G'Day India Aug 2023 Issue 196

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Contributors:

Anmol Anand, Debasree Das, Dileep Narayan, Dr Raj Kotharu, Gary Nair, Harpal Sandhu, Manjit Sethi, Narisa Dawar, Sanchita Abrol, Karthik Arasu, Abhi Narayan, Gurpal Singh, Monisha Iswaran, P. Harsora, Nandita Chakraborty, Archita Baweja, Barinderjeet Kaur, Gurpal Singh, Muktesh Chibber, Shivani Prabhu, Payel Ghosh

Cinematic Extravaganza: IFFM 2023 Lights Up Melbourne!

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023 (IFFM) is all set to bring a dazzling array of stars and cinematic delights to Melbourne. The festival, celebrating the best of Indian cinema, promises to be a spectacular celebration of talent, creativity, and cultural diversity. Let's take a closer look at some of the exciting highlights and honourees gracing this year's event.

Kartik Aaryan to Receive Rising Global Superstar Award:

presented by the Governor of Victoria, recognizes Kartik's remarkable achievements and his significant impact on the world of Indian cinema. Kartik expressed his deep honor and gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing his belief in the power of storytelling and films to touch hearts and inspire minds. IFFM will also showcase multiple screenings of Kartik's acclaimed films, including 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' and blockbuster 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'.

Bhumi Pednekar Receives the Disruptor Award:

Bollywood heartthrob Kartik Aaryan will be honoured with the Rising Global Superstar of Indian Cinema award at the prestigious annual awards Gala night on August 11. The award, to be

Bhumi Pednekar, known for her stellar performances in impactful roles, will be feted with the prestigious Disruptor Award at IFFM 2023.

The award recognizes not only her acting prowess but also her relentless commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainability. Bhumi will engage in a special fireside chat on sustainability during the festival's opening day, further cementing her role as a catalyst for positive change. The Disruptor Award will be presented by a dignitary from the Victorian government, highlighting the festival's collaboration with the government in promoting impactful work in the entertainment industry.

of Melbourne (IFFM). Taking place from August 11 to 20, the festival will pay tribute to Karan Johar's exceptional contribution to Indian cinema through a series of events and special screenings. Expressing his gratitude, Karan Johar stated that IFFM holds a special significance for him as it provides a perfect platform to commemorate this significant milestone in his career. He looks forward to engaging in a special talk, sharing insights and anecdotes from his journey, hoping to inspire and connect with fellow filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts.

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange acknowledged Karan Johar as a true icon of Indian cinema, honoring his extraordinary career and invaluable contributions to Indian filmmaking. His 25-year journey as a filmmaker has created a lasting legacy that will be cherished for generations to come.

R Balki's 'Ghoomer' to Open the Festival:

Cannes Film Festival. Anurag Kashyap will personally attend the screening and engage in an exclusive conversation session about 'Kennedy' with the live audience a day ahead of the closing night. The movie follows the gripping tale of an insomniac ex-cop entangled in a corrupt system while seeking redemption.

The veteran star and recipient of five National Film Awards, will have the esteemed privilege of hoisting the Indian flag at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) on August 12, in Honor of the Independence Day weekend. The festival, running from August 11 to 20, promises to showcase the diversity and creativity of Indian cinema to global audiences. Shabana Azmi expressed her delight at being part of the prestigious event, especially with her film, "Ghoomer," directed by R Balki, making its world premiere at the festival. Her presence at IFFM 2023 signifies the celebration of cultural unity and artistic brilliance in Indian cinema.

Karan Johar Honored for 25 Years in Cinema:

'Ghoomer', starring Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher, Angad Bedi, and Shabana Azmi, will open the IFFM 2023. The festival will kick off with this emotionally charged narrative that tells the inspiring story of a paraplegic sports person excelling in cricket under the guidance of her coach. R Balki and Abhishek Bachchan expressed their delight at the film being selected as the opening feature, calling it an honor and a tribute to sports and human resilience. Saiyami Kher, who plays the lead, shared her excitement about the film's Australian premiere and how it fulfills her dream of portraying a sportsperson on screen. The IFFM 2023 promises a series of exciting events across iconic venues in Melbourne, such as Hammer Hamer Hall and the National Gallery of Victoria, offering a unique backdrop for the festival's celebrations.

Anurag Kashyap's 'Kennedy' to Close IFFM 2023:

Founder and Festival Director of IFFM, Mitu Bhowmick Lange, expressed her enthusiasm for the film, praising Anurag Kashyap's groundbreaking work. She highlighted 'Kennedy' as a powerful film that engages the audience from start to finish. With stars like Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat leading the cast, the closing night ceremony promises to be a star-studded affair, with Anurag Kashyap, Sunny Leone, and Rahul Bhat in attendance.

As the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023 draws near, the stage is set for a celestial spectacle that will mesmerize audiences and ignite a love affair with Indian cinema and culture.

With over 100 films in 20 languages, discussions, and events, the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will be a grand celebration of Indian cinema and culture. The festival aims to showcase the talent and creativity of Indian filmmakers to a global audience, fostering cross-cultural exchange and appreciation of cinema's magic. From red carpet events to thought-provoking films, IFFM 2023 has something in store for every film enthusiast and culture lover. The festival promises to be a cultural extravaganza, a tapestry of talent and creativity woven together to create a cinematic experience unlike any other. The event will take place from August 11 to August 20, 2023, and it promises to be an unforgettable cinematic journey!

For more info: www.iffm.com.au

Karan Johar, the renowned filmmaker with 25 illustrious years in the industry, will be honored at the 14th Indian Film Festival

Celebrated director Anurag Kashyap's highly anticipated movie, 'Kennedy,' has been selected as the prestigious closing night film of IFFM. The film, known for pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema with its bold and unique storytelling, received critical acclaim at its world premiere at the

Shabana Azmi to Hoist the Indian Flag:

MELBOURNE, Jul 30: Victorians have been encouraged to go online to find out if they are among thousands of people with a claim on a pool of unclaimed money topping $109 million.

The State Revenue Office (SRO) holds records of money that remain unclaimed after 12 months including refunds, rents and bonds, share dividends, salaries and wages, debentures, interest and proceeds from sales. The majority of entitlements have been

held by the SRO for less than 10 years.

A man last listed as living in Box Hill with $882,697 waiting to be claimed and an Ardeer woman who is sitting on a potential $259,828 windfall are among the Victorians who could be a few clicks away from securing a windfall.

A South Yarra woman has 72 entitlements worth $170,105 recorded in her name while a Doncaster man has 65 entitlements totalling $80,264.

The SRO has a record of 45,653 entitlements in the City of Melbourne worth $13,633,759 while Stonnington ($7,516,798), Boroondara ($7,103,869) and Port Phillip ($5,620,411) are also home to many potential claimants.

In regional Victoria, Mornington Peninsula

leads the way with $2.8 million followed by Yarra Ranges ($2 million) and Greater Geelong ($1.9 million). Across the state, there are some 678,000 entitlements waiting to be claimed.

In addition to unclaimed money, the SRO also holds all Tattersalls, Intralot and Tabcorp prizes, as well as TAB winnings, that have remained unclaimed for six months or more.

The highest unclaimed gaming entitlement is $2,136,327 from Tattersalls which was received in March 2016. To claim these winnings, you must supply your original ticket.

All Victorian businesses and trustees holding $20 or more in unclaimed money are reminded they must record and keep the money for at least 12 months, then lodge it with the SRO. Lodgements can be made via the SRO website.

To search for unclaimed money, visit sro.vic.gov.au/unclaimedmoney. You will need your name or company name, and the address that you believe the unclaimed money lodging organisation would have had on file.

See bottom for top-10 tables and go to sro.vic.gov.au/unclaimedmoneylga for details of unclaimed money in each local government area.

Click And Collect – Millions of Dollars Waiting to Be Claimed St Kilda’s New Landmark Pier Taking Shape

MELBOURNE, Jul 24: Works to rebuild Melbourne’s landmark St Kilda Pier is in full swing as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $53 million investment to create the best bayside facility for years to come.

Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne today inspected progress at St Kilda where recent works have included construction of the structure to form the stunning new curved section.

The new pier will feature a wider and more accessible walkway, tiered seating and a 140-metre-long protected habitat for the resident penguin colony.

A new penguin viewing area, offering a better viewing experience and additional protection for the pier’s most famous feathered friends will become a new focal point.

Locals and visitors will benefit from better open space, while access to the heritage kiosk – one of Victoria’s most photographed structures – will be preserved when the new pier opens next year.

The heritage building has been the inspiration for the pier’s new design and

commercial operators will soon be invited to submit expressions of interest to operate from the kiosk.

A new low landing to provide greater access for ferries and boats to dock alongside the pier is also taking shape with major works focusing on this area include installation of durable concrete headstocks.

The existing St Kilda Pier was built in the 1970s and the current rebuild has involved significant work over the past two years to install hundreds of piles, headstocks and deck panels.

The Labor Government announced $46

million in the Victorian Budget 2023-24, so critical works can take place at our muchloved piers and jetties across the state including Warneet North and South Jetties, Williamstown’s Workshops Pier, St Leonards Pier and Dromana Pier.

It follows further investment for rebuilding and critical works at piers and jetties at Rye, Raymond Island, Lakes Entrance, McLoughlins Beach, Williamstown, Flinders, Mornington and Hampton.

For more information visit: parks.vic.gov. au/projects

Helping Young People Access Newer, Safer Cars

MELBOURNE, Jul 31: Young people across regional Victoria will be given the opportunity to swap their older cars for a safer vehicle thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Unsafe2safe Program.

Expressions of interest open today for young drivers aged 18-25 to receive a $5,000 subsidy towards buying a safer vehicle as part of the program.

Under the program up to 120 young Victorians have already bought safer, modern and more reliable vehicles.

The trial aims to replace 1,000 older vehicles that are over 16 years old for more modern vehicles that have safety features to help prevent crashes – such as Lane Keep Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking systems.

Young drivers are at the greatest risk of being involved in a crash in their first years of solo driving and young regional Victorians driving older cars are 15 times more likely to be killed in crashes compared with the state average.

Of the 84 drivers who have died on Victorian roads this year, 14 were between 18-25 years old.

The program is part of Victoria’s Road Safety Action Plan under the Victorian Road

Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which focuses on groups that are over-represented in road trauma.

Participants who complete the Vehicle Safety Basics course through the VicRoads

e-learning portal will be given priority access to the program.

Expressions of interest close on 27 August 2023. For more information on eligibility and to apply, visit engage.vic.gov.au/unsafe2safe.

Victoria to ban gas in new homes from 2024

According to the statement, the decision was made out of the concern that the cost of gas is rising sharply across the world, along with uncertainty around supply.

The state government noted that Victoria has the highest use of residential gas in Australia, with around 80 per cent of homes connected, while the gas sector contributes about 17 per cent of the state's emissions.

"We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive. That's why we're stepping in to help even more Victorians get the best deal on their energy bills," said Lily D'Ambrosio, the state's Minister for energy and resources.

The state government of Victoria, Australia, has announced its decision to stop gas connections in new homes from 2024.

"From January 1, 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all-electric networks, with houses taking advantage of more efficient,

cheaper and cleaner electric appliances," the Victorian government said in a statement. Commencing immediately, all new public buildings that haven't reached the design stage will also be all-electric. This includes new schools, hospitals, police stations and other government-owned buildings.

She added that reducing reliance on gas is critical to meeting the state's emission reduction target of net zero by 2045 and getting more Victorians on electric appliances, which will save money on their bills.

(IANS)

New Victorian Homes to Go All Electric From 2024

MELBOURNE, Jul 28: New Victorian households will save up to $1,000 off their annual energy bills while reducing household emissions, as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s landmark decision to phase out gas in new homes.

Across the world, the cost of gas is rising sharply, and so is uncertainty around supply. Victorians are at the mercy of private companies exporting gas overseas – which has a real impact on the cost to Victorians at home.

That’s why the Labor Government is doing the work to make energy more affordable for Victorians, getting them the best deal on their home energy bills.

From 1 January 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all electric networks, with houses taking advantage of more efficient, cheaper and cleaner electric appliances.

These changes will apply to all new homes requiring a planning permit, including new public and social housing delivered by Homes Victoria.

Going all-electric can be delivered at no extra cost to the buyer – and will slash around $1,000 per year off household energy bills – or up to $2,200 for households that also have solar installed.

Commencing immediately, all new public buildings that haven’t reached design stage will also be all-electric. This includes new schools, hospitals, police stations and other government-owned buildings.

Victoria has the highest use of residential

gas in Australia, with around 80 per cent of homes connected. The gas sector contributes about 17 per cent of the state’s emissions, and the move to electric systems is a key element of meeting Victoria’s nation leading emissions reduction targets of 75–80 per cent by 2035 and net zero by 2045.

These moves build on the 2022 reform that removed the requirements for gas connections for new homes. Since then, Victoria’s leading builders and developers have already begun delivering energy-bill saving and low emissions all electric homes.

To ensure homeowners can maximise the benefits of household renewable energy, the Government is investing $10 million in a new Residential Electrification Grants program. Grants will be available to volume home builders, developers and others to provide bulk rebates for solar panels, solar hot water and heat pumps to new home buyers up front.

This will mean new home buyers will save $4,600 before they even move in and will remove double handling of installations –saving buyers money and hassle.

To help prepare for the transition, the Government is also investing $1 million in targeted training to ensure the construction industry is supported in the transition to all electric and 7 star homes.

This builds on Solar Victoria’s $11 million training and workforce development package that will upskill plumbers and electricians to take advantage of the renewable energy revolution.

Victorian plumbers and electricians will be the key to delivering this critical transition –that’s why the Government is upskilling the plumbing and electrical workforce to ensure they have rights skills to take advantage of this growing industry.

The Government is delivering a $3 million package including free training for 1,000 plumbers and apprentices to design and install energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems, and free training for 400 electricians and fourth-year apprentices to safely design and install rooftop solar and home battery systems.

To make it easier to go all-electric, eligible new home builders, as well as existing homeowners and renters, can access the nation leading Solar Homes program –offering $1,400 solar panel rebates and interest free loans of $8,800 for household batteries.

