Paranjape’s new release ‘Hindutva and Hind Swaraj’ dissects ideological clash between Gandhi and Savarkar

“Thus, let me invoke and invite into this charmed space of our discussions both these grand personalities, both great protagonists — rather than one protagonist and the other antagonist — two of the most unique and outstanding men of our times, Mahatma Gandhi and Veer Savarkar,” Paranjape said in a statement. The first section of […]

Continue Reading

Scent of self

In a world where everyone’s chasing uniqueness, smelling like the crowd just won’t cut it. Enter Scentzania, the India rebrand of Singapore-based Scentopia Perfumes, where scent becomes a personal statement—crafted, not chosen. Brought to India by founder Prachi Saini Garg, this immersive fragrance studio doesn’t just sell perfumes—it lets you bottle your essence. “We’re ready […]

Continue Reading

Stitched in Gold

Titled Kintsugi, after the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery, Vaishali Shadangule — or Vaishali S — presents her latest collection inspired by broken shells that create beauty when pieced together. “I wanted to highlight the quiet strength of broken things,” explains Shadangule. “A human journey of transformation told through fractured shells and golden mends. […]

Continue Reading

Woven with Wind and Wisdom

Woven warmth into the bones of their communities—by May 2017, the Looms of Ladakh Women Cooperative was no longer just a vision, but a movement. And it wasn’t easy. Local power structures pushed for wage labour; government agencies nudged the women toward self-help groups, stripped of agency. But Bahuguna and the women stood firm. Their […]

Continue Reading

Recent release ‘Fractured Wings of the Golden Bird’ explores the cost of chasing IAS dream

NEW delhi: A fictional book offers an imaginative portrayal of the Indian administrative landscape through the journey of an IAS couple navigating the complex realities of public service. Written by H P Kumar, who has decades of experience in finance, governance and public service, “Fractured Wings of the Golden Bird” explores the emotional, ethical, and […]

Continue Reading

Google’s top AI scientist says ‘learning how to learn’ will be next generation’s most needed skill

Hassabis emphasised the need for “meta-skills,” such as understanding how to learn and optimising one’s approach to new subjects, alongside traditional disciplines like math, science and humanities. “One thing we’ll know for sure is you’re going to have to continually learn … throughout your career,” he said. The DeepMind co-founder, who established the London-based research […]

Continue Reading

Indigestion is commonplace but sometimes concerning; here’s what you need to know

Alginates, such as Gaviscon, are medicines that contain seaweed-derived compounds which form a protective “raft” that floats on top of stomach contents, reducing reflux and preventing irritation of the stomach wall by acid. Chewable tablets like Rennies neutralise stomach acid. Even acid-reducing medications like omeprazole can be purchased over the counter. While these can ease […]

Continue Reading

Physiotherapists cannot use ‘Dr’ prefix, says Centre after protest by Indian Medical Association

She cited several court rulings in this regard, including a 2003 judgment of the Patna High Court that held that unless physiotherapists are enrolled in the State Medical Register, they cannot practise modern medicine or use the prefix “Dr”. Also, a Tamil Nadu Medical Council Advisory has also warned physiotherapists against using the prefix “Dr,” […]

Continue Reading

Disposable masks used during COVID-19 detrimental to human health, environment: Research

The study found that filtering facepieces released three to four times more microplastic particles than standard surgical masks. Most particles were extremely small – less than 100 micrometres in size, roughly the width of a human hair – and made primarily of polypropylene, a common plastic used in mask production. Other plastics such as polyethylene, […]

Continue Reading

Can animal organs save human lives? Another New Hampshire man gets pig kidney; transplant trials poised to start

WASHINGTON: A self-described science nerd is the latest American to get an experimental pig kidney transplant, at a crucial point in the quest to prove if animals organs really might save human lives. The 54-year-old New Hampshire man is faring well after his June 14 operation, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced Monday. “I really wanted to […]

Continue Reading

Survival of the godless

There are no gods in Manav Kaul’s world, only temples, and children forced to survive without them. His book Shirt Ka Teesra Button, translated by Sayari Debnath under the title A Temple of No Gods, follows the story of Rajil, a boy who lowers his gaze to the third button of his shirt whenever fear […]

Continue Reading

The season of seaside couture

Hospitality has long flirted with fashion, but this season, the affair has blossomed into full-blown haute couture. Across Europe, luxury beach clubs and storied resorts are transforming into catwalks by the sea, as designer brands turn summer escapes into curated lifestyle experiences. Think capsule collections, branded boutiques, immersive wellness rituals, and a calendar of bespoke […]

