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Long Covid rehab facilities like this one in Germany help people to retrain their endurance. Even months after a coronavirus infection, some even asymptomatic, people are suffering from a wide variety of Long Covid symptoms. Sina Schuldt/dpa/Archiv
People with Long Covid are confronted with a wide variety of symptoms, from heart trouble to concentration problems, according to health care experts in rehab centres for people struggling with the long-term effects of coronavirus infection.
"There is by no means just one clinical picture - in our facilities we have to deal with a whole host of different symptoms," says the President of the German Pension Insurance Association, Gundula Rossbach.
"We are noticing more and more that people are not only currently suffering from Covid-19, but many develop post-Covid or Long Covid syndrome later on," Rossbach says. "Many patients first have to realise that it is Long Covid."
According to a study published in December by the Mainz University Medical Centre in Germany, around 40 per cent of those infected with the coronavirus still have symptoms more than six months later.
According to the study, Long Covid also affects people whose infections passed with mild or even no symptoms.
"The complaints are non-specific - including heart problems, concentration problems, shortness of breath, anxiety disorders, depression and chronic fatigue," Rossbach says.
Some of those affected are torn out of their professional lives, while others can no longer concentrate and, for example, no longer understand texts, sometimes even months after the actual illness.
Depending on the symptom, the person can go into rehabilitation at clinics for cardiology, neurology or psychosomatics.
"In many cases, we are entering new territory here because there is a lack of well-founded empirical data," says Rossbach.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following their meeting at Moncloa Palace in Madrid. Michael Kappeler/dpa
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russia to de-escalate the crisis along the border with Ukraine, where there has been a massive build-up of Russian troops.
The situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border worries the governments in Berlin and Madrid and is "very, very serious," said Scholz on Monday in the Spanish capital during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
"Military aggression against Ukraine would have serious political and economic consequences. That's why it's our job to do everything we can to avoid such a development, which in the end everyone would be worse off for," he said.
The Microsoft logo hangs on the facade of an office building in Munich. Security experts at Microsoft have discovered malware on dozens of government computers in Ukraine that could render them unusable, the US tech giant said. Peter Kneffel/dpa
Security experts at Microsoft have discovered malware on dozens of government computers in Ukraine that could render them unusable, the US tech giant said.
Although the malware disguised itself as a blackmail programme, its true purpose was to be able to destroy data on the command of hackers, Microsoft said on Saturday.
In light of the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine, the discovery of software that could disable government computers is a worrying development for Kiev.
Microsoft's experts did not comment on the possible origin of the threat, however.
"At this time, we have not identified notable overlap between the unique characteristics of the group behind these attacks and groups we’ve traditionally tracked, but we continue to analyze the activity," Microsoft Vice President Tom Burt said on a company blog.
The software was found on the computers of government agencies and IT specialists. Microsoft said it assumed the malware could also be lying dormant undetected on other computers.
Another tech expert also confirmed that it was clear from the way the attack was carried out that the hackers were not seeking money. The approach taken showed the aim was to paralyse the targets, according to Calvon Gan of IT security firm F-Secure on Sunday.
Western cybersecurity experts and the authorities in Kiev have tied previous cyberattacks in Ukraine to Russian hackers, some with links to the country's secret services.
On Friday, the Ukrainian government was the target of an attack that forced many of its websites offline, included those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Civil Protection.
Friday's cyberattack was not the country's first. Ukraine's power grid was hacked in December 2015, resulting in mass outages in one region.
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (L) departs from the Park Hotel government detention facility before attending a court hearing at his lawyers office in Melbourne. Novak Djokovic still faces uncertainty as to whether he can compete in the Australian Open, despite being announced in the tournament draw. James Ross/AAP/dpa
World tennis number one Novak Djokovic has left Australia after his visa was cancelled earlier Sunday, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has said.
"I can confirm that Mr Djokovic has now departed Australia," Hawke tweeted.
Reports said that Djokovic had departed aboard an Emirates flight to Dubai.
He also arrived that way 10 days ago, only to have his visa cancelled by border control in connection with coronavirus rules. A judge nullified the cancellation on Monday but Hawke used his power to cancel the visa again, which was confirmed Sunday by Australia's Federal Court.
