:16:53.050507+00:00 IST

UK's Brexit Minister David Frost resigns

London [UK], December 19 (ANI): The United Kingdom's Brexit minister, David Frost, has resigned over disagreements with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on a number of issues, including COVID-19 measures.

2021-12-19T02:33:34.242143+00:00 IST

Netherlands to go into lockdown due to 'fifth wave with Omicron'

Amsterdam [Netherlands], December 19 (ANI/Xinhua) The Dutch government announced a stricter lockdown on Saturday out of fear for the rise of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country.

2021-12-19T00:29:45.055421+00:00 IST

London Mayor declares 'major incident' over spread of Omicron variant

London [UK], December 19 (ANI/Sputnik): London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Saturday an emergency over the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

2021-12-18T20:47:17.284003+00:00 IST

COVID-19: London Mayor declares 'major incident' due to Omicron rise

London [UK], December 18 (ANI): London Mayor Sadiq Khan has declared a "major incident" in the capital of the UK due to the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

2021-12-18T16:31:56.255075+00:00 IST

Omicron cases doubling at least every 3 days, says WHO

Geneva [Switzerland], December 18 (ANI): Amid the unabated spread of the Omicron cases around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said infection numbers of the new variant is doubling at least every 3 days.

2021-12-18T15:09:10.451789+00:00 IST

Paris cancels New Year fireworks to limit spread of COVID-19

Paris [France], December 18 (ANI/Sputnik): The Paris town hall announced on Saturday the cancellation of all holiday festivities which were planned to take place on Champs-Elysees on December 31, including the big New Year fireworks, to limit the spread of COVID-19.

2021-12-18T12:28:28.958586+00:00 IST

Russia registers 27,434 COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours

Moscow [Russia], December 18 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia registered 27,434 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, which brings the cumulative total to 10,186,823, the federal response center said Saturday.

2021-12-18T09:18:24.658034+00:00 IST

Magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs near southern Greece

Athens [Greece], December 18 (ANI/Sputnik): A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was registered on Saturday some 18 miles southwest from the island of Kythera, Greece, according to the seismological laboratory of the University of Athens.

2021-12-18T08:13:27.897711+00:00 IST

UK high court allows Uyghur advocacy group to proceed with forced labour case

London [UK], December 17 (ANI): The High Court of England and Wales on Wednesday allowed Uyghur rights advocacy group to proceed with a forced labour case against UK authorities for permitting the importation of cotton goods produced with Uyghur forced labour in China.

2021-12-17T17:31:39.417187+00:00 IST

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov in Brussels: Bulgaria supports Ukraine

Brussels [Belgium], December 17 (ANI/Novinite): Bulgaria's position on the accumulation of the Russian-Ukrainian border is entirely in line with that of NATO and the EU.

2021-12-17T16:21:39.301938+00:00 IST

Russia ready to start security talks with US 'even tomorrow': Foreign Ministry

Moscow [Russia], December 17 (ANI/ Sputnik): Russia is ready to start talks with the United States on security guarantees "even tomorrow," and Geneva has already been proposed as a host of negotiations, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday.

2021-12-17T14:41:49.066507+00:00 IST

Summit of NATO defence ministers to be held on January 12-13

Moscow [Russia], December 17 (ANI/Sputnik): A regular summit of NATO defence ministers will be held in Brussels on January 12-13, with strategic issues including Ukraine being high on the agenda, the alliance said on Friday.

2021-12-17T13:45:52.049409+00:00 IST

Israel to donate one million COVID-19 vaccine doses to African countries through COVAX mechanism

Tel Aviv [Israel], December 17 (ANI): In the coming weeks, the State of Israel will transfer one million Astra Zenica COVID-19 vaccine doses to African countries through the International Covax Vaccine Distribution Mechanism.

2021-12-17T09:35:49.914740+00:00 IST

EU leaders unanimously vote for prolonging Russia sanctions: Council Head

Brussels [Belgium], December 17 (ANI/Sputnik): Leaders of the EU countries have unanimously voted for the prolongation of sanctions against Russia during the EU summit in Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday.

2021-12-17T04:34:39.111636+00:00 IST

UK signs trade agreement with Australia to shape post-Brexit economic relations

London [UK], December 17 (ANI/Sputnik): The UK has signed a trade agreement with Australia that will shape the post-Brexit economic relations between London and Canberra, the UK Department for International Trade said.

2021-12-17T03:48:45.210487+00:00 IST