Continue Reading

From Cob to Concept is Rural Mod

Two kilometres beyond the last motorable road in the Garhwal Himalayas, a story unfolds that feels plucked from a half-remembered fairytale. Here, hidden deep within oak and pine, a house rises from the earth—its walls swell and bend as though shaped by wind, its roof catches sunlight like a glaze. To the locals, it’s known […]

Continue Reading

Faisal C.K.’s compilation champions Liberty, Equality, and Justice in a polarized era

Abolishing Archaic Laws Faisal, a civil servant and public intellectual, calls for scrapping colonial-era laws that stifle democracy. He labels sedition a “living fossil,” a draconian tool that chills free speech—the lifeblood of democracy. Similarly, contempt of court is a “dinosaur,” often weaponized to silence truth while falsehoods escape as mere “perjury.” Judges, he argues, should respond to criticism […]

Continue Reading

Devil in the details

What happens when a homegrown streetwear brand known for its raw, cinematic edge teams up with one of Marvel’s most layered anti-heroes? You get Kilogram’s ‘End of Days’, a 12-piece capsule that doesn’t just wear the Daredevil story—it inhabits it. This marks Kilogram’s first creative collaboration with the Marvel universe, and the result is as […]

Continue Reading

Australia to tackle deepfake nudes, online stalking

SYDNEY: Australia said Tuesday it will oblige tech giants to prevent online tools being used to create AI-generated nude images or stalk people without detection. The government will work with industry on developing new legislation against the “abhorrent technologies”, it said in a statement, without providing a timeline. “There is no place for apps and […]

Continue Reading

Not a great summer splash, swimmers face fecal contamination at beaches along US coastline

It’s a longstanding and widespread problem. Nearly two-thirds of beaches tested nationwide in 2024 experienced at least one day in which indicators of fecal contamination reached potentially unsafe levels, conservation group Environment America said in a report issued this summer. The group reviewed beaches on the coasts and Great Lakes and found that 84% of Gulf Coast […]

Continue Reading

For the Sake of Good Times

Interestingly, the quality of sake is an expression of a region’s rice quality—with heavy polishing making for a cleaner, purer sake. For instance, in Okayama Prefecture, the dominant Omachi rice lends sake a rich, earthy, and complex profile. Travel further north to Tohoku—where winter lingers longer and the air is crisp—the sake softens. The region […]

Continue Reading

Dhawan not the one

Shikhar Dhawan has never been the one to blend in. With his explosive batting, twirling mustache, and signature ‘thigh-five’ celebrations, he has always been as much a performer as a player. A natural entertainer, he left behind snapshots of carefree aggression that his fans don’t seem to forget. Yet when it comes to telling his […]

Continue Reading

An AI simulation of a Mount Fuji eruption is being used to prepare Tokyo for the worst

TOKYO: Mount Fuji hasn’t erupted since 1707. But for Volcanic Disaster Preparedness Day, Japanese officials have released computer- and AI-generated videos showing a simulation of a potential violent eruption of the active volcano. The videos, released this week, are meant to prepare the 37 million residents in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area for potential disasters. The Tokyo Metropolitan […]

Continue Reading

IMA welcomes GST cuts on cancer and essential medicines

CHENNAI: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has welcomed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s decision to reduce GST on several cancer-related and other essential medicines, describing it as a crucial step towards making healthcare more affordable for millions of patients. The Association, in a Monday statement, said the move will directly ease the financial […]

Continue Reading

Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre wrote a memoir. Months after her death, it’s coming out

NEW YORK: A posthumous and “unsparing” memoir by one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, will be published this fall, publishing house Alfred A. Knopf said Sunday. “Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice” is scheduled for release Oct. 21, the publisher confirmed to The Associated Press. Giuffre, […]

Continue Reading

Mulling the power of pause

Mani Rao’s latest book of poetry, So That You Know, may be strewn with personal pronouns and a conversational tone, title onwards, but with the preface clarifying ‘these days I’m craving privacy even from myself’, the frankness could well be a rearview mirror to make the poet appear closer than she is. A crafting exquisite […]

Continue Reading

Unlike Reid’s previous novels, which explored public personas and performance—be it on stage or in sports—Atmosphere faces inwards.