A convoy of Victorian Police vehicles awaits the transfer of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic near the exit of the car park at the offices of Novak Djokovic's lawyers in Melbourne. Novak Djokovic still faces uncertainty as to whether he can compete in the Australian Open, despite being announced in the tournament draw. James Ross/AAP/dpa
North Korea test-fired what are believed to have been two short-range ballistic missiles on Friday, the general staff of the South Korean armed forces says.
The launches came after North Korea's Foreign Ministry accused the US of "provocation" for imposing further sanctions on Pyongyang for its weapons programme and threatened Washington with a clear response.
The test was the third carried out by North Korea within 10 days. South Korea's National Security Council expressed its "deep regret" about North Korea's continued missile launches.
The United States Indo-Pacific Command accused North Korea of destabilizing the region through its "illegal weapons programme" and said that it also believed the latest test to have involved ballistic missiles.
South Korean authorities believe the missiles were launched in the north-west of North Korea, close to the Chinese border, and travelled about 430 kilometres over the Sea of Japan.
Citing military officials, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the missiles were believed to be fired at a predetermined target on an uninhabited North Korean island.
North Korea last conducted missile tests, with what it claimed to be hypersonic missiles, on January 5, and again on Tuesday. Hypersonic weapons are difficult to intercept because of their high speed and manoeuvrability.
Pope Francis caused a brief stir in the centre of Rome as he visited and blessed a record shop near the Pantheon late on Tuesday, the Holy See press office told the ANSA news agency.
The shop owners are friends of Francis since before he became the leader of the Catholic Church, according to the report. Francis had previously promised he would pay a visit to the shop.
According to ANSA, the 85-year-old pope spent about 15 minutes in the newly renovated music shop and received a CD of classical music as a gift.
A Vatican journalist for Rome Reports television news agency recorded a video showing Francis leaving the shop and getting into his car.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (R) takes part in a parliamentary session via videoconference during which lawmakers have installed a new prime minister after days of riots. -/Kazakh Presidency /dpa
Kazakhstan lawmakers have installed a new prime minister, as the country's rulers seek to reassert order after days of riots.
The parliament of the Central Asian country on Tuesday voted in Alikhan Smailov, state television reported. Smailov had already taken the post temporarily, after the dismissal of the old government a week ago, according to the report.
Smailov was previously deputy prime minister and also long had the post of finance minister.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had earlier suggested Smailov for the job.
On Monday, Tokayev told a meeting of a Russian-led regional security alliance order has been restored after days of violent unrest in which more than 150 people were killed and thousands detained.
"Complete order has been restored in Kazakhstan. Threats to the country's security have been averted," Tokayev told a video meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which he had called in to quell riots.
The first foreign troops who showed up to restore order in Kazakhstan after widespread rioting last week are already set to return home this week, according to Tokayev.
Departures should begin in two days, he said during an address to Parliament. "The main mission of the CSTO is done."
Meanwhile, the number of detentions was approaching 10,000. According to the Tengrinews agency, the Interior Ministry said that around 9,900 people had been detained during the riots.
Kazakhstan, which borders Russia and China, was gripped by unrest for a week, after anti-government protests grew out of resentment over increased fuel prices at petrol stations in the oil and gas-rich country.
Alongside peaceful demonstrations, there were also violent riots, especially in the metropolis of Almaty.
Tokayev declared a state of emergency, dismissed the government and ordered the military to shoot at demonstrators without warning.
Evidence appeared to be emerging that the widespread destruction was not only caused by protesters angry at higher fuel costs, corruption and authoritarian leadership.
The balance of power in Kazakhstan has shifted, according to regional political scientists, in the course of a deadly week.
Alongside many peaceful demonstrators, there were also organized rioters who caused violence, particularly in Almaty, according to Diana Kudaibergenova, who teaches at Cambridge University.
In Almaty, peaceful protests were hijacked by organized criminal groups, she said in a tweet, adding that it is important to distinguish between the two groups.
Residents reported the sound of gunfire and rioting mobs roaming the streets, while several shops selling guns were looted.
A video of men grabbing guns from the boot of a car has been widely shared online.
