Current affairs 29 February 2024

In South Korea, world's lowest fertility rate plunged again in 2023.

• South Korea's fertility rate hit a new low of 0.72 in 2023 from 0.72 in 2022, underscoring the ongoing demographic crisis affecting economic growth and social welfare.
• It is far below the rate of 2.1 per woman needed for a steady population.
• Career advancement and financial concerns prompt South Korean women to postpone or forgo childbirth, despite government spending to reverse the trend.

India’s poverty rate declined to 4.5-5% in 2022-23: SBI Research.

• According to Household Consumption Expenditure Survey data, India's poverty rate declined to 4.5-5% in 2022-23, with rural poverty declining to 7.2% & urban poverty down to 4.6%.
• This decline is attributed to government programs targeted at the bottom of the pyramid.
• Spending inequality is shrinking due to enhanced infrastructure.
• The new weights are likely to lower inflation numbers.

Government declares "Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir" as an "Unlawful".

• Government of India has declared Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir as an Unlawful Association for a further period of 5 years under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967.
• The organisation is found continuing its activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation.
• The outfit was first declared an Unlawful Association on 28 February 2019.

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Pankaj Kumar Chatterjee won Romain Rolland Book Prize 2024.

• Pankaj Kumar Chatterjee, the Bengali translator of Stalin’s Couch, a French novel about the Soviet ruler’s final years, has won the 7th edition of the Romain Rolland Book Prize.
• The novel about Joseph Stalin was first published by French author Jean-Daniel Baltassat in 2013.
• The award recognises translations of French books into Indian languages, including English.

New Zealand set to scrap world-first tobacco ban.

• New Zealand's government will repeal world-first anti-tobacco law, enabling tobacco sales to future generations, affecting planned sales ban and nicotine reduction.
• Set to take effect from July, the toughest anti-tobacco rules in the world would have banned sales to those born after Jan. 1, 2009
• Government to propose alternative measures to curb smoking, including tighter vaping regulations.