MELBOURNE, Mar 22: The Allan Labor Government is giving more Victorian students the opportunity to learn Hindi and Punjabi in VCE.
Minister for Education Ben Carroll today announced the language program is rolling out across schools in Melbourne’s western, northern and southeastern suburbs, backed by a $3.5 million investment from the Victorian Budget 2023/24.
The language programs will become available at Cranbourne North’s Alkira Secondary College, Wyndham Central Secondary College in Werribee and Mount Ridley P-12 College in Craigieburn.
The three leading schools will also be able to provide professional learning support and resources for teachers of Hindi or Punjabi at other schools.
More than 20 languages other than English are taught at government schools but there are limited options for students to learn Hindi or Punjabi – and these new programs will encourage more students to learn the two languages at a VCE level.
Studying languages other than English at school creates important links for multicultural Victorians with their heritage, while also improving literacy and communication skills.
Victoria has the highest Indian population in Australia – according to census data, there are more than 170,000 Victorians who speak Hindi and Punjabi in our state.
(MEDIA RELEASE)
MELBOURNE, Mar 30: More than 150,000 Victorians have added their digital Working With Children Check (WWCC) card to the easy, private and secure wallet in the Service Victoria app – giving people another quick and easy way to provide their registration.
Minister for Government Services Gabrielle Williams today encouraged all WWCC card holders to download the Service Victoria app and add the card to their wallet.
The WWCC card joins 7 other cards Victorians can add to their wallet including ambulance membership, fishing licences, Veterans, and senior discount cards. The Allan Labor Government will add more cards this year, including a digital driver licence.
Getting the Service Victoria app means you can quickly and easily access more than 130 government services and get notified about important initiatives like the launch of Victoria’s digital driver licence.
The Service Victoria app and website
also provide one place for people to easily and securely apply for, update, and renew their WWCC. It brings together all the WWCC information and services people need in one place.
Since 2018, Service Victoria has been rolling out new WWCC services and features including the ability for card holders to update their name, replace their card, get a PDF copy of their card, and find their card number.
Service Victoria makes it easier for organisations too. They can scan the QR code on the digital card using the app to see the status of the WWCC in real time and bulk check up to 1,500 WWCCs in one go.
If you are a current WWCC holder and want to get a digital card, download the Service Victoria app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Get in touch using the Service Victoria website if you need help at service.vic.gov. au
MELBOURNE, Mar 29: More international students in Victoria will be supported to thrive away from home thanks to an Allan Labor Government investment.
Minister for Economic Growth Tim Pallas announced the next round of recipients under the Labor Government’s Study Melbourne Inclusion Program, with 13 projects receiving funding to support the wellbeing of international students living in Victoria.
The program provides support for international students to build stronger connections in the Victorian community, with a focus on mental health, physical health, employability, safety, resilience, community engagement and cultural competency.
The National Gallery of Victoria, in partnership with Koorie Heritage Trust, will use the funding to deliver a series of sessions to engage international students with First Peoples’ art, culture and histories.
The University of Melbourne and Orygen Youth Health are expanding their suicide prevention intervention program to be tailored specifically for international students, providing access to suicide alertness workshops and mental health peer workers.
International students in Geelong will be able to participate in the Salvation Army’s
Swimming and Water Safety Project, including a beach safety day at a local surflifesaving club.
Since its inception in 2015, the Study Melbourne Inclusion Program has funded 147 projects and supported approximately more than 235,000 students while building the capacity for student associations and other organisations to assist international students.
In 2023, there were more than 234,000
international students from 170 countries studying in Victoria, making Melbourne the most diverse student city in the world. Melbourne is Australia’s leading city for international students – and No.4 globally–according to the 2024 QS Best Student City report.
For more information about the Study Melbourne Inclusion Program, visit studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/inclusion-program
MELBOURNE, Mar 25: The Allan Labor Government has removed Melbourne’s 75th dangerous and congested level crossing, with traffic returning to Bedford Road in Ringwood while trains start running in the new rail trench more than a year ahead of schedule.
Premier Jacinta Allan today announced the major milestone as new data shows that, on top of easing congestion across our suburbs, level crossing removals have made our roads much safer – preventing more than 100 crashes and near misses every year.
Metro Trains data indicates the number of train and vehicle collisions and near misses across the metropolitan network has fallen
MELBOURNE, Apr 3: Thanks to reforms brought in by the Allan Labor Government, Victoria continues to outpace every other state when it comes to build-to-rent projects.
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny today celebrated the structural completion of the largest build-to-rent development in state, located in South Melbourne's Fishermans Bend precinct.
The development on Gladstone Street delivered by Greystar Real Estate Partners includes 700 build-to-rent apartments, which will soon be home to around 1500 renters when it opens its doors later this year.
The Greystar development supports the Labor Government’s landmark Housing Statement, enabling 800,000 new homes to be built over the next decade, in areas where people want to live – close to jobs, transport and services.
Melbourne is home to around three quarters of all build-to-rent projects completed in Australia last year and 73 per cent of build-to-rent apartments across
by almost three-quarters, from an average of 21 incidents a month in 2017 to just five incidents a month in 2023 as a result of the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Removing the crossings has also slashed commutes – saving close to 50 hours of boom gate down time during the morning peak each and every day and allowing additional train services without more congestion.
The Labor Government has also delivered 47 new and upgraded stations, created the equivalent of 31 MCGs of open space for communities to enjoy and built 58 kilometres of walking and cycling paths across the city.
The Project has averaged one crossing removal almost every six weeks since the first set of boom gates were removed at Burke Road in Glen Iris in 2016.
More than 91 million hours have been worked across the congestion-busting program, making it one of Victoria’s biggest employers supporting almost 6,000 jobs.
More than 13,500 vehicles used the busy Bedford Road crossing every day, experiencing frustrating delays when the boom gates were down for 23 minutes in the morning peak – including families and school buses dropping students at Ringwood Secondary College, which sits next door to the crossing.
With the level crossing gone, the Belgrave Line is now boom gate free from the city to Ferntree Gully. The Lilydale Line will be the first rail line to be boom gate-free later this year when level crossings at Dublin Road in Ringwood East, Coolstore Road in Croydon, and Cave Hill Road in Lilydale go a year ahead of schedule.
Boom gates at Brunt Road in Beaconsfield, Keon Parade in Reservoir, Warrigal and Parkers roads in Parkdale, plus three level crossings in Pakenham, are all set to go this year – with the Pakenham Line extended two kilometres and two new stations being built.
Australia.
Recent reports from property advisory firm Charter Keck Cramer show a rapid increase in the number of buildto-rent projects in Melbourne – including 580 apartments completed in 2023 with 18,200 either under construction or with planning approvals.
With demand for rentals continuing to rise, the Labor Government is fast-tracking the approval of build-to-rent projects and other forms of residential development that meet planning requirements, as part of the Housing Statement.
Eligible build-to-rent developments
completed and operational from 1 January 2022 until 31 December 2031 receive a 50 per cent land tax concession for up to 30 years and a full exemption from Absentee Owner Surcharge.
MELBOURNE, Mar 27: The Allan Labor Government is supporting local councils to build $9 million worth of new and improved community facilities in the state’s fastest growing suburbs.
Minister for Suburbs Sonya Kilkenny announced the 14 successful projects in the Growing Suburbs Fund, to invest in community play spaces, pavilions, and centres – aiming to strengthen social
connections in communities.
The projects, spanning eight local councils, are strategically positioned within areas representing 23 per cent of Victoria’s population, all of which have witnessed growth surpassing the state average over the last two decades.
Recipients include Melton City Council, which will receive $2 million towards a new open space precinct in Aintree with state of
the art facilities, all-abilities playspaces, an off-lead dog park, fitness trail, skate park and soccer fields.
Mitchell Shire Council will use $2 million for a new community centre in Wallara Waters, which will help provide integrated services such as maternal and child health.
Six more councils – Hume City Council, Cardinia Shire Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Whittlesea City Council, Wyndham City Council and Casey City Council were awarded funding towards a variety of projects to respond to changing community needs and demands.
The investments will support a range of local projects including improving and expanding play spaces in Craigieburn, Sunbury and Beaconsfield, delivering a community centre in West Wollert and providing public amenities in Wyndham Vale.
The Growing Suburbs Fund represents a $435 million Labor Government investment over nine years to provide critical local infrastructure.
With the 2023-24 allocation, the Fund has now supported 360 projects and created more than 11,340 jobs. For the full list of successful projects, visit: suburbandevelopment.vic.gov.au/grants/ growing-suburbs-fund
MELBOURNE, Mar 27: The Allan Labor Government has approved plans that will pave the way for a revamp of Melbourne's beloved Queen Victoria Market, ensuring it remains an iconic social and cultural landmark.
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny today announced the approval of a development
plan and early works permit, setting the stage for the transformative $1.7 billion project.
The project, a partnership with Lendlease and the City of Melbourne, is set to create thousands of jobs and draw in more residents, workers, and visitors to the area.
Housing will be a key feature of the development with plans to deliver around
560 build to rent apartments, with 15 per cent dedicated to affordable housing, and student housing provider Scape to deliver an additional 1100 beds for university students.
The development supports the Labor Government’s landmark Housing Statement target – enabling 800,000 new homes to be built over the next decade, in areas where people want to live – close to jobs, transport and services.
Open spaces, cycling paths, retail stores along the restored Franklin Street Stores, and a community and cultural space fronting Queen Street will form part of the project.
This includes a new Market Square, a 1.8 hectare park, which will provide a meeting place for residents, locals, and visitors.
Early works allow excavation to begin to create carparks on the basement of the project’s towers, permit applications for the rest of the building will be assessed in relation to the project’s development plan.
With a legacy dating back to 1878, Queen Victoria Market is an iconic Melbourne landmark and stringent heritage controls will be upheld to preserve its unique character.
(MEDIA RELEASE)
MELBOURNE, Mar 27: The Allan Labor Government is making sure Victoria’s worldclass tourism industry continues to thrive, with strong investment in the state’s visitor economy and blockbuster major events generating a new record high of $37.8 billion in tourism spending in Victoria in 2023. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today announced the record results published by the National and International Visitor Survey, with expenditure $5.4 billion higher in the year ending December 2023 compared to 2019 levels in a boost for local jobs and businesses across the state.
Melbourne’s status as the city of choice for Victorians has been cemented – taking the crown as the nation’s top overnight interstate leisure destination on visitation, nights and spend. In 2023, 3.9 million visitors spent $5 billion in Melbourne, with our jam-packed calendar of major events drawing visitors from far and wide to the hearts of the city. Last year’s epic line-up included musicals & Juliet, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child alongside blockbuster sporting events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup, NHL Global Series Melbourne, Australian Open, Bledisloe Cup, and Ed Sheeran at the MCG.
Victoria’s domestic tourism market continues to go from strength to strength, with total domestic expenditure in Melbourne 27 per cent higher compared to the year ending 2019 and 39 per cent higher in regional Victoria.
More visitors are flocking to our vibrant tourism regions, with total domestic expenditure increasing in Geelong and the Bellarine by 72 per cent compared to 2019 levels while Philip Island experienced an increase of 59 per cent and High Country boosted by a 52 per cent increase.
Victoria’s status on the world stage as the nation’s major events capital and food bowl of Australia has captured the hearts of international visitors, with global travellers generating $6.4 billion in tourism expenditure last year.
This year’s major events calendar is no different, with visitors from interstate and overseas flocking to
Melbourne to enjoy the 2024 Australian Open, the Matildas Olympic Qualifier, the NGV Triennial, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Groundhog Day the Musical, Melbourne Fashion Festival and the Formula 1 ® Australian Grand Prix.
The record-breaking Australian Open was the perfect launching pad for the state's new global tourism marketing campaign, Every bit different, which continues to showcase Victoria’s diversity, passion and creativity to local, national and global audiences. (MEDIA
Fitness enthusiasts in Melbourne are in for a treat as Sarina Jain, the founder of the renowned Indian dance fitness program Masala Bhangra, is set to make a special appearance at the AusFitness Expo. Held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on April 13 & 14, the expo promises to be Australia’s largest festival of fitness, featuring an array of activities, celebrity training sessions, and wellness classes.
Bringing Indian Dance Fitness to the World:
Sarina Jain, often dubbed the “Indian Jane Fonda” by her students, has been a trailblazer in the fitness industry for over two decades. Inspired by her Indian heritage and a desire to promote a healthier lifestyle, Sarina created Masala Bhangra, a high-intensity workout that combines energetic Bhangra moves with contemporary Bollywood dance steps. Since its inception 24 years ago, Masala Bhangra has gained global recognition, with classes offered in over 11 countries and over 15 exercise videos produced.