All Victorian households and businesses are also eligible for the VEU gas to electric rebates to upgrade heating and cooling and hot water heaters.

The Government will work closely with industry including gas appliance manufacturers, the building and construction sector, local government, trade unions and consumer organisations to manage business, workforce and consumer impacts and support the sector in the transition.

The Government is working to update the nation leading Gas Substitution Roadmap, which will be released later this year.

(Media Release)

Scheme Extension Opens for Victims of Collapsed Builders

MELBOURNE, Jul 28: Applications have opened for an expanded Andrews Labor Government support scheme to help Victorians whose builder collapsed without having taken out insurance on their behalf –as required by law.

Several hundred extra families could apply for payments, joining clients of Porter Davis Homes who paid a 5 per cent deposit to the company but were left in the lurch when the company did not take out mandatory Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) as they should have.

The expanded scheme now covers Porter Davis Homes customers who paid 3 per cent amounts under pre-deposit “tender agreements”.

It also covers eligible customers of the collapsed Hallbury Homes and Snowdon Developments who made a payment of up to 5 per cent of the value of their building contract, including amounts for plans and specifications, where their builder did not take out DBI.

The scheme covers clients of builders that have gone into liquidation in the 2022/23 financial year where the customers have made deposits but been left without DBI through no fault of their own. Payment of up

to $50,000 are available.

Applications under the expanded scheme can be lodged at vic. gov.au/liquidatedbuilders-customersupport-scheme. More information is available on the website or by calling 1300 579 089.

Any customer affected by the liquidation of a building company other than Porter Davis, Hallbury Homes and Snowdon Developments during the last financial year, and meets the above criteria, is encouraged to provide their details at vic.gov. au/liquidated-builders-customer-support so this can be followed up.

More than 200 families from the original Porter Davis Homes group of 5 per cent deposit-makers have already been approved for payments.

The Department of Government Services is working with affected customers to process applications for support as quickly as

possible.

Domestic builders must by law take out DBI on behalf of customers when they accept a legal deposit.

The Government has announced plans to reform the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995, strengthen domestic building insurance requirements and introduce a new offence with tougher penalties for builders who request deposits without taking out the required insurance.

(Media Release)

Australia failing to reduce road deaths

Association (AAA), 1,205 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to the end of June.

It marked an increase of 3.2 per cent from the previous year.

The new report shows that Australia is far from on course to meet the strategy's targets of halving road deaths by 2030 and reducing serious injuries by 30 per cent over that period.

Michael Bradley, Managing Director of the AAA, criticised the federal government, calling for data that track serious injuries, urban road deaths and national highway deaths per annum to be made available.

"You can't improve what you don't measure, and when it comes to road trauma, the Australian government is measuring very little," he said in a statement.

CANBERRA, Jul 24: Road deaths in Australia continue to rise, marking a failure to improve road safety, a new report revealed.

According to the new Benchmarking of the National Road Safety Strategy report, which was published by the Australian Automobile

He said a new approach is needed, starting with national statistics to guide law enforcement, road investment, and policy change.

Australian-Tamil wins top literary award for novel on Sri Lanka civil war

be repeated, and that the reclamation and retelling of history cannot be undertaken without listening to the story-tellers amongst us.

"With enormous skill Chandran recounts a solemn history, largely through a cast of squabbling, endearing elders, and invites us to open our hearts and minds: ‘If you read the literature of a country…you will understand it; you will fall in love with it'.”

The 2023 judging panel comprised of author and literary critic, Bernadette Brennan; literary scholar and translator, Mridula Nath Chakraborty; book critic, James Ley; NSW Mitchell Librarian and Chair, Richard Neville; and author and editor, Elfie Shiosaki.

Chandran’s parents, both doctors, fled Sri Lanka as the country stood on the precipice of civil war, first to the UK where the author was born, then to Australia three years later, The Guardian reported.

MELBOURNE, Jul 26: Australian-Tamil lawyer Shankari Chandran has won the $60,000 prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel, "Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens".

The award was announced at a ceremony at The Ovolo Hotel in Sydney.

“It’s such an honour to win the Miles Franklin Literary Award, honestly, I’m still in shock. To be recognised among my Australian writing peers in this way is extraordinary. It means so much to me that 'Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens', a novel that explores what it means to ‘be Australian’,

has been recognised in this way,” Chandran said.

Set in a Western Sydney suburb, the novel follows the lives of residents at an aged care facility run by a Sri Lankan native who fled the country in the eighties to escape civil war.

In the process, it explores themes of war, genocide, racism, family, love, as well as friendship.

Praising Chandran's novel, the judges said in a joint statement: "It treads carefully on contested historical claims, reminding us that horrors forgotten are horrors bound to

She grew up in suburban Canberra, in constant dialogue with herself about where she fitted in and the terms under which acceptance was granted, the report said.

Chandran has spent two decades working as a lawyer in the social justice field, on national and international program design and delivery, according to her website bio.

She continues her work in social impact for an Australian national retailer and is based in Sydney.

Her unpublished political thriller, "Unfinished Business", will be published as an Audible Original in 2024.

Portable air purifiers could protect millions of Australians during bushfires

CANBERRA, Jul 31: Portable air purifiers could protect millions of Australians from smoke inhalation during major bushfire events, according to a new study.

In the stud, a team from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found that purifiers fitted with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can improve indoor air quality by up to 74 per cent during bushfire events.

Much of Australia was blanketed by smoke during the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, causing a 44 per cent increase in the number of people reporting asthma symptoms and presenting to emergency departments.

A landmark inquiry into the fires later heard evidence that the smoke was linked to an estimated 445 deaths.

The new study estimates that its findings could protect 2.7 million Australians with asthma and an additional 7 million at elevated risk of health problems during extreme smoke events.

"Staying inside and closing windows and doors during extreme smoke events is important, but ultimately what provides protection against smoke pollution indoors are air purifiers fitted with HEPA filters," Amanda Wheeler, lead author of the study from the CSIRO, said in a media release.

"Using more than one, if possible, inside houses is likely to lead to improved health

outcomes.

To draw their findings, researchers monitored indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM2.5, high levels of which can cause significant health levels when breathed in.

They found that nine homes operating a HEPA filter during prescribed burning periods had PM2.5 levels at least 30 per cent lower, with construction code compliance also a significant factor.

Wheeler said it was critical to find ways to protect the population from the serious health impacts of bushfires as climate change continues to extend the length of the threat season, potentially prolonging smoke exposure and associated adverse health effects.

(IANS)

Japan is natural partner in India's modernisation process: Jaishankar

NEW DELHI, Jul 28: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that Japan is a natural partner in India's modernisation process.

"What really does Japan mean to India? Japan is in many ways the exemplary moderniser. It is an example of relevance. Japan is a natural partner in India's modernisation process. Japan has truly unleashed the revolution in India. The Suzuki revolution," Jaishankar said while addressing the India-Japan forum.

"The second revolution was the metro revolution. The third revolution is in the making, which is the high-speed rail. When we complete that project, people will see in India what an enormous ripple impact it has made."

He said that the fourth revolution is in critical and emerging technologies and semiconductors.

"There are some really important challenges in the world, like missile nuclear proliferation and terrorism. And it is important that we address the root causes and identify the countries which are behind this. It is therefore important that Japan and India are on the same page," Jaishankar

added.

On his part, visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said the two nations need to promote people to people exchanges in order to expand bilateral ties.

"Our Prime Ministers have agreed to further promote exchanges. This year 2023, we have named it as Japan India tourism year exchange. India is an integral partner

in the UN Security Council where we have been working shoulder to shoulder in G4," Hayashi said said in his address.

He further added that "cooperation between like-minded countries like us (India and Japan) is needed to counter terrorism, which is a top priority issue".

(IANS)

New Zealand, Australia PMs meet to celebrate close ties

WELLINGTON, Jul 26: New Zealand

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met for their first annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting and the celebration of several anniversaries.

The meeting took place as both countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), the 50th anniversary of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, and the 80th anniversary of diplomatic representation, said.

"It was great to meet again with Prime Minister Albanese to celebrate our closest international relationship, mark this special year of anniversaries and work towards an even better future," quoted Hipkins.

It was the fifth time the two Prime Ministers met in seven months.

The Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting is their annual opportunity to "assess and set priorities for the relationship for the following year", Hipkins said.

Wednesday saw an agreement to put together a joint Australia-New Zealand expert group, with a clear deadline of 12 months, to "scope initiatives to move closer towards seamless travel across the Tasman", the statement said.

Measures would be adopted to help trans-Tasman businesses and tourism with a simplified border, without compromising security, it said, adding the expert group will report back by the end of June 2024.

The two sides also discussed issues of economic cooperation, trade, and climate change, among others.

Third Indian American enters 2024 US presidential race

Aerospace engineer Hirsh Vardhan Singh has become the third Indian American vying for the Republican nomination for the 2024 US presidential race after former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Singh, 38, introduced himself as a lifelong Republican and an "America First constitutional carry and pro-life conservative who helped restore the conservative wing of New Jersey’s Republican Party starting in 2017" in a video message posted on Twitter.

He ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 2020, and the present bid is the fourth time the defence and aerospace industry executive is eyeing public office.

According to Singh, Americans face grave threats from the corruption of both, big tech and big pharma, and in addition, there is an all out attack on American family values, parental rights and open debate.

“While Big Pharma has made massive profits working with the government to compel everyone to take the experimental vaccines, Big Tech has become the Big Brother, who invades our privacy and indulges in censorship of our political and contrarian viewpoints,” her said in an over three-minute-long video.

"We need strong leadership to restore American values. That is why I have decided to seek the Republican Party's nomination for the 2024 election," he added.

While praising fellow Republican candidate Donald Trump as the "greatest president of my lifetime", Singh said that "America needs more".

"It is time to move past outdated politicians of a bygone era," Singh said, calling himself the "only pure blood candidate for the President" as he never gave in to the Covid vaccinations.

"Even New Jersey’s Democrat Senate President labelled me as ‘Trump on steroids," he said in his video message.

candidates vying for presidency, which includes Trump, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, Ramaswamy, Haley, Senator Tim Scott and businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley.

According to a recent Morning Consult poll, 59 per cent of voters’ support Trump, 16 per cent would vote for DeSantis, 8 per cent to Ramaswamy, 6 per cent to Pence, and 2 per cent to Scott.

Born to Indian immigrant parents, Singh is armed with a bachelor's degree in engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2009.

Entering New Jersey politics in 2017 as a candidate for Governor, Singh finished third in the race, securing a meagre 9.8 per cent of the vote share.

He was awarded Aviation Ambassador in 2003 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. (IANS)

(IANS)

Singh joins a crowded list of Republican

Mate G’Day

Getting married in Australia

SHORTENING OF TIME –LESS THAN ONE MONTH

If the parties to an intended marriage have not provided the NOIM to the celebrant with the minimum one month’s notice, they will need to apply to a prescribed authority for authorisation before the celebrant can make or confirm any arrangements to marry them.

When a celebrant is asked to reduce the minimum notice period for the NOIM, the celebrant must ensure that the NOIM is in order and then refer the parties with the notice to a prescribed authority.

The celebrant should explain these key points to the couple: the reason for seeking a shortening of time must fall within one of the prescribed categories before the application can be considered; a prescribed authority has no discretion to grant a shortening of time outside the circumstances covered by these categories; the granting of a shortening of time is not automatic and a prescribed authority may charge an application fee.

The celebrant should also advise the parties to the

marriage to make an appointment with the prescribed authority and to take the completed NOIM and any other documentary evidence to prove why they require a shortening of time for example, medical certificates or a travel itinerary.

This is the only circumstance in which a celebrant can release the completed NOIM to the parties to the intended marriage. Parties must return the NOIM to the celebrant after a shortening of time is obtained.

If you have further questions, you may contact me on 0425 853 086 or navee64@gmail.com.

Chandigarh on its way to become popular tourist destination

Chandigarh has emerged as a shining star, ready to welcome travellers with open arms. The primary objective of the project is to unlock and maximize the tourism potential of the city, making it a memorable experience for visitors from far and wide. A high-level conference was called to kick off this revolutionary journey, which was led by UT Adviser Dharam Pal. The team read the beautifully produced inception report submitted by the project development and management consultant at the meeting, according to Khalsa Vox.

Khalsa Vox is a media portal that brings the latest in Punjab politics, history, culture and heritage.

both physical infrastructure and intangible offerings. The project development and management consultant team will be stationed right here in Chandigarh, actively engaging in on-ground work to bring the vision to life, Khalsa Vox reported.

Hargunjit Kaur, Secretary of Tourism, Home Secretary Nitin Kumar Yadav, Secretary of Culture Vinod P Kavle, MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra, DC Vinay Pratap Singh, CITCO MD Purva Garg, Chief Architect Kapil Setia, and Chief Engineer CB Ojha were present at the meeting.

CHANDIGARH, Jul 28: The Union Ministry of Tourism has presented Swadesh Darshan 2.0, an ambitious initiative aiming at upgrading over 55 cities across the country into top-tier tourist destinations. Among the picked cities, Khalsa Vox claimed that

The discussion was made even more beneficial by the enthusiastic participation of many departments from Chandigarh. They were urged to offer their perspectives, concerns, and interests in order to guarantee that the city's tourism growth meets the requirements and wishes of tourists.

The joint presentation on the project shed light on the core concepts of it. The inception report, a solid foundation for further progress, will soon be followed by comprehensive master plans for tourism encompassing

With the Centre’s resolute push and the diligent efforts of the project development and management consultant team, Chandigarh is all set to blossom as a prime tourist destination in India. The city’s rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality will soon be showcased to the world, inviting travellers to embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery and delight, Khalsa Vox reported.

As the project takes shape, tourists can look forward to a rejuvenating and immersive experience in Chandigarh, leaving them with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Indian diaspora's success story has changed how US views India

NEW DELHI, Jul 22: The rapid rise of Indian-Americans from politics to administration, entrepreneurship to technology, medicine to hospitality, science to academia has put the global spotlight like never before on the high-achieving four million-plus strong diaspora.

