Archive: July 31, 2026

A Mango Milestone: Karnataka’s Neelam and Totapuri Varieties Reach Maldives

New Delhi, July 31: India’s mango export journey has reached a new milestone with the first-ever air shipment of Karnataka’s Neelam and Totapuri mango varieties to the Maldives, creating fresh global market opportunities for farmers and strengthening India’s horticulture export sector.

The initiative, facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aims to expand the reach of India’s premium mango varieties beyond traditional markets and promote late-season mango exports.

The first consignment included one metric tonne of Neelam and Totapuri mangoes, sourced directly from farmers associated with Prakruthimaya Farmers Producer Company Ltd. in Kolar district, Karnataka. The shipment was exported by Ahalya Devi Ventures, led by woman entrepreneur Ashwini A, highlighting the growing contribution of women-led enterprises in India’s agri-export growth story.

The export initiative has provided farmers with direct access to international buyers, helping them achieve over 50 per cent higher returns compared to conventional domestic market channels. The move demonstrates how organised farmer groups, quality-focused cultivation, and export linkages can improve farm incomes.

Karnataka’s Neelam mango is known for its sweet flavour, juicy texture, and rich aroma, while Totapuri is valued for its distinctive taste and wide use in both fresh consumption and food processing industries. Their late harvesting period also helps extend India’s mango export season and meet global demand for a longer duration.

The successful shipment highlights the potential of Karnataka’s horticulture sector and the important role of Farmer Producer Companies in connecting farmers with international markets through better supply chains and export-oriented practices.

APEDA continues to support farmers, exporters, and industry stakeholders by promoting Indian agricultural products globally, strengthening export infrastructure, and creating new opportunities for sustainable growth in the farming sector.

The export of Karnataka mangoes to the Maldives marks a significant step towards expanding India’s agricultural exports and helping farmers become active participants in global markets.

Family Offices Turn to Third Parties for Specialist Expertise to Overcome New Challenges and Go Global

July 31: Family offices are increasingly turning to specialist third parties for sophisticated, specialist services in order to overcome new challenges and expand internationally, global research* from Ocorian, the specialist global provider of services to high-net-worth individuals and family offices, financial institutions, asset managers and corporates, shows.

Ocorian’s study among family members and senior family office employees responsible for total wealth of $119.37 billion found that advice on illiquid investments (55%) and cyber security (49%) is currently most received from third parties, closely followed by advice on personal finances (48%).

At the other end of the spectrum, only 3% of family offices surveyed say they currently receive third-party support on extended family services, such as concierge needs, global insurance programmes and extended family financial support.

However, demand is set to rise, with over three quarters (77%) of respondents citing their use of third-party support for key services will increase across the board over the next three years, with just 21% saying it will stay the same as it is today. The main reason given is a desire for more sophisticated services (74%), followed by a lack of expertise in-house as family offices grow (62%) and the realisation that third parties are more cost-effective (55%).

More specifically, 70% said the plan to increase third party support for extended family services as their needs and requirements change and they are faced with new, emerging challenges. More than two-thirds (68%) said their use of outsourcing around wealth planning will increase in the next three years.

The study in 16 countries or territories including the UK, UAE, Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius and Bahrain found that when looking to appoint third party specialists, the most important factor cited by 62% of family offices is the capability to operate across multiple regions followed by the ability to establish a strong, trusted relationship (58%). This is followed by their technology and reporting proficiency (53%) and then cost (52%).

Lana So Wan Yuen, Head of Private Clients – Mauritius, at Ocorian said: “Family offices are facing new challenges as they grow and become increasingly international. That means they are looking for third-party specialist expertise which can not only support them with the skills they need but also operate across multiple jurisdictions. In addition to still needing support with core services, our research findings also point towards family offices increasingly looking for support with extended services as they grow, such as concierge needs and global insurance programmes.”

 Rebecca Thrope, Global Head of Regulatory Consulting at Ocorian added: “Outsourcing to a third-party not only provides family offices access to specialist technical advice, but also can help reduce cost, increase efficiency and help manage risk. Choosing the right partner is critical, and the upfront due diligence and ongoing monitoring and oversight is equally important to ensure the benefits of outsourcing are realised.” 

Ocorian’s award winning dedicated family office team provides a seamless and holistic approach to the challenges and opportunities families face. Its service is built on long-term personal relationships that are founded on a deep understanding of what matters to family office clients. Its global presence means Ocorian can provide bespoke structures and services for international families no matter where they live.

 Key services include formation and administration of family offices, HR support services, support with lifestyle and luxury assets, family governance, resident and relocation services and specialist support with immigration, visas, payroll, marine and aircraft crew management and financial reporting.

