"We Germans have become a bad joke" - writes the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Die Welt, Ulf Poschardt, in a text entitled "Welcome to the German Federal Republic of Clowns" (Willkommen in der Bundesclownsrepublik Deutschland). Global disillusionment with the new government and its foreign policy is pulling the country away from the West.more

Researchers at George Washington University have developed a rapid blood test that detects SARS-CoV-2 infection and predicts whether the course of the disease will be severe. The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS One.more

U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed during a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenski yesterday his readiness for a strong U.S. response in the event of Russian aggression against Ukraine. He also announced economic assistance to Kiev.more

A giant tortoise named Jonathan, believed to be the world's oldest land-dwelling animal, is at least 190 years old. He inhabits St. Helena Island, where Napoleon Bonaparte died just 11 years before he was born.more

Germany's health ministry has confirmed that the discrepancy between the number of digital vaccination certificates and doses administered for Covid-19 is in the tens of millions. The reason for this is not false vaccination cards or unreported vaccinations, the ministry believes. The case was described yesterday by "Die Welt".more

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the granting of a conditional marketing authorization for the oral antiviral drug Paxlovid for the treatment of Covid-19. The applicant is the concern Pfizer.more

The fashion for Swiss franc loans was initiated in Europe 30 years ago by the Austrians. In this way, they financed not only the purchase of a house or flat, but also other current expenses. Over the years, the Swiss currency seemed extremely stable and the low interest rate kept the installments low. Of course, for a while. The crisis of 2008 and its aftermath changed a lot.more

Along with the high level of coronavirus infections, exceeding 133,000 in the last 24 hours. cases, the Spanish autonomous communities announced yesterday that they would extend the anti-epidemic restrictions until mid-February.more

The Ministry of National Defense of Ukraine announced the mobilization of over 127,000 Russian soldiers, air forces and the navy near the border. At the border training grounds there were also gathered, among others Iskander ballistic missiles capable of reaching Kiev, radio and satellite equipment for intelligence operations, ammunition supplies and field hospitals.more

From February, it will be possible to enter Italy from EU countries only with a Covid-19 pass, without the need to present the test result. His obligation was introduced in December by the end of January.more

Pfizer announced yesterday that clinical trials have begun on a reformulated vaccine to protect against the coronavirus variant Omicron, the Axios news service reported.more

Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to transform Ukraine into a failed state. We have to prepare for three possibilities of a Russian attack on Ukraine: the annexation or formal recognition of the independence of Donbas, a limited invasion and occupation of the east of the country, and a full-scale attack on many fronts, writes the American magazine Foreign Affairs.more

According to a study by researchers from Brazil and Oxford University, people vaccinated with China's Covid-19 Sinovac vaccine developed a high degree of immunity after receiving a booster dose from Astra Zeneca, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson, The Hill newspaper reported.more

Talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran are approaching a dangerous impasse, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced yesterday.more

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced yesterday that as of today, some of the restrictions put in place last December 19 due to the coronavirus pandemic will be lifted. Catering and the cultural sector will be open, and sports competitions will be allowed to take place with the public in attendance.more

The crisis between Russia and Ukraine should not have a significant impact on air traffic, as most carriers are already avoiding the region after previous tensions, said the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Willie Walsh.more

Coronavirus may have been present in Norway as early as December 2019, although the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the country on February 24, 2020, according to Norwegian researchers published yesterday.more

Ukraine is now facing a greater threat than ever before, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday. He stressed that Russian aggression could most effectively be stopped by the unity of the West.more

Mutation analysis of the Omikron variant indicates that it evolved to efficiently attack mouse cells and probably arose in the organisms of these rodents. This indicates a potential threat from wild animals, especially rodents, researchers from three Chinese research centers report.more

Vaccination against COVID-19 does not impair fertility in either women or men, according to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. However, men infected with the coronavirus may experience impaired fertility for a short time.more

The James Webb Space Telescope has reached the area from which it will observe the Universe - the so-called the L2 libration point of the Earth-Sun system, as reported by the space agencies NASA and ESA.more

France is currently the country, excluding micro-states, with the highest incidence of coronavirus in Europe. The incidence rate per 100,000 population is 3 733 cases - reported today the daily "Le Figaro". Health Minister Olivier Veran said he hoped France would hit the peak of the current wave of Covid-19 in the next few days. more

The omicron remains on plastic surfaces for much longer than previous variants of the coronavirus, a new study by Japanese scientists at Kyoto Medical University has found. The omicron can survive on plastic for up to 193.5 hours - about 8 days, and on the skin for over 21 hours - it was specified.more

Two fatalities, three injured - this is the record of yesterday's attack by a man who fired a firearm at the University of Heidelberg (Baden-Württemberg). The perpetrator shot himself after the attack, and a few hours later a young woman died as a result of severe injuries.more

The year 2021 was the world's most anti-Semitic year in a decade, according to an annual report created by the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency. At least 10 anti-Semitic incidents occurred on average each day, and the actual number is likely higher because many incidents go unreported. more