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NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Saturday elected as the 14th Vice- President of India, defeating joint opposition candidate Margaret Alva after securing 528 votes against his rival’ s tally of 182.

Though the outcome of the vice-presidential contest was a foregone conclusion, Dhankhar ’ s victory was rich in symbolism as it signalled the continued dominance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP, with all key constitutional posts - President, VicePresident (who is also ex-officio Rajya Sabha Chairman) and Lok Sabha Speaker - held by the party.

It also dealt a body blow to the anti-BJP camp, which had pitched the VP polls as a battle of ideolo-

Narendra Modi and Jagdeep Dhankhar

gies between “Constitution keepers and those who undermine it” , and whose claim to a grand opposition unity came apart in the runup to the contest when Mamata Banerjee ’ s TMC broke ranks and decided to abstain from voting.

Dhankar, 71, swept the polls with 72. 8% of the 725 valid votes cast, his wining margin of 346 votes being the highest in the last six vice-presidential polls since 1997.

The record of the highest winning margin still remains with K R Narayanan, who got 700 of the 701 votes cast in 1992 against independent candidate Kaka Joginder Singh, alias “Dharti Pakad” .

Unlike incumbent Venkaiah Naidu, who demits office on August 10, Dhankhar is not a blueblooded saffronite but drifted to BJP after starting his political career with Lok Dal and then having a stint in Congress. The former Bengal governor

’ s victory came on the back of support from the NDA parties, which account for 441 MPs, five nominated members and non-NDA parties, including Naveen Patnaik’ s Biju Janata Dal, Jagan Mohan Reddy ’ s YSR Congr ess, Mayawati’ s Bahujan Samaj Party, Chandrababu Naidu ’ s Telugu Desam Party, Akali Dal and the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, which together accounted for a total of 81 MPs.

Alva, on the other hand, had to settle for a significantly lower tally of 182, accounting for a paltry 25.1% of the valid votes cast. The opposition camp, incidentally, was expecting over 200 votes for Alva.

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This time, Kumar parted ways with the BJP and was elected leader of the RJD-led mahagathbandhan (grand alliance). He staked claim before Governor Phagu Chouhan to form the next government with the support of 164 MLAs of seven parties.

“Will never compromise on the issue of corruption and do service to people of Bihar along with others ” , Kumar told media persons after returning from the Raj Bhawan. Asked when he would be taking oath, he said, “it is up to the Governor to give time for the swearing-in ceremony ” .

Earlier, after submitting his resignation, Kumar told journalists outside the Raj Bhawan, “in today ’ s [Tuesday

’ s] meeting of all my party MPs, MLAs, Council members and leaders they expressed their desire to snap ties with the BJP and immediately I accepted their desire and came to the Raj Bhawan to resign from my post of NDA’ s Chief Minister ” . Sushil Modi dismisses allegations Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi dismissed JD(U)'s allegations that the BJP wanted to break the party and made RCP Singh union minister without Nitish Kumar's consent. He said that JD(U) was looking for an excuse to break ties with BJP, and underlined that "BJP will come back to power with a thumping majority in 2024. It is a white lie that BJP had made RCP Singh Union minister without Nitishji's consent. It is also a lie that BJP wanted to break JD(U), " Modi said in a tweet.

Singh was made Union minister last year as JD(U) representative but forced to resign last month as his Rajya Sabha term ended and his party denied him another term.

Startling allegations of backstabbing were made against the BJP by MLAs and MPs of the JD(U) after which Kumar pulled the plug on the alliance. According to sources in the JD(U), who did not wish to be named, information, including call details, were shared which suggested that former national president RCP Singh, who resigned from the primary membership last week, had contacted “ about a dozen MLAs and a minister at the BJP's behest, with the intention to split the party ” .

The JD(U) lawmakers, who unanimously backed Kumar's decision to dump the BJP, were of the view that things went fine till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls which the two parties, along with late Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, had swept, winning all but one of the 40 seats in the state. Several opposition leaders lauded Kumar for snapping ties with the BJP and embracing the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan to continue in office. This is the second time in nine years that Nitish left ally BJP out in the cold. While Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed Kumar ’ s move as a “ good start” , the Trinamool Congress (TMC) stated that no ally can safeguard its identity in the saffron camp.

Nitish Kumar

A Bengal CID team armed with a warrant to search the Chanakyapuri home of a communications professional allegedly linked to the cash-haul case involving three arrested Jharkhand Congress MLAs was prevented by Delhi Police from executing the court order on “technical” grounds. Another CID team visiting Guwahati to collect CCTV footage of the three MLAs ’ arrival in the city on July 29 and departure to Kolkata the next day was allegedly stopped by the local police at the airport, stoking the political storm already steeping over the Delhi face-off.

A Congress MLA from the state, Kumar Jaimangal, had filed an FIR in Ranchi last week, accusing Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma of the attempt to topple the Soren government by getting the arrested trio – Irfan Ansari (Jamtara), Rajesh Kachchap (Khijri) and Naman Bixal Kongari (Kolebira) - to throw cash at some of their legislator colleagues. Delhi Police accused the visiting team of violating rules. 950 from Gujarat used fake IELTS scores to move to US, Canada

The Mehsana police which investigated irregularities in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exams has brought seven centres - Rajkot, Vadodara, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Navsari, Nadiad and Anand - under scanner. Officers said that at least 950 candidates are suspected to have falsely secured high IELTS scores this year by paying Rs14,00,000. All of them are now either in the US or Canada. The first case of irregularity came in April when a dummy student was caught taking the exam in Nadiad. Later, it was found that CCTVs in two centres were switched off to accommodate dummy candidates in Navsari and Mehsana. A man from Mehsana, who is in the realty business, is the kingpin of the scam, said police sources.

The police came into action, after report was lodged that illegal immigrants from North Gujarat needed a Hindi translator in a US court despite having IELTS scores of seven and eight. They had taken the exam in September last. According to the officers, the US consulate general had directed Mehsana police to search the case after which the cops started an investigation. A police officer said that the scam of issuing IELTS certificates to US and Canada aspirants has been running for nearly five years. Six men who travelled to Canada on student visas were caught by the US agencies on April 28. They were rescued by the agencies on the border of Canada and US from a sinking boat in the St Regis river who were illegally crossing over into the US.

Shefali Saxena

Masterminded by Birmingham-born British Pakistani Artistic Director Iqbal Khan, the Opening Ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2022 was a celebration of the rich and diverse history, culture and identity of the city of Birmingham and the West Midlands.

The theatrical production featured musicians and performers from across the diverse region who represented a wide range of cultures and global musical styles brought together by Music Director Joshua ‘RTKal’ Holness.

With the best of Birmingham ’ s creative minds at its helm and its best-loved talent at its heart, this ceremony was a major moment for the region with Iqbal Khan showcasing the incredible heritage and influence of South Asian culture in this vibrant city.

We spoke to Iqbal about it.

