CHENNAI [Maha Media]: In a significant feat, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on Tuesday released the most detailed 3D high-resolution images of the foetal brain.

For the first time in the world, 5,132 brain sections were digitally imaged at cell resolution using cutting-edge brain mapping technology developed by the team at Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT.

The research is critical for India as the country accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world’s childbirths at 25 million each year.

This makes it vital for the country to understand brain development from the foetus to a child, to adolescence, and a young adult, and developmental disorders like learning disabilities and autism.

“This study will pave the way for new scientific discoveries, allowing quantification of neurodevelopmental disorders and advances in fetal medicine. This is now the largest publicly accessible digital dataset of the human fetal brain, advancing current knowledge by 20X. This is the first time such advanced human neuroscience data has been produced from India and made freely available as a global resource,” said Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Head, Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, IIT Madras.

The key applications of generating such high-resolution brain images are advancements to current foetal imaging technologies, for early diagnosis and treatment of developmental disorders.

This work termed ‘DHARANI’, is available open source, and will advance the field of neuroscience and potentially lead to the development of treatment for health conditions affecting the brain.

“I am delighted that India is at the forefront in generating human foetal brain maps for the first time through this cutting-edge technology developed by IITM’s Brain Centre. We are pleased that the support from our office has seeded this pioneering effort advancing scientific knowledge in this frontier area of brain sciences, and has generated a global resource for researchers worldwide,” said Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser.

These findings have been accepted for publication as a special issue by the Journal of Comparative Neurology.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A Delhi court has summoned veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra and two others in a cheating case related to the Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise, according to the complainant's lawyer.

Judicial Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal passed the order against the 89-year-old actor on a complaint filed by Delhi businessman, Sushil Kumar, who alleged that he was lured into investing in the franchise, the lawyer D D Pandey said.

The evidence on record prima facie indicates that the accused persons induced the complainant in furtherance of their common intent and the ingredients of offence of cheating are duly disclosed, the judge said in the order passed on December 5.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Allu Arjun's highly anticipated 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' has set the box office ablaze, accumulating a staggering Rs 829 crore in its debut weekend. This impressive feat marks it as the fastest Indian film to cross the Rs 800 crore threshold globally, as confirmed by the production team on Monday.

Released on December 5 and directed by Sukumar, the Telugu movie also features Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil. Mythri Movies Makers proudly shared the opening weekend figures on their official social media handle, celebrating the film's unprecedented success with audiences worldwide.

The film's Hindi dubbed version also garnered remarkable success, earning Rs 86 crore on Sunday alone, bringing its total to Rs 291 crore within just four days. 'Pushpa 2' has outperformed previous box office records, dethroning notable hits like SS Rajamouli's 'RRR' in terms of opening day collections.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Administering rotavirus vaccine to babies during their stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) could be safe, finds a study on Monday, that could serve as the basis for a change in clinical practice.

The study by researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) showed that transmission of rotavirus vaccine strains in a NICU is rare.

But administering the rotavirus vaccine will provide immune benefits that outweigh any risks, said the team. The findings could serve as the basis for a change in clinical practice.

Rotavirus is a virus that infects the lining of the intestines and is typically characterised by symptoms such as high fever, persistent and severe vomiting, and diarrhoea. It remains the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children. It has contributed to roughly half a million child deaths worldwide.

Usually, the first dose of a rotavirus vaccine is given to newborns at two months old.

Historically, many NICUs do not give rotavirus vaccines to inpatients due to a theoretical risk of horizontal transmission of vaccine strains, meaning that the strains of the virus in the vaccine could potentially infect at-risk patients since some vaccinated infants shed live, attenuated vaccine-strain rotavirus in their stool for weeks after administration.

Holding vaccination until patients are discharged from the NICU often leaves infants with long hospitalisations, who are most vulnerable to severe rotavirus disease due to underlying health conditions, potentially making them ineligible to ever receive the vaccine. Prior retrospective studies found a very minimal risk of horizontal transmission in NICU settings.

The study, published today in the journal Pediatrics, examined 1,238 infants admitted, with 226 doses of the RotaTeq vaccine administered.

A total of 3,448 stool samples were analysed, including 2,252 from 686 unvaccinated patients. The vast majority of those unvaccinated patients (681, or 99.3 per cent) never tested positive for the rotavirus vaccine strain.

The remaining five patients tested positive for a rotavirus vaccine strain. No gastroenteritis symptoms were identified in those transmission cases.

“Ultimately, these findings add to the existing safety data and suggest the known benefits of NICU administration of the rotavirus vaccine outweigh the low risks of vaccine-strain transmission,” said Kathleen A. Gibbs, neonatologist in the Division of Neonatology at CHOP.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Eight-hour sleep every night not only rejuvenates the body but also helps brain to store and learn a new language, according to a new study.

A team of international scientists, led by the University of South Australia and published in the Journal of Neuroscience, revealed that the coordination of two electrical events in the sleeping brain significantly improves our ability to remember new words and complex grammatical rules.

In an experiment with 35 native English-speaking adults, researchers tracked the brain activity of participants learning a miniature language called Mini Pinyin that is based on Mandarin but with similar grammatical rules to English.

Mini Pinyin contains 32 verbs and 25 nouns, including 10 human entities, 10 animals and five objects. Overall, the language contains 576 unique sentences.

Half of the participants learned Mini Pinyin in the morning and then returned in the evening to have their memory tested.

The other half learned Mini Pinyin in the evening and then slept in the laboratory overnight while their brain activity was recorded.

Researchers tested their progress in the morning. Those who slept performed significantly better compared to those who remained awake.

“This coupling likely reflects the transfer of learned information from the hippocampus to the cortex, enhancing long-term memory storage,” said lead researcher Dr Zachariah Cross.

Sleep-based improvements were linked to the coupling of slow oscillations and sleep spindles – brainwave patterns that synchronise during NREM sleep.

“Post-sleep neural activity showed unique patterns of theta oscillations associated with cognitive control and memory consolidation, suggesting a strong link between sleep-induced brainwave co-ordination and learning outcomes,” Dr Cross added.

Researcher Dr Scott Coussens said the study underscores the importance of sleep in learning complex linguistic rules.

“By demonstrating how specific neural processes during sleep support memory consolidation, we provide a new perspective on how sleep disruption impacts language learning,” Dr Coussens said. “Sleep is not just restful; it’s an active, transformative state for the brain.”

The findings could also potentially inform treatments for individuals with language-related impairments, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and aphasia, who experience greater sleep disturbances than other adults.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will watch the movie 'Sabarmati Report' on Monday evening.

The prime minister will go to the Balyogi Auditorium in the Parliament Library Building to watch the movie starring Vikrant Massey, officials said.

