Autaski.com

Digital Marketing

23Apr

What’s under the hood matters more than ever for SEO success by Edna Chavira

The platform behind your site plays a bigger role than you might think. From site speed and mobile responsiveness to content scalability and technical SEO, the foundation you choose can make or break your organic performance.

If your goal is seamless, secure, and engaging digital experiences that also support strong search visibility, it’s time to re-evaluate your CMS.

Join MarTech’s Future-Proof Your Content Strategy with the Right CMS, and discover exactly what marketers need to consider when evaluating content management systems.

You’ll learn:

Must-have CMS features for delivering top-notch digital experiences.
How to tackle security, compliance, and integration challenges effectively.
Practical ways to ensure your CMS scales with your long-term growth.

Get real-world insights from industry experts and leave with a clear roadmap for making smart CMS decisions. Save your seat here.

Gaming

23Apr

Everything Sucks, But Video Games Help Me Process It

Lately, the world feels pretty bleak.

I spend a lot of energy these days just telling myself that, in many ways, this is the best the collective human race has ever had it. I try my hardest to muster up some semblance of gratitude, for self-preservation if nothing else. People who are far wiser and more well-adjusted than myself will tell you that being buried in overwhelming dread is exactly what the powers that be want; that maintaining a sense of joy is vital during times like these. In my experience, they’re absolutely right. As such, I’ve tried my hardest to remain uncompromising when it comes to living a life still sprinkled with joy–after all, who would be inclined to live and fight for misery?

I try to spend as much time as possible around loved ones and touch plenty of grass, but admittedly, an element in my attempts to enjoy life and process all of this has been video games. This probably isn’t a surprising or novel claim. If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re a gamer and are very familiar with the healing power and delightful escapism associated with games. Recently, Reuters published a study regarding the positive impact that cozy games such as Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley can have on mental health. According to the study, there is essentially “no statistically significant difference between playing a video game and engaging in meditation.” I love this fact, mostly because it makes me feel a bit less guilty when my husband catches me playing Fields of Mistria at 11 o’clock at night.

But while I have found myself gravitating towards games like Fields of Mistria and Hello Kitty Island Adventure in my spare time–both of which are incredibly fun, free of oligarchs, and adorable–these sweet adventures offering a detour from reality aren’t always what I turn to. And though they’re certainly relaxing, they’re also not the games making the largest positive impact on my mental health, either.

What I long for more than anything these days are tales of resistance; stories in which scrappy underdogs take on forces far larger than themselves. They’re seldom fearless–no sensible person is, video game character or not–but that fear doesn’t hinder them from doing the ethical thing. To invoke a Mr. Rogers quote I’ve always found charming, I suppose that even when it comes to video games, I’m “looking for the helpers.”

This isn’t a new phenomenon for me. When conversations turn to what “radicalized” me, to use the beloved meme template, I can vaguely pinpoint the moment many of my core beliefs and values began to form–it was Final Fantasy VII during the moment when Barrett Wallace began shooting at the heap of metal and concrete Shinra buried his home, friends, and, presumably, his young daughter Marlene beneath. “What’s it all for?” he screams, his body heaving from both grief and the recoil of his bullets. Lately, I find myself asking the same question, over and over and over again. “What’s it all for?”

Barrett from Final Fantasy VII calls out Shinra.

Barrett’s cry is more than relatable, though–it’s cathartic. Through the entirety of Final Fantasy VII, he serves as a beacon of love, bravery, and self-sacrifice. Barrett would lay down his life if doing so would better the lives of perfect strangers; he would fight ceaselessly, and savor the struggle, if it meant his daughter would never have to. He’s the type of person I desperately want to believe exists, not just as a singular being, but as an inherent part of all of us. Barrett Wallace is a “helper.”

I suspect this is in part why Metaphor: ReFantazio resonated so deeply with me last year, too. Throughout its entirety, as it delves headlong into topics such as prejudice, poverty, cycles of violence, anxiety, and religion, Metaphor repeatedly emphasizes the importance of caring for those around you and striving to be a just and empathetic person–a “helper,” if you will. Its metanarrative then takes this one step further by boldly proclaiming that works like Metaphor–works that are earnest, honest, and above all else, hopeful–are far more than entertainment; they’re vast wells of inspiration that exist in part to create even more helpers.

Stories, whether constructed by one person or a whole studio of people, contain our hopes, fears, dreams, experiences, and beliefs. They are the closest we can come to making the intangible, tangible–to sharing our internal worlds with one another in hopes of establishing resonance. And though not all works are intended to inspire, all works can, and thus the act of creating is one that can be immensely powerful. In Metaphor, I found a game that believes all of this as strongly as I do. Long after finishing the game, its hopefulness and reassurance continues to cloak me. And part of the reason it does is because I firmly believe it must cloak other people, too.

Of course some of Atlus’ other titles, namely the Persona series, also encourage perseverance, kindness, and rising against oppression and cruelty. I’d be remiss not to mention how Persona 5 is a game all about taking on those who abuse power, even when that means standing up to dangerous people, the status quo, government institutions, and forces that make you feel small.