The prose sparkles with warmth and urgency. It is compulsively readable, placing readers right among the ASCANs (Astraunaut Candidates) as they endure drills and training and share intimate conversations in off-duty hangouts. Reid doesn’t romanticise NASA, but instead shows it for what it was in the 1980s—sexist, queerphobic, and brutal. While exploring queer love in […]

Continue Reading

What it means and how safe the procedure is

This action follows similar warnings against other wellness chains, as regulators step up scrutiny of “inch-loss in one session” style advertisements that overpromise results. How safe is CoolSculpting?CoolSculpting, also known as cryolipolysis, works by freezing fat cells in targeted areas. For most people, side effects are minor and temporary, such as redness, swelling, tingling, or […]

Continue Reading

Eating disorder symptoms in teens can be traced back to family hardship, reveals new study

MELBOURNE: Eating disorders can affect anybody, no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or body size. Yet the myth that eating disorders are diseases of affluence persists and can mean those from wealthier backgrounds are more likely to receive a diagnosis and be able to access treatment. In fact, people who experience socioeconomic disadvantage […]

Continue Reading

Nidhi Pandya’s latest on bringing Ayurveda back to everyday life

The author lives by these principles herself. “Healing doesn’t require perfection,” she says. “It requires rhythm, self-awareness, and trust in the body’s wisdom. Once people start living by rhythm rather than rules, everything shifts—digestion, sleep, emotions, energy, even relationships.” For Pandya, much of her work is about dispelling myths that surround Ayurveda today, from the […]

Continue Reading

To get people reading, Denmark to end book tax

COPENHAGEN: Worried by a “reading crisis”, Denmark’s government will eliminate its sales tax on books, looking to get more citizens buying them, the culture minister said Wednesday. The Scandinavian country’s 25-percent tax on books is currently the highest in Europe, and stands in stark contrast with countries such as Britain that charge no sales tax […]

Continue Reading

Foundation of healthy sexuality: Consent, communication and intimacy

Have accurate information Understanding sexuality from a scientific viewpoint is crucial for healthy attitudes. There is a reluctance to access accurate and comprehensive information. The secretive search is for the pleasure seeking or performance aspects. Misinformation from unreliable sources corrupts sexuality. Many form concepts from juicy materials in Google or from highly exaggerated pornographic images. […]

Continue Reading

Brazil asks Meta to remove chatbots that ‘eroticize’ children

BRASILIA: Brazil’s government has asked US technology giant Meta to rid its platforms of chatbots that mimic children and can make sexually suggestive remarks, the attorney general’s office (AGU) announced Monday. Users of Meta’s platforms, which include Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, can create and customize such bots using the company’s generative artificial intelligence, AI Studio. […]

Continue Reading

Into the green silence

The first thing you notice is the weight of the green. Not the polite emerald of a city park, but a green so dense it seems to fold around you. Step off the bus at the last tea stall on the Karulai road in Malappuram district and you see light fracturing through teak and sal […]

Continue Reading

A Stitch in Time

For true blue watch enthusiasts and collectors, the experience of browsing, selection and information-seeking is as important as the final purchase. Fortunately, an elevated experience is guaranteed at Ethos Watches’ brand-new retail destination in Gurugram.  Called the City of Time, it’s spread across an expansive 22,000 sq. ft., and features seven brand boutiques and two galleries […]

Continue Reading

Cricketer Siraj launches 1983 World Cup-winning wicketkeeper Kirmani’s autobiography ‘Stumped’

HYDERABAD: India pacer Mohammed Siraj on Sunday launched ‘Stumped: Life Behind and Beyond The Twenty-Two Yards’, the autobiography of 1983 World Cup-winning wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani. The book was launched in the presence of Kirmani, former India all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath, former India skipper Mohammed Azharuddin, Telangana Labour Minister Vivek Venkatswamy and other dignitaries. Siraj said Kirmani […]

Continue Reading

Eliminating wires and risk of infection

Leadless pacemakers are a great advancement in pacemaker technology and a blessing for many patients. This pacemaker does not have wires or large battery and doesn’t need a surgical pocket for its implantation. It is approximately 3cm in length, shaped like a bullet and is miniscule compared to a conventional pacemaker which has the size […]

Continue Reading

FSSAI holds national meet to review food labelling rules; experts propose front-of-pack warning labels

Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, noted that “the issue of claims in advertisements also needs deeper scrutiny because even if there is supposedly scientific evidence supporting them, it needs to be validated externally.” He said that FSSAI had earlier announced that all label changes and related rules and regulations will […]

Continue Reading

Is it true foods with a short ingredient list are healthier? A nutrition expert explains

What is an ultra-processed food? A shorter ingredient list also means the product is less likely to be an ultra-processed food. This  products made using industrial processes that combine multiple ingredients, often including colours, flavours and other additives. They are hyperpalatable, packaged and designed for convenience. Ultra-processed foods often have long ingredient lists, due to added […]

Continue Reading

Yacht the talk in India

Yacht companies are also catering to specific needs of their Indian clientele. Whether it’s installing on-deck mandirs, customising interiors with Indian art and textiles, or designing menus around Indian cuisine curated by Michelin-starred chefs, the industry is going beyond the conventional to court Indian buyers. Billionaire Gautam Singhania, known for his adventurous spirit and love […]

Continue Reading

The world nearly beat polio. But fake records, an imperfect vaccine and missteps aided its comeback

