Three-day event to focus on global cooperation, safety mechanisms, and regulatory convergence for traditional medicine.

India will host the World Health Organization (WHO) – International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) workshop from August 6 to 8. Organised by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with WHO and supported by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), the three-day international workshop aims to strengthen global capacity in the regulation of herbal medicines.

The workshop is expected to serve as a platform for international cooperation and technical exchange, focusing on five key objectives – fostering collaboration, enhancing safety and efficacy mechanisms, supporting regulatory convergence, and empowering traditional medicine systems globally, an Ayush official said.

Among the highlights are reviews of WHO–IRCH working groups on safety, regulation, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines, along with sessions on pre-clinical research, regulatory frameworks, and safety case studies, including a focused discussion on Ashwagandha.

“Participants will benefit from hands-on training in herbal drug identification, heavy metal analysis, and chemo-profiling using HPTLC technology at PCIM&H laboratories. The workshop will also introduce the Ayush Suraksha (Pharmacovigilance) programme, aimed at strengthening safety monitoring of traditional medicines,” the official explained.

To provide exposure to India’s integrative health ecosystem, the delegates will also visit PCIM&H, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Ghaziabad, and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi.

With participation from regulatory authorities and experts across continents, the Ministry noted that the workshop is expected to significantly contribute towards harmonising global standards and promoting the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine into mainstream public health systems.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Centre presents roadmap to expand low-cost cinemas, promote content creation beyond metro cities.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) urged States to utilise the India Cine Hub portal to facilitate global film production locally and also presented a roadmap for promoting low-cost cinemas.

At a conference attended by State and Union Territory Information and Public Relations secretaries, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan said the portal had been revamped into a unified single-window system, offering streamlined access to filmmaking permissions and services across the country.

“With GIS features and common forms, it supports ease of doing business and showcases India’s film-friendly policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

The Minister highlighted grassroots cinema initiatives aimed at empowering women and local communities through low-cost theatres. He said major global events such as WAVES 2025 and IFFI Goa attracted global talent, boosted India’s creative economy, promoted cultural diplomacy worldwide, and empowered creative minds of tomorrow.

He said the recently launched Indian Institute of Creative Technology would skill the youth in animation, gaming, music, and other creative fields.

I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju emphasised the role of Centre-State collaboration in effective communication and media development. He highlighted the rise of digital creators, vernacular media, and the need to strengthen district-level information and public relations setups. He urged all States to integrate with the Press Sewa portal for smoother publication processes and flagged concerns over disjointed responsibilities in media departments across States.

Mr. Jaju stressed the need to expand beyond metros and support local talent, stating that initiatives like India Cine Hub were introduced to promote filmmaking and enable creators to monetise content.

A major focus area of the conference was sensitisation and onboarding of the officers concerned of the States and Union Territories on the Press Sewa portal. Another key highlight was the emphasis on the revamped India Cine Hub portal, which went live on June 28, 2024. Seven States and two Union Territories have already completed full integration, while 21 States and six Union Territories have been onboarded through a common application form.

The India Cine Hub portal supports GIS-based location mapping, crowdsourced content from industry professionals, and differentiated workflows for filming, non-filming, and incentives.

The conference also discussed identifying low screen density zones using GIS mapping, repurposing existing public infrastructure, streamlining licensing through single-window systems, and offering tax and land policy incentives to attract private investment in affordable cinema infrastructure.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds.

An interdisciplinary team of scientists from BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus has developed a smart wound dressing capable of killing the infection-causing bacteria and also visually signalling the presence of infection — all without the use of traditional antibiotics.

The work has been published in ACS Infectious Diseases, a journal of the American Chemical Society, highlighting its promise in tackling one of the most pressing global health threats of our time—Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said an official release on Monday.

The study has been authored by a team comprising Vaishnavi N., Ramakrishnan Ganesan, and Jayati Ray Dutta who have also developed a user-friendly colour analysis application for instant infection assessment by analysing a photograph of the dressing.

The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged healing, the spread of infection, or even sepsis.

