Europe

India, EU agree to enhance clean energy and climate partnership

New Delhi [India], December 2 (ANI): India and the EU have agreed on a detailed work programme until 2023 to implement the 2016 EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership with a focus on increasing technical cooperation in the area of energy efficiency, renewable energy, cooperation within the International Solar Alliance and green hydrogen.

2021-12-02T10:07:58.680740+00:00 IST

France to lift ban on Southern Africa flights from Dec 4

Paris [France], December 2 (ANI): France has said it will start allowing flights from Southern Africa to land on its territory from Saturday, but with "drastic" restrictions allowing only French and European Union residents to disembark, along with diplomats and flight crews.

2021-12-02T06:14:01.650895+00:00 IST

Third case of COVID Omicron strain confirmed in Spain

Madrid [Spain], December 2 (ANI/Sputnik): The third case of infection with the new strain of COVID-19, Omicron, has been confirmed in Spain - in the Balearic Islands, health authorities said.

2021-12-02T04:10:08.120163+00:00 IST

Number of worldwide migrants rises by over three times since 1970, says IOM

Moscow [Russia], December 2 (ANI/Sputnik): The worldwide number of international migrants has increased by more than 3 times, from 84 million in 1970 to 281 million in 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

2021-12-02T03:41:52.171121+00:00 IST

Russian plane with evacuees from Afghanistan lands in Moscow

Moscow [Russia], December 2 (ANI): The third plane from Kabul with citizens of Russia and Afghanistan has landed at the Chkalovsky airfield near Moscow, Russian Media reported citing defense ministry statement.

2021-12-02T02:52:03.919809+00:00 IST

The Hague Conference demands unconditional apology from Pakistan for 1971 war crimes in Bangladesh

The Hague [Netherlands], December 2 (ANI): An international conference in The Hague, known as the city of Justice, demanded of the international community to recognise the 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh committed by Pakistan soldiers.

2021-12-02T01:27:56.693425+00:00 IST

Indian envoy to Russia presents credentials to President Putin

Moscow [Russia], December 1 (ANI): Indian ambassador to Russia Pavan Kapoor presented credentials to President Vladimir Putin ahead of his visit to New Delhi on December 6, the envoy informed on Wednesday.

2021-12-01T17:42:05.823164+00:00 IST

Top Russian, Pakistani security officials discuss situation in Afghanistan

Moscow [Russia], December 1 (ANI): Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and Pakistani National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf held bilateral consultations on security issues and discussed the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday in Moscow, local media reported citing the Russian Security Council.

2021-12-01T17:23:05.090117+00:00 IST

Omicron coronavirus variant confirmed in 23 countries: WHO chief

Geneva [Switzerland], December 1 (ANI): The new Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in 23 countries and their number is expected to rise, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

2021-12-01T15:41:10.432429+00:00 IST

OECD cuts global economic outlook for 2021 amid coronavirus variant concerns

Paris [France], December 1 (ANI/Sputnik): The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development revised its global growth forecast for 2021 down to 5.6 per cent over concerns about the impact of coronavirus mutations on the recovery.

2021-12-01T14:44:47.363721+00:00 IST

Need to strengthen emergency evacuation capabilities: NATO on Afghan operations

Brussels [Belgium], December 1 (ANI): NATO needs to increase the capabilities of member states to conduct large-scale and urgent evacuation operations in the future, foreign ministers of the alliance said on Wednesday considering the evacuation operations undertaken in Afghanistan by the countries post-Taliban takeover.

2021-12-01T14:02:40.970657+00:00 IST

Internal displacement rising globally despite COVID-19 mobility restrictions: IOM

Grand-Saconnex [Switzerland], December 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Internal displacement is growing around the world despite COVID-19 mobility restrictions, triggered by such factors as natural disasters, military conflicts and violence, according to the World Migration Report 2022, published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday.

2021-12-01T13:34:38.587712+00:00 IST

UK announces new action plan to end HIV infections, deaths by 2030

London [UK], December 1 (ANI/Sputnik): The UK government announced on Wednesday a new HIV action plan backed by 23 million pounds (30.5 million dollars) to end infections and deaths in England by 2030, while the Ministry of Defence said changes are being introduced to make it easier for people with HIV to join the armed forces.

2021-12-01T11:31:41.388018+00:00 IST

First meeting of WHO body to discuss new pandemics treaty to be held on March 1: Tedros

Geneva [Switzerland], December 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the first meeting of the organization's commission to discuss new treaty on the COVID-19 pandemic will take place on March 1, 2022, and its final document will be presented in 2024.

2021-12-01T10:38:01.564315+00:00 IST

Sweden sticks to non-participation, not applying for NATO membership: New Prime Minister

Moscow [Russia], December 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Sweden has no plans to join NATO, the country's prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, said on Tuesday while presenting the new government's policy.

2021-11-30T21:02:23.338678+00:00 IST

EU urges China to launch investigation into situation with tennis player Peng Shuai

Riga [Latvia], November 30 (ANI): The European Union has urged the Chinese authorities to launch a transparent investigation into the case of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai and present verifiable evidence of her safety, since her public reappearance has done little to ease concerns, Russian media reported on Tuesday citing an official.

2021-11-30T17:43:34.930913+00:00 IST

WHO urges countries to take 'rational' measures against Omicron

Geneva [Switzerland], November 30 (ANI): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday called for countries to keep calm and take "rational" measures in response to the new Covid variant Omicron.

2021-11-30T17:22:16.171995+00:00 IST

Officials say Omicron found in Netherlands 'earlier than thought'

Amsterdam [Netherlands], November 30 (ANI): Netherlands health officials on Tuesday said that the new COVID-19 variant Omicron was detected in the country a week earlier than previously believed.

2021-11-30T16:27:32.732639+00:00 IST

Widespread demolition move in Karachi only a scheme to make it China's town: Altaf Hussain

London [UK], November 30 (ANI): Muttahidda Qaumi Movement's (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has said that properties of Mohajirs in Karachi are being demolished to make room for China to convert Karachi into a remote Satellite colony of Punjab and to accommodate China in the region.

2021-11-30T15:39:08.976424+00:00 IST

UK foreign minister warns Russia against 'any action' against Ukraine ahead of NATO talks

London [UK], November 30 (ANI/Sputnik): The United Kingdom will use all economic and diplomatic means at its disposal to prevent the Russian incursion into Ukraine, and such move by Moscow would be strategically wrong, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Tuesday.

2021-11-30T13:19:55.198729+00:00 IST

UK competition regulator orders Facebook to sell GIF sharing platform Giphy

London [UK], November 30 (ANI/Sputnik): The UK Competition and Market Authority (CMA) on Tuesday ordered Facebook to sell off Giphy, on the ground that the acquisition of the animated graphic sharing platform by the US company would increase its already significant market power in detriment of other social media platforms.

2021-11-30T13:19:34.457179+00:00 IST