NATIONAL:
1. Rahul Gandhi’s MP Status
Why in news - The Supreme Court stayed Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in the Modi surname case.
Key Points –
• He is MP from Wayanad.
• Lok Sabha Secretariat cleared his return to Parliament.
• The sentence awarded by Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Verma in Surat on March 23, 2023.
2. Havana Syndrome
Why in news – Centre has told the Karnataka High Court that it will look into the matter of the ‘Havana Syndrome’ in India.
Key Points –
• Havana Syndrome refers to a set of mental health symptoms.
• It is said to be experienced by United States intelligence and embassy officials in various countries.
• Symptoms - hearing certain sounds without any outside noise, nausea, vertigo and headaches, memory loss and balance issues.
• It traces its roots to Cuba (Cuban capital - Havana) in late 2016.
• It is said to be high-powered microwaves that either damaged or interfered with the nervous system.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Ukraine Terms Peace Talks
Why in news - Saudi Arabia hosted a summit in Jeddah on August 5 and 6 in an effort to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Key Points –
• It did not have any representation from Russia.
• Ukraine presented its 10-point peace formula (rejected by Russia in the past).
• Representatives from more than 40 countries including China, India, and the US were present.
• From India - NSA Ajit Doval.
• Jeddah meet followed earlier informal talks in Copenhagen (June 2023).
ECONOMY:
1. Anti-Dumping Duty
Why in news - India imposed anti-dumping duty on optical fibre imports from China, Korea and Indonesia.
Key Points –
• Aim - to secure the domestic industry from artificially cheap rates that are capturing the market.
• Validity - 5 years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier).
Value Addition –
• While the Department of Commerce (M/o Commerce and Industry) recommends the Anti-dumping duty, it is the Ministry of Finance, which levies such duty.
• Dumping is said to occur when the goods are exported by a country to another country at a price lower than its normal value.
• It is not a measure of protection per se for the domestic industry. It provides relief to the domestic industry against the injury caused by dumping.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Einstein Cross
Why in news - Astronomers have captured a rare example of an Einstein cross.
Key Points –
• It is a group 12 rare quasars, each offering four distinct quadruple images, commonly called Einstein’s cross.
• Einstein cross - A galaxy is not just lensing but also quadrisecting the light coming from another galaxy billions of light years away from Earth.
• It can help refine the existing understanding about our universe’s rate of expansion and unravel mysteries surrounding dark matter.
• Quasars are distant galaxies with extremely luminous nuclei.
• Hubble-Lemaítre constant – It is used to measure the rate of expansion of universe.
2. Chandrayaan-3
Why in news - ISRO announced that Chandrayaan-3 has successfully entered the moon’s orbit on August 5.
Key Points –
• Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI) - A long-duration firing of its engines that pushed it out of Earth’s gravitational influence and towards Lunar gravitational influence.
• It is expected to make a soft landing near the Lunar south pole at around 70 degrees latitude.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. “75 Endemic Birds of India” Report
Why in news - The publication, titled "75 Endemic Birds of India," was released by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
Key Points –
• Findings –
(a) India is home to 1,353 bird species (12.40% of global bird diversity).
(b) 78 (5%) are endemic to India and do not exist in any other regions globally.
• 3 species have not been recorded in the last few decades –
(a) Manipur Bush Quail – Last seen – 1907. IUCN – Endangered.
(b) Himalayan Quail - Last seen – 1876. IUCN – Critically Endangered.
(c) Jerdon’s Courser - Last seen – 2009. IUCN – Critically Endangered.
• Highest endemic birds - Western Ghats (28), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (25).
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Rabindranath Tagore's 82nd Death Anniversary
Why in news - Rabindranath Tagore died at the age of 80 on August 7 in 1941.
Key Points –
• He is also popular as "Gurudev" and the "Bard of Bengal."
• He served as the inspiration for the "Sri Lanka Matha'' national anthem of Sri Lanka.
• Tagore established the "Visva-Bharati" University at Shantiniketan in 1921.
• The first time Gandhi Ji was referred to as "Mahatma" is credited to Rabindranath Tagore in 1917.
• Tagore remained deeply critical of nationalism, a position that pitted him against Mahatma Gandhi.
• Tagore wrote a novel “The Home and the World” in 1916.
2. National Handloom Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed across India on August 7.
Key Points –
• Theme - Handlooms for Sustainable Fashion.
• It recognises India’s rich handloom legacy and the efforts of the community of weavers engaged in the sector.
• On August 7, 1905, a historic call to encourage indigenous products during the Swadeshi movement was given.
BIHAR:
1. 2nd Bihar Museum Biennale
Why in news – CM Nitish Kumar attended the inauguration of the 2nd edition of Bihar Museum Biennale in Patna on August 7.
Key Points –
• Artists from over 20 countries under G20 initiative were also part of the event.
• The exhibition, ‘Together We Art’, showcased the artworks of 19 artists from G20 countries.
POINTERS:
• In which country will Prime Minister Modi participate in the BRICS summit - South Africa.
• Which will be honored with the Golden Eye Award at the 'Zurich Film Festival' - Diane Kruger.
• The Prime Minister of which neighbouring country has announced the dissolution of the National Assembly – Pakistan.
• Which state's cabinet has approved the formation of 19 new districts and 3 new divisions in the state – Rajasthan.
• India has given financial assistance of Rs 45 crore to which country for a unique digital identity project - Sri Lanka.
• Who has recently launched 'Jaldost Airboat' - National Aerospace Laboratories.
• Devari village in which district of Uttar Pradesh to be developed as a village tourism hub – Prayagraj.
• Which union minister has launched the Port Health Organization (PHO) under Sagar Setu - Sarbananda Sonowal.
• Who has jointly launched the 'Study in India' portal - S. Jaishankar and Dharmendra Pradhan.
• To whom has the Geneva School of Diplomacy conferred an honorary doctorate - Shashi Tharoor.