Directed by Dheeraj Sarna, the film claims to reveal the truth behind the fire incident in the Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 59 devotees returning from Ayodhya after participating in a religious ceremony.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: British musician Ed Sheeran is bringing his Mathematics Tour back to India in 2025 with performances planned in six cities, the organisers announced on Friday.

The announcement comes after a sold-out show in Mumbai in March this year, where Sheeran promised fans he would return soon to the country.

Delivering on the promise, the musician is set to embark on his most expansive tour of the country to date, beginning in Pune on January 30 at Yash Lawns, followed by Hyderabad on February 2 at Ramoji Film City, Chennai on February 5 at YMCA Ground, and Bengaluru on February 8 at NICE Grounds.

Sheeran, 33, will then perform in Shillong on February 12 at JN Stadium before concluding in Delhi NCR on February 15 at Leisure Valley Ground.

The Mathematics Tour 2025 in India is promoted by AEG Presents Asia and BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow.

Each performance promises an intimate experience with the British artist in his purest form armed with only his guitar and Loopstation.

"The 2025 India tour promises to deliver an intimate and electrifying concert experience, focusing on close-up performances that showcase Sheeran's raw talent and deep connection with his fans. A more traditional stage design will complement Sheeran's captivating storytelling front and centre, highlighting his soulful vocals, acoustic brilliance and heartfelt lyrics," said the organisers.

Tickets for the tour will be available on BookMyShow and Sheeran's official website.

The tour will draw from all of his albums since 2011, starting with "Plus", "Multiply" (2014), "Divide" (2017), "Equals" (2021) and "Subtract" (2023). The tour also includes a song from 2019's "No. 6 Collaborations Project" ("Blow").

Sheeran had first performed in Mumbai in 2015 and had returned to the city with another performance in 2017.

Ed Sheeran's tour dates and venues

Pune: January 30 at Yash Lawns

Hyderabad: February 2 at Ramoji Film City

Chennai: February 5 at YMCA Ground

Bengaluru: February 8 at NICE Grounds

Shillong: February 12 at JN Stadium

Delhi NCR: February 15 at Leisure Valley Ground
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Over a third of children under five years of age enrolled in anganwadis across India are stunted, the government has told the Rajya Sabha.

In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister of State Savitri Thakur said 7.54 crore children up to five years of age are enrolled in anganwadis and registered on the Poshan Tracker.

Of these, 7.31 crore were measured for growth parameters, and findings show that 38.9 per cent of children are stunted, 17 per cent are underweight, and 5.2 per cent are wasted.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Women suffering from depression are more likely to experience menstrual pain (also known as dysmenorrhea), finds a study on Wednesday.

Previous research has shown women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and often experience more severe physical symptoms. While the links between mental health and reproductive health have been found, the associations have remained underexplored.

To decode this, researchers from China and the UK led a study where they analysed genetic variation and identified specific genes that may be responsible for the effect of depression on menstrual pain.

"Our findings provide preliminary evidence that depression may be a cause, rather than a consequence, of dysmenorrhea," said lead author Shuhe Liu, a doctoral student at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool-University (XJTLU), China.

They, however, “did not find evidence that period pain increased the risk of depression”.

In the study, published in the journal Briefings in Bioinformatics, the team analysed approximately 600,000 cases from European populations and 8,000 from East Asian populations and saw a strong link in both datasets.

They also examined the role of sleeplessness -- a common problem among those suffering from depression -- as a significant mediator between depression and dysmenorrhea.

The results showed that increased sleep disturbances could exacerbate menstrual pain, thus stressing the need to address sleep issues to manage both conditions.

Further, the study also highlighted the need for a holistic approach when treating mental health and reproductive issues.

Liu noted that “mental disorders are often not considered when treating conditions such as period pain”.

"Our findings emphasise the importance of mental health screening for people who suffer from severe menstrual pain”.

While the researchers called for more studies to establish the link, they said the findings can pave the way for “more personalised treatment options, and improved healthcare, and reduce the stigma surrounding the conditions”.
 

NEW DELHI: Telugu cinema stars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna have completed filming on their much anticipated movie "Pushpa: The Rule", days before its release.

Arjun is set to return as labourer-turned-sandalwood smuggler Pushpa Raj in the sequel to 2021's blockbuster film "Pushpa: The Rise".

"Pushpa 2" is set to hit the screens on December 5.

Arjun, who won the best actor National Film Award for "Pushpa: The Rise", shared the update on his official X page on Tuesday night.
    
"LAST DAY LAST SHOT OF PUSHPA. 5 years JOURNEY of PUSHPA completed. What a journey (sic)" he captioned a picture from the film sets.
    
"Pushpa 2" is directed by Sukumar and also features returning stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil.
    
The trailer of the sequel was unveiled on November 17 at Patna's jam-packed Gandhi Maidan.
    
Rashmika, who shot for a "crazy amazing song" on her last day on set on Monday, teased a potential third part in the "Pushpa" franchise.
    
"Out of the 7/8 years, the last 5 years being on this set almost made this set my home in the industry, and finally it was my last day. Of course, there's still so much work left and apparently a part 3, but it felt different... it felt overwhelming... it felt like it was ending (sic)," she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
    
"Some sort of sadness that even I didn't understand, and suddenly all the emotions came together, and the days of extreme hard work came rushing back to me, and I was feeling tired and exhausted but at the same time so grateful," she added.
    
The actor, who plays Srivalli in the film, said she "broke down" after a long time when she was overwhelmed with the feelings of parting from the "Pushpa" team.
    
"Allu Arjun sir and Sukku sir and the team are the only ones I think who know me the most as a person more than anyone else in the industry. They have literally seen me most days since the last 5 years, and Pushpa set had become my home ground, and now to see it go is something so hard. So yeah, 25th Nov 2024 had been a very hard day, but one I'll cherish. It was worth it in one day (sic)" she wrote.
    
"Pushpa 2" is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings with music on T-Series.
 

PANAJI [Maha Media]: At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), today promises to be another exciting day with several events lined up. After the successful and crowd-pulling premiere of over 70 films yesterday, today will feature the screening of another 70 films. Apart from this, three films will be shown as part of an open-air screening.

The major highlight of the day, however, is the Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) event, where the 48-hour challenge to create a fresh film will come to an end. This year, 100 promising young talents have been selected from across 13 filmmaking crafts for the CMOT challenge.

These participants will be submitting their films within a few hours from now. Speaking to Akashvani, one of the participants, Madhan Kamaraj said It’s been a challenging task to complete a film in 48 hours, but he is grateful for the opportunity.

The primary objective of Creative Minds of Tomorrow is to nurture young talent and provide them with a platform to shine. The Creative Minds of Tomorrow section is one of the most exciting events at IFFI. It identifies young Indian cinematic talents and offers them an international platform to showcase their emerging creative voices.