The community happens to be the most educated with the highest median income in the US, with an average household earning of $123,700 -- making them the top earners in the US among other Asians in the country.

As the profile of the Indian American community -- now the second-largest immigrant group in the US -- has grown, so too has its economic, political, and social influence, according to a recent Carnegie Endowment study.

In 2010, only 18 per cent of Americans saw India as “very important” to the United States, according to The Chicago Council survey.

Now, India is perceived by Americans as their seventh favourite nation in the world, with 70 per cent of people viewing India favourably in 2023, says a Gallup survey.

Much of how America views India today can be attributed to the success of this community, which according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has played a significant role in the all-round development of the nation they live in and also strengthened the IndiaUS relationship.

The fifth largest economy of the world,

India today is seen in the US as a strong bilateral partner sharing common democratic values with broad-based and multi-sectoral cooperation in sectors like trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, etc. American businesses heavily rely on highly-skilled workers from India to fill the gaps in IT and engineering sectors via the H-1B visa programme. These visa holders create prospects for US citizens, by enabling companies to invest in domestic operations instead of sending jobs abroad.

As US Ambassador Eric Garcetti recently said: "India is a place where dreams become reality every day. Our counties have so much in common. Indian dreams and American dreams are two sides of the same coin."

Addressing the 2019 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, then Foreign Minister late Sushma Swaraj had noted that while the Indian diaspora started migrating centuries ago, it was the migration of the educated, highlyskilled and dynamic young Indians that brought laurels to India.

The dominance of Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Parag Agarwal in the IT sector has strengthened the image of India in the US as a technology powerhouse and a source of quality human resources.

With US Vice President Kamala Harris sitting atop the political ladder, the US House of Representatives has five Indian Americans

-- Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar.

There are close to 60 Indian-American CEOs in Fortune 500. Even though Indians are just 1 per cent of the American population, they are more than 10 per cent of the Fortune 500 CEOs with the likes of Laxman Narasimhan (Starbucks) and Raj Subramaniam (FedEx).

The US now has 20,000 Indian-American professors and at least a third of companies in the Silicon Valley that come for funding, and have an Indian American co-founder, according to Indiaspora founder M.R. Rangaswami.

According to foreign policy experts, it is the success of this community, which has dramatically changed the US perception of Indians and India, with its ability to spread Indian soft power, lobby for India’s national interests, and contribute economically to their mother country's rise.

As part of “soft diplomacy”, IndianAmericans played a pivotal role in the fructification of the historic Indo-US nuclear deal in 2005.

The community also urged the political establishment -- right from the Oval Office down to statehouses -- to send aid worth at least half-a-billion dollars to India during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

By Meenakshi Iyer

Fearless Musings

Reflections of life and cultural fusion in Roopa Kamath's debutante book of poetries and musings - The Heart knows no fear.

Meet Roopa Kamath, an Indian Australian writer who has broken all barriers to pursue a job that is not only niche but also challenging: illustrating life's complexities in beautiful prose.

Before coming to Australia in 2013, Roopa taught young adults in schools across Bangalore through the newspaper in education program initiated by THE HIINDU.

In late 2000, when the IT industry was booming, Roopa landed a job at Yahoo! as an editor for content creation. However, when one is born with a creative flair, the writer within leaps out to authenticate and capture the many emotions.

Her poetry is a beautifully woven garland of words, creating a tapestry of metaphors and lyricism. By capturing the essence of emotions, Roopa takes her readers on a journey from falling in love to experiencing heartbreak and even finding solace in a spiritual healing journey in solitude.

The unconditional support of her two adored children and the sheer determination of the writer inside her made forty-sevenyear-old Roopa follow her dream.

Her his book was born from the desire to bring forth her lifelong experience through verses close to her heart. The poems span the period from her adolescent experiences to her present-day living.

These poems have acted as outlets when she has felt a rush of emotions, be it happiness, sorrow, grief or gratitude. She has been writing poetry since she could rhyme words as a child; however, the beauty of capturing her emotions started shaping her poems in her teens.

The shared emotions and experiences are universal, and she wants her readers to know they are not alone on their journey. Roopa says that is one of the main reasons for the book.

"Poetry is not as readily marketed as a novel or any other Prose form. However, we still see the art form surviving."

Some forums are dedicated to poetry recitations across the world. Poets like Rupi Kaur have huge audiences who come to watch them recite their poems. Poetry appeals to the finer sensibility of a

few. However, Roopa adds that poetry is a medium through which there is an instant connection between the poet and the reader.

Unlike prose, poetry varies in many ways, and multiple readers may associate with the emotions in the poetry to match their situations.

Roopa bases her inspirations on nature, human emotions, experiences, and Indian Mythology, which sparks her creative mind, and her day job in a Govt office doesn't hinder her creative juices.

A valued message Roopa shares with young writers and poets is to express themselves fearlessly. A writer, through their words, can bring about changes - a simple thought giving birth to a subtle difference and later that very thought turning into a revolution. Words are powerful, and every action reacts.

Roopa's next project is a book of short stories about woman protagonists who rise above the ordinary and revel in their dormant strength set free. These stories originate in India and Melbourne.

All of us at G'day India wish Roopa to create more poetries and stories because words have their own stories to tell. More power to the fearless heart; let the pen shine, and the pages flow with words.

By Nandita Chakraborty

Indian Festival Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market Welcomes Back the Indian Festival Melbourne on 12-13 Aug 2023

The annual Indian Festival returns to Queen Victoria Market on 12 - 13 Aug, promising two days filled with delightful winter flavors, dynamic performances, and an electrifying atmosphere.

Taking place in the iconic C & D sheds, the festival ensures a seamless experience regardless of Melbourne's weather. Grab a cup of chai and hot curry as you indulge in the festivities, join in the vibrant performances, and explore the diverse market stalls.

Beyond the all-time favorites like butter chicken, the festival invites visitors to embark on a culinary journey across the subcontinent, savoring regional Indian cuisine and fusion creations. From Babaji's Kerala Kitchen's famous dosas to Chilli Express's tantalizing tandoori specials, Gujrati Street food from Melbourne da adda, and Desi Kothi Ice Creams' delectable range of kulfis, a myriad of flavors awaits. Don't forget to try hot chai, fresh sugar cane juice, Medhu vadas, chaats, chole kulche, vada pav, and more.

The Indian Festival Melbourne, a highlight on the FT Events festival calendar, offers not just a culinary adventure but also a chance to shop for Indian giftware, jewellery, spice mixes, and sauces.

Himanshi Munshaw Luhar, Chief Foodie at FT Events, expresses excitement, saying, "The Indian Festival Melbourne is going to be such a great experience. We have been working closely with community partners to put together a day that the whole family can enjoy."

The festival stage will be a spectacle of lively performances, featuring Masala Bhangra, Traditional Indian Bharatnatyam, and captivating Bollywood dance acts by renowned groups like The Naach Box and

in Melbourne, Ateev Dang, who debuted the Shuddh Desi Comedy, the first-ever Hindi comedy show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival earlier this year.

The Indian Festival Melbourne is a free event, welcoming everyone to celebrate and immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Indian culture. Join us for an unforgettable weekend filled with warmth and vibrancy at the Queen Victoria Market.

For more information visit:

https://www.foodietrails.com.au//2022/ indian-festival-melbourne-2023

NB Dance crews. Hosting this year's festival as the MC is the rising star of Indian comedy

Secondary Online Publication and Defamation Liability

BY GURPAL SINGH

Defamation is a communication from a person to at least another that harms the reputation of an identifiable third person and the communicator has not legal defence as per the defamation act. The law of defamation aims to balance the right of free speech with the protection off a person’s reputation against harm and damage including financial and non-financial. The online platforms hosting third party content is particularly a complex area and continue to evolve. Internet message boards and media websites publishing content are rife with defamatory content.

The courts have attempted to balance the right of a person to seek vindication of his or her reputation.

The anonymity of the web also provides an environment for ‘trolls’ who deliberately make outrageous statements about other people to cause disruption and intentional damage. The liability of those who did not create the content, arguably defamatory, is not a new phenomenon but gained increase momentum in the fast speed internet world. A newspaper vendor was sued in 1880 over the sale of newspapers containing defamatory articles and in lately a local counsel found itself in the soup by failing to remove defamatory posters plastered on bus shelters in its locality by a third party. Australian courts seem adopting a similar approach in relation to online platforms. The publication may be anonymous so the person may have practical difficulties in discovering the identity of the person posting the defamatory material. For defamation to succeed the person complaining of the defamation must prove that the communication has been published to a third person; the communication identifies the plaintiff, and the communication was defamatory to cause harm to the reputation and business of the plaintiff.

The publishers are strictly liable for disseminating defamatory material because of their assumption of responsibilities in preparing and communicating the material to the public. Interestingly the defence of innocent dissemination of the defamatory contents by a secondary publisher is not available any more in the light of High court decision in Voller in which the court upheld the findings by the NSW Court of Appeal upholding a finding that the media companies

are publishers of comments posted to their public Facebook pages by the third-party users.

The High court by majority, rejected the contention that publication of defamatory matter must be intentional; that the publisher’s liability does not depend on knowledge off the defamatory matter being communicated or an intention to communicate it. Applying the rule of Webb v Bloch the court said that a person who has been instrumental I, or contributes to any extent to, the publication of defamatory matter is a publisher. All that is required is a voluntary act of participation in its communication. An attempt to portray themselves as passive and unwitting victims of Facebook’s functionality has an air of unreality, having taken action to secure the commercial benefit of such functionality attract the legal consequences. The participation in the publication is satisfied if it is active and voluntary.

For an administrator or monitor of a blog, discussion forum or social media community where one controls the membership and access to posting content, one may be categorised as a primary publisher and such a status will prevent the person from relying upon the innocent dissemination defence. However, the publication of the material may fall within one or more off the other defences that exist at common law or under the defamation act. The court have been reluctant to impose a positive duty to

monitor an open access internet discussion forum. In case of subordinate publication of material created by someone else, a range of possible defence available includes innocent dissemination. However, one would need to demonstrate that the person promptly removed the defamatory material. The question as to what is a reasonable time within which to respond to claims of defamatory material shall be subjective and vary depending on the circumstances of each publication.

The Voller decisions highlight the need for organisations to review how they monitor this engagement with the public. This may include pre-emptive measures, to the extent they are available and cost effective. Since the posts in Voller, Facebook has introduced options that provide greater controls to page administrators. Efficient processes for removing content upon complaint will likely be most critical.

In general terms, this judgment is the culmination of an extended litigation of a separate question relating to material which was published if five years ago. Defences, including potential defences of innocent dissemination, are yet to be considered. Whilst a decision in favour of the media companies (at any stage) would have ended the dispute, this experience is likely to reinforce judicial reluctance to entertain separate determinations which can prolong proceedings and add to cost.

Gurpal Singh is the principal lawyer of Melbourne law firm, Saundh Singh & Smith Lawyers | W: www.sssl.com.au

Creating a healthy living and working space

BY ARCHITA BAWEJA

Our physical environment has a huge impact on our health and well-being. It can impact our mental health either positively or negatively. Cluttered spaces and messy rooms can increase anxiety and make things even tougher.

After the pandemic, most people work from home at least a few days a week, and it cannot be more important than now to have a healthy living and working space. Thus, it is of great significance to know how to createe and motivate ourselves to live in these healthy spaces.

1. Declutter: Removing clutter from your space can relieve a mental weight you may not have even realised was there. That’s because clean surfaces and organised items are naturally more appealing to the eye, promoting stability and calm. But beyond that, having a spot for essential items like bills, office papers etc will allow you easy access whenever it's needed. Organising stuff does not have to be boring either. Use fun crates, colourful bins, or craft some DIY solutions you can look at with pride.

2. Natural Light: Spending extensive time in environments with artificial light and little to no natural light can increase stress,

disrupt circadian rhythm and negatively impact mood. Conversely, exposure to natural light has been shown to increase serotonin levels, which can help improve mood, create feelings of calm and reduce depression and anxiety. So, it’s really important to sit in a space that has some natural light. It’s also recommended to go out for a walk during the day to get some sun.

3. Proper Posture: Make sure you

have a proper and comfortable work desk and chair that is ergonomically designed. While sitting is not the greatest, you can still strengthen your abdominal, back, and shoulder muscles properly. Try to get up every few minutes so that you can stretch and relax during work.

4. Positivity: Colours and lighting can play a large role in our moods. Ideally, rooms should have warm lights and softer colours to help put your mind at ease. Colour in the red spectrum which can increase anxiety so focus on earthy tones. Adding artwork and crafts can also be a source of inspiration. Display affirmative quotes or paintings around the house which inspire you when you need that extra boost or energy.

5. Hydration: Keep a big bottle of water around your workspace and make sure you fill it a few times a day. Try getting up to fill water as a way to take a small work break.

6. Greenery: If you can’t look at nature through a window, studies have shown that adding plants and greenery to a space can still help people feel more relaxed and in a more positive mental state. When in doubt, add green plants to your workspace. Plants are beneficial for mental health by reducing stress hormones and sick days while increasing productivity and creativity.

Hope the above points help you create a space that gives you positive energy, calm and peace as well as adds a layer of clarity and concentration in your life.

Archita Baweja of Melbourne is an engineer by profession but a writer at heart

WORKING OUT DURING A FAST IS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL, HERE’S WHY

Fasting has been a tradition as old as any. We all have fasted at one time or another, for various reasons including but not limited to cultural, religious, and health purposes.

While fasts are often observed for good health, an unhealthy myth follows this custom. It is often believed that one should not workout during fasting. But the truth cannot be any far from the truth. In reality, working out during fasts can actually be beneficial, as long as you know what kind of workout plan works for you.

While you do need to consider certain things while working out during a fast, it is preferable to not skip your workout. Kushal Pal Singh, Fitness and Performance Expert of Anytime Fitness discusses how to schedule your workout during fasts.

Benefits Of Workout During Fasting

Contrary to popular belief, working out during fasting can have ample benefits. Let’s take a look at some of them below.

Fat Burning: During fasting, glycogen levels in your body are low. This encourages the body to use stored fat as a source of energy.

Improved insulin sensitivity: A healthy combination of workout and fasting aids in enhanced insulin sensitivity which can improve blood sugar control and have longterm benefits for metabolic health.

