Notes:
The traditional and handmade ‘Marayoor Jaggery’ from Idukki district of Kerala has finally got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag that makes it safe for consumption while rejuvenating the traditional way of production and ensuring a safe market in future. It has been a long-term demand of farmers in Marayur and Kanthallur grama panchayats, where jaggery is produced without adding any chemicals. Though the Marayur jaggery has always been known for its high quality, fake jaggery with a salty taste was being marketed as Marayur jaggery. Hence, The GI tag would aid in initiating legal action against fake jaggery being sold as Marayur jaggery. The dark brown Maryur jaggery is handmade at household units in Marayur and Kanthallur. It has high sweetness with less saltiness, high content of iron and less sodium. The produce is free of impurities and the sugar cane fields are free of chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

Notes:
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, a Deputy Director General of Programmes (DDP) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has been named Chief Scientist of the WHO. The newly created division of chief scientist is being seen as the fifth pillar to strengthen the WHO’s core scientific work, ensure quality and consistency of norms and standards.

Notes:
To reduce casualties in Pulwama type attacks & warefare, the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) has developed a range of ‘combat casualty drugs’ that can extend the golden hour till the trooper is shifted to hospital. INMAS is a medical laboratory of DRDO. The spectrum includes bleeding wound sealants, super absorptive dressings, and glycerated salines, all of which can save lives in the event of warfare in a jungle and high altitude areas as well as in terror attacks. According to developers of the drugs, chances of survival and minimum disability are highest when effective first aid care is given within the golden hour. Among the drugs developed is glycerated saline, a battlefield intravenous fluid that does not freeze till -18 degrees Celsius and is useful in handling trauma cases in high altitude areas. Glycerated saline has life saving capacities as it gives more time to the medical personnel to shift the wounded patient to a higher care facility. INMAS has also developed a special medicated dressing material which is 200 times more absorptive than normal dressings during bleeding wounds. They have also developed a chitosan gel which helps in preventing blood loss by forming a film over the wound.

Notes:
Kavinder Singh Bisht has clinched gold in the 56kg-category at the 38th GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Helsinki, Finland. In it, 3-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (60kg) and three other Indian pugilists – Govind Sahani, Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin and Dinesh Dagar – claimed silver medals to end a fine campaign in the tournament. Besides, Sumit Sangwan (91kg), former youth world champion Sachin Siwach (52kg) and Naveen Kumar (+91kg) got bronze in their categories.

Notes:
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has officially named Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh as the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. The announcement comes six weeks after Rami al-Hamdallah tendered his resignation from the post and of his unity government to President Mahmoud Abbas, underscoring the failure of Hamas and Fatah to implement a power-sharing deal. Shtayyeh is a member of the West Bank’s dominant Fatah party.