This year’s edition has the largest-ever participation, with 100 participants competing across 13 crafts, including Direction, Scripting, Singing, and Music Composition. In addition to the CMOT challenge, screenings of over 70 films will continue to add to the festival’s buzz.

Today is also the penultimate day of the Film Bazaar, which has been drawing a large number of filmmakers, producers, and distributors seeking to connect and collaborate. The Masterclass section will feature several film personalities offering insights on a variety of subjects. Notably, renowned actor Anupam Kher will deliver a session titled The Power of Failure in the evening.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he smiles with great emotion and pride for his son Abhishek Bachchan for his work in “I Want To Talk.”

The cine icon took to his blog, where he wrote: “yesyesyes .. YES .. smile and the World shall smile with you .. !!! BUT I smile today and with pride and great emotion for the Son and my Abhishek for his work .. assiduous , tremendous joy and the appreciation of one of the very known and complemented film critics and journalists -

“I do .. because I do .. I show because I show .. I admire because I admire .. I express because I express .. !!”

He then spoke about being different.

“AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE .. TO BE DIFFERENT .. for be it known .. at the helm of difference , it is they that have caused fresh new thoughts and inventions .. and are remembered to date .. normal is normalcy .. it is also a norm and one that brings faith in the normal .. but the DIFFERENT have ever had a renowned and remembered place ..”

Amitabh said that being different is often viewed as a double-edged sword, but it carries undeniable appeal, earning respect and even popularity in many situations.

“In a world driven by conformity, standing out demonstrates courage and authenticity—traits that resonate deeply with others. Whether it’s through personality, talents, or ideas, being different can make one a trailblazer in their field.”

He added that being different often involves taking risks, but it garners respect when it comes from a place of genuine conviction.

“Society values those who are authentic and offer fresh perspectives. This uniqueness also drives popularity, as people are drawn to the new and the extraordinary.”

“Ultimately, being different appeals because it challenges the status quo, fosters innovation, and creates connections. It’s not just about standing out but about making an impactful difference in the world.

“YOU SHALL BE .. ABHISHEK .. BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU HAVE BEEN .. a creative mind that has ever done attempted and succeeded in what you created and believed in your work.”
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: High cardiorespiratory fitness could help lower risk of dementia by up to 35 per cent, including in people with a high genetic risk for developing the ageing-related condition, according to a study.

Cardiorespiratory fitness or or aerobic fitness is a measure of how well oxygen is delivered to muscles and organs while performing physical activity. With age, as mucles weaken, the capacity of circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen declines.

Cycling, running and aerobic exercises can help improve cardiorespiratory fitness.

Researchers from Tianjin Medical University, China, and Karolinska Institute, Sweden, found that people having high scores in cardiorespiratory fitness had a higher cognitive function and a lower risk of dementia.
     
Further, among these individuals, onset of dementia was found to be delayed by up to 1.5 years, or 18 months.
     
"Our study shows that higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better cognitive function and decreased dementia risk. Moreover, high cardiorespiratory fitness may buffer the impact of genetic risk of all dementia by 35 per cent," the authors wrote in the study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
     
Maintaining favourable levels of aerobic fitness could be a strategy to prevent dementia, even among people genetically inclined towards developing it, they said.
     
For the study, the researchers divided a group of over 61,000 people aged 39-70 years and not having dementia into three equal sub-groups according to their cardiorespiratory fitness scores. Over a follow-up period of up to 12 years, 553 people were diagnosed with dementia.
     
The participants took a six-minute exercise test on a stationary bike at the time of enrolling in the UK Biobank study between 2009 and 2010 for developing cardiorespiratory fitness scores. Cognitive function and a genetic score for developing dementia too were estimated.
     
Onset of dementia was found to be delayed by about a year and a half among those with high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, compared to those having low aerobic fitness scores.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In a significant move to enhance diabetes care across India, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers has signed a pact with the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India. The collaboration aims to improve the quality and consistency of diabetes care by employing robust clinical and digital health standards.

Representing over 12,000 diabetes care providers nationwide, RSSDI brings its extensive expertise to the table. The official Memorandum of Understanding will utilize NABH's capabilities in driving national quality certification and accreditation programs and RSSDI's proficiency in crafting best practice clinical guidelines for diabetes management and research.

Through this agreement, NABH and RSSDI will closely work together to refine NABH's Accreditation Standards for Allopathic Clinics to meet specific requirements of diabetes care. They also plan to develop digital health standards for Clinic Management Systems, ensuring better management of diabetes care.

BHOPAL [Maha Media]: The BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government has officially declared the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ tax-free across the state.

“We have decided to make the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ tax-free so that a maximum number of people can watch the film. I would also watch the film along with the other cabinet ministers,” said the Chief Minister during an interaction with media persons in Bhopal.

He said that a special screening will be held for the cabinet colleagues, adding that the film serves to clarify historical events surrounding a significant and tragic incident in Indian history.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the people to watch the film which uncovers the truth of the Godhara incident.

The Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to make the film tax-free comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s endorsement of the Vikrant Massey-starrer ‘The Sabarmati Report’.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said the victims of the Sabarmati Express train are yet to get justice.

A special screening was also held in New Delhi on Monday in the presence of Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, actor Vikrant Massey and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Vikrant Massey, saying that the ‘truth is coming out’.

The film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ features Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Digra and Raashii Khanna in the lead roles. Released on November 15, the film has amassed a decent collection at the box office.

The film is based on the burning of the S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra station (Gujarat) on February 27, 2002.

At least 59 Hindu devotees returning from Ayodhya were burnt to death in the incident, which later led to the riots in Gujarat.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A Mumbai court has acquitted veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar in a defamation case against him over his alleged objectionable remarks on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the complainant has withdrawn the case.

Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mulund, S D Chakkar, on November 8 disposed of the case as withdrawn.

A copy of the order was made available on Monday.

Advocate Santosh Dubey, who claims to be an RSS supporter, filed a complaint against Akhtar before the magistrate court in October 2021 for the offences under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.

He had alleged that Akhtar in a television interview unnecessarily dragged the name of the RSS and defamed the Nagpur-based organisation in a “calculated and well-planned move”.

As per the complaint, Akhtar, in the TV interview, had allegedly drawn parallels between the Taliban and Hindu extremists in the backdrop of the radical outfit seizing power in Afghanistan.

However, Dubey recently filed another plea before the magistrate to withdraw the complaint against Akhtar.

The complainant told the court that the “matter is settled between the parties in mediation” and therefore, he “does not want to prosecute the accused”.

Hence, the court acquitted the lyricist and disposed of the case as withdrawn. 
 

NEW DELHI: A consistent bedtime for children displayed better control over emotions and behaviour while working with others or under stress, a new study has found.

Researchers, including those from The Pennsylvania State University, US, analysed sleep and behaviour data of 143 six-year-olds, mothers of whom were trained about responsive parenting in the first 2.5 years following birth.

