Bharat Biotech developed the world’s first Zika vaccine

Hyderabad-based vaccines manufacturer Bharat Biotech has announced a breakthrough in developing the world’s first Zika vaccine by developing two candidates. In this regard, the pharmaceutical company has submitted two vaccine candidates, one each of inactivated and recombinant type to the Government. Key facts These two candidates are in an advanced stage of development and could be ready soon after pre-clinical studies concluded in the next five months. The company already has filed patents for both candidates in July 2015 and is looking to start animal tests soon after getting regulatory approvals for conducting clinical trials. It should be noted that this company was able to achieve this medical breakthrough because it had earlier successfully developed vaccine on vector borne Chikungunya disease which is also transmitted by Aedes mosquito similar to Zika virus. Inactivated vaccine: It consists of the disease-causing microbe which is killed with chemicals, radiation or heat. These microbes are grown under controlled conditions and are rendered non-infectious in order to reduce antigenicity. It is more stable and safer vaccine compared to vaccines using live microbes. Recombinant DNA vaccine: It is produced through the recombinant DNA technology. This technology involves inserting the DNA encoding antigen (such as a bacterial surface protein) that stimulates immune response. It generally uses an attenuated virus or bacterium to introduce microbial DNA to cells of the body.

Amendments in the Power Tariff Policy

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Union Ministry of Power for amendments in the Power Tariff Policy 2006. The comprehensive amendments bring required changes for holistic view of the power sector and also to achieve the objectives of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) with the focus on 4 Es. These 4 Es are: Electricity for all, Environment for a sustainable future, Efficiency to ensure affordable tariffs, Ensure financial viability and Ease of doing business to attract investments. Key Highlights Electricity 24X7 power supply will be ensured to all consumers. In this case state governments and regulators will devise appropriate power supply trajectory to achieve this. Micro Grids will provide power to remote unconnected villages. It will have provision for purchase of power into the grid. People near coal mines will be provided with affordable power through procurement of power from coal washery reject based plants. Efficiency Reduce power cost to consumers through expansion of existing power plants. For reduction in overall power cost, benefit from sale of un-requisitioned power to be shared. Through competitive bidding process, transmission projects will be developed in order to ensure faster completion at lower cost. To enable Time of Day metering installations of smart meters will be fasten. It will help to reduce theft and allow net-metering. Creating transmission capacity for accessing power from across India for lower power cost. Environment Renewable Power Obligation (RPO): By March 2022, 8% of electricity consumption shall be from solar energy in order to promote renewable energy and energy security. Renewable Generation Obligation (RGO): New thermal plants based coal/ligniteto establish/purchase/ procure renewable capacity. Transmission charges and losses will be not levied for solar and wind power between inter-State power transmission. 100% power procurement produced from Waste-to-Energy plants in order to give big boost to Swachh Bharat Mission.

Annual World Economic Forum meeting

The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting has started in Swiss resort of Davos, Switzerland with participation of political leaders and business from around the world. In this edition of WEF meeting, the agenda includes the outlook of the global economy and measures to fight terrorism. Key highlights Leaders from about 40 countries and more than 2,500 business people are attending the meeting. The 4-day conference will cover the discussions on tumbling oil prices and China’s uncertain economic prospects. It will be also discussing the issue of growing terror threats in the wake of the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris (France) and influx of migrants and refugees in Europe. Participants will also discuss environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions. They will also review the latest efforts to improve industrial production with robotics, artificial intelligence and information technology. World Economic Forum (WEF) WEF is an international institution founded by Klaus Schwab that works to improve the state of the world through public-private cooperation. It was established in 1971 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Motto: Committed to improving the state of the world It is an independent not-for-profit organization that works closely with other international organizations. It also works with leaders in the field of politics, business, academia to set global, regional and industrial agenda.

Ventrapragada Rama Rao passed away

Former Sikkim Governor and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ventrapragada Rama Rao passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana following an illness. He was 81. Rama Rao was one of the founders of Jana Sangh (later became BJP) in Andhra Pradesh. He was also Andhra Pradesh BJP president during 1993 and 1997. About Ventrapragada Rama Rao Rama Rao was born on 11 December 1935 in Machilipatnam in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. He was a lawyer by profession and had practised at the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He was elected as Member of Legislative Council on four occasions in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh State Legislature in 1966, 1972 and 1978 and in 1984. He served as Sikkim Governor from October 2002 to October 2007.

Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore maintaining the terminal building of airports

The Union Cabinet approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore for operating and maintaining the terminal building of airports at Jaipur and Ahmedabad. This is the first time the Airports Authority of India will award operation and maintenance contract to any entity for terminal building. The city side and airside of Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports will continue to be managed by the AAI. The objective of this MoU is to establish mutual cooperation in the field of civil aviation, which will cover, to begin with, the airports of Jaipur and Ahmedabad. This cooperation will be extended to other airports with mutual consent,” the government said in a release. The MoU envisages collaboration with Singapore in areas such as traffic development, commercial development, master planning and design, training and development, cargo handling and management among others.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran

Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced that Saudi Arabia was severing diplomatic ties with Iran after demonstrators stormed its Tehran embassy to protest against Riyadh’s execution of a Shiite cleric. Jubeir also said that all Iranian diplomats must leave Saudi Arabia within 48 hours. The 56-year-old, a force behind 2011 anti-government protests in eastern Saudi Arabia, was among 47 convicted men put to death on Saturday in the kingdom. Both countries are also divided over a raft of issues, namely the nearly five-year war in Syria, where Iran is allied with the regime of embattled President Bashar al-Assad, and Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition is battling Iran-backed rebels.

Key points :

Saudi Arabia Capital : Riyadh

Saudi Arabia Currency : Riyal

Saudi Arabia King: Salman bin Abdulaziz

Former Chief Justice of India Sarosh Homi Kapadia passed away

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sarosh Homi Kapadia passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was He was 68. His funeral was held as per Parsi tradition at Tower of Silence at Kemps Corner, South Mumbai. About SH Kapadia Kapadia was born on 29 September 1947. He had graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai. Legal career: In 1974, he was enrolled as an advocate at the Bombay High Court. Later he was elevated to the Bench as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 1991 and was appointed as a Permanent Judge of HC in 1993. He was transferred to the Uttarakhand High Court in 2003 and for a short stint he had served as Chief Justice. He was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court in December 2003. Later he was appointed as 38th Chief Justice of India (CJI) in May 2010 and retired in September 2012. He had served as the Chairman of the General Council of the Gujarat National Law University during his tenure as CJI. He was also the Visitor of the National Law School of India University. Famous Rulings: His notable among the judgments delivered were the quashing of appointment of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas in 2011.

India and Pakistan exchanged the list of their nuclear installations and facilities

India and Pakistan have exchanged the list of their nuclear installations and facilities under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations. This exchange is done on 1st of January every year between the two neighbouring countries that bars them from attacking each other’s atomic facilities. This is the 25th consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 1 January 1992. Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations It bilateral agreement signed between India and Pakistan that bars them from carrying out any surprise attack (or to assist foreign power to attack) on each other’s nuclear installations and facilities. It was signed on 31st December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991. It was signed by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Pakistani counterpart Benazir Bhutto. Under it both countries inform each other about their nuclear installations and facilities that need to be covered under the Agreement on 1 January every year.

Sangita Kalanidhi award 2015

Foremost south Indian classical vocalists Sanjay Subrahmanyam has conferred with prestigious 2015 Sangita Kalanidhi award. The prestigious award was bestowed upon him by renowned mathematician Manjul Bhargava at 89th annual conference of the Madras Music Academy in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. With this, he became seventh artistes to be conferred with this award before completing 50 years of age. Others are Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Musiri Subramania Iyer, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Semmangudi R. Srinivasa Iyer, G.N. Balasubramaniam, M.L. Vasanthakumari and M. Balamuralikrishna About Sanjay Subrahmanyam By profession he is Charted Accountant but in 2000 became full-time musician. He had started performing Carnatic music from 1987. Awards: Gaana Padhmam (2013), Vani Kala Sudhakara (2010) and the title Kalaimamani by Tamil Nadu Government (2006) etc. About Sangita Kalanidhi award/title It is a prestigious award bestowed annually upon an expert of Carnatic Music by the Madras Music Academy. The award’s name has been derived from Sanskrit which means treasure of Music and art in English. This honour is considered one of the highest awards in Carnatic music.