Mind-body connection: Fasting can create a heightened sense of awareness and mindfulness. Coupled with exercise, it can enhance the mind-body connection and promote a deeper sense of focus and presence during your workouts.

Mental focus and clarity: Some individuals report improved mental focus and clarity during fasted workouts. This could be due to the body adapting to using alternative fuel sources and the potential cognitive benefits associated with fasting.

How To Revamp Your Workout During Fasting?

Oftentimes, after knowing the benefits of the workout during fasting, people may get too excited and indulge in an extreme workout. And that is exactly what is not to be done. Working out during a fast requires a strategy to compensate for the lack of energy. Too much of anything is wrong, and the rule applies here too. So, how should one workout during fasting? Just follow the guide below, and you should be able to work out efficiently during a calorie deficiency.

Avoid Heavy Workouts: Engaging in heavy or intense workouts during fasting periods

can be challenging for your body due to limited energy and hydration. It’s generally recommended to avoid heavy workouts during fasting to ensure your well-being and prevent potential health risks. Some of the reasons for this may include lower energy levels, a dehydrated body, muscle breakdown, and irrelevant resources for recovery and repair of the body.

Instead of heavy workouts, consider opting for lighter, low-intensity exercises, such as gentle cardio, yoga, or stretching during fasting periods. These activities can help maintain movement, promote flexibility, and provide a lower-intensity option that is more suitable during fasting.

Maintain Energy Level: Maintaining the right levels of energy is important for a fruitful workout. You won’t be able to utilize your workout time if you do not have enough resources to move about. So, what can you do?

Schedule your workout in accordance with the time of the day when you have the most energy. It may take some time to figure out the right time frame, but once you understand it, you will be able to work out during fasting more efficiently.

Consume a balanced meal during the non-fasting window ahead of your workout. Select foods that contain a variety of complex carbs, lean protein, and healthy fats. This can help you maintain energy levels during your workout.

It may be beneficial for you to reduce the strenuousness of your workouts while fasting. Focus on low to moderate-intensity

activities that are less exhausting. Prioritise restoring your energy stores and providing your body with the nutrition it requires for replenishment after your workout and breaking the fast. Eat a well-balanced meal with carbohydrates for energy, protein for muscle repair, and healthy fats for satiety.

Focus On More Cardio and Fewer Weights: During a fast, focusing on cardio exercises and reducing the intensity of weightlifting can be a suitable approach.

Here are some tips for incorporating more cardio and reducing weight-lifting during fasting:

Opt for activities like jogging, brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or aerobics as your primary workout during the fasting period. Perform cardio exercises at a moderate intensity level that allows you to maintain a steady pace without excessive strain. Consider interval training, alternating between periods of higher and lower intensity, to challenge yourself while still focusing on cardio.

If you wish to include some weight training, choose lighter weights and perform fewer repetitions rather than heavy lifting that could cause undue strain on your body. Listen to your body and adjust the duration and intensity of your workouts according to your energy levels and comfort.

Workout For A Less Time: Working out for a shorter duration during fasting can be a practical approach to ensure you don’t overexert yourself and maintain your energy levels. You may instead engage in low to moderate interval training.

( IANSlife)

WHY MUSCLES MATTER AS YOU AGE

We’ve all dealt with a jar lid that just won’t budge. Maybe we tried hammering it on the counter or holding it under hot water, and if all else failed, we probably asked someone for help. Over the years, it might start to feel like these stubborn lids are getting stronger but for many people, the problem is that their hands and bodies are simply getting weaker.

Could your health status be in the palm of your hand? It’s not quite that simple, but your hand grip strength is a critical indicator of overall muscle strength and can tell you a lot. Muscle loss, an often-overlooked aspect of the ageing process, remains largely unaddressed, with symptoms like diminished hand grip strength commonly dismissed as something that happens when you grow older. According to a multi Continental study involving a healthy elderly population, 17.5 per cent of Indians had advanced muscle loss, also known as sarcopenia. This is a considerably higher figure than other Asian countries and Europe.

Our muscle health can often tell us how we are going to age and how we can measure and rebuild muscle health to reduce the effect of sarcopenia as we age.

Sarcopenia and Your Health

Sarcopenia, also known as advanced muscle loss, is when a person loses a large amount of muscle mass along with strength and function as they age. Muscle loss is not be just a disease of the old, but it starts much early in life. In fact, starting at the age of 40, adults can lose up to 8 per cent of muscle mass per decade. After 70 years old, that rate potentially doubles. Prevalence of sarcopenia has been observed in every 3rd man or every 5th woman in India .Globally, an estimated 50 million people are affected by this condition, and this number is expected to increase to more than 200 million in the next 40 years .

Muscle loss can reduce energy and movement, raise the risk of falls and fractures and also compromise someone’s recovery and survival from sickness or surgery . When it comes to measuring muscle mass, it is also a far better indicator of health than the widely used measurement tool Body Mass Index or BMI.

Measuring Muscle Mass

Why is measurement so important?

Sarcopenia is considered as a hidden or invisible condition because, unless you test your muscle strength, you may not know if you’re losing muscle mass. So, how do you put your muscle strength to the test? Grip test is a simple test you can do for yourself which is as simple as opening a jar, squeezing an orange, or detecting the strength of your handshake. If you see a difference in your strength, it’s time to take action.

A chair challenge test is also a simple measure of your muscle strength which can help you to adopt timely corrective measures. The time you take to do 5 sit-ups on a chair of 43cm (1.4 feet) height can determine muscle age. To know more about how the chair challenge test works, you can visit www.muscleagetest.in

Rebuilding Muscle and Strength As You Deal With Sarcopenia

While this invisible condition is not talked about enough, the good news is that muscle and strength can be rebuilt and regained through a combination of strength exercises and a balanced diet with sufficient nutrients. Here is how you can do that:

Don’t skip breakfast no matter how scarce your time is. Breakfast is the powerhouse of nutrition that your body needs to take on the day ahead. You should eat nutrient-dense and well-rounded meals with food like eggs, whole grains, fruit and

dairy can help you stay full while also keeping your energy levels high.

Ensure daily physical activity as it can go a long way in making muscles stronger. You can begin by including simple activities like walking, cycling, swimming, jogging, playing badminton/ cricket, or even climbing stairs in your daily routine. An hour of physical activity every day can make a significant difference in muscular strength and health.

Identify and meet your daily protein needsConsuming adequate high-quality protein per day (about 1g/kg of body weight) along with physical activity can help your body optimize protein for muscle building and restoration throughout the day.

Embrace nutrition supplements-While a regular and balanced diet is essential for building stronger muscles as you age, some nutritional deficiencies might persist. To close these gaps, people should incorporate balanced nutrition supplements such as Ensure HMB into their diet. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation, can help in maintaining and restoring lean body mass, muscle strength and function in adults.

Muscle plays an important role in many aspects of life, and there are plenty of effective ways to test and improve muscle health to effectively deal with sarcopenia. Through awareness, education, and action, we can empower ourselves and others to prioritize muscle health by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and promoting a vibrant and active ageing experience. Together, we can build a future where healthy ageing and strong muscles go hand in hand, enabling us to live life to the fullest at every stage.

By Dr Irfan Shaikh

4 STAGES OF SLEEP AND WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THEM

Sleep is a fundamental aspect of our lives. It is a natural process that rejuvenates our bodies and minds, allowing us to function optimally during our waking hours. However, not all sleep is the same. In fact, sleep consists of different stages that play a crucial role in our overall well-being. Understanding these stages can provide valuable insights into the quality of our sleep and help us take steps to improve it. Priyanka Salot, Co-founder of The Sleep Company has explored the four stages of sleep and what you should know about them.

Light Sleep

The first stage of sleep is characterised by a transitional state between wakefulness and sleep. During this stage, you are easily awakened and may experience sudden muscle contractions or a feeling of falling. Your brain produces alpha and theta waves, which are slower in frequency compared to the waves generated when you are fully awake. Stage 1 typically lasts for only a few minutes and accounts for approximately 5 per cent of your total sleep time.

Deeper Sleep

Stage 2 sleep is a deeper stage of sleep than Stage 1. It is characterised by the presence of sleep spindles and K-complexes, which are brainwave patterns that help protect sleepers from being easily awakened by external stimuli. During this stage, your body temperature decreases, your heart rate slows down, and your breathing becomes more regular. Stage 2 sleep is essential for memory consolidation, learning, and overall cognitive function. It accounts for 45 per cent of our sleep time.

Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep

Stage 3 is also referred to as slow-wave sleep. It is characterised by the presence of slow delta waves in the brain, which are associated with the deepest level of sleep. During this stage, your body repairs and regenerates tissues, strengthens the immune system, and stimulates growth and development. Deep sleep is vital for physical restoration and accounts for approximately 25 per cent of your total sleep time.

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is the final stage of the sleep cycle and is associated with vivid dreaming. It is characterised by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity, and temporary paralysis of the muscles. REM sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive processes, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation. It

is also important for learning and creativity. REM sleep occurs in cycles throughout the night and typically accounts for 25% of your total sleep time.

So, why is it important for you to know about the different stages of sleep?

Sleep Quality: Understanding the stages of sleep can help you gauge the quality of your sleep. Use a sleep tracking device or app that monitors your sleep patterns and provides detailed information on sleep duration, sleep stages, and potential disruptions. There are many smartwatches and fitness trackers that use a combination of heart rate monitoring and actigraphy to track and measure sleep. By tracking how much time you spend in each stage, you can assess if you are getting enough deep sleep and REM sleep, which is critical for overall well-being.

Health and Well-being: Adequate sleep is essential for maintaining good physical and mental health. Deep sleep promotes physical restoration, while REM sleep supports cognitive function and emotional balance. Knowing the stages of sleep can help you identify any issues or imbalances in your sleep patterns that may be affecting your health.

Sleep Disorders: Awareness of the different stages of sleep can aid in the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders. Conditions like insomnia, sleep apnoea, and narcolepsy often disrupt the normal sleep cycle, affecting the distribution of sleep stages. Recognising these disruptions can prompt you to seek

appropriate medical help.

Optimal Performance: Quality sleep directly impacts your daily performance and productivity. Understanding the stages of sleep can assist you in optimising your sleep routine and making necessary adjustments to ensure you wake up feeling refreshed and energised.

The following are some tips to help you achieve a peaceful sleeping experience: Create a regular sleep routine: Aim to maintain a consistent bedtime and wake-up time each day, including weekends, in order to regulate your body’s internal clock.

Create a sleep-friendly environment: Ensure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool, promoting a comfortable and conducive sleep environment.

Practice a relaxing bedtime routine: Engage in relaxing activities before bed, such as reading, taking a warm bath, or practising meditation, to signal your body that it’s time to wind down.

Limit exposure to electronic devices: The blue light emitted by smartphones, tablets, and computers can disrupt your sleep patterns. To promote good sleep, refrain from using electronic devices for a minimum of one hour before going to bed.

Invest in a good mattress: A supportive and comfortable mattress is crucial for ensuring proper spinal alignment and minimising sleep disturbances. (IANSlife)

5 WAYS TO DEAL WITH YOUR CHILD’S JUNK FOOD CONSUMPTION

When you have a child, each tiny milestone of theirs’ brings you happiness and joy. Be it the first time they grab your finger or the first few steps they take, each development makes your heart leap with joy. But, with each new step, parents are also constantly worried about their health and well-being. Parenting is often challenging and takes ample hard work and responsibilities, especially for the new parents as the formative years of children hold the utmost importance to shape their lives. One of the biggest worries of a parent is to make their kids eat nutritious and healthy meals that help them to grow. However, Kids often get fussy and demand junk food with unhealthy fats and added sugars. They also increase children’s chances of developing childhood obesity which causes multiple risk factors for many health complications in later life.

Dr. Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi, a parenting coach, educator, and founder of Get Set Parent shares few ideas to raise your kids in a junk food-free environment: Be an example for kids to follow: Children often imitate their parents and look up to them for everything. Hence, it is very

important to make sure you are setting a good example by choosing nutritious, homecooked meals over fast food. Show them that healthy eating can be delicious and can make all the difference.

Converse and educate: Teach your kids about the importance of a balanced diet and explain the negative effects of excessive fast-food consumption. Help them understand the nutritional value of whole foods and the consequences of consuming a lot of processed foods.

Involve them in meal planning and preparation: Get your children actively involved in meal planning and preparation, ask for their suggestions, and try to implement them. Let them pick out fruits and vegetables at the grocery store and help in the kitchen. This will give them a sense of ownership and make them more likely to enjoy healthier meals.

Limit fast food as a treat: Instead of completely saying no to fast food, consider it as an occasional treat rather than a regular meal option. Set clear rules about

how often it can be consumed, such as once a week or for special occasions.

Make healthy snacks accessible: Keep a variety of healthy snacks readily available for your child to choose from. Stock the pantry with options like fresh fruits, cut vegetables, whole grain crackers, and yogurt. Limit the availability of processed snacks and sugary treats.

Choose healthier alternatives: When eating out, choose restaurants offering healthier options or a wider range of choices. Look for places that have salads, grilled options, and fresh ingredients. Encourage your kids to make healthier choices by explaining the benefits of those options.

Remember that changes in eating habits may not happen overnight. Be patient, consistent, and supportive as you work towards improving your child’s eating habits and patterns for a better and healthier tomorrow.

GOOGLE DEEPMIND ENABLES ROBOTS TO PERFORM NOVEL TASKS

Google has demonstrated its first vision-language-action (VLA) model for robot control that showed improved generalisation capabilities and semantic and visual understanding beyond the robotic data it was exposed to. This includes interpreting new commands and responding to user commands by performing rudimentary reasoning, such as reasoning about object categories or highlevel descriptions.

The Robotic Transformer 2 (RT-2) is a novel vision-language-action (VLA) model that learns from both web and robotics data and translates this knowledge into generalised instructions for robotic control, according to Google DeepMind. A traditional robot can pick up a ball and stumble when picking up a cube. RT-2’s flexible approach enables a robot to train on picking up a ball and can figure out how to adjust its extremities to pick up a cube or another toy it’s never seen before.