The parenting style revolves around responding to a child's emotional and physical needs in a warm and consistent manner. One of the aspects of responsive parenting involves creating a supportive and predictable sleep environment, techniques for which include comforting babies by rocking or patting, among others.
 
Responsive parenting helped children develop bedtime routines and sleep behaviours in the first year after birth, according to a 2016 study, published in the journal Pediatrics, which too was conducted by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University.
     
The latest study, which is a long-term one, showed the continued benefits of regular sleep timing in children, the authors said.
     
"Findings support the importance of consistency in sleep timing and how this may play a greater role in children's behavioural and emotional outcomes than mean actigraphic sleep duration and quality (measured using wearable devices)," they wrote in the study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics.
     
"Children who had consistent bedtimes were generally able to regulate their behaviour and emotions. On the other hand, children whose bedtimes and sleep times were all over the place showed more impulsivity and less control," lead researcher Adwoa Dadzie, a doctoral student in biobehavioural health, Pennsylvania State University, said.
     
For the study, the children wore a monitor on their wrist for seven days that measured night-time sleep and activity. Aspects such as time of falling asleep and waking up, along with sleep efficiency and duration were recorded, the researchers described.
     
The data was compared with the children's performance on a task designed to test their response to feeling frustrated, the team said.
     
Each child selected a toy that they wanted to play with from a large selection. The chosen toy was placed in a clear box and locked. The child was given a set of keys, none of which unlocked the box, the authors explained.
     
The team then observed the child for self-regulated behaviour, including self-talk and trying each key, and a lack of self-regulation -- which included throwing the keys without trying them all. After four minutes, the children were handed the correct key to the box and allowed to play with the toy.
     
Another task involved in the study was collaborative, which tested the children for their ability to cooperate.
     
The results showed that the more a child's bedtime changed each night, the worse they regulated their behaviour and emotions.
     
For example, a child whose bedtime varied by 20 minutes a night over the week of the study typically displayed more self-regulation than a child whose bedtime shifted by two hours across the week.
     
The children participants were a part of the university's Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT) study.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: The Mumbai Police on Tuesday arrested a lawyer from Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur in connection with a death threat issued to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan last week, an official said.

On November 7, the Mumbai police visited Raipur for its investigation in the case and summoned Faizan Khan, who is a lawyer by profession, for questioning.

The Mumbai police on Tuesday morning informed their Raipur counterparts that they have arrested Faizan Khan from Pandri police station area here as a part of their probe into a threat call to Shah Rukh Khan, Raipur's Senior Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh told PTI.

As per preliminary information, the threat call to the actor was made by a phone number registered in the name of Faizan, he said.

During questioning, the lawyer told the police that he had lost his phone and lodged a complaint in this connection at Khamardih police station here November 2, he said.

The Mumbai police will produce Faizan in a Raipur court seeking his transit remand, Singh said.

The threat to Shah Rukh Khan follows a series of threats issued to fellow actor Salman Khan, allegedly from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Exercising for five minutes per day could reduce blood pressure, a new research has found.

The research, which was published by experts from an international academic collaboration led by the University of Sydney and University College London on Thursday, suggested that doing five minutes of physical activity, such as walking uphill or stair climbing every day may help to lower blood pressure.

According to the study by the Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting and Sleep (ProPASS) Consortium, replacing sedentary behaviour with 20-27 minutes of exercise per day can result in a clinically meaningful reduction in blood pressure.

"High blood pressure is one of the biggest health issues globally, but unlike some major causes of cardiovascular mortality there may be relatively accessible ways to tackle the problem in addition to medication," Emmanuel Stamatakis, joint senior author and director of the ProPASS Consortium from the University of Sydney, said.

"The finding that doing as little as five extra minutes of exercise per day could be associated with measurably lower blood pressure readings emphasises how powerful short bouts of higher intensity movement could be for blood pressure management."

The research team analysed data from 14,761 volunteers to see how replacing one type of movement with another is associated with blood pressure.

The team estimated that replacing sedentary behaviour with at least 20 minutes of exercise daily could reduce cardiovascular disease incidence by 28 per cent.

The World Health Organisation estimated that 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension, consistent elevated blood pressure, and that 46 per cent of adults with hypertension are unaware they have the condition.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has received a death threat and a demand for Rs 50 lakh, Mumbai police said on Thursday, adding an extortion case has been filed in this connection.

The threat to Shah Rukh Khan follows a series of threats issued to fellow actor Salman Khan, allegedly from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. “Bandra police station received a call threatening Shah Rukh Khan and asking for Rs 50 lakh.

An offence has been registered. No arrest has been made yet,” a senior police official said. A case has been registered by the Bandra police under sections 308(4) (extortion involving threats of death or serious injury) and 351(3)(4) (criminal intimidation) of Bharaitya Nyaya Sanhita against the unknown caller who threatened Shah Rukh Khan, the official said.

Police teams have been dispatched at various places for further investigation, he said. While there was no confirmation from Mumbai police on reports that the call was made from Raipur in Chhattisgarh, a Raipur police official said Mumbai police are giving notice to one Faiyaz Khan for threatening Shah Rukh Khan.
 

PATNA [Maha Media]: Popular folk singer Sharda Sinha was cremated with full state honours here on Thursday.

The last rites were performed by her son Anshuman Sinha, who lit the pyre in an emotionally surcharged atmosphere.

Hundreds of fans had gathered outside Gulbi Ghat crematorium in Patna’s Mahendru area for her last glimpse. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ashwani Choubey was also present.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Love to wear sarees daily? Beware, draping it tightly may give you skin cancer, warned doctors in Bihar and Maharashtra on Wednesday.

After treating two women with this type of malignancy, doctors from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Wardha, and Madhubani Medical College and Hospital, in Bihar warned that tightly tied waist cord of the underskirt (petticoat) traditionally worn under a saree, particularly in rural parts of India, may cause continued friction linked to chronic inflammation, leading to skin ulceration, and in some cases, progress to skin cancer.

The phenomenon has previously been described as “saree cancer,” but it is the tightness of the waist cord that’s to blame, the doctors pointed out in the study published in the BMJ Case Reports, and dubbed it as ‘petticoat cancer’.

In the first case, a 70-year-old woman sought medical help because of a painful skin ulcer on her right flank that she had had for 18 months and which wouldn’t heal. The skin in the surrounding area had lost its pigmentation. She wore her petticoat underneath her Nauvari saree which was tightly tied around her waist.

The doctors conducted a biopsy, which revealed that the woman had a Marjolin ulcer, also known as squamous cell carcinoma (ulcerating skin cancer).

Another woman in her late 60s consulted doctors for an ulcer on her right flank that wouldn’t heal for two years. For 40 long years, she has been wearing a traditional ‘lugda’ saree daily, which is tied very tightly around the waist without an underskirt.

