Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS: WB CM Mamata Banerjee Cautions On Omicron Variant Ahead Of X-Mas Celebrations
Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS, December 20, 2021: This LIVE Blog brings to you the latest breaking news of upcoming polls, details on Covid variant Omicron & other news around.
New Delhi (ANI): Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appointed new office-bearers in Congress Parliamentary Party with Santokh Singh Chaudhary, M K Raghavan and Amee Yajnik made secretaries. DK Suresh, party MP from Bangalore Rural, has been appointed as the treasurer. Sonia Gandhi, who is also the chairperson of the CPP, has appointed 22 executive members.
They include Deepinder Singh Hooda, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Pradyut Bordoloi, Pratibha Singh, Karti Chidambaram, Jasbir Singh Dimpa and Nakul Nath among others. The appointments have been made with immediate effect. In the recently held meeting of Congress Parliamentary Party in the Central Hall of Parliament, a resolution was passed unanimously by the Congress MPs from Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in which Sonia Gandhi was authorised to reconstitute the CPP committee.
(PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cautioned people on the rising graph of Covid infections, underlining that the new Omicron variant spreads faster, while inaugurating Kolkata Christmas Festival at Allen Park here on Monday.
Banerjee also called for unity among people of all faith to forge a strong India, while asking people to spread Christmas cheer and encouraging replication of the festival's celebrations for which Kolkata is well-known, in other towns of the state with historic churches. "We have to be cautious amid (the spread of) this Omicron variant. It spreads faster. I will request all those who have returned to the country and tested positive to keep themselves isolated," the chief minister said.
West Bengal reported 414 new cases on Monday with Kolkata accounting for 145, but has as yet reported only one Omicron positive case. Two more suspected cases who have flown in from Sweden and UK are being tested for the new fast spreading variant.
Banerjee cautioned that "when around 300 people fly in a flight and a few are infected, chain of infections may happen." The state which has a strong Christian population of over 7 lakh, including both Bengali Christians and Anglo-Indians, with members of all communities chipping in for the Christmas and New Year festivities, usually sees large numbers of visitors flying into the city during this period. The chief minister also quoted from the Vedas, Hindu religious texts, to ask people of all faith to remain united. "We have to remain united. We love all religions, castes, community and creeds... We must remember that our country will be strong only if our unity is strong," she said.
Banerjee alluding to the rise of intolerance in parts of the country, also said there were "many tensions" and "political pollution" besetting India.
Allen Park and Park Street as well as many other areas of Kolkata usually sport Christmas decorations, lighting and nativity representations in pubic places, drawing popular participation in the festivities. While encouraging festivities, the state government has also posted police at various places to discourage crowding and to enforce Covid regulations.
Banerjee asked the state tourism department to help replicate such popular festivities in other areas with historic churches such as Chandanagar, a former French colony with Latin architecture, Bandel, which boasts of a 16th century church and Krishnanagar, which has a mid-19th century Roman catholic church which is considered a tourist attraction.
New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) As many as 5,601 ceasefire violations by Pakistan were reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in the last two years and Indian troops responded to them by inflicting "substantial damage" on Pakistani posts and personnel, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, replying to a question, also said that the Indian troops deployed on forward posts enjoy complete "freedom of action" to respond to Pakistan's ceasefire violations.
"A total of 5,601 instances of ceasefire violations were reported along the LoC under the operational control of Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir from November 30, 2019, to November 29, 2021," he said.
Bhatt said "substantial damage" was inflicted on Pakistani posts and personnel during retaliation by the Indian Army.
"Troops deployed on forward posts enjoy complete freedom of action in responding to Pakistan ceasefire violations. Substantial damage was inflicted on Pakistan posts and personnel during retaliation by the Indian Army," he added.
To a separate question, Bhatt said a total of 194 industrial licenses have been issued to private companies for manufacturing items like ammunition, artillery guns, howitzers, air defence guns, destroyers, frigates, night-vision devices, ballistic protection items and radars in the last five years.
"License to manufacture defence equipment is granted by the licensing authorities namely, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Ministry of Home Affairs under Industries (Development and Regulation) Act and Arms Act respectively, in consultation with Ministry of Defence," he said.
