• Tanzania has recently confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus, a highly contagious and deadly virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever.

About Marburg virus

• Marburg virus is an Ebola-like virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever.
• The virus is the causative agent of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a disease with a case fatality ratio of up to 88%.
• Both Marburg and Ebola viruses are members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), and the two diseases are clinically similar.
• Marburg virus disease was initially detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany; and in Belgrade, Serbia.
• Transmission– Human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.
  • Marburg spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and via contaminated surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing).
• Symptoms– incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from 2 to 21 days. High fever, severe headache, severe malaise, Muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and vomiting are common symptoms.
• Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic manifestations and fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas.

• Lake Natron is an alkaline lake located in the north Ngorongoro District of the Arusha Region in Tanzania.
• Over a period of time, this lake has become a centre of attraction for experts and analysts.
• Lake Natron has a myth that the lake turns animals that touch it into “stone.”
  • However, there is no scientific proof to support this claim.
• In fact, the same water supports a thriving ecosystem of salt marshes, freshwater wetlands, and flamingos.
• The lake contains salt, soda, and magnesite deposits, which contribute to its alkaline nature.
• The deposits of sodium carbonate found in the surrounding hills make the water extremely caustic, with a pH of over 10.5.
• This hostile environment is due to the active volcano, Ol Doinyo Lengai, which emits rare natrocarbonatites – a carbonatite lava found only in this volcano.

• Lok Sabha has cleared changes in Finance Bill 2023 to pave the way for setting up of an appellate tribunal for resolution of disputes under GST (Goods and Services Tax).
• On hold since GST launch in 2017, GSTAT will hear appeals against orders passed by Appellate Authority or Revisional Authority.
• GSTAT benches would be set up in every state with two judicial members and two technical members representing centre and state.
• GSTAT principal bench will be in Delhi with President, a judicial member and two technical members representing centre and state.
• Significance of GSTAT:
  • Lessen burden on higher judiciary and make GST regime more efficient.
  • Currently, high courts hear disputes in absence of GSTAT, making it expensive and time consuming.

Other key amendments in Finance Bill 2023

• Investments in mutual fund where not more than 35% is invested in equity shares of Indian company, i.e. debt funds, will now be deemed to be short-term capital gains.
• Set up a committee under Finance Secretary on pension system to address employees’ needs and maintain fiscal prudence.
• RBI is being requested to bring credit card payments for foreign tours within ambit of Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and tax collection at source theron.
• Enhanced tax benefits to offshore banking units operating in GIFT city, offshore banking units to get a 100% deduction on income for 10 years.
• Tax on royalty or technical fees earned by foreign (non-resident) companies hiked from 10% to 20%.

Economic terms

• Capital Gains Tax is the tax paid on any profit or gain that arises from the sale of a ‘capital asset
  • Short-Term Capital Gains Tax (STCG) These are the profits that individuals earn when they sell off their capital assets before one year of holding those.
  • Long-Term Capital Gains Tax (LTCG) These are the profits that individuals earn when they sell off their capital assets post one year.

• The government has urged New Development Bank (NDB) to expedite the sanctioning of multilateral funding for Shimla Innovative Urban Transport Ropeway Project.
• The government assured the delegation full cooperation and support for the execution of the ropeway project.
• The Rs 1546.40-crore Shimla Ropeway Project will have a network of 14.13 km, with 15 stations.
• This urban ropeway project will be the second of its kind in the world and the first in India, which will go a long way in the decongestion of the city.
• Ropeway and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation (RTDC) has made substantial progress in the preparation for DPR of this project. The DPR is likely to be completed by June 30.

• It is National Crop Insurance Portal’s digitized claim settlement module, under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
• The technology has been enabled through the integration of National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) and Public Finance Management System (PFMS).
• DigiClaim would prevent delay in claim settlement as claims will be processed directly to bank accounts of farmers. Also, it will facilitate real-time tracking of claim.
• PMFBY provides comprehensive crop insurance against non- preventable natural risks at premium rate of 2% for kharif crops, 5% for rabi crops and 5% for Horticulture and commercial crop.
• Till date, Rs 1.32 lakh crore claim has been disbursed to the insured farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

• It is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Royal Navy (UK).
• Other military exercises of India and the UK include – Konkan Shakti 2021 (first-ever tri-services joint exercise), Exercise Indradhanush (joint air force exercise), Exercise Ajeya Warrior (joint military exercise between India’s & UK’s soldiers)

• Centre has extended tenure of Indian Potash Limited (IPL) as a canalising agency for import of urea till March 2024.
• Government fertilizer companies Rashtriya Chemicals Fertilizers (RCF) and National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) are two other canalising agencies that import urea on government account.
• Canalisation of import and export refers to importing and exporting of commodities through specified government agencies.
• Purpose: Price stabilization, ensure availability of supplies for domestic consumers, Improve bargaining power, Boost exports, Eliminate under invoicing etc.
• Major Canalised Commodities: Precious Metals, Arms/Ammunitions, agricultural products like onion etc.

• A Parliamentary panel asked the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to fill all vacancies in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).

About SFIO

• A multi-disciplinary organization, established through Government of India Notification (2015) as per Companies Act, 2013, to investigate corporate frauds.
• Aim- Take up for investigation cases characterized by
  • Complexity and having inter-departmental and multi- disciplinary ramifications.
  • Substantial involvement of public interest.
• Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• HQ- New Delhi and five Regional Offices: Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kolkata.

• Terran 1, world’s first 3D-printed rocket, failed to reach orbit.
  • 3D printing or additive manufacturing uses computer-aided designing to make prototypes or working models of objects.
• Terran 1 is designed by the firm Relativity Space, to haul lightweight satellites into orbital space.
• World’s first 3D printed rocket engine is Agnilet engine produced by Indian spacetech startup AgniKul Cosmos.
• It is fully designed and manufactured in India. It was successfully tested in November 2022.

• Scientists in Belgrade (Serbia) have introduced liquid tree.
• Also dubbed LIQUID 3, the novel creation is Serbia’s first urban photo-bioreactor, a solution in the fight for clean air.
• It contains six hundred litres of water and works by using microalgae to bind carbon dioxide and produce pure oxygen through photosynthesis.
• LIQUID 3 is more efficient than trees, replacing two 10-year-old trees or 200 square meters of lawn.
• The advantage of microalgae is that it is 10 to 50 times more efficient than trees.