What is it like showcasing diverse cultures at an event as humungous as the Commonwealth Games? What does it take to put this show together?

It’ s a challenge to ensure that one is not simply box-ticking. The principle of inclusion is important. Also, important that we go beyond the way certain art forms are represented. Go beyond complacent stereotyping. And we can do this by telling a big, generous story. Putting a show like this together takes humility, listening carefully to others who ’ ve done this sort of scale of shows previously, BUT also trusting the ambition of what we are trying to do. Particularly if it’ s breaking the mould. Resist the anxiety of others to smooth the edges and make its content less surprising. Ultimately, it requires clarity as to the nonnegotiable arc of the story, while imagination about how to respond to inevitable adaptations/ compromises.

As a British Pakistani, what does this mean to you culturally – to have a unique voice at such a prestigious event?

I’ m not sure British-Pakistanis have ever led an event on this scale, that tells the story of this place and this nation. It is a remarkable privilege. I absolutely have a specific range of experiences, that make my perspectives unique. And I also am a commonwealth child like so many others, proud of the way this city and country continues to develop. There is much to critique and a lot more to be excited about. This is my home and I, like many others, feel sufficient ownership to both challenge and celebrate.

What are your expectations from the event? What does it mean for the arts and culture sector?

My expectations were that we would create a show that felt totally inclusive. A big and immersive story. An unselfconsciously passionate and witty show, that celebrated the language and feel of this place. Poets were at the centre of it, dancers, circus artists, volunteers and musicians from all forms helped tell it. I hoped lasting legacies of engagement would survive. That we would create shows on broadcast and live that complemented each other. That all the world would feel it concretely even if you missed details. It’ s the greatest opportunity for us to celebrate the arts and culture scene of Birmingham and the midlands to the world. We are world-beating.

Why do you think music and theatricals are still the backbones of entertainment?

Music and the theatrical help us tell stories, and share truths with the world. It’ s our experience but these are truths about what it is to be human. We can go beyond words and connect everyone, anywhere, to what is most important to us all. Music and stories make us feel less alone, they excite and challenge us to think in new ways. I hope we did all this.

School children from Waverley Junior Academy, near Rotherham, have combined science with art to create a fusion energy machine of the future.

Award-winning actor and campaigner Mehwish Hayat and acclaimed writer and director Lena Khan have joined UK Muslim Film to help the organisation challenge stereotypes of Muslims on-screen. UK Muslim Film is proud to announce both Mehwish Hayat and Lena Khan as their first Patrons for the charity and its initiatives.

Mehwish’ s decision to support UKMF is a reflection of her personal interest in and her commitment to ensuring Muslims depicted on screen are authentically portrayed.

Mehwish Hayat says: “I am honoured to be joining UK Muslim Film as a Patron. Representation of Muslims on-screen is something that I have been tirelessly working to highlight for the past few years. ”

“Misrepresentation has done untold damage to us and I sincerely believe has fuelled the rise of Islamophobia. With UK Muslim Film, I look forward to working with the industry to make sure that the way that we are portrayed on-screen, if not positive, is at least a lot fairer. ”

She added “It is equally incumbent on us as Muslims to be telling our own stories. I am excited that UKMF will be supporting emerging Muslim talent and helping them get their work to larger audiences. ”

Mehwish is one of the most socially active celebrities globally and Pakistan ’ s reigning box-office queen. Hailing from a well-known show business family, Mehwish has widely spoken out about human rights abuses on the global stage and has been particularly vocal about the representation of Muslims in mainstream media for many years now.

Mehwish rose to global attention after playing the character of ‘Aisha ’ in the hugely successful ‘Ms Marvel’ series.

Acclaimed writer and filmmaker Lena Khan, director of Disney ’ s hit original film ‘Flora & Ulysses ’ and episodes of Netflix ’ s hit series ‘Never Have I Ever ’ , also joins as a Patron and UK Muslim Film will be hosting a special pop-up cinema event on Saturday 13th August at Edgbaston to celebrate her work.

She says: this month. Besides the fact that they were a heck of a lot of fun to make (and I'm told also fun to watch) -- they were made alongside my journey to get to a place in the industry where I can try to fight for truth and representation in this crazy industry. That's why I'm thrilled to be on this journey, and to support UKMF and its efforts toward truthful and authentic representation.

She adds: “Representation in films and television literally changes our cultural landscape -- for better or worse. It impacts policy, how we see people, how we operate with each other. And it's not that hard to do. I hope we can continue to expand the scope and quality of how our fellow humans are seen on screen, and enjoy the ride and the stories along the way!” Lena ’ s own journey is one which UK Muslim Film would be looking to replicate for future generations of British Muslim filmmakers. Lena met UK Muslim Film founder Sajid Varda in Orange County at an event where she was speaking about independent filmmaking and her debut feature ‘The Tiger Hunter ’ . After their initial meeting, Sajid was impressed by Lena ’ s enthusiasm and vision and went on to help with the production of ‘The Tiger Hunter ’ , her first feature film, which picked up 4 awards. Varda is now looking to support more debut filmmakers via UK Muslim Film.

Year 5 students took part in two workshops to learn about fusion – based on the same processes that powers the sun and stars – which has great potential to become an environmentally responsible part of the world’ s future energy supply.

Before taking to their pens and pencils to design a star-making machine, the students discovered what fusion is and letoff steam by running around to create energy of their own.

The fun and interactive sessions were delivered by a team from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) based at the neighbouring technology park in Catcliffe.

Jordan d‘Arras, graduate development engineer at UKAEA, said: “The children were really enthusiastic and asked so many good questions. They learned the importance of safe, low carbon energy in the fight against climate change and heard about the variety of career opportunities we have at UKAEA that will help make fusion happen. We hope to have inspired our engineers, scientists and communicators of the future!”

The students went head-to-head in a design competition and impressed the UKAEA team with their interpretation of what a future fusion energy machine could look like.

Waverley Junior Academy ’ s Year 5 teachers, Patrick Selkirk and Holly Peace, were very proud of the scientific knowledge and artistic talent of their classes.

Patrick said: “It was a great experience for the children to fully engage with. They had previously learnt all about renewable energy and the effects of non-renewable sources. The UKAEA workshop was enlightening and well-pitched to the children. The workshop began conversations that sparked debate about fusion energy.

The winning submission for a new piece of public art commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Ugandan Asians in Leicester has been revealed.

Entitled Sculptural Gateway, the piece is the work of Midlands-based artist Anuradha Patel. In her submission, Ms Patel says the two aspects of the Structural Gateway represent the two communities impacted by the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972. The structure is connected at the top, symbolising the transition of a generation of people from one country to another.

It will be constructed using a variety of sharp-angled, vertical structures which she says are a reference to pain and upheaval, while the overall softer architectural shape of the structure suggests a place of shelter, sanctuary and refuge.

