Coffee loving couple, Anjan Babu and Sanjana Sudarshan brew Liberica coffee at home, usually sourcing beans from roasters like Blue Tokai or Drip and Drop Coffee. Sanjana says the couple had their first Liberica coffee at Ground Up Café. She says, “We fell in love with it the first time we ate it. We got a packet of Liberica beans for home and we’ve been enjoying it ever since. It has a jackfruit flavor.”Bharat Raghavan, a product manager, started his journey in coffee 10 years ago. He started researching filter coffee, a popular type in Bengaluru, before exploring other coffees and beans from his friend, who runs Dialogues Café, a barista. Bharat sources beans from different parts of India and the world during his travels. He says Liberica is a little less known in Bengaluru’s coffee scene. He says, “I would say less than 5% of the beans available are Liberica. It is very rare to find these in India. I first encountered Liberica at Araku Estate.”‘Smoky’ CoffeeLiberica is the kind that polarizes interest. Bharat says there are a few things he likes about it – Liberica has a slightly smoky flavor and more body, which is very typical of it. “I like my coffee to be rich, jammy, and spicy, so I started looking for coffee at that spot.”Some of her friends, who have similar interests, like Liberica because of her body. “Other people dislike it because the smoke is too much for them. For Liberica, I personally use an origami dripper and a pour-over method on the Hario V60. I’ve found this gives me the best results for my palate. The body of Liberica is so heavy, you need a more sophisticated brewing method. I tried using a French press, but since that method adds more texture, it ended up being too thick and tough for my palate. “An over-and-over was more sophisticated and worked really well,” says Bharat. “I think Liberica will be popular in Bengaluru as people who appreciate 100% Arabica are now beginning to understand different brewing and grinding methods,” he says. Changes in temperature and grind size play a big role with Liberica as it is a sensitive bean. He adds that, unlike robusta, where you can generally get a good cup, the profile of liberica varies greatly depending on the temperature and the press you use. A green coffee wave?Talking about the growing trend of green coffee, Khayyum Khan, Sales Head, Benki Brewing Tools, says, “Compared to Arabica and Robusta, Liberica is cleaner and has its own unique characteristics. When you consume or grind Liberica, it exudes a spicy flavour. We’re not used to drinking it, so when I give you something very different, people grab it as a personal trend. In this way Liberica and Excelsa started trending.“Adi Savla, senior manager of coffee communities at Blue Tokai, says many people know about ‘climate-resilient Excelsa’. Sunalini Menon, president, CoffeeLab, Bengaluru, says Liberica and Excelsa have been cultivated not only in countries like the Philippines or Malaysia, but also in Sierra Leone, where it was first discovered. She says, “It has been around in India for decades too. It’s just that we were cultivating it not as coffee, but as a plant to separate the boundaries of one field from another.”Komal Sable, founder of South Indian Coffee Company (SICC), says that although Arabica and Robusta are the main crops for any grower in India at present, the demand for Excelsa is gradually increasing. “We definitely get requests from specialty coffee roasters who are looking at climate-resistant varieties. “As you may know, there are 133 different species of coffee.” Excelsa has a fruity profile in the cup. “It has naturally low acidity and is quite sweet, making it a great entry point for people who don’t typically enjoy very acidic coffee,” she says.Khayyum Khan says Benkey Brewing is considering closing the sale of Liberica. “The problem with Liberica is that it changes very quickly. For us, the sweet spot for a regular café is between 30 to 45 days. For coffees like Liberica, we store it in a cool environment in a single serving, but they still change every day. For a commercial setup, it is often very difficult to change recipes and train staff,” he says.

Trekkers were fed food that caused nausea, weakened them so much that they could no longer proceed on foot, and required emergency flights.