“We also show that incorporating chain-of-thought reasoning allows RT-2 to perform multi-stage semantic reasoning, like deciding which object could be used as an improvised hammer (a rock), or which type of drink is best for a tired person (an energy drink),” said the DeepMind team The latest model builds upon Robotic Transformer 1 (RT-1) that was trained on multi-task demonstrations. The team performed a series of qualitative and

quantitative experiments on RT-2 models, on over 6,000 robotic trials.

“Across all categories, we observed increased generalisation performance (more than 3x improvement) compared to previous baselines,” the team said. The RT-2 model shows that vision-language models (VLMs) can be transformed into powerful visionlanguage-action (VLA) models, which can directly control a robot by combining VLM

pre-training with robotic data.

“RT-2 is not only a simple and effective modification over existing VLM models, but also shows the promise of building a general-purpose physical robot that can reason, problem solve, and interpret information for performing a diverse range of tasks in the real-world,” said Google DeepMind.

TESLA BUILDS ITS FIRST CYBERTRUCK, DEETS INSIDE

Elon Musk’s company Tesla announced the production of its very first Cybertruck.

Recently, the electric car company tweeted an image of workers in hard hats surrounding the sleek Cybertruck, which it said was built at its Gigafactory near Austin, Texas, CNN reported. Tesla revealed the prototype for the futuristic Cybertruck in 2019, saying production would begin in late 2021. The striking prototype looked like a large metal trapezoid on wheels, its exteriors made from a stainless steel alloy. However, a demonstration of the truck’s supposedly unbreakable windows in 2019 backfired when a metal ball thrown at the windows did, in fact, break them.

Tesla remained mostly silent about plans for the highly anticipated vehicle, but in 2021 announced an updated version was coming.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the company couldn’t yet debut long-promised new vehicles, such as the Cybertruck pickup, due to supply chain issues.

However, in January Tesla announced it would begin production of the Cybertruck later this year. It has previously said volume production of the vehicle is expected in 2024.

As of November 2022, the Cybertruck had over 1.5 million reservations, according to a report from Electrek, TechCrunch reported. (ANI)

50% OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ENDORSE AI IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

About 50 per cent of healthcare industry professionals with prior experience in artificial intelligence (AI) have strongly endorsed its use in clinical practice and administrative tasks, according to a report on Monday. The report by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, showed that AI is increasingly becoming embedded in the provision of healthcare. The report revealed that among different activities, diagnostics support and treatment decisions support are the two most popular cases with the use of AI tools.

“Some practices such as oncology have already been using AI to assist their clinical works like risk prediction and disease diagnosis. Of course, while AI can help with diagnosis, treatment decisions and eventually provide more effective patient care, scientific validation is needed to verify results,” said Elton Kwok, Market Research Manager in Pharma at GlobalData. The report, based on a survey of 426 healthcare industry professionals between March -June, offers insights into the current utilisation and prospects of AI in eight major pharmaceutical markets -- the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, and China.

In these countries, the majority of physicians expressed great comfort in using AI for automating administrative tasks. “This sentiment underscores the growing acceptance of AI as a valuable tool in streamlining healthcare operations and suggests a shift towards leveraging

its potential for optimising administrative efficiencies in medical practices across these countries,” Kwok said.

Importantly, China has emerged as a prominent player in the global healthcare landscape in embracing AI, reflecting its commitment to advancing healthcare accessibility and quality, and positioning the country as a key player in the ongoing digital revolution within the healthcare industry.

“AI’s utilisation in drug development, encompassing target identification and drug repurposing, has yielded promising outcomes, fostering increased confidence in AI tools,” Kwok said.

With AI’s rapid evolution and the growing need to enhance healthcare delivery, the report foresees a gradual shift towards more extensive AI adoption in clinical practices, he noted. (IANS)

OPENAI SHUTS AI TEXT DETECTION TOOL OVER ‘LOW RATE OF ACCURACY’

Microsoft-owned OpenAI has discontinued its AI text-detection tool due to a “low rate of accuracy” in distinguishing whether written material was created by a human or ChatGPT, their AI chatbot.

“We are working to incorporate feedback and are currently researching more effective provenance techniques,” OpenAI said. The company is working on an enhanced text version and has “made a commitment” to do the same for audio and visual content generated by its Dall-E image generator.

The text-detection tool was first released by OpenAI in January 2023, citing the need for AI systems that can detect false claims.

“We’ve trained a classifier to distinguish between text written by a human and text written by AIs from a variety of providers. While it is impossible to reliably detect all

AI-written text, we believe good classifiers can inform mitigations for false claims that AI-generated text was written by a human,” the company had said at the time.

OpenAI’s AI classifier tool was limited and inaccurate from the start. It required someone to manually enter at least 1,000 characters of text, which OpenAI would then classify as AI or human. It

only properly classified 26 per cent of AI-written content as “likely AI-written” and mislabelled human-written text as AI 9 per cent of the time, according to the company.

Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has launched its audacious eyeball-scanning cryptocurrency startup ‘Worldcoin’ to help build a reliable solution for distinguishing humans from AI online, enable global democratic processes and drastically increase economic opportunity.

Worldcoin consists of a privacypreserving digital identity (World ID) and, where laws allow, a digital currency (WLD) received simply for being human. Users can now download World App, the first protocol-compatible wallet, and reserve their share.

WHAT DO GREEN FLAGS IN RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE?

We spend a lot of time trying to catch red flags so that we don’t get hurt or know when to leave a relationship. However, do we know how to point out what the green flags look like? Green flags are positive indicators that identify a healthy and successful bond.

Shahzeen Shivdasani, relationship expert and author of the book Love, Lust, and Lemons helps one to identify what green flags should you be noticing: Open communication: For any relationship to work, effective communication is key! How well do the two of you communicate your wants and needs? How do you handle conflict? In every situation, if you are both willing to communicate openly and honestly with each other, then this a definitely a green flag and a quality that will help you both deepen your bond.

Trustworthy and dependable: Trust is another key component. A lot of people find it extremely hard to trust someone completely. It can be baggage that stems from experiences where they got their heart broken. For a relationship to thrive, both parties have to be able to trust each other and be reliable. This will strengthen your connection and create an environment that feels secure and safe.

Emotional support: Another important green

flag to pay attention to is how well the two of you support each other. During tough times, do you feel heard and understood? Do you feel they give you empathy and compassion? Do they celebrate your successes? In a wellfunctioning relationship, you should always feel supported. This lets you know that you and your partner can handle life’s many challenges.

Shared values and goals: In a thriving relationship you will notice that the couple sees eye to eye. Of course, there will be things they don’t agree on. However, how they view life and what they want from a partnership should align. When core values are the same it points towards a strong foundation that can grow in harmony. This helps with understanding one another more easily and also being able to compromise where needed.

Gratitude: Couples that take the time to compliment one another for doing something for them, big or small, cultivate positivity. If they demonstrate kindness and appreciation, then that is a green flag. Gratitude boosts an emotional connection and maintains a sense of mutual respect and love.

Personal space: Do they give you your space to grow? A really important green flag is also having a life outside of your relationship. It

could be work, hobbies, or catching up with an old friend one on one. In a healthy bond, you let your partner have their space when required. Balancing your autonomy as well as your relationship, will ensure that both parties feel fulfilled.

Adaptability: All relationships have their challenges. Partners who are open to change and can adapt demonstrate the qualities of a lifelong partner. How did they approach unexpected challenges? Are they willing to be flexible? Are they willing to address issues with you straight on and find a solution? Relationships thrive when couples can work through the hard times together when change might be required.

Just remember, relationships should make you feel safe and loved. If you are not experiencing any of the above green flags, then this may not be the relationship for you. Stay attentive so you can identify these positive signs as they indicate that a bond is strong and can flourish.

After all, there’s a reason even traffic lights allow you to move forward at that colour.

FLEXIBLE, FRIENDLY WORKPLACE CULTURE MAKES FOR BETTER REMOTE WORK

The pandemic forced many people to work from home, but it wasn’t always a pleasant situation. Remote work has numerous advantages, including more flexibility, inclusion for parents and people with disabilities, and work-life balance. It can, however, cause issues with teamwork, communication, and the overall work environment.

New research from the Georgia Institute of Technology used data from the employee review website Glassdoor to determine what made remote work successful. Companies that catered to employees’ interests, gave employees independence, fostered collaboration and had flexible policies were most likely to have strong remote workplaces. “One of the biggest changes during the pandemic for all of us, for better or worse, was remote work,” said Munmun De Choudhury, an associate professor in the School of Interactive Computing. “The motivation for us in this research was to understand what makes some organizations more suitable for remote work and others not. We found that cultural aspects matter the most.”

De Choudhury and her Ph.D. student Mohit Chandra presented the research in the paper, “What Makes Some Workplaces

More Favorable to Remote Work?

Unpacking Employee Experiences During Covid-19 Via Glassdoor,” at Proceedings of the 15th ACM Web Science Conference.

Data Discovery

Glassdoor made for an ideal dataset because employees can post anonymously, leading to more authentic reviews. Although review sites are known for attracting people with strong views, this bias worked in the researchers’ favor -- they were looking for people with strong opinions on company culture.

“We are missing the people who are in the middle, but it also actually works in our favor because we really were interested in those positives and negatives,” De Choudhury said. “We recognize the bias, but at the same time, it was still a pretty good data set for us to know the extremes of how people felt.”

Ultimately, they collected more than 140,000 reviews from current employees at 52 Fortune 500 companies that allowed remote work from March 2019 to March

2021, which overlapped with the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of these companies included Verizon, Walmart, and Salesforce. Their textual analysis mostly focused on the pros and cons section of the Glassdoor reviews.

To analyze the data, the researchers created an algorithmic prediction task to identify which cultural attributes a company had prior to the pandemic would lead to favourable remote work environments. Their model used statistical and deep learning methods and correctly predicted a company’s favourable remote work environment 76% of the time.

Using organizational behaviour theory, the researchers divided company culture into 41 different dimensions categorized into seven subgroups: interests, work values, work activities, social skills, job structural characteristics, work styles, and interpersonal relationships.

The Company Culture Curve Companies with a positive culture for remote work excelled in three main categories: Interests: Companies that empower employees to pursue their own goals, interests, and how they conduct their work were viewed more favourably. Work values: Companies that give their

employees the freedom to make their own decisions and work in a collaborative environment led to more satisfaction. Structured job characteristics: Companies with flexible remote work and hours were more likely to entice employees.

“We found these keywords in reviews like ‘work-life balance’ or ‘flexible work’ occurring frequently in the pros section of good companies,” Chandra said. Conversely, companies with toxic cultures frequently failed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; made workers feel disrespected; and acted unethically.

Ultimately, the researchers believe these results reflect generational differences in what’s most valuable to employees.

“There are a lot of reports of quiet quitting and the great resignation because millennials or Gen Z value culture a lot, in contrast to previous generations like Baby Boomers, for whom job satisfaction was largely about compensation,” said De Choudhury. “Younger generations might say they’re OK with an average salary if they can have that flexibility in work hours, and that’s what makes these companies more favourable to remote work.” (IANS)

HEALTH

HOW GOOD SLEEP HABIT CAN BOOST BRAIN HEALTH, WARD OFF ALZHEIMER’S RISK

Prioritising good sleep habits, by getting at least 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep, is essential for overall brain health and help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, said doctors here on World Brain Day on Saturday.

World Brain Day is observed on July 22 every year to raise awareness about brain health and neurological conditions.

Sleep is often the overlooked aspect of our daily routine and plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy brain. A good night’s sleep is essential for our brain to function at its best.

“When well-rested, the brain demonstrates extraordinary resiliency. Sleep is an essential component of the restorative process since it helps to consolidate memories, remove toxins, and reorganise brain networks. These crucial processes are compromised when not getting enough sleep, and cognitive deficits start to show,” Dr. Vipul Gupta, Chief Neurointerventional Surgery & Co-ChiefStroke Unit, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, said.

“Sleep deprivation impairs attention, focus, and task efficiency, reducing overall productivity. It compromises our ability to learn and retain information, hindering educational achievements. Insufficient sleep also affects emotional regulation and mood, leading to negative emotions like irritability, anxiety, and depression,” Dr. Anand Kumar, Professor & Head, Dept. of Neurology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said.

Sleep also plays a part in the risk of dementia. Studies have found a correlation between chronic sleep deprivation and an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Sleep-deprived individuals may be more vulnerable to the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, which can eventually lead to cognitive decline and memory problems.

“One of the remarkable mechanisms during sleep is the glymphatic system, a waste clearance system that operates in the brain. During sleep, the glymphatic system works like a drainage, flushing away harmful toxins and waste products that accumulate

in the brain during the day. This cleansing process is vital for maintaining brain health and optimal cognitive function,” Dr. Karishma Jethmalani, Neuropsychologist, Rehabilitation and Sports medicine, Sir H.N. Reliance Hospital, said.

“However, when we don’t get enough sleep or are sleep deprived, this cleaning process becomes disrupted. The brain’s ability to remove toxic substances is compromised, leading to a buildup of harmful proteins, including beta-amyloid, which is closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease,” she added.

Concern has been expressed over the diagnosis of dementia in young people as our society deals with an extraordinary prevalence of sleep problems and insufficient sleep. Maintaining good sleep hygiene is essential for restful sleep and cognitive wellbeing.

Excessive use of mobile phones and screens at night disrupts our brain’s natural sleep signals due to the blue light emitted by these devices, the doctors said.

“Adopting sound sleep habits is difficult due to the appeal of social media, digital

entertainment available around-the-clock, and infinite distractions. A perfect storm for sleep deprivation is created by the breakdown of regular sleep rhythms and the invasion of electronic devices into the bedroom,” Gupta said.

Mental stress is another factor contributing to sleep disturbances. One of the key contributors to sleep disturbances is excess worry about the activities of the next day.

“This preoccupation prevents deep sleep, which is vital for feeling energised and maintaining cognitive health. Shallow sleep, which occurs when we are stressed or anxious, is not sufficient for rejuvenation and energy restoration,” Kumar said. To improve sleep quality and cognitive functioning, it’s crucial to reduce excessive worrying and engage in relaxation techniques.

