India and UK are holding talks for an early resolution on Covid travel guidelines row.

New Delhi, in a tit-for-tat move, has mandated a 10-day mandatory quarantine at home or in the destination address for UK nationals arriving in the country from October 04. This is irrespective of vaccination status. New Delhi's decision is seen as a political strategic decision and comes in the backdrop of UK's travel guidelines announced last month which were seen discriminatory.

"We are continuing to engage with the Government of India on technical cooperation to expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India,"&nbsp;British High Commission spokesperson said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-counter-to-uk-british-nationals-to-undergo-10-day-mandatory-quarantine-on-arrival-417417">India's counter to UK: British nationals to undergo 10-day mandatory quarantine on arrival</a>

The new rules for UK nationals also include pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PRC test within 72 hours before travel, another RT-PCR test on arrival at airport and last one on day eight after arrival.

The&nbsp;UK rules were same with the biggest issue being London not recognising India's Covid vaccine certificates, irking New Delhi. Interestingly, India's new rules for UK also come into effect on October 04.

The British High Commission spokesperson pointed that, "over 62,500 student visas have been issued in the year ending June 2021, which is an increase of almost 30% as compared to the previous year. We want to make the process of travelling as easy as possible."

However, UK's travel's rules&nbsp;have already made a political dent in the New Delhi-London ties, which has been growing at a satisfactory pace with both PM Modi and UK PM Boris Johnson engaging many times.

India and UK are holding talks for an early resolution on Covid travel guidelines row. New Delhi, in a tit-for-tat move, has mandated a 10-day mandatory quarantine at home or in the destination address for UK nationals arriving in the country from October 04.

India and UK are holding talks for an early resolution on Covid travel guidelines row. New Delhi, in a tit-for-tat move, has mandated a 10-day mandatory quarantine at home or in the destination address for UK nationals arriving in the country from October 04. This is irrespective of vaccination status. New Delhi's decision is seen as a political strategic decision and comes in the backdrop of UK's travel guidelines announced last month which were seen discriminatory. "We are continuing to engage with the Government of India on technical cooperation to expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India," British High Commission spokesperson said. Also read | India's counter to UK: British nationals to undergo 10-day mandatory quarantine on arrival The new rules for UK nationals also include pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PRC test within 72 hours before travel, another RT-PCR test on arrival at airport and last one on day eight after arrival. The UK rules were same with the biggest issue being London not recognising India's Covid vaccine certificates, irking New Delhi. Interestingly, India's new rules for UK also come into effect on October 04. The British High Commission spokesperson pointed that, "over 62,500 student visas have been issued in the year ending June 2021, which is an increase of almost 30% as compared to the previous year. We want to make the process of travelling as easy as possible." However, UK's travel's rules have already made a political dent in the New Delhi-London ties, which has been growing at a satisfactory pace with both PM Modi and UK PM Boris Johnson engaging many times.

India, UK in talks for early resolution on Covid travel rules row

Hundreds of&nbsp;Hasidic&nbsp;Jewish pilgrims, who had massed along the Belarusian border attempting to enter Ukraine, began leaving Friday after Kiev upheld an entry ban to guard against the coronavirus.

At least 1,000 Orthodox-Jewish believers were camped out this week in no-man's land between Ukrainian and Belarusian border crossings ahead of Jewish New Year celebrations which begin Friday and last until Sunday.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hasidic-jewish-pilgrims-stuck-on-belarus-ukraine-border-327889/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Tens of thousands of&nbsp;Hasidic&nbsp;Jews travel to the central Ukrainian city of Uman every Jewish New Year to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nahman, the founder of the Breslov&nbsp;Hasidic&nbsp;movement.

The standoff between the pilgrims and armed Ukrainian security services sparked tensions at the Novi Yarylovychi border crossing and inflamed a diplomatic row between Minsk and Kiev.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belarus-opposition-leader-to-address-un-on-abuse-allegations-328344" hreflang="en">Belarus opposition leader to address UN on abuse allegations</a>

No exclusion for pilgrims

Ukraine, which has recorded high numbers of new coronavirus cases in recent weeks, imposed a ban on the entry of foreigners on August 26 to September 28 due to the epidemic.

It said the ban was partly in response to a plea from Israel, where many of the pilgrims come from, to limit the event, for fear it would be a coronavirus hotspot.

Belarus, which earlier said the pilgrims should be allowed to visit holy sites in Ukraine, confirmed that some religious believers had given up hope of being allowed to make the crossing.

Belarus's state border committee representative, Anton Bychkovskiy, said that the numbers of pilgrims at border posts "were on the decline".

Diplomatic spat

The believers -- mainly Israeli, but also American and French -- departed for Uman this year even though both the Ukrainian and Israeli governments last month urged them not to travel because of the pandemic.

An Israeli minister on Thursday called on those massed on the border to return home and uphold quarantine rules on arrival in Israel.