IIT Roorkee Researchers Develop Acid-resistant magnetic Nanocomposite to Recover Uranium and Rare Earths from acidic leachates

Roorkee, July 31: Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for electric vehicles, smartphones, wind turbines, advanced electronics, defence technologies and many more, while uranium remains a critical fuel for nuclear power generation. The demand for these strategic resources continues to rise worldwide. They are often found together in contaminated waters associated with mining activities. Uranium in such waters poses a significant environmental and public health concern because it is radioactive, toxic, and can migrate through groundwater supplies. 

Researchers at IIT Roorkee have developed an acid–resistant nanocomposite capable of removing uranium and rare earth elements from contaminated. These nano composites enable the recovery of contaminants as valuable resources. The technology offers a dual benefit cleaning polluted water and recovering materials vital across multiple applications.

A major challenge in this field is that metallic and magnetic nanoparticles, and composites, which are highly effective at capturing uranium and other contaminants, often corrode rapidly in acidic environments such as mining wastewater. Once corroded, these materials lose their efficiency and cannot be reused effectively.

To overcome this limitation, the IIT Roorkee team has developed a protective silica envelope around the active nanoparticle core. Silica, the primary component of natural sand, is well known for its excellent resistance to acidic conditions. Acting as a protective shield, the silica layer prevents the active material from dissolution while still allowing contaminants to be captured. Importantly, the silica envelope was synthesized using biocompatible agents rather than conventionally used toxic surfactants, making the material safer and more environmentally friendly.

Laboratory studies demonstrated that the material can remove and recover up to 370 grams of uranium and rare earth elements per kilogram of nanomaterial, highlighting its remarkable extraction capacity. The material performed efficiently under conditions similar to natural groundwater and continued to remain stable even in highly acidic waters where conventional materials typically fail.

Another notable feature is its tunable behavior. Under near-neutral conditions, the material can simultaneously capture both uranium and rare earth elements. Under highly acidic conditions, however, it becomes selective towards uranium, enabling targeted removal of the radioactive contaminant from complex water mixtures. In repeated laboratory tests, the material maintained nearly complete uranium removal performance over five consecutive cycles.

According to Prof. Nitin Khandelwal, “Most advanced metallic nanomaterials face a trade-off between reactivity and stability in complex matrices like acidic leachates. By creating an acid–resistant porous silica envelope around the active nanoparticle core, we have developed a material that remains functional even under harsh acidic conditions where conventional materials would lose their efficiency.”

Ms Bhavya Swami, PhD scholar working on the project says, “We have also incorporated biochar derived from waste sewage sludge into the material, providing a productive use for an otherwise discarded waste stream. Tis combination of waste valorisation, contaminant removal, and resource recovery makes the technology particularly attractive from a sustainability and circular economy perspective.”

While the current work has been demonstrated at laboratory scale, the next step will involve testing the technology with real mining wastewater and nuclear wastewater under continuous-flow conditions. The researchers believe the innovation could contribute significantly to future water treatment, strategic metal recovery, and environmental protection efforts.

The project was funded by the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, highlighting the national importance of developing advanced technologies for uranium recovery and environmental protection.

WorldMark New Delhi Expands its Curated F&B Portfolio with the Launch of Dohful

July 31: Worldmark New Delhi continues to strengthen its thoughtfully curated food and beverage portfolio with the launch of Dohful, the homegrown specialty cookie and coffee brand renowned for its freshly baked soft-baked cookies and handcrafted specialty coffee. The latest addition further enhances Worldmark’s evolving culinary landscape, bringing a contemporary concept built around fresh-to-order indulgence, artisanal quality, and everyday convenience.

Designed in Dohful’s signature warm and contemporary aesthetic, the new outlet spans a 140 sq. ft. carpet area and 588 sq. ft. super area. Operating in a food court format, it is designed to serve both grab-and-go customers and guests looking to relax in the shared dining space, making it an ideal destination for professionals, families, and shoppers alike.

Dohful has established itself as a distinctive player in India’s rapidly evolving café and dessert market through its signature range of 100% eggless, large-format soft-baked cookies, each baked fresh only after an order is placed. This made-to-order approach sets the brand apart from conventional bakeries and cafés, where products are typically prepared in advance. Complementing its freshly baked offerings is a carefully curated menu of handcrafted specialty coffee, delivering premium quality at an accessible price point.

The launch of Dohful reflects Worldmark New Delhi’s ongoing commitment to creating a vibrant food and beverage ecosystem by bringing together promising homegrown brands, innovative dining concepts, and experience-led retail. Through the continuous evolution of its tenant mix, Worldmark New Delhi further reinforces its position as one of Delhi NCR’s premier destinations for shopping, dining, and everyday leisure.