A biopsy specimen revealed that she too had a Marjolin ulcer. The cancer had already spread to one of the lymph nodes in her groyne when she was diagnosed.

A Marjolin ulcer is rare but aggressive. It develops in chronic burn wounds, non-healing wounds, leg ulcers, tuberculous skin nodules, and in vaccination and snake bite scars, the doctors explained.

The doctors noted that while the exact mechanism by which chronic ulcers or wounds become malignant remains unknown, “every cutaneous lesion that is continuously irritated (chronically inflamed) has been shown to have a higher risk of developing malignant transformation.”

“Constant pressure at the waist often leads to cutaneous atrophy, which ultimately breaks down to form an erosion or an ulcer,” they added.

The experts said that this ulcer often “does not heal entirely due to ongoing pressure from tight clothing. A chronic non-healing wound results, which may develop malignant change”.

The health experts recommend wearing a loose petticoat beneath the saree to ease pressure on the skin, and to wear loose clothing if skin problems develop to allow the area to heal.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Even as India aims to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, five years ahead of the global target, a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday showed that the country accounts for 26 per cent -- the highest -- global TB burden.

The Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 showed that India is the highest among the 30 high-burden countries -- Indonesia (10 per cent), China (6.8 per cent), the Philippines (6.8 per cent) and Pakistan (6.3 per cent) -- which together accounted for 56 per cent of the global TB burden.

Globally, TB again emerged as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing Covid-19.

It showed that about 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023 -- the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995.

This also represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022.

The top infectious disease was found to be most common among men (55 per cent). Women accounted for more than 30 per cent, while 12 per cent were children and young adolescents.

“The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it and treat it,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in the report.

He called on countries to “make good on the concrete commitments they have made to expand the use of those tools, and to end TB”.

Importantly, the report highlighted five major risk factors that are driving new TB cases. These include undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking (especially among men), and diabetes.

“Tackling these issues, along with critical determinants like poverty and GDP per capita, requires coordinated multisectoral action,” said the report, while calling for increased funding for TB research.

Meanwhile, the report noted a decline in the gap between the estimated number of new TB cases and those reported. It narrowed to about 2.7 million, down from Covid pandemic levels of around 4 million in 2020 and 2021.

While the coverage of TB preventive treatment has been sustained for people living with HIV, multidrug-resistant TB remains a public health crisis.

The report showed that treatment success rates for multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) have now reached 68 per cent.

But, of the 400 000 people estimated to have developed MDR/RR-TB, only 44 per cent were diagnosed and treated in 2023, the report said
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In a step towards spreading awareness about Dyslexia, the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, India Gate and other government offices have been lit red. This happens every year in October, which is International Dyslexia Awareness Month. The campaign aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma and eliminate discrimination around the disease.

To amplify the message of inclusion, the walk4Dyslexia was also organized from Vijay Chowk to India Gate. This walk symbolizes collective action for Act4Dyslexia, emphasizing the need for equal opportunities and support for individuals with learning disabilities.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Since last few days speculations were doing rounds that Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions is in loss and he is looking to sell some of his stakes to Mukesh Ambani led Reliance industries.

However it’s not Reliance but Adar Poonawala led Serene Productions that acquired a fifty percent stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma. On Monday, 21st October Karan Johar’s Dharma and Adar Poonawalla’s Serene Entertainment released a joint statement stating “Adar Poonawalla led Serene Productions today announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to invest INR 1,000 crore into Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment (collectively, “Dharma”), India’s leading production house. Through this investment, Serene Productions will hold a 50% stake in Dharma, with Karan Johar retaining the remaining 50% ownership. 

Karan Johar as the Executive Chairman will spearhead the company's creative vision, while Apoorva Mehta, in his role as the Chief Executive Officer, will work with Karan in steering the strategic direction and overseeing the operational excellence of the organization. Speaking about the same, Adar Poonawalla, said, "I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with one of the most iconic production houses in our nation, along with my friend Karan Johar. We hope to build and grow Dharma and scale even greater heights in the years to come."

Commenting on the partnership, Karan Johar, Executive Chairman of Dharma, stated, "From its inception, Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I've dedicated my career to expanding that vision. Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we're poised to elevate Dharma's legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies.”

Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma, said, "Over the years, I've witnessed Dharma's transformation into a multi-faceted content powerhouse. This partnership with Adar realizes our vision and marks a new era where cinema, streaming, and global content converge. It enables us to explore new avenues in content creation and distribution, elevating the Indian entertainment ecosystem. More importantly, this investment allows us to take bigger creative steps."
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor says the credit for the resounding success of her latest movie "Stree 2" belongs to its "fabulous team" that crafted a sequel true to the spirit of the original.

The Amar Kaushik-directed horror comedy, a sequel to the 2019 film "Stree", has emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time at the domestic box office, with a collection of over Rs 600 crore.

At an event on Friday evening, where the iconic magazine Screen was relaunched, Kapoor called the film a “pure cinematic joy” and praised the collaborative effort of the crew and her co-stars Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurana.

"We have brilliant actors in the film. We have some really entertaining dialogues. So, it has been a fabulous team effort and pure cinematic joy. I'm really proud to be a part of this film," Kapoor said.

For Kapoor, it all began with "Stree", set in the small town of Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, where an evil spirit named ‘Stree' abducts men during the festival season. The story was based on the urban legend of "Nale Ba," which went viral in Karnataka in the 1990s.

"It was about six years ago, and Maddock Films was just up and coming as a production house. All the actors were at very different stages in our careers. We were also growing in our own ways," she said.

"My personal reaction when I heard the first part was that I felt like I hadn't heard a film like that before. It was based on an urban legend, and I was literally falling off the sofa when I heard it. I was so glad that they came to me for this film, which is pure entertainment. I was genuinely laughing at the dialogues and the scenes," she added.

Kapoor, 37, said the movie and her character received immense love from audiences.

"My character is this mysterious girl who comes and goes, and you're constantly wondering about her presence. So, it all began there. And hats off to our producer, our writers, and my director for really cracking the sequel because it's important to not make a sequel for the sake of it.

"You really have to have some substance if you're going to bring people to the theatre and garner genuine appreciation. I feel they stayed true to how a sequel should be made. They did a super job by cracking the story of "Stree 2", getting all the entertainment factors into the film," she said.

Kapoor, known for movies such as "Aashiqui 2", "Ek Villain", "Chhichhore", and "Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar", also opened up about her approach to selecting films.

"I believe that my best is yet to come, and I definitely want to feel, when I am going to be a part of a film, that it is going to be something exciting for me as an actor... To be a part of a particular story that is really riveting, that may have a message subliminally passed on to the audience. I am in that headspace right now," she said.

The actor also said her pace of work has changed.

