KEY COVID NOS. WORLDWIDE

Pos   /   Country   /   New Daily cases   /   Total Deaths   /        Daily Deaths /           Active Cases   /           Deaths/1M Pop.

               World    3,78,791              /             52,16,801            /             4,138     /             2,01,62,381               /             669.3

1             USA        14,868   /             7,99,383              /             71           /             94,19,247            /               2,395

2             Russia    33,548   /             2,72,755              /             1,224     /             10,29,507            /               1,868

3             UK          37,681   /             1,44,775              /             51           /             10,17,086            /               2,117

4             Germany              38,444   /             1,01,411              /             71           /             8,57,850               /             1,205

5             Netherlands        22,133   /             19,317   /             45           /             4,83,596              /               1,124

6             Ukraine 7,483     /             85,117   /             400        /             4,26,669              /               1,963

7             Poland   20,576   /             83,037   /             51           /             4,24,479              /               2,197

8             France   31,648   /             1,18,894              /             23           /             4,00,344              /               1,816

9             Turkey   21,655   /             76,446   /             213        /             3,90,999              /             893

10           Belgium                              /             26,840   /                            /             3,67,639              /               2,302

11           Mexico  2,956     /             2,93,859              /             245        /             3,50,375              /               2,246

12           Czechia 12,514   /             32,837   /             44           /             2,67,434              /               3,058

13           Honduras                            /             10,403   /                            /             2,47,177              /               1,027

14           Vietnam               12,936   /             24,882   /             190        /             2,26,822              /               252

15           Italy       12,932   /             1,33,674              /             47           /             1,86,443              /               2,215

16           Brazil     4,043     /             6,14,278              /             42           /             1,78,347              /               2,861

17           Hungary                              /             33,866   /                            /             1,72,488              /               3,518

18           Norway 834        /             1,050     /                            /             1,70,032              /             192

19           Austria  10,478   /             12,388   /             39           /             1,48,603              /               1,365

20           Finland                 /             1,309     /                            /             1,34,975              /             236

26           India      8,774     /             4,68,554              /             95           /             1,05,691              /               335

75           Pakistan               303        /             28,709   /             5             /             13,719   /             127

88           Bangladesh         205        /             27,978   /             3             /             7,489     /             168

MORE OMICRON CASES POP UP AS WORLD RUSHES TO LEARN MORE

Cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in countries on opposite sides of the world Sunday and many governments rushed to close their borders even as scientists cautioned that it's not clear if the new variant is more alarming than other versions of the virus.

The variant was identified days ago by researchers in South Africa, and much is still not known about it, including whether it is more contagious, more likely to cause serious illness or more able to evade the protection of vaccines.

But many countries rushed to act, reflecting anxiety about anything that could prolong the pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people.

Israel decided to bar entry to foreigners, and Morocco said it would suspend all incoming flights for two weeks starting Monday — among the most drastic of a growing raft of travel curbs being imposed by nations around the world as they scrambled to slow the variant's spread.

Scientists in several places — from Hong Kong to Europe to North America — have confirmed its presence. The Netherlands reported 13 omicron cases on Sunday, and both Canada and Australia each found two.

Canada's health minister says the country's first two cases of omicron were found in Ontario after two individuals who had recently traveled from Nigeria tested positive. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday that Japan is considering stepping up border controls.

The U.S. plans to ban travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries starting Monday. “It's going to give us a period of time to enhance our preparedness,” the United States' top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

The U.K. on Saturday tightened rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals after finding two omicron cases. Spain announced it won't admit unvaccinated British visitors starting Dec. 1. Italy was going through lists of airline passengers who arrived in the past two weeks. France is continuing to push vaccinations and booster shots.

The WHO sent out a statement saying it “stands with African nations” and noting that travel restrictions may play “a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods." It said if restrictions are put in place, they should be scientifically based and not intrusive.

FRANCE WON’T BE ‘HELD HOSTAGE’ BY UK

France on Sunday urged Britain to help more with cracking down on people-smuggling gangs following a row between the two countries last week over an unprecedented boat accident in the Channel that cost 27 lives.

