MOU signed Between NSIC & ARAMCO Asia for development in Oil & Gas Sectors

NATIONAL NEWS

MOU signed Between NSIC & ARAMCO Asia for development in Oil & Gas Sectors

• An MoU has been signed recently between NSIC and Aramco Asia for the development of MSME Ecosystem in India in Oil & Gas Sector.
• This MoU will pave a way for accredited Indian MSMEs to carve out a space as vendors in the Global space.
• NSIC is the flagship Mini Ratna PSU under Ministry of MSME in the business of facilitating MSMEs in India and Aramco is world's largest Oil & Gas Company from Govt. of Saudi Arabia having reported revenue of USD 355 Billion Dollar (2018) and estimated market value of 1.5 Trillion Dollars.

6th Indian Ocean Dialogue, Delhi Dialogue XI to be held from Dec 13-14

• External Affairs Ministry will host the 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi on 13th and 14th of this month.
• For the first time, these two tracks 1.5 dialogues will be held consecutively and on similar Indo-Pacific themes.
• The theme is "Indo-Pacific: Re-imagining the Indian Ocean through an Expanded Geography”.
• The theme for this year’s Delhi Dialogue is "Advancing Partnership in Indo-Pacific”.

Odisha to open 45 fast track courts

• In order to ensure speedy disposal of sexual crimes against women and children, Odisha Government decided to set up 45 fast track courts in the State.
• The move comes after Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked the States and the Chief Justices of High Courts to expedite investigation in cases of rape and those registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
• The process for opening fast track courts has been initiated on a war-footing. Of 45 fast track courts, 24 special courts will deal with cases related to Protection of Children from Sexual Offences and 21 courts will handle only rape cases.

DEFENCE

Indian Rafale fighter jets to fly with BS-series tail numbers honouring ex-IAF chief BS Dhanoa

• The Indian Rafale fighter jets will fly with the tail sign 'BS' after the recently retired Air Force Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa.
• While the two-sweater trainer Rafales will have the tail, number initials of present Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria RB, the fighter versions will fly with the tail sign initials of BS after the previous chief Dhanoa.

APPOINTMENT

Arnab Goswami elected president of News Broadcasters Federation’s governing board

• The News Broadcasters Federation has elected journalist Arnab Goswami as the president of its governing board.
• The broadcaster’s body comprises of 78 news channels in 14 languages from 25 states.
• They members met to finalise modalities of a self-regulatory organisation – News Broadcasters Federation Authority – to self-regulate content.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO to launch earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR1 from Sriharikota

• The ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) will launch its earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR1 on PSLV-C48 from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• RISAT-2BR1, a Radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 628 kg, will be placed into an orbit of 576 km at an inclination of 37 degrees.
• PSLV-C48, which is the 50th mission of PSLV, will also carry 9 customer satellites of Israel, Italy, Japan and USA as co-passengers.
• These international customer satellites are being launched under a commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited.

AWARDS

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed receives Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo

• Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve international peace and co-operation.
• This year's Nobel Peace Prize was the 100th to be awarded. The Nobel Peace Prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal and a cheque for nine million Swedish kronor (850,000 euros).
• The Nobel Committee announced in October it was honouring Abiy Ahmed for his efforts to resolve the long-running conflict with neighbouring foe Eritrea.

SPORTS

Wasim Jaffer becomes 1st player to play 150 Ranji games

• Veteran opener Wasim Jaffer achieved another first-class milestone as he made his 150th appearance in Ranji Trophy cricket.
• Featuring for Vidarbha, Jaffer is playing his 150th Ranji game against Andhra at the Devineni Venkata Ramana Praneetha Ground.
• Jaffer is followed by Devendra Bundela and Amol Muzumdar, who have 145 appearances and 136 appearances in the Ranji Trophy.
• Jaffer has 40 tons to his name in his Ranji career and has amassed 11775 runs. The Mumbai-born batsman has played a total of 253 first-class matches, scoring 19,147 runs, averaging 51.19.

IMPORTANT DAY

International Mountain Day-11 December

• International Mountain Day is a chance to highlight that for rural youth, living in the mountains can be hard. Migration from the mountains leads to abandoned agriculture, land degradation and a loss of ancient cultural traditions.
• Education and training, market access, diverse employment opportunities and good public services can ensure a brighter future for young people in the mountains.
• This year, youth will take the lead and demand that mountains and mountain peoples become central in the national and international development agendas; receive more attention, investments and tailored research.
• 2019 Theme- Mountains Matter for Youth