I also think about the time I spent playing the Mass Effect trilogy, and how Shepherd’s willingness to help divided communities reconcile, right past wrongs, and lay down their life repeatedly inspires resistance, bravery, and compassion. Sure, you don’t have to play Shepherd that way, and there are some aspects of all of this the game doesn’t quite get right, if we’re being honest. But at its core, Mass Effect offers a power fantasy in which a large part of said fantasy is you having the power to change the entire galaxy for the better. Getting to make out with number one video game boyfriend Garrus is just a nice perk–though I’d argue it does reinforce the importance of holding on to those you have and finding joy even in dire circumstances.

Garrus from Mass Effect holding his signature sniper rifle.

But while RPGs tend to fit the bill more–after all, I’d bet most of us could easily list dozens in which a band of unlikely heroes come together to take on an oppressive regime or stop a Big Bad–there are a few other genres I’ve gravitated to that ignite me in a similar way.

Frankly, you can’t talk about games centered around resistance and helping others without mentioning Dishonored and Wolfenstein. Throughout both of these action-adventure series, you play as characters who are part of small resistance groups hellbent on taking down an oppressive regime. Be it through stealth or overwhelming firepower, your mission ultimately boils down to fighting oppressors and helping to restore power to the citizenry they’ve abused. They also pose an interesting question: Which is truly more violent, the violence exerted through resistance, or the systemic, sanctioned violence that commands us to remain complicit?

The one and only “strand game,” Death Stranding, is also well worth mentioning here, as the entire game revolves around helping others and establishing connections. In a world flooded with fear and in which people are largely isolated from one another, Sam Porter Bridges serves as a bridge himself, helping people regain a sense of humanity and companionship. Sam’s–and the player’s–alturistic nature is further highlighted by another one of the game’s key features, the Social Strand System. Although you will never meet all your fellow Death Stranding players, you are able (and encouraged!) to construct things that will improve not only your in-game world, but others as well. Naturally, this means you will reap the benefits of others’ constructions, too, making this a game that highlights the importance of mutual aid.

In metroidvanias, the general conceit tends to be that once-powerful characters are rendered “weak,” they still choose to embark on dangerous and surreal journeys, some of which help protect those around them. Gaining their powers back, and progression in general, does not come easily; there is a lot of trial involved and, oftentimes, the way forward requires going back, growing stronger, smarter, or better-equipped, and trying again later. In this way, these games emulate life.

And though it might sound a bit obtuse, soulslikes in particular have grown particularly comforting to me over the years. Most of the time, the stories and worlds they contain don’t feel happy, safe, or gentle. But honestly, I prefer that they aren’t. You can’t overcome something if there’s nothing to overcome; you can’t feel assured in your strength or perseverance if they’ve never been tested; you can’t appreciate light and beauty without fumbling through the dark and dire; and you can’t appreciate being alive without acknowledging the finality of death.

The Slayer of Demons trudges up a hill in Demon Souls.

Though sometimes dismissed as brutal or grimdark, I’ve found inspiration and catharsis in games like Demon Souls, Elden Ring, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Behind each grotesque creation, cutthroat swordmaster, hellish landscape, and violent end lies temporary refuge, spectacular sights, and the satisfaction of knowing you earned the right to these things. Sure, there will always be something lying just ahead, but just like in real life, these moments of peace are ones I cherish and savor. They offer a reminder that, despite everything, you are here now, trying your hardest to live and do good even when up against the dark and unfathomable. What an incredible feat that is.

I suppose all this is to say, as much as the world needs games that make us feel secure and cozy, I believe we need games that encourage and empower us, too; games that remind us that life is hard and dark but that we have the power to live, hope, and help. And though some might shy away from the idea of games being political–and the ones I’ve mentioned above are maybe not as overt as the likes of Disco Elysium, Papers, Please, Fallout: New Vegas, or countless other titles that explore capitalism and morality, or critique apathy and centrism–to me it’s undeniable that all of these works of art are constructed out of experiences and core beliefs, which are perhaps the two biggest factors that guide our political ideologies. I find it beautiful to think that these creators believe in, and long to foster, goodness and progression.

And I get that not everyone wants to dig this deep. I get that not everyone will take away the same message or walk away transfixed and transformed. But I also have to believe that these stories do hold that power and there are plenty out there that, like me, are comforted, rejuvenated, and inspired by them. Lately, the world feels pretty bleak. But history, people, stories, and art remind me that nothing is insurmountable, and that a better world–and perhaps a cozy, lit bonfire–lie just ahead.

Health Fitness

23Apr

New technique expands tissues so hundreds of biomolecules can be seen inside cells

For biologists, seeing is believing. But sometimes biologists have a hard time seeing.

One particularly vexing challenge is seeing all the molecules in an intact tissue sample, down to the level of single cells, simultaneously. Detecting the location of hundreds or thousands of biomolecules — from lipids to metabolites to proteins — in their native environment allows researchers to better understand their functions and interactions. Unfortunately, scientists don’t have great tools to accomplish this task.

