News in Short

• Researchers have discovered a communication network in plants which helps them respond to a hormone involved in pest resistance.
• The studynoted that the hormone called jasmonic acid is particularly important for a plant's defense response against fungi and insects.
• In the study, the scientists used the plant Arabidopsis thaliana -- a widely studied small flowering plant in the mustard family -- whose genome has been well characterised.

• Health officials have repeatedly warned that “older adults” are at greater risk for getting sick and dying of COVID-19, the infection caused by the coronavirus.
• With each passing decade, people’s immune systems become less capable of warding off intruders. And anyone whose body is fighting other battles is also at greater risk.
• The threat appears to be most profound for those with existing heart and lung problems. 

• The deep-space outpost, known as the Gateway, is a key element of NASA's Artemis program, which plans to put astronauts down near the moon's south pole by 2024.
• Lunar landers, both crewed and uncrewed, will depart from the Gateway, and astronauts will regroup there after wrapping up their surface sorties.
• To make sure Gateway is ready to go in 2024, NASA will go first with a scaled-down, bare-bones version consisting solely of a Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), scheduled to launch in 2022, and a miniature "utilization module." This first incarnation of Gateway will be able to support two-person missions to the lunar surface.

• The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has decided to increase the rate on mobile phones and specific parts to 18% from the current 12%.
• The Finance Minister said the decision was taken not to increase the prices but to correct the inverted structure of duty on some products wherein the rate of tax paid on inputs purchased is more than the rate of tax on finished products on outward supplies.
• Similarly, the GST rate on maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in respect of aircraft has been reduced from 18% to 5% with a full input tax credit.

• ATK claimed an unprecedented third Indian Super League (ISL) title triumph after defeating arch-rival Chennaiyin FC in a summit showdown that was played behind closed doors at Margao, Goa.
• Javier Hernandez (10th and 90+3) and Edu Garcia (48th) scored for ATK, while Nerijus Valskis found the net for Chennaiyin FC in the 69th minute.
• In the process, ATK coach Antonio Lopez Habas also became the first coach to win the league twice.