NATIONAL NEWS
FM Nirmala Sitharaman to chair 46th GST Council meeting today
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 46th meeting of the GST Council in New Delhi on December 31, 2021. The meeting is important as it comes ahead of Union Budget, which will be presented on February 1, 2022. Union Ministers of State in Finance Ministry Pankaj Chaudhary and Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad will also attend the meeting.
Covaxin safe, immunogenic in 2-18 age group: Bharat Biotech
Bharat Biotech said on December 30, 2021, that its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin was found to be “safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic” in the age group of 2-18 years in phase II/III study. Bharat Biotech had conducted phase II/III clinical trials to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of COVAXIN in healthy children and adolescents. This comes as the vaccine has been approved for 15–18-year-olds.
SBI authorized to issue electoral bonds
The State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorized to issue Electoral Bonds through its select 29 branches during January 1-10, 2022. This was informed by the Finance Ministry on December 30, 2021. The Electoral Bonds shall be valid for 15 days from the date of issuance and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.
Post-COVID-19 infection immunity persists for 9 months: ICMR DG Dr. Balram Bhargava
The immunity after COVID-19 infection persists for at least 9 months, as per evidence-based studies from different countries informed Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on December 30, 2021. He stated that if you get the infection then for 9 months you are generally protected.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock announces sudden retirement from Tests
Former South Afican captain and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock announced sudden retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect on December 30, 2021. The announcement comes one day after the first test between India and South Africa in Centurion, where India won by 113 runs. Quinton de Kock said that he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Biden-Putin phone call
US President Joe Biden in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Russia to de escalate the tensions with Ukraine. The US President in a 50-minute phone with Putin made clear that the US, its allies, and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine. During a phone call, President Biden also expressed his support for the diplomacy, starting from 2022 with the bilateral strategic stability dialogue, at NATO through the NATO-Russia Council, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This is the second call in a month between the two leaders amid the escalating tension in Ukraine as the United States continues to pressure Russia to draw down its military presence near Ukraine’s borders.
South Korea to develop technology for artificial sun
South Korean Government has been planning to develop a technology for the country’s first artificial sun ‘KSTAR’. The technology will maintain 100 million degrees for 300 seconds by 2026. The 300 seconds is the minimum time which is required for the commercialization of nuclear fusion technology. Nuclear fusion is the basic principle that the artificial sun generates heat and light. In 2018, the Korean Research team had first successfully maintained KSTAR at 100 million degrees for 1.5 seconds. The team was also successful in maintaining 100 million degrees for 20 seconds in 2020 and 30 seconds in 2021. Following last year, South Korea has set the longest record of maintaining 100 million degrees in the world in 2021.
