Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 09 September 2016

:: National ::

Stepping up his attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there was “one country in our neighbourhood” which “produces and exports” terror, and urged the international community to isolate and sanction “this” instigator.
Earlier, addressing the 14th ASEAN-India Summit here, Mr. Modi expressed deep concern at the rising “export of terror”, in an apparent reference to Pakistan, saying it is a common security threat to the region.
He also noted that growing radicalism through the ideology of hatred and spread of extreme violence are the other security threats.
“The time has come to isolate and sanction this instigator,” he said.
His remarks directed at Pakistan come just three days after his address to G20 leaders at Hangzhou where he had said “one single nation” in South Asia was spreading the “agents of terror”.

The vector-borne Zika virus, which has triggered a health alert in Latin America and Singapore, poses a public health threat to Kerala, health experts have said.
The virus poses a risk for pregnant women since it is linked to children being born with abnormally small head and brain development.
Conditions for its spread in the State may be conducive, as there is a large travelling population and high mosquito density comparable to Latin America.
The Health Department is putting together a strategy to pre-empt the virus. However, many factors could thwart the State’s anti-Zika preparedness.
With a high volume of travellers arriving from Singapore at two international airports, it would be next to impossible to keep this massive group under surveillance for over 14 days.
Immigration authorities have not cooperated to collect the names and contact numbers of travellers coming into the State from Zika-affected countries, the official said.
The fact that local transmission of Zika virus has been established in Singapore (which has reported over 290 cases of Zika so far and many of those tested positive should heighten the threat perception for Kerala.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that the Israeli and the Palestinian leaders have agreed “in principle” to meet in Moscow for talks in what the Russians hope will relaunch the Mideast peace process after a more than two-year break.
But the wide gaps between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas left it uncertain if or when the meeting will take place, and raised doubts about whether they would make any progress.
After years of taking a back seat to the U.S., Russia has increasingly sought to take a leadership role in the region. Announcement in Moscow indicates that Russia is pushing forward with its attempt to become a peace broker.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the ASEAN-India Summit that the regional grouping was central to India’s Act East policy.
He expressed hope that ASEAN would continue to lead and remain central to efforts aimed at greater regional integration and cooperation.
He said that in the face of growing traditional and non-traditional challenges, political cooperation has emerged as key in relations.
Speaking at the parallel East Asia Summit, the Prime Minister welcomed the adoption of a statement on non-proliferation and said India remained committed to strengthening its objectives.
He said India was committed to supporting the realisation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Municipal bonds are yet to take off in India even as the Centre and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) are working towards creating more awareness.
According to government statistics, a cumulative amount of Rs.1,750 crore has been raised through municipal bonds in India while South Africa saw $1.8 billion being raised through such bonds in a single quarter alone.
Incidentally, $304 billion was raised in the U.S. through municipal bonds in just one single year.
Easy availability of government funds could also be a constraint. Lack of a secondary market for the trading of such bonds was another hindrance.
The capital market regulator announced regulatory norms for issuance of municipal bonds in July 2015 but after that there has been no such bond issue. The last municipal bond issued was in 2010.
Rating agency CARE estimates that large municipalities in India could raise Rs.1,000 to Rs.1,500 crore every year through municipal bond issues.
The SEBI chairman added that regulatory bodies for pension funds and insurance should also take a proactive stance and allow their regulated entities to invest in municipal bonds.
The SEBI chairman also said that investors look for transparency and clarity while investing in any securities and municipal bodies will have to review the manner in which books of accounts are maintained.