Latest news with #Cassia
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Capital battles pollen with tree overhaul
To control the spread of pollen allergy, male Paper Mulberry trees will be removed from residential areas by December. PHOTO: EXPRESS As pre-monsoon clouds gather over the Margalla Hills, another kind of storm is unfolding in the capital — one driven by chainsaws, excavators, and urgent environmental action. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is racing to remove thousands of paper mulberry trees from Islamabad ahead of their next bloom to prevent a repeat of springtime health crises. Islamabad, long celebrated for its greenery, is now rethinking its urban landscape. The fast-growing Broussonetia papyrifera, or paper mulberry, was heavily planted in the 1960s to shape the city's verdant image. However, the tree has since become one of the leading causes of severe seasonal allergies. "We're not just cutting treeswe're saving lives," said CDA Environment Director Irfan Niazi. "This is one of the most important environmental health initiatives in the city's history." Each spring, male mulberry trees release immense quantities of airborne pollen, triggering asthma attacks and allergic reactions in thousands of residents. According to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), over 12,000 allergy patients are treated annually due to mulberry pollen, with emergency rooms reporting a 30% spike in asthma cases. "If we don't remove a critical number of these trees before the next flowering cycle, we'll face another health disaster next year," said Akhtar Rasool from CDA's Horticulture Department. The CDA's tree removal drive, launched last year, has entered an accelerated phase. Targeted operations are underway in sectors such as G-6, G-7, F-6, and F-8, where the density of mulberry trees is highest. Each tree is GPS-tagged, assessed for size and location, and only male trees are removed. Removal activities are being documented for transparency. Work crews, clad in safety gear, operate daily to cut, chip, and transport the trees. The campaign is supported by traffic and safety teams to maintain public order and protect infrastructure. Critically, for every tree removed, the CDA is planting at least 10 native, low-allergen species such as phulai (Acacia modesta), amaltas (Cassia fistula), sukh chain (Dalbergia sissoo), and wild olive (Olea ferruginea). These species support biodiversity, provide shade, and do not release harmful airborne pollen. "These trees are either insect-pollinated or produce heavy pollen, making them safer for public health," said CDA botanist Rana Kashif. He added that CDA nurseries are cultivating over 100,000 saplings this year, with mass plantation planned during the monsoon season. At Polyclinic Hospital, where allergy cases have surged for years, Medical Officer Dr. Swaira welcomed the move. "We've seen patients develop chronic asthma from repeated exposure. With these removals, we hope for a measurable decline in cases by 2026." Hospitals like PIMS and Polyclinic have established dedicated allergy clinics, expanded emergency capacity during peak pollen months, and are coordinating with CDA to monitor health impacts.
Eater
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Welcome to Los Angeles's White-Hot Chinese American Summer
Bryant Ng, the chef behind the now-closed seminal restaurants Cassia in Santa Monica and Spice Table in Little Tokyo, hails from two generations of Chinese American restaurateurs. His maternal grandparents operated the 200-seat restaurant Bali Hai in Culver City in the 1950s and 1960s, serving Polynesian and Cantonese favorites like rangoons and rumaki at the height of tiki's popularity. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Ng's parents owned Wok Way in Northridge, where Ng lent a hand washing dishes and peeling shrimp at the 'prototypical Chinese American restaurant,' he says. 