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Guwahati: A new tree species belonging to the Garcinia genus has been discovered in Assam, adding to the region's botanical richness. The newly identified species, Garcinia kusumae, has been named in honour of Kusum Devi, the late mother of Jatindra Sarma, a noted botanist and Chairman of Assam's State Expert Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! The discovery has been detailed in the latest issue of Feddes Repertorium, a peer-reviewed journal focused on plant taxonomy and geobotany. The study is co-authored by Hussain A Barbhuiya from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai. This marks the fourth time Sarma has named a plant species after a member of his immediate family. Previous discoveries include Amomum pratisthana (named after his daughter), Syzygium nivae (wife), and Garcinia sibeswarii (father). According to the study, naming Garcinia kusumae is a tribute to his mother's unwavering support and sacrifices for his education -- making Sarma the first Indian botanist to name four species after close family members. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! Garcinia, the largest genus in the Clusiaceae family, consists of over 400 species found across the tropics, particularly in Africa, Australasia, and Southeast Asia. In India, 33 species and seven varieties have been documented, with Assam alone accounting for 12 species and three varieties. Sarma discovered the new species in April during a field survey in Bamunbari, Baksa district. The tree, locally known as thoikora, exhibited unique morphological traits that led researchers to investigate further. Standard herbarium procedures were followed to document and preserve specimens. Garcinia kusumae is a dioecious evergreen tree that can reach a height of up to 18 metres. It flowers from February to April, with fruit ripening between May and June. While it bears resemblance to species like Garcinia assamica, Garcinia cowa, and Garcinia succifolia, it is distinguished by traits such as having up to 15 staminate flowers per fascicle and berries with blackish resinous exudations. The fruit of the tree holds both cultural and medicinal significance in local communities. The dried pulp is used to make a refreshing sherbet with salt and sugar, commonly consumed during hot weather to prevent heatstroke and quench thirst. It is also used in fish curries and traditional remedies for diabetes and dysentery. The slightly sour-sweet aril of the seed is eaten raw, often paired with salt, chillies, and mustard oil.
Based on data from the Noah's Ark National Biological Diversity Database, managed by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye is home to 3 phytogeographical regions: Euro-Siberian, Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian. Acting as a natural bridge between Asia and Europe, Türkiye hosts a wide variety of ecosystems, including forests, mountains, steppes, wetlands, coastal, and marine areas, due to the rapid variation in ...Read More >
The new garden is expected to be thrown open for people in the next few days. In the fall, it's a riot of colours and blooming flowers decorating the landscape in the lap of the Zabarwan hills in Srinagar. The chrysanthemum garden, locally known as Gul-e-Dawood or David's flower, is the second theme garden in Kashmir, and it transforms the Valley's autumn. When everything else starts turning grey, chrysanthemums or mums are offering a spectacular splash of colours and fragrance. There are 50 ex ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) The Paris Agreement "offers principles", but the International Solar Alliance "offers action", concrete action on the ground directed to communities, France's Special Climate Envoy Benoit Faraco said on Tuesday. Faraco attended the 8th Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly here and also interacted with reporters. The ISA was launched in 2015 and its founding conference was held in 2018 in New Delhi. Asked what role does France see for itself in the ISA, Faraco said for his country, the ISA has "always been part of our priority". "We were there i ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 13 (ANI): In a unique initiative, the Research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department has initiated a program of reintroduction of rare and endangered plant species to their old natural habitat. Initially, the program has taken up 14 such plant species which are in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered or critically endangered or in the list of threatened plant species of the State Biodiversity Board and later on, it will be extended to more such species. Sanjiv Chaturvedi, Chief Conservator of Forest (R ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined five key global priorities to build disaster-resilient infrastructure, including a skilled workforce, a global digital repository to document best practices and innovative financing. He said that strengthening early-warning systems and coordination is another crucial aspect. Addressing the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2025 via videoconferencing, Mr Modi noted that India has established a tsunami-warning system benefitting 29 countries and that it recognises the Small Island Developing States (Sida) a ...Read More >
NEW DELHI : The idiom advising one not to compare apples and oranges is a cliché -- a figurative expression that a fruit lover can safely ignore. But anyone with an interest in the origin, spread, popularity, and market dynamics of a fruit or a vegetable can and must draw comparisons. In that spirit of enquiry, one may compare apples and mangoes, more so as they appear to be headed in different directions. Apples are vying for eternal glory, while mangoes are in tatters. Sample these numbers: In 2024-25, India's mango exports, including fresh fruit and pulp, were valued at just ₹1,150 crore. ...Read More >
BusinessWire India Monrovia [Liberia]/ Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 16: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit 2025 recently. It was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation & President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative and H.E. Mrs. KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, First Lady of the Republic of Liberia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation "More Than a Mother" alon ...Read More >
