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11 MoUs signed during PETROTECH 2016

In the PETROTECH-2016, 11 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed among various companies. 
●    The PETROTECH meet was held in the month of December 2016.
●    Among these 11 MoUs, a consortium agreement was signed between IOCL, BPCL and HPCL to set up India’s biggest oil refinery cum petrochemical complex with around 60 MMTPA capacity along the western Coast of India in Maharashtra.
●    MoU with IIT, Guwahati for supporting OIL’s start up initiative
●    MoU with IIT, Mumbai for supporting ONGC’s Start-Up Initiative
●    MoU between ONGC and Halliburton
●    MoU between ONGC and Schlumberger
●    Binding MOU (Cost sharing Agreement) for development of Ligno-Cellulosic Ethanol Plants
●    Binding MOU (Cost sharing Agreement) for development of Ligno-Cellulosic Ethanol Plants.
●    MoU between BPCL and Institute of Chemical Technology
●    MoU for Technology Transfer for setting up of 2G Biomass Ethanol Bio-refinery at Bina, M.P.
●    MoU for Technology Transfer for setting up of 2G Biomass Ethanol Bio-refinery at Bargarh, Odisha
●    MoU for setting up 2nd Generation Ethanol Bio-refinery
●    MoU with Technology provider for 2nd Generation Ethanol Bio-refinery

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Human Rights Day 2016 observed across the world

The Human Rights Day 2016 was on 10 December 2016 observed across the world.  
●    The day aims at promoting and raising awareness of the two Covenants of Human Rights Day. 
●    They are: International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
●    For the year 2016, the day calls on everyone to stand up for someone's rights. To commemorate the day, a campaign "Stand up for someone's rights today” was launched to encourage, support and amplify what one does in one’s everyday life to defend human rights.
●    Human Rights Day commemorates the day on which the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
●    In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
●    UNGA in December 1993 created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights.
●    The first Human Rights Day was celebrated in 1950.

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Dress code back in Kerala’s Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple

In a recent ruling, the Kerala High Court put a hold on the order relaxing dress norms at the state’s Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.
●    The ruling comes just days after the temple’s CEO K N Sateesh allowed women to enter the temple wearing salwar suits. 
●    The move, which was taken in response to a petition lodged at the high court by a woman advocate Riya Raje, hadn’t gone down well with the Temple’s senior priest, Nedumpilli Tharanalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad.
●    The priest had expressed his staunch opposition to the decision, calling it a violation of the temple’s age-old traditions. 
●    While his stand definitely had an effect on the high court’s earlier decision, a writ petition filed by private parties challenging the Executive officer’s decision also played a major role in the return of the old norms.
●    A division of bench of the court has ordered for the old norms to continue for the time being. 
●    It comes as a huge blow to women, as like before they will be expected to wear only saris or cover their salwar and churidar with a dhoti while entering the temple.

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International Anti-Corruption Day 2016 observed across the world

The International Anti-Corruption Day 2016 was observed across the world on 9 December 2016 with the theme United against corruption for development, peace and security.
●    The day was observed to raise public awareness about corruption and what people can do to fight it.
●    On the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, all the Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens around the world joined forces to fight the crime.
●    The 2016 joint international campaign focuses on corruption as one of the biggest road blocks to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
●    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are the main organisations that are at the forefront of these efforts.
●    On 31 October 2003, UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and designated the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention against corruption.
●    The UNGA also designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.

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Tamil Nadu Cabinet decides to recommend Jayalalithaa's name for Bharat Ratna

Tamil Nadu Cabinet today decided to recommend late AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa for India's highest civilian honour, the 'Bharat Ratna'. 
●    In its first meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam after Jayalalithaa's demise, the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre installation of her life-size bronze statue in Parliament complex. 
●    A resolution was adopted in the Cabinet to recommend to the Centre to award Bharat Ratna to honourable Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. 
●    Further, the Council of Ministers resolved to urge the Centre to install her bronze statue in the Parliament complex, and proposed to raise a memorial building for the deceased leader at the MG Ramachandran (MGR) Memorial site, where she was laid to rest on Tuesday at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. 
●    The Cabinet further resolved to rename the memorial as Dr Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Selvi J Jayalalithaa Memorial, it added. 
●    The Cabinet also proposed to unveil a portrait of the leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
 

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Chinese army launches massive military drill near Aksai Chin


China's People's Liberation Army has launched a major drill in the western region of Xinjiang, which borders several countries including India and Pakistan.
●    The exercise, which involves a massive force of 10,000 soldiers, is being carried out by PLA's western command. The command is in charge of Aksai Chin, the disputed area between India and China.
●    It involves "missions relating to camouflage, intelligence, reconnaissance and counter attack", the state run People's Daily Online said.
●    Though it did not specify the exact location of the exercise, the obvious focus is India because it is the only country in the region which has a border problem with China.
●    The drill is extensive covering seven hills and taking place at altitudes going up to 4,000 metres.
●    The drill comes after India's surgical strike in Pakistan and subsequent border problems. The move comes soon after General Qamar Javed Bajwa took over as the new army chief in Pakistan.
●    The drill is expected to boost the morale of Pakistan's army and put pressure on India, observers said.