A Tribute to Her Father:
The journey of Masala Bhangra began as a tribute to Sarina’s late father, who tragically passed away from a heart attack at the young age of 47. Determined to honor his memory and promote cultural unity through fitness, Sarina has dedicated
spreading joy and positivity through her unique workout program.
Returning to International Travel:
After a seven-year hiatus from international travel, Sarina Jain is thrilled to be heading down-under to Melbourne for the AusFitness Expo. Attendees can look forward to experiencing the energy and excitement of Masala Bhangra firsthand as Sarina hosts special workout sessions at the event.
Join Sarina at the AusFitness Expo:
The AusFitness Expo promises to be an action-packed weekend, with Sarina Jain taking center stage alongside other fitness icons on the Women’s Active Stage. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in Masala Bhangra sessions, as well as enjoy a variety of group fitness classes, celebrity training sessions, and wellness activities.
Event Details:
• Date: April 13 & 14, 2023
• Venue: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
• Ticket Information: Adult tickets are $30 for a one-day pass and $50 for two-day entry.
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to meet Sarina Jain and experience the exhilarating world of Masala Bhangra at the AusFitness Expo.
As the founder and former President of the Australian Integrated Fijian Association of Victoria Inc (AIFAV), Rohit Roy Kumar has dedicated his life to serving others and fostering inclusivity within multicultural communities. His impressive career trajectory, philanthropic efforts, and commitment to creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities have left a lasting impact on countless lives.
• Rohit's professional journey began in Fiji, where he worked with the Ministry of Education before relocating to Australia in 2001. Since then, he has held senior positions with renowned companies such as Shell Company of Australia and BP Australia.
• Beyond his corporate endeavors, Rohit has demonstrated a deep commitment to community service. He founded Australian Integrated Marketing and Merchandise Services, providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
• Rohit's philanthropic efforts extend to various causes, including supporting youths, senior citizens, and newly arrived migrants. Through successful fundraiser events, he has provided vital support to those in need, locally and internationally.
• Rohit's dedication to community service has earned him prestigious awards and nominations, including the Meritorious Award from the Governor of Victoria and Victorian Multicultural Commission in 2018.
• He has also been recognized as a semi-finalist in the Victorian Regional Community Awards and nominated for the Victorian Disability Awards and Citizen of the Year with the Melton City Council.
Advocacy for Inclusivity and Multicultural Understanding
• As a member of the Regional Advisory Committee board for the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Rohit actively
promotes inclusivity and multicultural understanding. He strives to create a more cohesive and supportive community for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Empowering Individuals with Disabilities
• Rohit's personal experiences as a father of a child with mild cerebral palsy have fuelled his commitment to supporting families facing similar challenges. Through his charity organization AIFAV, he provides essential resources and support to individuals with disabilities and their families.
• He has also founded Australian Integrated Care Services (AICS), offering employment opportunities to carers and providing training for support workers. Rohit's advocacy ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to employment and performance opportunities.
Creating Opportunities for Multicultural Engagement
• Rohit's initiatives, such as hosting multicultural events and supporting various cultural communities, promote cohesion and understanding among diverse groups. He believes in overcoming cultural barriers and fostering unity within the community.
A Visionary Leader for Future Generations
• Rohit's leadership qualities, compassion, and dedication to community service make him an inspirational figure for current and future generations. He continues to advocate for equal opportunities and empowerment across all community groups, working towards a more inclusive and prosperous future.
In summary, Rohit Roy Kumar's unwavering commitment to community service, professional achievements, and dedication to inclusivity have made him a respected leader and a catalyst for positive change in multicultural communities.
(G’day India New Desk)
It was Rahil Shaikha’s passion for fresh, healthy food that piqued his curiosity to explore owning a Mad Mex restaurant and becoming a franchisee.
As a Newcastle local familiar with the Mad Mex brand, Rahil spotted an opportunity to buy the Mad Mex Newcastle Marketown store.
With its burgeoning community feel in the heart of the Newcastle CBD, and its reputation as one of the most popular shopping centres in the area, Mad Mex Marketown was an attractive business proposition to Rahil.
“I have loved the Mad Mex brand for a long time and as a customer myself, loved their healthy and fresh food philosophy, so I saw buying my own store as a recipe for success,” said Rahil.
“I felt connected to Mad Mex’s brand purpose, mission, and ambition. As a premium fast casual dining restaurant, their customer-centric approach and their franchisee support model was very appealing.”
So, armed with an MBA and a keen business sense, Rahil set out on a path to business ownership of the Newcastle store in December 2023.
“One of the most attractive parts to becoming a Mad Mex business owner was the franchisee support that Mad Mex offers,” said Rahil.
Through the Mad Mex Franchisee program, Rahil receives extensive support and guidance from the franchisor through the areas of marketing, training, systems and tools and operations.
“The simplicity and support provided by Mad Mex in starting a franchise were
significant factors in my decision. It was well-structured and organised from the first expression of interest submission, to presenting a business plan and meeting the leadership team.
The franchisee process and beyond has been incredibly supportive. Mad Mex assisted with aspects such as construction, and leasing and provided comprehensive training and guidance to ensure the smooth establishment and operation of the franchise.”
As Rahil looks back on the first day when he and his wife Sana opened the doors, it’s met with a remarkable sense of pride.
“Serving our first customers was one of the best moments of
our lives and continues to be, as well as the positive impact we make on our community every day.
“The most enjoyable aspect of being a Mad Mex franchisee is the opportunity to contribute to the community by providing job opportunities, especially for international students. Additionally, witnessing the growth and success of the restaurant is highly rewarding.”
For anyone considering buying into Mad Mex as a franchisee, Rahil’s advice is “if you put in the hard work and dedication to grow a successful business, then this, combined with the support provided by the Mad Mex support office, makes the process highly rewarding. Potential franchisees should be passionate about food, adept at running operations, and committed to the success of the business.”
As for the future, Rahil says “the future looks so bright and promising with continued growth and success.”
To find out about how you could become a Mad Mex franchisee, please contact: franchising@madmex.com.au www.franchising.madmex.com.au
NEW DELHI, Mar 26: Mumbai has surpassed Beijing to emerge as Asia's new billionaire capital while India has overtaken Germany to become the third-ranked country globally with 271 billionaires, according to the latest Hurun Research Institute report.
"Mumbai was the fastest-growing billionaire capital in the world, adding 26 in the year and taking it to third in the world and Asia's billionaire capital. New Delhi broke into the Top 10 for the first time," the report states.
India's economic prowess was further underscored by the remarkable surge in its billionaire population. The country added a staggering 94 new billionaires, the highest
of any nation except the United States, bringing the total to 271 ultra-high-networth individuals. This surge, the highest since 2013, is a testament to the soaring confidence in the Indian economy, as noted by Rupert Hoogewerf, the institute's chairman and chief researcher.
Indian billionaires' cumulative wealth reached US$1 trillion, surpassing China's average wealth per billionaire (US$3.2 billion vs US$3.8 billion), the 2024 Hurun Global Rich List report states.
The report highlights that industry-wise the pharmaceutical sector leads the pack with 39 billionaires, followed by the automobile
and auto components industry (27), and the chemicals sector (24).
Collectively, the wealth of Indian billionaires amounts to a phenomenal $1 trillion, accounting for 7 per cent of the global billionaire wealth, reflecting the country’s substantial economic influence.
The rise of startups, particularly in the booming Artificial Intelligence (AI) space, is a significant contributor as well. This trend aligns with the global focus on AI, which emerged as the biggest driver of wealth creation, generating over half of all new wealth this year.
With a young, tech-savvy population and a growing focus on innovation, India is wellpositioned to capitalise on this AI revolution, potentially fuelling the creation of even more billionaires in the coming years, the report added.
Leading the Indian billionaire list is Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, with a staggering net worth of $115 billion. Closely following is Gautam Adani, the founder of the Adani Group energy conglomerate, with assets valued at $86 billion, marking a $33 billion surge in wealth attributed to a rally in his companies' shares.
While India's billionaire population soared, China witnessed a decline, with the report stating, "China had a bad year. HK was down 20 per cent, Shenzhen down 19 per cent, and Shanghai down 7 per cent."
This downturn can be attributed to the crisis in the country’s real estate and volatile stock market problems in the renewable energy sectors.
MUMBAI, Mar 28: Procter & Gamble India announced that Kumar Venkatasubramanian will take over as CEO for its operations in the country from May 1.
He will take over from LV Vaidyanathan, who will leave the company to pursue other interests after 28 years of service at P&G.
An alumnus of IIM Calcutta with almost 24 years of experience, Venkatasubramanian
is currently leading the P&G business in Australia and New Zealand as CEO.
Prior to the Australia role, Venkatasubramanian led the sales team in P&G India until 2020.
“Venkatasubramanian is no stranger to the India organisation, having spent many years building and executing our business strategies here. The India business and
people will immensely benefit from his leadership and vision,” said Stanislav Vecera, P&G President, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.
Under Venkatasubramanian’s leadership, many programmes were expanded to have a significant impact on employees and the community. This included P&G ANZ’s largestever corporate partnership with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
“I look forward to being back in the market, learning more about the Indian consumers and serving their needs. The India organisation is on a momentum, delivering consistent results and a balanced top and bottom-line growth,” said Venkatasubramanian.
“We will focus on a portfolio of daily use products where performance drives brand choice and raises the bar on all aspects of our superiority strategy – product, package, brand communication, retail execution, and value,” he added.
KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 27: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and said that his vision would help craft a "more ambitious agenda" for the India-Malaysia relationship.
Jaishankar, who arrived in Malaysia after concluding his Singapore and the Philippines visit, also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Malaysian leader.
"Honour to call on Prime Minister @ anwaribrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi," the Jaishankar said in a post on X.
"His vision for stronger India-Malaysia ties, both in traditional and new-age areas, will
help us craft a more ambitious agenda for the relationship," the EAM said, adding that he "benefitted" from PM Ibrahim's "guidance and insights on regional developments".
Earlier on Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar held a 'productive and frank discussion' with his Malaysian counterpart, Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, and the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The two Ministers exchanged views on enhancing collaboration in political, economic, defence, digital, startups, consular and people-to-people linkages.
In addition, they shared perspectives on the region, Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and
Ukraine.
"As we near completion of a decade of our Enhanced Strategic Partnership, look forward to further strengthening our engagements," Jaishankar wrote on X after meeting Haji Hasan.
Bound by robust economic partnerships and close people-to-people ties, the two nations share a long-standing and substantive relationship.
In 2023, India was Malaysia's 12th largest global trading partner with total trade amounting to RM 77.76 billion ($16.53 billion).
If a person has changed their name from the name on their birth certificate by way of a BDM-issued change of name certificate they must write this name in the NOIM. The person’s name should be recorded on the NOIM exactly as it appears on the change of name certificate. Once a person has changed their name in this way they cannot choose to revert to their birth name for the purposes of the marriage documents. Some BDMs will amend a person’s name on their birth record in certain circumstances instead of issuing a change of name certificate. In this situation the person should record the name on their amended birth certificate.
Prior to BDMs granting change of name certificates (commencing in about the late 1990s), a person could change their name by deed poll. A person who changed their name by deed poll must write this name on the NOIM. The person’s name should be recorded in the
NOIM exactly as it appears on their deed poll documentation.
A person who believes there is an error in the spelling of their name on their birth certificate, or on their change of name certificate, should contact the BDM in the state or territory where they live, or were born, to enquire about having the certificate corrected. If the birth certificate or change of name certificate has been amended, the celebrant should record that name on the NOIM.
More than one in four YouTube creators, who are part of its ad sharing programme, are now earning money with the short-form video service Shorts, the company said.
Since introducing revenue sharing on Shorts last year, more than 25 per cent of channels in YouTube Partner Programme (YPP) are now earning through the revenue stream.
The Google-owned platform said that of the creators who joined YPP by meeting the Shorts eligibility thresholds, more than 80 per cent are now also earning through other YPP monetisation features on YouTube, "be it long-form advertising, fan funding, YouTube Premium, BrandConnect, Shopping and more".
“This means that Shorts is opening the door for creators to earn in other ways on the platform, and they’re seeing the dividends,” the company informed.
YouTube has paid $70 billion to creators, artists and media
companies over the last three years.
“With an average of over 70 billion daily views on Shorts and new avenues to earn money, the Shorts community is beginning to thrive, both with new forms of creativity and fresh voices to the platform,” said YouTube.
Alan Chikin Chow (who has 38.7 million subscribers) said that revenue sharing on Shorts has really changed the game.
