Canberra: Australia has outlined plans to lift a pandemic ban on its vaccinated citizens travelling overseas from November. But no date has yet been set for welcoming international tourists back.
Travel restrictions that have trapped most Australians and permanent residents at home over the past 18 months would be removed when 80 per cent of the population aged 16 and older were fully vaccinated, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.
Australia introduced some of the toughest travel restrictions of any democracy in the world on people entering and leaving the island nation on March 20 last year.
Most Australians have had to argue for rare exemptions from the travel ban to leave the country. There are a few exceptions from the ban including government employees and essential workers. Tourism is never accepted as a reason to cross the border.
Hundreds of thousands have failed to reach relatives’ death beads, missed funerals or weddings and have yet to be introduced to grandchildren because of restrictions aimed at keeping COVID-19 out of Australia.
New South Wales would likely become the first state to reach the 80 per cent vaccination benchmark and Sydney’s airport the first to open to international travel, Morrison said.
We’ve saved lives. We’ve saved livelihoods, but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country, Morrison said.
Sydney-based Qantas Airways announced international flights would resume from November 14 to London and Los Angeles.
Morrison offered no clue to when other nationalities would be welcome to visit Australia.
We’ll be working towards complete quarantine-free travel for certain countries, such as New Zealand, when it is safe to do so, he said.
Australia has its closest relationship with New Zealand, whose citizens are considered Australian permanent residents. The neighbours allowed quarantine-free travel across the Tasman Sea before the delta variant outbreak began in Sydney in June.
The Australian Tourism Export Council, which represents a sector that made 45 billion Australian dollars ( 33 billion) a year from international tourists before the pandemic, said the end of the travel ban paved the way for visitors from around the world returning by March.
“It marks a shift in thinking within both the government and community sentiment to reengaging with the world, the council’s managing director Peter Shelley said in a statement.
A cap on the number of Australian citizens and permanent residents allowed to return each week has left 45,000 people stranded overseas. It’s aimed at reducing pressure on hotel quarantine, which the more contagious delta variant had made more difficult to manage.
The cap would only apply to the unvaccinated under the new regime. Fully vaccinated Australians would be able to quarantine at home and for only a week instead of the current two weeks in a hotel.
Australia on Friday added China’s Sinovac and Indian-made AstraZeneca shots known as Covishield to a list of vaccines that Australians can take and be recognised as fully vaccinated.
Travel restrictions would not be lifted for Australians who chose not to be vaccinated. People who could not be vaccinated for medical reasons or children too young to get the jab would have the same privileges as those inoculated.
Archives for October 2021
Karnataka BJP core committee meeting on Oct 3 to discuss on bypolls
Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP core committee will meet on October 3 to discuss the party’s strategy and candidates for the coming bypolls to Sindgi and Hangal assembly segments.
The bypolls will be held on October 30 and counting of votes will be taken up on November 2.
“Arun Singh (BJP national General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka) is coming to the state. On October 3 there will be a core committee meeting and on that day all matters related to the bypolls will be discussed,” Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Friday.
According to BJP sources, candidates are likely to be finalised that day and will sent to the high command for approval.
The by-elections have been necessitated as the seats fell vacant following the death of Sindgi JD(S) legislator M C Manguli and BJP’s C M Udasi from Hangal.
While the filling of nominations began today, October 8 is the last day for it. Scrutiny will take place on October 11. October 13 is the last day for withdrawal.
This being the first polls for assembly seats after Basavaraj Bommai became the Chief Minister, it is being seen as a test for him.
Congress has already finalised M C Managuli’s son Ashok Managuli, who has joined the party, as its candidate from Sindagi, and according to sources, former MLC Srinivas Mane may be fielded from Hangal.
JD(S) has already announced Niyaz Shaik as its candidate for Hangal, but is yet to finalise a candidate for Sindgi.
Prime facie human rights violated during Darrang eviction: Assam Human Rights Commission
Guwahati: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has held a prima facie case exists of alleged human rights violation during the recent eviction drive at Gorukhuti in Darrang district to take cognisance of the matter for inquiry.
However, before taking cognisance, the panel has asked the state’s home department to inform whether an inquiry commission has been constituted to probe the incidents.
Taking up a complaint filed by Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, the Commission said in its order on Thursday, After perusing the aforesaid letter a prima facie case of violation of human rights appear to exist to take cognizance of the matter for enquiry.
Before taking cognizance it would be expedient to ask the Home Department to inform whether a Commission under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1952, has been instituted to enquire into the incident that took place recently at Gorukhuti, Dholpur, in Darrang district, it added.
The AHRC has asked the home department to inform it about the steps taken within 21 days, and said the next course of action will be decided on the basis of the response.
The complaint was filed by Saikia on September 24 alleging human rights violation during the eviction drive carried out on September 21 and 23 which had left two people dead in police firing, including a 12-year-old boy, on the second day.
Another complaint filed on the same day as Saikia’s, given jointly by Nikhil Bharat Krishak Sabha, Jatiya Suraksha Mancha and Sanmeleeta Eikya Mancha, on the matter has also been taken on record by the Commission.