Imaging methods, including most types of microscopy, provide a view of molecules inside cells. But they can track only a select handful of molecules at one time, and they can’t detect all types of biomolecules, including some lipids. Other methods, like regular mass spectrometry, can detect hundreds of molecules but don’t work on intact samples, so researchers can’t see how the biomolecules are oriented.

One promising technique — mass spectrometry imaging — overcomes some of these challenges. It allows researchers to see hundreds of molecules at one time in intact tissues. However, it doesn’t have high enough resolution to allow detection at the single cell level.

This was the problem Janelia Senior Group Leader Meng Wang faced. Wang and her team study the fundamental mechanisms behind aging and longevity, and they wanted to detect many different biomolecules in intact tissues to understand how the components change as tissues age.

“Knowing at each specific location what molecules are there and what is in the neighboring cells is very important for any kind of biological question,” Wang says.

Luckily, Wang’s lab is down the hall from Janelia Principal Scientist Paul Tillberg. Tillberg co-invented a technique called expansion microscopy as a graduate student at MIT. The method uses a swellable hydrogel material to expand samples uniformly in all directions to a point where fine details, like sub-organelle structure, can be detected with a conventional microscope.

Now a decade old, the expansion process is being applied to other methods outside traditional microscopy. Wang, Tillberg, and their collaborators at Janelia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison wanted to see if they could use expansion to overcome mass spectrometry imaging’s spatial resolution problem.

The result is a new method that expands tissue samples gradually without having to degrade them at the molecular level, as happens in the original expansion process. By expanding the intact samples in all directions, researchers can use mass spectrometry imaging to simultaneously detect hundreds of molecules at the single cell level in their native locations.

“This lets you have an untargeted look in the molecular space, and we are trying to bring it closer to what microscopy can do in terms of spatial resolution,” Tillberg says.

The team used the new technique to delineate the specific spatial patterns of small molecules in different layers of the cerebellum. They found that these molecules — including lipids, peptides, proteins, metabolites, and glycans — are not uniformly distributed, as previously thought. Moreover, they found that each specific layer of the cerebellum has its own signature of lipids, metabolites, and proteins.

The team was also able to detect biomolecules in kidney, pancreas, and tumor tissues, demonstrating that the method can be adapted for many different tissue types. In tumor tissues, they were able to visualize large variations in biomolecules, which could be useful for understanding the molecular mechanisms of tumors and potentially aid in drug development.

“When you can see these biomolecules, then you can start to understand why they have such patterns and how that is related to function,” says Wang. She believes the new technology will allow researchers to track these patterns during development, aging, and disease to understand how different molecules contribute to these processes.

Because the new method doesn’t require adding hardware to an existing mass spec imaging system, and the expansion technique is relatively easy to learn, the team hopes it will be used by many labs around the world. They also hope the new technique will make mass spec imaging a more useful tool for biologists and have laid out a detailed description of the new method and a roadmap for adapting it to other tissue types.

“We wanted to develop something that did not require specialized instruments or procedures, but can be broadly adopted,” Wang says.

Legal Law

23Apr

Lawctopus’ Crash Course on UGC-NET June 2025

Preparing for the UGC NET Exam? Our 40 Days Crash Course is designed to help you pass with confidence. With expert tips, focused materials, and practice tests, we’ll support you every step of the way.

About UGC NET Exam

The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in India. It is held to determine the eligibility of candidates for the role of Assistant Professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges.

UGC NET is conducted twice a year, usually in June and December.

Clearing UGC NET opens doors to teaching at the college/university level, research opportunities, and in the case of JRF, financial support for PhD-level research. It’s an essential milestone for anyone aspiring to enter academia or research in India.

With the right preparation and strategy, you can approach the exam with confidence and clear it on your first attempt. We’re here to help you get ready and make this process as smooth as possible.

About Lawctopus’ Crash Course on UGC NET

Lawctopus is introducing a Crash Course for UGC NET– your all-in-one guide to exam success! This 40 days program is carefully designed to cover everything you need, so you can step into the exam room with confidence.

First, we offer comprehensive reading modules that break down even the most complex topics into simple, digestible lessons. No more feeling overwhelmed by the syllabus!

You’ll also get 10 full-length mock tests to assess your readiness, helping you identify strengths and areas that need more focus. These mock tests mimic the real exam, giving you the experience you need to perform under pressure.

And that’s not all! Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from 20 live sessions led by experts. These sessions aren’t just lectures – they’re interactive, filled with proven strategies, time-management techniques, and tips for tackling tricky questions.

With our expert guidance, you’ll approach the exam with clarity, confidence, and a solid plan.

So, why wait? Join us and make your exam journey smooth, structured, and stress-free!

About Lawctopus Law School

Lawctopus Law School has taught a wide range of practical skills to over 17000+ law students, young lawyers, professionals, academicians, and business people. Over 1000 students have rated our courses and the average rating is 93.2/100. Our online courses are ‘warm’ learning experiences!