'That's the restaurant that I grew up in.' This summer, Ng is carrying on his family's tradition and opening a Chinese American restaurant of his own. His forthcoming Jade Rabbit in Santa Monica joins an ambitious crop of Chinese American restaurants that are capturing the attention of Los Angeles's diners right now. Places like 88 Club in Beverly Hills, Chinatown's Firstborn, and Men & Beasts in Echo Park take influences from Chinese dishes, flavors, and techniques and blend them with contemporary trends, reinventing the rich tradition of culinary ingenuity originally born out of economic necessity nearly 200 years ago. Chinese American food — the way it is presented and the way it is understood — has evolved since the days when egg foo yong and chop suey headlined menus, and transformed in exciting ways. Think bite-sized sweet and sour sweetbread nuggets at Firstborn and vegan Cantonese barbecued pork buns styled like monkey bread at Men & Beasts. Los Angeles's white-hot Chinese American summer didn't just happen overnight: It has been centuries in the making. The story of Chinese food in America is nearly as old as America itself and almost as complicated. America's first Chinese restaurant was established in 1849 by Chinese immigrants who arrived in San Francisco during California's Gold Rush. But Chinese restaurants didn't spread beyond metropolitan Chinatowns and deep into America's suburbs until well into the 1900s due to sinophobia and Chinese exclusion laws. It wasn't until after 1965 that Chinese food went beyond catering to white American palates to reflect Chinese tastes when immigration legislation permitted hundreds of thousands of Chinese people from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China to immigrate to the United States. Los Angeles's thriving regional Chinese food culture, centered around Monterey Park initially before spreading throughout the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, is a direct result of that policy. The city's contemporary Asian American restaurant scene, spearheaded largely by third-culture kids, boomed in recent years with the opening of Yang's Kitchen, Kato, Pine & Crane, Woon, and now-closed Cantonese-inspired restaurants Ricebox, Needle, and Pearl River Deli. Not bound by tradition, these restaurants intentionally colored outside the lines, riffed on recipes, dismissed dated notions of authenticity, and charged their worth for the experience. 'Look at this huge history — 200 years of Chinese and Chinese Americans creating this food out of necessity, hard work, and entrepreneurship, and creating something that is a type of regional Chinese cuisine,' says Ng. 'The region that influences it is America.' Much of the culinary creativity that Los Angeles embraces right now wouldn't be possible without a receptive audience that understands and supports it. The city's collective appetite for Chinese food and its robust Asian population make it uniquely fit to embrace Chinese American fare in its diverse forms, from Pasadena icon Panda Inn, which opened in 1973 and reopened in December 2024 after a years-long remodel, to robot-powered fast-food spot Tigawok in Burbank and Sawtelle. 'The LA diner is very curious. They're not afraid to try something new,' says Mei Lin, who opened 88 Club in April and previously operated the now-closed James Beard-nominated and Eater Award-winning Nightshade. 'I'm always willing to put something weird on the menu, whether or not it's weird to them.' Lin points to the cold tofu skin salad as one of her more out-of-the-box offerings. Inspired by the appetizer served at Michelin-recognized Bistro Na's in Temple City, the salad mixes in snappy celery and a hit of red vinegar. On 88 Club's menu, it sits alongside classic Chinese American homages like kung pao scallops and sweet and sour fish. Lin's dishes have landed in a similarly upscale room as the nearby Beverly Hills Mr. Chow, which opened in 1974 and specializes in Beijing duck and hand-pulled noodles. Anthony Wang, who grew up in the suburbs of Miami and Atlanta, was afraid that diners would 'pigeonhole us to being authentic' before opening Firstborn in March, he says. But with dishes like tofu-skin-wrapped duck sausage, charred cabbage, and Chongqing fried chicken heaped with a confetti of dried chiles found atop nearly every table, Wang's fear has subsided. 'I've never claimed to understand or know 'authentic' Chinese food,' he says. 'The food is just storytelling from my perspective, my own experiences of being Chinese American.' Firstborn's menu pulls from Wang's food memories, travels, training, and San Gabriel Valley favorites and taps into the kind of personal narrative cooking that resonates with diners today. His creations seek to give Chinese American food a sense of place that dishes like orange chicken and General Tso's chicken lack, he says. His version of a wood ear mushroom cold appetizer is rooted in Southern California cooking and comprised of turnips, tofu, and sugar snap peas dressed in a punchy horseradish vinaigrette. 