As of January 4, "pre-prepared storm troopers played the leading role, intent on violent confrontation without any slogans," according to Kazakh political scientist Daniyar Ashimbayev, in a Telegram post.
Kazakh experts see evidence of coordinated action in the targeting of police stations and administrative buildings, strategic points that appear to have been deliberately attacked.
This rapid radicalization cannot only be attributed to the escalation of popular anger, of young men on the streets, according to an analysis by the Moscow Carnegie Center.
While much remains unclear about the week of unrest, "the most important thing is obvious: the Nazarbayev era is over in Kazakhstan," according to the Carnegie Center's analysis, a reference to former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had continued to wield much influence despite stepping down in 2019.
Nargis Kassenova, a Central Asia researcher at Harvard University, called on the government to provide information about what happened.
"The Kazakhstan government owes us the truth, full and unabridged, not manipulated narratives and fakes. People are not stupid, and they are angry," she said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, looking ahead, some were optimistic.
"In today's meeting, as the Turkic States, we have emphasized our support to Kazakhstan. We believe that Kazakhstan and the Turkic World will emerge stronger from this challenge. Our strength comes from unity!" Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev takes part in a parliamentary session via videoconference during which lawmakers have installed a new prime minister after days of riots. -/Kazakh Presidency /dpa
The highly-contagious Omicron variant now accounts for most new cases in the United States.
And with a surge in Covid-19 cases and intense demand for scarce at-home rapid tests — which don't differentiate between variants — people experiencing Covid-like symptoms are scrambling to figure out whether they've contracted Omicron, a previous variant, or just a seasonal cold.
Judith O'Donnell, the chief of infectious disease at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, spoke to us about the latest surge and how Omicron symptoms differ among vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.
What are the symptoms of Omicron?
O'Donnell: We're still seeing the usual list of symptoms that we would expect with Covid-19: fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and then loss of smell and taste. Sometimes congestion, runny nose, sometimes nausea and vomiting and sometimes diarrhea.
I think what we are experiencing, though, is for people who are vaccinated, or vaccinated and boosted, we're not seeing as much fever, if any, as opposed to an unvaccinated person.
There's been some reporting in the scientific literature that when patients are vaccinated, or vaccinated and boosted, the symptoms in general are much milder. They're more consistent with a typical cold. There's a lot of talk in the media about getting a lot more runny noses, or congestions. That does seem to be shown in some of the early scientific studies.
Why does Omicron seem to cause more mild cases?
O'Donnell: There's the question of — are these [milder cold symptoms] related to the variant? Or are they related to the fact that many individuals who are experiencing an infection with Omicron are either vaccinated, vaccinated and boosted, or in some parts of the world, like South Africa [where the variant was first identified], they've already had natural immunity from a prior infection?
It may not be the variant — it may just be us, as humans, because we now have immunity to Covid-19 as a virus, and as a result, our bodies have some prior experience with it. So we're experiencing the infection more like a common cold.
What are the symptoms of Omicron in an unvaccinated person?
O'Donnell: In the unvaccinated, Omicron looks very similar to delta and all the prior variants and the original strain. It can land you in the hospital if you're unvaccinated and can lead to ICU care or death. It should not be taken as, "it's just a cold" for everyone, because that's not the case at all.
In an unvaccinated person, Omicron is quite capable of and is actually causing pneumonia. People are coming in with shortness of breath due to pneumonia, just like it has with prior waves and prior variants.
What should vaccinated people experiencing covid symptoms know?
O'Donnell: Vaccinated people who have cold symptoms, nasal congestion, runny noses, sore throats, but aren't experiencing fever — if you're vaccinated and boosted, and those are the symptoms you're having, you may have Covid-19. It's so prevalent across our region that it's spreading efficiently and widely.
I'd encourage them to try to test themselves. At this point, given you're vaccinated and boosted, this is going to be a mild illness. They should consider this great news, because they did get vaccinated and boosted, and it's allowed them to have a Covid-19 infection that is mild. And they'll recover in a week or so, just like with other common cold symptoms.
I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted, if they haven't yet.
The logo of the human rights organization Amnesty International is pictured in Berlin. Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has urged US President Joe Biden to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba, which has been operational for 20 years this month. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa
Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has urged US President Joe Biden to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba, which has been operational for 20 years this month.