At LLS, our courses are developed by subject matter experts (practitioners and academicians) and these courses are a mix of

Rigorously researched reading modules prepared by people who have “been there, done that“
Recorded lectures by Industry Experts
The reading modules and recorded lectures condense decades of practical learning into a few pages/minutes
Recorded sessions which build about the reading modules and recorded lectures and clear your doubts
Assignments that mirror real-life legal work
Personal feedback on your assignments. At Lawctopus Law School, you learn by doing!
Special Modules, add-on career webinars
The now famous ‘warmth and care’ of LLS

Structure of the UGC Crash Course

We conducted a batch with live sessions for this course from May 1 to June 10.

The detailed live sessions schedule can be checked here.

There are 90-120 minutes long Live Sessions which further builds upon the modules and answers all your doubts.

awctopus Law School’s UGC courses are meticulously crafted to cater to the specific requirements of law students and professionals. The courses available in the bundle are as follows:

UGC-NET: General Paper on Teaching & Research Aptitude [Paper 1]

This self-paced course on the UGC NET Paper Examination is specifically designed to help you prepare for Paper 1 of the UGC NET Exam. We cover all the topics which are part of the syllabus for Paper 1 of the UGC NET Examination Course.

How will this course on UGC NET (Paper 1) help you?

Prepare for the Examination in a holistic manner and cover all the subjects comprehensively.
Get guidance from 4 UGC NET Qualified professionals through 20 recorded sessions and more than 100 recorded lectures.
Evaluate your performance through 10 subject-based practice tests having at least 100 questions each and 4 Mock Tests on Paper 1.
Know the ‘Studying Strategy ‘and types of questions asked for each subject through our recorded lectures.

UGC-NET (Law) [Paper 2]

This self-paced course is designed to assist candidates in preparing for the UGC-NET (Law) examination, a prestigious qualification that enables individuals to pursue teaching and research opportunities in the field of law. The course covers all relevant topics and provides comprehensive study materials, recorded lectures, and practice tests.

Key Elements

Over 10 detailed, comprehensive, and to-the-point Reading Resources for all the subjects.
Over 20 Recorded Lectures by subject matters on all the subjects which are part of the Syllabus of Paper 2 of the Examination. The recorded lectures cover: Types of Questions asked; Studying Strategy; Doubts and Queries on the basis of Readings, Recorded Lectures, and Mock-Tests.
Over 10 Quick Reference Documents (1 or 2 pages long) for Case Laws on each subject; legal terms, definitions, and important sections or theories.
Over 10 Subject-based Practice Tests (Min. 100 questions each; overall 1000+ questions) to help you evaluate your understanding and predict your performance in the Examination.
8 Complete Mock Tests on Paper 2 (100 questions each; 2 marks and 2 hours duration) conducted online through Computer in the same format as the actual Examination.
Course Access – All the learners will have access to the course materials for 1 year from the date of registration.

UGC NET (Law) Mock Test Series

The UGC NET (Law) Mock Test Series is designed to simulate the UGC-NET (Law) examination environment and assess your preparedness. It includes a series of practice tests that mirror the actual exam pattern, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the format, time constraints, and types of questions encountered in the UGC-NET (Law) examination.

The competitive advantage of LLS UGC-NET (Law) Mock Tests includes:

Prepared by 5 UGC-NET qualifiers after a thorough analysis of past years’ papers and patterns.
Each question has been drafted and reviewed by UGC-NET qualifiers.
3 additional layers of reviews were conducted by experts to give you the best quality and experience.
This set of 10 mocks covers all types of questions/concepts, including the ones that are in the syllabus but are not asked very often this ensures that nothing surprises you!
10 Complete Mock Tests having both Paper 1 & Paper 2.
Detailed explanations that enhance your knowledge.
Clear all your doubts through a Discussion Forum.
Evaluate your performance (as compared to other mock takers) through a Leaderboard.
Use the timer feature and get the real mock experience.
Identify your areas/subjects of strength/weakness through a detailed analysis report.
Get up to 5 re-attempts for each Mock Test.

Who is this Course for?

Postgraduate Students of Law
Academicians

Course Duration

May 1, 2025 – June 10, 2025

Course Details

Course Fee: INR 9,900 inclusive of GST.
Course Access: All the learners will have access to the course materials for 1 year from the registration date. All the recorded videos, study materials, and mock tests will be available for 1 year.

Course Developers

Pooja Chandran Nambiar is a Senior Project Manager at the Foundation for Ecological Security. As a law and policy researcher, she focuses on the issues of environmental justice and political ecology, with 3+ years of experience in legal research and writing.

She holds an LLM in Environment and Natural Resources Law from TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, and has qualified the UGC-NET Examination in 2020 in her first attempt.

Pooja was the Chairholder of the KTS Tulsi Chair of Excellence on Constitutional Law, and was associated with the Lawctopus Law School as a Subject Matter Expert in 2021.

Mariyam Khan completed her Bachelors in Law from Aligarh Muslim University, Malappuram Centre and her post-graduation (LL.M.) from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi specialising in Criminal Laws.

She has been a rank holder both at UG and PG levels. She qualified UGC-NET in December 2019 and is passionate about teaching.

Jatin Garg has completed Bachelors in Law from RGNUL, Punjab and has done his post-graduation (LLM) in Trade and Investment Laws from NLU Jodhpur.

