Analysis of data from NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft revealed numerous bright streaks that look like traces left by gas escaping from beneath the crust of Mercury.
- It suggests Mercury might be geologically active unlike previously thought.
About MESSENGER Spacecraft
- Launched by NASA, MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) was the first spacecraft to orbit mercury.
- Key Discoveries:
- Confirmed water ice in shadowed craters.
- Established that it has a large iron-rich core.
- Detected weak magnetic field.
About Mercury
- It is the fastest, smallest, second densest and closest planet to Sun.
- It doesn’t have a thick atmosphere but only a thin exposphere.
- It has no moons or rings.
Doctors demonstrated major breakthrough in treatment of Celphos poisoning by intravenous lipid emulsion therapy.
About Celphos
- Aluminium phosphide is commonly known as Celphos.
- Aluminum phosphide is a grain fumigant that releases deadly phosphine gas upon ingestion.
- A fumigant is a highly toxic, volatile chemical compound used in gaseous form to kill pests like insects, nematodes, and rodents in enclosed spaces, soil, or stored products.
- Aluminium phosphide poisoning continues to be a serious public-health challenge, particularly in agricultural states such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
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Gaza’s Rafah crossing border partially reopens after being largely shut since it was seized by Israel two years ago.
About Rafah Crossing
- The Rafah Border Crossing is located between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
- It is the southernmost post of exit from Gaza and borders Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
- The Rafah crossing into Egypt -- often called Gaza's "lifeline" -- is the only border access for the territory that does not pass through Israel.
- It is a critical lifeline for humanitarian aid, medical evacuations, and for the very few who are granted permission to travel.
- There are only two other border crossings from and into the Gaza Strip - Erez, a crossing into Israel in northern Gaza, which is for people, and Kerem Shalom, a solely commercial goods junction with Israel in southern Gaza.
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Control over the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of the Donetsk region has emerged as the key unresolved issue in ongoing Russia–Ukraine peace negotiations.
About Donetsk Region
- Location - Located in Eastern Ukraine, it is one of the two key regions of Donbas (other: Luhansk).
- Borders - Sea of Azov (connected to Black Sea through Strait of Kerch) to south and Russia to east.
- Resources - Rich in coal and shale gas (eg. Yuzivska gas field), salt reserves.
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1 sourceUnion Budget 2026-27 proposed making Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) a final tax and reducing its rate from 15% to 14%.
- It also proposed to provide exemption from MAT to all non-residents who pay tax on presumptive basis.
About MAT
- It is a tax that requires a company to pay a minimum amount of its book profit when its normal income-tax liability is minimal or zero.
- A company is required to pay higher of either MAT or corporate tax.
- Legal basis - it is levied under Income Tax Act 1961.
- Applicable: To both domestic and foreign companies.
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Al-Jawf’s interior deserts saw snow for the first time on record.
About Al-Jawf Region
- Location: Northern Saudi Arabia, one of the 13 administrative regions.
- It lies at the northern edge of the Al-Nafūd desert.
- Historical Significance: An ancient route for trade and pilgrims between the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, and Egypt.
- Notable Feature: Dawmat al-Jandal Lake lies north of the region, largest lake in Saudi Arabia.
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