"There was a time when I was doing a lot of films back to back, and now it's the opposite. It's like one film in three years... And it's fine. I found my comfort in that now because I feel like I want to be a part of films where I feel truly fulfilled and can push myself as an actor while doing something different from what I've done before," she added.

Kapoor also noted that it's not necessary to have a constant stream of film releases.

"My next film hasn't even been announced, and it's okay. It takes a lot for you and for anybody to be a part of a film. It takes months. It takes a lot of work and a lot of prep. I feel that from the bottom of my heart," she said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 31-year-old was found outside the Casa Sur Hotel in the city’s Palermo neighborhood.
    
According to a statement from local police, Mr. Payne fell from the third floor, suffering severe injuries. Medics confirmed his death at the scene.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The World Health Organization, WHO has declared that this year India has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. With this, India has become the third country in the Southeast Asia Region to achieve this milestone. The WHO officially certified India during its Regional Committee meeting in New Delhi yesterday.        

Trachoma is a contagious bacterial infection that affects the eyes and spreads through the eyes, eyelids, nose, or throat secretions of infected people.

During 1950-60, trachoma was among the leading causes of blindness in the country. To tackle the spread, the government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Renowned Marathi-Hindi film actress Suhas Joshi has been selected for this year's prestigious "Vishnudas Bhave Purskar" on behalf of Akhil Bhartiya Natya Vidhyamandir Committee (ABNVC), Sangli, Maharashtra, a statement said. 

Sharad Karale, ABNVC president, said that Joshi has been selected for her outstanding contribution to theatre, Marathi-Hindi films and TV serials as an actor, singer and director, besides training children in acting. Among other things, the award carries Rs 25,000 in cash, shawl and a gold-plated 'Manchinha'. The award distribution function will be held on November 5. Karale said that Joshi has acted in 25 Marathi plays including Natsamrat, Anandi Gopal, remanand Tuza Rang Ksa, Agnipankh, Doctor Tumhi Suddha and others. 

She has also acted in Marathi films like Tu Tithe Mi, Anandi Anand, Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai and others.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Intermittent fasting has become popular among people. Several researches are being conducted on intermittent fasting and how it is beneficial for different chronic diseases. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Intermittent fasting is an eating plan that switches between fasting and eating on a regular schedule. Research shows that intermittent fasting is a way to manage your weight and prevent — or even reverse — some forms of disease.”

Now, a recent study highlighted the health benefits of following intermittent fasting for adults with metabolic syndrome - a group of health conditions that include high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels and abdominal obesity. More than 1 billion people worldwide are suffering with this condition. It raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease and/or stroke.

As per the study from the Salk Institute and the University of California at San Diego, adults with metabolic syndrome can improve their health by limiting their daily eating to an 8-10 hour window.

As a part of the study, researchers divided 108 prediabetic adults with metabolic syndrome into two groups and only one of these followed intermittent fasting. For this study, the average eating window for the fasting group was from 9:14am to 6:59pm. After nutrition counselling, the researchers found that study participants who followed intermittent fasting lost more fat and had better blood sugar control than the other group.

Only one person in the fasting group reported negative side effects such as irritability, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, researchers say. Their findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

What should you eat while intermittent fasting?
While you’re fasting, you do not have to starve yourself. You can drink water and zero-calorie beverages such as black coffee and tea. During your eating window, you should eat normally. However, that doesn’t mean you go crazy over food and eat high-calorie foods. You will most likely not lose weight or get healthy if you are eating high-calorie junk food, super-sized fried items and treats during your eating window.

But you can try different types of foods when you’re intermittent fasting. “Most nutrition experts regard the Mediterranean diet as a good blueprint of what to eat, whether you’re trying intermittent fasting or not. You can hardly go wrong when you pick leafy greens, healthy fats, lean protein and complex, unrefined carbohydrates such as whole grains,” says Johns Hopkins Medicine.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared on X a 'garba' song he wrote as a tribute to Goddess Durga.

"It is the auspicious time of Navratri and people are celebrating in different ways, united by their devotion to Maa Durga. In this spirit of reverence and joy, here is Aavati Kalay, a Garba I wrote as a tribute to Her power and grace. May Her blessings always remain upon us," he wrote on X.

He thanked Purva Mantri, whom he lauded as a talented upcoming singer, for singing the garba song and presenting such a melodious rendition of it.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Actor Govinda on Tuesday sustained a bullet injury on his leg as his licensed revolver misfired, police said.

The actor was about to leave from his Juhu residence around 4.45 am when the revolver misfired, a police official said. The actor hasn’t lodged any complaint, he added.

Govinda, 60, was taken for treatment to a nearby Criticare hospital hospital and has returned to his residence, the official said. His manager explained that the revolver fell while being stored in a cupboard, resulting in the accidental discharge.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan won the best actor award for his role in "Jawan" while Ranbir Kapoor-starrer "Animal" was named the best picture at the IIFA Awards here.

Shah Rukh hosted the awards extravaganza on Saturday night with actor Vicky Kaushal and filmmaker Karan Johar.

The superstar was in his elements as a host whether it was striking his trademark pose of spreading his arms wide or matching steps with Kaushal on the latter's viral dance steps on "Tauba Tauba".

His "Dil Se..." director Mani Ratnam and music maestro A R Rahman were on stage to hand over the trophy to SRK and the superstar touched the feet of Ratnam before accepting the trophy.

Rani Mukerji won the best actress trophy for her role in "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway" and as she walked back after accepting her award Shah Rukh, her co-star on many film, held her pallu to ensure that it did not touch the ground.

SRK was also there to lend his support to singer Shilpa Rao as he won the best playback singer (female) IIFA trophy for "Chaleya" from "Jawan" by doing an impromptu dance as Rao crooned the opening lines.

Kaushal seemed to enjoying every minute of his hosting duties with SRK, who sportingly matched steps with his "Dunki" co-star on "Tauba Tauba".

The duo also danced on “Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam" from SRK's film "Duplicate" and "Oo Antava" from "Pushpa" to loud cheers from the audience.

Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra won the best director IIFA award for his film "12th Fail".

Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film "Animal" also registered wins for Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in best supporting actor and best negative role categories, respectively.

Deol accepted his award and recreated his popular dance steps on the song 'Jamal kudu' with Vanga providing the prop of an empty glass.

Ranbir Kapoor seems to have given the awards a miss this year to celebrate his birthday with family. The actor turned 42 on Saturday.

"Animal" also won awards for music direction for Pritam, Vishal Mishra, Manan Bhardwaj, Shreyas Puranik, Jaani, Bhupinder Babbal, Ashim Kemson, Harshavardhan Rameshwar.

Bhupinder Babbal for his song 'Arjan Vailly' from "Animal" won the best playback singer (male) award as well as best lyrics award for 'Satranga'.