He has qualified for UGC NET (Law) in 2017 and has worked with IIM Ranchi as Legal Manager, Indian School of Public Policy as an Executive Manager, and has taught Corporate Laws at IIM Ranchi and Amity Law School, Delhi.

Vershika Sharma graduated from NLU Jodhpur and completed her LLM from HPNLU, Shimla, where she secured a Gold Medal. She has been a topper throughout her academic career. Immensely invested in and passionate about education, Vershika has been an academic mentor at IDIA, Rajasthan.

Vershika has taught over 300 students the intricacies of legal research and writing. To enhance her online teaching skills, Vershika also completed an intensive online course on ‘The Art of Facilitation‘ from Colab.x.

Mansi Mankotia graduated with a B.A.LL.B (Hons.) from H.P. University in 2020 and pursued an LLM specializing in criminal law from NLU Shimla. Currently, Mansi is dedicated to advancing her expertise through a Ph.D. in Law.

With professional experience as an in-house counsel, she currently serves as a Learning Manager at Lawctopus Law School, contributing to the development and delivery of practical law courses.

Anushka Ukrani graduated from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi and has completed her LLM from National Law University, Shimla, where she secured the Vice Chancellor’s Medal for Overall Topper in the master’s programme.

Thereafter she was able to clear UGC-NET in her first attempt and since then has been working as an Assistant Professor at DME Law School (Affiliated to GGSIPU). Currently, she is also pursuing Ph.D. from Dharmashashtra National Law University, Jabalpur.

Need help to decide? Feel free to reach out to us on these channels.

Phone calls/WhatsApp Number: 935 968 4056 (Aaditya Kashyap, Counsellor, Lawctopus Law School)
Email: [email protected]

Lifestyle Fashion

23Apr

Dermatologist shares skin, hair care guide for teenagers: From morning to night routine, here’s all you need to know | Health

When it comes to finding the right skincare for teenagers, for many parents, choosing the gentle products and whether they should use the ones used by adults on their child’s sensitive skin is a big concern. Moreover, today’s teens are bombarded with overwhelming advice and product choices on social media. Much of it is unreliable.

A dermatologist shares a guide to skin and hair care for teens. (Shutterstock)

In an Instagram post shared on April 11, Dr (Major) Gurveen Waraich Garekar, a certified dermatologist, cosmetologist, and trichologist – MBBS, MD, talked about the correct skin and hair care routine that teens should follow. Here’s everything she suggested as a dermatologist mom of a teen.

Also Read | Study says brisk walking reduces risk of irregular heartbeat

Morning skincare

1. Face wash: Use a gentle cleanser based on your skin type.

2. Moisturiser: Use a light gel-based moisturiser.

3. Sunscreen: Teenagers can use adult sunscreen or combo products like moisturiser with SPF(sun protection factor).

Night skincare

1. Face wash: For dry skin, use a gentle cleanser, and for oily skin, go for a salicylic acid-based product.

2. Moisturiser: For oily skin, use a light gel-based moisturiser (same as morning), while for dry skin, use a cream-based moisturiser.

3. Targeted treatment: Dr Garekar advised teenagers to go for targeted treatments as advised by a dermatologist for acne or pigmentation.

Scalp care

1. Shampoo frequency: Minimum 3 times a week.

2. Which shampoo to use: If you have an oily scalp, don’t use sulfate-free shampoos. If you have dandruff, use an antifungal shampoo at least once a week. Lastly, for a dry and sensitive scalp, use a sulfate-free shampoo.

3. Oiling: Dr Garekar suggested no oiling for oily or dandruff-prone scalp, and for dry scalp, apply oil once or twice a week, before shampoo.

Lifestyle

1. Avoid sugary drinks, including cold coffee.

2. Eat a protein-rich diet: Dr Garekar suggested eating eggs, which have ‘all the essential amino acids’.

3. Be physically active: The dermatologist suggested playing at least one sport.

4. Regular sleep cycle: Complete at least 8-9 hours of sleep.

Dr Garekar also penned some parental advice in her post, which included:

1. Home should be their sanctuary: “Your teen might already be facing teasing or bullying at school. Home should be their sanctuary, not another source of judgment,” Dr Garekar wrote.

2. She advised parents to avoid comments on skin, weight or appearance. “Even well-meaning remarks can reinforce insecurities,” she said.

3. Listen actively and validate their feelings: Dismissing concerns with “it’s normal at your age” can make them feel unheard.

4. Celebrate all skin tones equally: Avoid favouritism based on complexion; every shade is beautiful and deserves affirmation, Dr Garekar said.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

Medicine

23Apr

Roche, answering tariff threat, pledges $50B to US drug production

Dive Brief:

Roche is the latest drugmaking planning to expand drug production in the U.S., announcing Tuesday a pledge to spend $50 billion over five years on new and existing manufacturing facilities in several states.
The investment promise comes at a time when the Trump administration’s tariff policies have thrown global trade into disarray and pressured drugmakers. Roche, in response, said it intends to build new factories for obesity medications, gene therapies, continuous glucose monitoring devices, as well as a new research and development center. Roche will expand several existing plants as well.
According to Roche, the investments will enable the company to export more drugs from the U.S. than it imports, something it already does with diagnostics. They will also create 12,000 new jobs, the company said.