The camp stands for arbitrariness, injustice and torture, Amnesty's US expert Sumit Bhattacharyya told dpa in Washington.
Bhattacharyya urged Biden to close the camp and bring people who were involved in torture or other illegal activities there to justice.
The camp now has 39 detainees left. It was established under the government of Republican President George W Bush to hold suspected Islamist terrorists without trial after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington DC.
Bush's successor, Democrat Barack Obama, wanted to close it, but failed due to opposition in the US Congress, while Republican Donald Trump wanted to keep the camp open.
Biden, who was Obama's vice president, is trying to push through with plans to close the facility.
To mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of the opening of the camp, Amnesty International held protests in several countries on Saturday.
In Germany, people turned out to mark the day in Berlin, Bremen, Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz and Halle, according to Amnesty.
The first prisoners were brought to the Guantanamo Bay camp - located on a US military base in Cuba - on January 11, 2002.
Coronavirus, supply problems, the chip shortage? No matter! Even in its reduced form this year, the CES tech trade show at the start of January provides all kinds of insights into what will end up in living rooms, remote workplaces and pockets in the future.
TVs are getting brighter, smarter and more versatile
The future of TVs is still micro LED - i.e. tiny pixels that light up individually for an extremely detailed picture. Samsung and LG showed plenty of new displays with these extremely small light-emitting diodes.
Despite all the enthusiasm for size, colour representation and picture quality: the partly huge TVs still do not have living room prices. Average viewers will probably have to wait a few more years.
The more affordable options for normal TVs are in the OLED segment.
At the CES, LG in particular is showing many new models up to the more compact sizes of 42 inches. The more expensive models now feature up to 20 per cent brighter LEDs - called "OLED evo".
Sony now calls its improved self-luminous displays QD-OLED. The luminous dots built into the Bravia A95K, for example, are supposed to last longer than before. There are also "normal" OLED TVs: the A90K series with models of 48 and 42 inches and the A80K series in 77, 65 and 55 inches.
Turn on the TV and go
In the Samsung design area, prestige TV sets like The Frame or The Serif have been technically updated. In addition, there is now Neo QLED - Samsung's QLED screens with fine resolution backlighting for better illumination of individual picture areas.
More speakers and a special processor are supposed to assign the sound to the right area on the screen - in 2021, this technology was only in the top models.
For young smartphone fans who don't see the point in having a TV, Samsung has a special new wall mount. In it, the TV can be turned into portrait format - perfect for social media and TikTok's portrait videos.
There are also new services. For example, a new Gaming Hub for some 2022 models. This is supposed to provide easier access to cloud games from the game streaming platforms GeForce Now (Nvidia), Stadia (Google) and Utomik. For a subscription fee, these games can be streamed to the TV.
OLED displays in more and more notebooks
Slimmer, faster, better for video games, better for mobile work: Notebook manufacturers from Acer and Asus to HP and Lenovo are showing new devices in Las Vegas and on the web. Inside are the latest Intel and AMD chips and, increasingly, OLED displays.
This is the case, for example, in Lenovo's Thinkpads Z13, Z16 and X1 or in Asus' Zenbooks. In the gaming sector, Nvidia has introduced the RTX 3080 Ti, which, according to the provider, is the most powerful notebook graphics unit to date - it can be found in computers from Asus, MSI or Razer, for example.
There's also a few strange but possible genius changes being made to familiar laptop design: This applies, for example, to the Thinkbook Plus Gen 3 from Lenovo with its second screen next to the keyboard.
The Zenbook 17 Fold from Asus, meanwhile, can be folded from tablet to notebook to reader. The Space Edition of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED has a second mini-OLED screen in the laptop lid and is certified suitable for use in space.
More screens for gaming
Because gaming does not only require the right computer, the range of screens specifically designed for video games is also growing - some of them are available in TV size.
The ROG Swift OLED (PG42UQ) measures 42 inches diagonally, while the Acer CG48 is 48 inches. Both OLED displays with 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) are supposed to display fast video games from PCs and consoles smoothly with fast pixel switching times and refresh rates of 120 hertz and more.
