Europe

28 April 2022; MEMO: German-Turkish footballer Mesut Ozil has taken to twitter to spread awareness of the plight of India's Muslims who face persecution in the Hindu-majority country.

Yesterday, on one of the final ten days of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the former Real Madrid and Arsenal player called on the international community to "break the silence" on what is happening in India. He added that he is praying for the safety and well-being of the country's substantial Muslim minority.

MADRID, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) confirmed here on Wednesday that Russia had announced its intention to withdraw from the organization.

"Russia has announced its intention to withdraw from UNWTO," explained the UNWTO in a tweet, adding that nevertheless Russia must "follow due process - and this will take a year to complete upon the receipt of the official communications through the appropriate channels."

IRPIN, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine said Thursday that Russia’s offensive in the east picked up momentum, with several towns coming under intense attack as Moscow’s forces attempt to surround Ukrainian troops.

In a reminder of the horrific toll the war has taken since it began Feb. 24, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited towns outside the capital of Kyiv where evidence of mass killings of civilians was found after Russia’s retreat from the area.

BERLIN (AP) — Germany was the biggest buyer of Russian energy during the first two months of the war in Ukraine, an independent research group said Thursday.

A study published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air calculates that Russia has earned 63 billion euros ($66.5 billion) from fossil fuel exports since Feb. 24, the date Russian troops attacked Ukraine.

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that Finland and Sweden would be embraced with open arms should they decide to join the 30-nation military organization and could become members quite quickly.

Stoltenberg’s remarks came as public support in Finland and Sweden for NATO membership mounts in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Media speculation in the two countries suggest the two might apply in mid-May.

LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ever since Russian forces took the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in early March, residents sensed the occupiers had a special plan for their town. Now, amid a crescendo of warnings from Ukraine that Russia plans to stage a sham referendum to transform the territory into a pro-Moscow “people’s republic,” it appears locals guessed right.

MOSCOW, April 27. /TASS/: Russia has declared three diplomats from the Embassy of Norway in Moscow personae non gratae citing reciprocal measures, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

PARIS, April 27. /TASS/: France’s Constitutional Council has declared Emmanuel Macron president-elect based on the results of a presidential runoff held on April 24, the council’s head Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday.

"Emmanuel Macron received an absolute majority of votes. The Constitutional Council declares Emmanuel Macron President-Elect of the Republic on April 27," he said, adding that Macron’s presidential term would begin on May 14.

According to the final data announced by Fabius, Macron gained 18.7 mln of votes and his rival Marine Le Pen got 13.2 mln.

MOSCOW, April 27. /TASS/: SkyTeam airline alliance announced suspension of membership of Russian airline Aeroflot. This is according to a press release published on the website of the alliance on Wednesday.

"SkyTeam and Aeroflot have agreed to temporarily suspend the airline's SkyTeam membership. We are working to limit the impact for customers and will inform those affected by any changes to SkyTeam benefits and services," the alliance said.

MOSCOW, April 27. /TASS/: Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 7,705 over the past day to 18,159,600, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Wednesday.

In relative terms, the growth rate reached 0.04%.

As many as 2,986 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, down 5.54% from a day earlier. The number of hospitalized patients decreased in 44 regions, while in 36 regions the figure increased. The situation remained unchanged in five regions. A day earlier, 3,161 people were rushed to hospitals.