“As a Shorts-first creator and one of the most-viewed channels in the US, I’ve seen what’s possible creatively through the format. But revenue sharing has delivered a sustainable way to continue to build my business,” Chow said in a statement.
The company introduced YPP 16 years ago.
“Beginning with just a handful of creators, it’s grown to more than 3 million creators globally,” the company said.
BY GURPAL SINGH
There has been a greater discussion and recognition of the children’s rights through the UN Convention of the Rights of the child (the convention). The convention addresses protecting children from all forms of discrimination including but not limited to the discrimination on the basis of birth and national, ethnic or social origins, parents, guardians or family members. The convention also requires the child’s birth to be registered immediately after the birth, the right to have a name, nationality, a right known and be cared for by that child’s parents as far as possible. These rights emphasis on the right of individual child and not the children as a group.
For the child born through surrogacy arrangements, they may have only one or no legally recognised parent. The adults caring for the child may have parental responsibility orders, but this falls well short of providing children with the benefits and protections that legal parentage does entail. The issues of identity and parenthood are complex. The states have increasingly recognised the importance of children knowing the circumstances of their birth and being able to access biological and genetic information including medical information.
From a child’s perspective the issues of identity and parenthood are intertwined. Given the importance of identity, it does require assurance that identifying information about children born because of artificial reproductive technology is properly stored and made readily accessible for those children. Denying a child legal parentage, when there are no concerns about the care being provided by their parents cannot be justified considering from the perspective of the rights of that child.
Notions of ‘a family’ has changed
significantly in the past few decades and the mother-father nuclear family is not the only type of family which is in existence. Development of new technologies and diverse family forms raises new challenges for the status of children born of these family. The law has struggled to keep a pace with these technological developments and the ethical issues that arise as a result. Often the conflicting and confusing laws results in statelessness and limping parentage. There are many facts to the right to identity the children born because of assisted reproductive technology. The emphasis is on the importance of recognising a child’s right to know the circumstances of the birth including genetic information. This is applicable to surrogacy, with children needing access to information about any gamete donor, be it sperm or egg donor and any surrogate. Different types of information are important for a child to know as part of the identity and sense of ‘the self’ including knowing who donated genetic material and what their genetic and medical histories are. There seem to be a conflict of rights to know the identity and the donor’s right to privacy. Where these laws are conflicting, the prevailing view is that the rights of the child should be given greater recognition and priority.
Research studies into families formed via surrogacy, artificial conception and natural conception, including the issue of identity for children underscores the importance of children being told about the circumstances of their birth from an early age. Children have
some understanding of inheritance and physical characteristics by age four. As a child attains the age seven, child develops an understanding of biological relatedness. When the children are told about their origins from an early age, they can absorb the information gradually as their cognitive development mature.
Surrogacy raises complex issues for policy makers, the lawmakers, the lawyers and the medical professionals. In Australia, the national ethical guidelines governing health professionals prohibits the facilitation of commercial surrogacy. The word facilitation is not defined, nor any guidance given. This may imply that they cannot discuss any issues with respect to overseas surrogacy. The practical consequence of this is that parents are not able to access accurate information about the treatment options and risks which includes poor screening, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple births or the varying requirements about anonymous donations and the potential consequences for the children who are denied information that forms part of their identity.
The importance of families being open with children about the circumstances of their conception, for the wellbeing of the family, means that the nation has to grapple with how this information is gathered, stored and accessed. This is an urgent issue as it is increasingly easy for people to access home genetic testing kits, resulting in people finding out by accident that their parents or one of them has no genetic link to them. Donor recipients have said that they want personalised information rather than formulate response as the information is important not just for themselves, but also to pass on to their own children. There are significant differences in the regulations in Australian states and territories with respect to record keeping and access to information.
Mrs. Abhilasha Sharma, an accomplished architect based in Melbourne, radiates a palpable aura of grace and determination. As we sit down for a heartfelt conversation, she opens up about her journey balancing the demands of her profession, the joys of motherhood, and her upcoming endeavor – participating in the Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide a leading beauty pageant. With candor and passion, she shares her motivations, challenges, and aspirations, offering insights that resonate deeply with women navigating similar paths.
Introduction:
In a warm and affable manner, Abhilasha introduces herself, tracing her roots back to New Delhi, India, where her childhood dreams were shaped by a family legacy steeped in architecture.
"Architecture runs in my blood," she smiles, reminiscing about her grandfather, father, and brother, all architects by profession. Married for nearly six years, Abhilasha beams with pride as she speaks about her son, Rishi, born in 2022, who has brought immeasurable joy into her life.
Journey as an Architect:
With a gleam of nostalgia in her eyes, Abhilasha shares snippets of her architectural journey, a lifelong passion nurtured within the walls of her family home.
"I've always been captivated by the magic of design,"
she reflects, recalling her early exposure to blueprints and sketches. Pursuing her Bachelor of Architecture in India and later completing her Master's degree in Melbourne, Abhilasha's professional trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. "Architecture isn't just a career; it's a calling," she asserts, highlighting how her profession has instilled in her invaluable traits of empathy and focus, qualities that extend beyond the drafting table into her personal life.
Inspiration for Participating in the Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide Beauty Pageant:
The topic shifts to Abhilasha's decision to step into the realm of beauty pageantry, a choice motivated by a quest for selfconfidence and empowerment. "Motherhood changes you in profound ways," she confides, acknowledging the toll it can take on one's self-esteem. Seeking to reclaim her sense of self and celebrate her journey as a woman and a mother, Abhilasha found resonance in the ethos of the Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide pageant. "It's not about superficial beauty; it's about inner strength and resilience," she emphasizes, underlining the pageant's mission to empower married women and mothers.
Selection Process and Criteria:
With transparency, Abhilasha elucidates the inclusive ethos of the beauty pageant, which transcends conventional beauty standards. "It's about embracing diversity and celebrating womanhood in all its forms," she explains. While age and Indian heritage are prerequisites, the emphasis lies on confidence-building and self-expression, rather than physical attributes.
Utilising Architectural Skills:
Drawing parallels between her profession and the world of beauty pageantry, Abhilasha underscores the significance of her architectural expertise in the competition. "As architects, we understand the interplay of aesthetics, materials, and design," she muses, revealing plans to apply her skills in outfit design and presentation. "It's about crafting a narrative of elegance and authenticity," she adds, her eyes sparkling with creative fervor.
Balancing Commitments:
In a candid reflection on the challenges she faces, Abhilasha shares insights into the delicate balancing act of managing her professional commitments, motherhood, and pageant preparations. "It's a juggling act," she admits, describing the whirlwind of responsibilities and the occasional moments of self-doubt. Yet, amidst
the chaos, she finds solace in the unwavering support of her family, whose encouragement fuels her determination to persevere.
Values in Work and Family Life:
As the conversation delves deeper, Abhilasha speaks passionately about the values that anchor her life – honesty, dedication, and the importance of family time. "My work and family are intertwined," she affirms, emphasizing the need for balance and presence in both spheres. "It's about cherishing the moments that matter," she reflects, a sentiment echoed in her commitment to quality time with her son
Architectural Perception of Beauty:
In a thoughtprovoking analogy, Abhilasha explores the intersection of architecture and personal aesthetics, drawing parallels between the symmetry of design and the balance of inner beauty. "Just as a well-designed structure evokes a sense of harmony, true beauty emanates from within," she asserts, her words resonating with a profound wisdom born of experience.
With unwavering resolve, Abhilasha articulates her vision for using her platform in the beauty pageant to champion causes close to her heart. "It's not just about winning a crown; it's about making a difference," she declares, expressing her commitment to supporting marginalized communities, particularly women facing adversity.
In a final message of empowerment, Abhilasha offers words of encouragement to women navigating the complexities of modern life. "You are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to," she asserts, her gaze unwavering. "Motherhood is not a limitation; it's a superpower," she adds, a testament to the resilience and strength inherent in every woman.
In the end, Mrs. Abhilasha Sharma's journey serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, illuminating the path for women everywhere to pursue their dreams unapologetically. As she prepares to grace the stage of the beauty pageant, she carries with her the collective hopes and aspirations of women around the world, a testament to the transformative power of courage and perseverance.
By Tonee SethiGift-giving is an expression of kindness across communities. In India, this ritual is embellished with ‘Shagun’, which denotes ‘good fortune’. This monetary gift is usually accompanied by a one-rupee coin. It is seen as a blessing and prayer of happiness and prosperity for the recipient.
Here are seven reasons why Indians add one rupee in money gifting: The Inauspicious Shunya: Hinduism emphasises on the cyclical tradition of life and death where ‘zero’ (shunya) indicates the end and ‘one’ is the beginning of something new. Ends are associated with negativity and beginnings with optimism. Giving money as a gift in numbers ending with zero, like 500, 1000, and so on, has ominous implications. So, an extra rupee is added to ensure a fresh start.
A New Beginning: Beliefs play paramount importance in traditions. Shagun is given on auspicious occasions like weddings, birthdays, rice, and sacred thread ceremonies. The celebrations concur with the belief in new beginnings. The ‘onerupee’ is the symbol of renewed hope for the receiver, who is embarking on a new phase of life.
A Wholesome Debt: Festivals and gatherings are good opportunities to foster and strengthen communal ties. This was especially prevalent in the days of forefathers. To encourage this community feeling, the additional ‘one-rupee’ was seen as a benign debt on the receiver’s part. They had to repay it by accepting and attending the giver’s festivals whenever the time came, ensuring a continuum in social relations.
Draupadi’s Akshaya Patra: Like Lord Krishna’s boon of a vessel to Draupadi that would always have some extra anna (rice) for feeding everyone, the ‘onerupee’ signifies a bit of leftover money for the receiver as well. The extra amount becomes a symbol of hope that difficult times will pass.
Undivided Against All Odds: In the olden days, social gatherings were generally limited to marriages. Guests blessed the newlyweds
against all challenges. It manifested into the idea of gifting a sum of money that was not an ‘even’ number and could not be equally divided. This was to ensure that the couple did not quarrel over wealth and prospered together instead.
The Auspicious Metallic Coin: The additional rupee of Shagun is always a coin because they are made of metal or Dhaatu. The human body is constituted by the Ashtadhaatu or ‘eight elements’. Metals are propitious and a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of wealth. Gold and silver coins were given as gifts in the past before the minting of steel and copper coins. Therefore, the gifting of a metallic coin adds to the holiness of the festivity.
A Seedling That Blooms: Shagun is given with the hope that it is utilised for the benefit of the receiver. However, the extra coin is for investment. Like the popular tale of an enterprising boy who made a fortune from a paise, it also encourages the receiver’s intellectual capacity to make a lasting impact from small but steady efforts. Dr.
AI, mental health, and longevity are global trends driving the ever-expanding wellbeing space in 2024. “In the face of environmental, public health, and economic challenges, it’s crucial for us to reflect on our role in creating a safer, more sustainable world. We must all strive to be mindful of our consumption and adopt practices that promote individual and community wellbeing, all while preserving the natural world for future generations,” says Sunny Gurpreet Singh, founder of the Roundglass Living app and philanthropist.
Here are some of the top wellbeing trends to watch out for, according to Dr. David Vago, a neuroscientist and research lead at Roundglass Living, and his team:
AI and Wellbeing: AI has entered the wellbeing arena, with healthcare apps, virtual assistants, chatbots, and remote patient monitoring all growing rapidly. AI is leveraging biometric data to offer personalized insights and advanced analytics, allowing for tailored mental and physical wellbeing solutions.
Biometric Monitoring: Wearable devices are swiftly becoming 2024’s must-have accessories. Equipped with sensors that track health indicators (like sleep quality, blood glucose levels, and even stress through cortisol levels), these wearables are giving consumers unprecedented insights into their day-to-day wellbeing. XR (extended reality), VR (virtual reality), and AR (augmented reality) devices, like the new Apple Vision Pro, show both an
increase in usage and strong interest in further adoption. “Health data from these devices can be responsibly mined to create personalized solutions for employee wellbeing,” says Dr. Vago.
Cold Plunges: Videos of people taking cold plunges in frozen lakes or specially designed tubs have taken over social media. It’s not just a health fad—new research supports the health benefits of exposure to extreme cold and heat, leading to a surge in the adoption of thermal stress practices like cold plunges, cryotherapy, and saunas. Already, celebrities like actor Bradley Cooper, singer Harry Styles, and NBA athlete LeBron James have popularised coldwater plunges in the media. Research shows that manageable stress created by sudden contact with extremely cold water can improve heart, vascular, and endothelial function, reduce the risk for dementia and stroke, and improve depressive disorders. In 2024, a team of researchers in the United Kingdom will conduct the largest, randomized controlled trial (involving over 400 people) to understand the impact of using cold-water exposure to treat anxiety disorders and depression.
