23 December 2015 Current Affairs
Philippines – First Asian country to approve sale of dengue vaccine
Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world’s first ever dengue vaccine Dengvaxia in the country. The Dengvaxia vaccine has been manufactured by French pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur. It has been designed to protect people in the 9-45 age groups from all four subtypes of the virus. Earlier it secured its first regulatory approval in Mexico a fortnight ago and is currently being reviewed by around 20 countries in Asia and Latin America. Clinical tests of the vaccine carried out on 40,000 people from 15 countries by the company has shown that vaccine can immunise two-thirds of people aged 9-45.
RBI extends deadline to exchange pre-2005 notes to June 30, 2016
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes of various denominations by another six months to June 30, 2016. From January 1, 2016 such facility for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes will only be available at identified bank branches and Issue Offices of the RBI. Earlier in June 2015, RBI had set the last date for public to exchange pre-2005 banknotes notes as December 31, 2015. It is fourth time RBI has extended the deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes since March 2014. Till date RBI has shredded over 164 crore pre-2005 currency notes of various denominations, including of Rs 1,000 with the face value of around Rs 21,750 crore in its regional offices.
Gautam H Bambawale – India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan
Gautam H Bambawale was on 23 December 2015 appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He is presently serving as the Indian ambassador to Bhutan. Bambawale will succeed TCA Raghavan, who will retire at the end of December 2015. Bambawale is an Indian Foreign Service officer of 1984 batch. In the past, Bambawale has worked in Germany, US and China.
Winners for the 2015 ICC Awards announced
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 23 December 2015 announced the winners for the 2015 ICC Awards in Dubai, the UAE. Among the 10 awards announced, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year were conferred on Australian captain Steve Smith. Smith became the fourth Australian and 11th overall to win the prestigious award. ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year announced to AB de Villiers (South Africa), ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year to Josh Hazlewood (Australia), ICC Spirit of Cricket Award to Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) and ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year to Meg Lanning (Australia).
Narendra Modi visit to Russia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to Russia today for the 16th annual summit with President Vladimir Putin that will be focused at expanding the strategic ties with a particular focus on nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, defence, trade and counter-terrorism. After the talks both the partners are likely to ink a number of pacts in a range of sectors including nuclear energy and defence. The annual summit between the two countries at the highest level have been taking place alternately in Moscow and New Delhi since 2000. Modi and Putin are likely to deliberate on a number of global issues having political dimensions including sthe ituation in Syria and ways to tackle terrorism including an action plan to combat international terrorism. The two countries were aiming at enhancing annual bilateral trade to 30 billion dollars over the next 10 years from current 10 billion dollars. The Prime Minister’s engagement in Moscow will also include addressing a gathering of Friends of India and around 3,000 people are expected to attend the event.