NEWS 20-12-2017. NEWS FOR 22-DEC (FRIDAY) 1. France has passed a law banning all exploration and production of oil and natural gas by 2040 within the country and its overseas territories, claiming it as the world’s first such ban. The law aims to fulfill France’s commitments under the Paris climate agreement to curb global warming. 2. BJP has gained majority in both Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Assembly polls. BJP won 99 seats in Gujarat out of 182 and won 44 seats in Himachal out of 68. 3. India defeated SriLanka in the third Odi played in Visakhapatnam on Dec-17 by 8 wkts to clinch the series 2-1. Kuldeep Yadav won the man of the match award for picking up 3 wkts. 4. The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog is planning to set up Methanol Economy Fund worth Rs 5,000 crore to promote production and use of the clean fuel. 5. The Southern Command of Indian Army conducted major army exercise called ‘Hamesha Vijayee’ in deserts of Rajasthan from December 16 to 22, 2017. The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate capability of armed forces to strike deep into enemy territory in an integrated air-land battle. 6. On 14th Dec 2017, PM Narendra Modi commissioned India’s first indigenous Scorpene-class submarine Kalvari into the Navy at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard. The 1565-tonne INS Kalvari is India’s first new diesel-electric submarine in 17 years and will be followed by five other Scorpene submarines under the 23000 crore “Project-75”. 7. On 9th Dec 2017, SriLanka formally handed over the southern Hambantota Port to China on a 99-year lease. The port will play a key role in China’s One Belt One Road initiative by linking ports and roads between China and Europe. 8. On 15th Dec 2017, India and Maldives commenced their 8th joint military exercise “EKUVERIN’ in Belgavi, Karnataka. 9. On 16th Dec 2017, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 60 MW tuirial hydropower project in Aizawal, Mizoram.10. On 16th Dec 2017, Vijay Diwas was observed in India and Bangladesh. It marks India’s military victory over Pakistan in 1971, in alliance with Bangladesh. < < Back