Climate-Focused Wellness: An uptick in extreme weather events across the globe has climate change at the forefront of many people’s minds. As a result, “climate-focused wellness” is poised for a meteoric rise. Environmental considerations will become increasingly important to both businesses and consumers. Expect to see more emphasis on promoting sustainability and reducing environmental
impact. Businesses are increasingly aligning with a nature-positive mission, promoting global biodiversity framework goals and focusing on enhancing ecosystem health and resilience.
“AI is anticipated to play a key role in protecting consumers and managing resources like water more efficiently. These trends underscore a growing recognition of the interconnectedness of climate change, biodiversity, and human wellbeing,” says Dr. Vago.
Sleep Aids: Good sleep never goes out of style—and it continues to be a major focus within the wellness industry. The market for sleep supplements (including melatonin and other natural sleep aids) has grown substantially, while high-tech sleep solutions (like thermoregulated mattresses, sleep trackers, and sound therapy practices) are gaining traction.
Self-care: Self-care will continue to headline as a defining wellness trend in 2024. Millennials spend twice as much on self-care as Baby Boomers, and 9 out of 10 Americans say they practice self-care, with a third increasing their activities recently.
While trends capture the zeitgeist, healthy living is about making positive life choices every day—eating healthy, moving your body, getting adequate sleep at night, living mindfully, and tending to your relationships. Focus on putting the foundations in place and use these trends as inspiration to find what works for you.
By N. Lothungbeni HumtsoeFeeling sluggish or low on energy is a common experience for many people, especially in today’s fast-paced world. While caffeine is often used to combat fatigue, there are plenty of natural alternatives to boost energy levels without relying on stimulants. In this article, Dr. Rohini Patil, MBBS and Nutritionist Founder Of Nutracy Lifestyle highlights five caffeine-free ways to enhance your energy and vitality, allowing you to feel more alert and productive throughout the day.
Get Moving with Exercise: Regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to increase energy levels naturally. Exercise helps improve circulation, deliver oxygen and nutrients to your cells, and release endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days of the week. Choose activities you enjoy, such as walking, cycling, yoga, or dancing, to make staying active a fun and sustainable part of your routine.
Prioritize Quality Sleep: Getting enough high-quality sleep is essential for replenishing energy levels and supporting overall health. Set a regular sleep routine of 7-9 hours each night. To help your body know when to shut down, create a calming and peaceful nighttime routine by turning down the lights, doing deep breathing exercises or meditation, and avoiding screens right before bed.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can contribute to feelings of fatigue and low energy, so it’s essential to stay hydrated throughout the day. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and adjust your fluid intake based on factors like activity level, climate, and individual needs. In addition to water, hydrating foods such as fruits and vegetables can contribute to your overall fluid intake. Keep a reusable water bottle with you as a reminder to drink regularly, and flavor your water with fresh herbs, fruit slices, or a splash of citrus for added variety.
Fuel Your Body with Nutrient-Rich Foods:
Eating a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods can provide the energy your body needs to function optimally. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats in your meals and snacks. Avoid relying on sugary snacks and processed foods, which can cause energy crashes and lead to feelings of fatigue. Instead, opt for snacks that combine complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats, such as Greek yogurt with berries, whole grain toast with avocado, or nuts and seeds.
Practice Stress Management Techniques:
Chronic stress can drain your energy reserves and leave you feeling depleted. Incorporate
stress management techniques into your daily routine to help combat fatigue and promote relaxation. Practice mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga to reduce stress levels and increase feelings of calm and well-being. Additionally, make time for activities you enjoy, connect with supportive friends and family members, and prioritize self-care to recharge both mentally and physically.
Boosting your energy levels naturally doesn’t require relying on caffeine or other stimulants.
By incorporating regular exercise, prioritizing quality sleep, staying hydrated, fuelling your body with nutrient-rich foods, and practicing stress management techniques, you can enhance your energy and vitality without experiencing the crashes and side effects associated with caffeine consumption. Experiment with these caffeine-free strategies to find what works best for you and enjoy sustained energy and well-being throughout your day.
Hair struggles are a universal warfare, in which you have to make consistent efforts to keep the hair under control and in good condition. One can experience flaking, thinning, dandruff, and hair loss and all these conditions are manifested in different ways. Fortunately, we have simple routines that we can apply regularly to achieve healthy hair.
And what if the solution to your hair dilemma is always hiding there in your kitchen pantry? Who would have thought that a common vegetable used for adding flavour to foods is capable of remoulding the health of your hair? Although the potent odour is not the prettiest of smells, but the advantages of using onion juice topically are much more than just a temporary olfactory problem.
Onion juice is highly appreciated as a natural and effective treatment for a wide array of hair ills, and Ganesh Kamath, Co-Founder, of Earthraga, shares the benefits of onion for your hair:
Unleash the Power of Hydration: The refreshing moisturising properties of onions target dry and dull hair as well as a weary, dry scalp. They are the ones that refresh the hair and provide it with the needed moisture, leading to a look that has a smooth, lustrous appearance. The vitamins and minerals utilised in these MVPs transport nutrients straight to the follicles and nourish them from the inside, allowing for the best possible hair condition, and establishing a good environment for hair growth.
Nourishing from the Inside Out: Speaking
of nutrition, hair follicles, the essential components of healthy hair growth, receive increased nourishment from onions. They are recognized for their role in facilitating the circulation of blood through the hair follicles. This increased blood circulation guarantees a consistent supply of oxygen and nourishment. The vitamins and minerals utilised in these MVPs transport nutrients straight to the follicles and nourish them from the inside, allowing for the best possible hair condition, and establishing a good environment for hair growth.
Keeps Your Natural Hair Color Vibrant: Conversely, early greying might result from a lack of some micronutrients, health problems, stress factors and even genes. Onion oil for hair benefits is especially felt through enzymes, which can be used as anti-radicals to resist free radicals damage on hair. This way can also get the hair back to its original colour, even dark it can. For instance, the formulas combining Amla and Bhringraj, the natural ingredients, are aimed to prevent hair colour fading even before its time.
Soothes and Fights Dandruff: From an antiseptic and anti-inflammation point of view, onion can treat scalp infections that include redness, dandruff and itchiness of the scalp. These onion extracts contain essential minerals and vitamins that help hair stay hydrated at the root level, making it unbreakable which adds strength from the roots to the tips of the hair. It does that too, being an excellent stimulator of blood circulation, an effective prevention of itchy scalp and a marvellous hair growth inducer.
Prevents Hair Fall: Onion juice is one of the best-known remedies essential because it has a high amount of sulphur that makes it effective in reducing hair loss. Sulphur improves collagen production which is essential for the formation of hair follicles and also cleanses the skin. Moreover, with onion juice or oil a massage activates hair growth by increasing the blood flow to the scalp.
Indeed, the onion juice comes as a gift from nature as it provides an astounding variety of benefits to hair care. When it comes to hydration and nourishment, or fighting off dandruff and hair loss, this everyday ingredient is invaluable in your journey to healthy and attractive hair. While a strong smell might be annoying at first sight, which is superficial, the outcomes for your hair are beyond question. Hence, whenever you peel off onions for your meal, keep some on standby to unleash the hidden abilities of these normal vegetables that go into your hair care regimen. (IANSlife)
The practice of bathing in warm water has a rich and storied past, extending far beyond its utilitarian function. Woven into the cultural fabric of diverse societies throughout history, from the Roman bathhouses to the onsen traditions of Japan.
It has served as a cornerstone of both personal hygiene and holistic well-being. However, the allure of warm water bathing transcends mere cultural tradition. In an era characterised by relentless technological advancement and pervasive stress, the ability to carve out moments of self-care is paramount.
Hot water bathing presents itself as a readily available and powerful tool for promoting holistic wellness. Recent scientific research has shed light on a compelling array of health benefits associated with this seemingly simple practice.
Vikram Raman, Vice President, Marketing and E-Commerce of Ariston Thermo India said: “Stepping into a warm bath triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. This, in turn, activates the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for the body’s “rest and digest” response. According to a study published in EatingWell, regular hot water immersion may increase a brain chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is associated with mood regulation and cognitive function. At the same time, hot water immersion may also reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which can have negative effects on mental and physical health. Therefore, hot water immersion can significantly reduce stress hormone levels, leading to feelings of calmness and relaxation.”
The warmth from a bath can also work wonders for promoting better sleep. Raman asserts that studies have shown, a warm bath taken 1-2 hours before bedtime can help regulate body temperature.
He said: “As your body cools down afterwards, it mimics the natural sleeponset process, leading to deeper and more restful sleep. A study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that taking a warm bath or shower 1-2 hours before bedtime, at a temperature of 40-43 degrees celsius can improve sleep quality by changing the body’s core temperature and circadian rhythm. The study revealed that people who took warm baths before bed experienced significant improvements in sleep quality, falling asleep faster and waking up less frequently throughout the night. This improved sleep, in turn, can contribute to better cognitive function, mood regulation,
and overall health.”
The warmth and buoyancy of a hot bath can significantly ease muscle tension and stiffness. A study conducted by Arthritis Foundation suggests that warm water immersion can be an effective pain management tool, particularly for individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia.
“Patients suffering from such conditions who participated in warm water exercise programs two or three times a week could move around better and have as much as 40 per cent less pain. The warmth helps to increase blood flow to the affected areas, promoting relaxation and reducing muscle spasms. Moreover, the buoyancy can take pressure off sore joints, providing much-needed relief,” says Raman.
While more research is needed, some studies suggest that regular hot water bathing may offer potential cardiovascular benefits. A study published by Harvard Health revealed that people who took a daily warm or hot bath had a 28 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 26 per cent lower risk of stroke. Researchers hypothesise that the warmth may cause vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels, which could potentially improve blood flow and reduce strain on the heart.
Aside from the aforementioned benefits, hot water baths offer a range of other potential benefits, Raman highlights: Improved circulation: The warmth can increase blood flow, promoting overall circulation and delivering essential nutrients to the body’s tissues. This can contribute to improved skin health, faster healing, and even better cognitive function.
Boosted immune system: Some studies suggest that warm baths may help stimulate
the immune system, possibly by increasing white blood cell activity, although more research is needed to confirm this.
Relief from skin conditions: Soaking in warm water with added ingredients like oatmeal or Epsom salts can help soothe dry, itchy skin and alleviate symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. The warm water helps to open pores and remove irritants, while the added ingredients can provide additional moisturizing and soothing properties.
While hot water bathing offers numerous benefits, Raman stresses on the importance to exercise caution: Maintain a safe temperature: Avoid excessively hot water, which can cause burns. The ideal bath temperature is generally between 98°F (36.7 degrees celsius) and 104 degrees F (40 degrees celsius).
Limit bath duration: Prolonged immersion in hot water can dehydrate the skin and lead to dizziness. It’s recommended to limit bath time to 15-20 minutes.
Consult your doctor: Individuals with certain medical conditions, like heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure, should consult their doctor before taking hot baths.
Incorporating regular hot water baths into your self-care routine can be a simple yet powerful way to improve your overall wellbeing. From stress relief and better sleep to muscle relaxation and potential cardiovascular benefits, the warm embrace of a hot bath offers a natural and accessible path to holistic wellness. So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, achy, or simply in need of some self-care, consider drawing a warm bath and unlocking the multitude of wellness wonders it holds.
Many healthy individuals suffer from the problem of heavy eyelids which is usually due to fatigue lack of rest or spending too much time in front of the computer screens. A few eye allergies, infections, and medical conditions can also be responsible for causing heavy, droopy eyelids.
After a long day at work, we generally feel our eyelids getting heavier as if something is pulling them down. This may be after a day of intense exercise or when we spend hours staring at a computer screen in the office.
But what causes our eyes to get heavy when we feel tired and sleepy? To understand this, we first need to understand the basic anatomy of the eye. The eyelids are comprised of thin layers of skin and muscles which play a crucial role in protecting the delicate structures of the eye from external elements like dust, debris, and bright light. They also greatly contribute to the overall appearance and expressiveness of the face.
The muscles around the eyes that hold our eyes in position, play a similar role to any other muscle of our body when it comes to experiencing fatigue after a long day of consistent use. In other words, just like our arms and legs muscles grow leaden with extended use after a physically exhaustive day, similarly the muscles around our eyes also grow weary and experience fatigue.
This is particularly true for ocular and brow muscles since they are the most active during our waking hours. Therefore, in general, the heaviness of the eyelids in otherwise healthy individuals is due to fatigue that these muscles experience during the hours we are awake.
