Indian Navy and IOCL launch special fuel with reduced carbon footprints

Indian Navy along with the Indian Oil Corporation has succeeded in bringing down its carbon footprint by revising the fuel quality standards. The standards achieved are better than those under the international regulations thus helping in supporting country’s international logistics agreements as well.

A revised technical specification was arrived at consisting of 22 test parameters including critical parameters cetane number, flash point, sulphur content, sediment content, oxidation stability and Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP).

The Indian Navy’s present force level comprises about 140 ships and submarines and more than 200 aircraft safeguarding a large coastline of 7516 Kms with 1197 offshore islands and 2.01 million sq kms of Exclusive Economic Zone.

‘Echigo’ Japan Coast Guard Ship arrives in Chennai

The Japan Coast Guard Ship ‘Echigo’ has arrived Chennai on a five-day goodwill visit to participate in the Annual Joint Exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’. Four Indian Coast Guard ships, their aircraft and a vessel from the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology – NIOT are participating in the exercise along with the Japanese vessel.

The 19th such exercise being conducted between the two Coast Guards since 2000. The exercise is being witnessed by Admiral Takahiro Okushima, Commandant, Japan Coast Guard and the Director-General of Indian Coast Guard Krishnaswamy Natarajan.

It aims at further strengthening bilateral ties and mutual understanding between the two Coast Guards. It is set to enhance interoperability in communication and Search and Rescue procedures and sharing of best practices.

India aces 2019 as no.1 shooting nation in the world

India finished the year 2019 as the top shooting nation in the world, leaving behind Olympic heavyweights China and the USA. India topped all the Rifle-Pistol World Cups and Finals in an unforgettable year by winning 21 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze.

While India leads with 30 medals overall, China holds the second position with 11 gold, 15 silver and 18 bronze for a total of 44 podium finishes. The USA is placed third with 15 medals including six gold six silver and three bronze.

Albert Roca appointed as the new head coach of Hyderabad FC

Indian Super League side Hyderabad FC is delighted to announce Albert Roca as the club’s new head coach, starting from the 2020-21 season. Albert Roca has signed a two-year deal that will see him at the helm till the end of the 2021-22 season. Albert Roca will advise the new coaching staff for the remainder of the season and will take full charge from the beginning of next season.

The former FC Barcelona assistant coach led Bengaluru FC to the AFC Cup Finals making them the first Indian club to reach the final of a continental competition. In his tenure at BFC, apart from leading the club to an ISL final, the club also won Federation Cup and the Super Cup titles.

Renowned Caricaturist Thomas Antony passes away

Noted caricaturist Thomas Antony (62), passed away early morning due to a massive heart attack on Sunday at Kottackal in Malappuram district. He was the Executive Artist of Metro Vaartha and Secretary, Kerala Cartoon Academy.

Thomas Antony is the recipient of many prominent national and international awards like the United Nations Political Cartoon Award (2007), World Press Cartoon (2018), the Hart Animation Art Award Hyderabad (1998), Hindustan Times Cartoon Award ( 2000), National Film Acadamy Award in (2001), Free Cartoon Award China (2002), and India International Cartoon Award Hyderabad in (2002). 

Statue of Unity finds place in ‘8 Wonders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’

As announced by External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, Sardar Patel’s 182 meter tall Statue of Unity in Gujarat is included in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s ‘8 Wonders of SCO’ list.

The ‘Statue of Unity‘, the world’s tallest statue, is a monumental tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent India’s first home minister as well as deputy prime minister. The statue was inaugurated in October 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Patel’s 143rd birth anniversary.

‘Raisina Dialogue’ begins in New Delhi from 14 January

The 5th edition of the prestigious Raisina Dialogue kicked-off in New Delhi on 14 January 2020. The three-day conference will continue till 16 January 2020. The Dialogue has been jointly organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Observer Research Foundation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated session.

Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship global Conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, and also one of the largest gathering of its kind. The Raisina Dialogue 2020 will bring together 700 international participants from over a 100 countries.

The conference will see deliberations over 80 sessions around 5 thematic pillars including – Nationalist impulses challenging global institutions and collective action; Debate on the global trading architecture; Role of technologies in determining political, economic and military power; Global development agenda; and State-individual relationship in the age of digital communities and cyberspace.

‘Classical Telugu Centre’ in Nellore to be inaugurated by Vice President of India

Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu (CESCT) in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh on January 21. Union human resource development minister Ramesh Pokhrial will also attend the programme. The CESCT, which is under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, has been shifted to Nellore.

The establishment of the centre in Nellore will facilitate to focus on the development of rich classical Telugu through research, seminars, debates and various activities. In this regard, a one-day group discussion of experts in classical Telugu will also be organised on January 20 by the centre with the participation of classical Telugu experts from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other parts of the country.

Discussions on various topics concerning classical Telugu and also the preparation of a roadmap for the preservation, propagation, and promotion of classical Telugu will take place. The Vice-President will also participate in the concluding part of the discussions sharing his views on the issues discussed by the experts.

Indian Oil Corporation launches special NATO class diesel for Indian Navy

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has developed a special class diesel conforming to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) grade for use in ships and vessels of Indian Navy. Vice Admiral G S Pabby launched the Upgraded High Flash High-Speed Diesel (HFHSD- IN 512) in presence of IOC Director (R&D) SSV Ramakumar and IOC Director (Refineries) S M Vaidya. Speaking on the occasion, Pabby called the launch of the upgraded diesel a historic day in the partnership of the Indian Navy and IOC.

The fuel possesses the best rheological and detergent characteristics validated against most stringent military specifications. It also has lesser environmental impact due to low Sulphur content and would result in the better performance of engines. The fuel will facilitate the Indian Navy to enhance its global footprint and will allow India to fuel the vessels of friendly foreign countries at places where fuel conforming to NATO grade is supplied.