CURRENT AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 07 ENGLISH

1. India announces 1 Billion Dollar line of credit for the development of Russia's Far East

India announced a line of credit worth one Billion US dollars for the development of the Far East region of Russia.

• Addressing the Plenary Session of 5th Eastern Economic Forum, EEF, in Vladivostok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this announcement will prove to be a take-off point for India's 'Act Far East' policy.
• Russian region is full of resources which provide an opportunity for Russia and its friends.
• The Prime Minister thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for inviting him as the chief guest at the EEF for his love for India.

2. India, South Korea sign two major agreements

India and South Korea have signed two major agreements to further defence educational exchanges and extend logistical support to each other’s Navies.

• The agreements will help enhance defence co-operation between the two countries.
• The agreements were signed after the talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeongdoo in Seoul. 
• The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
• Mr Singh also paid homage at the National Cemetery of Korea to the brave martyrs who had laid down their lives for the Korean nation.

3. WHO and South-East Asia Region plans to banish measles, rubella by 2023

Member-countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region has resolved to eliminate highly infectious childhood killer diseases measles and rubella by 2023.

• A resolution to eliminate the diseases was adopted at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in Delhi.
• Measles elimination and rubella control have been a regional flagship priority since 2014.
• India continues to grapple with 39,299 cases, ranking fourth among 194 countries in the number of measles cases registered between July 2018 and June 2019.

4. 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue

The 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue(SED) will be held in New Delhi from 7-9 September 2019.

• The Dialogue will comprise of round table meetings of Joint Working Groups (JWG) on Infrastructure, Energy, High-Tech, Resource Conservation, Pharmaceuticals and Policy coordination followed by technical site visits and closed-door G2G meetings.
• The Indian side will be led by Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and the Chinese side by Chairman, NDRC.
• The 5th SED was held in Beijing on April 14, 2018, right before the informal Wuhan Summit between the leaders of the two countries.

5. Edelweiss, SBI sign pact for co-origination of loans to MSMEs

ECL Finance Limited, a subsidiary of Edelweiss Financial Services Limited and State Bank of India (SBI) have signed a co-origination agreement, which aims to increase access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises.

• It plans to provide business loans, machinery loans and SME asset-backed loans ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 50 lakh at a blended rate of interest.
• This is the third co-origination agreement for Edelweiss, after Bank of Baroda and Central Bank of India.

6. Dr B. Bala Bhaskar appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Norway

Senior diplomat B Bala Bhaskar was appointed as the next Indian Ambassador to Norway.

• Bhaskar will replace Krishan Kumar, who has been heading the Indian mission in Norway since July 2018.
• Prior to this, the diplomat served as a Joint Secretary of the WANA division of the MEA that deals with all the matters relating to India's trade with WANA region comprising 19 countries.

7. President Ram Nath Kovind gives away Swachh Bharat Mission Awards

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred awards for outstanding contribution to the journey of Swachh Bharat Mission during a function in New Delhi.

• Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in Jammu and Kashmir received the Best Swachh Iconic Place award.
• The Shrine was selected on the basis of the overall improvement in sanitation.
• Railways Ministry was given Swacha Award in the category of Swachhta Action Plan.

8. States, districts honoured for improved sex ratio under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign

States and districts were honoured today for improved sex ratio and awareness generation under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign.

• Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh received honours for improving sex ratio at birth.
• Nine districts were also awarded for better sex ratio at birth.
• During the event, 10 districts were also awarded for good work in awareness generation and outreach activities under Beti Bachao Beti padhao campaign.
• India has made a remarkable jump in the national sex ratio of 13 points from 918 to 931 in the last 5 years.
• The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign was launched in 2015 and is, now, being implemented in 640 districts.

9. Former president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe died

Former president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has died at the age of 95.

• Mugabe was a former guerrilla chief who took power after the end of white minority rule in 1980.
• He was ousted in a military coup in November 2017, ending three decades in power.

10. Vice President releases Second Volume of ‘Loktantra Ke Swar’ and ‘The Republican Ethic’ - Compilation of Selected Speeches of President of India

Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu released the books ‘Loktantra Ke Swar (Khand 2)’ and ‘The Republican Ethic (Volume 2)’ in a function organized at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi.

• The books are a compilation of 95 speeches delivered by the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind during his second year in office (July 2018 to July 2019).
• They have been brought out by Publications Division under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
• Shri Naidu highlighted several key areas from the books, quoting the speeches of the President given on key occasions in his second year in office.