Prioritising 7-8 hours of quality sleep and adopting good sleep practices are vital for overall cognitive health and well-being. Minimising screen time before bed and managing stress levels can significantly enhance the quality of sleep and boost cognitive performance during the day, the doctors advised.

By Rachel V Thomas

LOSS OF SMELL MAY SIGNAL ALZHEIMER’S RISK

The Pros and Cons of All-on-4 Dental Implants

The secret to a sparkling smile is impeccable teeth. We know how much our teeth matter when it comes to looks and missing some of our teeth is not only bad for the looks but also affects proper chewing. It is a pain going through teeth loss, but on the bright side for those of us suffering from teeth loss, dental implants work just like natural teeth.

Read on to know more about Allon-4 dental implants.

Dental implants are teethrestoration treatment. It includes inserting tiny posts of titanium fused with other friendly metals into your jawbone in a quick surgical procedure. These posts serve as anchors for the overlay dentures, which are a set of artificial teeth for a whole jaw.

People who carry the gene variant associated with the strongest risk for Alzheimer’s disease may lose their ability to detect odours earlier than people who do not carry the gene variant, which may be an early sign of future memory and thinking problems, according to a study. The study published in the online issue of Neurology, showed that the gene variant associated with this increased risk of Alzheimer’s is called APOE e4.

“Testing a person’s ability to detect odours may be a useful way to predict future problems with cognition,” said Matthew S. GoodSmith, from the University of Chicago.

“While more research is needed to confirm these findings and determine what level of smell loss would predict future risk, these results could be promising, especially in studies aiming to identify people at risk for dementia early in the disease,” he added. The study involved an at-home survey that included testing the sense of smell of over 865 people -- both their ability to detect an odour at all and their ability to identify what odour they were smelling.

Tests were given at fiveyear intervals. People’s thinking

and memory skills were also tested twice, five years apart. DNA samples gave researchers information about who carried the gene associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. People who carried the gene variant were 37 per cent less likely to have good odour detection than people without the gene at a single time point. The gene carriers started experiencing reduced smell detection at age 65 to 69.

The people carrying the gene variant did not show a difference in their ability to identify what odour they were smelling until they reached age 75 to 79. Once they started to lose their ability to identify odours, the gene carriers’ ability declined more quickly than those who did not carry the gene. Thinking and memory skills were similar among the two groups at the start of the study. But as expected, those carrying the gene variant experienced more rapid declines in their thinking skills over time than those without the gene.

“Identifying the mechanisms underlying these relationships will help us understand the role of smell in neurodegeneration,” GoodSmith said. A limitation of the study is that people with severe dementia were not included.

(IANS)

To support the dentures, the dental implants are inserted into four places that are strategically designed. This method is known as All-on-4 dental implants.

It takes a period of up to three-six months for healing after inserting the implants. Once the implants are fused in with the jawbone, overlay dentures are secured on them using screws. Let us look at some of the pros and cons of the All on 4 implants.

PROS

1. Fewer Insertions

All on 4 dental implants require minimum insertions. An overlay denture is supported by only four titanium implants. The positions of these implants are strategically designed to withstand all the chewing forces and pressures in the oral cavity. Other options of dental implants for multiple teeth include All-on-6 and All-on-8.

2. Enjoy All Your Favourite Food

After getting All-on-4 dental implants, you can eat all your favourite foods that you could not do without the full set of teeth in your mouth. You must have craved some foods and drinks in the teethloss phase, and now you can eat them to your heart’s content. Just remember that the food should not be too hard to chew and clean your teeth after eating.

3. Better Aesthetics

Dental implants look better than temporary dentures or other teeth restoration methods as they have a positive impact on your looks. Dental implants enhance your jawline and make you look younger.

4. Reduces Jawbone Deterioration

The friendly amalgam of titanium

and other metals merge with the jawbone over time. This process is known as osseointegration. Due to the presence of these metals, the bone deterioration seen in normal individuals as a side-effect of aging can be reduced.

5. Better Longevity

When cared for properly, All on 4 dental implants last much longer than other methods. There are even cases where dental implants have lasted a lifetime.

6. Easy to Care For

Looking after All-on-4 dental implants is as easy as your natural teeth. A normal oral hygiene routine of brushing twice and flossing once a day would suffice. As they are not your natural teeth, any food particles stuck between the artificial teeth cannot decay them. However, care must be taken as the food particles can decay the tissues of your gums which can lead to a bad situation.

CONS

1. Must be precise

When going for All-on-4 dental implants, make sure you are consulting an experienced dentist since the success of dental implants depends greatly on the skill and expertise of your dentist. Dental implant surgery needs to be effective. Visit our dentists at Healthy Smiles Dental Group for a detailed analysis and check-up. Our expert dentists will be more than happy to help you out with your dental needs.

Bottom Line

As with any surgical procedure, the surgery for a dental implants procedure also has its risks and precautions involved. Make sure you follow the guidelines provided by the dentist. To decide if All-on-4 dental implants are a treatment option for you, visit our dentists at Healthy Smiles Dental Group. Feel free to contact us on 03 9877 2035.

Dr Ved Berani BDS(Mum), ADEC(Aust), MBA(Melb), FIADFE, MFGDP(UK)

Principal Dentist & Clinical Advisor

Healthy Smiles Dental Group

150-152 Canterbury Rd, Blackburn South VIC 3130

Call us: (03) 9877 2035

www.healthysmiles.com.au

Health tip: Swimming may cause weight gain because of the tendency to eat more after a workout in cold water

Prebiotic rich artichokes, garlic & onions can keep your gut healthy

Foods that pack the greatest prebiotic punch to keep your gut healthy are dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, leeks, and onions, suggests a new study. The study comes amidst growing evidence that consuming prebiotics -- certain types of fibre often found in plants that stimulate beneficial bacteria in your gut -- can help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Studies have linked higher prebiotic intake with improved blood glucose regulation, better absorption of minerals like calcium, and markers of improved digestive and immune function. Prebiotics, which can be thought of as food for the microbiome, are different from probiotics, which contain live microorganisms. Both can potentially benefit microbiome health, but they work in different ways.

“Eating prebiotic dense foods has been indicated by previous research to benefit health,” said Cassandra Boyd, student at San Jose State University in the US. “Eating in a way to promote microbiome wellness while eating more fibre may be more attainable and accessible than you think,” she added. Although most dietary guidelines do not currently specify

a recommended daily allowance for prebiotics, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics -- a non-profit scientific organisation that established the currently held definition of prebiotics -recommends an intake of 5 grams per day. For the study, researchers used previously published scientific findings to analyse the prebiotic content of 8,690 foods.

About 37 per cent of the foods in the database were found to contain prebiotics. Dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic,

leeks, and onions had the greatest amounts, ranging from about 100-240 milligrams of prebiotics per gram of food (mg/g). Other prebiotic rich foods included onion rings, creamed onions, cowpeas, asparagus, and Kellogg’s all-bran cereal, each containing around 50-60 mg/g.

“The findings from our preliminary literature review suggest that onions and related foods contain multiple forms of prebiotics, leading to a larger total prebiotic content,” said Boyd. “Multiple forms of onions and related foods appear in a variety of dishes as both flavouring and main ingredients.”

Based on the team’s findings, Boyd said a person would need to consume approximately half of a small onion to get 5 grams of prebiotics. Wheat-containing items rank lower on the list. Foods with little or no prebiotic content include dairy products, eggs, oils, and meats. The study was presented at the ongoing NUTRITION 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.

(IANS)

Strawberry consumption may improve cognitive function in older adults

In a randomised clinical trial reported at Nutrition 2023, the annual conference of the American Society of Nutrition (ASN), daily strawberry consumption was connected to improved cognitive performance, reduced blood pressure, and higher antioxidant capacity.

The study, performed at San Diego State University, expands on prior studies confirming strawberries’ cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive health advantages. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 35 healthy men and women, aged 66 to 78. The participants consumed 26 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder, equivalent to two servings of strawberries daily, or a control powder for eight weeks each.

Following strawberry consumption, cognitive processing speed increased by 5.2 per cent, systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.6 per cent and total antioxidant capacity significantly increased by 10.2 per cent. Waist circumference decreased by 1.1 per cent, during both the control and intervention arms of the trial. While consuming the control powder, participants experienced increased serum triglycerides.

“This study demonstrates that consuming strawberries may promote cognitive function and improve cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension,” said Shirin Hooshmand, professor in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at San Diego State and

principal investigator on the study. “We’re encouraged that a simple dietary change, like adding strawberries to the daily diet, may improve these outcomes in older adults.”

Strawberries are a source of many bioactive compounds. In addition to providing 100% of our daily vitamin C needs, strawberries contain heart-healthy nutrients like folate, potassium, fiber, phytosterols and polyphenols.

Previous clinical trials have connected strawberry consumption to improvements in several markers for cardiovascular disease,

including reduced total and LDL cholesterol (TC) and lower blood pressure. The link between strawberry consumption and brain health has also been well explored in both clinical and population-based studies.

Strawberries and pelargonidin, a biochemical primarily found in strawberries, were associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s dementia in studies conducted at Rush University. Longterm observational studies, including the Health Professionals Study and the Nurses’ Health Study, found that strawberry consumers had lower rates of cognitive decline. (ANI)

Wall squats, planks exercises can help lower blood pressure

Suffering from high blood pressure (BP)? Doing static isometric exercises -- the sort that involve engaging muscles without movement -- such as wall squats and planks are best for lowering blood pressure, finds a study. The study, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, showed that cardio (aerobic exercises); dynamic resistance training, such as squats, press-ups, and weights; high intensity interval training or HIIT (episodic short bouts of high intensity exercise interspersed with short periods of recovery at a lower intensity) are also effective. But isometric exercises were able to reduce systolic (upper reading) BP by 98 per cent, compared to combined training (76 per cent), dynamic resistance training (46 per cent), aerobic exercise training (40.5 per cent) and HIIT (39 per cent).

Wall squats (isometric) and running (aerobic) was found to be the most effective individual exercises for reducing systolic BP (90.5 per cent) and diastolic (lower reading) BP (91 per cent), respectively, with isometric exercise, overall, the most effective for reducing both blood pressure elements. “Overall, isometric exercise training is the most effective mode in reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure,” said the researchers from Canterbury Christ Church University, UK.

“These findings provide a comprehensive data driven framework to support the

development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension.”

Previously published research showed that exercise in general is associated with significant reductions in blood pressure, with aerobic (cardio) exercise, such as walking, running, and cycling, the type primarily recommended for managing blood pressure. But this recommendation is largely based on older data that exclude the newer forms of exercise, such as HIIT and isometric exercise, meaning that the current recommendations are probably outdated, the researchers said.

It may be time to review the current exercise

guidelines for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure, they noted. To potentially update information on the best form of exercise for controlling blood pressure, they included 270 randomised controlled trials published between 1990 and February 2023 in the analysis, with a pooled data sample size of 15,827 participants.

The pooled data analysis showed significant reductions in resting systolic and diastolic BP after all the various categories of exercise, but with the largest falls in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure after isometric exercise training.

Is snacking bad for your health? Quality, timing matters

Love to munch on snacks in between your meals? Beware, late-night nibbles or snacking on highly processed foods could negatively affect health, according to a study. Snacking is becoming increasingly popular, with more than 70 per cent of people reporting they snack at least twice a day. In a new study involving more than 1,000 people, researchers examined whether snacking affects health and if the quality of snack foods matters.

“Our study showed that the quality of snacking is more important than the quantity or frequency of snacking, thus choosing high quality snacks over highly processed snacks is likely beneficial,” said Kate Bermingham, a postdoctoral fellow at King’s College London.

“Timing is also important, with late night snacking being unfavourable for health.

“Surprisingly little has been published on snacking, despite the fact that it accounts for 20-25 per cent of energy intake,” Bermingham said. In the study,

researchers examined the relationship between snacking quantity, quality, and timing with blood fats and insulin levels, which are both indicators of cardiometabolic health.

The analysis showed that snacking on

higher quality foods -- foods that contain significant amounts of nutrients relative to the calories they provide -- was associated with better blood fat and insulin responses. The researchers also observed that lateevening snacking, which lengthens eating windows and shortens the overnight fasting period, was associated with unfavourable blood glucose and lipid levels. There was no association between snacking frequency, calories consumed, and food quantity with any of the health measures analysed.

“We observed only weak relationships between snack quality and the remainder of the diet, which highlights snacking as an independent modifiable dietary feature that could be targeted to improve health,” said Bermingham.

The study was presented at the recent NUTRITION 2023, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held in Boston, US.

(IANS)

(IANS)

SONU SOOD REVEALS INSPIRATION BEHIND ACTION-THRILLER ‘FATEH’

Actor Sonu Sood’s next film ‘Fateh’ is based on real-life instances of cybercrime experienced by people during the Covid-pandemic.

Sood, whose philanthropic acts during the pandemic touched the lives of migrants revealed that there was also a flipside to his humanitarian efforts – instances of scamsters using his name to con people. “The idea for ‘Fateh’ came into my mind when I was helping people and came to know that many people were being fooled and cheated in my name. They were given false loans, promises to meet me or to get any sort of help from my team during a pandemic,” Sood said in an interview.

The actor said he became concerned when he realised that a large number of people were being hoodwinked with conmen using his name to cheat them. The actor said he was informed of instances where people, especially those in remote areas were duped mostly through phishing tools.

“It was then I realized that this

cybercrime is a big issue in our country. It is very important to take action on it. Thus the journey of ‘Fateh’, the film I am doing started from this experience,” said the actor.

The ‘Dabangg’ actor said he began writing about how public was being tricked and how they could take steps to ensure they do not succumb to such fraudsters.

“The film is based on the real experiences of these people. 90 per cent of shooting has been completed, more 8-10 days are left to wrap it,” the ‘Simba’ actor said.

The actor had gained the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) prestigious SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award during the Covid-19 pandemic. From helping migrants return to their homes to arranging medicines and other Covid relief equipment for patients, Sood’s humanitarian efforts during the pandemic received a lot of love and admiration from the people.

The actor said that he had been writing for several films since the beginning of my career.