Nepal’s spring Everest climbing season began this week amid a police investigation into an alleged insurance fraud worth nearly $20 million, in which guides, helicopter operators, hospital staff and agents have been accused of creating or exacerbating medical emergencies to trigger costly helicopter evacuations and fraudulent insurance claims. Police said the methods included mixing baking soda into food to cause nausea and swelling, giving excessive Diamox – a drug that helps acclimatization to high altitude – forcing them with excessive hydration to mimic the symptoms of high altitude cerebral edema, and in some cases using laxatives to weaken trekkers to such an extent that they could no longer continue walking. Fake flight manifests, load sheets, invoices and hospital records were allegedly used to support the claims. “Hospitals, helicopter operators and guides are also involved in this chain; we are investigating it,” said Shiv Kumar Shrestha, spokesman for Nepal Police’s Central Bureau of Investigation.Operators said abuse of rescue flights has increased in recent years and has begun to impact the availability of helicopters for genuine emergencies. Mingma Sherpa, owner of Seven Summit Treks based in Kathmandu, said times of India The fallout could extend beyond the current case if international insurers lose confidence in Nepal’s rescue chain. Lukas Furtenbach, Austrian head of Furtenbach Adventures, said the allegations, particularly those related to tampering with food and hospital records, threatened confidence in Nepal’s rescue system. “The level of organized crime here is staggering. We’re talking about millions of dollars being siphoned off through hospitals that provide fraudulent discharge summaries for patients who were never even sick,” he said.Investigators said the racket ran between 2022 and 2025, involved more than 300 fake rescues, and in some cases allegedly deliberately sickened trekkers before flying them to Kathmandu and billed foreign insurers through forged or manipulated records.Police have charged 32 people with offenses linked to organized crime and have expanded the investigation to also include the owners of Mountain Rescue Service, Nepal Charter Service and Shriddhi Hospital. Nine of the accused are in custody while 23 are absconding. “In our preliminary investigation, we found that these companies were involved in around 300 fake rescue operations,” Shrestha said.Investigators said one of the main methods was to load multiple trekkers onto the same helicopter and bill multiple insurers as if each person had been flown on a separate private charter. They also alleged that exhausted trackers were pressured to exaggerate symptoms and, in some cases, deliberately pushed into crisis so that evacuation appeared to be the only option.Central Bureau of Investigation chief Manoj Kumar KC said, “We have strong evidence of companies and individuals involved in the fake hedge scam. All of them will be prosecuted…”Garrett Madison, an expedition leader with US-based Madison Mountaineering who has climbed Everest 10 times, said, “We see it every season: helicopters flying in circles for people who just have a headache or are a little tired from walking. It has transformed a life-saving device into a mountain taxi service. My concern is for the person who actually has HACE or a broken limb – will the helicopter be available to them…?”The investigation also examined how commissions were allegedly run through the system. “My hospital has also paid commission from its earnings to tracking companies and rescue companies to boost business,” Dr Girvan Raj Timilsina of Shriddhi Hospital said in a recorded statement.Nepal Tourism Board chief executive Deepak Raj Joshi said corrective action could help restore confidence.

In the calm of the morning at India Gate, the city caught its breath before the surge. At exactly 5.30pm, the 21K race of the Times Internet Half Marathon 2026 was flagged off, bringing 2,639 runners to one of the most exciting stretches of the capital.The first kilometers were steady and controlled. Runners steadied their pace, saving energy for later stages. As Delhi slowly awakens, its wide roads and historic surroundings set the stage for a race that will soon become a true test of endurance.Because the half-marathon never reveals itself at the beginning.The 21K route passes through the formal heart of the capital, with wide, tree-lined boulevards connecting the major centers of governance. Long, open stretches tested speed, while gentle turns required control – making it a course that challenged not only endurance, but composure at every step.

Arpita Saini: front restraint

Arpita Saini delivered a race based on control and clarity to claim the top position with a chip time of 01:25:01.At 30, his journey into running had begun just a few years earlier, inspired by a simple yet powerful image – young aspirants in his village preparing to join the Army. What started as curiosity soon turned into commitment. Initial hesitation at home gradually transformed into confidence, as her persistence reshaped perceptions.There was no excess on race day, no rush. She settled quickly, maintained her rhythm in the middle stages and when the race demanded flexibility, she responded with authority. In the final stages, he did not chase the race – he took charge of it.

Rukhsana:Precision through discipline

Ruksana’s performance, finishing second with a chip time of 01:27:38, was a study in structure and consistency.A national level distance runner and Khelo India Games medalist, she continues to balance the rigors of competitive sports with education as a second-year college student. His foundation is based on discipline, having received training under the careful guidance of his father, a PT teacher.His preparation reflects this systematic approach. On race day, this translated intuitively – controlled early kilometers, a steady build, and an unwavering grip through the tough final stages. There was no direct conflict, only quiet execution.

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land negi: strength in progress

Bhumi Negi finished third with a chip time of 01:34:33, completing the podium with a performance that underlined patience and progress.Having started his running journey at a young age, he steadily transitioned from short distance to long distance running and gained recognition at both the national and international levels. Her growth has been incremental, but assured.His caste reflected that development. Conservative in the beginning, calculating in the middle, and flexible when the race took hold. As fatigue grew across the field, he found another gear – one driven not by urgency, but by experience.

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where races are won

After the 17th kilometer, the race got really tough. Runners began to feel fatigued and each step required more effort. This is where true strength is seen – not in how fast you run, but in your ability to keep going.Arpita Saini, Ruksana and Bhumi Negi put in much more effort than just crossing these last kilometres.He defined them.In a field of thousands, on a course that tested both body and mind, these women not only completed the 21K – they raised it, setting a benchmark not only for performance, but for enduring, adapting, and ultimately conquering.

The Election Commission on Thursday shifted the investigation into the siege of judicial officers dealing with cases related to Special Intensive Review (SIR) in Malda, West Bengal. National Investigation Agency (NIA).A spokesperson for the election body said the NIA team is expected to reach the poll-bound state on Friday to begin investigation.