Dive Insight:

Roche is the fifth big drugmaker this year to promise to significantly boost its U.S. manufacturing capacity, following Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Merck & Co. and Novartis. All told, the five have committed more than $160 billion to U.S. drug production in the coming years.

Roche’s outlay will create a series of new plants, such as a gene therapy facility in Pennsylvania and an AI-focused R&D hub in Massachusetts. It would also fund expansions and upgrades for existing facilities that make medicines and diagnostics. Those plants are located in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Arizona and California.

“Today’s announced investments underscore our long-standing commitment to research, development and manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker, in a statement. “We are proud of our 110 year legacy in the United States which has been a key driver for jobs, innovation and the creation of intellectual property in the US, across both our pharmaceutical and diagnostics divisions.”

Pharmaceutical companies are facing the possibility of new tariffs from the Trump administration that could be implemented in the coming weeks. Senior administration officials believe they can use the levies to push drugmakers to “reshore” manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and their key ingredients.

Roche and its peers are trying to get ahead of these threats by announcing new U.S. investments. However,it could be several years before many of these new facilities are completed and have a measurable impact on drug imports.

In 2024, Roche sold a biologics plant in Vacaville, California, to Swiss contract manufacturer Lonza for $1.2 billion. Overall, the company recorded 827 million Swiss francs, or $940 million, of costs related to plant closures in 2024. Comparatively, Roche spent 1.7 billion Swiss francs on property, plants and equipment for its pharmaceutical division and 1.8 billion Swiss francs on such costs for its diagnostics business.

Real Estate

23Apr

Understanding the growing trends of real estate in the age of blockchain and crypto

Cryptocurrency has evolved from being a niche digital asset to being a mainstream financial tool, easily applied to the real world. One of the industries that has been experiencing a real revolution because of crypto has been the real estate industry. Investors are now leveraging blockchain technology, crypto payments, smart contracts and DeFi to gain greater access to global real estate markets.

Take Australia, for instance. Research has shown that at least one out of three Aussies is interested in crypto. Only recently, a couple in Ballarat, instead of working to convert btc to aud, decided that they were only accepting Bitcoin payments for the sale of their land. They did this in a bid to reduce the middleman costs, and reducing the time lost to real estate agents and bank operations.

In a recent survey, Janine Grainger, the CEO of a popular crypto exchange in Australia, said that crypto is gaining cross-generational appeal as the dream of home ownership becomes increasingly unattainable. This is true, especially for the younger generation. However, the integration of crypto into real estate is making things easier.

For example, tokenisation allows people to own fractions of real estate in the form of digital tokens.

More of this will be explained below.

Crypto-backed mortgages

Today, companies are bringing in the concept of using digital assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum as collateral to secure loans for purchasing real estate. Companies like Milo and Figure are leading the charge in this emerging trend offering 30-year loan terms. By the first quarter of 2025, Milo had given out crypto-backed mortgages of over US$250 million. In fact, Milo gives up to 100% financing on home purchases with loans up to US$5 million.

By using digital assets as collateral, clients are given the opportunity to invest in real estate while at the same time taking advantage of crypto appreciation. Another advantage of these mortgages is that since you don’t have to sell your crypto, you do not have to pay the taxes that are associated with the sale of an asset.

Tokenisation of real estate

Tokenisation has been around for as long as blockchain technology has been around with estimations by McKinsey showing that the value of tokenised assets might reach US$ 5 trillion by 2030. According to a report by Boston Consulting Group, the market for real estate tokenisation was valued at US$2.7 billion in 2022. The same report recorded that with its current growth trajectory, the market could reach US$16 million by 2030.

Tokenisation happens by dividing real estate into fractions and automating the process using smart contracts. The property owner decides how much the property can be divided and how big the portions can be. Afterwards, the property is up for purchase, bit by bit, by either one investor or many investors. For example, if you have property worth $200,000, you could portion it into 200 tokens worth $1000 a piece. This makes selling of property almost similar to crowdsourcing, where you don’t have to wait for one prominent investor. Rather, 200 or fewer small investors can do the trick.

In an interview, the co-founder of Sabai Ecoverse, Vadym Bukhkalov, said that digitalising real estate reduces market barriers, increases transparency, streamlines processes and augments liquidity in the real estate sector. Sabai Ecoverse is a company that aims to democratise real estate investments for a wider audience who might have little access to large sums of money that are real estate worthy.

Smart contracts for transactions

Smart contracts have been playing a crucial role in real estate transactions by acting as a marketplace that warrants the correct execution of agreements. With smart contracts, you don’t need a third party, as the smart contract automatically conducts the deal. For example, if Jane wants to sell her property, she creates a bid for it using a smart contract. The smart contract then finds an appropriate match and links the buyer to the seller. It also digitises the property and transfers the ownership of the property in exchange for the asset value of the property. Now, once the smart contract is begun, it cannot be altered until the transaction is well recorded on the blockchain.

