National:
Union Government launches IPV injection as part of global polio endgame strategy
The Union Government has launched inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) injection as part of the global polio endgame strategy in New Delhi.
The vaccine was launched by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda in New Delhi. It was launched as part of India’s next step in Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) to fight against polio virus in the country.
Key facts
The launching of IPV would enable children to get double protection from polio i.e. orally and in the form of injection.
UIP initially will cover six states including Uttar Pardesh , Madhya Pardesh , Bihar, Assam, Punjab and Gujarat in the first phase.
By April 2016, Union Government would switch to IPV alongside the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to eradicate polio virus in the country.
Henceforth, as part of India’s efforts to boost its polio immunization programme babies getting their third dose of OPV now would be administered an injection with IPV.
It should be noted that India was certified polio-free country on 27 March 2014, but the immunization programme continues since two of its neighbours Afghanistan and Pakistan still remain polio-endemic countries.
About Polio virus
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children below age of 5.
Transmission: The virus is transmitted from person-to-person. It mainly spreads through the faecal-oral route (e.g. contaminated water or food). After entering body, it multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
Symptoms: Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In some cases, it causes permanent paralysis. There is no cure for polio virus, it can only be prevented by immunization.
President gives assent Maharashtra Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2015
President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to Maharashtra Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2015 of Maharashtra government to allow women to work in factories in night shifts The amendment bill amends Section 66(1) (c) of Factories Act, 1948 to ease provisions related to working of women in night shifts in the state.
Key facts
The amendment of 67-year old Act also makes mandatory for factory managements to ensure security of women working in night shifts.
Prior to amendment, the section 66(1) (c) of parent Act did not allowed women employees to work in the factories in night shift between from 7 PM and 6 AM. Apart from this, the amendment bill also enables workers to be eligible for paid leave after working for 90 days in a year instead of the current 240 days or more.
Besides this, the amendment also does not make mandatory for workers to take the management’s permission for working overtime.
In this regard, the amendment bill has increased the working limit to 115 hours from the current 75 in 3 months.
With this, Maharashtra has joined the list of 6 Indian states that already have allowed women to work in night shifts or are in the process of doing so. They are Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
Indian Railways ink Rs 40000 cr deal of locomotive plants with GE, Alstom in Bihar
Indian Railways has signed 40,000 crore rupees contracts with General Electrics (GE) and Alstom to set up two locomotive plants in Bihar.
Under this deal, first venture the electric locomotive factory would be set up at Madhepura city and diesel locomotive would be set up at Marhowrah district of the state.
It is the first major manufacturing investment in Bihar, boosting manufacturing and contributing to the overall economic growth of state along with creation of new employment opportunities in the state under flagship Make In India initiative.
This is also the first big Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Indian railway sector after government had relaxed FDI norms to 100 per cent in the railway sector in 2014.
Modi launches International Solar Alliance
India launched an International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the CoP21 Climate Conference, with an announcement by Prime Minister Modi that the revolution in the field would bring power to all citizens, and create unlimited economic opportunity.
The new body, which has invited all countries located fully or partly between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn to join, is to function from the National Institute of Solar Energy in India, Gurgaon. The Centre will provide land and $30 million to form a secretariat for the Alliance, and also support it for five years, the Prime Minister said at an event that was co-chaired with him by French President Francois Hollande.
Tasks of ISA
Among the tasks that the Alliance would pursue are, cooperation in training, building institutions, regulatory issues, common standards, and investment including joint ventures.
Business:
IMF names yuan global reserve currency
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund decided to include the Chinese currency, the renminbi (yuan), into its basket of currencies that make up the IMF’s Special Drawing Right (SDR). The decision was taken during the IMF’s five-yearly review of the basket of currencies.
The continuation and deepening of these efforts will bring about a more robust international monetary and financial system, which in turn will support the growth and stability of China and the global economy.
About SDR:
The SDR, created by the IMF in 1969, functions like an international reserve, allowing member countries to draw upon any of the reserve currencies in the basket. At present, these include the dollar, euro, yen, and pound sterling. Following the IMF’s decision, this basket will also include the renminbi from October 1, 2016 onwards.
International:
China hosts first BRICS media summit
China has taken the initiative for creating an alternative media platform for the emerging economies by hosting the first media summit of countries belonging to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping.
A total of 25 media organisations are participating in summit, which hopes to create a new institutional framework that would be tailored to benefit the media of five emerging economies, which have deep linkages with the Global South.
1st December: World AIDS Day
Every year on 1st December World Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Day is being observed to raise awareness of the pandemic caused by the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
It also seeks to remember those who have died of the disease by mourning.
The theme for year 2015 is ‘Getting to zero, End AIDS by 2030‘.
Government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), health officials and individuals around the world observe the day and often spread awareness and education on AIDS prevention and control.
Background:
World Health Organization (WHO) had designated 1st December as World AIDS Day in 1987. Since then it is observed annually and is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by the WHO.
Common reasons for getting infected with AIDS
Unprotected sex with an infected person.
During pregnancy from mother to child or even breastfeeding.
Through transfusion of blood. Using of hypodermic needles of infected person to other person.
Sports:
Anil Kumble resigns as chief mentor of Mumbai Indians
Former Indian Test Captain and ace spinner Anil Kumble has resigned as the Chief Mentor of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians with an immediate effect.
His decision follows after Board of Cricket Council of India (BCCI) crackdown on conflict of interest in the board. Earlier in November 2015, Indian cricket team director Ravi Shastri was removed from the IPL Governing Council and selector Roger Binny was asked to leave.
Since January of 2013, Mr. Kumble was associated with Mumbai Indians and in his first year as the mentor of Mumbai Indians team had won the IPL and the Champions League and once again the IPL cup in 2015.
Mr. Kumble is one of the two bowlers in history of cricket who had taken all 10 wickets in an innings and another one is England’s Jim Laker.
He is also India’s highest wicket taker in both Test matches (619 wickets) and one day Internationals (ODIs) (337 wickets).
Death:
Russian legendary film Director Eldar Ryazanov passes away
Russian legendary film Director and screenwriter Eldar Ryazanov passed away in Moscow, Russia. He was 88.
He was one of Russia’s best-loved Soviet-era film directors and an icon of popular USSR culture of tragi-comedies that satirised daily life in the erstwhile Soviet Union.
About Eldar Ryazanov Eldar
Ryazanov was born on 18 November 1927 in Kuybyshev (now Samara) in the erstwhile USSR.
He had directed some of the most popular Soviet Era comedies such as Irony of Fate (1975), Office Romance (1977) and The Garage (1979).
Comedy film The Irony of Fate is still reckoned to be his most popular film in USSR and still televised on New Year’s Eve in former Soviet countries.
Awards and Honours:
In 1984, he was named a People’s Artist, a top USSR artistry tittle. He also has received the USSR State Prize (1977).
He has won the Nika Award for Best Director (1991) for the film Promised Heaven. An asteroid 4258 Ryazanov was named after him.
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