Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS: Delhi CM To Hold Review Meeting On Tuesday Over Preparedness In Wake Of Omicron
Breaking News LIVE, November 29, 2021: This LIVE Blog brings to you the latest breaking news of the Parliament Winter Session in India, details on Covid variant Omicron & other news around the globe.
New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) The Delhi Health Department has designated Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital as the dedicated facility to treat patients testing positive for the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.
The hospital has been asked to earmark wards for isolating and treating such patients.
The department also said that no patient with the new variant will be denied admission to hospitals on any ground.
The Union Health Ministry had Sunday issued new guidelines for international travellers for reporting of Omicron, which has been classified as 'variant of concern' by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the guidelines, a separate isolation unit has to be set up for the patients indicating the presence of Omicron.
"Accordingly, Lok Nayak Hospital is hereby designated as the dedicated hospital which will treat the patients detected with the new variant of SARS-CoV-2. Lok Nayak Hospital will designate one or more separate wards (as per need) for isolating and treating such patients," the order read.
Omicron is the fifth WHO-designated variant of concern first identified in South Africa. The other four are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.
The WHO has said it is "not yet clear" if the newly-detected variant is more transmissible or causes more severe disease, but authorities across states in India ramped up efforts to deal with the evolving situation.
Earlier in the day, authorities in the national capital ordered RT-PCR testing for all people arriving from 'high-risk' countries, genome sequencing of the positive cases and mandatory isolation.
All adults in Britain will now be able to get a third COVID jab, a government scientific advisory body said Monday, extending the booster shots to adults aged 18 to 39 years old as concern mounts about the spread of the new Omicron variant, News Agency AFP reported.
Charles Pyngrope appointed as the TMC state president in Meghalaya, ANI reported.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to hold a review meeting on Tuesday over health infrastructure of national capital and preparedness of hospitals in wake of Omicron and apprehension of the third wave of COVID. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Health Minister, Chief Secretary, Health Department, and others would attend the meet, reported ANI.
New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI): The Centre Monday told the Supreme Court that it has re-imposed the ban on construction activities in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) in view of the worsening air quality.
In an affidavit, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) told a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana that the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has directed the state governments in NCR and the Delhi government to ensure restrictions on construction activities with exceptions as per its November 24 order.
The apex court in its November 24 order had re-imposed the ban on construction activities in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) and directed the states to provide subsistence to workers from the funds collected as labour cess for the period during which such activities are prohibited.
"In the meantime, as an interim measure and until further orders, we re-impose the ban on construction activities in the NCR subject to the following two conditions: Non-polluting activities relating to construction such as plumbing work, interior decoration, electrical work, and carpentry are allowed to be continued.
"The states shall use the funds which have been collected as labour cess for the welfare of construction workers to provide them subsistence for the period during which construction activities are prohibited and pay wages notified under the Minimum Wages Act for the respective categories of workers, the order had said.
The affidavit, filed in response to a plea seeking urgent steps to improve the air quality of Delhi-NCR, submitted that in pursuance of its order, detailed deliberations were held with experts from the India Meteorological Department and their associated organisations to explore the formulation of a statistical model towards forecasting and air pollution-related activities and developing a suitable guiding mechanism to deal with adverse air quality scenario.
"The Commission has constituted an 'Expert Group' having domain knowledge and data in the field of meteorological conditions impacting air quality, statistical modelling besides historical scientific data on air quality-related parameters in Delhi-NCR, to conduct a scientific study of air quality based on available data of previous years bearing upon recorded levels of air pollution duly factoring in the seasonal variations and other relevant parameters," it said.
The affidavit said in view of the extreme urgency of the matter, the Expert Group has been asked to immediately convene its meeting and draw a road map for the accomplishment of the assigned tasks as per Terms of Reference.
The Ministry stated that to effectively tackle these seven key sources of pollution, as well as other less impactful sources of pollution, the Commission has held eight meetings of the Full Commission and has issued 45 directions and 7 advisories to various agencies concerned with the NCR.
"The Commission has identified certain major sectors contributing to air pollution in this region namely -- Industrial and vehicular pollution, agricultural stubble burning, management of dust from construction and demolition Project activities, Road and Open Areas Dust Management and Biomass Burning, Municipal Solid Waste burning, Fires in Sanitary Landfills, etc," it said.
The Ministry submitted that the Central Pollution Control Board has deployed 24 dedicated teams from November 20 for providing field feedback on polluting activities.
"Regular feedback from these teams is being forwarded through 'Sameer App' developed by CPCB for reporting of complaints, to implementing Agencies and has also been uploaded on the CPCB website to facilitate quick redressal of complaints," it said.
The affidavit stated that the Commission has been regularly and scrupulously monitoring and ensuring compliance with the directions issued by the top court, however, on the ground, there are reports of certain shortcomings in the implementation of the directions.
"Thus in the interest of justice and in the interest of the emergent need to improve the Air Quality in the region, it is respectfully submitted that the respective State Governments may be directed to submit its compliance report on the status of industries in NCR running on any other fuels, other than PNG, implementation of the direction of the ban on the use of diesel generating (DG) sets among others," the affidavit said.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes a Rs 1 Crore penalty on Union Bank of India, for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by RBI contained in “RBI (Fraud-Classification and Reporting by commercial banks and select FIs) Directions 2016” and “Guidelines on Sale of Stressed Assets by Banks”.
This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers, RBI stated.
All construction & demolition activities would remain suspended in Delhi till further orders. Rs 5,000 would be credited in accounts of labourers. There would be a ban on trucks entering Delhi till Dec 7, except under Essential Services: Gopal Rai, Delhi Environment Minister, said.
