IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 12th, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 12th, 2017

1. On 12th, September isInternational Day for South-South Cooperation.

a.   Originally observed on December 19, the date for the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation was moved to September 12 in 2011. 

b.   This day commemorates the date when the United Nations (UN) General

Assembly adopted a plan of action in 1978 to promote and implement technical cooperation among developing countries.

2. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is on two-day visit to India.

a.   Along with PM Modi, Lukashenko has released a commemorative stamp to mark 25 year of IndiaBelarus relations.

3. The UN Security Council On 12th, Septemberunanimously adopted a US-drafted resolution to impose new sanctions on North Korea following its sixth and largest nuclear test. 

a.   The resolution bans North Korea's textile exports and imposes a cap on its oil imports. 

b.   Note : This is the 9th such resolution unanimously adopted by the UN since 2006.

4. The 2nd edition of India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council was recently held at New Delhi. 

a.   The meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj andAfghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.

b.   During the meeting, both countries exchanged 4 pacts in areas of Health, Transport (motor vehicles agreement), Space and New Development Partnership.

5. India and Belarus On 12th, Septembersigned 10 Memorandum of Understanding's (MoUs) in various sectors.
6. The Signed MOUs are :

a.   Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

b.   Agreement on the implementation of MoU signed between OJSC Minsk Tractor Works and Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. India in Pune

c.   Memorandum of Understanding between JSC Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) and Indian Potash Ltd (IPL).

d.   Memorandum of Understanding between JSV "Belzarubezhstroy” and National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd.

e.   Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for Cooperation in the Field of Vocational Education and Training.

f.    Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.

g.   MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India and Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, Gorki, Belarus for Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education.

h.   MoU between M/o Petroleum & Natural Gas of the Republic of India and Belarusian State Concern of Oil and Chemistry in the Oil and Gas Sector

i.     Programme of cooperation between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of Republic of Belarus in the field of culture for 2018-2020.

j.    Protocol amending the Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus signed on April 16, 2007.

7. The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) betweenIndia and Japan for collaborative research in the field of silkworm and silk industries. 

a.   The MoU was signed between Central Silk Board (CSB), India and National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), Japan in November 2016.

8. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament.

a.   The Bill seeks to amend Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

b.   The Amendment will increase the maximum limit of gratuity of employees, in the private sector and in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, at par with Central Government employees.

9. Union Minister for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar On 12th, Septemberannounced that the labourers from both organised and unorganised sectors will be allotted a unique identification number as part of labour reforms. 
10. To bring in transparency in food safety inspection and sampling, food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) On 12th, Septemberlaunched a nationwide online platform ‘FoSCoRIS’.
11. Bharat Financial Inclusion (BFIL) has entered into an exclusivity agreement with private lender IndusInd Bank to evaluate a merger between the two companies. 

a.   The deal will reportedly value BFIL, which has 68 lakh customers and a loan book of around ₹9,631 crore, at about $2.2 billion (over ₹14,000 crore).

12. The Union Cabinet On 12th, Septemberapproved a 1% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) to central government employees and pensioners, with effect from July 1, 2017. 

a.   The hike in DA from 4% to 5% is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. 

13. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed creating a new European Monetary Fund to deal with EU's financial affairs. 

a.   Adding that the IMF had "no place in EU affairs", Macron said that the EU and IMF had taken a wrong approach in solving the Greek debt crisis. 

b.   He also proposed an overall budget and a Finance Minister for the Eurozone.

14. Starting October 1, the customers of Punjab National Bank (PNB) will be charged₹10 per transaction beyond a limit of five times a month, even if a PNB cardholder makes the transaction from PNB ATM. 

a.   The charges apply for cash withdrawal and issuance of mini-statement. 

b.   Currently, PNB account holders can make any number of transactions in a month from PNB ATMs without attracting any charge.

15. London has topped in the 2017 Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) among 92 financial centres released by the Z/Yen and China Development Institute. 

a.   India’s financial capital Mumbai was ranked at 60th position, up by three positions compared to previous edition.

b.   Top 10 in the List

                                         i.    London

                                        ii.    New York

                                      iii.    Singapore

                                      iv.    Hong Kong

                                       v.    Tokyo

                                      vi.    San Francisco

                                    vii.    Chicago

                                   viii.    Sydney

                                      ix.    Boston

                                       x.    Toronto

16. Korea Open 2017 began On 12th, SeptemberSeoul, South Korea.

a.   P V Sindhu is going to lead the Indian challenge. 

17. Shah Rukh Khan-owned Trinbago Knight Riders won their second Caribbean Premier league title, defeating St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by three wickets in the final today.