Punjab Chief Minister Channi meets PM, urges him to repeal farm laws
New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence here and urged him to repeal the three farm laws.
Channi also said that he has called for early resolution of the farmers’ agitation.
The prime minister has said he also wanted it to end and is working towards it, the chief minister said.
Farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi’s borders against the three farm laws since November last year and have been demanding the legislations be repealed.
During his meeting with Modi, Channi called for immediately starting the procurement of paddy in Punjab, which has been delayed this time to October 10.
“I have urged the prime minister to end this agitation over the three farm laws. He listened to me intently and said he also wants a solution to this problem and is working in this direction,” Channi told reporters after the meeting.
He also urged the prime minister to resume talks with the protesting farmers, “because I feel the matter can only be resolved through dialogue”.
“I have urged him (prime minister) that the three laws should be scrapped,” Channi said.
“I have told him that Punjab’s economy is agriculture driven and Punjab can only progress if our farmers and farm labourers are happy,” the chief minister said.
Channi said that he has also told the prime minister that Punjab is suffering because of the farmers’ agitation and the state has always fought for the country and our people have sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle and for the unity of the country .
Modi also shared pictures of his meeting with Channi on Twitter and said, “The Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri @CHARANJITCHANNI called on PM”.
This is Channi’s first meeting with Modi after becoming chief minister.
Asked on Navjot Singh Sidhu’s issues with him and whether they have been resolved, Channi evaded the question.
“I met the prime minister for the first time after becoming the chief minister. It was also a courtesy call. This was the first meeting and hence, there was no agenda as such. But still I have raised three issues with him” Channi told reporters after the meeting that last over half an hour.
Former India hockey striker S V Sunil retires
New Delhi: Veteran India men’s hockey team striker SV Sunil on Friday announced his international retirement, bringing the curtains down on a 14-year-long career during which he was a part of the 2014 Asian Games gold-winning side.
Sunil’s decision to call time came a day after drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and defender Birendra Lakra, who played starring roles in the Indian hockey team’s historic bronze medal-winning Tokyo Olympics campaign, announced their international retirements on Friday.
The 32-year-old Sunil, hailing from Karnataka, was not a part of the team that competed in the Tokyo Olympics. Sunil, said it was time for him to make way for younger players and help to build a winning team for the future. The senior player appeared in 264 India matches, striking 72 goals.
“… time to take a break. More than 14 years after I wore India colours for the first time, I have decided to make myself unavailable for the national camp which begins next week,” Sunil, who gew up playing hockey with a bamboo stick due to his family’s limited resources, said in a statement on his Twitter handle.
“It was not the easiest decision to make, but it was not the toughest either, given that I did not make it to the team for the Tokyo Games. The omission put a question mark on my future as a player, in the 11-a-side format.
“With the 2024 Paris Olympics three years away, I think, as a senior player it is important that I make way for youngsters and help in building a winning team for the future,” he added.
The Arjuna awardee from Somwarpet in Coorg made his international debut in 2007 at the Asia Cup which India won after beating Pakistan in the Final.
There was no looking back for the speedy striker after that and he was a part of India’s incredible rise in global hockey.
The two-time Olympian (2012 and 2016) remained a key player in the Indian forward-line for over a decade with fine performances.
He was in the Indian team that won gold in the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy and silver in the same event in 2012.
He also won gold and bronze medals in the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games respectively besides a gold in the Asia Cup 2017.
He played an instrumental role in the team’s historic silver medal wins at the 2016 and 2018 FIH Champions Trophy.
In his long career, Sunil also led the forward-line in 2015 World League Final where the team won a bronze Medal and he was also part of the team that won bronze in the same event in 2017 in Bhubaneswar.
He also has a silver medal from the Commonwealth Games 2014 to his credit.
Congratulating Sunil for his contribution to Indian hockey, Hockey India President Gyanendro Ningombam said, “SV Sunil has been an inspiration to an entire generation of young hockey players.
“His commitment to the game and discipline was unmatched and he has given Indian hockey some very memorable performances.”
Sunil said he will continue to be available to play the shorter form of the game (5-a-side hockey).
He said the gold in the 2014 Asian Games was the turning point of his career.
“I am grateful that I represented my country at two Olympic Games — in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2012.
PM Modi launches second phases of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, AMRUT
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.
In line with the vision of the prime minister, SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 have been designed to realise the aspiration to make all cities garbage free and water secure, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
At an event at the Ambedkar International Centre here, the prime minister launched the flagship missions
These missions signify a step forward in the march towards effectively addressing the challenges of rapidly urbanising India and will also help contribute towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the PMO said
SBM-U 2.0 envisions to make all cities ‘garbage free’ and ensure grey and black water management in all cities other than those covered under AMRUT, make all urban local bodies open defecation free+ and those with a population of less than one lakh as open defecation free++, thereby achieving the vision of safe sanitation in urban areas.?
The mission will focus on source segregation of solid waste, utilising the principles of 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), scientific processing of all types of municipal solid waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites for effective solid waste management, the PMO said.?
