Australian Cocos (Keeling) Islands, in the Southern Indian Ocean, welcomed Indian Navy and Air Force aircraft recently. This visit signified the strengthening of strategic reach and cooperation between the military forces of Australia and India in the Indian Ocean. The collaboration extends to supporting India’s Gaganyaan mission, with a ground station located at CKI. A planned upgrade of the CKI runway for use as a forward-operating base also forms part of this cooperative effort.
The two nations’ focus is on enhancing maritime domain awareness and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Both countries will also participate in the upcoming Malabar multilateral naval exercise, joined by Japan and the U.S., hosted by Australia. These military-to-military engagements aim to enhance regional monitoring and response capabilities, especially due to a noticeable increase in the Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean.
Indian Crafts Receive Recognition with Geographical Indication Tags
The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has endowed seven products from distinct regions of India with Geographical Indication (GI) tags. Recognizing the diverse craftsmanship of the country, the awarded GI tags include ‘Jalesar Dhatu Shilp,’ a decorative metal craft from Jalesar, Uttar Pradesh, known for its brassware. The unique variety of Goa’s ‘Mankurad Mango’, also popularly known as ‘Malcorada.’ Goa’s traditional Indo-Portuguese pudding, ‘Goan Bebinca,’ also lauded as the ‘queen of Goan desserts.’
Rajasthan Crafts Awarded with Geographical Indication Tags
Rajasthan took home four GI tags, namely: Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft, Bikaner Kashidakari Craft, Jodhpur Bandhej Craft, and Bikaner Usta Kala Craft.
WHO Supports Polypills for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed three fixed-dose combinations of cardiovascular medicines, or polypills, for the 2023 primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in its revised Model Lists of Essential Medicines (EML). Polypills contain multiple active ingredients within a single pill. Various studies have shown that polypills can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by about 40% to 50%. The EML includes Polycap, a four-drug combination manufactured by Cadila in India.
The Science behind Tasteless Boiled Water
Naturally occurring water carries various dissolved substances, like oxygen, carbon dioxide, sulphates, carbonates of calcium and magnesium, and elements like iron, which are influenced by the soil’s composition. These components contribute to both the taste and hardness of water, with hardness suggesting a higher mineral content. Boiling water emits dissolved gases, reduces hardness, and forms insoluble carbonates and hydroxides. These substances are deposited as a scaly coating on the vessel holding the water. This separation deprives the water of its original taste.
Investigating the Absence of the Iberian Wolf in Andalusia
A report released in 2020 by the Program of Actions for the Conservation of the Iberian Wolf in Andalusia, operated under the Government of Andalusia, declared no evidence of the Iberian wolf in Andalusia (an autonomous territory of Spain). The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus), a species of grey wolf native to the Iberian Peninsula, which includes Spain and Portugal, went extinct in the historic region of Andalusia, Spain, in 2020. The Grey Wolf Canis lupus is listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This comprehensive report confirms the absence of wolf presence through control tours and camera trap data.