NATIONAL NEWS
Say sorry if you want to return to Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal tells 12 Opposition MPs
Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that if the 12 suspended members were to apologise, they could return to the House. Earlier in the day, the Opposition staged a walkout and stayed away from the proceedings. The suspended MPs will hold a sit-in at the Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises till the end of the winter session. The government, striking a conciliatory note, did not take up the listed legislative business of the Dam Safety Bill in the absence of the Opposition. Soon after the House was convened for the day, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge pointed out that on technical grounds the suspension was illegal. The members were suspended for their alleged misconduct on August 11 in the monsoon session, under Rule 256 of the House. Kharge stated that the two parameters essential under the rules were ignored. First, the Chairman had to name a member, if he was of the view that the member had disregarded the authority of the Chair or abused the rules of the Council by persistently and willfully obstructing the business of the House. Only after the member is named, can a motion be made to suspend them. More importantly, this procedure is relevant only on the date of occurrence of the alleged disregard or disorderly conduct of a member, he observed. Bringing forward a motion to suspend the members months after the day of occurrence of alleged disorderly conduct is not in order. This unprecedented and undemocratic act is a blatant violation of the rules, he said. He requested Chairman Venkaiah Naidu to revoke the suspension, which the latter rejected outright.
Omicron doesn’t escape RTPCR, RAT, says Health Ministry
COVID-19 variant Omicron doesn’t escape RTPCR (reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction) test and Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. It instructed the States to ramp up testing for prompt and early identification of any cases. States are advised for target/prioritised testing of passengers from the not at-risk countries also as part of the ramped up testing by the states, said a Ministry release. The instructions followed Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan’s virtual meeting with the States/UTs to review COVID-19 public health response measures and preparedness amid reports of Omicron cases across various countries. The Ministry pointed to the critical role of vaccination as a powerful defence against COVID-19, the extension of the Har Ghar Dastak campaign till December 31 with focus on 100% first dose coverage, and the completion of backlog of second dose. The States have been advised to ramp up the pace and coverage of vaccination. Meanwhile, Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed Parliament on Tuesday that the Omicron variant has not been reported in India yet, He said that while the variant has been found in 14 countries so far there is no case in India. Students of Gurukul Art school paint posters in the wake of rising Omicron variant of coronavirus at Lalbaug, Maharashtra on November 29, 2021. The Minister also noted that the Central Government has issued an advisory based on global developments related to the new variant and is keeping a keen watch on all entry points. Speaking during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister added that studies are being conducted on the Omicron and said that all precautionary measures have been put in place in India.
India’s GDP growth at 8.4 % in July-Sept
India’s economic growth slowed to 8.4 % in the second quarter of 2021-22, mainly due to waning low base effect, official data showed on Tuesday. The GDP growth in April-June quarter this fiscal stood at 20.1 %. The Indian economy had contracted by 24.4 % in April-June last year. The gross domestic product (GDP) had contracted by 7.4 % in the corresponding July-September quarter of 2020-21, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO). GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in April-September 2021-22 (H1 2021-22) is estimated at ₹ 68.11 lakh crore as against ₹ 59.92 lakh crore during the corresponding period of previous year, showing a growth of 13.7 % in H1 2021-22 as against a contraction of 15.9 % during the same period last year, it stated. The government had imposed a nationwide lockdown at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. China has recorded a growth of 4.9 % in the July-September period of 2021.
Mayawati rules out talks with Bhim Army
There was no question of talks with Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar Azad for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, BSP chief Mayawati asserted on Tuesday. Responding to questions, she reiterated that the BSP would contest all 403 seats alone. Asked by a journalist what she thought of Azad’s visit to Lucknow where he stated that he would try and talk to leaders of other parties, including her, for possible alliances, Mayawati sounded dismissive. When I have told you that BSP will fight alone on its own strength, then such a question does not arise, Mayawati said at a press conference. Azad, who belongs to the same Dalit sub-caste as Mayawati, Jatav, has shown interest in next year’s Assembly election, sparking speculation on the likely impact on the already depleted BSP. Mayawati also said that if voted to power for the fifth time, her government would take care of the interests and welfare of Jats, Muslims and the most-backward communities. She accused the BJP government of bringing in new rules and laws, and often taking the support of courts, to make the provisions of reservation ineffective. The BSP chief said Muslims were being harassed by the BJP government through false cases and that terror was being created among the community through new rules and laws. At all levels, Muslims are despondent and their progress has come to a halt, she said after holding a meeting of party office-bearers belonging to the Jat, Muslim and MBC communities.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
British Tennis Player Johanna Konta announced retirement
Tennis player Johanna Konta from Britain has announced her retirement saying that her career has come to an end. The former World No. 4 further said that she was fortunate to live her dream of playing professional tennis. As per the Women’s Tennis Association, Johanna Konta was a four-time WTA Champion. Her biggest title came at the Miami Open in 2017, where she defeated Venus Williams, Simona Halep, and Caroline Wozniacki. The talented player also lifted the trophies at Stanford 2016, Sydney 2017, and Nottingham 2021. Johanna Konta was twice a WTA 1000 runner-up, at Beijing 2016 and Rome 2019.
China to hold 2022 Winter Olympics despite Omicron concerns
China has announced that it will successfully hold the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 on schedule despite the worldwide concern of the Omicron Covid variant. The Winter Olympics 2022 is scheduled for February 4-20, 2022. The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson of China Zhao Lijian said that China is experienced in preventing and spread of COVID-19 and the winter Olympics will be held. The new COVID-19 variant Omicron has been named the ‘Variant of Concern’ by the World Health Organisation. The virus was first detected in South Africa. The global health body has also warned against the virus. WHO has also urged the member states to increase the surveillance to understand various variants and to increase the community testing.
World’s most expensive cities list: Tel Aviv ranked world’s costliest city.
World’s most expensive city: Tel Aviv has become the world’s most expensive city to live in, surpassing Paris and Singapore as per the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living Index 2021. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Tel Aviv climbed from 5th place to the top in 2021 due to the rising value of the Israeli currency shekel against US Dollar and the increase in the price of grocery and transport. While Tel Aviv has topped the Cost of Living Index 2021, Paris and Singapore are jointly ranked second, followed by Zurich and Hong Kong at the fourth and fifth spots. Syria’s Damascus was ranked as the world’s cheapest city. The Worldwide Cost of Living Index examines the cost of living in 173 cities and measures against impactful global events. The cost of living index reported that the prices for goods and services on average have risen by 3.5% year-on-year, which is the highest inflation rate seen in the last five years. The Cost of Living 2021 Index has ranked Israel’s Tel Aviv at the top for the first time, making it the world’s most expensive city to live in. Tel Aviv has pushed Paris down to jointly share second place with Singapore. Paris, Zurich and Hong Kong were ranked at the top of Cost of Living Index last year. The cost of the living study is conducted twice a year by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
