Discovered in the ultramafic mountains in central Sabah, the species was named for the orangutan, due to its hairs’ striking resemblance to the great ape’s long, dark, rusty-red hair. Orangutan pitcher plant (Nepenthes pongoides) just discovered in Sabah, on the tropical island of ... [+] Borneo. (Credit: Alastair Robinson.) An international team of botanists report they have just described a new species of giant pitcher plant that lives in a tiny area in the mountains on Borneo. The botanists, who are from Malaysia and Australia, discovered this rare tropical plant in May 2023, after it had originally been photographed in the wild in 2004. Additional photographs were captured in 2018, clearly revealing that this plant was probably a new species to science. The researchers planned an expedition in 2019 to locate the plant again but were delayed by the pandemic, but they eventually were able to search for it last year. The goal of the expedition was to make detailed field observations of the plant, to record its habitat, population size and ecological data and to collect representative samples whilst minimising harm by only taking terminal cuttings so the sampled individuals would survive and could regenerate. Oilpalm plantation of local smallholders along the Buis-Kiabau-Road. In the background is the Meliau ... [+] Range. The Meliau Range is a poorly-explored mountainous area in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, known for its rare and unique plant and animal species. (Credit: Uwe Aranas / CC BY-SA 3.0) According to the formal description, the plant is one of the largest Nepenthes species yet discovered. The plant’s pitchers are enormous with distinctive bell-shaped upper and lower pitchers and narrow, upright lids. These pitchers capture rainfall and a variety of prey animals, both of which sustain and nourish the plant in a rocky environment where there is no running water. The researchers discovered a diversity of animal prey, from beetles and centipedes to giant millipedes and even freshwater crabs, inside the plant’s pitchers — creatures that most other pitcher plants are too small to trap. Samsung’s Android 15 Leak—Bad News For Nearly All Galaxy Owners Dark Web Facial ID Farm Warning—Hackers Build Identity Fraud Database Tesla CEO Elon Musk Issues U.S. Bankruptcy Warning Amid Calls For A Bitcoin-Inspired ‘Fix’ Most unusually, the leaves of this pitcher plant are covered in thick, rust colored fur (Figure 3) — a distinctive and unique characteristic found in no other Bornean Nepenthes species known so far. For this reason, the plant was given the scientific name, Nepenthes pongoides, in honor of the Critically Endangered orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus , which lives in the area. Figure 3. Indumentum of Nepenthes pongoides. (a) Emerging foliage and phyllode bases densely covered ... [+] with long, rufous to reddish-gold hairs. (b) Tendril bearing long, pilose to hirsute and uniformly retrorse hairs. (c) Adaxial surface of phyllode with reddish indumentum of pilose hairs, particularly apparent along midrib. (d) Pubescent hairs of phyllode abaxial surface. (e) Scanning electron micrograph of phyllode abaxial surface hairs with bristle-like processes indicated (red arrows). Note scattered sessile glands between hairs. (f ) Simple and variably dendritic (red arrows) hairs on lower surface of lid. Scales: (d) = 1 cm; (e), (f) = 1 mm. Photographs (a) by A. Damit; (b)–(f) by A.S. Robinson. (doi:10.1071/BT24050) “We decided to name this plant after the orangutan primarily because of the long red hair that covers most parts of the plant,” said field botanist and plant taxonomist Alastair Robinson, the managing botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . When he’s not searching for rare botanical treasures, Dr Robinson oversees plant identifications services, the identification web portals ( VicFlora & HortFlora ), the Library and Artwork components of the State Botanical Collection, the Conservation Seedbank, and the botanical journal Muelleria . Amongst his many activities, specialities and accolades, Dr Robinson is recognized as the world’s authority on plant carnivory in a range of genera, particularly Drosera (sundews) and Nepenthes . “It just so happened that the night before we reached the plants, we had a fleeting glimpse of an orangutan, putting that comparison front of mind,” Dr Robinson mentioned. Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Tanjung Putting National Park in Indonesia. The park is famous ... [+] for its orangutan conservation. (Credit: Thomas Fuhrmann / CC BY-SA 4.0) “Admittedly it’s not quite as hairy as an orangutan, it’s more like a really hairy-chested man.” “But the colour is almost the same as orangutan fur,” Dr Robinson added, before pointing out that the team agreed to christen these plants as the orangutan pitcher plant whilst still on the mountain . “It is also a positive conservation link since the orangutan is also a critically endangered species; in the age of plant blindness, it seemed like an appropriate link to make since the charismatic orangutan is well-loved around the world, while this hitherto unknown plant might benefit from that association, possibly even influencing the protections it receives.” What surprised you most about this plant? “The most surprising thing about this plant was the long red hair covering its foliage and pitchers, but also its very large size; the largest pitcher documented so far was 45 cm tall and capable of holding at least 2 L of water,” Dr Robinson replied in email. “It’s just surprising that