Mistrust of the polio eradication effort persists With an annual budget of about $1 billion, the polio initiative is among the most expensive in all of public health. This year, the US withdrew from WHO, and US President Donald Trump has cut foreign aid. WHO officials have privately admitted that sustaining funding would be difficult without success. […]

Continue Reading

Lapses in detail, but still a worthy story

Oscillating across centuries and continents while hopscotching from subjects as diverse as quantum physics, metallurgy, history, philosophy, and international affairs is no mean feat, and Sanghi does a commendable job of juggling many balls with reasonable levels of dexterity. But he does drop the ball on occasion. Known for his meticulous research and fascinating factoids, […]

Continue Reading

Why youth are turning to ChatGPT

An alarming trend of young adolescents turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like ChatGPT to express their deepest emotions and personal problems is raising serious concerns among educators and mental health professionals. Experts warn that this digital “safe space” is creating a dangerous dependency, fueling validation-seeking behaviour, and deepening a crisis of communication within families. […]

Continue Reading

bacteria, fungi and whatever lives between your toes

Super-spreaders Socks can also play a key role in spreading fungal infections like Tinea pedis (better known as athlete’s foot), a highly contagious condition that primarily affects the toes but can spread to the heels, hands, or even the groin. The infection is caused by dermatophyte fungi, which love warm, damp environments – exactly the kind you find in sweaty […]

Continue Reading

Bengaluru blues of a retired man

Dattathri writes with a focus that is bound to charm his readers. It sucks you in right from the first page and makes one fly through the novel. In the very first page, he writes, ‘It was not just the interview; nothing went his way that day.’ This already sets the tone of what is […]

Continue Reading

UK suffered from ‘complete’ amnesia over its colonial past, things getting better: Author Sam Dalrymple

Dalrymple’s book traces how five key partitions turned “Britain’s Indian Empire into 12 nation-states” over four decades — beginning with the separation of Burma and Aden in 1937, followed by the Persian Gulf states in 1947, the partition of India and Pakistan the same year, the division of princely states, and finally, the birth of […]

Continue Reading

The twilight years of Jayanta Mahapatra

Cuttack, cake, and Tolstoy  Mahapatra founded Chandrabhaga, a literary magazine, in the 1970s, to publish English poetry from Odisha. He had a certain obsession with this name, Das points out. It was also the name of his house, as well as the beach where his ashes were later scattered. The magazine gave space to many emerging poets of […]

Continue Reading

Beloved children’s author Allan Ahlberg dies at 87

LONDON: British writer Allan Ahlberg, author of more than 150 children’s books including classics like “Eat Peach Pear Plum” and “The Jolly Postman,” has died, his publisher said Friday. He was 87. Penguin Random House said Ahlberg died on Tuesday. It did not give a cause of death. Ahlberg’s books introduced generations of young children […]

Continue Reading

The Art of Fashion

How different are the designs from your previous presentations? NK: This is the first time we’ve introduced prints into our couture vocabulary. Until now, our couture presentations have primarily focused on colour and texture, without the use of prints. In this collection, prints serve as a foundational layer, adding a new dimension to the storytelling. SB: Another […]

Continue Reading

Lalu Prasad Yadav co-writes folk legends anthology rooted in Gorakhnathi tradition

For the unversed, originally preserved through oral tradition and rich with fantastical elements — genies, fairies, ghostly figures, and divine sages — these ballads have long been central to regional performance traditions across melas, weddings, and spiritual gatherings. Through narratives that combine magical realism with lived experiences, the book sheds light on how marginalised communities […]

Continue Reading

how online body shaming harms teenage girls

You’re so ugly it hurts.Maybe if you lost some weight, someone would actually like you.No filter can fix that face. These are the sorts of comments teenage girls see online daily, via social media, group chats, or anonymous messages. While some may dismiss this as teasing, these comments constitute . Our  shows appearance-related cyberbullying is one of […]

Continue Reading

IVF is never 100% successful

Myth: IVF always guarantees a baby Fact: The belief that IVF always guarantees a baby is incorrect. IVF is never 100% successful, and its outcome largely depends on the woman’s age. Younger women, especially those under 35, have a higher success rate — around 60–65% per cycle —provided other factors like sperm quality, uterine health, […]

Continue Reading

Poor dietary habits, low adherence to supplementation, lack of awareness and health education remain a challenge in addressing anaemia

Poor dietary habits, low adherence to supplementation, lack of awareness and health education, infections, and poor sanitation remain a challenge in addressing anaemia in the country, says Dr Rema G, clinical assistant professor in haematology, in an interview with Anna Jose. Edited excerpts: 1. How does malnutrition cause anaemia? Malnutrition contributes to anaemia in several […]