Only Electric Vehicles and CNG-run trucks would be allowed in Delhi. Red light On, Gaadi Off campaign extended till Dec 18, water-sprinkling and PUCC checking would remain in force. All these would continue till the situation improves, he informed, as reported by ANI.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter Scale hit Southeast of Honshu, Japan today at 6:10 pm: National Centre for Seismology
Opposition parties call a meeting on the next course of action, over the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs, at LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's office tomorrow, ANI reported.
After passing the Farm Laws bill repeal, both the houses have been adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
Farm Laws Repeal Bill has also been passed from Rajya Sabha. Now, for the bill to become a law, it will be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind for his approval. The bill was passed in both the houses of the Parliament without discussion.
After the Farm Laws Repeal Bill was passed in Lok Sabha within minutes of being introduced, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar tabled the Bill In Rajya Sabha.
The govt blames us for not letting the House function. But Farm Laws Repeal Bill 2021 was introduced & passed without discussion. The opposition had demanded a discussion on it. Even though the govt has repealed the farm laws, its 'Mann ki Baat' is something else: AR Chowdhury, Cong
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 will be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 2pm today: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
During the passing of the farm bills, there was enough discussion. Today, the entire Opposition was demanding to repeal the laws. But when we went to repeal the laws the Opposition created ruckus, I ask the Opposition what is their intention?: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Govt of India does not collect data on Bitcoin transactions. No proposal to recognise Bitcoin as a currency in the country: Ministry of Finance in a written reply in Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha adjourned till 2pm today Speaker Om Birla had requested Opposition MPs to bring the House in order to allow any discussion before the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 was passed.
Rajya Sabha has also been adjourned till 2 pm amid ruckus in the house.
Farm Laws repeal bill has been passed in Lok Sabha amid huge ruckus in Parliament by the opposition as parties demanded a discussion on the bill. However, the bill was passed in the Lower House in Parliament without any debate.
TMC wanted to have a discussion on Farm Laws Repeal Bill but the government is afraid to discuss the conditions of the farmers. Govt is not giving Opposition a chance to speak on behalf of the farmers: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee at the Parliament
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned for 1 hr to mourn the passing away of sitting MP Oscar Fernandes. The session will commence
Govt wants that there should be no protests in the country but we'll not leave the protest site before any discussion on MSP including other issues: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait amid Parliament Winter Session.
Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi leads party's protest demanding repeal of Centre's three farm laws.
Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon following sloganeering by Opposition MPs
Opposition parties meeting called by Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge underway in Parliament premises.
Speaking to the media just before the commencement of the first day of the Parliament Winter Session, PM Modi said that the government is expecting this winter session to be fruitful. PM Modi said that this session is very important and as they couldn't take up many things in the last session, He also urged the opposition to maintain peace inside the house as the government is ready to answer their every question and are expecting good debates and discussions on all issues.
Benchmark BSE Sensex declines by 585 pts or 1.02 pc to 56,521.93 in early trade, Nifty tanks 191 points or 1.12 pc to 16,835.05
Congress MP Manish Tewari gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss 'to direct the government to create a record of farmers who lost their lives during farm laws protest and give compensation to their families'
The meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Lok Sabha is to be held at 1030 hours today. The Winter Session of Parliament will commence today. CPI MP Binoy Viswam has given a suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha and demands a discussion on ensuring a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price
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.
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, 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, Ramaphosa called for an immediate reversal of the ban.
Schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Delhi, that have remained closed for over two weeks due to hazardous air quality levels in the national capital, are set to reopen on Monday. Delhi’s environment minister Gopal Rai had on Wednesday (November 24) announced the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s decision to reopen educational institutions after the air quality levels in the city showed improvement.
Canada said Sunday it has detected its first case of the new Omicron strain of Covid, in two people who had traveled recently to Nigeria.
Both patients are in isolation while public health authorities trace their possible contacts, said federal and Ontario provincial officials.
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill has been listed for introduction and passage in the Lok Sabha on the first day. It will be introduced by the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have issued whips to their MPs to be present on the day.
The Congress in Telangana on Sunday said it will raise in Parliament, the issue of immediate procurement of paddy, besides planning a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi between December 9 and 13.
Alleging that the TRS government in Telangana and BJP-led government at the Centre have jointly conspired to create the present paddy procurement crisis in the state, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President and Congress MP A Revanth Reddy was quoted in a party release as saying that an all-party delegation would submit a representation to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on November 29.
Background
Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS, November 29, 2021: Hello and Welcome to the Daily Live Blog of ABP Live! We bring you the latest breaking news and updates from the day.
The Winter Session of Parliament is set to begin on a stormy note today, with the government listing a bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws on the first day itself even as the Opposition plans to push for a law on minimum support price on agriculture produce.
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill is slated to be introduced in Lok Sabha today.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting for the past one year against the three legislations and demanding they be repealed.
Several farmer unions have pressed for a law on minimum support price (MSP).
Various opposition parties on Sunday raised the issue of legal backing for MSP at an all-party meet called by the government ahead of the session.
The opposition also raised the issue of compensation for family members of farmers who had died during the year-long protests against the laws.
Congress has demanded a condolence resolution for the farmers who died during the protests.
At the meeting, opposition leaders also demanded a discussion on the Pegasus snooping row, fuel prices and unemployment in the session.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not present at the all-party meeting convened by the government, Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh sought cooperation from all parties for productive and smooth functioning of the House.
Uttar Pradesh government has issued new guidelines for international travellers keeping in view of Omicron variant. All international passengers arriving at the Lucknow airport will have to undergo an RT-PCR test and eight-day home quarantine, the district administration said on Sunday following the emergence of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The Lucknow district administration has laid emphasis on safety measures and issued directions for adherence to the COVID-19 protocols at the domestic and international terminals.
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