“I was born in Patiala in 1976, almost 47 years ago. I remember that during my childhood my mother, who had a background in literature used to appreciate my writing.”

The actor recalled that his mother wrote letters to him to which he often responded in poetry.

“I didn’t pay much attention to it at that time but I started writing when she passed away, I wrote a lot of things for her. And even today when I write dialogues for my films, it seems the creativity that I got from my mother is still alive.”

The actor who turns a year older on July 30 said he looks forward to celebrate in the company of his fans.

“I am excited and nervous because I don’t want my fans who arrive from different places to feel ignored. It’s an emotional moment for me and I am really looking forward to celebrating with them,” Sood said.

Meanwhile, the actor said that he is also working on two action films, that he thinks will be “very very special.”

The official release date of ‘Fateh’, helmed by Vaibhav Mishra and starring Jacqueline Fernandez, Shivjyoti Rajput and Vijay Raaz in prominent roles is awaited.

KAJOL ON PLAYING NOYONIKA

Actress Kajol, who is being lauded for her powerful performance in the series ‘The Trial: Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha’, says being able to represent the strength of a woman and being appreciated for that portrayal is empowering for her as a woman and as an actor.

“Noyonika’s character is very close to my heart. She is a strong and practical woman who is always ready to tackle every situation in her life… Being able to represent the strength of a woman and being appreciated for that portrayal is empowering for me as a woman and as an actor,” said the actress.

Director Suparn S. Varma shared that it was an emotional moment to bring the series to the world and added that he cannot wait to show what happens next.

“I can’t wait for all of you to witness what happens next.”

“The love and positivity that all my friends, family and fans have given me for The Trial: Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha truly adds a feather to my cap, after The Family Man, Rana Naidu, Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai and now The Trial: Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha, it just empowers me

to create path-breaking content and bring new stories to entertain all of you!”

“Our only aim is to bring entertainment to audiences through every project we make,” added Deepak Dhar, CEO of Banijay Asia.

In ‘The Trial: Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha’, Kajol’s character faces the hardships of being a parent in a challenging situation. The journey of Noyonika (played by Kajol) as she embarks on

a journey that truly makes her stand the test of time after her husband’s betrayal also reflects on the tough decisions a parent has to make for the betterment of their children.

‘The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha’, which has been received well by the audience, is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. It is an adaptation of Robert King and Michelle King’s The Good Wife, directed by Suparn Verma.

JACKIE SHROFF LOBBIED FOR CHEAPER POPCORN TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO CINEMAS

Actor Jackie Shroff has expressed his joy on the reduction of popcorn prices in theatres and remembered fond memories of watching movies in the cinema halls, a nostalgic experience that holds a special place in his heart.

Jackie had appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to reduce popcorn prices during the CM’s visit to Mumbai earlier this year and is extremely happy to see this being implemented.

As a true cinema lover, he wanted to ensure that everyone can enjoy the full cinematic experience without breaking the bank.

Acknowledging the impact of big stars like Shah Rukh Khan, who have a loyal and devoted fan following, Jackie said how their movies draw audiences to theatres consistently, and such loyalty reflects the true beauty of the theatrical experience, as it did for SRK’s recent movie ‘Pathaan’.

Jackie, who was present at the special screening of his upcoming short film ‘Paath’, said he is happy to see that families will now be able to enjoy movies of their favourite actors along with their affordable meal.

“It’s good that price has been reduced of the popcorns. Cinema is cinema, now everyone can enjoy the good movies and meals at theatres with their family. This action has been taken for all the good reasons,” he said.

He further shared: “What matters is that movies are meant for theatres and no other platform can give you that experience. People will watch the movie regardless of the size of the screen, but

their enthusiasm will remain the same to walk into the theatre and see the movie. This change is amazing and I will always support it.”

Beyond his work in cinema, Jackie is also recognized for his philanthropic endeavors.

On the film front, he has Hindi flick ‘Baap’, and Tamil movie ‘Jailer’ in the pipeline.

(IANS)

TAAPSEE

UNVEILS NFT PLATFORM TO DISTINGUISH TRUE FANS FROM FACELESS TROLLERS

Actress Taapsee Pannu has recently unveiled her very own Non-Fungible Token (NFT) platform called “taapseeclub.com”, which she says will help in separating the faceless trollers from the true fans.

The purpose behind launching NFTs is to create a positive platform for Taapsee’s fans worldwide, allowing them to gain a glimpse into her life and elevate their fandom to new heights. By becoming a member, individuals will have the opportunity to experience being on her film sets, celebrate special occasions alongside her, engage in interactions, and much more.

Talking about the same Taapsee shares, “In today’s cluttered world, it becomes crucial to distinguish the content we share with those genuinely interested in actors and supportive of their endeavours. This helps separate the faceless trollers from the true fans.

The actor has already organised an exclusive event to celebrate her birthday, where renowned comedians like Abish Mathew, Angad Ranyal, and Gurleen Pannu will be present along with RJ and actor Abhilash Thapliyal.

She added: “I have decided to launch NFTs exclusively for genuine individuals, providing them with an opportunity to get to know me on a more personal level. I aim to present a distinct social media experience for my NFT members, one that differs from my public presence.

“As an extrovert who enjoys interacting with people, I find social media to be too toxic for expressing my true self. It is always beneficial to have a close-knit community of individuals who genuinely wish the best for you and contribute to personal growth.”

On the work front, Taapsee has an exciting line-up of projects, including the film ‘Dunki’ alongside Shahrukh Khan, ‘Phir Ayi Haseen Dillruba’, and ‘Woh Ladki Hain Kaha?’.

Apart from acting and NFT, Taapsee has an event management company called The Wedding Factory. She is also the owner of the badminton franchise Pune 7 Aces, which plays in the Premier Badminton League.

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who is getting a lot of positive response to her work in the streaming anthology ‘Lust Stories 2’, recently became the talk of the town after an image of the actress posing with a sparkling diamond resurfaced on social media. The actress has now cleared the air around the viral image.

Many people made the claim that she possesses the 5th largest diamond in the world, gifted to her by Ram Charan’s wife, Upasana Kamineni Konidela. The actress has finally made the clarification in a rather humorous way putting the rumours to rest.

The actress took to the Stories section of her Instagram and shared the viral image in question, and revealed that what everyone misunderstood for a diamond was, in fact, a ‘bottle opener’. She also penned a hilarious text on the picture. She wrote, “Hate to break it to you but we were doing a photo shoot with a bottle opener and not an actual diamond. #girlsliketoclickpics”.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Tamannaah Bhatia is currently basking in oodles of praise for her fiery moves in the chartbuster song ‘Kaavaalaa’ from her upcoming Tamil film, ‘Jailer’. The film also features megastar Rajinikanth. Besides ‘Jailer’, she also has ‘Bhola Shankar’ in Telugu, ‘Bandra’ in Malayalam, and ‘Aranmanai 4’ in Tamil. Furthermore, Tamannaah has ‘Veda’ with John Abraham, directed by Nikkhil Advani, in her kitty.

She was recently seen in streaming anthology ‘Lust Stories 2’ in which she shared the screen with her beau Vijay Varma. The short story has been directed by Sujoy Ghosh, who is known for the Vidya Balan-starrer ‘Kahaani’ and the Taapsee Pannu-starrer ‘Badla’.

(IANS)

(IANS)

TAMANNAAH BHATIA CLARIFIES DIAMOND POSSESSION RUMORS

Actress Sonam Kapoor, who has been a part of films like ‘Raanjhanaa’, ‘Neerja’, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, among others, said she wants to pick commercial, family entertainers for her comeback to the cinemas. Post her pregnancy, Sonam is back to the movies, and she was last seen in Sujoy Ghosh’s crime thriller ‘Blind’.

Directed by Shome Makhija, Sonam played the lead in the movie as ‘Gia’, which was a remake of the 2011 Korean film of the same name. The flick centred around a blind police officer in search of a serial killer. It had released on July 7. This was Sonam’s return to the silver screen after her 2019 release ‘The Zoya Factor’, and ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’, which released the same year. The actress said she has always loved to be a part of projects that have entertained audiences.

“As I return to the cinemas post pregnancy, I will endeavour to do just that because it brings me joy to see people forget about their current reality to enjoy cinema, and the world that it can create for us,” said Sonam. Sonam also reiterated that she is looking forward to doing just two projects every year.

“I’m looking to do two projects year on year from here on and I’m going to look for scripts that are hugely

Actress Richa Chadha, who is known for ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Inside Edge’, ‘Masaan’, ‘Section 375’ and the ‘Fukrey’ franchise is set to make her international debut this year with ‘Aaina’, and she feels like a fresher during the course of filming.

The actress has begun shooting for the film, which is set in the UK, and will see her playing the lead character alongside ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ fame William Moseley. The movie is going to be a drama which is based on real life events. Currently, the shoot of the film is underway in the UK, and after its London schedule will be shot in different locations in India.

Talking about the film, Richa said: “I had read a couple of scripts for international projects, but nothing was fitting well. When Aaina came my way, I knew this was the one and now, as it is finally happening, I am extremely thrilled. The movie has a very

RICHA CHADHA’S FRESH EXPERIENCE IN MAIDEN FILM PRODUCTION SONAM SAYS SHE PLANS TO DO TWO A YEAR

entertaining and engaging.”

Sonam said she became an actor to entertain audiences with films that can be viewed and enjoyed by all audience segments, as a family, and a community.

“I remember why I wanted to become an actor. Since I was a child, I loved films that I could see with my entire family. It was an experience that I looked forward to. I went through a range of emotions while seeing such films with my family. Those moments are still some of the most beautiful memories of my life. That’s the kind of cinema that I want to be a part of,” the actress said.

“So, for me, commercial films, family entertainers are films that have always been my preferred choice. As I return to the cinemas, I wish to do more such films that is hopefully loved by everyone,” concluded Sonam.

Meanwhile, Sonam already has two projects under her belt that are slated to start in 2024, as she makes her big comeback.

Sonam had tied the knot with businessman Anand Ahuja on May 8, 2018. The couple welcomed their first child, baby boy Vayu Kapoor Ahuja on August 20, 2022.

interesting storyline. I have manifested a strong script for my international debut and Aaina was perfect for that.”

She further mentioned: “The film was completely shot in the UK and they have a very different working culture than ours. So, even with a good number of years of experience in the Indian movie industry, I felt like a fresher.”

The actress has wrapped up the shoot for ‘Fukrey 3’, where she continues playing the role of Bholi Punjaban. She also finished her other work commitment regarding the maiden project from her production house, ‘Girls will be Girls’. The movie, which is about a 16-year-old girl, who shares a very difficult relationship with her mother, stars Malayalam actor Kani Kusruti in the lead and also has debutante Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron in prominent roles.

(IANS)

(IANS)

bon appétit

Did you know:

Egg yolks are naturally rich in B-vitamins, which are responsible for converting food into energy

New Restaurants to Bookmark in India this Season

to elevate your dining experience with its immaculate vibes, progressive Indian food and zesty cocktails.

The tiger-themed interiors and attention to detail, including the use of earthy yet elegant colors such as warm grey, gold metals, wood, and greens, really help to transport diners into a lush wildlife inspired setting.

The centre raised round seating with black granite and yellow Jaisalmer stone representing tiger stripes is a unique and eye-catching feature that adds to the overall atmosphere. The camouflage area with matching wallpaper print and fabric ties the wildlife inspired theme together. Incorporating small details like the sandwich leaves on the tables has helped elevate the entire look and feel of the restaurant. The intricate mirrors and metallic textures in the bar area add to the overall vibe, making it a perfect spot for sipping on some eclectic drinks.

Indians love their food, a fact known by all. Good food is life, but an instagrammable location is the icing on the cake. IANSlife has selected some of the top new restaurants in town, decked up with vivid accents, delivering unique gourmet food and tailored beverages.

Here to change the scape of the dining and drinking scene check out these new restaurants:

Fat Tiger in the city of Joy ‘Kolkata’

Quick Restaurant Chain Fat Tiger has recently inaugurated its first franchise-owned restaurant in Kolkata. The store is spread across an area of 1125 sq. ft. in carpet area. The outlet is situated at 174, Sarat Bose Rd, lake Terrace, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700029.

A modern Qsr and Cafe chain that offers Momo, Burgers, Pizza, Drinks and much more in the city of joy. The chain brings internationally acclaimed teas, beverages and expertly made momos and much more to India, along with options for nutritious meals. With the onset of the monsoon Fat Tiger recognizes the craving for warm and flavorful dishes that perfectly complement the weather.

Mumbai’s Newest Instagrammable Spot BOHOBA

Mumbai’s newest culinary destination ‘BOHOBA’ allures you to the Bohemian lifestyle. Located in Malad, this restaurant is inspired by the bohemian spirit, promising an authentic and spirited dining experience for everyone who steps in. And if you are always chasing aesthetics and artful vibe for your Instagram feed, Bohoba will satiate you with its artistic vibe.

The restaurant’s interiors are crafted with careful thought to showcase the essence, vibrancy and artistic elements of a Bohemian

design. It’s fascinating and chic without being overwhelming, creating a cosy space to chill with your gang while enjoying flavoursome food.

If you are passionate about food, spirits and art, Bohoba could be the perfect ‘home away from home’ within your vicinity. Solo, couple or family groups, Bohoba’s ambience will strike a lasting impression on everyone. The next time you want to try out a new restaurant, let Bohoba’s warm ambience complement your rainy dine-outs.

Kokum Bar and Lounge - A Memorable Culinary Experience Awaits you in Vasai!

Kokum Bar and Lounge is adjacent to the Kokum Restaurant and seeks to provide a high energy, entertaining venue for the youth of Vasai. With a Live Band that is followed by a DJ at the bar on weekends, The venue aims at making a mark for itself and creating a high energy oasis within the city of Vasai!

Kokum Restaurant is a culinary paradise nestled in Vasai that specializes in Konkan and Malvani Coastal Cuisine! With a focus on bringing authentic flavors and providing a memorable dining experience, Kokum is the go-to destination for food enthusiasts. The brand is well known for its range of authentic coastal preparations using only the freshest seafood and local ingredients.

