Daily GK Updates: 17th November 2016

World Philosophy Day: 17 November

i. The World Philosophy Day is observed globally on the third Thursday of November every year.

ii. This year, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organised the special events. 

iii. The World Philosophy Day was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO to encourage the world to share their philosophical heritage and open their minds to new ideas.

Chhattisgarh: First state to adopt resolution on demonetisation

i. Chhattisgarh has become the first state to adopt a resolution welcoming the demonetization of high-value currency notes. 
ii. The state Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister Raman Singh on 16th November welcoming the Centre’s decision.

iii. The resolution on 16 November 2016 saw 41 votes in favour and 25 against in assembly.

Russia withdraws from International Criminal Court

i. President Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order removing Russia’s signature from the International Criminal Court’s founding treaty  on 16th November. 

ii. Russia in 2000 signed the Rome treaty that established the Hague-based court but never ratified it.

"Post-Truth" Named Oxford Dictionaries Word of Year Amid 2016 Political Climate

i. Oxford Dictionaries has declared "post-truth" to be its international word of the year citing a 2,000% spike in its usage.

ii. The word beat competition from "adulting," "alt-right," "Brexiteer," "glass cliff" and "woke". Last year's choice was the "face with tears of joy" emoji.

iii. The Word of the Year of Oxford Dictionary is an expression or word that is chosen to reflect the passing year in language. 

Twinkle Khanna launches her second book 'The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad'

i. Actor-turned-author Twinkle Khanna launched her second book titled 'The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad'.

ii. Twinkle's first book was 'Mrs Funnybones: She's Just Like You and a Lot Like Me', which was published in 2015.

Nawaz Sharif inaugurates Gwadar port in Pakistan

i. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated a trade route linking the south-western Gwadar port to Kashgar city in China as part of $46 billion project to jumpstart economic growth in the South Asian country.

ii. With the operationalisation of the revamped Gwadar port, the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), linking western China to the Arabian Sea, became a reality.

Reliance Group launches IoT services under venture Unlimit

i. Reliance Group has partnered with Cisco Jasper for the launch of a venture called Unlimit, which will provide Internet of Things (IoT) services to its enterprise customers in India.

ii. IoT is a network of “things” that include identifiable devices, appliances, equipment, the machinery of all forms and sizes with the intelligence to seamlessly connect, communicate and control or manage each other to perform a set of tasks with minimum intervention.

Women Commando Team Inducted In CRPF

i. A team of women commandos has been inducted for the first time in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to counter Naxal insurgency in Jharkhand.

ii. A Naxal or Naxalite is a member of any of the Communist guerrilla groups in India, mostly associated with the Communist or Leftist ideology.

Twenty Nations sign framework agreement of International Solar Alliance as process begins

i. More than 20 countries, including Brazil, France and India, on 15 November 2016 signed the framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at Marrakech, Morocco.

ii. The Framework Agreement of ISA was opened for signature on the sidelines of the CoP22 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Former J&K Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha passes away

i. Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha passed away at a hospital this morning after brief illness.

ii. He was 92.

iii. Lt Gen Sinha had joined the army in 1943 and has also served as India's Ambassador to Nepal and as the Governor of Assam.