Johar's directorial venture "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" also registered wins.           Actor Shabana Azmi, who played lead star Alia Bhatt's grandmother in the movie, won the best supporting actress IIFA trophy while writers Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, Sumit Roy won best story award.

Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award was given to veteran actor-politician Hema Malini. Shah Rukh Khan gallantly escorted the actor to the stage to receive her award as "Dream Girl" played on.

Alizeh Agnihotri won the best debutante actor trophy while Karan Boolani was named the best debutant director for his film "Thank You For Coming".

Apart from SRK and Vicky's performance on "Tauba Tauba", the song's original singer Karan Aujla was also there to sing live. Rapper Honey Sing performed on his new song "Bonita".

Major dance performances of the night were by veteran star Rekha, Prabhudeva and Shahid Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Nora Fatehi, Kriti Sanon and Ananya Pandey.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A special screening of filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's '12th Fail' took place at the Supreme Court, attended by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and other judges.

The event was attended by over 600 officials and their families, followed by an interaction between Justice Chandrachud, Chopra, lead actors Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar, and the real-life inspirations behind the film.

Chandrachud praised the film's storytelling and performances, saying it conveys a strong message of hope and inspiration. Chopra expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to screen the film for the judiciary.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah has witnessed over nine crore sixty eight lakh events held nationwide so far. The annual nutrition and welfare campaign has registered nearly one crore eighty-eight lakh events under Anemia Prevention, one crore sixty-eight lakh events focused on growth monitoring and nearly one crore forty-five lakh events under complementary feeding. 

The campaign’s Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi initiative has witnessed nearly one crore fifty-nine lakh events as well. Other initiatives under the campaign focused on Mass Sensitization, environmental protection, among others, have also witnessed similar outcomes so far. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has said that the top-performing states in this year’s Poshan Maah have been Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh so far.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The share of out-of-pocket expenditure out of total health expenditure has come down from 64.2 per cent in 2013-14 to 39.4 per cent in 2021-22, said Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.

This decline in out-of-pocket expenditure “reflects a very positive indicator,” said Paul, while releasing the Union Health Ministry’s National Health Account (NHA) estimates for India 2020-21 and 2021-22.

“More than Rs 1 lakh crore savings have accrued from the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and this has had a positive impact on the recent NHA estimates,” he added.

He also stated that other schemes “like the free dialysis scheme, launched in 2015-16 have benefited 25 lakh people”.

While calling the decline in out-of-pocket cost of health, “a good sign”, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra said that “a substantial increase has been noticed in the health expenditure of the government”.

This, he said, “reflects the emphasis of the government towards health”.

Further, the NHA estimates for 2021-22 highlight the efforts of the government to increase public investments in the health sector.

The share of Government Health Expenditure (GHE) in the overall GDP of the country has increased from 1.13 per cent in 2014-15 to 1.84 per cent in 2021-22.

In terms of share in the General Government Expenditure (GGE), it has increased from 3.94 per cent in 2014-15 to 6.12 per cent in 2021-22, the estimates showed.

“In per capita terms, GHE has tripled, from Rs. 1,108 to Rs. 3,169 between 2014-15 to 2021-22. The government spending on health between 2019-20 and 2020-21 increased by 16.6 per cent, while between 2020-21 and 2021-22, it grew by an unprecedented rate of 37 per cent,” the estimates showed.

The increase in Government spending on health has an important implication for the reduction of financial hardship endured by households.

In the Total Health Expenditure (THE) of the country between 2014-15 and 2021-22, the share of GHE has increased from 29 per cent to 48 per cent. During the same period, the share of Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in THE declined from 62.6 per cent to 39.4 per cent, the estimates showed.

Further, the Social Security Expenditure (SSE) on healthcare also increased during this period. This has a direct impact on reducing out-of-pocket payments, the health ministry said.

“The share of SSE on health, which includes Government-funded health insurance, medical reimbursement to Government employees, and social health insurance programs, in THE, has increased from 5.7 per cent in 2014-15 to 8.7 per cent in 2021-22,” as per the estimates.

The current NHA estimate is the eighth and ninth in the series of reports released annually by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Leading professional networking platform LinkedIn on Thursday announced it has added 10 new language options, including four Indian regional languages.

The new language options are Vietnamese, Greek, Persian, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, along with four Indian regional languages — Bengali, Marathi, Telugu and Punjabi.

The new additions bring LinkedIn's support to five Indian languages, including Hindi, it said in a statement.

“We're excited to announce that LinkedIn is now more inclusive and accessible than ever. We've expanded our language support to include 10 new languages, each representing a vibrant part of our global community,” said Chief Product Officer Tomer Cohen.

LinkedIn’s member base in India has surpassed 135 million, with engagement rates growing at 20 per cent year-over-year. India stands as LinkedIn's second-largest and fastest-growing market.

By adding these languages, LinkedIn aims to bridge language barriers on the platform, allowing more people to establish deeper professional identities and engage more meaningfully with their networks.

“With these additions, our platform now supports a total of 36 languages, helping professionals around the world connect, communicate, and collaborate more effectively,” said Cohen.

Last month, the Microsoft-owned platform appointed Kumaresh Pattabiraman as new Country Manager and Product Head in India.

According to Pattabiraman, LinkedIn has evolved from being just a jobs platform to becoming a dynamic global community where professionals connect for jobs, learning, networking, and knowledge sharing.

India is among the top five countries with the fastest-growing AI talent and has the highest AI skill penetration globally, and LinkedIn members are using AI skills three times more frequently than the global average.

LinkedIn recently launched a new video experience in India, in a bid to tap into one of the fastest-growing markets with uploads growing 60 per cent year-on-year in the country.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Rhea Singha has emerged as Miss Universe India 2024 and is set to represent the nation on the global stage of Miss Universe 2024. The grand finale held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, was a spectacle of excitement and anticipation.

Speaking to news agency post her win, a jubilant Rhea stated, "Today I won the title of Miss Universe India 2024. I am so thankful. I have done so much work to get to this level where I can consider myself worthy enough for this crown. I am so inspired by the previous winners."

Actress and former Miss Universe India 2015, Urvashi Rautela, who served as a judge, expressed her hope for India's continued success, stating, "I feel what all the girls are feeling. The winners are mind-blowing. They will represent our country very well in Miss Universe, and I am hopeful that India will win the Miss Universe crown again this year. All the girls have been hard-working, dedicated, and extremely beautiful."

With her new title, Rhea prepares to compete in the Miss Universe 2024 contest scheduled for later this year. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Dhruvi Patel, a Computer Information System student from the USA, has been declared the winner of Miss India Worldwide 2024. This is the longest-running Indian pageant outside of India.

Patel, who dreams of becoming a Bollywood actor and UNICEF Ambassador, expressed her honor and pride in representing her heritage and inspiring others globally. ''Winning Miss India Worldwide is such an incredible honour. It's more than a crown - it represents my heritage, my values, and the opportunity to inspire others on a global scale,'' Dhruvi said after her crowning in Edison, New Jersey.