(PTI) The tally of Omicron cases in Gujarat rose to 14 on Monday after a 27-year-old woman from Vadodara with travel history to the UK and a couple from Tanzania visiting Ahmedabad were found infected with the new variant of coronavirus, officials said.
The woman became the third case of the Omicron variant in Vadodara, while Gujarat's count rose to 14, they said.
A couple from Tanzania in their mid-forties who are on Ahmedabad visit also tested positive for Omicron. They had arrived in India on December 11 via Mumbai. Their samples have confirmed the new variant, according to officials.
The 27-year-old woman had returned to Vadodara from the UK on December 13 via Mumbai. She had tested negative for coronavirus at both the airports, a health department official said.
Later, she complained of fever and gave samples for COVID-19 test, reports of which confirmed the coronavirus infection, the official said.
Her sample was later sent for genome sequencing. The test report on Monday confirmed that she was infected with the Omicron strain, he said.
The only two close contacts of the woman have tested negative for coronavirus.
The woman patient is asymptomatic and currently, in isolation at a private hospital, the official added.
Earlier, a couple, who had returned to Vadodara from Zambia, had tested positive for the Omicron variant.
Apart from Vadodara, Gujarat has reported Omicron cases from Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Anand, Gandhinagar, and Mehsana districts.
US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has designated Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya to serve concurrently as the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, an important role she will take on effective immediately. "She will also continue to serve as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, a position for which she was sworn in on July 14, 2021," the statement read.
Special Coordinator Zeya will coordinate U.S. government policies, programs, and projects concerning Tibetan issues, consistent with the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, as amended by the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020. Specifically, she will promote substantive dialogue, without preconditions, between the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Dalai Lama, his representatives, or democratically elected Tibetan leaders in support of a negotiated agreement on Tibet. She will promote respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans, including their freedom of religion or belief, and will support efforts to preserve their distinct historical, linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage. Special Coordinator Zeya will further support U.S. efforts to address the humanitarian needs of Tibetan refugees and diaspora communities, including those in the United States who have faced threats and intimidation instigated by the PRC. She also will promote activities to protect the environment and sustainably manage the water and other natural resources of the Tibetan plateau. Consistent with the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, she also will seek to increase access to Tibet for U.S. officials, journalists, and other citizens.
Special Coordinator Zeya will work closely with Tibetan cultural, religious, and political leaders, the U.S. Congress, international allies and partners, and civil society representatives on these matters.
This designation demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to advance the human rights of Tibetans, help preserve their distinct heritage, address their humanitarian needs, and meet environmental and water resource challenges of the Tibetan plateau.
Congress and other Opposition parties staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha alleging that the Chair is not listening to them. Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till tomorrow.
World Economic Forum (WEF) will defer its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in the light of continued uncertainty over Omicron outbreak. The Meeting was scheduled to take place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland between 17-21 Jan, 2022. It's now planned for early summer: WEF.
Participants will instead join a headline series of State of the World sessions bringing together global leaders online to focus on shaping solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, the World Economic Forum stated.
Bharat Biotech has submitted phase 3 clinical trial application to DCGI for its booster dose of their intranasal Covid vaccine that can be given to Covaxin and Covishield vaccinated people, sources told ANI.
Gujarat Govt has extended night curfew (1 am to 5 am) in 8 major cities till December 31, ANI reported.
"Hi all. I wanted to announce that on my return home after playing the Abu Dhabi tournament, I have tested positive for COVID in the PCR test that I undertook when I arrived in Spain," Rafael Nadal tweeted.
A lot of tourists come to Himachal Pradesh on the occasions of Christmas & New Year. We've asked the admn to regulate the crowd and don't let it get overcrowded. We have also urged tourists to come after getting vaccinated and follow COVID norms: Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 3 pm amid Opposition MPs' protest over the suspension of 12 MPs from the House as well as the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
The Delhi government has allowed the entry of trucks to Delhi with immediate effect till further orders. Construction & Demolition (C&D) activities in NCR shall be permitted, with immediate effect, said the press release.