The new piece of public art will be created and installed at Belgrave Circle, at the gateway to the city with the local community to further develop her design over the coming months, giving them an opportunity to shape the final piece.

Anuradha Patel said: “I am delighted to be awarded the Ugandan Asian 50th Anniversary public art commission. It is of great significance to me as an artist and an exceptional opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate, and commemorate an event which has not only shaped my life, but the lives of a whole generation of people in the UK over the past 50 years.

“As a Ugandan Asian, of Gujarati origins, I feel strongly connected to the Asian communities in Leicester with so many shared experiences of migration, displacement, resettlement and assimilation in a new country.

“This commission will provide the platform to address, inform and celebrate the breadth of emotions and achievements of the Ugandan Asian community in Leicester. “I am thrilled to have this unique opportunity to work in collaboration with the local communities and to help create an artistic vision which will provide a lasting legacy for future generations. ” Funding for the artwork will come from a combination of a planned CrowdFund Leicester campaign and a contribution from the city council.

Leicester deputy city mayor for culture, leisure and sport, Cllr Piara Singh Clair, added: “I am delighted to announce that Anuradha ’ s design will be taken forward to share with the local community, who will have the chance to help to create this new piece of public art which is linked to such an important part of Leicester

Artist Anuradha Patel with a model of her winning submission,

‘Structural Gateway’ . The final design will be developed with the help of the local

Ugandan Asian community.

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Sleep is an essential function that allows our body and mind to recharge, leaving us refreshed and alert when we wake up. Healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy and stave off diseases. Without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly. This can impair our abilities to concentrate, think clearly, and process memories.

Most adults require between seven and nine hours of nightly sleep. Children and teenagers need substantially more sleep, particularly if they are younger than five years of age. Work schedules, day-to-day stressors, a disruptive bedroom environment, and medical conditions can all prevent us from receiving enough sleep. A healthy diet and positive lifestyle habits can help ensure an adequate amount of sleep each night – but for some, chronic lack of sleep may be the first sign of a sleep disorder.

The Science Behind Sleep

An internal “body clock” regulates our sleep cycle, controlling when we feel tired and ready for bed or refreshed and alert. This clock operates on a 24-hour cycle known as the circadian rhythm. After waking up from sleep, we ’ll become increasingly tired throughout the day. These feelings will peak in the evening leading up to bedtime.

This sleep drive – also known as sleep-wake homeostasis – may be linked to adenosine, an organic compound produced in the brain. Adenosine levels increase throughout the day as we become more tired, and then the body breaks down this compound during sleep.

Light also influences the circadian rhythm. The brain contains a special region of nerve cells known as the hypothalamus, and a cluster of cells in the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which processes signals when the eyes are exposed to natural or artificial light. These signals help the brain determine whether it is day or night.

As natural light disappears in the evening, the body will release melatonin, a hormone that induces drowsiness. When the sun rises in the morning, the body will release the hormone known as cortisol that promotes energy and alertness.

Stages of Sleep

Once we fall asleep, our bodies follow a sleep cycle divided into four stages. The first three stages are known as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and the final stage is known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Stage 1 NREM: This first stage marks the transition between wakefulness and sleep, and consists of light sleep. Muscles relax and your heart rate, breathing, and eye movements begin to slow down, as do your brain waves, which are more active when you are awake. Stage 1 typically lasts several minutes. Stage 2 NREM: This second NREM sleep stage is characterized by deeper sleep as your heart rate and breathing rates continue slowing down and the muscles become more relaxed. Eye movements will cease and your body temperature will decrease. Apart from some brief moments of higher frequency electrical activity, brain waves also remain slow. Stage 2 is typically the longest of the four sleep stages. Stage 3 NREM: This stage plays an important role in making you feel refreshed and alert the next day. Heartbeat, breathing, and brain wave activity all reach their lowest levels, and the muscles are as relaxed as they will be. This stage will be longer at first and decrease in duration throughout the night.

People across the world follow a wide range of religions, which probably have one thing in common: abstaining from food on certain days.

“Several religions see abstinence as a crucial aspect in physical and spiritual well-being, ” says Dr Unni Nilanjan, Ayurvedic doctor at Art of Living ’ s Sri Sri Tattva Panchakarma. “It means abstinence from indulgences. Far from being a way to sustain oneself, food often becomes an indulgence. In this regard, fasting helps a person develop an inner strength to withdraw from pleasures of the senses and go deeper within, ” he adds.

However, with time, fasting has evolved from being a religious practice to becoming a health phenomenon, with several doctors and fitness pundits recommending it. So, what is the fuss all about?

Fasting, intermittent fasting to be specific, is becoming increasingly common as a way to lose weight. In this, one eats in a time-restricted window and fasts otherwise. There is no restriction concerning food. And it has shown to be effective.

A 2014 study showed intermittent fasting led to a 3-8% loss in weight in 3-24 weeks. It also led to a reduction in waist circumference. According to Sreemathy Venkatraman, a wellness nutritionist, clinical dietician and founder of Mitha Ahara: Eat to Live, intermittent fasting can lead to: Better control over blood sugar levels; Prediabetes gets cured in some cases; Drop in the levels of bad cholesterol; Improved cardiovascular health; Drop in inflammation; Improved gut and metabolic health; Better energy levels.

“Mental health improves, too, as one has better self-control and does not graze throughout the day, ” she says. “As your weight decreases, so does your chance of developing chronic illnesses, ” says Neha Pathania, chief dietician, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram. “You also experience enhanced cycles of brain health. Life expectancy increases too, ” she adds.

Dr Nilanjan goes beyond that and points at Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi, who won the 2016 Nobel Prize in medicine for his work on autophagy, which is the body ’ s natural cleansing mechanism to purge the body of damaged cells and regenerate newer, healthier cells. “This happens while fasting, ” the Ayurveda doctor says. Some bodies of research have shown that intermittent fasting and calorie restriction can cause autophagy.

However, since religious fasting is practised for a few days, does it undo the benefits? The answer is no, according to Dr Nilanjan. “Fasting is similar to taking your car to the workshop. Doing it once in a while ensures that it runs smoothly and has optimum performance for a longer period. The life of the car is also longer when you maintain it regularly. Similarly, fasting increases the quality of life, when done regularly, ” he explains. Dos and don ’ts

Fasting has been shown to lead to weight loss and other health benefits. However, healthy eating is the way forward. “Hence, do not go overboard with high-fat, ultraprocessed and ready-to-eat foods, which trigger inflammation and thus lead to more fat deposits. Instead, have a balance of all the food groups, which includes whole grains, healthy fats, good sources of protein, and lots and lots of fibre. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 35 grams of fibre per day for every adult, which is mainly sourced through vegetables and fruits. Hence, include lots of these, which are in season, in your diet, ” recommends nutritionist Venkatraman, adding: “Also, do not forget to drink enough water. ” On the flip side

Like anything else, fasting, too, has its share of pros and cons. “When not done properly or under guidance, fasting can have detrimental effects on the body such as wasting and malnutrition, and can induce unfavourable conditions in the body such as ketosis and hypoglycemia, ” says Dr Nilanjan.