The pageant also declared Lisa Abdoelhak from Suriname as the first runner-up and Malvika Sharma from the Netherlands as the second runner-up. In the Mrs category, SuAnn Mouttet from Trinidad and Tobago won the title, and Sierra Suret from Guadeloupe was crowned Miss Teen India Worldwide. The New York-based India Festival Committee, led by Indian-Americans Neelam and Dharmatma Saran, organized the event, which is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has announced that this year's National Cinema Day will be celebrated on September 20.

On this day, cinephiles across the country can enjoy films for just Rs 99 per admission at participating theatres. According to a press release by the national multiplex trade body, cinema halls such as PVR INOX, Cinepolis, Miraj, Movie Time, and Delite will participate, offering screenings on over 4,000 screens nationwide.

The event's film line-up includes both new releases and timeless classics, ensuring something for everyone. Titles include ''Yudhra'', ''Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam'', ''Navra Maza Navsacha – 2'', ''Sucha Soorma'', ''Never Let Go'', and ''Transformers One''. Films like ''Stree 2'', which has been a box office hit since its August 15 release, as well as older favorites like ''Tumbbad'' (2018) and ''Veer Zaara'' (2004), will also be screened.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The 2024 Booker Prize shortlist has been announced, with the largest number of women represented in its 55-year history. The list includes former Women’s Prize winner Anne Michaels, American writer Percival Everett and British author Samantha Harvey. Five of the six-strong shortlist are women, with authors from five countries represented, including the Netherlands for the first time.

Mr. Everett, a 2022 Booker finalist for “The Trees” is again nominated for “James,” which reimagines Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” from the point of view of its main Black character, the enslaved man Jim. Rachel Kushner, another former Booker finalist with her bestseller “The Mars Room,” is a contender again with spy story “Creation Lake”.

The other finalists vying for the 50,000 pounds award are Britain’s Samantha Harvey, for “Orbital”. Canada’s Anne Michaels for “Held”, Australia’s Charlotte Wood for “Stone Yard Devotional” and Yael van der Wouden the first Dutch author to be shortlisted for the Booker for her debut, “The Safekeep”.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Actor couple Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth got married in a low-key ceremony at a 400-year-old temple in Wanaparthy, Telangana, on Monday. The event was attended by close family members.

The couple, who announced their engagement in March, chose the temple due to its significance to Aditi's family. They shared their first photos as newlyweds on Instagram, expressing their love with the caption, 'You are my Sun, my Moon, and all my Stars.'

Aditi, 37, and Siddharth, 45, had both co-starred in the 2021 Telugu film 'Maha Samudram'. Their post also included a heartfelt message, 'To being Pixie Soulmates for eternity…to laughter, to never growing up… To Eternal Love, Light & Magic. Mrs & Mr Adu-Siddhu.'
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Love to binge on savoury snacks, ready meals, and sugar or artificially-sweetened beverages? Beware, every 10 per cent intake of these ultra-processed foods (UPF) may raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by 17 per cent, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health-Europe on Monday.

Importantly, the study showed that the risk can be lowered by consuming less-processed foods instead, said researchers from the University College London (UCL), University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London.

To investigate the relationship between the degree of food processing and diabetes risk the team included 311,892 individuals from eight European countries in the study. They were followed over 10.9 years on average, during which time 14,236 people developed diabetes.

In the top 25 per cent of UPF consumers, where UPF made up 23.5 per cent of their total diet, sweetened beverages alone accounted for nearly 40 per cent of their UPF intake and 9 per cent of their diet overall.

On the other hand, substituting 10 per cent of UPF in the diet with 10 per cent of minimally processed food such as eggs, milk, and fruit or processed culinary ingredients such as salt, butter, and oil reduced diabetes risk by 14 per cent.

Further, replacing 10 per cent of UPF in the diet with 10 per cent of processed foods (PF) like tinned fish, beer and cheese reduced diabetes risk by 18 per cent. PF also includes salted nuts, artisanal breads, and preserved fruits and vegetables.

The findings add to the growing body of research that links consumption of UPF with a higher risk of certain chronic diseases including obesity, cardiometabolic diseases, and some cancers, said the team.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Baby Reindeer, the hugely popular but highly contentious British TV hit, has taken the Emmy Awards by storm, winning four trophies at the ceremony in Los Angeles.

The show's creator and star, Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, won three of those - for acting in, writing and executive producing the show.

His co-star Jessica Gunning, who played stalker Martha, was named best supporting actress in a limited series.

"Oh my goodness me, blinking heckers," she said on accepting the award.

"Thank you so much. I honestly feel like I’m going to wake up any minute now and this whole thing has been a dream."

Gadd's account of being stalked by a woman for several years and being sexually abused by a male TV industry figure, has been the most talked about show of the year.

However, its claim to be "a true story" has made it controversial, and the real-life woman who allegedly inspired Gunning's character is currently suing Netflix for defamation, negligence and privacy violations.

In the comedy categories, The Bear won three acting awards including best comedy actor for Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmy, for the second year in a row.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie) and Liza Colon-Zayas (Tina) took the supporting awards, the latter appearing overwhelmed to have beaten legends like Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett.

In the drama categories, Australia's Elizabeth Debicki won her first Emmy, best drama actress for playing Princess Diana in the final season of Netflix's The Crown.

The other drama categories were dominated by Japanese historical epic Shogun.

The show had already broken the record for the most Emmy wins in a single year after picking up 14 prizes at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, mainly for achievements behind the scenes.

It added another four trophies at the main event, including best drama series - the first non-English language show to take that prestigious prize.

There were also lead drama acting awards for Japanese cast members Hiroyuki Sanada (Yoshii Toranaga) and Anna Sawai (Toda Mariko).

Elsewhere, Billy Crudup won best supporting drama actor for The Morning Show, while Jodie Foster won best actress in a limited series for True Detective: Night Country.

Successful British talent included TV host John Oliver, who won best scripted variety series, and Will Smith, who won best drama writing for Slow Horses.

The Traitors host Alan Cumming picked up the programme's trophy for best reality competition show, beating RuPaul's Drag Race, which had won that category in five of the past six years.

Cumming was also named best reality competition host at last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Diljit Dosanjh and Alia Bhatt are set to reunite in 'Jigra' after their previous success in 'Udta Punjab' eight years ago.

Bhatt took to Instagram to share the exciting news, posting an image of both actors seated with their backs to the camera. Speculations arise as Dosanjh's involvement in the film's music remains unclear.

Directed by Vasan Bala and featuring Vedang Raina, 'Jigra' is slated for an October 11 release. The film, produced by Karan Johar and others, chronicles Bhatt's character as she undertakes extraordinary measures to rescue her brother from prison.