Current Affairs: December 15, 2011

Canada quits Kyoto

• Complaining that Kyoto Protocol does not cover the world’s two largest emitters, the United States and China, and therefore cannot work, Canada has quit the Kyoto Protocol.
  
• The Protocol originally covered countries generating less than 30 per cent of global emissions and now it covered less than only 13 per cent and that number was only shrinking.
• Canada’s withdrawal comes at a time when it has increasingly gained the reputation of a climate “renegade” that has encouraged the rampant use of polluting energy platforms. For example, oil sands production, one of the most polluting forms of oil extraction, is at the heart of Canada’s discussion with the U.S. regarding the now-infamous Keystone Pipeline.
  

India to keep watch on Chinese naval facility in Seychelles

• With China planning a supply and recuperation facility in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Seychelles, India said it will “watch” the development and how Beijing uses this arrangement in this strategically-important location.

India, ADB inks pact for $113 mln loan for HP Clean Energy project

• The government signed a 113 million dollar loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Programme (HPCETIP). It is the first loan in a 350 million dollar multi-tranche financing facility for the upgrading of transmission system to help Himachal Pradesh take greater advantage of its vast hydropower resources.

Retired Judge Tapan Mukherjee to head AMRI inquiry: CM

• The judicial inquiry into AMRI fire incident that claimed 93 lives on December 9 would be headed by retired Judge Tapan Mukherjee.

Norway to give technical support to Haryana in child care

• The Haryana government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with United Nations Office for Project Services-Norway-India Partnership Initiative (UNOPS-NIPI) to get technical support for health care needs of new born and child care. The purpose of the partnership is to pool the technical and managerial resources for the advancement of newborn health care activities in the State.

India to install radiation monitors at all major ports

• Government has decided to install radiation monitors at all major ports in the country by 2012 to scan imported scrap for radiation. Presently Indian ports do not have any equipment to scan imports for radiation. Meanwhile, China has reportedly decided to install radiation monitors at Shanghai s premier Yangshan port as part of a collaborative non-proliferation effort with the United States providing China with a comprehensive screening capability

Karnataka passes Citizens’ Charter Bill

• In a major initiative, the Karnataka Assembly unanimously passed ‘The Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens’ Bill, 2011′.
• The Bill seeks to provide guarantee for 152 services in 11 departments

No move to regulate Internet content

There is no proposal from Govt to formulate a mechanism to regulate content on the worldwide web.

India to develop facilities near China border

• Conscious of China developing infrastructure in the border regions opposite India in Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions there, the government is giving careful and special attention’ to the development of infrastructure in the border areas opposite China to meet our strategic and security requirements and also to facilitate the economic development of these areas.

DR Congo opposition calls for mass protests

• Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi’s party called for mass protests to “protect” the victory he claims to have won in disputed presidential polls.
• The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) declared President Joseph Kabila the winner of the November 28 vote, provoking violent protests and looting in the capital and calls from opposition leaders for the international community to intervene.

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Month: Current Affairs - December, 2011