Although light walking at any time is good for your health, a short walk within 60 to 90 minutes of eating a meal can be especially useful in minimising blood sugar spikes, as that is when blood sugar levels tend to peak. Researchers of a study looked at the results of seven studies that compared the effects of sitting versus standing or walking on measures of heart health, including insulin and blood sugar levels. They found that light walking after a meal, in increments of as little as two to five minutes, “had a significant impact in moderating blood sugar levels ” .

This study reinforces findings of two earlier studies. A 2016 study of those who suffer from Type-2 diabetes found that walking for 10 minutes after every meal helped lower blood sugar levels more than walking for half-hour at other times of the day. Before that, a 2011 study, published in the International Journal of General Medicine, found that walking just after a meal was more effective for weight loss than waiting one hour after eating before walking.

“In five of the studies that the paper evaluated, none of the participants had pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. The remaining two studies looked at people with and without such illnesses. Participants were asked to either stand or walk for two to five minutes, every 20 to 30 minutes over the course of a full day. All seven studies showed that just a few minutes of light-intensity walking after a meal were enough to significantly improve blood sugar levels compared to, say, sitting at a desk or plopping down on the couch. When participants went for a short walk, their blood sugar levels rose and fell more gradually. For people with diabetes, avoiding sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels is a critical component in managing their illness. It’ s also thought that sharp spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels can contribute to developing Type 2 diabetes, ” the report said.

The report also recommended getting up to do housework or finding other ways to move your body. This short amount of activity will also enhance other dietary changes that people may be making to help control their blood sugar levels. And for those who spend long hours at the workplace, the report found that a mini-walk of two to three minutes is more practical than the rigour of running on a treadmill.

People who eat the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods like soft drinks, chips, and cookies may have a higher risk of developing dementia than those who eat the lowest amounts, says a new study.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, found that replacing ultraprocessed foods in a person ’ s diet with unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with a lower risk. However, it mentioned that the study does not prove that ultraprocessed foods cause dementia and only shows an association.

“Our research not only found that ultra-processed foods are associated with an increased risk of dementia, but it also found replacing them with healthy options may decrease dementia risk, ” said researcher Huiping Li of Tianjin Medical University in China.

Ultra-processed foods are high in added sugar, fat and salt, and low in protein and fiber. They include soft drinks, salty and sugary snacks, ice cream, sausage, deep-fried chicken, yogurt, canned baked beans and tomatoes, among others.

For the study, the team identified 72,083 people from a large database containing the health information of half a million people living in the UK. Participants were 55 and older and did not have dementia at the start of the study. They were followed for an average of 10 years. By the end of the study, 518 people were diagnosed with dementia.

During the study, participants filled out at least two questionnaires about what they ate and drank the previous day. Researchers determined how much ultra-processed food people ate by calculating the grams per day and comparing it to the grams per day of other foods to create a percentage of their daily diet.

They then divided participants into four equal groups from the lowest per- centage consumption of ultra-processed foods to the highest.

On average, ultraprocessed foods made up 9 per cent of the daily diet of people in the lowest group, an average of 225 grams per day, compared to 28 per cent for people in the highest group, or an average of 814 grams per day. One serving of items like pizza or fish sticks was equivalent to 150 grams. The main food group contributing to high ultra-processed food intake was beverages, followed by sugary products and ultra-processed dairy. In the lowest group, 105 of the 18,021 people developed dementia, compared to 150 of the 18,021 people in the highest group.

After adjusting for age, gender, family history of dementia and heart disease, and other factors that could affect the risk of dementia, researchers found that for every 10 per cent increase in daily intake of ultra-processed foods, people had a 25 per cent higher risk of dementia.

Deepika Padukone attended an event in Mumbai recently. The actor looked stunning in a sheer black saree and heels. She once again opened up about her battle with depression some years ago and how she would always put up a brave front for her parents who would visit her in Mumbai. She also added that even now, she does the same.

Deepika is founder of the Live Love Laugh Foundation, which creates awareness on mental health in India, especially depression. The actor was in depression some years ago before her mother advised her to seek professional help.

Talking about what she went through while suffering from depression, Deepika said, "I would break down for no apparent reason. There were days when I wouldn't want to wake up, I would just sleep because sleep was an escape. I was suicidal at times. "

She said, “I used to behave normal in front of my parents who live in Bangalore. So every time they visited me, even now when they visit me, I always put on a brave front that everything's okay. You always want to show your parents that you are fine. "

Deepika now lives with husband Ranveer Singh in Mumbai. The two were last seen together as Kapil Dev and his wife Romi Bhatia in sports drama, 83. Deepika is currently working on 'Project K' , opposite Prabhas. She has already shot for Siddharth Anand's 'Pathaan' , which brings back her hit pairing with Shah Rukh Khan all over again. She has also signed Siddharth's 'Fighter' , which will mark her maiden project with Hrithik Roshan.

Kangana Ranaut has shared a video from one of her old interviews in which she can be seen talking about how as women they should never wait to get their due, instead, they should get it themselves. She also penned a note about how one should turn villains into comedians.

The note, shared on her Instagram Stories, read: “I never liked the idea of using emotions such as humiliations, failures or any other kind of unfair treatment like bullying done to us, using those experiences as a fuel to ignite our ambition or self worth, that's never a good idea never see yourself from the eyes of those who fail to appreciate you but use their criticism to grow… and when you grow don't forget to rub it in their faces and have fun. After all what is life without a good laugh. Those who want to be villains in your life make them comedians and it will be a good story… direct it yourself. ”

The video was from her interview to BBC News, where she talked about how despite several negative and discouraging reactions from many, she didn't change her understanding of herself and went on to make it big in the film industry. She captioned the video on her Instagram Stories, "For someone who was humiliated for not ale to speak English represented India in an international summit. "

Kangana is currently working on her directorial, titled 'Emergency ' . She has already unveiled her look as Indira Gandhi, Anupam Kher's look as Jayaprakash Narayan and Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

After Ranveer Singh’s nude photoshoot pictures for Paper Magazine generated quite a buzz, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal (PETA) India wrote a letter to the actor, inviting him to do a similar photoshoot for them. The organisation requested Ranveer to promote veganism through their campaign. “Hope you will ditch the pants for us, too” they wrote, and cited an example of actor Pamela Anderson, who earlier posed for PETA’s ‘All Animals Have the Same Parts – Try Vegan” campaign.

