September 12 in history: UN South-South Cooperation Day and key dates

The United Nations South-South Cooperation Day is observed every year on September 12. The day aims to boost mutual cooperation among developing countries and highlight their support for one another's economic, social, cultural and technological development. South-South cooperation refers to developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America progressing by sharing experience, resources and knowledge with each other.

According to the United Nations, this cooperation has played a key role in making developing countries more effective on the global stage. It is not limited to economic development alone, but also covers social equality, education, health, agriculture and technology.

September 12 also marks several major events in history. In 1666, Shivaji Maharaj reached Rajgad safely after escaping from Agra. In 1857, the SS Central America, carrying 13 to 15 tonnes of California Gold Rush gold, sank along with 426 passengers. In 1897, the Battle of Saragarhi was fought during the Tirah campaign. In 1919, Adolf Hitler joined the German Workers' Party. In 1930, Wilfred Rhodes played his last, and 1,110th, first-class cricket match. In 1948, the Indian Army entered the territory of the Hyderabad State, in what is known as the Hyderabad Liberation Struggle or Police Action. In 1959, the unmanned Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 landed on the moon. In 1980, a military coup took place in Turkey. In 1998, Dr Jayant Narlikar was given the Punyabhushan Award. In 2002, India successfully launched the Metsat satellite. In 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland opened. In 2011, the 9/11 memorial museum in New York City was opened to the public.

Those born on this day include King Francis I of France in 1494, King Afonso VI of Portugal in 1683, English scientist Michael Faraday in 1791, Richard Jordan Gatling, inventor of the Gatling gun, in 1818, Bengali writer Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay in 1894, Nobel Prize-winning French physicist Irene Curie in 1897, journalist-politician Feroze Gandhi, husband of Indira Gandhi, in 1912, Australian cricketer and footballer Max Walker in 1948, and Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken in 1977.

Those who died on this day include Australia's fourth prime minister George Reid in 1918, Marathi literary researcher Vinayak Lakshman Bhave in 1926, classical vocalist Ramchandra Kundgolkar in 1952, Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal of the composer duo Shankar-Jaikishan in 1971, actor Satish Dubhashi and actress Shanta Jog in 1980, Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur in 1992, American actor Raymond Burr in 1993, and musical theatre singer-actor Pandit Krishnarao Chonkar along with actress Padma Chavan in 1996.