India, Pakistan announced 10-point Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue
India
and Pakistan have agreed to resume structured dialogue between them
through new 10-point Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD). The
10-point CBD replaces earlier 8-point Composite Dialogue Process (CDP)
structured dialogue which was also known as Resumed Dialogue. 10-point
Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD) includes Peace and security,
confidence building measures (CBMs), Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir
Creek Boundary Dispute, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project,
Economic and Commercial cooperation, Counter-terrorism, Narcotics
control, People-to-people exchanges, Humanitarian issues, Religious
tourism.
World’s first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, approved for use in Mexico
The
Mexican authorities on 9 December 2015 approved the use of the
first-ever vaccine against dengue fever, ” Dengvaxia” which will be
publicly available for the first time. The Federal Commission for the
Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) approved Dengvaxia for the
prevention of disease caused by all four dengue virus serotypes in
preadolescents, adolescents and adults, 9 to 45 years of age living in
endemicareas. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report
published in late 2014, the vaccine had an average rate of effectiveness
of about 60.8 percent in protecting against the four strains of dengue
now circulating.
NGT bans plastic along the stretch of Ganga
National
Green Tribunal (NGT) put a complete ban on procurement, storage and use
of plastics along the stretch of Ganga from Uttarakhand’s Gomukh to
Haridwar. The ban would be in force from February 2016. The government
had allocated Rs. 20,000 crores for its Clean Ganga Mission over five
years. The ban means restriction on use of plastic bottles, including
beverage bottles and plastic wrappings.
Myanmar inaugurated Yangon Stock Exchange
Myanmar
on 9 December 2015 inaugurated a new stock exchange, named Yangon Stock
Exchange (YSX), with plans for six companies to start trading in March
2016. Initially, the Yangon Stock Exchange will be open only to Myanmar
companies and investors and will eventually allow foreigners to invest
in Myanmar shares. The exchange was set up by local companies in a joint
venture with Daiwa Institute of Research Japan and Japan Exchange
Group, which operates the Tokyo Stock Exchange.