Top 10 world news: UK reports two Omicron cases, Modi chairs meeting amid new variant concerns and more

The British government on Saturday confirmed the existence of two cases of the Omicron variantin the country. UK had banned flights toSouth Africaafter authorities revealed they had discovered theB.1.1.529variant which reportedly has several mutations.

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After Belgium, UK reports two Omicron variant cases

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The UK government said the two cases were linked tosouthern Africaas it moved to expand the travel ban to four more African countries namely Angola, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi who were placed on the "red list".The World Health Organisation (WHO) had moved to designateB.1.1.529 as a"variantof concern"late on Friday.

Passengers arriving from South Africa at Amsterdam airport test positive for COVID-19

The authorities are conducting tests to find out if the passengers have been affected by the newOmicronvariant.The passengers had arrived at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport on two flights on Friday.TheDutchhealth authorities confirmed 61 positive and 531 negative results on Saturday.

Indian PM Modi calls for review on easing international travel plans amid Omicron variant concerns

Prime Minister on Saturday asked officials to reconsider plans on easing international travel restrictions in the light of the new coronavirus variant, Omircron, which has been classified as a variant of concern by the WHO.

Neither Nu nor Xi: WHO skips two Greek letters for naming new Covid variant Omicron

Naming can get tricky sometimes even when someone is following a sequence of letters. Although it shouldn’t happen usually, it can at times. The same holds true for the naming of new Covid variant Omicron, where two letters in the Greek alphabet, Nu and Xi, were skipped for various reasons by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday.

Omicron-typical mutations were found in a traveller, says German minister

After Belgium, Germany on Saturday said it has discovered a new positive case resembling Omicron variant. Germany’s social affairs minister said that a traveller from South Africa was detected with similar mutations.

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida vows to consider 'all options' to counter China

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he will consider ''all options'' to counter China. The country will add $6.75 billion to its already record annual military spending in a rush to bolster air and maritime defences.

Iran arrests several protesters after clashes over water shortage

Iranian authorities arrested 67 protesters after clashes with security forces in the city of Isfahan overwater shortageson Friday, reports said. Iranian officials had used tear gas shells and batons to control the crowd as reports said nearly 3,000 people had taken part in the protests.

Solomon Islands police find 3 bodies, make arrests

SolomonIslandspolice have found three bodies in a burned-out building, Australian media said on Saturday, as police made more than a hundred arrests following rioting in the South Pacific capital in the past several days. Charred bodies were discovered in a store in the Chinatown district late on Friday, Australia's national broadcaster ABC said, citing a report from a security guard.

Former Nepal PM Oli says ‘will take back’ Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh territories from India

Former Nepal prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has vowed to “take back” Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh territories from India if his party comes to power. Lipulekh is a Himalayan pass located at a western point near Kalapani, a disputed border area between Nepal and India.

Don’t subscribe Elon Musk-backed Starlink services till it gets licence, Indian government tells public

In a stern advisory, Indian government has told public on Friday that don’t subscribe to the satellite-based internet services of Starlink till it gets a licence in the country. Starlink, which is a satellite broadband arm of Elon Musk-led SpaceX, is advertising about its services.