TITBITS:
1. Given
the sanctions on Russia and the complexities around expanding the rupee-rouble
trade, the Central government and India's financial regulators continue to be
wary with several proposals from Sberbank AG, Russia's largest bank, still not
being cleared.
2. A
fresh environmental nod for the 76 MW Phata Byung Hydro Electric Project on
Mandakini River, which was washed away in the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, will
hinge heavily on forest and wildlife clearances owing to the dense vegetation
and forests around the project site, an expert panel of the Union Environment
Ministry said.
3. The
Deadly Marburg virus could overwhelm Rwanda's fragile healthcare system. Since
the East African country reported the first Marburg case late last month, at
least 46 individuals have been infected and 12 Marburg deaths reported.
4. A
diet rich in "advanced glycation end products (AGEs)", which includes
ultra-processed and fast food, is among the leading cause of India being the
world's diabetic capital, notes a first-of-its-kind clinical trial finding
published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
recently.
5.Dry Ports
Telangana is
planning to develop more dry port facilities to boost exports.
·
An inland terminal that is meant to provide
connectivity to a sea port by rail or road.
·
Also known as inland port
·
Includes Inland Container Depots (ICDs),
Container Freight Stations (CFSs), and Air Freight Stations (AFSs), etc.
·
Benefits – Provide a more efficient and
cost-effective gateway to international trade for landlocked states/ regions,
reduces pressure on coastal ports, easing congestion and improving efficiency,
etc.
6.Biodiversity Credits
A coalition of
civil society organizations has raised concerns over promotion of biodiversity
credits.
·
An economic instrument that allows private companies to finance activities, such
as forest conservation or restoration.
·
Purpose – To have a net-positive impact on nature and biodiversity.
·
Not limited to compensating for companies’
negative and unavoidable impacts on nature.
·
Functioning –
§ Stakeholders that have a goal to conserve land generate a supply of
credits
§ Private companies then purchase these credits to meet their
biodiversity-based commitments.