Continue Reading

I won’t accuse, but I will put on record my silences in my autobiography: International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq

Banu, Does writing get complicated after winning an award? How do you manage the pressure? Banu Mushtaq: Awards bring joy, but also expectations. After the award, everything changed. There’s a lot of travel. I lose my personal time, but I’m happy. I meet people who have fought alongside me from the beginning. Interacting with them […]

Continue Reading

Charting the shape of India

In an age when vast swathes of the world remained unmapped and mysterious, maps were more than navigational tools—they were instruments of power, knowledge, and ambition. In the late 18th century, as European empires scrambled to define and dominate distant lands, accurate cartography became a prized asset. It was against this backdrop that James Rennel […]

Continue Reading

A love that is unconventional and poetic

Another striking quality that Gangopadhyay displayed is how he offers a perspective on Bengali lifestyle, for instance, the importance of Bengali Addas. He writes, “The modern idea of third space beyond home and work may have roots in the Bengali addas. Addas are the favourite and the most satisfying part of a Bengali’s life. In […]

Continue Reading

AI will soon be able to audit all published research — what will that mean for public trust in science?

AI is already helping police the literature Until recently, technological assistance in self-correction was mostly limited to plagiarism detectors. But things are changing. Machine-learning services such as ImageTwin and Proofig now scan millions of figures for signs of duplication, manipulation and AI generation. Natural language processing tools flag “tortured phrases” – the telltale word salads of paper mills. Bibliometric […]

Continue Reading

Is ChatGPT making us stupid?

AI and the Dunning-Kruger effect Generative AI is changing how people access and process information. For many, it’s replacing the need to sift through sources, compare viewpoints and wrestle with ambiguity. Instead, AI delivers clear, polished answers within seconds. While those results may or may not be accurate, they are undeniably efficient. This has already led […]

Continue Reading

Of ties, old and new

A month ago, when Spain brought a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly that condemned Israel for using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access, India abstained from voting in favour of the motion. It was the second time in a span of a few months […]

Continue Reading

India’s shot at stopping malaria on its tracks

India will soon have an advanced vaccine against malaria. In a major scientific breakthrough, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed an innovative recombinant, chimeric multi-stage malaria vaccine that could transform malaria prevention and control efforts in India and globally. Named AdFalciVax, the vaccine has been developed to offer both protection against Plasmodium […]

Continue Reading

India’s first at-home IVF launched

India’s IVF sector is experiencing rapid transformation, driven mainly by growing demand and significant technological advancements. Once seen as a fertility treatment confined to large hospitals and metro cities, a new generation of fertility platforms is now bringing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) to the doorstep, making it more accessible, private, and less intimidating. Seeds of Innocens, […]

Continue Reading

From Alam Khan to Rumi Harish, new book ‘The Call of Music’ documents stories of eight Hindustani musicians

NEW DELHI: From sarod virtuoso Alam Khan, son of the late legend Ali Akbar Khan, to musician and queer transmasculine activist Rumi Harish, “The Call of Music” explores the journeys of eight distinctive voices in Hindustani music — ranging from acclaimed performers to unsung torchbearers. Written by Hindustani vocalist Priya Purushothaman, the book explores the […]

Continue Reading

Musk’s X says French accusations of data tampering and fraud are politically motivated

Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Monday denied accusations from French prosecutors of alleged data tampering and fraud, calling them politically motivated. X was responding to an announcement earlier this month from the Paris prosecutor’s office, which said it was opening an investigation into the two alleged offenses. Both offenses involved an “automated data processing system,” […]

Continue Reading

Stardom in all its glory and wreckage

Gautam’s biography is not a gossipy tell-all nor a hagiography meant to deify its subject. Instead, it is a nuanced, layered study of a man trapped in his myth, of the burden of stardom, and of how fragile the edifice of fame can be. Gautam captures the atmosphere of that time with journalistic rigour, bringing […]

Continue Reading

Can this reproduction technique prevent genetic disorders?

CHENNAI: A decade after the UK legalised mitochondrial donation—a pioneering reproductive technology that combines DNA from three individuals—questions are emerging about its effectiveness, safety, and the overall patient experience. Developed by scientists at Newcastle University, the technique uses nuclear DNA from the intended mother and father, along with healthy mitochondrial DNA from a donor egg. […]

Continue Reading

Silicon, scams, and a spy named solly

The cast of characters makes for an interesting lineup. There’s Ramani with his penchant for tired jokes. Dr Dayal from the DNES with his manic laughter, and two Tweedledee-Tweedledum scientists from IISC Bangalore. There’s Rajiv Gandhi’s chief of intel, Praveen Jain, and there’s Dr Angela Britto at Seshadri’s unit, as well as her hapless colleague […]