The outlay of SBM-U 2.0 is around Rs 1.41 lakh crore, it said
AMRUT 2.0 aims at providing 100 per cent coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 urban local bodies by providing about 2.68 crore tap connections and 100 per cent coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities by providing around 2.64 crore sewer or septage connections, which will benefit more than 10.5 crore people in urban areas, the PMO said.?
AMRUT 2.0 will adopt the principles of a circular economy and promote conservation and rejuvenation of surface and groundwater bodies, it said
The mission will promote data-led governance in water management and technology sub-mission to leverage the latest global technologies and skills, it said
The outlay of AMRUT 2.0 is around Rs 2.87 lakh crore, the PMO statement said.?
SBM-U and AMRUT have contributed significantly to improve the urban landscape during the last seven years, PMO has said.?
The two flagship missions have augmented the capacity to deliver basic services of water supply and sanitation to the citizens,it said
‘Swachhta’ has become a jan andolan today, all urban local bodies have been declared open defecation free and 70 per cent solid waste is being scientifically processed now, the PMO said
AMRUT has been ensuring water security by adding 1.
Smriti Mandhana becomes 1st Indian woman centurion in Pink-ball Test
Gold Coast: Flamboyant opener Smriti Mandhana shattered a few records en route to slamming a magnificent maiden Test century as India progressed to 276/5 in the second day’s opening session of the day/night match against Australia here on Friday.
The 25-year-old Mandhana became the first Indian woman to hit a century in day-night Tests and also the first from the country to reach three figures in the game’s traditional format on the Australian soil.
Mandhana made 127 off 216 balls with the help of 22 boundaries and a six at the Carrara Oval, and added an Indian record of 102 runs in Australia for the second wicket with Punam Raut (36), continuing the good work after putting on 93 with Shafali Verma on a rain-marred opening day.
She brought her century with a short-arm pull shot off Ellysse Perry in the 52nd over.
Mandhana wouldn’t have added to her overnight score of 80 in the second over of Day 2 but Perry overstepped. Replays showed that the catch too might have been debatable.
The India opener, however, overcame the early jitters and went about her business in a professional manner while playing some lovely shots, including a magnificent straight drive off Annabel Sutherland.
She looked set for more but was caught at short mid-off off the bowling Ash Gardner, after playing an uppish drive.
Raut walked off after a caught behind appeal despite the umpire not entertaining Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning’s loud shouts.
Brief scores:
India 1st innings: 276/5 in 101.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 127; Sophie Molineux 2/28).
Petrol at all-time high, diesel crosses Rs 100-mark in MP, Rajasthan, Odisha, AP
New Delhi Petrol and diesel price soared to an all-time high across the country on Friday after rates were hiked again by 25 paise and 30 paise a litre, respectively.
The price of petrol in Delhi rose it its highest ever level of Rs 101.89 a litre and to Rs 107.95 in Mumbai, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
Diesel rates too touched a record high of Rs 90.17 in Delhi and Rs 97.84 in Mumbai.
Prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes.
The third increase in its rates this week has sent petrol prices above Rs 100 in most major cities of the country.
Similarly, sixth increase prices eight days has shot up diesel rates above Rs 100 mark in several cities in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan – which has the costliest fuel in the country because of local taxes and additional freight because of it being right on the border – saw petrol price rise to Rs 113.73 a litre and diesel to Rs 103.9 per litre.
State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) resumed daily price revisions on September 24 after international oil prices neared a three-year high. Global benchmark Brent crude is trading above USD 78 per barrel.
In six price increases since September 24, diesel rates have gone up by 1.55 paise per litre. Petrol price has increased by 75 paise per litre in three instalments this week.
International crude oil prices have reached a nearly three-year high as global output disruptions have forced energy companies to draw more crude oil out of their stockpiles.
When international oil rates fell in July and August, retail prices of petrol and diesel in the Delhi market were reduced by Rs 0.65 and Rs 1.25 per litre.
Prior to that, the petrol price was increased by Rs 11.44 a litre between May 4 and July 17. Diesel rate had gone up by Rs 9.14 during this period.
India is dependent on imports to meet nearly 85 per cent of its oil needs and so benchmarks local fuel rates to international oil prices.
You have strangulated entire city, now you want to come inside and protest, SC tells farmers’ body
New Delhi: You have strangulated the entire city and now you want to come within the city and start protest again here, the Supreme Court on Friday told a farmers’ body protesting against the three farm laws and seeking directions to authorities to allow it to stage satyagrah at Jantar Mantar here.
A bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and C T Ravikumar told the counsel appearing for petitioners Kisan Mahapanchayat’, a body of farmers and agriculturists, and its president that once they have approached the court against the three farm laws, they should have trust in the judicial system and let the matter be decided.
The apex court said citizens have equal rights to move freely and without fear and their properties are being damaged in the protest.
The court said There has to be some balanced approach.
The bench, which posted the matter for hearing on October 4, asked the petitioners to file an affidavit declaring that they are not part of the protest, which is being carried out, and blocking of the national highways at the borders of the city.
Several farmer organisations are protesting against the passage of three laws — The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.
Initially, the protests started from Punjab in November last year and later spread mainly to Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.