Ebola
Category: International
- The World Health Organization said the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo — which spilled into Uganda this week – is an “extraordinary event” of deep concern but does not yet merit being declared a global emergency.
- For such a declaration, an outbreak must constitute a risk to other countries and require a coordinated response.
- This outbreak, the second-deadliest in history, has killed more than 1,400 people since it was declared in August.
- As the far deadlier 2014-16 Ebola outbreak raged in West Africa, WHO was heavily criticized for not declaring a global emergency until nearly 1,000 people had died and the virus had spread to at least three countries.
- Congo’s epidemic is the second worst worldwide since West Africa’s Ebola outbreak in 2014-16.
- Only 4 emergencies have been declared in the past decade: the H1 virus that caused an influenza pandemic (2009), West Africa’s Ebola outbreak, polio (2014) and Zika virus (2016).
Trade Deficit
Category: Economy
- India’s trade deficit widened in May 2019 to $15.36 billion, with imports growing faster that exports during the period.
- The industries that saw a major growth in exports include electronic goods (50.97%), organic and inorganic chemicals (20.64%), and readymade goods of all textiles (14.15%).
- Imports into India grew 4.31% in May 2019 to $45.35 billion, up from $43.48 billion worth of imports in May of last year.
- The segments that saw strong growth in exports include pulses (84.2%) and gold (37.4%).
Bishkek Declaration
Category: International
- India stayed away from supporting China’s Belt and Road Initiative at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit’s Bishkek declaration, in line with the template followed at the SCO summit in Qingdao last year.
- The Bishkek declaration mentioned “cross-border” security threats in the context of terrorism.
- Condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the Bishkek declaration said that they call on the international community to promote global cooperation in combating terrorism with the central role of the UN.