'We wanted to cook from a place that told a story of where we were and give our guests a feeling of time and place,' says Wang. 'We try to utilize seasonal and local products whenever we can.' Like Wang, Lin grew up outside of Los Angeles in Dearborn, Michigan, where her family owned a Chinese American restaurant called Kong Kow. 'I don't know that I would have been confident enough to have opened up this type of restaurant five years ago,' says Lin. 'As a Chinese American kid, you're never Chinese enough, and you're never American enough, and so we always live in that weird gap of just trying too hard.' Lin changed her mind about not wanting to cook Chinese food following a trip that she and her family took together to their hometown of Taishan in southern China, where she dove headfirst into the region's vibrant Cantonese cuisine. 'If I had not taken that trip last year, I don't think I would have been able to put myself into the food that I'm making at 88,' she says. While Lin recognizes that the dishes coming out of 88 Club's kitchen aren't traditional ('I don't call anything I do traditional,' she says), the Chinese American banner doesn't quite resonate with her either. 'It is a modern Chinese restaurant located in Beverly Hills serving dishes inspired by my childhood and my upbringing,' she says. 'It's very straightforward. The food on the plate is what it is, and I will make that food as unapologetic as possible.' Everything gets served family-style, shared around a lazy Susan, and seasoned to be paired with rice, including saucy dishes like the Sichuan fish-fragrant eggplant and Taiwanese-inspired three-cup maitake. Across town at Men & Beasts in Echo Park, which debuted in June, Alex Falco and Huimin 'Minty' Zhu are taking a similar approach through a mostly vegan lens. 'We're continuing that spirit of innovation toward Chinese cuisine,' says Falco, who co-owned the restaurant Minty Z with Zhu in Miami before the couple relocated to Los Angeles. Their collaborative menu, which features many dishes from Zhu's formative years in Hunan province, takes recognizably Chinese dishes like dumplings, salt and pepper chicken wings, and wontons and prepares them with homemade plant-based proteins. Some of the more unique menu items include 'monkey buns,' a mashup of monkey bread and barbecued pork buns made with char siu seitan and a glossy hoisin sauce, as well as deep-fried sesame balls formed with carrot-infused mochi and filled with crushed black sesame paste. The restaurant's adjoining tea room has a separate entrance offering a convivial space for socializing sans alcohol. 'In 2025, we find that people are not drinking much alcohol anymore for health reasons, mostly, but we wanted to do something for our clientele that would still create a vibe,' says Falco. Patrons are encouraged to linger over elaborate tea ceremonies paired with snacks from Men & Beast's main menu. The emphasis on shaping a welcoming environment echoes at Jade Rabbit, with its well-stocked steam table buffet, fast-casual service, and affordable pricing. 'We wanted to make sure that we had something that, from a price point perspective, was very approachable,' says Ng, who runs the business alongside his wife, Kim Luu-Ng. 'We don't come from generational wealth. We don't come from privilege. We wanted a restaurant that was accessible to everyday people like ourselves, especially right now.' The meals at Jade Rabbit are priced with affordability in mind (from $12 to $20) and formatted for convenience, but Ng does not compromise on quality ingredients and creativity. The fast-casual set up may seem familiar to anyone who's dined at a Panda Express, while the food pushes the definition of Chinese American cuisine in more expansive ways. The restaurant's beef and broccoli, a quintessential Chinese American dish, takes cues from Chinese Peruvian lomo saltado. A smattering of beef, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, and fried potatoes gets wok-fired in a savory green bird's eye chile sauce. 