The Kokum Brand was launched in 2019 by Award Winning Restaurateur Shaan Gidwani who spearheads Acapella Hospitality (A hospitality group that owns and operates several F&B brands across the casual dining, restobar and delivery kitchens segments).

Badmaash in Mumbai

After successfully launching Badmaash in two cities, V&RO Hospitality brings in the wild dining experience to Mumbai! Located in the heart of Andheri, the restaurant is set

Shifuku- A Pan Asian Restaurant and Cocktail Bar

Shifuku is a newly launched pan-Asian restaurant located in the heart of Andheri. This vibrant establishment is committed to serving authentic dishes from various Asian cuisines while also offering their unique interpretations through fusion creations. Founded by Aman Singh Deep and Monika Rathore, Shifuku aims to create a culinary experience that seamlessly transitions from a refreshing daytime vibe to an exciting night scene.

The restaurant opens its doors to a sprawling space of 4400 sqft, featuring both indoor and outdoor dining areas. Additionally, it boasts a private dining area on the top floor, providing an exclusive setting for special occasions. Shifuku departs from the traditional colour scheme typically associated with Asian restaurants, opting instead for a fresh and modern approach. The predominant colours used in the restaurant's design are pink, white, and beige, creating a perfect ambience for both day and night.

Taking inspiration from the serene landscapes of Japan, Shifuku incorporates cherry blossoms and elements of Harisens (Japanese fans) throughout the restaurant. These beautiful decorative accents add a touch of elegance and cultural authenticity to the overall ambience. Moreover, the indoor roof of the restaurant is adorned with vintage art-inspired elements featuring flowers, birds, and trees, transporting guests to a beautiful evening in Japan. The outdoor dining area exudes a laid-back and easy-going energy, with cane furniture, hanging flower pots, and a captivating artwork on the wall known as "Noodle Man."

(IANSlife)

TREATS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDIA

One of the many pleasures of vacationing in India is the rich culinary tradition with differences in cooking styles from state to state. These go beyond the old-fashioned family recipes. No matter where you go, you can sample local cuisine. India is a diverse nation, both in terms of its people and its culinary offerings.

KULLU TROUT- HIMACHAL PRADESH

A significant component of Himachali food is non-vegetarian. Your taste buds will be delighted by this Himachali meal, which is made from trout, a fish that can be found in Kullu. It is pan-fried with a variety of Indian spices and served over hot, steaming rice.

CHAAT- DELHI

Delhi is known for its street food and talk, whether it be the Gol-Gappes or the crispy Tikkis, the Dahi-loaded bhallas or the Papdi chat! Give your taste senses a treat with these enticing, spicy foods.

DAL, BAATI, CHURMA- RAJASTHAN

Without mentioning Dal-Baati-Churma, the cuisine of Rajasthan is insufficient. On your next trip to Rajasthan, try it with the delectable churma, panchmel or panch kutti dal, deep-fried baatis, and lavish amounts of desi ghee.

KEBABS- LUCKNOW

These mouthwatering kebabs, straight

from the Nawabs city, are deserving of a try. Galouti Kebabs and Tangdi Kebabs, to name a couple, are spice-marinated kebabs that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are served with spicy dipping sauces or mint chutney. On your subsequent journey to Lucknow, don’t forget to sample them.

LITTI CHOKHA- BIHAR

Litti, or the tandoor-baked Sattu balls, is a traditional Bihari dish that is typically served with curd and Aloo & Baigan bharta. Although it resembles Rajasthani dal-batti, it is utterly distinct in flavour and preparation. If you’re on the Bihar streets, it’s worth a shot.

GHUGNI CHAAT- BENGAL

The ideal evening snack is this Bengali street cuisine, which is made of cooked yellow dried peas or white peas, packed with tomatoes, peas, onions, and green chillies and seasoned with lemon juice. You’re powerless to reject it!

KUTCHI DABELI- GUJARAT

The Gujarati equivalent of vada pav is called Kutchi Dabeli or Dabeli. This Gujarati delicacy is a full-flavored savoury treat. The buns are fried to a perfect crunch in melted butter and filled with potato cutlets. They are also decorated with fried peanuts, pomegranate seeds, sev, and hot, tangy

sauces.

POHA JALEBI- INDORE

Indore is proudest of its morning breakfast and is known for its range of conversations and blend of flavour. Poha, or flattened rice, is a delicious snack that is typically enjoyed with hot, crispy jalebis and tea. Poha is just flattened rice that has been sautéed with onions, chillies, salt, turmeric, and a dash of lime juice. On your subsequent trip to Indore, be sure to give it a try!

BEBINCA- GOA

Bebinca is Goa’s favourite sweet food, and once you try it, you’ll love it too. The multiple, thin layers of cake that make up the delectable-looking dessert. These layers are composed with flour, coconut milk, sugar, and egg yolk. When visiting Goa, you must sample this Indo-Portuguese dessert. Additionally, it’s one among the best snacks in India that anyone with a sweet craving must try when there.

POORAN POLI- MAHARASHTRA

A popular Marathi dish called Pooran Poli is cooked with jaggery and Bengal gramme flour. In essence, it is a sweet flatbread. Therefore, if you enjoy sweet things, you’ll appreciate these sweet Indian munchies. It is very nutrient-dense. You need not be concerned about the abundance of calories.

By Olivia Sarkar

Fibre To Keep You Full and Healthy

BY DEEVYA GUPTA

Within our complex and amazing bodies lie trillions of gut bacteria made up of 300-500 different types, adding up to almost 2 million genes.

There are many factors affecting one’s microbiome in the gut and this may have an impact on a person’s overall health.

The gut bacteria line the digestive system, live in the colon and intestines and can affect your mood, metabolism, and immune system and even increase or reduce your chances of developing certain medical conditions. Certain concentrations of different bacteria may have different impacts on different conditions. More research is being done in this space.

Did you know fibre comes in many forms and functions?

Fibre can assist in many ways as mentioned above however, different fibres will contribute towards different roles within the body. Here is a short summary:

Soluble fibre can help lower glucose levels as well as help lower blood cholesterol. Foods with soluble fibre include lentils, oatmeal, chia seeds, nuts, beans, apples and blueberries.

Insoluble fibre can help food move through your digestive system. Foods include whole wheat products, quinoa, nuts, seeds, brown rice, legumes, leafy greens and fruits with

skin on.

What can improve my overall gut health?

Fibre-rich foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes (including lentils) and beans help feed the bacteria living in the gut. Go for the least processed foods as these will provide the most nutrition. Foods that are highly processed and higher in sugars and fats may increase the growth of illness-causing bacteria, therefore increasing your chances of developing a chronic condition.

Keep the skin on your fruits and vegetables whenever possible after giving them a good wash and go for actual fruits rather than the juices to get the most fibre. Some examples of specific fruits and vegetables include onions, bananas, beans, lentils, oats, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli and raspberry just to name a few.

Other beneficial foods for the gut bacteria include fermented foods, yoghurt, probiotics. Have a variety of foods and not just the same type frequently so that you are able to take in all the benefits of the variety you eat. The more variety of foods you eat, the more variety of gut bacteria you will be promoting and the more health benefits you may be able feel.

Reduce your intake of high-fat animal products such as fried foods or high-fat dairy and red meats and keep these to occasional as these may increase the illness-causing bacteria if consumed too often. This goes for in general high-fat foods, particularly fried foods and takeaway.

Overdoing antibiotics when it is not necessary kills off both good and bad bacteria. Only use if really needed and advised by your GP.

Exercise can also help promote gut health and increase the variety of bacteria you have within your gut. Other lifestyle factors such as sleeping enough, and reduced stress can also improve the overall gut health.

Please note this advice is of a general nature. If you have any concerns or queries you should get tailored advice from an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and always consult with your General Practitioner before making and changes.

Southern Fish Curry

This Southern Fish Curry is one of my specialties with authentic south Indian spices; it is a treat to the taste buds. Enjoy with Basmati rice or Brown Rice, Roti Chanai or bread of your choice.

Ingredients:

450 gm white fish fillets

2 tbsp olive oil or ghee

1 tsp aniseed

1/2 tsp fenugreek

3 tbsp coconut, grated

2 med onions chopped

4-5 curry leaves

2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

2 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

2 tbsp coriander powder

2 small tomatoes chopped

1/2 cup coconut milk

2 tbsp tamarind paste (opt) salt to taste

Method:

Clean and cut the fish fillets into big slices.

Heat 1 tbsp oil and roast aniseed, fenugreek, grated coconut, onions and curry leaves until light brown. Blend to make a paste

Heat oil in a pan, add ginger-garlic paste, coriander powder, turmeric, chilli powder and salt. Mix well and stir in the tomatoes along with a little water. Boil for 1-2 minutes.

Stir in the paste along with the coconut milk and allow to boil stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low.

Gently add fish pieces with the tamarind paste if desired and simmer until the fish is tender. Serve hot.

recipe

Tip:

Use

Garnish:

BY MANJIT SETHI

from the private collection

fresh chopped coriander leaves

Serve:

Serves 2-4

ASTROLOGY

Mesha (Aries)

Nothing particularly favourable, from the stars, in so far as your financial prospects are concerned. There are indications that speculation would result in serious losses for some of you. Therefore, you should stay away from gambling of any sort. Relations with your superiors or employees are also likely to come under a cloud, to the extent that serious loss would become almost certain.

Best days: 3, 12, 30

Lucky Colour: Red, Orange, Cream

Simha (Leo)

Not a favourable month, for your financial prospects, in so far as the augury from the stars is concerned. There is a distinct possibility of your relations with your superiors deteriorating to such an extent that you might have to suffer a loss on this account. You must, therefore, guard against such a possibility and take steps well in advance to prevent such an eventuality.

Best days: 5,3

Lucky Colour: White & Orange

Dhanu (Sagittarius)

Full of buoyant energy, in a favourable situation, you would do very well for yourself financially during the coming month. This month you would have the courage of your convictions and the necessary drive to forge ahead in your pursuits and achieve success. You would be helped greatly by an extremely favourable set of circumstances. In fact, some of you may expect literally to reap a rich harvest of sudden gains.

Best days: 9, 18

Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Vrishabh (Taurus)

This month, there is much in the augury from the stars to cheer the heart, since the stars are quite favourably disposed. Look forward to celebrating an auspicious occasion to felicitate an addition to the family. This sense of celebration would pervade the family atmosphere making it very pleasant, with harmony among the various members.

Best days: 9, 18, 27

Lucky Colour: Green, Blue

Kanya (Virgo)

A month during which you not be able to achieve much success financially, and could well bring certain ruin upon yourself if you are not careful. There is a distinct possibility that some of you would be influenced by a mean streak that would egg you on to severely exploiting your juniors, workers or just simply people below you in the social strata for personal ends.

Best days: 3, 12

Lucky Colour: Orange, Green

Makara (Capricorn)

Nothing very favourable, about your financial prospects this month according to the stars. Those having interstate commercial transactions and overseas trade relations would have to face rough weather. In fact, most of you would have to struggle quite a bit to achieve expected gains, and even then you are unlikely to achieve much success.

Best days: 1, 3, 4

Lucky Colour: White, Green, Blue

By D. Narayan (Tantracharya) M: 0425 660 220

Mithuna (Gemini)

This month, you would have excellent opportunities for financial advancement, 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. In fact, times would be very favourable, and some of you can expect to reap a rich harvest of sudden gains.

Best days: 2, 7, 9

Lucky Colour: Red, White, Yellow

Tula (Libra)

This month your financial prospects look quite good and could well establish you on a permanently sound footing. Many of you can look forward to reaping a rich harvest of sudden gains. Others would gain through speculation, which would also bring in rich profits. Most of you would in any case have a way of handling your juniors or workers in a manner that will enable you to derive optimum benefit from their services.

Best days: 9, 18

Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Kumbha (Aquarius)

A month during which there is nothing very favourable about your financial prospects, in the augury from the stars. Writers, artists, sculptors, and others of their ilk should make provisions for an extremely leen period, because that is just what they are going to face.

Karkat (Cancer)

Full of buoyant energy, in a favourable time you would do extremely well for yourself during the coming month. Possessing the courage of your convictions, you would forge ahead in your pursuits and make success look easy to achieve. In this, you would be helped by an extremely fortunate set of circumstances. In fact, some of you can quite literally expect to reap a rich harvest of sudden gains.

Best days: 9, 18

Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Vrishchik (Scorpio)

A gainful month, in so far as your financial prospects are concerned. Many of you can look forward to reaping a rich harvest of sudden gains. Speculation would also benefit quite a few among you. There is also a good chance of a favour being done to done to you by some old gentleman which could easily turn out to be a financial boon.

Best days: 1, 3, 4

Lucky Colour: Red, Orange

Meen (Pisces)

A month during which your family affairs are unlikely to have smooth sailing, since the stars facing you are clearly unfavourable. Mounting expenses would put your family in a difficult spot, where at least some of you might face serious problems. Plan your expenses carefully well in advance. There is the further possibility that your relationship with female members of the family might be seriously strained.

Best days: 5, 3, 6

Lucky Colour: White, Green

Best days: 2, 7, 9

Lucky Colour: Red, Yellow, White

One Line Humors...

Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving.

Having one child makes you a parent; having two you are a referee.

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!

I believe we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried - but they wanted cash.

A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.

Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live without, but whatever you do, you'll regret it later.

You can't buy love, but you pay heavily for it.

Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

Marriage is give and take. You'd better give it to her or she'll take it anyway.

My wife and I always compromise. I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.

Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

Ladies first. Pretty ladies sooner.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. You're getting old when you enjoy remembering things more than doing them.

It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.

Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.

Saving is the best thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.

They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak!

Man: Is there any way for long life?

Dr: Get married. Man: Will it help?

Dr: No, but then the thought of long life will never come!

Why do couples hold hands during their wedding? It's a formality just like two boxers shaking hands before the fight begins!

Wife: Darling today is our anniversary, what should we do? Husband: Let us stand in silence for 2 minutes.

It's funny when people discuss Love Marriage vs Arranged. It's like asking someone, if suicide is better or being murdered.

There is only one perfect child in the world and every mother has it.

There is only one perfect wife in the world and every neighbour has it!