And a sophisticated cooling system is supposed to protect the self-luminous OLEDs from a premature death from overheating. ROG did not name a price yet, and compared to gaming-suitable TVs, Acer's CG48 is no bargain at just under 2,200 euros.
The price is supposed to be justified with extras adapted to gamers, such as a multitude of ports, picture synchronization technology or laptop charging capability.
Further focus on mobile working
"Hybrid work environments" is a term that now appears in almost all ideas about business notebooks and monitors. Two major trends appear to be emerging.
Trend number one is a complete device like the HP Elitebook 860 G9. The 16-inch notebook with Windows 11 and the latest Ryzen processors from AMD is supposed to be a good compromise for both stationary and mobile work.
Here, but also in many other models, there are high-resolution cameras for the inevitable video conferences. AI-supported microphones and improved loudspeakers are supposed to make the sound as well as the picture coherent.
The other trend and at the same time a continuation from 2021 are smart screens - smart in the way that they are not only a display device but also a hub for mouse, keyboard and other devices and supply the notebook with power at the same time. Bye-bye tangled cables.
Not much focus on smartphones
It's better not to expect too much from CES 2022 in terms of smartphones, but there were certainly a few new launches.
In addition to Samsung's Galaxy S21 FE 5G - a slightly improved and cheaper version of the 2021 flagship S21 - the Chinese manufacturer OnePlus gave a preview of the OnePlus 10 Pro.
This again comes with a camera developed together with Hasselblad, including a 150-degree wide-angle camera. While the Galaxy S21 FE 5G is already available for purchase, the OnePlus will first be launched in China and only later in the year in Europe.
Android is to become even more like iOS
Android will get some new features this year that Apple already offers. With the large number of providers and devices, something like this takes longer - for example, fast pairing of headphones with Chromebooks, Google TV or other Android TV devices.
Bluetooth-capable headphones will soon automatically switch to the respective device under Android. If supported, there will soon also be spatial audio under Android - i.e. sound playback depending on one's position in the room.
Google also wants to facilitate cross-device working and data exchange. The file sharing function Nearby Share will soon also work with Windows. To this end, Google is cooperating with Acer, HP and Intel.
Chromebooks are also to be able to call up pictures and videos from the smartphone via the Phone Hub "in the coming months", and SMS and message management will also be improved. Smartphones with Wear OS will soon be able to unlock Android smartphones and Chromebooks.
The Metaverse and other absurd things
No trade fair without big concepts: if Silicon Valley has its way, the next virtual revolution is imminent - the Metaverse. This is, in short, a virtual 3D world: shopping, meeting people, playing games, creating worlds and much more - all this is to be available soon with virtual reality glasses and other hardware.
Facebook parent company Meta is betting heavily on this hardware-hungry future, and notebook manufacturer MSI is already introducing the label "Meta-Ready" for its powerful gaming notebooks. In addition, exhibitors are showing, for example, a waistcoat that is supposed to make touch and other sensory events from the Metaverse tangible and other ideas for the still nebulous Metaverse worlds.
What will become of it remains to be seen.
Somewhat more concrete, but still uncharted territory for many consumers, is Samsung's NFT option for TVs.
With the help of this option, TV buyers will be able to buy and view digital art that is confirmed as original and unique by NFT (non fungible token) and assigned to a specific person by certificate. An example: The first text message ever sent was recently sold with NFT for almost 110,000 euros - and could then be displayed at home on the Samsung TV.