PETA's letter to Ranveer read, “Greetings from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, the country ’ s best-known animal rights group, with more than 2 million members and supporters. We saw your head-turning Paper Magazine photo shoot – and we hope you ’ll ditch the pants for us, too. "

Parts – Try Vegan ’? I’ ve attached a reference image featuring Pamela Anderson for your perusal. ” The letter also mentions that celebrities like Anushka Sharma, Joaquin Phoenix, Kartik Aaryan, and Natalie Portman promote veganism. Ranveer had previously revealed during an AMA session that he is currently following a vegan diet. Reportedly, he became vegan for his upcoming film 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani' , in which he will be reuniting with his Gully Boy costar Alia Bhatt. Directed by Karan Johar, the film also stars Jaya Bachchan, Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi. The actor recently wrapped up the film shoot. Ranveer continues to make news ever since he bared it all in his photoshoot. Complaints against him for hurting sentiments have been filed against him. Amid this, actors such as Kareena Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt, Vidya Balan, Janhvi Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Vaani Kapoor and many others came out in support of the actor.

Actor Kriti Sanon expressed gratitude as she became the latest Bollywood celebrity to cross 50 million followers on Instagram. Taking to her social media, the 'Mimi' actor dropped a reel which she captioned, “As Mimi says ‘Fan following hai meri yahan par, haan!’ 50 MILLION Love and counting. . Love you guys!! #50MillionOnInsta. ”

In the video, she shared various BTS videos of characters from 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' , and 'Mimi' to 'Raabta' . In the video, she wrote, “Thank you for giving me so much love. . for loving me on screen and off screen too!. Keep Holding my hand. We have a long way to go. ”

With this, the 'Heropanti' actor became the latest Bollywood celeb to cross the 50 million margin on Instagram after Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez and Priyanka Chopra.

The actor keeps her fans actively updated with her professional and personal life on the platform. From motivational workout videos, and ultrahot glam pictures to BTS pictures from sets, Kriti’ s social media feed exudes positivity and is as real as it can get.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kriti has a massive and one of the best lineups of films ahead including the much-awaited pan-India film, 'Adipurush' opposite Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan, Ganapath alongside Tiger Shroff.

She also has 'Shehzada' with Kartik Aaryan, set to hit theatres on February 10, 2023, and a horror comedy 'Bhediya' opposite Varun Dhawan, along with Anurag Kashyap ’ s unannounced next.

It’s been 12 years since Sonakshi Sinha entered the film industry, and it has taken that number of years for her to come into her own, and pave her own path on her terms. In fact, she confesses she is busy working on her own growth, instead of being in a race to ape someone else.

“Now, I feel like I have come into my own. Like, earlier, it used to be very excitable, and I used to take up a lot more on my plate than I could handle. My mind was buzzing (with things) constantly, ” says Sonakshi, who made her debut in Bollywood with 'Dabangg' in 2010.

When it comes to her filmography, it is a case of hit and miss, with projects such as 'Rowdy Rathore' , 'Lootera' and 'Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty ' , 'Tevar' , 'Akira' , 'Noor' , 'Force 2' and 'Kalank' .

Opening up about her present position, the 35year-old says, “I’ m in a more relaxed and comfortable space right now where I’ m working on my own terms and conditions and doing what I want to do, not under any sort of pressure to kind of be like someone or achieve what somebody has achieved” .

Today, what works in her favour is everyone ’ s willingness to experiment. “This is the right time to experiment and take risks and do things that you ’ ve never done before. Because the audience ’ s mind has also opened up over the last few years, and they ’ re also more accepting of risk. It is a great time to be an actor ” .

Aamir Khan’s 'Laal Singh Chaddha' is all set for release. The film, an official adaptation of 'Forrest Gump' , sees Aamir essay a Sikh character for the first time in his career. While Aamir’s bearded and turbaned look in the film has created buzz among the fans, it has also won the approval of Sikh religious body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

The film, particularly Laal’ s life growing up, is set in Punjab. Recently, the producers held a special screening of the film for the SGPC. Talking about how they received the film, Aamir, who is also producing the film, says, “I was very touched with the reaction of the members of the SGPC. I am so glad that our film touched their hearts so deeply. ”

As per sources from the production, “As the film is based in Punjab and Aamir is playing the character of a Sikh, the makers wanted to get every single detail right and now that the film is ready, they screened it for the members of SGPC who loved the film. ” The producers said that they had already showed the film ’ s script to the members of the SGPC before beginning the shoot as “they wanted to get every single nuance correct” . Laal Singh Chaddha, like the Hollywood original, chronicles the journey of the protagonist during the major historical events that shaped India.

The film is directed by Advait Chandan and also stars Kareena Kapoor, Mona Singh, and Naga Chaitanya. The film, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Kiran Rao, and Viacom18 Studios, will be released on 11 August 2022. The film ’ s script has been adapted by actorscreenwriter Atul Kulkarni, who makes his debut as a screenwriter.

6:00 RAAJ RATTAN 9:00 SHUBH PRABHAT 9:30 SUR PRABHAT 15:00 RASOI SHOW (O) 18:00 DESHI BEATS (O) 18:30 SURI (O) 19:00 JODE REJO RAAJ (O) 19:30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU (O) 20:00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI (O) 20:30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU (O) 21:00 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM (O) 21:30 GEETA (O)

6:00 CHAREY DISHAMA CHAHER MAA 9:00 SHUBH PRABHAT 9:30 SUR PRABHAT 15:00 RASOI SHOW (O) 18:00 DESHI BEATS (O) 18:30 SURI (O) 19:00 JODE REJO RAAJ (O) 19:30 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU (O) 20:00 RASHI RIKSHAWALI (O) 20:30 MOTI BAA NI NANI VAHU (O) 21:00 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM (O) 21:30 GEETA (O)

6:00 CHELLO DIVAS 9:00 MARU MAN MOHI GAYU ® 10:30 SORATHNI MRS SINGHAM ® 12:00 RACHNA NO DABBO 19:00 WORLD TELEVISION

PREMIERE - GAJAB THAI GAYO

16:30 RASOI SHOW DESI FLAVOURS 17:30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00 SASURAL SIMAR KA 18:30 TU AASHIQUI 19:00 CHOTI SARDARNI 19:30 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 20:00 SWARAN GHAR 20:30 KAWACH MAMTA KA 21:00 AJNABI BANE HUMSAFAR 21:30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

16:30 RASOI SHOW - DESI FLAVOURS 17:30 KHATRON KE KHILADI 19:30 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 20:00 DESI BEAT RESET 20:30 DANCE DEEWANE JUNIORS 21:30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

16:30 RASOI SHOW - DESI FLAVOURS 17:30 KHATRON KE KHILADI 19:30 The Anupam Kher show - Season 2 20:30 DANCE DEEWANE JUNIORS 21:30 COMEDY NIGHTS WITH KAPIL

Actor Anupam Kher visited filmmaker SS Rajamouli's house in Hyderabad. The actor shared a few pictures and a video with Rajamouli and his wife Rama Rajamouli. In the video, Anupam honoured Rajamouli with traditional shawl wrapping. In the photos, the actor posed with Rajamouli and Rama.