"We have to work with our British friends and tell them a few things," French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters after a meeting of European ministers in charge of immigration in northern France.

"Firstly, help us fight people-smuggling better. We need intelligence. Responses to requests from the French police are not always given."

He also reiterated criticism of the "attractiveness of England" including its labour market "which means you can work without having an identity document".

The minister, who is considered a hardliner on immigration in France, also stressed that "there are no more legal routes to ask for asylum in England."

Ministers responsible for immigration from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands were invited to talks by France in the port of Calais on Sunday to discuss ways of preventing migrants crossing the Channel by boat. Britain was not invited.

The four countries represented in Calais issued a joint statement promising to "strengthen our operational cooperation" on tackling people-smugglers and "improving our joint cooperation with Great Britain".

Frontex, the European Union border agency, will deploy a plane to help fight migrant trafficking in the Channel from 1 December, France also announced on Sunday.

The aircraft will fly "day and night" over the area from northern France to the Netherlands, Darmanin told reporters at the end of the meeting.

SOUTH AFRICA CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REVERSAL OF TRAVEL BAN

South Africa will remain on the lowest 'Level One' of its five-level lockdown strategy to fight the Covid-19 pandemic despite the global panic around the detection of the Omicron variant in the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday, November 28, 2021.

Mr. Ramaphosa also called on more than 20 countries that have imposed travel bans to and from South Africa and its neighbours to immediately end the ban to avoid further harm to the economies of these countries, which have already been battered by the pandemic.

“In taking the decision not to impose further restrictions at this stage, we considered the fact that when we encountered previous waves of infection, vaccines were not widely available and far fewer people were vaccinated,” Mr. Ramaphosa said in a national broadcast.

“That is no longer the case. Vaccines are available to anyone aged 12 and above, free of charge, at thousands of sites across the country.

“We also know that the coronavirus will be with us for the long term. We must therefore find ways of managing the pandemic while limiting disruptions to the economy and ensuring continuity,” the President added.

Commenting on the travel ban, Mr. Ramaphosa called for an immediate reversal of the ban.

PROTESTS IN AUSTRIA OVER COMPULSORY VACCINATION

Tens of thousands of Austrians rallied this weekend to protest against the government’s introduction of compulsory vaccination — the first EU country to do so — as the Chancellor insisted on Sunday that the move would represent “a minor interference” compared to the alternatives.

One of the largest demonstrations was held in the southern city of Graz, where police said late Saturday that around 25,000 people had gathered in a rally that remained mostly peaceful.

But police said that three men in their early 20s were being investigated for allegedly making Nazi salutes and that there were dozens of infractions against virus-related rules on mask-wearing.

In an interview with the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said that the government had “sadly” been forced to turn to compulsory vaccination to bolster the current rate of full vaccination — which currently stands at just under 67% and is one of the lowest in Western Europe.

With the current rate “we will never get out of the vicious circle of new waves and new debates on lockdowns,” he said.

“Every lockdown is a heavy interference in fundamental rights. Compared to that, compulsory vaccination is a minor interference,” he said.

27 CHINESE JETS ENTER TAIWAN AIR DEFENCE ZONE

Taiwan said 27 Chinese aircraft entered its air defence buffer zone on Sunday, the latest in a long series of incursions as part of Beijing's pressure on the self-ruled island.

The Defence Ministry said Taiwan scrambled combat aircraft to “warn” the Chinese planes to leave. It also deployed missile systems to monitor them.

Sunday’s incursion included 18 fighter jets and five H-6 bombers, as well as a Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, according to Taiwan’s Defence Ministry.

The Chinese aircraft flew into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) near the southern part of the island and out into the Pacific Ocean before returning to China, according to a map by Taiwan authorities.

Over the past year, the frequency of Chinese incursions has increased, with about 150 aircraft over a period of four days.

COVID: VACCINE FOR OMICRON MIGHT BE READY IN EARLY 2022, SAYS MODERNA

The Omicron variant, first detected in southern Africa, has a higher number of mutations and has been spreading very quickly. The variant has prompted several countries to shut down their borders and renew Covid-19 restrictions.