Continue Reading

The Empire writes back

Burmese politician who served as Prime Minister of British Burma during the colonial era before the Second World War played a big role in instilling the sense of oneness among Burmese people. And this he did by promoting discrimination against Indians. Sam writes, “Saw declared it his government’s ‘sacred duty’ to promote Buddhism’s proper practice. […]

Continue Reading

Rock that became a temple

In Cave One, Devaraja Lena—the Cave of the Divine King—is a massive 14-metre reclining Buddha, carved directly from the rock, with Ananda, his disciple, kneeling by his feet, and nearby a statue of Lord Vishnu, silent guardian of the cave, a sign of Sri Lanka’s unique Buddhist-Hindu layers of faith. Outside the cave, a Brahmi […]

Continue Reading

Indonesia’s new history books spook scholars

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government’s plans to issue new history books have sparked fears that mention of deadly riots in 1998 targeting mostly ethnic Chinese in the country will be scrubbed from the text. The 10-volume account was ordered by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, an ex-general accused of abducting activists in the unrest that […]

Continue Reading

Mood, memory, material

A luxury design destination in the heart of Delhi—Gauri Khan’s new Delhi Experience Centre—is all that and more. From the ground level that offers a warm entry—think sculptural furniture, soft lighting, and conversation zones styled like a home’s heart to upstairs, where there are immersive room sets like a bedroom and relaxed lounge—the dynamic, lived-in […]

Continue Reading

New study maps how body parts interact under stress, researchers say it can help diagnose illness earlier

NEW DELHI: A new study has mapped how different body parts communicate with each other under physiological stress, such as during exercise or sleep deprivation, which researchers say could one day help diagnose an illness earlier. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth and University College London, UK, said the study encourages a “whole-body” view of […]

Continue Reading

Switzerland approves first malaria drug for infants

CHENNAI: Swiss-pharma major Novartis AG said early this week that its pediatric malaria treatment, Coartem Baby, received regulatory approval from Swissmedic, Switzerland’s national medicines regulatory authority. This marks a milestone in global health, as this Novartis drug is the world’s first malaria treatment specifically developed for newborns and infants weighing between 2 and 5 kilograms. […]

Continue Reading

FSSAI warns stringent action against e-commerce platforms violating food safety protocols

The necessity for all warehouses associated with e-commerce operations to be duly registered or licensed by FSSAI was strongly reiterated. Additionally, e-commerce platforms were directed to share data pertaining to their warehouses, food handlers, and other relevant information with the FSSAI, thereby ensuring enhanced transparency and compliance. “The FSSAI emphasised that food safety is a […]

Continue Reading

Health experts raise alarms over rising vaping crisis among Indian youth

CHENNAI: Leading medical professionals have voiced serious concerns over the increasing use of vaping and related devices among children and youth in India. At an awareness campaign supported by the group Mothers Against Vaping, experts warned about the growing health crisis tied to electronic nicotine devices, including vapes, e-cigarettes, ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems), and […]

Continue Reading

The power of a minute

The strength of the book lies in its ability to extract profound meaning from everyday moments. In one story, Chatterjee writes about his meeting with a serial entrepreneur, or the so-called “big daddy of Indian start-ups.” The story gives a funny but important insight on detecting bullshit. In another, he talks about the monk who […]

Continue Reading

Wheels, meals and all in between

Bicycles glide past rows of colourful houses, bursts of bougainvillea, quaint cafes and elfin boutique stores, smartly navigating the handfuls of pedestrians in a sleepy town. Still fondly called ‘Pondy’ by old timers. The coastal Indian town of Puducherry has kept a charming cycling culture alive—the joy of pedals. It’s only fitting to welcome ‘Ciclo’—a […]

Continue Reading

Stimulating brain with weak electric currents may help improve learning maths, study suggests

‘Transcranial random noise stimulation’ — a non-invasive technique that involves delivering weak electrical currents to the brain via electrodes placed on the scalp — is being studied for how it can impact brain activity, such as improving cognition, depressive symptoms and reducing pain. Seventy-two adults took part in a five-day maths training programme — 24 […]

Continue Reading

Treating hormonal issues at birth can ensure normal growth in kids

Hormonal disorders in children can have significant physical, emotional, and social impacts. These conditions can affect growth, development, and overall well-being, making early diagnosis and treatment essential. Understanding these issues can help parents and caregivers take proactive steps to support their child’s health and development, says Dr Riaz I, Professor, Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrine Clinic, […]

Continue Reading

Having a whale of a time

Aboard the ship, you can’t help but wait with bated breath for a real-life Free Willy moment. For those who grew up on the 1993 cult classic, spotting a whale in the wild can feel like stepping into the film’s climactic scene. Ask the friendly bartender aboard the ship to play Michael Jackson’s iconic song […]

