Russia

The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases has crossed the 95 mln mark, according to data from the US-based Johns Hopkins University.

The overall number of cases has reached 95,003,533, as many as 2,029,938 patients have died.

The United States accounts for the majority of cases (23,928,643), followed by India (10,557,985) and Brazil (8,488,099).

Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's detention upon arrival at a Moscow airport is an attempt to silence him and other critical voices in Russia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday evening.

Chairman of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament Dacian Ciolos is calling the detention of Alexei Navalny a 'coward gesture' of the regime led by Vladimir Putin, calling on the European Parliament for an urgent debate. "Getting Alexei Navalny arrested is a coward gesture of the regime led by Vladimir Putin that cannot go without consequences.

Police detained top Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny on Sunday when he flew back to Russia months after barely surviving a poisoning attack, prompting a new wave of Western condemnation.

Police detained top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Jan. 17 when he flew back to Russia months after barely surviving a poisoning attack, prompting a new wave of Western condemnation.

The global COVID-19 vaccination drive gained pace on Jan. 17 as Brazil gave its first injections and India pushed on with its massive campaign, while European authorities sought to allay concerns about delays in supplies.

Zakharova told foreign politicians who criticize the arrest of Navalny, who was arrested at the Moscow airport, to respect international law and Russian law, and to deal with their problems.
It came after Jake Sullivan, whom Joe Biden intends to appoint as National Security Advisor, called for Navalny's immediate release.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev exchanged a phone conversation on the latest developments in Nagorno-Karabakh and after a Moscow meeting between Aliyev and Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan upon the invitation of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

European powers on Jan. 16 voiced deep concern over Iran's plans to produce uranium metal, warning that Tehran has "no credible civilian use" for the element.

"The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications," said the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany in a joint statement.

Pharma giant Pfizer tried to ease concerns in Europe about deliveries of its coronavirus vaccine as nations across the world doubled down on restrictions to fight the rampaging pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down, with infections surging past 94 million and more than two million deaths, and Europe among the hardest-hit parts of the world.