The advantages of smart contracts are unmatched. For example, since there are no intermediaries involved, the cost of transactions is lower than traditional ones. For traditional transactions, you have to involve lawyers, brokers, banks and other individuals. All these increase the value of the closing deal. Smart contracts reduce this lengthy process of buying and selling property by replacing it with rules defined by code. For example, in 2021, a penthouse in Miami was sold entirely in crypto in a deal that took less than 10 days. In real estate terms, for such a huge deal, this is technically an instant transaction. Normally, real estate deals take somewhere between a few weeks and even years.

Another advantage of smart contracts is transparency and security. Since real estate involves significant values of sensitive information and financial assets, a small mistake could lead to fraud or cyberattacks. For example, Group-IM’s analysis reported that at least 54% of real estate professionals in the US reported at least one attempt at seller impersonation fraud in a period of 6 months. 77% of them had noted an increase in the cases. However, with smart contracts, you can leverage blockchain’s cryptographic technology to ensure security and transactional integrity.

As we wrap this up, you can clearly tell that the use of crypto and blockchain technology is really having a major impact on the real estate community. The presence of crypto-backed mortgages, smart contracts and tokenisation of real estate is proof enough that there is more in crypto than meets the eye. In the coming years, we are ready to see how far the crypto world can impact real estate.

About Guest Expert
Apart from our regular team of experts, we frequently publish commentary from guest contributors who are authorities in their field.

Technology

23Apr

Here’s What Finally Fixed It

Wi-Fi drops, especially in the middle of something important, are incredibly frustrating. My Wi-Fi was dropping almost hourly—here’s what I did to finally fix it.

7

Scheduled Restarts

Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf / Leonardo.AI

Simply rebooting your router can fix tons of connection issues. Rebooting resets your router’s memory, clears out any temporary glitches, and reloads its firmware and settings. It also releases any unresponsive connections and expired IP addresses that your router’s DHCP server might be tracking.

You don’t have to set a reminder to do this manually, either. Most routers have a scheduled restart setting that automatically restarts the router at a time you specify. I recommend setting your router to reboot late at night when you won’t be using the internet. This way, any temporary downtime for your smart home devices won’t affect you.

6

Adjusting Wi-FI Channel and Frequency

Multiple access points listed on the WiFi Analyzer app — Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf

Your Wi-Fi network can get pretty crowded with phones, laptops, consoles, TVs, and other smart home devices using it to access the internet. In such cases, your Wi-Fi channel can get crowded, and if it becomes too much for the router to handle, you’ll start experiencing Wi-Fi drops.

This is called network congestion and can cause laggy internet with high jitter, packet loss, and latency. I recommend analyzing your Wi-Fi network first to determine if you’re connected to a congested channel, and then update your Wi-Fi and device settings accordingly.

mesh wifi system covering smart home concept

Network Congestion Is Slowing Down Your Wi-Fi, but There Are 2 Easy Fixes

These two small changes can make a surprising amount of difference to your Wi-Fi speeds.

As a general rule of thumb, you want to connect priority devices like your phone, PC, console, TV, or anything else that requires stable and high-speed internet to the 5GHz channel. Everything else, including your smart home devices, will do fine with the 2.4GHz channel.

If you don’t have a 5 or 6GHz channel on your router, it’s high time for an upgrade. However, you can set up QoS on your router to prioritize traffic and mitigate the issue to some extent.

5

Get the Router Placement Right

Kamil Urban/Shutterstock

Your Wi-Fi connection’s stability largely depends on the signal strength you’re getting from the router. If your router is tucked away in a cupboard or corner of your house, you need to place it correctly. It’s the easiest way to fix your Wi-Fi without buying new gear.

Ideally, you want to place your router as centrally and as high as possible to ensure you cover the entire apartment. For bigger houses, one router might not be enough to provide Wi-Fi to each room or floor.

In such cases, you can use a Wi-Fi repeater or mesh network to extend your Wi-Fi’s range. We’ve tried both, and mesh Wi-Fi came out on top. However, using a repeater is the more budget-friendly option, as you won’t have to buy multiple Wi-Fi devices.

You can also fix Wi-Fi dead spots with an old router if you have a spare lying around. Your surroundings significantly affect the Wi-Fi signal. Materials like concrete, metal, and glass can block or reflect off signals in unwanted directions, causing random Wi-Fi dropouts or reducing your Wi-Fi’s working range. Also, make sure you’re sitting away from anything that can interfere with your router’s Wi-Fi range. Sitting right next to a working microwave won’t do wonders for your Wi-Fi signals!

4

Be Wary of Your Device’s Reception Range

Just because you get good Wi-Fi strength in every corner of your house doesn’t mean all your devices will, either. Older devices have weaker antennas that need to reduce the Wi-Fi range. For example, if your phone’s Wi-Fi signal strength is 50% in a specific spot, a weaker Wi-Fi card in a laptop or older phone might not register the signal at all.