The newly developed wound dressing addresses this issue using a multi-layered design: base layer with antibiotic-free fibres functionalised with ionic silver to kill bacteria on contact. Over this, a hydrogel layer is embedded with an enzyme-specific colour-changing compound to serve as an infection sensor.

When bacteria colonise the wound, they release enzymes that migrate upward into the hydrogel layer, triggering a visible colour change — a signal that infection is present. “Our dressing is designed to be proactive. It simultaneously kills bacteria and alerts clinicians or caregivers to the onset of infection. It does so without relying on antibiotics, which is key in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria,” said the scientists.

The technology functions without the need for complex equipment or laboratory processing, making it particularly well-suited for bedside care and home use. The research team envisions the dressing being further developed into commercial point-of-care products, including infection-responsive bandages or integrated wound monitoring strips.

Such products could revolutionise the way wounds are monitored and treated, especially for diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and burns. This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the release added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

“NISAR is one of the key missions that will garner large-scale operational user feedback from across the globe,” Ex-Project Manager of NISAR said.

The NISAR mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and NASA, will demonstrate Indian space engineering capabilities for Earth observation on a global scale, a top scientist has said.

The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a global mission, and its data will be accessible for download worldwide by users, said Radha Krishna Kavuluru, former Ground Segment Engineer and Ex-Project Manager of NISAR.

ISRO is set to launch the NISAR satellite aboard the GSLV-Mk II rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30 at 5:40 p.m. The GSLV-F16 marks the 18th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 9th operational flight with an indigenous cryogenic stage.

The countdown is expected to commence later on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), ISRO sources said.

This mission is the first GSLV launch to achieve a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. The 51.7-meter-tall, three-stage rocket will lift off from the second launch pad, approximately 135 km east of Chennai. About 19 minutes after launch, the satellite is expected to be placed into its designated orbit.

Elaborating on the mission, Mr. Kavuluru explained that NASA provides the L-Band, while ISRO contributes the S-Band for the Synthetic Aperture Radar, enabling the collection of vast amounts of data.

“The satellite will transmit extensive data covering the Earth, including Antarctica, the North Pole, and oceans,” he told PTI.

Highlighting the mission’s significance, Mr. Kavuluru noted that unlike earlier ISRO observation satellites such as the Resourcesat and RISAT series, which could capture images globally but were operationally focused on India and surrounding regions, NISAR will collect data across the entire globe for operational use.

“This data will be extensively utilised by governments and commercial entities worldwide,” he said.

“NISAR is one of the key missions that will garner large-scale operational user feedback from across the globe,” Mr. Kavuluru emphasised.

“All countries will leverage NISAR data for various applications, showcasing the strength of Indian space engineering. This is the core importance of the mission,” he added.

Mr. Kavuluru underscored the mission’s importance as ISRO’s first major partnership with NASA for an Earth observation satellite. “This collaboration fosters significant technical exchange, with ISRO and NASA sharing insights into their respective planning and execution processes,” he said.

Mr. Kavuluru added that ISRO will process and make most of the data available as open-source, accessible to users globally. The satellite, which will cover the entire Earth every 12 days, will provide approximately 2.5 coverages per month and 10 coverages in 120 days.

“This will enable us to monitor seasonal changes, including forest dynamics, mountain shifts, and glacier movements in regions like the Himalayas and Antarctica,” he explained.

“This is a highly significant, high-value, and ambitious mission for ISRO,” Mr. Kavuluru remarked. The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission is designed for a lifespan of five years.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

“This momentous repatriation has been made possible through an exemplary public-private partnership between the government of India and the Godrej Industries Group,” the Ministry of Culture said.

A portion of the sacred Buddhist relics excavated in the northern parts of the country in 1898, which was earlier set to go under the hammer at an international auction house in Hong Kong in May, was returned to India on Wednesday (July 30, 2025.)

“This momentous repatriation has been made possible through an exemplary public-private partnership between the government of India and the Godrej Industries Group,” the Ministry of Culture said.

“The sacred Piprahwa relics, carried in a box, were received by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at a technical area of the Delhi airport,” a senior official said.

“This successful repatriation sets a benchmark in cultural diplomacy and collaboration, showcasing how strategic partnerships between public institutions and private enterprise can protect and preserve global heritage,” the Ministry said.