Various factors that are responsible for causing sleepy eyes are:
Muscle fatigue: After getting an insufficient amount of rest or a prolonged period of staying awake, the muscles around the eyes tend to become fatigued and weakened which can lead to a loss of tone and firmness in the eyelids causing them to droop or sag.
Reduced blood flow and stasis: The blood in the veins tends to pool, and the stasis causes the eyes to feel heavy, eye bags to appear under the eyes, and also dark circles to form due to the darker colour of the venous blood.
Stress and tension: Having a long screen time or intense visual focus such as working on a computer or reading for extended periods can strain the muscles around our eyes leading to feelings of fatigue and droopiness.
Facial Expressions: Beyond the physical changes to the eyelids themselves, sleepy eyes can also greatly affect our facial expressions and our overall appearance.
When we’re feeling tired, our facial muscles tend to slacken, leading to our expressions becoming less animated and lively.
All this can also occur as a result of ageing changes around the eyes. It may be accelerated by chronic exposure to the sun and also the harmful light from our gadgets! Deflation and decent of the tissues around the eyes make them look saggy and tired.
Treatment for sleepy eyes:
Massaging around the eyes: It can help release a lot of strain and make you feel instantly better. This can simply be done by using the tips of your fingers or using tools like the jade roller or the Gua Sha
Get Adequate sleep: the best solution to combat the problem of sleepy eyes is to prioritize getting enough rest each night. One should aim to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep to allow our body and eyes to rest and rejuvenate completely.
Keep yourself hydrated: drink lots and lots of water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated as dehydration can exacerbate the feelings of fatigue and heaviness in the eyes.
Take breaks from the screen: spending long hours in front of the screen, then you should take regular breaks to rest your eyes and reduce eye strain. One interesting exercise that one can do is practice the 20-20 rule where every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to give your eyes a break.
Apply cold compresses: Apply a cold compress or chilled cucumber slices to the eyes for a few minutes to reduce puffiness and soothe tired eyes. The cold temperature helps to constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation.
Impact of sleepy eyes on overall health: Sleepy eyes can result in difficulty in staying alert, decreased productivity and even safety hazards like impaired driving. There can also be some significant impact on our physical and mental well-being. Prolonged periods of inadequate sleep can also contribute to mood disturbances, such as irritability, anxiety, and depression.
On the other hand, one may be completely rested, and yet their friends/ colleagues may comment that they look tired/ sleepy ki. This can have a significant impact on the confidence. In such cases one may consult an Oculoplastic and aesthetic surgeon, to find out the exact cause of this look and provide appropriate solutions.
By Dr. Sneha ShahBritish researchers have developed a novel artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can predict a person’s risk of a lethal heart rhythm with 80 per cent accuracy. Ventricular arrhythmia (VA) is a heart rhythm disturbance originating from the bottom chambers (ventricles). The condition is characterised by rapid beating of the heart, and lowering blood pressure which can further cause loss of consciousness and sudden death if not treated immediately.
The AI tool called VA-ResNet-50 was developed by a team led by the University of Leicester in the UK. In their study, published in the European Heart Journal – Digital Health, the tool was used to examine Holter electrocardiograms (ECGs) of 270 adults taken during their normal daily routine at home between 2014 and 2022.
About 159 had experienced lethal ventricular arrhythmias, on average 1.6 years following the ECG. VA-ResNet-50 was retrospectively used to examine “normal for patient” heart rhythms to see if their heart was capable of lethal arrhythmias.
In four out of every five cases, the AI tool correctly predicted which patient’s heart was capable of ventricular arrhythmia.
“Current clinical guidelines that help
us to decide which patients are most at risk of going on to experience ventricular arrhythmia, and who would most benefit from the life-saving treatment with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator are insufficiently accurate, leading to a significant number of deaths from the condition,” Professor Andre Ng, Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Head of Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the varsity.
Importantly, “if the tool said a person was at risk, the risk of lethal event was three times higher than normal adults,” the professor said. Using artificial intelligence in examining patients’ electrocardiograms, “while in normal cardiac rhythm offers a novel lens through which we can determine their risk, and suggest appropriate treatment; ultimately saving lives”, he added.
As world leaders scramble to tackle the menace of deepfakes in a global election year, Sam Altman-run OpenAI is trying to develop beneficial AI, with a textto-speech model called ‘Voice Engine’.
The AI model uses text input and a “single 15-second audio sample” to generate natural-sounding speech.
“It is notable that a small model with a single 15-second sample can create emotive and realistic voices,” according to OpenAI.
The company admitted that generating speech that resembles people’s voices has serious risks, which are especially top of mind in an election year.
“We are engaging with the US and international partners from across
government, media, entertainment, education, civil society and beyond to ensure we are incorporating their feedback as we build,” said OpenAI.
The partners testing ‘Voice Engine’ have agreed to OpenAI’s usage policies, which prohibit the impersonation of another individual or organisation without
consent or legal right.
“In addition, our terms with these partners require explicit and informed consent from the original speaker and we don’t allow developers to build ways for individual users to create their own voices,” the company said in a blog post.
Partners must also clearly disclose to their audience that the voices they’re hearing are AI-generated, the company added.
“Finally, we have implemented a set of safety measures, including watermarking to trace the origin of any audio generated by Voice Engine, as well as proactive monitoring of how it’s being used”.
In a first, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared a video clip where a person was seen playing video games just by thinking, courtesy the Neuralink brain chip. Paraplegic Noland Arbaugh, 29, was seen in a video shared to X using just his mind to play online chess.
‘See that cursor on the screen? That’s all me. It’s all brainpower,” he was quoted as saying in the video clip shared by Musk. He also managed to move the computer mouse side to side across the online chess board.
“Livestream of @Neuralink demonstrating “Telepathy” – controlling a computer and playing video games just by thinking,” the billionaire posted. A follower commented: “Beautiful to watch this. You can see his joy in being able to control things again. This is when science does very good things!”
Last month, the X owner said that the first human implanted with a brain chip from his brain-computer interface company Neuralink seems to have fully recovered and is able to control a computer mouse using thoughts.
“Progress is good, and the patient
seems to have made a full recovery, with neural effects that we are aware of. The patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking,” Musk had said in a Spaces event on X.
Musk said that the company’s first product, called Telepathy, would bring control of a phone or computer just by thinking.
Nearly 30 students with zero vision will get Smart Vision glasses, a device developed by Bengaluru-based startup. The tech is attached to a pair of glasses assisting visually impaired (VI) persons in reading, object recognition, face recognition, or as a walking assistant with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning. All one needs is a mobile phone, and Bluetooth neckband provided with the glasses.
“The Shakuntala Mishra Rehabilitation University (SMRU) has witnessed prolonged protests due to unavailability of learning materials. With these glasses, the unsighted will no longer have to struggle for books in Braille or be dependent on a scribe,” said Jitendra Maurya, a visually impaired student. The glasses provided by the university in collaboration with Chennai based nonprofit Help and blind Foundation will help a VI person to read printed material written in over 50 scripts without any assistance and enhances their chance of giving a good performance in their exams.
V S Mishra, head, department of VI at SMRU, said, “Through these glasses,
a completely blind student can know the environment around him. These glasses collect information from surroundings and convey it to the VI person in verbal format.” These glasses also have a flashlight to help VI students to read books and identify other objects at night.
To avoid fraud, face detection facilities have also been provided through which students can store photos of teachers, friends,
employees, family members, and other people living around them in these smart glasses and whenever that person comes in front of or around, the glasses will recognise them and speak out their name.
“This type of technology will give new dimensions of success to VI students,” Mishra said.
Making a career change in middle age can be both daunting and rewarding. Whether you seek greater job satisfaction or need to adapt to life’s evolving demands, it’s never too late to pivot professionally.
However, this transformation necessitates thoughtful planning and consideration. Karan Mehta, Co-founder, of Toprankers - a digital counselling and preparation platform for careers - shares twelve key factors to weigh when embarking on a midlife career shift:
Assess Transferable Skills: Start by evaluating the skills you’ve acquired in your current career. Many competencies, such as leadership, communication, and problemsolving, can seamlessly transfer to various fields, making your transition smoother.
Explore Passion: Middle age is the perfect time to explore your passions and interests. Pursuing a career aligned with what you truly love can bring greater fulfillment and motivation to your professional life.
Lifelong Learning: Continuous learning is essential to stay competitive. Consider further education or certifications to update your skills and knowledge in your chosen field.
Networking: Leverage your professional networks and connections. Personal relationships can offer valuable insights and open doors in your new career.
Financial Planning: Changing careers may come with financial challenges. Develop a solid financial plan to weather potential hardships during the transition period.
Mentorship: Seek guidance from mentors or career counsellors. Their experience and expertise can provide valuable advice tailored to the individual’s situation.
Embrace Technology: In today’s digital world, familiarity with technology is crucial. Invest time in learning digital skills and staying updated with industry trends to remain relevant.
Flexibility: Be open to starting at a lower position initially. Embracing flexibility in roles and responsibilities can create opportunities for career growth in your new field.
Emotional Resilience: Career changes can be emotionally challenging. Develop coping strategies and resilience to navigate the emotional ups and downs during the transition.
Work-Life Balance: Consider how your new career will impact your work-life balance. Middle age often involves family responsibilities, so finding the right balance is crucial for your overall well-being.
Pass on Experience: Remember that your years of experience are an asset. Many employers value the maturity and wisdom that older professionals bring to the table. Highlight your unique strengths and the value they bring to your new career.
Evaluate Long-Term Goals: Consider how your career change aligns with your long-term goals, including retirement plans and overall life objectives. Ensure that your new path is in harmony with your vision for the future.
Keep in mind that everyone’s situation is unique. Tailor the advice to your specific circumstances and aspirations. Your career change should reflect your individual goals and values. Remember, it’s never too late to pursue your dreams and make the most of your skills and experiences.
Most people won’t like to admit it, but sexual kinks are pretty common. While we are in an era where openness and authenticity are paramount, there still seems to be a certain taboo circling conversations around kinky relationships. Happn, a real-life dating app, conducted a study to explore how comfortable Indian singles are about their kinks and pleasure. Let’s reveal the saucy side of Indian singles.
The survey brings to light a fascinating spectrum of comfort levels among users when it comes to discussing their kink preferences. Surprisingly, the 35+ age group leads the pack, with an impressive 68% expressing an ease in navigating kink conversations. In contrast, Gen Z women present a unique perspective, with a staggering 83% stating they need time for such discussions and 0% feeling comfortable broaching the topic of dating apps. This showcases how conversations around exploring kink-friendly relationships require real-life and open communication, especially when you’re just starting to explore.
Across all age groups, the survey unveils numerous kinks, with BDSM and role-playing holding universal appeal. The mature age groups (35+) show a heightened interest in humiliation and fetishism, while food-related kinks gain popularity among younger respondents
(18-25). Role-playing finds enthusiasts across regions, particularly in the SouthWest (51%) and Central (44%) of India, with the North-East (20%) and SouthEast (31%) demonstrating a penchant for BDSM.
The primary reasons for seeking kinkfriendly relationships vary among age groups. 35-40-year-olds place greater emphasis on building deeper intimacy, while Gen Z leans towards exploring new experiences.
Regional disparities also emerge, with South-West India standing out at 75%, feeling very comfortable discussing kink preferences. The Northern regions lag slightly behind at 56%. The South-East (70%) and North-West (60%) regions of India are leading the way in seeking kinkfriendly relationships. They are eager for new, intimate experiences. Eastern India (36%) emphasises deeper intimacy, while the South-West (47%) wants to fulfil specific fantasies instead of adopting kinks as a lifestyle.
The significance of finding a partner with shared kink interests resonates strongly among the 35+ age group, with 65% deeming it “very important.” Meanwhile, Gen Z also considers it important but less significant than the older age groups, as
50% of them are neutral about it. The Central region (64%) emerges as a hotspot for emphasising shared kink-friendly interests.
Lack of respect for boundaries emerges as a consistent concern, resonating across all demographics. Disregarding safe practices is notably significant among the 35+ age group. At the same time, according to the survey respondents stress the importance of discussing limits and interests and express wariness of pressure to engage in activities without consent.
Regionally, concerns about lack of respect for boundaries intensified in the North-East (37%) and Central-South (36%), while the Central (38%) and SouthEast (30%) regions expressed concerns about their partner not asking for consent while indulging in a kinky experience.
There’s a resounding consensus that kink is becoming more normalised in the dating space, with approximately 40% agreement across all age groups. However, a considerable portion, especially in the 35+ age group, still views it with hesitance and stigma. Gen Z challenges the norm, wanting to normalise pleasure discussions. Despite this shift, it’s essential to recognise that healthy discussions around kinks while dating should always prioritise the comfort and consent of both partners.