Slashing pollution levels across the country by up to 30% can substantially reduce the burden of ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, anaemia and low birth weight among women and children, said a new assessment released Tuesday by IIT-Delhi and Climate Trends, a research-based consulting and capacity building initiative. Data on disease prevalence from National [...] Slashing pollution levels across the country by up to 30% can substantially reduce the burden of ailments such as heart disea ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the armed forces personnel during Diwali celebration on board the INS Vikrant on Monday. Mentioning that today is a remarkable day, a remarkable moment, and a remarkable sight, PM The Modi highlighted that on one side lies the vast ocean, and on the other, the immense strength of Mother India's brave soldiers. He noted that while one side presents the infinite horizon and boundless sky, the other side showcases the colossal might of INS Vikrant, embodying infinite power. The Prime Minister observed that the sparkle of ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined five key global priorities for him to build disaster-resilient infrastructure, including a skilled workforce, a global digital repository to document best practices and innovative financing. In a video address to the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2025, Modi said strengthening early-warning systems and coordination is another crucial aspect. He noted that India has established a tsunami-warning system benefitting 29 countries and that it recognises the Small Island Developing States (SIDA) ...Read More >
MADURAI: Likening the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Tiruppuvanam to an 'organised crime by police where the state kills its own citizens,' Madras high court lambasted the Tamil Nadu police and said the action against the perpetrators should be more stringent than in normal murder cases.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete pointed to 44 external injuries on the person of Ajith Kumar and said no part of the body was spared by the delinquent cops. "Even an ordinary murderer would not have inflicted such kind of injuries," the bench said on Tuesday.The natur ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Monday announced multiple initiatives by the Government to boost the waterways and maritime sector in the region. With an investment of 5,000 crores earmarked, the Union Government has drawn up major initiatives in this regard, a release from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. As per the release, over the past 11 years, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) has transformed India's maritime sector, achieving record growth in cargo handling, capacity, and co ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police is facing a new challenge in managing vehicle parking for the upcoming Shahid Diwas rally on Monday, as persistent rainfall threatens to render designated parking fields unusable. The fresh spell of rain on Friday, with more occasional rain predicted even on Saturday, has left cops worried as they believe the Maidan area can be filled with slush.The traffic department, which initially planned to utilise various fields across the city for parking buses and cars of parade attendees, is now frantically searching for alternative solutions on the main roads, stre ...Read More >
New Delhi: Starting August 27, Indian exporters face a tough blow as the US slaps steep 50 percent tariffs on close to $60.2 billion worth of goods, covering two-thirds of India's approximately 86.5 billion exports to America. According to a report of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) labour-intensive industries like textiles, gems and seafood are bracing for up to a 70 percent collapse in shipments, threatening jobs and livelihoods. The report also suggests that some relief remains, about $27.6 billion in exports, as medicines, APIs and electronics will stay duty-free, with pharma ...Read More >
New Delhi, Nov 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) India on Thursday said that it is looking forward to a successful and productive G20 Leaders' Summit in South Africa's Johannesburg later this week which will also see participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The summit will be important for India to ensure continuity of its priorities in the G20 after having hosted a very successful presidency in 2023. As you are aware, the G20 has emerged as a premier forum for international economic cooperation as well as for discussing matters of global significance. The G20 provides an excellent opportunity for t ...Read More >
Biocon Biologics, in collaboration with Diabetes Africa and St Paul’s Hospital in Ethiopia, has launched the Embedding Specialist Nurses in Diabetes Care project. The initiative focuses on training nurses to become diabetes specialists to address the country’s growing diabetes crisis. With Ethiopia ranking among the top countries in sub-Saharan Africa for diabetes prevalence, this project aims to integrate diabetes care into primary healthcare, enhancing accessibility and care quality. By upskilling nurses and establishing a structured pathway for them, the program seeks to improve diabetes ma ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined five key global priorities for him to build disaster-resilient infrastructure, including a skilled workforce, a global digital repository to document best practices and innovative financing. In a video address to the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2025, Modi said strengthening early-warning systems and coordination is another crucial aspect. He noted that India has established a tsunami-warning system benefitting 29 countries and that it recognises the Small Island Developing States (SIDA) as large-oc ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Highlighting the significance of strengthening early warning systems to mitigate risks from disasters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that coastal regions and islands are at great risk due to natural disasters and climate change. Addressing the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) via videoconference, the Prime Minister said that India in recent times witnessed Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia, and Hurricane Helene in the United States. 'The ...Read More >