Samsung calls its new QLED TVs with brighter diodes and more precise backlighting Neo QLED. Samsung/dpa
OnePlus showed a preview of the OnePlus 10 Pro with its Hasselblad camera at CES. It will first go on sale in China. OnePlus/dpa
Samsung's new Smart TVs are also supposed to become gaming machines via Gaming Hub - provided the corresponding subscription to a cloud gaming provider. Samsung Electronics/dpa
The Android universe is getting a bunch of new features: For example, quick pairing for headphones and TVs, automatic sound switching or better data exchange. Google/dpa
Big screen for big gaming ambitions and a big budget: The Acer Predator CG48 with a 48-inch screen size has a pixel response time of 0.1 milliseconds according to the manufacturer. Acer/dpa
The Lenovo Thinkpad Z13 has an OLED display. 75 per cent of the aluminum used in the device is recycled. Lenovo/dpa
Sony's Bravia X85K line of 4K TVs with the X1 processor comes in six sizes with diagonals of 43, 50, 55, 65, 75 and 85 inches. Sony/dpa
The Lenovo Thinkbook Plus Gen 3 offers two displays in one notebook. Lenovo/dpa
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a slightly revised version of the Samsung Galaxy S21 from early 2021. The S22 model will probably be available around the Mobile World Congress at the end of February. Samsung/dpa
LG's OLED TV is available in the C2 series in versions from 42 to 97 inches screen size. LG/dpa
Fold it in half, attach the keyboard - and the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold is a laptop replacement. Asus/dpa
The ROG Swift OLED gaming monitor in 42 and 48 inch sizes is something for gamers with a lot of space. Asus/dpa
An Asus notebook once flew around the Earth in the Mir space station. The Zenbook 14X OLED in the Space Edition reminds us of that - with space design and, according to the manufacturer, also with space flight capability. Asus/dpa
Sergei Nethayev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Germany, reacts during an interview at the Russian Embassy. Nechaev, vowed that Moscow will respond to the announcement of restrictions on state broadcaster RT. Christophe Gateau/dpa
Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechaev, vowed that Moscow will respond to the announcement of restrictions on state broadcaster RT.
"There will certainly be a reaction from the Russian side," Nechaev told dpa in an interview. "I'm no Oracle of Delphi, but there are different possibilities there. There are so many German journalists in Russia."
All of these journalists feel comfortable in the Russian media landscape, Nechaev said. "And we don't really want any conflict. We just want our station in Germany to have the same rights and opportunities and to be able to work in peace."
In mid-December, RT launched its channel RT DE, live and in German, via various distributors. YouTube blocked the channel on its platform after a few hours, citing community guidelines.
Media regulators in Berlin initiated proceedings against RT the following day. As a result, the satellite operator Eutelsat stopped broadcasting RT DE shortly before Christmas.
The reason for the decision was that German regulators had not granted a broadcasting licence. RT, however, argues that it had obtained a valid Serbian broadcasting licence for the channel. A previous attempt to obtain a licence via Luxembourg had failed.
RT is repeatedly referred to in the West as a Kremlin propaganda tool. The channel has been criticized for spreading conspiracy theories and disinformation. RT rejects these accusations.
Sergei Nethayev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Germany, speaks during an interview at the Russian Embassy. Nechaev, vowed that Moscow will respond to the announcement of restrictions on state broadcaster RT. Christophe Gateau/dpa
Sergei Nethayev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Germany, reacts during an interview at the Russian Embassy. Nechaev, vowed that Moscow will respond to the announcement of restrictions on state broadcaster RT. Christophe Gateau/dpa
the Iranian home-made Simorgh rocket carrying satellites lifts off at an undisclosed location in Iran. the rocket transported satellite research instruments to a height of 470 kilometres, a spokesperson for the Iranian Defence Ministry said. -/Iranian Defence Ministry via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
US and French criticism of Iran's resumption of satellite launches is unwarranted, said Iran on Saturday, blasting back at its detractors.
"Iran very much has the legitimate right to conduct scientific research, especially in the fields of aeronautics and space," Foreign Office spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Saturday.
According to Khatibzadeh, the launch was also not a violation of UN resolutions, as claimed by the two countries. Therefore, the criticism is baseless and ineffective, the spokesperson said, according to the ISNA news agency.
The Defence Ministry reported on Thursday that Iran had launched a Simorgh (Phoenix) missile with three research satellites into orbit at an altitude of 470 kilometres. According to the ministry, this was only a test, in order to bring the rockets into the desired orbit later on.
For Washington and Paris, however, the satellite launch was a violation of UN resolutions and not conducive to talks, set to resume in Vienna next week, designed to set controls on Iran's nuclear ambitions.
According to Tehran, the Iranian satellites are supposed to provide data on weather, natural disasters and agriculture and are not in pursuit of military objectives. Therefore, their use is in line with international regulations, Iran says.