Continue Reading

A Sari State of Affairs

Aradhana Anand always loved Indian textiles. While furnishing her apartment, she experimented with mixing and matching silk saris to upholster a wingback chair. A combination of cotton ikat saris made for perfect fabric blinds. The result—limón, the Delhi-based custom-design studio for furniture and furnishings. The store a sari sight: five standard chairs—the wingchair, accent, club […]

Continue Reading

Between Rubble and Resistance

We often dissociate ourselves from the violence and destruction taking place around us by putting up a smokescreen of either willful ignorance or a poor reasoning of distance. That aids in making a distinction of ‘us’ from ‘them’. The recently published Letters From Gaza: By The People, From the Year That Has Been brings the […]

Continue Reading

Unravelling her vulnerable world

As the name suggests, Notes to John contains Joan Didion’s notes for her husband John Gregory Dunne. The writing focuses on her detailed conversations with a Freudian psychiatrist, Roger MacKinnon, discussing their daughter Quintana, and Didion’s struggles with work, anxiety, depression, motherhood, and ageing. These sessions began after Quintana’s psychiatrist was unable to resolve her […]

Continue Reading

Low birthweight remains high in Maharashtra despite economic progress

CHENNAI: India has made steady progress in reducing the number of babies born with low birthweight over the past 30 years, but some states—particularly Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal—continue to account for nearly half of all such births, according to new research published in BMJ Global Health. Curiously, despite its overall progress, Maharashtra’s […]

Continue Reading

More women are coming forward to freeze their eggs

Due to medical advancements and financial independence, more women are opting for egg freezing or oocyte cryopreservation in recent times, says Dr Kirthika K S, senior consultant, gynaecologist and infertility specialist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, in an interview with Sinduja Jane. Edited excerpts: What is egg freezing or cryopreservation? Egg cryopreservation is a medical procedure […]

Continue Reading

Colour Drenching Is Becoming a Popular Interiors Trend

What to drench? Before you jump on the bandwagon, experts suggest incorporating the trend strategically. Shivaprasad advises not to try colour drenching an open layout home, as it can be challenging to define boundaries. She says, “However, at entrances, in narrow corridors, or stairwells, a single, bold and continuous colour makes the space feel very […]

Continue Reading

Flower that blooms in the desert

Part archaeological wonder and part landscaped public space, the Al Hili Archaeological Park showcases remnants of a Bronze Age settlement from 4,500 years ago. At its heart is the Hili Grand Tomb, a circular stone structure dating to around 2000 BC. Among the park’s crown jewels is the Hili Grand Tomb, a ring-shaped burial site […]

Continue Reading

India on the high seas

The shift isn’t just a trend—it’s backed by numbers. As per the Tourism Ministry, in 2023, over 2,00,000 Indians took to the seas. Skift, a New York-based travel data company, estimates out of roughly 4,70,000 travellers who took cruises in India in 2023-2024, 80 per cent were Indians. The number is only expected to soar. […]

Continue Reading

The book that breathes truth

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its clarity of structure. Tharoor guides the reader through the key elements of the Constitution, starting with the preamble and then proceeding to the various organs of the state, the principles of separation of powers, fundamental rights, duties, and the directive principles. He explains, in precise yet […]

Continue Reading

The Alzheimer’s research that has Bill Gates excited

Commonly used in cooking for its distinct flavor and in traditional medicine for its potential health benefits, Rosemary herbs belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and contains a variety of active compounds, including rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and essential oils like 1,8-cineole. Several bioactive compounds in rosemary may help in managing or delaying the progression […]

Continue Reading

Health search activity surges in India as COVID-19 cases rise past the 7,000 mark

CHENNAI: As India sees a concerning rise in COVID-19 cases, with active cases crossing 7,000 according to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Justdial have recorded a significant spike in COVID-related queries across the country. Justdial data alone highlights a marked shift in public behaviour, with citizens actively […]

Continue Reading

Secularism's Old Soldier

After reading A Maverick in Politics 1991-2024 (Juggernaut), my response was that this is a book written by a brilliant mind. These are not the memoirs of a maverick but a brilliant ideologue caught in a time capsule. It encapsulates the tragedy of the author’s life and career as he so honestly acknowledges: “What remains are […]

Continue Reading

Sleep disturbances are key predictors of mental health issues in adolescents: study

CHENNAI: Sleep disturbances are a significant predictor of future mental health issues in adolescents, confirms a latest study published in Nature Medicine. The comprehensive study involving over 11,000 adolescents from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study revealed that sleep disturbances are a significant predictor of future mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. […]

