1) Project Collaboration Agreement: The Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine ‘Project Collaboration Agreement’.
- This is the third ‘ Project Collaboration Agreement’ signed by the Ministry of Ayush with WHO.
- Objective:
- To standardize Traditional and Complementary Medical Systems.
- Integrate their quality and safety aspects into the National Health System.
- Disseminate them at the international level.
- During the G20 Summit in India, WHO conducted the first Traditional Medicine Global Summit in 2023.
2) Sea buckthorn: Sea buckthorn fruit from Ladakh has been awarded a Geographical Indication(GI) tag.
- It is the fourth GI tag In Ladakh, after Apricot (Raktsey Karpo), Pashmina, and Ladakhi Wood Carving.
- Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a plant found throughout Europe and Asia.
- In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti.
- The GI tag is regulated by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
3) Paramutations: In a new study, researchers have explored how paramutations work.
- Paramutations are unusual mutations that can protect humans against viruses.
- Mutation is any change in the sequence of bases in the DNA of a chromosome.
- A paramutation is a small chemical modification of a chromosomal protein that flips a nearby gene into a silenced state.
- Active and silenced versions of a paramutated gene share the same DNA sequence but their associated proteins have different modifications
4) Glyphosate: European Union allows the use of glyphosate for 10 more years.
- It is a phosphonic acid and odourless white powder.
- It is the active ingredient in weed-killer (herbicide).
- Concern: Non-selective nature i.e kill crop and weeds both, Involves health hazards and risk to human beings and animals.
- India has allowed its restricted use.
- There are many glyphosate-based formulations registered for use under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Places in News:
1) Dominica (Capital: Roseau):
- Dominica has announced to create world’s first sperm whale reserve.
- Political Features:
- It is an Island country of Lesser Antilles in eastern Caribbean Sea.
- Lesser Antilles is a long arc of small islands.
- It lies between the Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante (north) and Martinique (south).
- Geographical Features:
- Island is of volcanic formation.
- It has a number of active volcanoes including fumaroles (volcanic vents).
- It has Boiling Lake which is the second-largest hot spring lake in world.
- Highest Point: Mount Morne Diablotins
- River: Layou