Sharing the images and video, Anupam wrote, “Dearest #RamaJi and SS Rajamouli! Thank you for your love, warmth and delicious lunch at your place in Hyderabad! I was particularly happy to welcome you in your own house with a traditional shawl wrapping! I love your simplicity and humility. I feel blessed. So much to learn from both of you!! #Simple #Successful #Maverick. ” In the clip Anupam puts a shawl around Rajamouli and says,

“How will you otherwise remember me more, ” to which Rama replies, “How can we forget you?” In the next photo, Rajamouli and Anupam are seen greeting each other with folded hands.

One fan commented, “Are you two collaborating for a project?” Another one simply called the two “legends. ” While one said, “Men full of gratitude, ” many others dropped heart emojis in the comments section of the post.

Anupam will be seen as the late political leader Jayaprakash Narayan in Kangana Ranaut's film 'Emergency ' . The upcoming political drama is written and directed by Kangana, who essays the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Last month, Anupam shared his first look from Emergency on Twitter and wrote, “Happy and proud to essay the role of the man, who questioned fearlessly, a rebel in the truest sense of the word, #JayaPrakashNarayan in #KanganaRanaut-starrer and directorial next #Emergency.

Nick Jonas shared an unseen picture from his wife-actor Priyanka Chopra's 40th birthday. Taking to his Instagram Stories, the singer-actor posted the photo and also gave a new nickname to Priyanka. Priyanka, Nick Jonas and their family members celebrated the occasion last month in Mexico.

In the photo, Priyanka stood in front of Nick and held one of his hands as she looked away from the camera smiling. Nick held her from behind and posed for the camera. Priyanka wore a long red dress paired with matching heels and also carried a bag. Nick opted for a pink and black outfit and sneakers.

Sharing the photo, Nick wrote, "Lady in red. (red heart emoji) @priyankachopra. "Wow. I have no words, " said a person. "You ’ ve got a stunner, " read a comment. Another fan also called them a ‘beautiful couple ’ .

Last month, on her birthday, Nick posted a string of photos on Instagram and penned a note for her. In the first photo, the couple shared a kiss and in the second, Priyanka smiled as she held her birthday placard that read, "Happy Birthday Priyanka 80s Baby " .

Priyanka has several projects in the pipeline such as 'It's All Coming Back To Me' , and the series 'Citadel' . Produced by Russo Brothers, 'Citadel' will release on Amazon Prime Video. The upcoming sci-fi drama series is being directed by Patrick Morgan and stars Richard Madden alongside Priyanka. She will also star in Farhan Akhtar's 'Jee Le Zaraa' with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has been in the news ever since she announced her divorce with Naga Chaitanya. She garnered pan-India acclaim for her performance in 'The Family Man 2' . Then she sizzled the screens with her hot item number 'Oo Antava' from 'Pushpa' . She recently made headlines for her honest appearance on Karan Johar's chat show Koffee With Karan 7. There's also a strong buzz that Samantha is gearing up for Bollywood debut. It is now being said that the actress is all set to make her Malayalam debut with Dulquer Salmaan in his upcoming film 'King of Kotha. '

There's no doubt that Samantha is considered as one of the biggest stars in Telugu cinema. According to several reports, Samantha will romance Dulquer in 'King of Kotha' , a gangster drama which will be directed by Abhilash Joshiy. Previously, Samantha and Dulquer have worked together in 'Mahanati' starring Keerthy Suresh, however, they didn't have much scenes together.

Meanwhile, Samantha will be next seen director Gunasekhar's upcoming mythological drama, 'Shankuntalam' . The makers recently shared an update that post-production work of the film is progressing at a brisk pace. The movie will see Samantha playing Shakuntala and Dev Mohan as Dushyanta. She will also play the title character in 'Yashoda' , a women-centric sci-fi thriller.

Ajith Kumar is one of the leading actors in India. He commands over a huge fanbase who idolize him for emerging as a big superstar without any cine background, living life passionately without getting involved in controversies, and inspiring the fans to take care of their family. It has been 30 years since AK debuted as an actor. Ajith's fans have been celebrating over the last few days with the Vijay Sethupathi and I share a beautiful bond: Mysskin tag Years '30 of

Ajithism' . They celebrated their idol's three successful decades grandly on real life and social media. It is common for AK fans to celebrate their star in a different manner and turn heads. This time, Puducherry Ajith fans have decided to celebrate Ajith's 30 years in the film industry by having a banner for the Ultimate Star in the deep sea. The actor's followers scuba-dived 100 feet deep in the ocean and held a banner for Ajith K u m a r there. A video of this incident has surfaced over the internet and the latest clip is trending on social media.

Speculations were abuzz that 'Pisasu 2' was a sequel to Mysskin's 2014 horror film. But, now the director has clarified that his earlier one has no connection with the Andrea Jeremiah-starrer. "Producer Muruganantham of Rockfort Entertainment and I were supposed to collaborate on a different film, which didn't take off. So, he asked if I could do Pisasu 2. I didn't have a story for it, but

asked him to give me two weeks to think about it, " Mysskin said, adding, "Pisasu was about a father and his daughter, and Pisasu 2 revolves around a mother and her child. "

When asked about the treatment of the story, the director said both are different. Then, why retain the same name? "Pisasu was both commercially successful and critically acclaimed. I am not interested in titles. I am simply focused on giving a different experience to the theatre-going crowd. "

On working with Andrea Jeremiah, Mysskin said she's an extraordinary actor. and we both worked in Thupparivaalan. I don't think I have ever written such a powerful fullfledged role for a female actor. Her performance will fetch her awards, and I'm sure of it. "

S p e a k i n g about Vijay S e t h u p a t h i ' s extended cameo in 'Pisasu 2' , Mysskin said, they both share a beautiful bond. "I remember he casually asked me for this story, and a couple of days later, told me he'd want to do a role. I didn't know what to do. I revisited my script, and found a character, which was sketched in a way to accommodate him. " And, Mysskin turned that into a tailormade character for Vijay Sethupathi. "When an actor of his stature came on board, the role naturally took a bigger form. But, Vijay Sethupathi followed my instructions, and delivered things that I had just asked for, " added Mysskin.

Shot primarily in Tamil,

Dhanush, who made his second Hollywood appearance in the Netflix action thriller film ‘The Gray Man, ’ starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, did not fail to leave the audience with quite an impression as Avik San aka the Lone Wolf in the film.

The makers did not include Dhanush in ‘The Gray Man ’ merely in a cameo appearance only to get him killed off later in the movie. Rather, his powerful role promised scope for a much larger play in the future films of the franchise, if or when they are made. The Russo Brothers had already confirmed last week that ‘The Gray Man where Ryan Gosling would be reprising his role of CIA mercenary Court Gentry aka Sierra Six. In a recent interview, Joe and Anthony Russo explained what inspired Dhanush’ s casting in the movie and why his character was not killed off. “We ’ re fortunate enough to use Dhanush. We were not interested in him playing a one-off character who shows up just to be overcome by the lead in the film. He is as equally skilled and determined as Gosling is in the movie. He has a story that will allow him to come back into the narrative at some point - as his own hero,

Aditi Gautham, who made her debut with the Telugu film 'Nenithe' , returned to the industry with the courtroom comedy 'Pakka Commercial' , directed by Maruthi. The actress played a key role in the comic caper headlined by Gopichand and Raashii Khanna. After its theatrical run, the film is set to entertain viewers across two streaming platforms - aha and Netflix.