Kiev closed its borders for most of the month of September citing a growing number of coronavirus infections, but the pilgrims attempted to bypass the restrictions by&nbsp;travelling through&nbsp;Belarus.

Ukrainian border guards announced Friday they had arrested several pilgrims, including Israeli and US citizens, trying to enter the country illegally from Hungary, Poland and Romania.

Kiev has reported more than 169,000 cases of coronavirus and 3,468 fatalities. On Thursday, officials registered a record one-day increase in infections.

The standoff on the border aggravated already strained ties between Kiev and Minsk, which have traded barbs over disputed presidential elections in Belarus last month.

Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko earlier told his officials to negotiate a travel corridor with Ukraine and offered to provide buses to transport religious believers to holy sites in Ukraine.

Kiev in turn accused Belarusian authorities of giving false hope to the&nbsp;Hasidic&nbsp;pilgrims that they would eventually be allowed to travel to Uman.

Both Ukraine and Israel are keen to avoid a spike in coronavirus infections. Israel is poised to impose a second nationwide lockdown on Friday to tackle one of the world's highest coronavirus infection rates, despite public protests over the new blow to the economy.

The three-week shutdown from 1100 GMT starts just hours before Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

Meanwhile, up to 3,000&nbsp;Hasidic&nbsp;Jews have arrived in Uman for the celebrations entering Ukraine before the ban, police said.&nbsp;

Law enforcement has tightened security near Rabbi Nachman's tomb where pilgrims have congregated.&nbsp;

Hundreds of Hasidic Jewish pilgrims, who had massed along the Belarusian border attempting to enter Ukraine, began leaving Friday after Kiev upheld an entry ban to guard against the coronavirus.

Hundreds of Hasidic Jewish pilgrims, who had massed along the Belarusian border attempting to enter Ukraine, began leaving Friday after Kiev upheld an entry ban to guard against the coronavirus. At least 1,000 Orthodox-Jewish believers were camped out this week in no-man's land between Ukrainian and Belarusian border crossings ahead of Jewish New Year celebrations which begin Friday and last until Sunday. Tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews travel to the central Ukrainian city of Uman every Jewish New Year to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nahman, the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement. The standoff between the pilgrims and armed Ukrainian security services sparked tensions at the Novi Yarylovychi border crossing and inflamed a diplomatic row between Minsk and Kiev. Also read: Belarus opposition leader to address UN on abuse allegations No exclusion for pilgrims Ukraine, which has recorded high numbers of new coronavirus cases in recent weeks, imposed a ban on the entry of foreigners on August 26 to September 28 due to the epidemic. It said the ban was partly in response to a plea from Israel, where many of the pilgrims come from, to limit the event, for fear it would be a coronavirus hotspot. Belarus, which earlier said the pilgrims should be allowed to visit holy sites in Ukraine, confirmed that some religious believers had given up hope of being allowed to make the crossing. Belarus's state border committee representative, Anton Bychkovskiy, said that the numbers of pilgrims at border posts "were on the decline". Diplomatic spat The believers -- mainly Israeli, but also American and French -- departed for Uman this year even though both the Ukrainian and Israeli governments last month urged them not to travel because of the pandemic. An Israeli minister on Thursday called on those massed on the border to return home and uphold quarantine rules on arrival in Israel. Kiev closed its borders for most of the month of September citing a growing number of coronavirus infections, but the pilgrims attempted to bypass the restrictions by travelling through Belarus. Ukrainian border guards announced Friday they had arrested several pilgrims, including Israeli and US citizens, trying to enter the country illegally from Hungary, Poland and Romania. Kiev has reported more than 169,000 cases of coronavirus and 3,468 fatalities. On Thursday, officials registered a record one-day increase in infections. The standoff on the border aggravated already strained ties between Kiev and Minsk, which have traded barbs over disputed presidential elections in Belarus last month. Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko earlier told his officials to negotiate a travel corridor with Ukraine and offered to provide buses to transport religious believers to holy sites in Ukraine. Kiev in turn accused Belarusian authorities of giving false hope to the Hasidic pilgrims that they would eventually be allowed to travel to Uman. Both Ukraine and Israel are keen to avoid a spike in coronavirus infections. Israel is poised to impose a second nationwide lockdown on Friday to tackle one of the world's highest coronavirus infection rates, despite public protests over the new blow to the economy. The three-week shutdown from 1100 GMT starts just hours before Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Meanwhile, up to 3,000 Hasidic Jews have arrived in Uman for the celebrations entering Ukraine before the ban, police said. Law enforcement has tightened security near Rabbi Nachman's tomb where pilgrims have congregated.

Hasidic Jewish pilgrims leave Belarus-Ukraine border over coronavirus ban

coronavirus-ban

Coronavirus Ban, News on Coronavirus Ban, stories on Coronavirus Ban, articles on Coronavirus Ban, Coronavirus Ban stories at Wion, Coronavirus Ban news, Coronavirus Ban latest news