'It's an ode to our brethren's diaspora culture in Peru. A celebration of all the diaspora together in one dish. What could be more American than that?' says Ng. Jade Rabbit's kale salad is visually reminiscent of tabbouleh but tastes distinctly Chinese American. A combination of kale, cabbage, scallions, quinoa, and roasted cashews gets chopped finely enough to be eaten with a spoon before cashew dressing spins in. Fine print on the menu reminds diners that the salad may look like it came from a 'California-Mediterranean spread, but dishes like this show how Chinese American cuisine keeps evolving.' Meeting diners where they are is a core tenet of the Chinese American culinary tradition, with flexibility and adaptation baked into the cuisine — first by need, then by choice. Los Angeles's latest newcomers push these age-old foodways in thrilling directions by embracing change and harnessing their personal journeys as a raison d'être. 'I look at other chefs opening restaurants that are Chinese influenced, or Chinese American influenced, and it says a lot about where we are as Asian Americans and Chinese Americans,' says Ng. 'It's heartening to see now, in this particular moment, that we are very much taking pride in who we are and accepting — acknowledging — our cross-cultural identities.' See More:
Time of India
02-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Nature's gold rush: PAU walkway lit by Amaltas bloom
Ludhiana: Poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi, in his celebrated work 'Loona', wrote: "Eh rukh jo amaltas de, peela maaran bha, eon jaapan gagan khudhalie joen sona pighal gya, ya dharat kudi de kann da koi bunda dig pya. ..(These trees of amaltas, swathed in yellow, appear as though molten gold has spilled from the skies, or a jewel has fallen from the ear of a girl of the earth)" Right now, the amaltas trees — Cassia fistula — are in full bloom, painting the landscape in radiant shades of yellow. At the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), the lane lined with these trees is shimmering with a golden glow. Their long, arching branches are heavy with cascading clusters of blossoms. The flowers fall like golden rain, softly carpeting the ground beneath in a luminous yellow blanket. The lane before the one leading to the Museum of Social History has transformed into a sight of yellow gold making passersby stop by or slow down to devour the beauty. Rows of Amaltas trees on the land named after the tree, Amaltas Marg, also paint the scene with the delightful yellow gleams. The trees can also be spotted at other places on the campus. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Mandeep Kaur, a student, said, "It's like the trees decided to celebrate something," she says. Students were seen walking by and clicking photos and selfies clicked. Others were sitting quietly, overwhelmed by the peacefulness. "Though I don't come up to this far during my evening walk in the university, but during this time of the year, I don't miss soaking in and embracing the spectacle unleashed by nature," Komalpreet, a resident said. "I would say that municipal corporation should also plant these trees across several lanes so that during this time of the year, people can enjoy the beauty of these trees," she added. By June, the flowers will fall, the green will return, and the 'golden lane' will rest again, a staff member at the university said. One of the students taking selfies in the yellow backdrop said, "During March-April spring my sister studying in Canada sends her pictures of cherry blossoms trees and during this time, I send her pictures of Amaltas." Environmentalist Brij Mohan Bhardwaj, who is a horticulture expert and has conducted tree cover surveys says, most of the trees including those of Amaltas were planted under the guidance of M S Randhawa, former vice-chancellor at PAU. It was his vision, and several lanes were named after trees including the Amaltas Marg, he said. Prior to that, Randhawa was the first administrator of Chandigarh, he played a crucial role in the city's landscaping and selection of trees. A road with the same name Amaltas Marg lined with Amaltas trees in Chandigarh, was likely, named so in his guidance. Amaltas, also known as Golden Shower or Indian Laburnum, is a deciduous tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is a popular tree in India, known for its beautiful yellow flowers and its use in traditional medicine. Amaltas is a moderate-sized tree, typically reaching 9-10 meters in height.