“The sacred Piprahwa relics will be formally unveiled during a special ceremony and placed on public display, allowing citizens and visitors to pay homage and witness these rare artefacts,” it said in a statement.

The Piprahwa relics, discovered in 1898 by British civil engineer William Claxton Peppé in Piprahwa (in today’s Uttar Pradesh), are believed to be associated with the mortal remains of Lord Buddha. Enshrined by his followers around the third century BC, these relics have long held immense spiritual value for the global Buddhist community and represent one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Indian history.

“Originally slated for auction in Hong Kong on May 7, the sacred artefacts were “successfully secured” by the Ministry of Culture through “decisive intervention”, reflecting the government’s unwavering commitment to preserving India’s cultural and spiritual heritage,” the statement further said.

“The return of the Piprahwa gems is a matter of great pride for every Indian. This is one of the most significant instances of repatriation of our lost heritage and would not have been possible without the vision and initiative of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr. Shekhawat was quoted as saying in the statement.

On May 5, the Ministry had said that it had issued a “legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong”, seeking “immediate cessation of the auction” of a portion of the sacred Piprahwa Buddhist relics and demanded their repatriation.

On May 7, it said, “The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has successfully secured the postponement of the auction of the sacred Piprahwa Buddhist relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, which was scheduled for May 7, 2025.”

The Ministry of Culture on Wednesday said, the “Government of India, proudly announces the historic return of the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha to their rightful home in India.” Pirojsha Godrej, Executive vice-chairperson of Godrej Industries Group, said, “We are deeply honoured to contribute to this historic moment. The Piprahwa gems are not just artefacts — they are timeless symbols of peace, compassion, and the shared heritage of humanity.” “Our partnership with the government of India reflects our deep commitment to preserving cultural legacies for future generations,” he added.

“This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader mission to reclaim and celebrate India’s ancient cultural and spiritual heritage from across the world,” the Ministry said.

“The return of the Piprahwa gems further reinforces India’s standing as a global guardian of peace, compassion, and the timeless values of the Buddha,” it added.

“The Piprahwa Relics, which include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer and offerings, such as gold ornaments and gemstones, were excavated by Peppe in 1898,” the Ministry had said in a statement on May 7.

“An inscription in the Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha deposited by the Sakya clan,” it had said.

“The majority of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899 and classified as “AA” antiquities under the Indian law, prohibiting their removal or sale,” it had added.

“While a portion of the bone relics was gifted to the King of Siam, a selection retained by Peppe’s descendants has now been listed for auction,” the statement had said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Equipped for air, surface and underwater combat, the vessel adds muscle to India’s maritime force.

Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Thursday delivered ‘Himgiri’, an advanced guided-missile frigate, to the Indian Navy, marking a major milestone in India’s indigenous warship building programme.

The 149-metre-long, 6,670-tonne vessel is the first of three frigates being constructed by GRSE under the Navy’s Project 17A. The warship was formally accepted by Rear Admiral Ravnish Seth, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Eastern Naval Command.

Equipped with BrahMos cruise missiles for land and ship targets, and Barak 8 anti-aircraft missiles, Himgiri represents a significant leap in the Navy’s strike and defence capabilities.

The frigate also features advanced AESA radar, modern combat systems, and is powered by a mix of diesel engines and gas turbines, enabling operations across anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine domains.

The three ships being built under this project by GRSE are worth over ₹21,833 crore, and have significantly contributed to employment and the domestic supply chain, in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Launched in December 2020, Himgiri is the 112th warship—and the 801st vessel overall—delivered by the Kolkata-headquartered GRSE, which is currently constructing 15 more warships across four different classes.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Trump cites India’s purchases of Russian oil, weapons, high tariffs, and “obnoxious” trade barriers; Centre studying implications, will take all steps needed to secure national interest, says Commerce Ministry.

Putting an end to months of speculation, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) announced that imports from India will attract 25% tariffs from August 1, “plus a penalty”, citing India’s purchases of energy and military equipment from Russia, its high tariffs, and its “strenuous and obnoxious” non-monetary barriers to trade.