The US and Israel, however, are critical of the Iranian satellite programme. They fear that Iran could use space technology to build long-range military missiles.
The midnight fireworks go off over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year’s celebrations. Dean Lewins/AAP/dpa
Successive countries are marking the coming of the year 2022, with many holding muted celebrations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Celebrations were under way in Europe, where despite unseasonably mild weather, many large parties and fireworks displays were cancelled, for example in London and Paris, or scaled down, like in Madrid.
In Berlin, there were no big fireworks display at the Brandenburg Gate and no party with hundreds of thousands of people, and just before midnight Berlin police called on people not to head to the landmark.
Crowds that flocked to the area before midnight started dissolving in the early hours of Saturday, police said.
Meanwhile, public broadcaster ZDF offered a live show with singers like Bonnie Tyler and Marianne Rosenberg but no spectators.
In Rome, Italian police closed off some areas in the centre of the city after fireworks were thrown at passer-bys near the Colosseum metro station, ANSA news agency reported, adding that no injuries were initially reported.
In a number of areas, including Paris, bars and restaurants had to close at 2 am (0100 GMT) on Saturday. In many French cities mask mandates were in place even outdoors. In Strasbourg and the surrounding area, authorities imposed a curfew on unaccompanied people under the age of 16 due to serious disorders in the past.
Despite the rapidly increasing number of coronavirus infections, the most traditional New Year's Eve mass party in Spain took place again in Madrid after being called off last year.
Around 7,000 people welcomed the new year at Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, the number of participants allowed reduced by around 60 per cent.
Otherwise there were no significant restrictions in the Spanish capital.
People around the country ate the traditional 12 grapes at each stroke of the clock at Puerta del Sol plaza at midnight for good luck.
Millions of people in Moscow celebrated the New Year in freezing temperatures with fireworks in several places and no major coronavirus restrictions.
Thousands gathered at Moscow's famous Red Square, where the clock at the Kremlin struck 12 times to welcome the year 2022.
The Russian capital traditionally organizes fireworks in several places, best seen from the skyscraper district of Moskva City or from the Sparrow Hills.
The new year began first for the inhabitants of the South Pacific islands of Samoa and Kiribati, who saw in the new year at 1000 GMT, and New Zealand following one hour later.
Fireworks were allowed in Samoa this year, unlike last year when bans applied.
Sydney kicked off 2022 with 6 tons of colourful fireworks against the imposing backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, at a display ticket holders were able to attend.
Taiwan's New Year's Eve fireworks display in Taipei, at one of the tallest buildings in the world, drew more than 1 million revellers, according to local media, as case numbers are relatively manageable.
Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation statistics showed that on Friday it served at least 1.57 million passengers. About 16,000 fireworks were used during a six-minute show, themed on well-being and a shared future, at the 509-metre tall Taipei 101 high-rise building.
Meanwhile several cities in China cancelled firework displays and other large-scale festivities due to the pandemic, including Beijing and Wuhan.
New Year's Eve is not a particularly important holiday for the Chinese, as the lunar new year begins later, triggering mass travel, although restrictions are also likely to apply this year.
But in Bangkok, tens of thousands of locals and tourists welcomed the New Year in Khaosan Road, famed for its hostels and clubs. Silent until recently, it resembled a street party as visitors flocked to celebrate.
Attendees were able to drink, dance and party as in pre-pandemic times, after showing proof of vaccination, as Thailand's infection rate is relatively low, despite the Omicron variant, with some 3,000 new cases recorded daily.
In Dubai, the world's tallest building, the 828-metre-high Burj Khalifa, hosted a fireworks display complete with a light and laser show. It will take 26 hours, up to 1200 GMT on Saturday, for the entire globe to ring in the new year.
Next up the public will ring in the New Year in South America, including in Rio de Janeiro where celebrations have been scaled down, the US East Coast, California, Hawaii and finally the uninhabited islets of Baker Island and Howland Island back in the Pacific.
In New York, the traditional New Year's Eve party in Times Square is to take place again with spectators - but all visitors must be vaccinated against Covid-19.
As is the case every year, the celebration is to be broadcast live on television and online - including the traditional ball drop - the lowering of a glowing crystal ball. Stars such as rapper and actor LL Cool J are expected at the party.