Russia with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

The Narendra Modi government’s grand plans to bring in the private sector into the defence sector has received its first reality check with Russia refusing to sign up with a private sector partner for manufacturing helicopters, instead opting to go with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).The move, confirmed by official sources and Russia’s Rostec on Tuesday, is contrary to the much-hyped claim about Russian willingness to partner an Indian private sector company to make over 200 Kamov-226T light utility helicopters in India under technology transfer. Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence was seen as the front-runner to partner the Russians. The organisation for the manufacture of helicopters is provided by the creation of a Russian-Indian joint venture in India, which includes holdings of Rostec-JSC Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters, and on the India side – the corporation HAL”, CEO of the Rostec State Corporation, Sergei Chemezov said in a statement in Moscow. One of the key themes of the Modi government’s push for Make in India in defence sector is to facilitate the entry of the private sector into it, and the Anil Ambani group has been at the vanguard of this move. The group recently acquired the Pipavav Shipyard, has created a cluster of companies, applied for over a dozen manufacturing licences for submarines to UAVs and is involved in active discussion with several foreign companies.

New relations with West Asian region

India’s relation with the West Asian region is expected to be in focus during the first few months of 2016 as South Block appears set to host top Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Diplomatic sources that both Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President of Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, have been invited by India and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will hold talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders during her January 16 to 19 trip to Israel-Palestine to firm up the dates for the visits. Diplomatic sources also informed that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moalem is expected to visit New Delhi soon. The Hindu had earlier reported that Ms. Swaraj and Mr. Moalem had invited each other during their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York. The high power political engagement plan for West Asia by the South Block will be in line with Ms. Swaraj’s May 31 annual press conference when she had announced a first ever visit to Israel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A visit by Mr Modi will be symbolically significant as Israel has not been visited by Indian Prime Ministers since both sides established full and normal diplomatic ties in January 1992. Analysts say that a visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu will also be symbolically significant as the last Israeli Prime Minister to visit India was Ariel Sharon in 2003. Ms. Swaraj had earlier cancelled her January visit plan for Israel due to Israeli election season. Subsequently, President Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel and Palestine in October re-starting the chain of high level engagements. “As a result of President Mukherjee’s visit to Israel, it is now the turn of Israel to reciprocate suitably. There is also a possibility that Israel might send President Reuven Rivlin to India later during 2016 as President Mukherjee had extended invitation to President Rivlin to visit Delhi. However, the diplomatic season will be kick-started a few days before Ms. Swaraj’s arrival in Israel by her colleague Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh who will hold discussion with his counterpart for greater Israeli scientific support for meeting Indian agricultural production goals. Preparation is also on to welcome Ms. Swaraj in Ramallah where her counterpart Riyad Al Maliki has been interacting with Indian diplomats to finalise commercial, educational and regional diplomatic plans for Ms. Swaraj. Ms. Swaraj had earlier told the media that Palestinians had been helpful in getting information about the 39 Indians kidnapped in Iraq.

Andhra Pradesh Government has signed a Memorandum with Microsoft

Andhra Pradesh Government has signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with tech giant Microsoft India on various technology initiatives for governance. The MoU was signed after a meeting between the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella in Hyderabad, Telangana. The technology provided by the Microsoft would be utilized by state government to check school dropouts, improve agricultural productivity and providing better citizen services. Key features of MoU The MoU seeks to improve use of Information and communications technology (ICT) drive for digital inclusion and provide better IT-based services to citizens. For digital inclusion Microsoft India will provide technical knowledge to Andhra Pradesh Government and support building three proof-of-concept (PoC) solutions. PoC solutions would be supported by applying Microsoft Azure Machine Learning and Advanced Visualization method in the fields of agriculture, eCitizen services and education. These solutions would use the lab method for data gathering, analysis, predictive analysis and policy planning which would be built and deployed to address specific problems within each of the fields to achieve better outcomes for the State. The company will set up a Centre for Excellence (CoE) in Visakhapatnam to train state Government’s key IT executives.