Following a successful pilot study, researchers at the University of Auckland are conducting a clinical trial of castor oil as a potentially safe and natural treatment for dry eye conditions. It is estimated that dry-eye illness affects approximately 58 per cent of the population aged 50 and up in Australia. Some risk factors for developing dry eye disease include advanced age, menopause, increased screen time, and contact lens wear.
Blepharitis is the leading cause of dry eye illness, accounting for more than 80 per cent of cases. It is a chronic disease with no known cure. “Currently, patients are left grappling with symptoms of dryness, grittiness and, in some cases, watery eyes that feel uncomfortable impacting on their quality of life and work productivity,” says doctoral candidate and lead clinical investigator Catherine Jennings.
Current treatments, such as antibacterials and anti-inflammatories, are generally unsuitable for long-term use, due to significant side effects and the potential for antimicrobial resistance. “Often patients are left feeling helpless when attempting
to manage a chronic condition,” Jennings said.
The current trial is of a product containing cold-pressed castor oil enhanced with manuka and kanuka oils applied using a rollerball attached to a small glass bottle. “The previous pilot study, conducted by our research team, was unique in its use of castor oil in such an application on the eyelids, with the product not known to be used anywhere else in the world for treating blepharitis,” said Jennings.
Castor oil comes from a flowering tropical or subtropical shrub from the species Riccinus communis. It has been used therapeutically for millennia, including more recently in eye cosmetics and eye makeup removers. In the pilot study, 26 patients with blepharitis were treated with cold-pressed castor oil over four weeks. They had measurable improvements in symptoms, such as reduced redness of the lid margin, decreased thickening of the eyelid, and a decline in bacterial profusion, as well as reduced eyelash crusting.
Building on the success of the pilot study, the research team is now engaged in a more extensive double-blinded, randomised and placebo-controlled study. They are aiming to recruit 92 participants and generate robust scientific evidence for clinicians.
The ultimate goal is to sustainably improve the quality of life for this large group of patients using a natural, safe and effective product, principal investigator Professor Jennifer Craig said. “Castor oil has been proposed as a natural product that could offer a safe, effective and easyto-use alternative to existing therapies,” Craig said.
“My hope is this study will produce evidence-based guidance for clinicians about offering castor oil as a possible management option for patients suffering from blepharitis, so they continue to enjoy a great quality of life, read the books they love, be productive in their work environment and enjoy other visual hobbies.”
Love your morning dose of coffee? Well, it may help you avoid the risk of Parkinson’s disease, claims a study.
The study, published online in the April issue of the journal Neurology, included 1,84,024 people aged 35-70 years, who were followed up for a median duration of 13.1 years.
The findings showed that the highest coffee consumers had 37 per cent reduced risk of getting Parkinson’s disease, compared to those who do not drink.
“This study demonstrates that the neuroprotection of coffee on Parkinson’s disease is attributed to caffeine and its metabolites by detailed quantification of plasma caffeine and its metabolites years before diagnosis,” said
the researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
Further, drinking caffeinated coffee lowered risk of the neurodegenerative disease by 43 per cent. The team, however, found no association with decaffeinated coffee.
“Good news for coffee lovers. Caffeinated coffee consumption over a long-term has the potential to lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease,” Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, wrote on X.
“Neuroprotective effect leading to lower risk of Parkinson’s Disease was attributed to caffeine and metabolites such as theophylline and paraxanthine,” he explained.
(IANS)
The structure of a tooth is made up of various layers. The innermost part is made up of a soft substance and is known as pulp. This pulp is connected to a nerve which further gets attached to the sensory network of nerves transmitting sensations. The outer layer of a tooth envelopes both these inner components and protects them from harm.
But in case of tooth decay, the acids produced by the bacteria go past the protective layer and reach the pulp of a tooth. That’s when endodontists prefer to go for a root canal treatment. Let us read the cases when root canal treatments are a must.
The reasons to carry out root canal treatment are:
Deep decay
Tooth decay is the worst enemy of our teeth. Bacteria enter the cavities in our teeth causing considerable damage as tooth decay. Anti-bacterial medications prove futile as the inflammation caused by the bacterial infection hinders the blood supply to a tooth.
As mentioned above, when the decay reaches deep down to the nerve of a tooth, a root canal treatment is the call of the hour. When left untreated, deep decay can spread to gums and other parts of our bodies such as the lungs or the brain.
Cracked or chipped tooth
Our teeth are fragile enough to crack or chip-off when subjected to trauma. This can also occur while chewing hard foods such as nuts, ice, corn on the cob, rock candies, etc. Cracked teeth can or cannot be painful, but they can always hold room for food particles to get stuck which is a breeding ground for tooth caries.
These damaged teeth need to be repaired to fill the cracks and chipped off parts. Root canal treatment makes sure the decay does not reach to the pulp.
Repeated procedures
The process of degeneration of our natural teeth is a continuous one and any laxity in their care can result in decay time and again. What follows are extensive dental restorative works. In cases where not much of the tooth structure is left, dentists prefer to put on a
dental crown on the tooth after performing root canal treatment.
Injury to pulp
Tooth decay is not the only culprit to harm dental pulp. There are times when the dental pulp gets damaged due to trauma. It can be an extremely painful condition and requires to be treated as soon as possible. Dentists often prefer root canal treatment for such injuries as they can be deep and cause much harm to the pulp.
The procedure of root canal treatment
Measuring
This is the preliminary stage where a dentist first sedates the patient with light sedatives to numb the area around the damaged tooth. The tooth is then drilled up to the pulp chamber. Measurements of the root canal are then carried out to know the extent of decay and possible treatment options. This measurement is done with the help of X-rays or Apex locator.
Cleaning
The decay or damage to the pulp is removed from the measured tooth. The root canal inside the tooth is then thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic solution. The hole is filled with a temporary filling and left as such for a few days to ascertain any sensitivity.
Filling
Once the tooth is free from all the infection, the temporary filling is replaced with a permanent filling.
Additional Treatment
If the tooth structure is still found fragile, it can be capped with a dental crown. Otherwise, the above three steps are enough to cure a tooth.
To know more about root canal treatment, visit our Healthy Smiles Dental Group Blackburn clinic. You can also call us on 03 9877 2035 to book an appointment.
Dr Ved Berani BDS(Mum), ADEC(Aust), MBA(Melb), FIADFE, MFGDP(UK)
Principal Dentist & Clinical Advisor
Canterbury Rd, Blackburn South
Quit smoking if you are looking to reduce the ‘hidden’ abdominal fat, known as visceral fat, suggests a study.
While smokers tend to have lower body weights than non-smokers, they tend to have visceral fat, which can be explained as the unhealthy fat deep inside the abdomen, and around organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys. Even a thin person with a flat stomach can have unhealthy amounts of visceral fat.
The new study published, in the scientific journal Addiction, offers evidence that smoking may cause visceral fat to increase in the body and raise the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia.
“This study found that starting to smoke and smoking over a lifetime might cause an increase in belly fat, as seen by measurements of waist-to-hip ratio. In a further analysis, we also found that the type of fat that increases is more likely the visceral fat, rather than the fat just under the skin,” said lead author Dr. German D. Carrasquilla from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
For the study, the team looked at 1.2 million people who started smoking and over 450,000 lifetime smokers. They also conducted a study
on body fat distribution with over 600,000 people. They examined how DNA variants linked to smoking habits and belly fat are associated with fat compartments in different parts of the body.
Their results show “excess abdominal fat in smokers was predominantly visceral fat”.
“From a public health point of view, these
findings reinforce the importance of largescale efforts to prevent and reduce smoking in the general population, as this may also help to reduce abdominal visceral fat and all the chronic diseases that are related to it. Reducing one major health risk in the population will, indirectly, reduce another major health risk,” Dr. German said.
Experts at a urology conference at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) have said that consumption of polluted ground water and pan masala may cause large kidney stones (over 2 cm).
Prof. Apul Goel of KGMU said: “In our outpatient department, about 70 per cent of patients with large stones exceeding 2 cm are often linked to factors like pan masala use, inadequate hydration, or contaminated water.”
Advancements in minimally invasive procedures offer hope for such patients, said experts at the conference on Saturday.
Prof. M S Agrawal, former faculty at SN Medical College Agra and former president of the association, emphasised the efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy technology, enabling surgery without incisions or multiple holes, with patients typically discharged within a day.
Meanwhile, Dr Salil Tandon of Lucknow and Dr Vipul Tandon of Prayagraj underscored progress in removing stones smaller than 2 cm through ureteroscopy, eliminating the need for incisions.
Prof. SN Shankhwar, director of BHU Institute of Medical Sciences, highlighted the grave symptoms of Chyluria, a rare condition in which lymphatic fluid leaks into the kidneys and turns the urine milky white due to blockage of lymphatic channels and loss of nutrients through urine.
It is often a cause of filariasis.
“There is a need to tell people that surgical intervention offers a promising cure for this debilitating condition,” he added.
Early detection of endometriosis key for treatment, say experts
Early detection is crucial for boosting treatment for endometriosis, often dismissed as painful periods, according to experts.
Endometriosis is a painful gynaecological condition that affects roughly 190 million girls and women of reproductive age worldwide. About 43 million women in India suffer from endometriosis.
Although there is currently no known way to prevent endometriosis, early diagnosis, and management can help slow down “the natural progression of the disease and reduce the long-term burden of its symptoms, including possibly the risk of central nervous system pain sensitisation”, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
“The symptoms of endometriosis can vary from person to person and may not correlate with the severity of endometriosis. Most women with endometriosis tend to have painful periods which may be attributed to the normal menstrual cramps and diagnosis is often delayed,” Gayathri D Kamath, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, said.
Gayathri said that excessive pain during menstruation (dysmenorrhea), painful intercourse (dyspareunia), chronic pelvic
pain, severe backache, or constant painful urge to defecate during and around periods are some of the red flags. In addition, difficulty getting pregnant (infertility) can also be associated with endometriosis. There has been some evidence to show that endometriosis can, in some cases, raise the risk of endometrial cancer.
“Endometrial cancer incidence and diseaseassociated mortality are rising worldwide, including in India and among younger women,” Vicky Makker, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Exercising even once a week is better than not
Worried about not being able to work out daily? Exercising even once a week is better than no physical activity, said Dr Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad-based neurologist.
The doctor, popularly known as ‘Hyderabaddoctor’ on X.com, said this on the social media platform along with a recent study on the benefits of people doing physical activity only on weekends
-- known as weekend warriors.
“Too busy to exercise on a regular basis? Exercise only on weekends to derive similar mortality benefits,” he wrote on X.
The study, published in the journal BMJ, followed more than 150,000 adults for about two decades.
The findings showed that people who
(MSK), said.
“This underscores the importance of awareness and early detection efforts.” The doctor also called for recognising the risk factors associated with endometrial cancer, “including early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity and genetic syndromes.”
Hormone therapy may help ease endometriosis symptoms, but surgery (laparoscopy) may be a better treatment option.
exercised once or twice per week had a 15 per cent lower risk of death, similar to those who worked out on 3 or more days per week. However, the benefit was evident only when the duration of exercise sessions was at least 30-60 min.
“The results suggest that even busy adults could benefit from taking part in one or two sessions of exercise per week,” said the researchers of the study from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia.
“Exercise as often as you can: exercising even once a week is better than not exercising. Ensure that the exercise session is of 30–60-minute duration,” said the doctor, from Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends “at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week”.
In an earlier post, the doctor vouched for a “combination of aerobic exercises and strength training”.
“It may be better to combine aerobic exercises (on 2-3 days a week), and strength training (on 2-3 days a week) (with one rest day per week), for optimum benefits,” the neurologist said. (IANS)
Action star Tiger Shroff, who will be soon seen in the 4th instalment of his action film franchise ‘Baaghi’, shared that he first got romantically involved at the age of 25.
Talking to Bollywood star Varun Dhawan, Tiger said: “You know Varun, I have always been a very shy and introverted kind of a person. I never had a girlfriend till the age of 25”.
Varun was in for a shock when he heard this. He asked Tiger, “25! Are you serious?” To which Tiger replied, “Yes, I got my first girlfriend at 25 and it was during the audition of my debut film.”
Varun once again probed him, “Kriti Sanon?”.
A startled Tiger corrected himself, as he said, “No no the film after my debut.” Varun, who had earlier made a slip at a television show with regards to Kriti’s dating life when he hinted at Prabhas’s name in jest, told the media, “Guys, it’s a joke, it’s joke!!”, given that all of India’s media was present at the event.
