LONDON: Prince Charles, an avid gardener and environmentalist, has received Britain's top gardening award from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.The Victoria Medal of Honor is the highest accolade the Royal Horticultural Society bestows. Only 63 horticulturists can hold it at any time — a tribute to the 63 years of Queen Victoria's reign.The society said the heir to throne was given the medal Monday in recognition of his "passion for plants, sustainable gardening and the environment."Charles is particularly well known for his commitment to green issues and his enthusiasm for organic foods. His Duchy Originals line is one of Britain's leading brands of organic food and drink.Charles was given the award at the opening of the Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Friday, August 14, 2009 MUMBAI: A 26-year-old woman died Thursday of H1N1 swine flu in the southern city of Bangalore, raising India's death toll from the virus to 20, authorities said.The death was the first reported in India's information technology capital, the Press Trust of India reported.Meanwhile in Pune, the worst-affected in India, two more victims of the virus died Thursday, raising the death toll in that western city near Mumbai to 12, the report said. The victims were an 11-month-old boy and a 75-year-old old woman.US media reported movie halls, schools and colleges were ordered closed Thursday for three days to a week in Mumbai, the commercial and financial capital of the country, as fear of the pandemic spread.Prajakata Lavangare, a spokeswoman for the government of Maharashtra state of which Mumbai is the capital, said similar orders were issued in Pune, which is also located in the state.The woman who died in Bangalore was identified only as Roopa, a teacher in...
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