Current Affairs 13 February 2018

International Current Affairs 1. List of MoUs signed on the occasion of the visit of PM to Oman Agreement on Legal and Judicial ...

International Current Affairs

1. List of MoUs signed on the occasion of the visit of PM to Oman

Agreement on Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial matter

• Agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, Special, service and official passports
• MoU on Cooperation in the field of health
• MoU on Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
• MoU on Cooperation between Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs, India and Oman Diplomatic Institute.
• MoU on Academic and Scholarly cooperation sectors between National Defence College Sultanate of Oman and the Institute for Defence Studies and the Analyses.
• MoU in the field of Tourism cooperation between India and Oman.
• Annexure to the MoU on Military Cooperation.

National Current Affairs

2. National Productivity Day and Week

The National Productivity Council is observing National Productivity Day on February 12, and National Productivity Week till 18th February.

• It is the 60th Anniversary of the National Productivity Council and is being celebrated as Diamond Jubilee Year.
• "Industry 4.0 Leapfrog Opportunity for India " has been selected as the theme for the National Productivity Week -2018.

3. India Among Top Ten Nations in the World in Terms of Forest Area

Strongly emphasising the increasingly green credentials of the country, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr.  Harsh Vardhan has said that India has shown an increasing trend in the forest and tree cover, in comparison to the global trend of decreasing forest cover during the last decade. 

• Releasing the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017, Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that India ranks among the top ten countries of the world in terms of forest area, despite the fact that none of the other 9 countries has a population density of more than 150 persons per sq km, compared to India, which has a population density of 382 persons per sq km.   
• “India is ranked 10th in the world, with 24.4% of land area under forest and tree cover, even though it accounts for 2.4 % of the world surface area and sustains the needs of 17 % of human and 18 % livestock population”, the Minister said. 
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan added that as per the latest FAO report, India is placed 8th in the list of Top Ten nations reporting the greatest annual net gain in forest area. 

4. 4th Meeting of economic advisory council to the Prime Minister

The 4th meeting of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) was held on 12th February 2018 under the chairmanship of Dr Bibek Debroy, Chairman, EAC-PM & Member, NITI Aayog.

• Keeping in view the National Health Scheme announced by the Government in the Budget for the year 2018-19 presented in the Parliament on 1st February 2018, EAC-PM discussed the possible modalities of implementing the scheme.
• Dr Shamika Ravi, Part-Time Member of the EAC-PM made a presentation on “Health Reforms”.
• Another Part-Time Member of the EAC-PM, Dr Ashima Goyal made presentation on the draft “The Indian Fiscal - Monetary Framework: Dominance or Coordination?”. Ms Poonam Gupta, Lead Economist - India, World Bank made a presentation on “World Bank Report on Indian Economy”. 

Business

5.  BoB to shut down its operations in South Africa

Bank of Baroda will shut down its operation in South Africa- a development that comes within months of the South African Reserve Bank imposing a fine of R11 mn for lapses in compliance.

• Bank of Baroda notified South African Reserve Bank about its plan to exit the country.
• The Registrar, which is part of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), is in discussions with the Bank of Baroda to ensure its orderly withdrawal from South Africa so that no depositor is disadvantaged.  

6. KVGB tops in code compliance rating

The Dharwad-headquartered regional rural bank (RRB) Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has been awarded an overall rating of ‘above average’ on code compliance by the Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI).

• The bank has been ranked first among 28 RRBs at an all-India survey during 2017-18 by BCSBI.
• BCSBI is an independent body set up by Reserve Bank of India.

7. Zoho ties up with ICICI Bank for integrated platform

Software Company Zoho has tied up with private lender ICICI Bank to provide accounting and banking on an integrated platform.

• The partnership will deliver a streamlined digital banking experience to customers using Zoho's cloud accounting software, 'Zoho Books'.
• This will also help businesses eliminate data entry, automate reconciliation, provide multiple payment options to their customers, request working capital loans, and pay suppliers directly from their accounting platform.

Appointments

8. Hamid elected Bangladesh president for second term

Abdul Hamid has been elected president of Bangladesh for a second consecutive term.

• Hamid has been elected president as no one else is running in the upcoming presidential election.
• Hamid took office on April 24, 2013, and his five-year term expires on April 23.
• According to article 123 of the constitution, presidential election should be held between 90 and 60 days before the five-year term expires.

Awards

9. Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wins Mo Ibrahim leadership prize

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation says it has awarded the $5 million African Leadership prize to former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

• The Ibrahim Prize, which honours role models on a continent where many leaders have stayed in power for decades, has been awarded just four times before since it was established in 2006.
• Ms. Sirleaf is the fifth person and first woman to receive it.
• Ms. Sirleaf, who was President from 2006 to 2017, stepped down in January, handing power to President George Weah.

10. Ramesh Sippy to get inaugural Raj Kapoor Award

Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, who directed the classic blockbuster Sholay and tele-serial Buniyaad, will be conferred the first Raj Kapoor Award for Excellence in Cinema.

• Instituted by the Asian Centre for Entertainment Education (ACEE), along with various international organisations like World Bank, UNICEF, USC Annenberg Normal Lear Centre, Hollywood Health and Society, Cinepolis Foundation and CMS, the Raj Kapoor Trophy will be unveiled in Mumbai.

11. Steve Smith wins second Allan Border medal

Steve Smith and Ellyse Perry stole the show at the Australian cricket’s Allan Border Medal night.

• While Smith claimed his second Allan Border Medal and was voted as the Test Player of the Year at the annual awards night, Perry was conferred with the Belinda Clark Medal.
• Incidentally, Smith had also won the coveted medal in 2015 and thus became only the fifth player to win it on more than one occasion.
• Along with Smith, teammate David Warner was voted as one-day player of the year while Aaron Finch was named as T20 International Player of the Year.
• Meanwhile, young Jhye Richardson was announced as the Bradman young cricketer of the Year.