Jammu, Jul 18 (PTI) Senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir government reviewed the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the 13-day-long Budha Amarnath pilgrimage in Poonch district that will begin on July 28. Deputy Inspector General of Police Tejinder Singh reviewed security in Poonch and stressed ensuring the safety of the devotees. "The first batch will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar basecamp in Jammu on July 28, moving towards the Mandi tehsil in Poonch in a regulated convoy amid full security arrangements," a spokesperson said. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspec ...Read More >
Apex exporters body FIEO raises alarm over rising US tariffs. Indian goods face increased duties from August 27, 2025. Textile manufacturers in Tirupur, Noida, and Surat have stopped production. Cost competitiveness is worsening. FIEO urges government support. They seek interest subvention schemes and export credit. Focus is on MSMEs. Diplomatic engagement with the US is crucial. Apex exporters body FIEO on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over high US tariffs on Indian goods and said that tex ...Read More >
With over 8.6 million smokers in South Africa according to the Global Action to End Smoking, the number of smoke related deaths remains elevated at about 32 000 per year based on statistics from Tobacco Control Data. Efforts to make smoke-free products more widely available could help South Africa reduce smoking-related deaths, industry players have said, as the government finalises new legislation for the tobacco sector. However, the affordability of these alternatives has become a key concern. ...Read More >
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], June 29 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in saving Jaipur's Dol Ka Badh forest from destruction. The Rajasthan government plans to convert the forest into a commercial hub, featuring a Prime Minister's Unity Mall, a Fintech Park, and hotels, which would involve cutting down approximately 2,400 trees. Sanjay Singh, in a letter to PM Modi, mentioned that the project is against the 'ideology' of PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' mission and would harm the natural form and ecological balance of the area, exacerbat ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will interact with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, during his visit to Dharamsala to inaugurate a zonal conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on Monday. The theme of the Conference is 'Good Governance in the Digital Era: Managing Resources, Defending Democracy, and Embracing Innovation'. Also Read | Bank Holidays in July 2025: No Nationwide Holiday for Muharram on July 7, Banks To Remain Shut for 13 Days This Month; Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates. The Zone II of the CPA comprise ...Read More >
ITANAGAR, 1 Jul: Forest officials in Arunachal Pradesh have discovered a new species of flowering plant, Begonia nyishiorum, in the high-altitude forests of East Kameng district. The species was documented during a challenging expedition by the Seppa Forest Division. Its discovery was recently published in the prestigious international journal Novon: A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature, on 23 June. Named in honour of the Nyishi tribe, the plant stands out for its unique crimson-fringed petioles, an identifying feature not seen in any other Asian begonia, sources in the state Forest Departme ...Read More >
The rain also affected traffic on key roads -- DND flyway, Ashram, Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Mathura Road, Outer Ring Road in Subroto Park, and Rao Tula Ram Marg -- owing to waterlogging. A 50-year-old man was killed and his daughter injured after a huge tree fell on their motorcycle in Southeast Delhi's Kalkaji during heavy rain on Thursday morning, police said. The incident took place at 9.50 am. "An old roadside Neem tree suddenly fell in front of the HDFC Bank near Paras Chowk in Kalkaji. As a result, two individuals riding a motorcycle -- Sudhir Kumar and his daughter Priya (22) -- were ...Read More >
India is emerging as the most-preferred market for expansion by third-party logistics (3PL) players in the Asia-Pacific region, with nearly 70% of occupiers planning to expand their footprint in the country over the next two years, mentioned CBRE report. 3PL players handle the complete supply chain and logistics operations of their clients, allowing them to focus on their core business. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, India's rapid economi ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Fashion and apparel brands accounted for nearly 60 per cent of retail leasing by direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands in the first half of this year (H1 2025), a report said on Wednesday. It was followed by the Homeware and Furnishings (12 per cent), Jewellery (12 per cent) and Health and Personal Care (6 per cent). Between 2020 and 2022, several digital-first brands witnessed considerable growth, mainly fuelled by a rise in online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are now going omnichannel. According to CBRE's latest report, as compared to 8 per cent ...Read More >
India and Brazil on Friday reviewed steps taken since July to strengthen ties in defence and security, energy, rare earths and critical minerals, health and pharmaceuticals. Indian and Brazilian delegations, led respectively by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and Ambassador Celso Luis Nunes Amorim, Special Advisor to the President of Brazil, met in New Delhi for the sixth India-Brazil Strategic Dialogue. The two countries have intensified diplomatic engagement in recent months. New D ...Read More >