such a striking and large plant should go relatively unnoticed up until the present day.” This may be because these plants are hidden in rock piles in a relatively inaccessible and poorly known mountainous area. An orangutan pitcher plant (Nepenthes pongoides) in the wild, with a grown man's boot (lower right) ... [+] for a size comparison. (Credit: Alastair S. Robinson.) “[W]e found 39 individuals across two sub populations following a fairly exhaustive search. A proportion of these were juvenile and thus don’t count yet as breeding plants, so the actual mature population is even lower,” Dr Robinson told me in email on Christmas Day. Is it possible that there is another sub population or two of these plants that remain undiscovered? How big is the range occupied by these plants? “The range that these plants grow in is not very large and so it is improbable that there are additional sub populations, though we certainly hope to be proven wrong when further exploration of this range occurs,” Dr Robinson replied in email. Because they have such a small range, and there are so few plants known so far, how do they protect themselves from inbreeding? “As far as genetics go, Nepenthes are dioecious, with separate male and female plants, which prevents self-pollination and presumably inbreeding, though this hypothesis is not well tested,” Dr Robinson explained. “However, it has been found to increase genetic diversity and to protect against deleterious mutations, and may partly account for why inbreeding does not appear to be a problem in the many microendemic Nepenthes known.” It appears these range-limited rare plants may have other strategies to bolster their genetic resilience as well. “Most of these microendemic species also occur in close proximity to other more widespread Nepenthes , and genetic transfer may play a factor in shoring up genetic resilience in naturally small populations,” Dr Robinson added. Orangutan pitcher plant (Nepenthes pongoides) basking in the sun. (Credit: Alastair S. Robinson.) Nonetheless, such a tiny range predisposes this species to extinction. Dr Robinson and co-authors pointed out in their study ( ref ) that a wildfire or illegal collecting for the horticultural trade could easily wipe out the entire species. Indeed, Dr Robinson noted that even before they reached the site, there was evidence that poachers had already been in the area and had stolen some specimens because these plants had been posted online for sale. So are steps being taken to protect these plants? “Since the plant has just been described, it is only afforded general protections under Malaysian law, however, we are hopeful that the species can be given a more protected status and ideally receive some attention from government to try to save this population from an unfortunate fate,” Dr Robinson replied in email. “How that is done is ultimately up to the Malaysian government, and there are various ways of achieving this.” What is the best way to protect these plants? Would captive propagation help protect them from illegal collecting for the botanical trade? “ In situ conservation is always the ideal outcome, protecting the plants and their habitat from damage, however, if it were possible to locate seed and grow the plants up in laboratory conditions, they could be multiplied and distributed easily to botanic gardens and even nurseries worldwide, thereby reducing the collecting pressure on the wild populations.” Due to its small population size and extreme vulnerability to illegal collection by plant collectors, the orangutan pitcher plant is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Indeed, poaching to meet the high market value of these ornamental plants is the most significant threat to most wild Nepenthes populations. There are more than 160 species of Nepenthes known so far but already, two species are extinct in the wild due to poaching. To finally discover and sample these rare plants in the wild, Dr Robinson and collaborators launched two expeditions to two separate locations in 2023, but still were only able to discover 39 of the plants in total. This discovery highlights the extreme vulnerability of these plants to extinction if quick and decisive action is not taken to protect them from poaching, and naming this critically endangered plant after a critically endangered animal certainly draws a strong conservation parallel for them both. Source: Alviana Damit, Nur Adillah Mohd Yusof, Jemson Jumian, Charles Clarke and Alastair S. Robinson (2024). Sabah’s hidden giant: Nepenthes pongoides (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic tropical pitcher plant from northern Borneo , Australian Journal of Botany 72 (8):BT24050 | doi: 10.1071/BT24050 © Copyright by GrrlScientist | hosted by Forbes | LinkTr.ee Socials: Bluesky | CounterSocial | Gab | LinkedIn | Mastodon Science | Spoutible | SubStack | Threads | Tribel | Tumblr | Twitter‘Vanderpump Rules’ star James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charge
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa says it has failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa says it has failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa says it has failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal. The 21-year-old Colombia international was sent off 32 minutes into a 3-0 defeat in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Thursday after appearing to stamp on defender Fabian Schar, prompting a furious reaction from Villa head coach Unai Emery, who later indicated that the club would appeal. However, Villa said Friday night that its bid was unsuccessful and the forward will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct. “Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Duran’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected,” a statement on Villa’s official X account read. “The player will now miss our next three matches.” Duran will miss Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester, followed by Villa’s FA Cup third-round match with West Ham on Jan. 10. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Advertisement
