Today in History (August 5th, 1963)
On this day, in 1963, The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom signed the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty in Moscow, which banned all nuclear weapon tests except those conducted underground.
Summary of Today’s News
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was negotiated at the Conference on Disarmament and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996. Its goal is a global ban on all nuclear explosions. While 182 countries have signed the Treaty, it requires ratification by all 44 Annex 2 States (nations with nuclear facilities at the time of negotiation) to come into force. As of August 2011, 36 of these states have ratified it. India, North Korea, and Pakistan have not signed it and have conducted tests post-1996.
Kalbeliya Dance
Kalbeliya dances are a traditional form of expression belonging to the Kalbelia community, a Rajasthani tribe. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010, this dance features graceful, swirling movements and is known for its sensuousness. Women perform it while men play instruments like the “khanjari” and “poongi.” The Kalbeliya people, once snake handlers, have transformed their former occupations into evolving music and dance forms. They lead a nomadic lifestyle and are part of Rajasthan’s scheduled tribes, with the highest population in districts like Pali, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, and Udaipur.
Manas National Park
Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve, and a biosphere reserve. Situated in the Himalayan foothills in Assam, it shares a border with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park. The park is named after the Manas River and is renowned for its rare and endangered species, such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, and pygmy hog. It is also known for its population of wild water buffalo. The Manas River, a significant tributary of the Brahmaputra River, flows through the western part of the park.
Novorossiysk port
The Novorossiysk port, located about 110 kilometers east of Crimea, is a significant hub with a naval base, shipbuilding yards, and an oil terminal. It plays a crucial role in exports. Recently, it was targeted in an attack, disrupting maritime traffic temporarily. This marks the first instance of a commercial Russian port being attacked during the ongoing conflict.