The film revolves around a father and a son, the former being a judge and the latter is an advocate. While the father quits his profession owning up to a mistake he had committed, the money minded son takes up a case revolving around a greedy politician. The father, meanwhile, returns as an advocate to put the politician behind bars. Who ’ll win this battle?

In a promotional event prior to the film ’ s release, Aditi said that she plays a smart girl in the film with a twist. “It feels wonderful to be back with a bang. I am super happy to be back in Telugu. I must thank Maruthi garu, Allu Aravind garu, SKN and a lot of people; it has been a great experience working with them. I play a smart girl with a twist in Pakka Commercial, ” she had said.

After making her Telugu debut with 'Neninthe' in 2008, she starred in films like 'Vedam and Sanju' . After a brief sabbatical, the actress made her comeback with 'Pakka Commercial' . Aditi is curious to know how her performance will be received by the streaming audiences.

Netflix has always had a way of producing documentaries on bizarre and lesser-known things from the world, yet making them interesting and entertaining at the same time. The latest concoction from the streaming platform in 'The Most Hated Man on the Internet' , a three part docuseries that talks about Hunter Moore and IsAnyoneUp.

Moore is the man who started the website IsAnyoneUp back in 2010, which received immediate popularity after he shared nude photos of a girl that he had dated and broken up with on the website. This would start the phenomenon that was later known as “ revenge porn ” and make IsAnyoneUp the home of revenge porn. The docu-series shows the viewers how the website went on to grow into something that attracted a lot of heat and was subsequently taken down. By getting people to share explicit photos of women without their permissions and even hacked content, the website was what propelled the idea of revenge porn, even before it was classed as a sexual offense.

In the center of the show, is Moore, an unapologetic man who fueled the fire for all this. The FBI took down the website and Moore in 2012, and not much was known about the man behind it all since.

Moore, who Rolling Stones titled, “The most hated man on the Internet, ” was convicted on multiple counts and was sentenced two and a half years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Moore was released in 2017, and he has managed to keep a rather low profile since.

In 2022, Moore posted, “Look guys, I did my time behind bars. Living my life peacefully now, it’ s been a decade about what happened. Some of you loves me, most of you hates me, if you want me to apologise well I wouldn ’t. I don ’t owe anyone anything. ”

While Moore has spent his time behind bars, not much seems to have changed in his personality. The show, which documents all the events, is available to stream on Netflix.

Karisma Kapoor is not only one of the finest actors in Bollywood, she’s also a trendsetter. Every 90s kids ‘dreamgirl’ and fashion icon, Karisma sure has swayed many hearts with her unique fashion choices and upbeat dance numbers. Karisma, or ‘Lolo’ as her friends and family fondly call her, dropped a picture to remind us all that nobody does fashion better than her! Sharing an old picture from the archives which has Karisma wearing shiny, black latex pants and a striped crop top, Karisma had a message for Kim Kardashian.

She captioned the post, “Hey Kim, Lolo did it first” For the unversed, Kim Kardashian brought Latex pants and dresses to the fashion fore by donning them on numerous occasions. In fact, Latex has now become synonymous with the beauty mogul’ s fashion sense.

Well, now that Karisma has put it out there, we ’ re certain that it was indeed Lolo who first made a fashion statement with those latex pants. Kareena agreed with her sister and wrote, “ only Lolo can, ” accompanied by a string of fire and heart emoticons.

Sonam Kapoor ’ s sister Rhea Kapoor also wrote, “I mean everyone knows you ’ re the OG” .Karisma recently got back to India after vacationing in the US and the UK for more than a month. On the work front, Karisma has been busy shooting for Abhinay Deo ’ s ‘Brown ’ in Kolkata. The film was announced in April last year. She was last seen in a Zee5 web series ‘Mentalhood’ .

Pankaj Tripathi is back as the fan-favourite lawyer Madhav Mishra to impress the audience again. After two fine seasons, the legal drama is back with a crucial and completed case in the protagonist's life. 'Criminal Justice Adhura Sach' also features Shweta Basu Prasad in a significant role. Fans praise the latest promo as well as hail the ace actor as he is back as the cool attorney.

One of the fans shared their reaction to the teaser and wrote on Twitter, "I'm very exited to seeing this (Sic). "

Meanwhile, a few movie-buffs couldn't keep calm and went to the YouTube comment section to compliment the upcoming show as well as the great actor.

A fan called the show underrated and mentioned in the comment, "The most underrated series on OTT. Not many people talk about it although it's very relatable and all actors have given natural performance. There is nothing over the top in this series. (sic)"

Another film buff complimented the show and wrote, "First Season Was A Masterpiece and Second One Was Also Good.I Hope That This Season Will Also Cross Its Limits And Thank You Hotstar Plus For This Masterpiece Series... (Sic). "

Meanwhile, another admirer of Tripathi penned,

With 22 gold medals, 16 silver and 23 bronze, the star athletes of India proudly marked themselves in the multi-sport event. From table tennis to badminton to wrestling, India's medal tally at the Commonwealth games 2022 reached a total of 61 by grabbing 4th position in the medal standings.

The star athletes of India had already taken a center stage. Few have marked themselves (read weightlifters) while the others are en route to glory. India in the previous 18 appearances in Commonwealth Games have won over 500 medals including 181 gold medals. Their best performance came in the 2010 CWG which was held in India. They won 101 medals in 2010 and were second in the overall medal tally that year.

List of Indian medal winners:

India's Tejaswin Shankar has become the first ever Indian to win a CWG medal in the high jump. With the win, Tejaswin has opened the Indian athletics team's medal account with a bronze in the men's high jump event. With Tejasvin, Saurav Ghosal has also won India's first ever singles medal (bronze) in squash while Indian judoka Tulika Mann settled for a silver in the women's 78 kg category.

India's weightlifter Lovepreet Singh won a bronze in the men's 109 kg category. Lovepreet Singh had broken his own national record with a total of 355 kg lift in the category. After claiming the first gold in Lawn Bowls, India bagged another gold at the table tennis. India's Lawn Bowls women's fours team made history by winning gold. This is India's first medal in the Lawn Bowls event, and the Indian team comprising skipper Rupa Rani Tirkey, Lovely Choubey, Pinki, and Nayanmoni Saikia, ended up winning the title itself after beating 2018 silver medallist South Africa.