Hours later, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the government was “studying the implications” of Mr. Trump’s announcement and will “take all steps necessary to secure our national interest”.

India and the U.S. have been negotiating a potential Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) since February, when a joint statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Trump stated that such a deal would be concluded by fall 2025.

No mini-deal

Apart from that comprehensive deal, negotiators from the two countries have also been trying to work out a “mini-deal” that would walk back the retaliatory tariffs that Mr. Trump announced for India and a number of other countries.

This mini-deal, however, has not yet been finalised. Statements by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Monday (July 28, 2025) also indicated that negotiations with India may extend beyond the August 1 deadline set by Mr. Trump. The U.S. President’s statement on Wednesday (July 30, 2025), however, seems to confirm that such a mini-deal will not materialise.

‘Strenuous and obnoxious’

“Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country,” Mr. Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.

“Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST [sic],” he added.

This tariff rate is marginally lower than the earlier 26% tariff that Mr. Trump had threatened to levy on imports from India. The additional “penalty” is now the unknown factor, however, as Mr. Trump did not specify what form it will take.

‘Studying implications’

In its statement, the Commerce Ministry said that the government has taken note of Mr. Trump’s statement on bilateral trade. “The Government is studying its implications. India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective. The Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs,” it said.

“The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK,” it added.

Retaliatory tariffs

In early April, the U.S. President had imposed retaliatory ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs on imports from most countries in the world, arguing that these countries imposed much higher tariffs on U.S. goods than the U.S. did on imports from them. Thereafter, he announced a 90-day pause, so as to work out bilateral trade deals with several of these countries.

At the end of the 90-day pause in July, Mr. Trump further extended this window to August 1. During this period, he issued letters to at least 14 countries stating the tariffs that would be imposed on imports from them.

Making deals with Trump

Over the last month, he has also concluded deals with the United Kingdom (U.K.), Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, and the European Union. The deal with the U.K. will see British car exports to the U.S. attract a 10% tariff, down from the earlier 27.5% and a removal of tariffs on aerospace exports to the U.S.

Indonesia’s exports to the U.S. will now attract a 19% tariff under its deal with the U.S., the same as will be charged on U.S. imports from the Philippines. Japan negotiated lower tariffs of 15% for its exports to the U.S., the same as the European Union.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

19-year-old girl from Nagpur gives India its 88th Grandmaster.

Divya Deshmukh came to the star-studded Fide Women’s World Cup in Batumi, Gerogia, as a rank outsider, hoping to at least win one grandmaster norm in her journey to becoming a GM in the future.

The 19-year-old from Nagpur did something which even a few days back looked improbable. She beat some of the best and biggest names in the sport to achieve three major milestones within a span of around three weeks — secure a spot in the Candidates tournament next year, win the prestigious title and in the process, automatically become a grandmaster.

On Monday, Divya became the youngest to win the Women’s World Cup, outwitting compatriot Koneru Humpy in the tie-breaker of an all-Indian final.

At the beginning of the new millennium, Humpy, now 38, was the one who was breaking all barriers. She was challenging the men’s bastion, beating them consistently. Humpy is India’s first woman to become a grandmaster in 2002. Except for the World Cup and the Women’s World Championship, Humpy has won everything under the sun. On Monday though, she bowed to the exceptionally talented Divya, whose lightning moves made things difficult for her.

Becoming a GM is one of the toughest things in chess. A player needs to earn three norms in Fide-approved tournaments and cross the 2500 Elo rating. Divya, however, decided that she would not go through that grind.

Fide has a rule that winners of certain elite competitions can avoid the usual norm-and-rating route and become GMs directly. The Women’s World Cup is one of those events where the winner straightaway becomes a GM, if not already.

“I need time to process it (victory). I think it was fate that helped me get the grandmaster title this way because I didn’t even have one norm (coming into the event)… All I was thinking of was ‘Oh, when can I get my norm’, and now I’m a Grandmaster so…,” she said after the final.

The youngster had her mother, a doctor, by her side in her moment of glory.

She got emotional soon after beating the two-time world rapid champion and embraced her mother in a hug, sobbing all along.

