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1. International Abhidhamma Divas (IAD) commemorates the Buddha's descent from the Tāvatiṃsa heaven to Sankassiya, Uttar Pradesh, marked by the Asokan Elephant Pillar. The day coincides with the end of the three-month rainy retreat (Vassa) and the Pavāraṇā festival, where monks confess shortcomings. The Abhidhamma Pitaka, part of the Pali Canon, offers a detailed analysis of the Buddha's teachings, encompassing philosophy, ethics, and psychology. Pali, recognized as a classical language, is linked to Buddhism through the Theravada canon and has historical ties to Emperor Ashoka's inscriptions. Originally written in Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts, Pali later adapted local scripts across Southeast Asia.
2. Chile and the UK have proposed a "pledge for fungal conservation" to establish fungi as a distinct kingdom, termed "Funga," alongside plants and animals. This proposal, aimed for submission at COP16 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2024, seeks to enhance legal and policy recognition of fungi due to their crucial ecological roles, such as decomposition, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling. Currently, only about 8% of an estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million fungal species are known, with around 2,000 new species discovered each year. Fungi are vital for producing various foods and antibiotics and play a significant role in climate change mitigation through carbon absorption. However, they face threats from overharvesting, pollution, and climate change, which disrupt their essential symbiotic relationships. Recognizing fungi as a separate kingdom aims to bolster conservation efforts and awareness of their importance.
3. India’s President recently made historic visits to Malawi and Mauritania, marking the first time an Indian President has traveled to these countries. India is Malawi’s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD 256.41 million in 2021-22 and Indian investments exceeding USD 500 million. Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, was formerly known as Nyasaland. In Mauritania, bilateral trade stood at USD 94.53 million in 2019-20. The country, located in western Africa along the Atlantic Ocean, is home to indigenous Berber people and the Moors. India established its mission in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, in June 2021, enhancing diplomatic relations between the nations.
4. The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved five key road stretches in Ladakh, including routes through the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary and to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO). This approval supports the Ministry of Defence by enhancing infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in response to the 2020 India-China clashes in Galwan Valley. The routes are vital for troop movement, logistics, and civilian support. The Durbuk-Shyok-DBO route, which runs 255 km along the LAC, is strategically significant as DBO is India's southernmost military outpost. The Leh-Chalunka road provides the only motorized access over the Ladakh range. Other major developmental projects along India's borders include the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) and Border Area Development Programme (BADP) along the India-China border, and Smart Fencing as part of the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) along the India-Pakistan border.
5. A report titled "Nonylphenol — An Endocrine Disrupting Chemical" by Toxics Link and the Environmental Defense Fund highlights the extensive use of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs) and Nonylphenol (NP) in India, along with their environmental and health risks. Both are surfactants that contribute to pollution, notably causing frothing in the Yamuna River. Recognized as endocrine disruptors, they are toxic to aquatic life and detrimental to human health, affecting reproductive and developmental processes. While NPEs are banned in many countries, India lacks specific regulations; NP was banned in cosmetics in 2009. NPEs and NP are widely used in textiles, detergents, food packaging, and more. NP poses risks such as hormonal imbalances and environmental persistence, remaining harmful in ecosystems for long periods. The report calls for the adoption of safer alternatives, though progress in India has been slow.