IPL 2025 Mega Auction The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life. Read More Ethnic Statement Styles Inspired by Keerthy Suresh Stunning pictures of Nazriya Nazim Famous tea-tourism destinations in India 8 simple techniques to sharpen your eyesight Hansika Motwani's Indo-Western look sets the perfect bridesmaid style goals 8 South Indian delicacies that make for a light meal Sanya Malhotra radiates ethnic elegance in golden splendor Best boss Lady looks of Nita Ambani for your next boardroom meeting Radiant snaps of Helly Shah
U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, known for her unflappable demeanor in the face of pressure, is retiring from international soccer. Naeher was on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those games will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year’s Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. She made a key one-handed save in stoppage time to preserve the Americans’ 1-0 victory over Brazil in the Olympic final. Mallory Swanson, who scored the only goal, ran down the length of the field to embrace Naeher at the final whistle. Naeher announced her retirement on social media Monday . “Every tear shed in the challenging times and disappointments made every smile and celebration in the moments of success that much more joyful. This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field,” she wrote. “The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime.” Naeher has been known throughout her career for her calm and steady leadership. She is one of just three goalkeepers to make more than 100 appearances for the United States. RELATED COVERAGE Englishman Davis scores late to rescue point for Udinese at Empoli Napoli club and fans pay tribute to Maradona on 4th anniversary of his death Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview Naeher made her debut with the national team in 2014 and was a backup to Hope Solo at the 2015 World Cup, which the United States won. She became the team’s regular starter following the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and was on the squad that repeated as World Cup winners in 2019. For her career, Naeher has appeared 113 games with 110 starts, 88 wins and 68 shutouts. She had four shutouts over the course of the Olympic tournament in France. In all, she was on the U.S. roster for three World Cups and three Olympic teams. The 36-year-old has also played for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2016. She plans to play for Chicago next season. The United States is headed to Europe for a match against England at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and on Dec. 3 against Netherlands in The Hague. In addition to her save at the Olympics, Naeher has had many other memorable moments. In the 2019 Women’s World Cup semifinals against England, she stopped Steph Houghton’s penalty kick in the 83rd minute. The Americans won 2-1 before downing the Netherlands 2-0 in the final. Earlier this year in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, Naeher made three saves during a penalty shootout with Canada and also converted a penalty kick herself — tucking the ball neatly into the corner of the net. Afterward she said: “Winning is the best feeling.” ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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United, Apple rolling out new way to track lost luggage with AirTags
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — States with restrictive abortion laws generally have more porous safety nets for mothers and young children, according to recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press. Tennessee is an example of how this plays out. Tennessee residents of childbearing age are more likely to live in maternal care deserts and face overall doctor shortages. Women, infants and children are less likely to be enrolled in a government nutrition program known as WIC. And Tennessee is one of only 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid to a greater share of low-income families. The AP reported on how safety net programs in Tennessee and states with similarly strict abortion laws often fail families. Here are some key takeaways. The Republican supermajority in the Tennessee legislature has long rebuffed efforts to expand Medicaid to people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level — about $35,600 for a family of three. Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled TennCare — the state’s Medicaid program — unlawfully terminated coverage for thousands of families and had a “lethargic” response to nearly 250,000 children losing coverage because of paperwork problems. Republican Gov. Bill Lee argues that his administration has enhanced services. For example, it boosted its Medicaid coverage for mothers in 2022 from 60 days postpartum to one year, which allowed an additional 3,000 moms to use the program each year. The state also raised the Medicaid income limit for parents to the poverty level — nearly $26,000 for a family of three — and began offering recipients 100 free diapers a month for babies under 2. “Pro-life is much more than defending the lives of the unborn,” Lee said in his 2023 annual address to lawmakers and echoed more recently on social media. “This is not a matter of politics. This is about human dignity.” Moms described several aid programs as rife with red tape and other challenges. Anika Chillis of Memphis was on WIC for several months after her son was born, but then went without because of a mistake during the renewal process — eventually getting it restored with help from the nonprofit Tennessee Justice Center. Taylor Cagnacci of Kingsport, who is pregnant and has a 1-year-old, said she was on the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — formerly known as food stamps — for a while but missed an appointment and was unclear about the steps after that. The process to get recertified was “such a headache” that she’s going without SNAP. “I just felt like it was purposely being made difficult so that I would just give up,” she said. The issues extend beyond Tennessee. Women with young children in states where abortion is banned or limited to early weeks of pregnancy said it can be tough to get social services there, according to a survey by the health policy research organization KFF. Nearly half said it’s difficult for women in their state to get food stamps, for example, compared with 3 in 10 in states where abortion is generally available. Of Tennessee’s 2.8 million households, 30% earn above the poverty level but not enough to afford the basic cost of living in their counties, according to a recent report . Often, they don’t qualify for government help. A fragmented patchwork of charities can help, but they don’t cover the entire state. Some nonprofits are hindered in helping by government agencies’ income rules. And most charities are constrained by the ebb and flow of donations. Nonprofit leaders fear that safety net gaps may grow with a new administration in Washington and a GOP-controlled Congress. Republicans could seek significant changes to federal assistance programs they’ve long criticized, like Medicaid and food stamps. “We’ve been through four years of a Trump administration, and the goal under the Trump administration was to cut social services,” said Signe Anderson, the Tennessee Justice Center’s senior director of nutrition advocacy. “I’m concerned ... for families in Tennessee and across the country.”Social media tax follows hundreds of news jobs cut since Meta's refusal to pay
United Airlines travelers with lost luggage have a new tool to track their bags. If the lost bag has an Apple AirTag in it, that information can now be passed directly to United, the airline announced Thursday. The new feature, called Share Item Location, allows travelers with an AirTag or other Find My network accessory to share the location with the airline’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event it’s misplaced. United says more than 99% of its customers pick up their luggage without a hitch. The feature is now available with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or macOS 15.2. “Apple’s new Share Item Location feature will help customers travel with even more confidence, knowing they have another way to access their bag’s precise location with AirTag or their Find My accessory of choice,” said David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer. Travelers on United whose bags do not arrive at their destination can file a delayed baggage report with United and share the link to the item’s location either through the United app or via text message. After the report has been submitted, customer service agents will be able to locate the item on an interactive map alongside a timestamp of a recent update. The shared location will be disabled after a customer has the bag, and customers can also stop sharing the location of the item at any time on their own. The location link will also automatically expire after seven days. Using AirTags or other tracking devices on luggage is increasingly popular among frequent travelers, with a significant boom following the 2022 Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown , which displaced thousands of travelers over Christmas and into 2023, alongside much of their belongings. United says lost bags are rare, with more than 99% of its customers arriving with their bags. It says the new technology will help those with lost bags to recover them more quickly because the airline will have more information about them. Apple previously announced the new service will also be integrated at other air carriers, including Delta Air Lines. Others include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
Thousands of Afghans on Thursday attended the funeral of the refugees minister, AFP journalists saw, after he was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul the day before in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, was killed on Wednesday afternoon in a suicide bombing at the ministry's offices in the Afghan capital. Thousands of men, many of them armed, gathered for Haqqani's funeral in his home village of Sarana, in a mountainous area of Paktia province, south of Kabul. The funeral included heavy security, with armoured vehicles, snipers and personnel manning the area and the road from Kabul, which was jammed with hundreds of cars as mourners travelled from surrounding provinces. Senior Taliban officials, including the Chief of Army Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, and Maulawi Abdul Kabir, political