Tiger, who was earlier rumoured to be dating actress Disha Patani, however, didn’t reveal the name of the girl. (IANS)
Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal, who was recently seen in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Dunki’, has shared how romance unfolded between him and his wife Katrina Kaif. The two tied the nuptial knot in December 2021, after a few years of dating.
Vicky recently appeared on the sixth season of the streaming chat show ‘No Filter Neha’ and gave audiences a peek into his personal life and shared how things worked out with Katrina.
The actor said: “Just two people meeting and genuinely finding a connection, and that’s how it literally happened. Like we kept meeting, and we just kept feeling that there’s a connection, and till we just took it to the next level, we just felt like okay, this is just happening without effort. It’s just very naturally feeling right, and that is how it happened.”
(IANS)
Actress Sara Ali Khan has revealed that being an actor one needs to develop a thick skin, which she has.
The actress added that whatever comes her way she takes it positively and with a pinch of humour.
Asked as an actress what are the questions that come her way, annoys her?
“Nothing really annoys me haha! I have developed a thick skin over the years. I think as an actor you need to do that. I take everything positively and with a hint of humour. That keeps my boat sailing,” Sara said.
Sara loves watching movies and has a set of her own “favourites”.
“I have my own set of favourite actors. I love watching other people’s work because I want to keep learning from everyone and everything around me,” added the actress.
“Every actor has their strengths, I like to pick up on it and incorporate that in my work. I like bettering myself,” she added.
Sara is a complete “Bollywood buff”, when it comes to music. The actress said: “I’d say I have my own playlist that is different for each vibe I’m in! I’m a lot into Hindi music so I guess I’m a total Bollywood buff.”
Fatima Sana Shaikh has been a part of Hindi cinema for eight years and she is having a dream run.
The actress said she was fortunate to get an opportunity in the industry as it is not very easy for a lot of people to make it.
Fatima made her debut in the Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Dangal’ in 2016, she was then seen in films such as ‘Ludo’, ‘Ajeeb Daastaans’, ‘Thar’, ‘Dhak Dhak’ and ‘Sam Bahadur’.
In her slate of upcoming work, she has ‘Metro. In Dino’ and ‘Ul Jalool Ishq’.
How does she see her journey?
Fatima said: “I feel very blessed. It’s not very easy for a lot of people to make it into the industry and I feel fortunate and blessed that I got that opportunity because I was a newcomer. I auditioned and I got the films because of my hard work.”
Be it Geeta Phogat from ‘Dangal’ or her ‘Dhak Dhak’ role of Shashi Kumar Yadav and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
in ‘Sam Bahadur’, Fatima has always portrayed women of substance on screen.
“Those are the roles that excite me, so I want to experiment and want to explore but if I am not excited about a role or a
character or the graph then I don’t spend a lot of time on it,” said the actress on the sidelines of LFW x FDCI.
A TIME WHEN A WOMAN CAN
Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who is stepping into the world of series with ‘Daldal’, is happy that women actors are being empowered to headline projects on top global streaming platforms.
Bhumi said: “It feels amazing that I work at a time when a woman can headline a series on a global streaming platform and feel supremely empowered that she can command such a massive mounting.”
She added: “I’m honestly humbled by this realisation, and it motivates me to work so hard that I deliver powerful performances that are remembered by people.”
About her next big challenge to play a cop in ‘Daldal’, Bhumi said that she is naturally drawn to challenges.
“That’s my core. Have always done this right since my debut. I believe that we are in the age of content and actors can really shine bright with these opportunities.” She said that Daldal is that perfect project for her to show a completely new side to her performance.
“It presents me in a whole new way, and I love pushing my boundaries.”
Talking about her character in the series, Bhumi said: “I love that in Daldal, I play a woman who has shattered the glass ceiling by being appointed as the DCP of Mumbai. She is a super achiever in a man’s world, and I loved that layer of the show along with all the beautiful complexities that the role and the script has to offer.
“I think a character like this will resonate
with the times that we live in because a woman is no longer shackled down and is ambitious and independent.”
‘Daldal’, a thriller, revolves around DCP Rita Ferreira, who is haunted by the guilt of her past and dealing with the demons of her present. She embarks on an investigation of a series of murders that puts her on a collision course with a coldblooded serial killer. (IANS)
Actress Parineeti Chopra, who will be soon seen in the upcoming streaming movie ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, has debunked rumours of her pregnancy.
Rumour mills were abuzz with the speculation around the actress’ pregnancy after her recent wedding with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.
The rumours started doing the rounds after Parineeti was spotted wearing loosefitting clothes on multiple occasions.
The actress once again wore a loose outfit during the trailer launch of ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ at the Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, which she attended with director Imtiaz Ali, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, and music composer A.R. Rahman.
However, the actress put all rumours to rest as she took to the Stories section of her Instagram on Thursday, saying: “Kaftan dress = pregnancy, Oversized shirt = pregnancy, Comfy Indian kurta = pregnancy.”
The actress implied that she is not pregnant, and any rumours are not to be believed now that it’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth.
Earlier, during the trailer launch of her film, the actress shared that there was one Zoom call during the pre-production stage when she felt “picture gayi haath se”.
The actress told the media, “I was going to some party, and I got a call from Imtiaz Ali sir. He told me that he wants to do a team call with me, Rahman sir and Diljit. I thought this would be an introduction call to break the ice and wouldn’t last long. I asked my driver to park somewhere away from the traffic so that I could attend the call in peace. However, during the call, Rahman sir asked me if I could sing.
“I gave a very safe answer and said, ‘Sir, I like singing’. He then said, ‘Can you sing something?’. I thought ‘gayi picture haath se’ (I’ve lost the film now). But, everyone liked what I sang, and that’s how I got to sing the songs in the film.”
(IANS)
IF I WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR IN ANOTHER AGE, IT WOULD BE THE 1960S: RASIKA DUGAL
Rasika Dugal, who gained national visibility with her appearances in shows like ‘Mirzapur’ and ‘Delhi Crime’, said that given a chance to be an actor in another time zone, she would opt for 1960s.
“Otherwise, this (current time) is the next best option,” she said. In a conversation with Aseem Chhabra, film journalist and Director of the New York Indian Film Festival, at the Cinevesture International Film Festival 2024 (CIFF), Rasika spoke in detail about whether she has entered the industry at a good time.
“When I started working after graduating from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in late 2006, Rs1 crore film had become ‘the thing’. ‘Bheja Fry’ had released, and everybody was quite inspired by the kind of attention it got. And things had started turning digital in terms of shooting equipment. So, the cost of production of a film had gone down,” Rasika said.
The actress, who was most recently seen in the horror thriller ‘Adhura’, said: “There were many smaller films which were being made at that time. I thought that was a very interesting time for an actor like me to come into the industry. Of course, the bottleneck remained ‘distribution’. Small films were being made, but nobody knew how to make them see the light of the day.”
Continuing on the theme, Rasika said: “And there were lovely initiatives like the PVR-sponsored directors and film festivals, without which I wouldn’t have a career. So, I think that was very encouraging for me as an actor. Had I joined the industry a few years earlier, maybe I would have felt disappointed with the ‘mahaul’.”
“And later, the arrival of the streaming services was a way to access a wider audience and break that bottleneck of ‘distribution’. So, I think it’s been a fascinating few years. If I want to be an actor in another time, it would be the ‘60s, but otherwise, this is the next best option.”
HER BIGGEST FEAR: ‘GETTING STAGNANT AND TYPECAST’
Actress Kriti Sanon has talked about what she fears and said that she is afraid of getting typecast and stagnant.
“I actually am scared of getting stagnant. No one should say that I only do these same kinds of films or play the same kind of roles. Getting typecasted is what I am afraid of, because with that people get bored,” said Kriti, who is seen in ‘Crew’.
Kriti, who has maintained to enthral the audience with her work in films such as ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, ‘Luka Chuppi’, ‘Mimi’ and ‘Teri Baaton Main Aesa Uljha Jiya’, among many others, said that she gets excited when she plays myriad of characters on screen.
“There is always an excitement when you play a different character or portray a role. But if this same excitement ends, maybe you won’t feel like going to work and that boredom always makes me feel afraid,” she said.
Kriti is seen in ‘The Crew’, which also stars Tabu, Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The film released on March 29.’Crew’ tells the story of three friends working as cabin crew.
(ANI)
Acclaimed actor Pankaj
Tripathi said that after working in many good projects he had dreamt of, he has another wish which he completely forgot about - a good holiday.
Pankaj, one of the best in Indian cinema at present, has worked in projects such as ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Fukrey’, ‘Newton’, ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, ‘Mimi’, ‘Ludo’, ‘Main Atal Hoon’, ‘Stree’, ‘Mirzapur’ and ‘Murder Mubarak’ among many others.
Is Pankaj living his dream? He said: “No.
After doing so much work I have realised
that along with that dream, I had one more which I had completely forgotten about. It was taking a holiday and doing absolutely nothing. I got so busy that I realised that I am not taking a break.”
Pankaj, a National School of Drama alum, agreed that he is living his dream of working in good content.
He added: “But along with that dream I had another dream to work a little less, pay attention to quality and focus on health as that is also important. Work life balance is very important.”
Talking about his upcoming slate of work, the actor, whose latest release is ‘Murder Mubarak’ on Netflix, will soon be seen in ‘Mirzapur 3’, ‘Stree 2’ and ‘Metro…In Dino’.
Peaches make you feel full and keep you from overeating. At 50 calories a peach, it's the perfect snack
Millets, a diverse group of small-seeded, hardy grains, have been an integral part of India’s agricultural landscape and dietary traditions for thousands of years. Because of their resilience and suitability for India’s varied agro-climatic conditions, millets require little in the way of inputs and water to thrive. India is the highest producer and consumer of millets worldwide. Its leadership in mainstreaming millet production and consumption opens practical solutions to addressing global hunger and malnutrition.
Here are 5 reasons why you should add millet into your daily diet:
Nutritional Significance: Millets are an excellent source of protein and dietary fibre, and they are high in important minerals including iron, calcium, and phosphorus. They are also a great option for people with dietary restrictions and gluten sensitivity as they are a healthier substitute for commonly used cereals like wheat flour and allpurpose flour.
Environmental Impact: In comparison to other high-input crops, millets have a reduced carbon footprint, which implies they demand
less irrigation and synthetic fertilizer, making them a good choice for farmers in developing countries, where poverty and environmental degradation are major factors.
Promotes Sustainability: Beyond their nutritional value, millets contribute significantly to sustainable agriculture that enhances soil health and biodiversity. In addition to enhancing agricultural land’s long-term productivity, this serves to conserve the environment. Due to their low water requirement, their ability to thrive in semi-arid conditions makes them ideal for regions facing water scarcity, contributing to water conservation in agriculture and promoting food security.
Climate Resilience: As millets require little water, they are very tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions, including drought and high temperatures. Because of their durability, they are less vulnerable to changes in the climate, which helps to maintain stable agricultural production even under adverse conditions. They are ideal for farmers with little land or water resources because of their short growth cycle.
Traditional and Cultural Importance: Millets have long been an integral part of diets in many cultures. They serve as the foundation for various traditional recipes and cuisines deeply rooted in cultural practices and celebrations, symbolizing fertility, abundance, and success. While millets have varied cultural significance across various regions, they are perpetually significant in many communities, customs, and practices, adding to their diverse cultural tapestry.
With the global recognition of the significance of nutritious and sustainable food supplies, millets have garnered renewed interest. They are regarded as an essential part of India’s farming and food future. The Indian government has taken several excellent initiatives to encourage the cultivation and consumption of millet.
Garnering these schemes, India has seen 80 plus new startups in the millet sector in the past year, highlighting the government’s commitment to using them as a catalyst for better nutrition, ecological balance, and economic growth.
By Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi
The landscape of the hospitality industry in India is poised for significant transformation. Fuelled by technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and global trends, the future of hospitality promises to be dynamic and innovative.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of contactless technology in the hospitality sector, and its significance is only expected to grow. According to recent surveys, over 70 per cent of travellers prefer contactless options for check-in, payments, and room controls. By 2025, we anticipate a ubiquitous integration of contactless solutions, including mobile check-ins, digital room keys, and touchless payment systems, enhancing both convenience and safety for guests.
is revolutionizing guest experiences by enabling hotels to offer personalised services at scale. By leveraging guest data and AI-powered algorithms, hotels can anticipate individual preferences, from room amenities to dining recommendations. By 2025, it’s estimated that AI-driven personalisation will lead to a 15 per cent increase in guest satisfaction and a 20 per cent boost in revenue for hospitality
establishments across India.
