Recently, scientists have discovered a new species of tree-dwelling crabs in Western Ghats of Kerala.
The new species named “Kani maranjandu” after the Kani tribe in Kerala.
It is different from other genus by having characteristic traits such as hard upper shell, long-legged, male abdominal structure and reproductive parts.
This is the first report of its kind to offer a record of an arboreal crab.
Ipomea Carnea
Ipomea carnea is a Prosopis juliflora (Seemai Karuvelam) without thorns.
Ipomea carnea, also known as Neyveli kattamanakku has clogged every water body in the Tamil Nadu State and proved detrimental to its aquatic ecosystems.
Ipomea carnea was introduced as an ornamental plant and it is a highly adaptive plant, which thrives both in inundated as well as dry conditions.
It has the capacity to turn a river into soil.
There are other similar species like Alternanthera philoxeroides (seemai ponnanganni), genus Sphagneticola (such as seemai karisalanganni) and Eichhornia crassipes (ahaya thamarai) have also invaded the aquatic ecosystem of Tamil Nadu.
These invasive species pose health hazards such as seemai ponnanganni grows even in sewage and industrial waste, absorbing lead, mercury and ammonia. The metals enter the body of those who consume the plant.
These species does not possess the medicinal values of native species.
Azad Hind Yatra
Azad Hind Yatra is organised to mark 75 years of the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA). The yatra will commence from July 2017.
The army was first formed in 1942 under Mohan Singh, by Indian Prisoners of Wars of the British-Indian Army captured by Japan in the Malayan campaign and headquartered at Singapore.
It was later revived under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose after his arrival in Southeast Asia in 1943.
S.C.Bose incorporated Azad Hind Fauj as the army unit of his provisional government and became head of INA in 1943 in Toky0.
In 1944, after the first attack by INA on the British, the head of Japanese forces handed over Andaman and Nicobar islands to Azad Hind Fauj.
It was on these islands that Netaji had first hoisted the flag of India, as the head of the state of free India.