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Currently trending
As the temperatures drop, Josie Steenhart checks in with three of our most loved fashion designers - Kowtow's Dayne Johnston, Juliette Hogan and Sara Aspinall of Company of Strangers - on what's in, what never went out, what they're loving and what they're doing (and wearing) for the winter ahead. What are you most excited about fashion this season? Dayne Johnston: I've always been a winter person - I grew up in Wānaka in a colder climate, so this season just feels right to me. I love the opportunity winter gives you to build out a look and really compose it. It's not just a shirt and trousers; it's a long sleeve under a tee, knitwear under a coat, all those interesting layers. Suddenly your wardrobe becomes more dynamic - pieces you've had tucked away get a second life. You pull them out, rework them and suddenly something old feels brand new. One of the most inspiring moments for me this season was during our campaign shoot, we styled the Kowtow Sienna top over the Landscape trench. That kind of layering, where sleeve lengths clash in the best way, creates depth and texture. It's a reminder that winter dressing can be fun, expressive and thoughtful. Juliette Hogan: I'm especially excited about our Cassia coat - it feels like the ultimate winter indulgence. Beautifully tailored with a refined ease that finishes any outfit. Sara Aspinall: I'm obsessed with shirts at the moment. I love layering them under my knitwear, or worn over a dress or layer like a jacket. We did a long paisley shirt printing like a men's suit lining and I ordered loads of Lela Jacobs knitwear to wear over this print - the colours are so good together. Favourite international winter fashion trend you're hoping will take off here? Dayne Johnston: I'm loving vintage cowboy boots. They've got this history to them - traditional, lived-in and they bring such personality to a look. We styled them into our campaign shoot and they really defined the look. It felt unexpected in the context of our world, but it worked. We did it the Kowtow way - sourcing a vintage pair from one of our team. There's a rugged elegance and story to them. Juliette Hogan: I'm loving the shift away from chunky sneakers towards a more refined, ballet-inspired silhouette. It feels fresh, sophisticated and perfectly complements the soft, layered looks that are coming through this season. Sara Aspinall: I'm quite oblivious to trends, although while in Denmark last year I was so impressed with their sustainability dressing: something new, something old, well-styled together. Great design is always 'trending' in my opinion. Favourite colours/materials/styles coming through? Dayne Johnston: I'm really drawn to the Dark Spice colourway we've just released. It's our seasonal neutral and it carries so much warmth and richness. It's like cinnamon in colour form. We've paired it with forest greens, and those earthy tones are then lifted by the new Protea print, which adds brightness and softness. Together, they bring this elevation to the palette that feels both grounded and refined. We've also been working with ripstop, a utilitarian weave we've made in our Fairtrade organic cotton. It's traditionally workwear, but the Echo jacket and Parker pant we've made from it feel refined and wearable for everyday. It's hard-wearing, durable and versatile. Something you can wear walking the city or just walking the dog. Juliette Hogan: It's always black for me - you just can't beat its versatility and impact. But I'm also drawn to rich, deep greens at the moment. I'm loving the re-emergence of lace too, especially when it's done in a modern, restrained way. Our Rosetta dress is a beautiful example - an elevated, timeless piece that brings just the right amount of texture and romance to winter dressing. Sara Aspinall: Always, for me, natural fibres, wools, cottons. I'm loving our winter shorts - the wool plaid Love shorts - to wear with long boots. I love wearing shorts under dresses too, the Kamikaze dress is a great piece for that. Loving New Lands knitwear colours, they are working so nicely with everything too! Also, starting from the base up with comfortable but beautiful lingerie has become important to me. Ohen, a New Zealand brand in store, is made for women of all sizes - this is a hard market but they've nailed these shapes and great colours. I'm in love with the Sable and Sand colours, so will be adding another Teardrop bra and matching French briefs to the collection! I've road-tested these for over a year and the quality is incredible. We find women with larger cups struggle to find anything sexy and Ohen is perfect for our customers! The winter piece you're most lusting after? Dayne Johnston: The new Kowtow Jasper hoodie, hands down. It's got this fleecy brushed interior that I'm just obsessed with. We're heading into the cold here in Wellington and I honestly might just head downstairs and grab it now. It's the kind of hoodie that feels like a hug. Juliette Hogan: I'm constantly reaching for our Perino knits this season. They offer the perfect mix of warmth, lightness and softness - effortless to layer and they instantly lift every winter look. Sara Aspinall: Every year I want the Lela Jacobs Duster coat, although I seem to always miss out! I am getting a U Turtle in Midnight this year though! What's an old wardrobe favourite you'll be dusting off for the winter