American pharmaceutical firm Moderna, one of the biggest makers of vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), said on Sunday that it could reformulate the vaccine against the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in early 2022.

“We should know about the ability of the current vaccine to provide protection in the next couple of weeks,” Paul Burton, the chief medical officer of Moderna said during an appearance on a BBC show.

“If we have to make a brand new vaccine, I think that’s going to be early 2022 before that’s really going to be available in large quantities,” Burton added.

IMRAN KHAN SAYS LACK OF RULE OF LAW DEPRIVED PAKISTAN OF ACHIEVING POTENTIAL

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the capture of Pakistan’s resources by the elite class and the absence of the rule of law were the main causes of underdevelopment of his country.

Khan made the remarks in an online interview with American Muslim scholar Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, who is the president of Zaytuna College in California and frequently writes on different topics, state-run Associate Press of Pakistan reported.

“The problem was the elite capture of resources which deprived the majority of proper healthcare, education and justice… Lack of rule of law is the reason why Pakistan has not achieved its potential,” Khan said in the interview, which was aired on Pakistan Television on Sunday.He said that no society could ever achieve its potential if there was no rule of law and the biggest problem in the developing countries has been the absence of rule of law and discriminatory laws for the rich and the poor.

He told the interviewer that he wanted to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state based on the concept of the state of Medina by the Prophet.

“We want to base this country on two principles. One it should be a welfare state and humane state, which takes care of its bottom strata of society, and second rule of law,” he said.

He said that most of the leadership in Muslim countries that came up through the political system was divorced from faith, so they came in for power and made compromises for staying in power and gaining personal benefits.

Khan said that his government has started the greatest welfare program in the country’s history to help the poor.

NEW UAE CRIMINAL CODE AMONG 40 LEGAL CHANGES IN REFORM PUSH

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday said a new criminal code would come into force in January as part of what it called the most sweeping legal reform in the Gulf state’s history. State news agency WAM reported the government is changing 40 laws this year. It did not make clear, however, which of the changes — which concern commercial companies, online security, trade, copyright, residency, narcotics and social issues — were new and which had been previously reported.

One change that appears new is the ratification of a Federal Crime and Punishment Law, effective from January 2, 2022, designed to better protect women, domestic staff and public safety. The UAE wants to reform its legal system to keep a competitive edge as conservative Gulf neighbour Saudi Arabia opens itself up to foreign investment and talent.

Major changes so far included decriminalising premarital sexual relations and alcohol consumption, and cancelling provisions for leniency when dealing with so-called “honour killings” in November 2020. Saturday’s statement adds clarity that had been previously lacking to the status of pre-marital sexual relations and children born from them — stating that parents need not be married. “Any couple conceiving a child out of wedlock will be required to marry or singly or jointly acknowledge the child and provide identification papers and travel documents in accordance with the laws of the country of which either is a national,” the statement said.

Other recent changes by the UAE include introducing longer-term visas as a way to attract and retain talent and encourage more businesses to set up shop. The emirate of Abu Dhabi this month introduced its own reform — a novel secular family law — aimed at making itself more attractive to expatriates.

BARBADOS TO REPLACE BRITISH QUEEN, BECOME A REPUBLIC

Barbados is about to cut ties with the British monarchy, but the legacy of a sometimes brutal colonial past and the pandemic's impact on tourism pose major challenges for the Caribbean island as it becomes the world's newest republic.

Famed for its beaches and love of cricket, Barbados will this week replace its head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, with her current representative, Governor General Sandra Mason.

Ceremonies on Monday evening into Tuesday will include military parades and celebrations, as Mason is inaugurated as president, with Prince Charles -- heir to the British throne -- looking on.

In a speech to be delivered at the transition ceremony, Charles is due to focus on continued ties between the two countries.

"As your constitutional status changes, it was important to me that I should join you to reaffirm those things which do not change. For example, the close and trusted partnership between Barbados and the United Kingdom as vital members of the Commonwealth," reads an excerpt of his speech, as released by the prince's office.