“It’s hard for me to speak right now. It definitely means a lot, but of course there’s a lot more to achieve,” Divya said, her voice choking with emotion. “I’m hoping this is just the start.”

The victory came after the two classical games, played on Saturday and Sunday, ended in draws.

After the drawn games, it was the first set of tie-breakers that proved decisive as Humpy lost the battle of nerves. As fate would have it, the World Cup title eluded her again.

Divya showed steely resolve on Monday. She kept piling pressure on Humpy in the opening tie-breaker, tiring out her opponent and then going for the kill in the return tie-breaker. A quick decision maker, Divya put Humpy under time pressure, and that forced the latter to make an inexplicable error.

Divya’s biggest credit is that she did not evolve from any national-level talent hunt tournament — as did the likes of Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Sandipan Chanda or Parmimarjan Negi. And that’s what makes her ascent all the more unique. She came on her own and took everyone by surprise.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand hailed the teenager’s win and called it a “great celebration of Indian chess”.

“Congratulations to @Divyadeshmukh05 on winning the World Cup. Becoming GM and a spot in the candidates… @humpy_koneru played a very good event and showed a commendable fighting spirit. The great champion she is! It was a great celebration of Indian chess, particularly Women’s chess,” Anand wrote on X.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge hailed Divya’s triumph.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

The paper by researchers from IISER, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram, Netherlands’ Wageningen University, and UK-based John Innes Centre was published in the journal Current Biology on July 25.

Gardeners are often seen pruning shrubs or tree branches to maintain plant health and promote fresh growth. Soon, however, the pruned branches regrow with stunning resemblance to their original form. An international group of scientists, led by biologists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune (IISER), has now zeroed in on the key mechanisms in plants that help restore damaged parts to their original shape.

Unlike animal cells, plant cells are far more rigid and depend more on growth rates and anisotropy (how a material’s physical characteristics change depending on its direction) during cell regeneration. Roots are important facilitators that support nutrient intake. Their naturally tapered shape and conical tip aid better soil penetration. When they get damaged due to natural or external causes, it is observed that the lost cell types and layers get restored and the root regrows to the original tapered shape.

In the latest paper published on July 25 in the journal Current Biology, mathematicians and physicists from IISER, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram, Netherlands’ Wageningen University, and UK-based John Innes Centre, have attempted to track the mechanisms that may be responsible for restoring the root’s tapered shape.

In the study, the researchers describe a distinct geometric pattern as per which plant roots regrow after being damaged. This understanding, they said, could help establish fundamental cellular processes, like cell shape and cell regeneration in plants and, in particular, plants vital for food cultivation and securing food security.

Instinctive responses of injured roots

The group studied the regeneration of the Arabidopsis thaliana root after it was surgically chipped off. They observed notable behaviour in the root regrowth from the 12th hour since being chipped.

Instinctively, the injured root’s first response was to generate new cells at the wound site. And their goal was to remain oriented in the right direction and help restore the shape and function of the root and maintain its original function.

“The usual cuboidal root cells got morphed into rhomboid shapes. These altered cells then divided diagonally, producing triangular prism-like cells. The diagonal divisions redirected the growth of neighbouring cells along a slanted path — collectively recreating the lost tapered tip,” Kalika Prasad, biologist at IISER-Pune and co-author of the paper, told The Indian Express.

After about 18-19 hours post-cutting, the previously flat root end had grown and bulged. By 24 hours, it had become more prominent, indicating the onset of some trigger mechanisms.

Corresponding to about 12 hours post the injury, the researchers said, a mechanical tension was noted developing during the growth stage of the injured root. And this tension, they said, guided and controlled the new cells to align and develop in a certain geometric manner.

The root tip has multiple cell layers. While cells in the outermost layer grow slower, the cells present in the innermost layer grow rapidly. “This differential growth then leads to build up in mechanical tension within the cells and, as a response, their shape or geometry starts aligning. In the end, we found the regrown root to have restored perfectly with respect to cell types and the shape. It functioned optimally like an uninjured root,” Prasad said.

Similar post-injury cell regeneration behaviour was demonstrated by a mustard plant called Brassica, which the team tested.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)