ahead? Dayne Johnston: I have this incredible black Raf Simons wool felt coat. I found it in Paris and it was too heavy to wear when I lived in Auckland. But now that I'm in Wellington it's perfect. It's one of those pieces I always take with me to Europe in winter. Juliette Hogan: Tailored black trousers - they really are the ultimate staple. I'll be revisiting our Luxe Suiting styles from past collections - they slot seamlessly alongside new-season pieces and just get better with time. Sara Aspinall: Always my 23-year-old Ann D boots; they work with everything, a wise investment! Also, my Data trench from last winter's collection - we didn't do a coat this year because I don't see why you need a new coat every year if you've invested in a great one already. Also, the colours we did work so well with this collection too - we very much plan our collections to wear with our past and present collection colours. Timelessness is so important. What was the inspiration for your winter collection? Dayne Johnston: The inspiration came from the landscapes around and within us - celebrating the connection we have with our surroundings. We played a lot with scale, proportion and form. I think it's best expressed in the Cityscape print which was born from a long exposure photograph I took on my phone, capturing the lights and reflections on the harbour at night when I first moved to Te Whanganui-a-tara, Wellington. The print feels really special to me and captures the energy of this beautiful place. Seeing this juxtaposed against the earthy tones in our latest drop, really brings the inspiration of the collection together. Juliette Hogan: This season was about resilience and softness co-existing - designing pieces that feel strong yet considered and easy to wear. You see that balance with our tailored outerwear and softer fluid pieces like the Coco Pleat dress, where structure and delicacy meet. Sara Aspinall: Our Midnight Net print, which has the lyrics from my favourite PJ Harvey song 'We Float' scrawled over it. This is the last New Zealand-printed textile we will be able to produce due to the closure of another great manufacturing company. It's critical New Zealand-made is supported so we can see our industry fashion endure. In the Harvey dress and the Kamikaze dress, we played with using existing patterns to repeat or flip to make new shapes and silhouettes, like upside-down sleeves for sleeve details or sleeves as skirt shapes. What are some of your plans for the season ahead? Dayne Johnston: I've just wrapped designing our collection for the second half of 2026 so I'm ready for a bit of a reset. I'll be taking a break, travelling, getting some new perspectives before diving into the next creative cycle. I always find it hard to leap straight from one collection into another - there needs to be a pause. A space to reflect, recharge and redirect. Juliette Hogan: Winter is all about layering and texture for me. I'll be wearing lace dresses layered over black pants, Perino knits under coats and sweaters draped over the shoulders or tied at the neck for added warmth and style - pieces that feel wrapped up but still feeling refined. Sara Aspinall: This winter I'm breaking my usual hibernation pattern and have plans to get to loads of gigs, so I'll be wearing comfortable layers so I can be ready for anything! My Wollow sneakers (a new Danish brand we have in store) - they feel like Birkenstocks but for winter! Worn with my Polly top and probably Lust pants as they are so easy to wear with anything! Also, Lela Jacobs U Arms as they are perfect for throwing over the shoulders or wearing like a scarf. So versatile - I end up tying these around myself when I get hot so I don't lose them!
Time of India
11-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Green drive in New Town to plant 50k trees this year
Kolkata: The (NKDA) is set to undertake a across New Town, planting 50,000 flower-bearing tall trees according to soil stated that with an average height of 15 ft will be planted on the roadside, median dividers, and other vacant open green spaces. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Trees selected for plantation include Bakul, Krishnachura, Radhachura, Cassia, Bilati Jarul, Ashoke, Kadam, Janglibadam, Shimul, Karanj, Chhatim, Sirish, Arjun, Swarnachampa, and Mahogany," said an has started the process to engage agencies for the plantation drive. They will be tasked with planting the trees within a month, and nursing them for three mentioned that pits measuring 2 ftx2 ft will be dug and filled with earth mixed with the required fertiliser for planting the saplings. The saplings will initially be supported with bamboo sticks to aid their the years, as an initiative to increase greenery, NKDA has planted small- and medium-sized trees, like coconut, palm, and cherry blossom, off the main arterial road. These trees do not have very large activists emphasised that not only plantation but also proper maintenance and upkeep of the saplings are necessary for them to survive and fully grow. Ecologic — a New Town-based nature lovers' forum, which planted close to 3,500 trees in different areas of New Town in the last three years — conducted an experiment to ensure that the trees receive regular water to survive the summer heat, by by planting water bottles next to the saplings with a tiny hole at the bottom, allowing water to ooze out and keep the soil moist for an extended period.