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Ruchita Vinerkar settles for bronze at Asian shooting meet

India's Ruchita Vinerkar claimed bronze in the women's 10m Air Pistol, the last event of the 9th Asian Championship 10m (Rifle/Pistol) which concluded here on Thursday.
●    Ruchita shot 175.5 points in the eight-woman final, while China's Mengshue Xang won gold with a score of 198.8. Xang's compatriot Yuemei Lin took the silver after shooting 194.3.
●    India thereby concluded a successful campaign, finishing second overall with a haul of 15 medals comprising six gold, five silver and four bronze.
●    China finished on top of the standings with a total of 32 medals -- 14 gold, 10 silver and eight bronze medals. 
●    Hosts Iran and Japan followed the top two in the final standings.
●    The highlight of India's performance was Shahzar Rizvi's gold in the men's 10m Air Pistol event. 
●    Indians took the top two spots in the event with the seasoned Jitu Rai taking the silver.
●    Shahzar shot a phenomenal 199.9 in the final to Jitu's 197.5 to cap off a brilliant performance which also saw him partner Jitu and Om Prakash Mitharval for the team gold in the event.


 

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Peter Gilchrist won the World Billiards Championship

Multiple-time champion Peter Gilchrist added another feather to his cap as he pulled off a one-sided 1500-617 win against Indian national champion Sourav Kothari in the Long-Up Format final of IBSF World Billiards Championshipon Thursday.
●    The Singapore-based champion did not allow Sourav to take lead in any of the visits to the green baize.
●    Gilchrist, literally, knocked Sourav out of contention in his 14th visit when he broke 354 points and then in his next visit scored a 150-break, taking his overall score to 855 against 205.
●    Sourav made a valiant effort to restore pride, but his break of 280 in his 28th visit did not make any difference in the match, with the score reading 588 against Gilchrist's 1299.
●    Gilchrist further extended his lead by posting a break of 110, with the scores at 1409 against Sourav's 588.
●    Gilchrist clinched the final in the 29th visit with a break of 27 points.
●    Earlier, a day after upsetting tournament favourite Pankaj Advani, Kothari got the better of compatriot Dhvaj Haria 1250-816.


 

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INS Sumitra visits Australia to strengthen bilateral ties

The Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel Sumitra on 6 December 2016 reached Darwin, Australia. The vessel is on a three day visit to the country and will return to India after participating in the Royal New Zealand Navy International Naval Review 2016.
●    The ship’s visit to Australia is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing maritime security cooperation between the two nations.
●    Calls on senior Government and military authorities, sporting and cultural interactions and sharing of best practices would also be undertaken.
●    On departure, the ship would also undertake a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with RAN ships.
●    INS Sumitra is the fourth of the Saryu class ships.
●    It is based on an indigenous design and constructed by M/s Goa Shipyard Ltd, India.
●    It was commissioned in 2014. Since then, the ship has been deployed for multiple operational tasks, the most notable being ‘Operation Rahat.’
●    The ship has a range of 6500 nautical miles and is competent in embarking one Dhruv/ Chetak helicopter.
●    The ship is commanded by Cdr. KP Shreeshan.

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US designates India as Major Defence Partner

India on 8 December 2016 was formally designated as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ of the United States. It was announced in the India-US joint statement on US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter’s visit to New Delhi.
●    Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had invited US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to India. It marked the seventh interaction between the two leaders.
●    The designation is a status unique to India and institutionalizes the progress made to facilitate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level at par with that of the United States’ closest allies and partners.
●    The designation also ensures enduring cooperation in future.
●    However, the two sides, in the joint statement, did not specify details of the benefits that will accrue to India under the designation.
●    India’s Major Defense Partner status has been made a part of the India Amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act, 2017 (NDAA), approved by the US Congress to allocate funds annually to the US military. 
●    This Bill is expected to be passed shortly, which will put a official stamp on India’s status.

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