Start Up India, Stand Up India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s last ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast for the year 2015 was far less dramatic than his latest diplomatic flourish of dropping in to see Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. Apart from an exception in the case of the Land Ordinance, where he went into details of why he allowed it to lapse, and in 2014, the issue of black money, he has chosen not to speak about contemporary controversies, said an official source. Mr. Modi announced Jan. 16 as the date for the launch of his programme to encourage new business, ‘Start Up India, Stand Up India. The rest of his broadcastwas on reaching out to ordinary people and talking on his pet themes such as sanitation. In the last few days, the digital portal, MyGov.in, was flooded with suggestions on what people wanted to hear in his radio address. More than 3,000 suggestions, many of them after Mr. Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore on Christmas day, were received by the portal. Instead, Mr. Modi decided to frame a new nomenclature to refer to the differently abled people and lauded a mason in Madhya Pradesh for donating free labour for building more than 100 toilets in his district. When we look at the differently abled people, we see that while God takes one faculty away, He compensates them by making another more acute. It is like a divine plan, therefore rather calling them Viklang, let us call them Divyang or those with divine abilities. Sources say that while the Prime Minister continues to be the most digitally engaged world leader, sparking four times the number of conversations around his Facebook page than U.S. President Barack Obama, he is very clear about what he chooses for his radio broadcast.

Narendra Modi App

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited people to connect with him by downloading the ‘Narendra Modi App. During his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the prime minister said: “Through ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App’ we can connect with each other. It gives me immense pleasure that people tell me a lot of positive things happening.

“Every citizen can connect with me by downloading ‘Narendra Modi App’ on his mobile phone. I would appeal to (you to) get connected through this,” he said. “I have to reach out to 125 crore citizens. How can I reach out to them without your help,” the prime minister added.

Model Agreement on exemption visa requirements for diplomatic

The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the Model Agreement on exemption from visa requirements for the holders of diplomatic and official passports. Decision in this regard was taken by Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. This move would facilitate visa-free entry, stay up and transit for holders of diplomatic and official passports of either country to 90 days (or less) in any period of 180 days (or more) in India or signatory country for holders of diplomatic and official passports of either country. This decision was taken is part of India’s ongoing efforts to expand the envelope of visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports to other countries of the world.  So far, India has signed visa free agreements with 69 countries. There are still more than 130 countries with which India is yet to sign or enter into similar Agreements. Investment of Rs. 5,000 crore by ONGC Limited in ONGC Videsh Limited The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also has given its approval for investment of 5,000 crore rupees by Oil and Natural Gas Company Limited (ONGC) into the equity share capital of ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL). This investment would be done through conversion of existing loan of equivalent amount into equity and will help strengthen the capital base of OVL. It will also enhance the ability of ONGC to undertake overseas Exploration and Production (E&P) business in turn contributing to improve the energy security of the country.

Payment of Bonus Bill, 2015

The Lok Sabha has passed The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to allow doubling of wage ceiling for calculating bonus of factory workers and establishments with 20 or more workers. The Bill seeks to amend the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of State (MoS) for Labour and Employment. Key provisions of Bill Eligibility of Employees: Seeks to raise the eligibility limit for payment of bonus from a salary of Rs 10,000 to Rs 21,000 a month. The parent Act mandates payment of bonus to employees’ whose salary or wage is up to Rs 10,000 per month. Calculation of bonus: The Bill seeks to raise this calculation ceiling of bonus to Rs. 7,000 per month from present from Rs 3500 per month ceiling or as per the minimum wage notified for the employment under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (whichever is higher). The parent Act clearly mentions that the bonus is payable to an employee in proportion to his or her salary or wage. Prior publication of rules: The Bill seeks to mandate prior publication of rules made by the Union Government in the Official Gazette to allow for more public consultation. Retrospective effect: The Bill will have retrospective effect and will come into force on April 1, 2015. The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965: It provides for the annual payment of bonus to employees of certain establishments including factories and other. Under the Act, bonus is calculated on the basis of the employee’s salary and the profits of the establishment.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee

Air pollution in the national capital is of an “emergency nature,” the Delhi High Court on Monday observed and said this situation would not have arisen if the authorities had implemented laws and rules in place to prevent environmental degradation. A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva was of the view that while legislations were in place for ensuring maintenance of air quality levels, individuals and departments tasked to enforce the rules, “have not done their work”. It directed officers of all concerned authorities, including Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), that “all the rules have to be followed to the ‘t’ as the situation today is of an emergency nature”. The court, referred to particulate matter-PM 2.5 and PM 10-and said as per the statutory norms their levels are not to exceed 60 microgram per cubic meter per day and 100 microgram per cubic meter per day, respectively. However, as per DPCC monitoring stations, their levels are always far in excess of 400/500. It directed DPCC, represented by advocate Sanjeev Ralli, to “analyse data from 2011 onwards and to provide us a monthly average chart of each pollutant.” Another exercise the panel has been directed to carry out is to give a weekly chart of the pollutants during the months from October to February for all the years from 2011 to 2015. DPCC has also been asked to provide the court with details of action taken by it, against any violations, in the last five years. Meanwhile, on the issue of traffic management to reduce the timings of idling vehicles, the court observed that despite its direction for zero tolerance towards violation of rules, especially by people who jump onto other carriageways to get ahead during traffic snarls, police was doing nothing. “People in Delhineed to be disciplined. Send anyone who changes carriageways to turnaround and go in the opposite direction from which they came, as they do in Mumbai,” the bench said while hearing a PIL initiated by it on the issue of increasing air pollution in Delhi. Delhi Traffic Police, in an affidavit, told the court that it had identified 14 areas in the city which were heavily congested and that, in those places, it had observed zero tolerance for violation of rules.

Juvenile Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2015

The Rajya Sabha cleared the Juvenile Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2015, lowering the age of a legally defined juvenile from 18 to 16 in the case of heinous crimes. Despite the fact that many parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and, till last week, the Congress favoured sending it to a select committee for consideration, neither Shantaram Naik of the Congress nor Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress moved a motion as had been decided by their parties earlier. The CPI(M) walked out once voting started. The presence of Nirbhaya’s parents in the visitors’ gallery and their protest in the last week or so seemed to have had an effect. Minister for Womenand Child Development Maneka Gandhi said: “We may not be able to do anything about the juvenile convict in the Nirbhaya case but we can deter many other boys from doing so.” “I do not want to tell you what to do, but please remember India is watching us and decide if you want to bring in a nuanced Bill which protects children. The Minister said no juvenile would be sent to jail directly. “If juveniles are sentenced to jail, they will be sent to a borstal until they are 21 years old, after which there will be a review.

General election of Spain 2015

Ruling conservative People’s Party (PP) of Spain led Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy by has won the 2015 general election of the country. In the general election, PP won the 123 seats by securing in the lower house of the 350-member Parliament and securing 28.7 percent vote share. However, it has fallen short of absolute majority which can be achieved by any party that wins minimum 176 seats.  Now the People’s Party has to form a coalition government with support of other political parties to govern for another four-year term. Results of other parties The Socialists which won 90 seats with 22 percent vote share. Anti-austerity Podemos Party along with its allies won 69 seats with 20.6 percent vote share. Liberal Ciudadanos party (LCP) won 40 seats with 13.8 percent vote share. In the earlier outgoing parliament People’s Party was having 186 seats in the lower house of the Parliament.

Liquefied natural gas ship

India has joined select club nations to build Liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships after state owned Cochin Shipyard has received certification in this regard. Cochin Shipyard also became first shipyard in India to get the nod to build LNG-transporting ships for any client world-wide. Key facts In this regard, Cochin Shipyard has signed a license agreement with French technology company Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT). GTT holds patented technology for LNG ships and provides the certification in design engineering and membrane-type containment systems for the transportation and storage of LNG. GTT would provide technology for the cryogenic containment and handling system which is most critical part of an LNG ship as the LNG is carried at a temperature of -163 degrees. This license agreement authorises Cochin Shipyard to use the membrane type technologies of GTT for any liquid gas carriers, more particularly the LNG carriers. With this India joins the league other nations including South Korea, Japan and China building LNG transportation ships. It also opens a new chapter in ship-building technology in India and marks a big step for Make in India.