Thrissur (Kerala), Aug 7 (IANS) Nestled in the lush green expanse of Nedumpura in Kerala’s Thrissur district lies a remarkable garden where centuries-old knowledge meets modern conservation.The Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden and Research Institute is not just a haven for biodiversity; it is a living tribute to a historic botanical treatise that once changed the way the world understood plants.Opened in January this year after a decade-long work for its development, it’s spread over 27 a…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, the BJP on Thursday welcomed the move as a diplomatic necessity to maintain stable relations with India’s neighbours, while the Opposition has raised questions about its purpose and potential benefits. Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana said, “China is our neighbouring country, and it’s important to maint…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Telangana Congress leaders led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy continued to camp in New Delhi for the third day on Thursday, demanding Presidential assent for the two Bills passed by the state legislature for 42 per cent reservation for the Backward Classes. The Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers, MPs and MLAs, who staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar, have sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu.However, they have not rece…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) In a significant development for Indo-Pacific military cooperation, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army, will undertake a strategic visit to India from August 10 to 14. He is scheduled to hold high-level discussions with Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and senior Ministry of Defence officials. The visit underscores the growing strength of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly in the Defence domain.It co…

Chennai, Aug 7 (IANS ) Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran has strongly criticised the DMK government for its alleged negligence in repairing a damaged check dam near Alagiri Puram in Tiruchirapalli district. The check dam, constructed across the Kollidam river at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore last year, has been damaged and left unattended, leading to significant hardship for local farmers.In a statement issued on Thursday, Nagendran said that the state government’s “apathy” has resulte…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s installed electricity generation capacity is 485 GW as of June 2025, and the government plans to increase it to about 870 GW in 2031-32 to meet the growing demand for power in the country, the Parliament was informed on Thursday.There has been an increase in electricity demand in the country due to rapid economic growth, expanded household electrification, increasing urbanisation, rising living standards, and the growing use of energy-intensive technologies like…

Uttarkashi, Aug 7 (IANS) As many as 274 individuals stranded in disaster-hit areas of Uttarkashi have been rescued and brought to Harsil on Thursday, bringing the total number of rescued people to 409, officials involved in the ongoing relief and rescue efforts confirmed.Apart from these, 135 people have already been evacuated to safer destinations, as operations intensify in the aftermath of the devastating flash floods triggered by cloudbursts. In total, 409 people have been rescued so far.Two…

Chennai, Aug 7 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin on Thursday led a silent march here to mark the seventh death anniversary of party patriarch and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The march culminated at Karunanidhi’s memorial on the Marina beachfront, where Stalin and other party leaders paid floral tributes to the late leader.Thousands of party workers, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior DMK functionaries, including T.R. Baalu and A. Raja, participated in the m…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government, claiming that the United States’ decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods is a direct fallout of India’s failed foreign policy and will severely impact the common man. “Trump is making a mockery of India. But there is no response from our side. Who is running the country’s government? Our country needs a Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Foreign M…

Pauri Garhwal, Aug 7 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday visited the disaster-hit Pauri Garhwal district to assess the damage caused by a devastating cloudburst that struck the region a day earlier. The cloudburst in the Pabau and Thalisain blocks resulted in multiple casualties and widespread destruction of homes, roads, and bridges.CM Dhami, accompanied by officials and local leaders, instructed the administration to expedite rescue and relief operations. He assur…