Continue Reading

Top six movies to watch with your Dad

Celebrate the bond, the laughs, the lessons, and the love with films that spotlight fatherhood in all its glory. Whether you’re in the mood for heartfelt drama or light-hearted comedy, here’s a curated list of must-watch movies to enjoy with your dad this Father’s Day. ‘Big Daddy’– NetflixAdam Sandler stars as Sonny, a man-child who […]

Continue Reading

New book by psychotherapist Riri, parenting expert Anagha, offers tailored guidance for Indian parents

NEW DELHI: Released on the occasion of Father’s Day, a new book by acclaimed psychotherapist Riri G Trivedi and parenting expert Anagha Nagpal introduces a culturally sensitive take on parenting, equipping Indian parents with essential tools to address the challenges of raising children in today’s complex world. “The Book Won’t Teach You Parenting”, published by […]

Continue Reading

Rare, Regional, Remarkable

Short stories have been getting the short end of the stick, with publishers refusing to even consider carefully curated collections in this format, favouring anthologies with big names instead. This has changed with Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp: Selected Stories winning the Booker Prize. Countless short stories are now being unearthed from regional languages, […]

Continue Reading

Food for thought

It is not just AIDS. Jaipur-based Café Vitthal’s founder Ashish Vitthal, says it isn’t easy to run operations with differently abled people on board. “I have been running this cafe for the past 10 years. It started when I saw some people at a railway crossing near my house using sign language to communicate. First, […]

Continue Reading

The Glitz and Glamour of Brühl

Opulent, extravagant, over-the-top—even these adjectives can’t quite describe the glory of this place: The 120-room, horseshoe-shaped Augustusburg Palace in Germany’s Brühl—a small town between Cologne and Bonn—represents one of the first and perhaps the finest examples of Rococo creations in Germany. The palace was the primary residence of the Cologne elector and archbishop Clemens August […]

Continue Reading

Meta to invest $15 billion in Scale AI in a bid to achieve computerised ‘superintelligence’

Meta is preparing to unveil a $15 billion investment to pursue computerised “superintelligence”, an AI capable of outperforming humans across all tasks, by securing a 49 percent stake in Scale AI, according to The Gaurdian. This move marks one of Meta’s largest external investments to date, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg assembles a 50‑member team to pioneer an advanced […]

Continue Reading

Why won’t my cough go away?

What if there’s no clear cause? Very occasionally, despite thorough testing and treatment, a cough persists. This is called refractory chronic cough. When no cause can be identified, it’s known as unexplained chronic cough. In the past, unexplained cough may have been diagnosed as a “psychogenic” or “habit” cough, a term which has fallen from favour. […]

Continue Reading

Global trial finds structured exercise cuts colon cancer deaths by 37 per cent

Professor Janette Vardy, international co-chair of the study and Senior Research Fellow at Sydney Medical School, said, “Our findings will change the way we treat colon cancer.” “Participants in the exercise program showed a significant improvement in disease-free survival compared to those who received only health education, currently the standard of care.” “After eight years, […]

Continue Reading

The Art of Fine Living

While redecorating their opulent homes in the past, the well-heeled of Delhi may have flown to France to stock up on exclusive Limoges porcelain, Italy for unique Murano glass-blown keepsakes, or to America for a more modern take on home décor. Fortunately, all these luxuries can now be accessed in the heart of their own […]

Continue Reading

A Few Hits, Lots of Misses

Dynastic families, hidden secrets, forbidden slow-burning romance, and a side of familial drama—Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life, has it all. Set in a quiet Georgian seaside town, it takes readers on a ride filled with intrigue, drama of the uber-rich, and romance. Alice Cooper, a magazine writer, has tracked down the whereabouts of Margaret […]

Continue Reading

India’s Booker prize author Banu Mushtaq

‘Confused’ But after marrying for love, Mushtaq found her life constricted. “I was not allowed to have any intellectual activities. I was not allowed to write… I was in that vacuum. That harmed me,” she said. She recounted how as a young mother aged around 27 with possible postpartum depression, and ground down by domestic […]

Continue Reading

Edmund White, groundbreaking gay author, dies at 85

NEW YORK: Edmund White, the groundbreaking man of letters who documented and imagined the gay revolution through journalism, essays, plays and such novels as “A Boy’s Own Story” and “The Beautiful Room is Empty,” has died. He was 85. White’s death was confirmed Wednesday by his agent, Bill Clegg, who did not immediately provide additional […]

Continue Reading

The Many Shades of Love

Put a frog in boiling water and it’ll jump out, place one in room-temperature water that is boiled slowly and it’ll allow itself to burn to death. Even if modern-day biologists have debunked the actual scientific value of this allegory, it remains popular, and for good reason, especially where human nature is concerned. Bhavika Govil’s […]

Continue Reading