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1. Climate change has altered water levels and increased salinity at Tanzania's Lake Natron, impacting flamingo nesting and causing population declines. Flamingos, belonging to the Phoenicopteridae family, include six species such as the Greater and Lesser flamingos. Known for their vibrant pink feathers, long legs, and distinctive bills, they inhabit lakes, mudflats, and lagoons across various continents. Adapted to extreme environments, they play crucial roles in nutrient cycling and algae population control. Conservation statuses vary, with some species listed as Vulnerable or Near Threatened. Lake Natron, a salt lake on the Tanzania-Kenya border, is part of the Great Rift Valley and was recognized as a Ramsar wetland in 2001. Its unique alkaline waters support diverse ecosystems, including large flamingo populations.
2. On the International Day for Women in Diplomacy, the President of the United Nations General Assembly honored Hansa Mehta for her significant contributions. Mehta, a distinguished Indian scholar, educator, social reformer, writer, and diplomat, was born on 3rd July 1897. She was a fervent advocate for women's rights and played a crucial role in revising the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to include gender-inclusive language, changing "All men are born free and equal" to "All human beings are born free and equal" in Article 1. As President of the All India Women's Conference (AIWC) in 1946, she led the creation of the "Indian Women's Charter of Rights," advocating for gender equality and justice. Additionally, Mehta was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and served on its Advisory Committee and sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights. She was one of the two female delegates, alongside Eleanor Roosevelt, on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
3. UNESCO recently recognized Kozhikode as a ‘City of Literature’ under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), established in 2004 to promote cultural industries and creativity across seven fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music. The network aims to place creativity at the heart of urban development and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 11. With 350 cities, UCCN encourages sharing best practices and fostering partnerships. Kozhikode, home to prominent literary figures and the first Malayalam novel, joins other Indian cities in UCCN, including Jaipur, Varanasi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Srinagar.
4. India's external debt increased by USD 39.7 billion from March 2023, reaching USD 663.8 billion by end-March 2024. External debt, borrowed from foreign sources, must be repaid in the borrowed currency, and can come from foreign commercial banks, international financial institutions, and foreign governments. The external debt-to-GDP ratio decreased from 19.0% to 18.7%. Long-term debt rose by USD 45.6 billion to USD 541.2 billion, while short-term debt's proportion dropped from 20.6% to 18.5%. The short-term debt to forex reserves ratio declined from 22.2% to 19%. Debt composition was primarily in US Dollars (53.8%), with significant amounts in Indian rupees (31.5%). Non-financial corporations held the largest share of debt (37.4%), followed by deposit-taking corporations (28.1%), the general government (22.4%), and other financial corporations (7.3%). Loans made up 33.4% of the debt, followed by currency and deposits (23.3%), trade credit and advances (17.9%), and debt securities (17.3%).
5. The ‘India Africa Postal Leaders Meet’ was recently organized in India to strengthen ties among the administrations of African countries and India in the postal sector. This initiative, part of the “South-South and Triangular Cooperation” program of the Universal Postal Union, was supported by India Post and the United States Postal Service. The key theme of the meet was capacity building through study visits. India Post showcased its delivery of services, including e-commerce parcels, Dak Niryat Kendras, postal financial services by the India Post Payments Bank, Aadhaar-enabled services, Passport services, and Digital Life Certificate. The meet is significant in the context of Indian-led initiatives like the ‘Voice of Global South Summit,’ the India-Africa forum, and the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 during India’s Presidency in 2023. Forty-two heads of postal administrations and senior management personnel from 22 African countries attended the meet.
6. The Union Territory of Ladakh has achieved Full Functional Literacy under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, reaching over 97% literacy. Functional literacy enables effective engagement in reading, writing, and arithmetic for personal and community development. ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) is a centrally sponsored scheme (2022-2027) aimed at empowering adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Over 77 lakh people have benefited from ULLAS, which includes five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Other government initiatives related to education include the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, PRAGYATA, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and PM SHRI Schools.