India's Sudhir has won a gold in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event. Sudhir, an Asian Para Games bronze medallist lifted 208 kg in his first attempt before increasing it to 212 kg in his second effort to gather 13.4 points and break the games record.

Indian wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Deepak Punia increased India's gold medal haul. On the other hand, India's Anshu Malik clinched silver after losing to Nigeria's Odunayo Folasade in the women's 57 kg final while Divya Kakran and Mohit Grewal won a bronze medal each.

Indian badminton player, PV Sindhu clinched gold in badminton. She defeated Canada's Michelle Li in the final.

India's women's hockey team after a long gap of 16 years returned to the podium, defeating New Zealand via a thrilling tiebreaker in the bronze medal playoff. Indian women's cricket team, however, had to settle for the silver after losing to Australia by 9 runs.

On the other hand, Commonwealth games 2022 turned out to be quite exhilarating with three gold medals in boxing and the unusual sight of three young men almost pulling off an unprecedented clean sweep of medals in the triple jump.

List gold medal winners:

Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), Jeremy Lalrinnunga (weightlifting), Anchita Sheuli (weightlifting), Indian Women Lawn Bowls Team, Harmeet Desai (men ’ s table tennis), Sudhir (men's heavyweight para powerlifting), Sakshi Malik (wrestling), Deepak Punia (wrestling), Vinesh Phogat (wrestling), Naveen (men ’ s freestyle 74 kg wrestling), Bhavina Patel (para table tennis), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (wrestling), Nitu Ghanghas (boxing), Amit Panghal (boxing), Eldhose Paul (triple jump), Nikhat Zareen (boxing), Sharath Kamal and Akula Sreeja (table tennis mixed team), PV Sindhu (badminton), Bajrang Punia (wrestling), Lakshya Sen (badminton), Sharath Kamal (table tennis), Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (men's double badminton). Silver Medal:

Bindyarani Devi (weightlifting), Sanket Mahadev Sargar (weightlifting), L Sushila Devi (Judo), Vikas Thakur (weightlifting), Badminton Mixed Team, Tulika Mann (Judo), Murali Sreeshankar (long jump), Anshu Malik (wrestling), Priyanka Goswami (race walk), Avinash Sable ( steeplechase), Indian Men Lawn Bowls, Abdulla Aboobacker (triple jump), Sharath Kamal and G Sathiyan (table tennis), women's cricket team, Sagar Ahlawat (boxing), Indian Men's Hockey Team. Bronze Medal:

Gururaja Poojary (weight category), Vijay Kumar Yadav (weight category), Harjinder Kaur (weightlifting), Lovepreet Singh (weightlifting), Saurav Ghosal (squash), Gurdeep Singh (weightlifting), Tejaswin Shankar (high jump), Divya Kakran (freestyle wrestling), Mohit Grewal (wrestling), Deepak Nehra (wrestling), Pooja Gehlot (wrestling), Pooja Sihag (wrestling), Mohammed Hussamuddin (boxing), Rohit Tokas (boxing), Sonalben Manubhai Patel (table tennis), Jaismine Lamboria (boxing), Indian Women Hockey, Sandeep Kumar (race walk), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Badminton Women's Double, Squash Mixed Doubles, G. Sathiyan (table tennis), Kidambi Srikanth (badminton).

Former skipper Virat Kohli and a fit-again KL Rahul returned to a 15-member Indian squad for the Asia Cup while senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah missed out owing to a back injury.

The Asia Cup will be held in Dubai and Sharjah from August 27 to September 11. Rahul, who did not feature in the T20 series against the West Indies due to Covid-19, has recuperated from his sports hernia surgery, and is back as vice-captain.

The notable names dropped from the main squad are batter Shreyas Iyer and left-arm spinner Axar Patel. Seamer Deepak Chahar, who has had a four-month lay-off due to a hamstring tear and a back injury was also among reserves. The other absentee from the squad was pacer Harshal Patel, owing to a rib injury. “Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel were not available for selection owing to injuries. They are currently undergoing rehab at the NCA in Bengaluru, ” the BCCI said.

Coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, along with the fivemember selection committee, have identified the core 20 players going ahead and it is only logical that there won ’t be any massive changes by the time the T20 World Cupbound squad is announced. The 15 for the Asia Cup, the three standbys and the two injured players (Bumrah and Harshal) are now the core team.

While Axar, who has been in fine form of late could feel a bit shortchanged, the presence of four spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal meant that there wasn ’t a space for a fifth

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul

slow bowler.

Since the matches will be held on the slower tracks in the UAE, there are only three specialist pacers in the side in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh, with Hardik Pandya being the fourth pacer in the attack.

Indian squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, R Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Y Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan. Standbys: Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer.

India will start their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup T20 in Dubai on August 28, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah said. The squad that India will choose for the Asia Cup will effectively be the core group that will compete in the T20 World Cup in Australia unless there are injury related pull-outs.

BCCI secretary Shah, who also heads the continental body released the fixture of the tournament, which has been shifted out of Sri Lanka due to prevailing political and economic crisis in the island nation. “The wait is finally over as the battle for Asian supremacy commences on 27th August with the allimportant final on 11th September. The 15th edition of the Asia Cup will serve as ideal preparation ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, ” Shah tweeted while releasing the fixture.

Asia Cup format is always dependant on which format’ s global event is round the corner and hence this time, it is a T20 event. Next year ’ s Asia cup will be an ODI event. Group A will comprise of India, Pakistan and a Qualifier (yet to be decided) while group B has Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Indo-Pak matches are the main attraction of the tournament and expectedly the ACC has ensured at least two such matches. If the two teams reach the final, it will extend to three games. India and Pakistan are expected to finish in top two after the league stage matches. That gives the teams another shot at each other in the ‘Super 4 ’ s ’ stage. The top two teams then will qualify for the final on September 11 in Dubai.

Suryakumar Yadav epitomised his team ’ s new all-out attacking approach with a blazing 76 at the top of the order as India romped to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the third T20 international in St Kitts.

After Kyle Mayers, anchored the home side ’ s total of 164 for five with 73 off 50 balls batting first, Yadav ’ s effort off 44 deliveries with eight fours and four sixes ensured the visitors cantered to the target with an over to spare to take a 2-1 lead in the series ahead of the final two matches at the weekend in Florida.

Beaten in the final over of the second match a day earlier when their batting failed to fire consistently, India looked focused and purposeful from the start of their innings with the only concern being over the fitness of the captain.

Rohit Sharma was forced to retire in the second over after it appeared that he hurt his lower back attempting a violent swing to the on-side. However Yadav, given free reign to play his shots from ball one, then dominated an 86-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (24) which effectively ended the match as a contest.

An unbeaten 33 from Rishabh Pant then formalised the win. “When Rohit went inside it was important for someone to bat through to the 17th over but I was still able to be myself and express myself, ” said Yadav. “I really loved it because I have done it in the IPL (Indian Premier League) as well. I just backed myself and enjoyed it.