deputy of the prime minister's office, attended the funeral, according to an AFP team on site. The deceased's nephew, the powerful interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, also attended, along with foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. In a speech there, Muttaqi said the latest IS attacks had been planned "abroad", denouncing, without naming them, "countries harbouring" the organisation. "We call on all nations to work together to stop the common enemy, which does not recognise any kind of morality." In September, the Taliban authorities said IS had training camps in Balochistan province of Pakistan, which also regularly faces jihadist attacks. - 'Protect our other leaders' - Haqqani, the highest ranked member of the Taliban government to be killed in an attack since their return to power, "was a big loss for us, the system and the nation", said Paktia resident Hedayatullah, 22. "May God protect our other leaders and keep them victorious." "Our leader... who had his life brutally taken away, achieved martyrdom," said Bostan, 53, haranguing the "cowardly attack" that killed Haqqani. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack on Thursday, offering condolences to the victims' families. "There can be no place for terrorism in the quest for stability," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on X. The European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the attack, along with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. Haqqani -- who is on US and UN sanctions lists and never appeared without an automatic weapon in his hand -- was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the feared Haqqani network responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban's two-decade insurgency. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a bomber detonated an explosive vest inside the ministry, according to a statement on its Amaq news agency, as translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. Taliban authorities had already blamed IS for the "cowardly attack" -- the first targeting a minister since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Violence has waned in Afghanistan since the Taliban forces took over the country that year, ending their war against US-led NATO coalition forces. However, the regional chapter of IS, known as Islamic State Khorasan, is active in Afghanistan and has regularly targeted civilians, foreigners and Taliban officials with gun and bomb attacks. bur-qb-sw/nroLisa Kudrow dishes on reason why ‘Friends’ is still popular Lisa Kudrow has a theory for why young fans still love ‘Friends’ Lisa Kudrow thinks there is a particular reason why Friends remains one of the most popular shows even among younger generations today. The 61-year-old actress shared that she isn’t surprised to see fans attached to the 90s sitcom in an interview and explained why. “I’m not amazed because it’s good and it’s familiar,” Kudrow, who played the fan-favourite character of Phoebe Buffay told Page Six , on Friday, December 7th. The Come Back star continued to explain that she believes Friends holds a “subconscious nostalgia” for younger fans who grew up with cell phones and social media. “For something they don’t have, which is in-person connections and relations. And that’s always been at the heart of every successful show.” She added, “That’s why people get attached to them and then if it’s funny, there [are] good performances, good jokes, that’s a bonus and Friends had all that.” The Emmy winning artist shared that many people around her questioned if the sitcom would ever succeed and asked her if “a bunch of young people sitting on a couch talking” was even a show. “That’s not my problem,” Kudrow quipped. “I’m just in it, but yes it was a show.” The final episode of fan's beloved show, which aired in May 2004, had over 52 million viewers, making it the fifth most-watched series finale in US history. The Friends alum is set to appear on the screen with her upcoming movie No Good Deed which comes out on December 12th. 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A video currently circulating on social media shows at least two men watching as another man allegedly drowns a horse. The video begins with a man riding atop a horse and going into a river. He is seen getting off the horse and seemingly fighting with the horse. The next clip shows the horse floating on its side and appeared to be dead. At least one person in the video is pictured grinning. The incident reportedly occurred in Powell County. The video appeared to be taken during the summer as one shirtless man has an obvious sunburn, according to the video. In a phone interview, Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles said his office was notified Thursday afternoon of the circulated video. “My office began an investigation at that time,” said Sheriff Roselles. The alleged incident did occur in Powell County, the sheriff said, and the people in the video have been identified. The case is under further investigation. According to the Montana Legislature, a person convicted of cruelty to animals could be fined up to $1,000 or receive a one-year sentence in the county jail, or both. If the incident is deemed aggravated animal cruelty, a person could be fined up to $2,500 and receive a prison term not to exceed two years, or both. Facebook screenshot of a video of what authorities are calling an intentional horse drowning. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
South Korea’s president avoids an impeachment attempt over martial law