The midnight fireworks go off over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year’s celebrations. Dean Lewins/AAP/dpa
Workers put the final touches to barges of fireworks during a press conference for previewing preparations for the New Year's Eve fireworks display in Sydney. Sydney's famous fireworks show to go ahead despite record Covid-19 numbers. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa
Thousands of people were expected to descend to ticketed vantage points to watch Sydney's famous New Year's Eve fireworks despite record-shattering numbers of infections in New South Wales.
Sydney on Wednesday released details about its fireworks display, for which some 17,000 tickets for vantage points managed by the city were already sold, according to news agency AAP.
The agency quoted a city spokesperson as saying they could not predict the turnout for the pyrotechnic show, but five of the six locations managed by the city were sold out and tickets for another 25 locations, with capacity for nearly 87,000 people, were still on sale.
Vaccination and the use of masks will not be mandatory to attend the ticketed venues, though encouraged, organizers said.
Six tons of fireworks were expected to be launched across two displays at 9 pm and midnight were expected to be launched, according to a Wednesday press release. More than 25,000 "shooting effects" will be fired from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and a further 6,000 from the tops of the Sydney Opera House, among others.
The state of New South Wales on Wednesday reported a staggering 11,201 new coronavirus infections, almost doubling its previous record, as the local government struggled to control soaring numbers believed to be driven by the Omicron variant of the virus.
Before the pandemic, up to a million people would normally descend on the harbour to watch the fireworks.
Last year the show was confined to the Harbour Bridge and only those whose home, roof or hotel room had views over the harbour were able to see the fireworks live, with all outside viewpoints closed.
Fireworks Director Fortunato Foti holds a firework during a press conference for previewing preparations for the New Year's Eve fireworks display in Sydney. Sydney's famous fireworks show to go ahead despite record Covid-19 numbers. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa
Events at City of Sydney Program Manager Stephen Gilby speaks during a press conference for previewing preparations for the New Year's Eve fireworks display in Sydney. Sydney's famous fireworks show to go ahead despite record Covid-19 numbers. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa
Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks to the press upon arrival for The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit. Duda said on Monday he had vetoed a media reform bill that drew international criticism, especially from the United States. -/NATO/dpa
Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Monday he had vetoed a media reform bill that drew international criticism, especially from the United States.
The bill was aimed at restricting foreign influence on the media, but critics said it would limit press freedom and pluralism in the country.
Duda said he could not sign the bill into law in its present form, the PAP news agency reported.
Parliament had passed the measure earlier this month. It would have amended the Broadcasting Act to stipulate that future broadcasting licences in Poland may only be granted to foreigners if they have their headquarters or residence in the European Economic Area.
In addition, the licensee must not be reliant on anyone with a headquarters or residence outside the area.
Opponents said it targeted the private broadcaster TVN, which is part of the US group Discovery via a holding company registered in the Netherlands. The news channel TVN24 in particular takes a line critical of the government.
The United States had urged Duda to use his veto power to halt the legislation.
Duda on Monday appealed to the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, to find more suitable solutions to limit the participation of foreign companies in the media market.
He also referred to a 1990 treaty between the US and Poland on trade and economic relations.
Duda underlined that he has extensive experience with the issues of media pluralism and freedom of expression. He also said he was concerned at how polarized Polish society has become.
"Most of my compatriots, most of my fellow citizens, do not want any more disputes," he said, according to PAP.
The Sejm, meanwhile, can reject the veto with a three-fifths majority.
Alongside the US, the European Commission also warned that the law could potentially restrict media freedom.
Tens of thousands of people also demonstrated against the planned law in Warsaw and other cities, carrying posters demanding "Free media, free people, free Poland" and "We have a right to the truth."
Those street protests and pressure from abroad were useful, Polish opposition leader and former EU Council president Donald Tusk said in a tweet.
For its part, TVN called the planned law an "unprecedented attack on the free media" in a statement.
Meanwhile, Krzysztof Gawkowski, leader of the Lewica parliamentary group, said he feared the issue was not yet closed.
A spokesperson for the ruling national conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) expresed disappointment with the president's decision, adding that Poland had to protect its media market from "excessive foreign capital."
