1. India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has come down from 47 to 28 in ten years: In a significant improvement, the overall infant mortality rate in India stands at 28 (in 2020) as compared to 47 (in 2010). The IMR is calculated based on babies less than a year old that die out of a thousand. Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Kerala have shown considerable improvement. Bihar, too, in the last five years of the decade, has fared well. However, Chhatisgarh has only recorded 25.5% progress.
2. The Carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere is 50% higher than in preindustrial times: The atmospheric CO2 level is at a historical high of 36.3 billion tons in 2021, something that the world has not seen in 4 million years. A rise in CO2 will directly result in increased global temperature, which is now 1.1 degrees higher than in the preindustrial era.
3. Each protected forest must have a 1 km radius eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), orders SC: The Supreme Court bench led by Justices L Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose ordered that protected forests — Wildlife sanctuaries and National parks — must have a 1 km radius eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). And, no new permanent structures and mining should be allowed within the ESZ. However, it added that mining activities already in progress could continue with permission from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
4. India puts preconditions for wheat (government to government) export: Industry and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, on Friday, said India is willing to supply wheat to less developed, friendly, and neighboring countries. However, India is wary of traders, speculators, and hoarders getting control over the valuable grain from the nation and selling it to poor and vulnerable countries at exorbitant prices.
5. Covid cases at a 3-month high: India has added 4,041 new Covid19 cases within 24 hours. Observing the upsurge in infections, the Union health secretary has written to five states — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu — where the numbers are rising fast. The ministry has urged these states to closely monitor influenza-like illnesses, case clusters, and also samples of international passengers.
6. Sri Lanka charts a food crisis response plan: Amid concerns of a looming food shortage, as warned by experts, President Gotabaya Rajapksa ordered authorities to stockpile essentials to prevent traders from creating artificial scarcity. Meanwhile, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe met UN Food and Agricultural Organization officials and sought urgent help to work out a “food crisis response plan” to build stockpiles of essential foods.
7. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan announces indefinite ceasefire: Negotiations between the Pakistani establishment and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have resulted in the latter announcing an indefinite ceasefire. The talks facilitated by the Afghan Taliban included a team of tribal elders, parliamentarians, security officials, and militants. However, Islamabad has not issued an official word on the developments.
8. External affairs minister S Jaishankar delivers a clear response to Europe: The minister in unambiguous terms said that Europe is safeguarding its interests while pointing its fingers at India, referring to how the sanctions are designed not to affect Europe’s energy security (gas imports from Russia). By doing so, are they not funding the war, questioned the minister. He also added that China doesn’t need a Ukraine precedent to decide its engagement with India.
9. Deoband clerics see a ray of hope in RSS chief’s remarks: Muslim clerics in Uttar Pradesh have welcomed Mohan Bhagwat’s remark stating, “Why look for Shivling in every majid? We don’t want new problems every day, as the issue was neither created by present-day Muslims nor Hindus.” Deoband cleric Mufti Asad Qasmi responded by saying, “What he said deserves praise. It came at a time when the environment of hate is spreading fast. The statement is certainly a welcome step towards building communal harmony.”
10. A woman claiming to be Goddess Parvati refuses to leave a restricted area on the Indo-China border: A Police team tried in vain to vacate Harminder Kaur of Lucknow, illegally residing in a restricted area in Nabhidhang along the Indo-China border. The woman has claimed that she is incarnate of Goddess Parvati and is waiting to marry Lord Shiva. The Police returned as she threatened to end her life if they force her to leave.