The Election (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The Bill proposes to link Aadhaar to electoral rolls.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the government is responsible if the Parliament is not functioning properly. Rahul Gandhi said that the opposition wanted to raise the issue of Pegasus, to discuss the Lakhimpur case, sought an explanation over the suspension of 12 MPs of Rajya Sabha but the government is suppressing the opposition's voice.
Opposition MPs will conduct a march from Gandhi statue in Parliament to Vijay Chowk at 1230 pm today, demanding the resignation of MoS Home Ajay Kumar Misra, in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri case
Two new Omicron cases reported in Delhi, case tally rises to 24, says Delhi Health Department Out of these 24 patients, 12 have been discharged and 12 are under treatment, adds the Health department.
Huge ruckus has been witnessed in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha during Parliament Winter Session. The opposition created an uproar in the Parliament over the Lakhimpur case and suspension of 12 MPs by the Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm today.
PM Narendra Modi is holding a meeting with senior ministers including Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal, in Parliament, to discuss various issues and government strategy for the ongoing Winter Session.
The Govt has called for a meeting of 4 Opposition parties on the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs. This is a conspiracy to divide the Opposition. All Opposition parties are united on this issue. We've written to the Govt to call an all-party meeting: LoP Rajya Sabha, M. Kharge
Five new cases of the Omicron variant of COVID19 have been confirmed on December 19 in the State. The five patients are from Dharwad, Bhadravathi, Udupi and Mangaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dr. Sudhakar K
India reports 6,563 new cases, 132 deaths and 8,077 recoveries in the last 24 hours; Active caseload stands at 82,267; lowest in 572 days: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
A Pakistani fishing boat with six crew members and carrying 77 kg of heroin worth around Rs 400 crore was apprehended in the Indian waters off the Gujarat coast, officials said on Monday.
The drug seizure was made on Sunday night in a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), they said.
Gujarat's defence PRO in a tweet said the Coast Guard in a joint operation with the state ATS apprehended the Pakistani fishing boat 'Al Huseini' with six crew members on board in the Indian waters.
They seized "77 kg of heroin worth approximately Rs 400 crore," the tweet said.
The boat was brought to the Jakhau coast in Kutch district of Gujarat for further investigation, it stated.
The minimum temperature is expected to dip to 4 degrees Celcius today as cold wave conditions prevail in the national capital.
A team of the Election Commission of India led by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra will be on a three-day visit to Goa from December 20 to take stock of the poll preparedness ahead of the State Assembly elections in 2022
With eight new infections of the Omicron variant detected across India on Saturday — two in Gujarat and six in Maharashtra — India saw a rise in cases of the heavily mutated virus, pushing the national tally to 153.
There were 30 new Omicron cases on Saturday. On Friday, there were 26 new Omicron cases in the country, while the tally was 14 on Thursday. On both Tuesday and Wednesday, there were 12 such cases.
Background
Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS, December 20, 2021: Hello and Welcome to the Daily Live Blog of ABP Live! We bring you the latest breaking news and updates from the day.
India's Omicron Covid count rose to 153 on Sunday after Maharashtra reported six and Gujarat logged four more cases of the new variant of coronavirus, respectively.
According to central and state officials, omicron cases have been detected in 11 states and union territories -- Maharashtra (54), Delhi (22), Rajasthan (17) and Karnataka (14), Telangana (20), Gujarat (11), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (1), Chandigarh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and West Bengal (1).
Six persons tested positive for the Omicron variant of coronavirus in Maharashtra on Sunday, raising the state's tally of such cases to 54, the health department said.
While two of these patients had a history of travel to Tanzania, two others had returned from England and one from the Middle East. All five of them are fully vaccinated.
The Centre will launch a nationwide campaign today for redressal of public grievances and improvising service delivery especially in rural areas as part of good governance week.
A series of programmes are planned by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions during the week to be observed during December 20-25.
There will be a launch of a nationwide campaign for redressal of public grievances and improvising service delivery titled prashasan gaon ki aur' on Monday besides the inauguration of an exhibition on good governance practices, said the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) under the ministry.
Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the campaign on Monday.
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