With growing environmental consciousness among consumers, sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity for hospitality businesses. By 2025, eco-friendly practices, such as energyefficient operations, waste reduction, and locally sourced materials, will become standard across the industry. Hotels that prioritise sustainability will not only attract environmentally conscious travellers but also benefit from cost savings and enhanced brand reputation.
In the quest for authentic experiences, travellers are seeking more than just comfortable accommodations; they crave immersive journeys that connect them with local culture and heritage. Hospitality providers are responding by curating unique experiences, such as culinary tours, cultural workshops, and off-the-beatenpath excursions. By 2025, experiential travel is projected to dominate the market, with travellers willing to pay a premium for memorable and transformative experiences.
The events of the past few years have underscored the importance of flexibility and adaptability in the hospitality industry. By 2025,
hotels and resorts will need to embrace agile business models that allow for rapid adjustments in response to changing market conditions and consumer demands, said Ashish Tiwari, Brand Chef at Azure Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. From flexible booking policies to versatile spaces that accommodate hybrid events, adaptability will be key to sustaining competitiveness in the dynamic landscape of hospitality.
Virtual Reality (VR) technology is reshaping the way travellers research destinations and envision their experiences. By 2025, we anticipate widespread integration of VR tools by hotels and travel agencies, offering immersive virtual tours, interactive destination guides, and virtual concierge services. VR not only enhances pre-trip planning but also serves as a powerful marketing tool, enticing travellers with lifelike previews of their potential adventures.
The future of hospitality in India is brimming with opportunities for innovation and growth. By embracing contactless technology, personalised experiences, sustainability practices, and experiential travel, hotels and resorts can stay ahead of the curve and cater to the evolving needs of discerning travellers.
By Ashish Tiwari
BY DEEVYA GUPTA
Some prefer savoury and other sweets. How do we best satisfy our craving for sweets without having too much? How much really is too much anyway? When we think of sweets we usually think of processed foods. Fruits are a beautiful creation of nature we all get to enjoy that are highly nutritious, containing many vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, folate, calcium, potassium and fibre just to name a few.
The current recommendations for fruit:
The current Australian Dietary Guidelines suggest an average daily intake of approximately two servings a day for adults. This includes various types of fruits such as:
• Fresh
• Dried
• Frozen
• Canned
• Juice
The most common types consumed being fresh or dried fruits.
What is a serving of fruit?
One serving of fruit is the equivalent of:
• 1 medium sized fruit (e.g. apple, pear, banana, orange)
• 2 small sized fruits (e.g. kiwis, nectarines, peaches, apricots, plums)
• 1 cup cut up fresh or frozen fruits
Occasionally:
• 30g dried fruit (e.g. 1.5 tablespoons
sultana, 4 dried apricots)
• 125ml fruit juice (not an everyday preferred option)
Are there certain fruits I should not have?
Not specifically. It is suggested to have the whole fruit instead of opting for juice as the fruit itself will contain more fibre which is beneficial for our gut and bowel health. This is the same recommendation for children as well as adults. This will also help to keep you full for longer, as compared to juice which has minimal fibre and more sugar. Also think about how many fruits it takes to make 1 glass of juice – certainly more than
2 fruits!
At times people may be medically advised to reduce their overall intake of certain fruits if they have interactions with medications. Other than this it is not usually suggested to avoid certain fruits.
Some fruits are higher in fibre therefore keep you full for longer such as apples, other fruits such as watermelon may be easily eaten without making you feel full. If you feel less full, you are more likely to eat more.
I have Diabetes, am I still able to have fruit?
Most definitely yes. The two fruits per day suggestion is also applicable to those who are living with diabetes also. Just remember to have high fibre fruits wherever possible and not to over-eat at one time.
Is there a specific time to eat fruit?
Generally, fruit is best had in between meals, to help bridge any hunger gaps throughout the day.
It is also recommended to spread your two daily serves out so that your body has a chance to digest the fruits one at a time. A good indicator of when to eat fruit is when you are starting to feel hungry.
Try spread the fruit intake out during the day or afternoon as most likely in the evenings after dinner time you may not be as active.
Making the sweets more satisfying
-Try to eat the sweet food of your choice very slowly, enjoy every bite of it
-Consider if there are lower sugar options if you have a craving for sweet, over time you will get used to having less sugar
-Share with friends and family, take a smaller portion for yourself
Enjoy a variety of whole fruits with the family as a nutritious snack!
Trevally cooked in a mild and flavoursome mustard sauce
Serves 2-4
Variation:
In step 9 gently add the fish pieces and stir slowly to mix. Cover the pan and cook until the fish is tender.
Ingredients:
1 med size Trevally fish in cutlets
Marinate: Spice: Serve: Garnish:
hot with Basmati
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp salt
Method:
1 tbsp mustard seeds
3 tbsp oil or mustard oil
1 inch ginger chopped
5 cloves garlic chopped
2-3 green chillies chopped
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp panch phoran (spice blend)
1 onion finely chopped
3/4 tsp turmeric
1 cup coconut milk
Salt to taste
1. Marinate the trevally cutlets with salt, red chilli powder and turmeric powder. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil or mustard oil in a non stick pan.
3. Stir in the mustard seeds, when it crackles add the chopped ginger, garlic, green chillies and fry lightly.
4. Add vinegar and remove from the heat. Allow to cool a little. Transfer this mixture into a mixer jar and grind to a fine paste.
5. Heat the remaining mustard oil in another non stick pan.
6. Add the panch phoran and chopped onions to the oil and fry until translucent.
7. Stir in the ground paste and mix. Pour in about ½ cup of water, salt and turmeric powder and mix well.
8. Pour in the coconut milk and stir well to mix. Bring to boil and allow to simmer for a few mins until gravy thickens slightly.
9. Meanwhile fry the travelly cutlets until golden in colour. Drain on paper.
10. Serve on a platter along with the hot gravy and garnish with coriander.
BY MANJIT SETHIrecipe from the private collection
Celebrity chef and upcoming actor
Ranveer Brar is used to dishing out fine European cuisine, as he did in a previous avatar as executive chef at The Claridges in New Delhi, or he revels in getting to the bottom of the finer points of his hometown
Lucknow's nawabi spread.
So, seeing him in the wild cooking with sticks foraged from the forest at an undisclosed location on a primitive hearth, 'chulha', that's been in use since humans invented fire, comes as a surprise.
Brar appears to be chopping orange carrots with his signature black Santoku knife. The chef chose a casual outfit for his outdoor cooking session, donning an olive-coloured t-shirt paired with green-coloured pants.
And this is all that he says in his cryptic comment: "Chef hoon, jahaan jaata hoon apna kitchen saath lekar jaata hoon (Being a chef, I take my kitchen with me wherever I go)."
Brar will be seen next with Mona Singh on 'Ma Ka Sum', an Amazon Prime Video original helmed by Nicholas Kharkongor that depicts a 19-year-old math genius' ultimate quest to create an algorithm to find the "perfect match" for his single mother.
Despite his faith in the sanctity of numbers, he begins to realise that nothing in life is absolute -- when it comes to human relationships, every equation is a "work-in-progress".
Mesha (Aries)
There is a possibility that some of you would be influenced by a streak of meanness which would goad you on to severely exploit your juniors, workers or even people below you in the social strata for your personal advantage. The Stars would also not be congenial for investment and new ventures, and any such plans should be shelved for the time being.
Best days: 3, 12, 30
Lucky Colour: Red, Orange, Cream
Simha (Leo)
This month the going may tend to get rough for your family affairs. The family atmosphere would not be very pleasant with discord openly in evidence, and members not living in harmony with each other. There is the further likelihood of serious differences with your elders. Do not lose your cool and refuse to be drawn into any kind of confrontation.
Best days: 5,3
Lucky Colour: White & Orange
Dhanu (Sagittarius)
Your efforts would meet stiff resistance and an extremely unpleasant situation could come about, curb such tendencies very firmly, failing which you would only have yourself to blame. The climate would also not be congenial for investment or launching any new ventures. Any such plans should, therefore, be shelved for the time being.
Vrishabh (Taurus)
This month the prospects for your family affairs are quite cheerless, since the stars are not very favourably disposed. There is the distinct possibility of someone below you in the social strata causing trouble to your family. Deal with this firmly and do not allow things to go out of hand.
By D. Narayan (Tantracharya) M: 0425 660 220Mithuna (Gemini)
This month there would be ample opportunity for you to advance your career prospects, since the stars are in an obliging mood. Despite a lot of hard-work, the effort would not seem to be a burden because the rewards would be more than commensurate. There would be a good deal of beneficial travel.
Karkat (Cancer)
A favourable month, in so far as your financial prospects are concerned, Most of you people would have a way of handling your juniors or workers, which will enable you to derive the optimum benefit from their services. This could well turn out to be a boon for you all.
Best days: 9, 18
Lucky Colour: Red, Blue
Best days: 9, 18, 27
Lucky Colour: Green, Blue
Kanya (Virgo)
Your financial prospects are concerned. In fact, if some of you are not careful, there is a distinct possibility that you might find yourself several rungs, below your present status. There are clear chances that some of you would be influenced by a mean streak that would goad you on to severely exploit your juniors, workers or just simply people below you in the social strata.
Best days: 3, 12
Lucky Colour: Orange, Green
Makara (Capricorn)
The picture of your financial prospects, as it emerges from the planets are far from bright. Writers, poets and others of their ilk would do well to make provisions for the rainy day, for they are likely to face an extremely lean spell during this coming month. Indications are that some of you would suffer considerable losses owing to speculative activity.
Best days: 1, 3, 4
Lucky Colour: White, Green, Blue
Best days: 2, 7, 9
Lucky Colour: Red, White, Yellow
Tula (Libra)
There are clear possibilities that some of you would be influenced by a mean streak that would goad you on to severely exploiting your juniors, workers or simply people below you in the social strata, for personal ends. Your efforts would be resisted quite firmly and you might find yourself in the middle of an extremely messy situation.
Best days: 9, 18
Lucky Colour: Red, Blue
Kumbha (Aquarius)
This month, you would have excellent opportunities for financial advancement, since the combination of stars facing you is quite favourably inclined. Musicians, actors, painters, dramatists, and other practitioners of the arts are likely to have a particularly productive spell during this coming month both financially and in terms of creative output.
Lucky Colour: White, Green, Blue
Lucky Numbers - 5, 3, 6
Best days: 9, 18
Lucky Colour: Red, Blue
Vrishchik (Scorpio)
An excellent month, during which you would be able to function above normal and take your career to new heights. Any litigation or dispute is almost certainly going to be decided against you this month. The best you can hope to do is to try and see that the decision on any such matter is postponed to a later and more favourable period.
Best days: 1, 3, 4
Lucky Colour: Red, Orange
Meen (Pisces)
Not a very favourable augury for your professional prospects this month. You are likely to feel quite secure, and may in all likelihood change your job or at last effect a major change in your operations, whether in business or service. There is also a very high degree of probability that you would get into conflicts with your superiors or seniors.
Best days: 2, 7, 9
Lucky Colour: Red, Yellow, White
● At age of 40 years, "highly educated" and "less educated" are the same. (Less educated people may even earn more money)
● At 50 years, "beauty" and "ugly" are the same. (No matter how pretty you are, at this age, wrinkles, dark spots, etc. can no more be hidden.)
● At 60 years, "high position" and "low position" are the same. (After retirement, even a peon will avoid looking at his boss)
● At 70 years, "big house" and "small house" are the same. (Joints degeneration, hard to move, only require a little space to sit.)
● At 80 years, "have money" and "no money" are the same. (Even when you want to spend money, you don't know where to spend)
● At 90 years, "Sleeping" and "waking up" are the same. (After you wake up, you still don't know what to do)
Take life easy, there are no mysteries to be solved.
In the long run, we'll all be the same. In rat race, one who comes first, remains rat don't become cat. Goodfellas enjoy your time now ��
I feel I want to go back in time...
Not to change things, but to feel a couple of things twice.
Sometimes, I wish I was a Baby for a while...
Not to be walked in the pram but to see my Mother's smile.
Some times,
I wish I could go back to school...
Not to become a child but to spend more time with those friends, I never met after school...
Sometimes, I wish I could be back in college...
Not to be a rebel but to really understand what I studied.
Sometimes,
I wish I was a Fresher at my work...
Not to do less work but to recall the joy of the first pay cheque.
Sometimes, I wish I could marry again all over...
Not to change the partner but to 'feel' the ceremony better.
Sometimes, I wish my kids were younger....
Not because they grew fast but to play with them a bit more.
Sometimes, I feel I still had some more time to live...
Not to have a longer life but to know what I could give to others.
Since the times that are gone can never come back, let's enjoy the moments as we live them from now on, to the fullest...
Let's Celebrate our Life - Every Moment, Every Day!
