Breaking: EU will not recognise Taliban regime, says report

The European Union will not recognise the Taliban regime, news agency ANI quoted European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen as saying on Saturday.

In a statement, EU's President said, "European Union does not recognise the new regime, imposed through violence, but we need to prevent the imminent economic and social collapse that the country faces. We need to stand by the people of Afghanistan."

The Kerala government on Saturday said travellers arriving from other countries in the state are undergoing a RT-PCR testing and 7-day quarantine as required. “As far as Kerala is concerned, we are constantly examining the presence of mutant virus in samples,” news agency ANI quoted Kerala health minister Veena George as saying.

Karnataka minister R Ashoka on Saturday said that over 1,000 people, who came from South Africa, have been tested for Coronavirus, reported news agency ANI. “One more test will be done after 10 days for those who have already come to Bengaluru or somewhere,” he added.

Delhi on Saturday recorded one more death due to Covid-19 and 27 fresh cases with a positivity rate of 0.05 per cent, according to health department data. With this, the death toll has climbed to 25,096 and the caseload stands at 14,40,834. Over 14.15 lakh patients have recovered from the viral disease, the health department bulletin said.

Britain on Saturday confirmed its first two cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, both linked to travel from southern Africa, reported news agency AFP. "We have moved rapidly and the individuals are self-isolating while contact tracing is ongoing," Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement. Read more

Nepal on Saturday made a 7-day quarantine mandatory for air-bound passengers travelling from/via South Africa, news agency ANI quoted Nepal's ministry of health and population as saying.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai held an emergency meeting on Friday over the new variant of Coronavirus ‘omicron’. Many officials, including state health minister Dr K Sudhakar, attended the meeting, reported news agency ANI.

Several areas in Chennai partially submerged in floodwater due to torrential rains over the past few days.

A German regional official said Saturday that health authorities have identified the first suspected case in the country of the new Covid-19 variant, in a person who returned from South Africa, reports news agency AFP.

At least two people have died in the UK after the year's first winter storm battered parts of the countries with gusts of nearly 100 mph (160 kph), reported news agency AP. The storm, which was named Arwen by the country's Met Office, hit parts of the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland particularly hard, causing road causing road closures, train delays, power cuts and high waves, the report further said.

• Maharashtra state government has made full vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory for people using public transport and in public places including government offices, shops, malls etc.,
• Maintaining Covid appropriate behaviour in taxis, private cars has been made compulsory.
• A penalty of ₹500 would be imposed on those who violate the norms and also to the conductor/driver.
• Vehicles owners to be charged ₹10,000 if a passenger is found violating norms inside their vehicles.
• Maximum attendance at weddings in open places, lawns, grounds capped at 25% of the venue's capacity and in closed spaces it is limited at 50% of the capacity. Read more

Delhi LG Anil Baijal has directed officials to ensure Covid appropriate behaviour and preparedness in hospitals to handle emergent situation due to new variant. 

On Monday, experts and representatives of civil aviation ministry to attend meeting with the DDMA and may decide on testing of passengers from international flights and quarantining those from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong etc., reports ANI citing government sources.

The international passengers arriving at Maharashtra would be governed according to the directions issued by the Union government while domestic passengers are required to either be fully vaccinated or carry a negative RT PCR certificate valid for 72 hours, reports ANI. 

SKM said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should direct state governments and the Railways to withdraw cases registered against farmers during the protest, reports ANI citing a farmer leader.

Farmers' body Samyukt Kisan Morcha, following a meeting today, decided to postpone the proposed tractor rally to Parliament initially planned for November 29, reports ANI citing farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh.

Former Union minister P Chidambaram, his son Karti Chidambaram and others have been issued summons by a Delhi court in the Aircel Maxis case, reports ANI. The court took cognizance of the charge-sheets filed by the ED and the CBI in the matter.

Delhi Congress leader Mukesh Goel joined the Aam Aadmi Party in the presence of party leader and Delhi's deputy CM Manish Sisodia, reports ANI.

Click here to read more

PM Narendra Modi said that all international arrivals should be monitored, tested as per guidelines and with a specific focus on countries identified ‘at risk’ because of the new variant following a meeting today. 

He also asked officials to review plans for easing international travel restrictions in light of the emerging new evidence.

“PM said that in light of the new threat, people need to more cautious and the need to take proper precautions like masking & social distancing,” the PMO said in a statement.

Click here to read more

Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar said that people coming to the state from South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel, Botswana will be tested for Covid-19 upon arrival. If positive, they will be asked to stay in and around the airport and will also receive treatment if needed. Also, home quarantine has been mandated for such passengers, reports ANI.

Children are allowed to go to Sabarimala pilgrimage without RT-PCR test report. However, all adults will require either full vaccination certificate or RTPCR negative certificate not older than 72 hours to enter the temple, said Kerala government.

“Three Kashmiri persons were beaten up by a group of people following an altercation over removing a rickshaw parked on a street in Doranda area of Ranchi today. Both sides have given complaints. Police have detained three persons in the matter,” says Ranchi Police.

Go First flight G8 873 from Bengaluru to Patna was diverted to Nagpur due to a faulty engine warning in the cockpit which necessitated the captain to shut down the engine as a precautionary measure. Thereafter, the captain followed the standard operating procedures and landed safely at Nagpur airport, Go First spokesperson said.

“All passengers have been deplaned and served refreshments. Alternate aircraft has been arranged to accommodate the passengers which will depart for Patna at 4:45 pm. The aircraft is being inspected by the engineering team,” the spokesperson stated.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raises concern over the new variant of coronavirus, demanding vaccine security from the government. 

He takes a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's picture on the vaccination certificate, says “Bad vaccination figures can’t be hidden for long behind one man’s photo.”

Each person entering Mumbai from South Africa to be quarantined on arrival, samples to be sent for genome sequencing, says Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar.

Bengaluru-Patna GoAir flight with 139 passengers & crew members on board makes an emergency land at Nagpur airport due to technical glitch, as per Abhid Ruhi, an official of Nagpur airport.