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(Reuters) – Russia’s main goal of its military operation in Ukraine is to protect the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, the Kremlin said on Monday, after the leader of one of the separatist regions asked for additional forces from Moscow. Denis Pushilin, the leader of the Russian-backed separatist Donetsk region of Ukraine, had said earlier …

Kremlin pledges support after Donbas separatist leader calls for more Russian forces Read More »

By Martin Quin Pollard and Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) – Authorities in China’s capital Beijing on Monday raced to contain a COVID-19 outbreak traced to a raucous 24-hour bar known for cheap liquor and big crowds, with millions facing mandatory testing and thousands under targeted lockdowns. The outbreak of nearly 200 cases linked to the …

Beijing tests millions, isolates thousands over COVID cluster at 24-hour bar Read More »

By Rupam Jain MUMBAI (Reuters) – Leaders of prominent Islamic groups and mosques in India appealed to fellow Muslims on Monday to suspend plans for protests against derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammad made by two members of the ruling Hindu-nationalist party. The message to avoid big gatherings was circulated after demonstrations took a violent …

Indian Muslim groups urge followers to shun protests over anti-Islam comments Read More »

By Ludwig Burger and Tassilo Hummel PARIS (Reuters) -French drugmaker Sanofi said on Monday an upgraded version of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate it is developing with GSK showed potential in two trials to protect against the virus’s main variants of concern, including the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 strains, when used as a booster shot. While …

Sanofi says next-gen COVID booster shot has potential against main variants Read More »

PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance won the first round of lower house elections on Sunday by a razor-thin margin over the left bloc of Jean-Luc Melenchon although it is likely to extend its lead in next weekend’s second-round runoff. Macron’s Ensemble! alliance of centrist parties won 25.75% of the popular vote on …

Macron’s centrists edge ahead of left in French first round vote Read More »

By Natalia Zinets and Maria Starkova KYIV/LVIV (Reuters) -Russian forces have blown up a bridge linking the embattled Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk to another city across the river, cutting off a possible evacuation route for civilians, local officials said on Sunday. Sievierodonetsk has become the epicenter of the battle for control over Ukraine’s eastern Donbas …

Russia destroys bridge over Ukrainian river, cutting escape route Read More »

By Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian police are investigating a possible risk to national security that forced parliament to lock down for several hours on Saturday after border agents warned of a bomb threat, a government source said on Sunday. The intelligence branch of the border agency on Saturday warned that vehicles near parliament …

Canadian police probe possible bomb threat to parliament – source Read More »

By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Rocket firm Astra Space’s mission to send tiny storm-monitoring NASA satellites to orbit on Sunday failed after a second-stage booster engine shut down early in space. The failure occurred roughly 10 minutes after a successful liftoff of Astra’s Rocket 3.3 at 1:43 p.m. ET (1743 GMT) from a launchpad at …

Astra’s NASA mission suffers failure, loss of weather satellites Read More »

DUBAI/BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentine authorities have grounded an Iran-linked Venezuelan Boeing 747 cargo plane, a local opposition lawmaker and Iranian state media said on Sunday, in an unfolding drama that is throwing a spotlight on political undercurrents in Latin America. The Emtrasur cargo plane, sold to Venezuela by Iran’s Mahan Air a year ago according …

Argentina grounds Iran-linked Venezuelan cargo plane, lawmakers seek probe Read More »