Apart from swapping out the Wi-Fi card, if possible, there’s not much you can do here. Simply moving closer to the router is the best option here. If you like working at a desk and your system isn’t in range, running an Ethernet cable might be the best option.

ethernet cable connector with fibre optic cables on laptop keyboard

Why I Always Use an Ethernet Connection Wherever I Can

Wi-Fi is super useful, but Ethernet’s positives make it even better.

Another way to tackle this issue is to move the router closer—a mammoth task, considering it will affect Wi-Fi signals to every other device on the network. Using a repeater or mesh network is a much better option in this case.

3

Check Your Device Network Settings

Incorrect network settings on your device can cause Wi-Fi drops, even if your router is perfectly fine. I’d recommend resetting your network settings and clearing your cache as a first step. It’s an easy-to-follow process on most devices and can fix all kinds of problems with your Wi-Fi and even your cellular network. For example, you can clear your DNS cache on most browsers or flush the DNS cache on Windows 11. However, the same tips apply to every operating system; you may need to do an internet search to find the right steps.

device manager network adapter options windows 10

If you’re using a laptop, check your power settings to ensure your Wi-Fi card receives the necessary power for broadcasting and receiving. Windows has a knack for putting Wi-Fi cards in low-power mode, a problem you can fix in the Device Manager.

Input device manager in the Start menu search bar and select the Best Match.
Scroll down to Network Adapters. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter name and select Properties.
Now, open the Power Management tab and make sure Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is unchecked.

Now, it’s also worth checking your Windows power settings, too. Windows power saving plans have been known to cause the same problem.

Input power options in the Start menu search bar and select the Best Match.
Select Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
Locate Wireless Adapter Settings > Power Saving Mode, and toggle this to Maximum Performance.

While you’re at it, it’s also worth checking and optimizing your router’s settings. Most of the time, the default settings on your router will be fine, but you can extract more speed, stability, and range from it if you adjust the settings correctly (it can also make your Wi-Fi more secure!).

2

Pay for More Bandwidth

Another reason your Wi-Fi may be constantly dropping is a lack of bandwidth. If you’ve got way too many devices hooked up to the Wi-Fi and too little bandwidth, your internet connection will grind to a halt. Run a Wi-Fi speed check and consider if you need an upgrade. A 300 to 500 Mbps connection will usually suffice for a family.

One symptom to look out for is consistently slow internet speeds. Even if your Wi-Fi is working fine, if your internet speeds are slowing to a crawl, you either need to kick some devices off the network or get more bandwidth.

1

Your Router Might Be Due for an Upgrade

An old N300 series router — Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf

If you’ve gone through this list and your Wi-Fi is still dropping, you likely need to upgrade your router. Connection drops and reduced speeds are among the first signs that you need to upgrade your router.

Older routers only support the 2.4GHz band, which results in low speeds and makes them susceptible to interference from other electronic devices. Upgrading to a dual or tri-band Wi-Fi router with multiple 5 or 6GHz bands will help with both network stability and speed. Additionally, newer routers also have better software features that’ll help keep your network secure and stable.

Tours Travel

23Apr

A green long march: Young voices shaping China's ecological future

On April 20, more than 30 eco-themed tents lined the banks of Beijing’s Wenyu River Park at daybreak, forming a vibrant “green bazaar.” Organized by over 30 student associations and environmental groups, the event marked the launch of the “Beautiful China – Youth Action” Green Bridge and Green Long March activities.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-22/A-green-long-march-Young-voices-shaping-China-s-ecological-future-1CMzFRZUaI0/img/eed58fb4ae2e4e90b19c3f69b73972fc/eed58fb4ae2e4e90b19c3f69b73972fc.jpeg' alt='"Green bazaar" organized by student associations and environmental groups in Beijing, China, April 20, 2025. /Beijing Forestry University'

Through interactive workshops, eco-conscious handicrafts and sustainability-themed quizzes, more than 5,000 local residents and visitors engaged in hands-on activities promoting environmentally friendly practices.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-22/A-green-long-march-Young-voices-shaping-China-s-ecological-future-1CMzFRZUaI0/img/f081073bb23b49268da3ab3c78412f48/f081073bb23b49268da3ab3c78412f48.jpeg' alt='"Green bazaar" organized by student associations and environmental groups in Beijing, China, April 20, 2025. /Beijing Forestry University'

A 40-year legacy of green action: From ‘green consultation’ to the ‘green long march’

The scene evokes memories of 1984, when students from Beijing Forestry University (BFU) pioneered China’s first campus-led “Green Consultation” on the streets of Beijing, planting the seeds of youth environmental engagement. Over the decades, their efforts have evolved into the Green Bridge and Green Long March Activities – now recognized as flagship programs for China’s eco-conscious youth.

From tracing ecological shifts along the Yellow River to combating desertification on the ancient Silk Road, student expeditions have reached every corner of China, aligning each year’s theme with the nation’s ecological priorities.

This year, BFU launched the 2025 Green Bridge and Green Long March initiative. The Green Long March – a nationwide ecological research campaign led by university students – will mobilize nearly 10,000 participants from over 1,000 groups to conduct field studies across seven core ecosystems: mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, lakes and deserts.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-22/A-green-long-march-Young-voices-shaping-China-s-ecological-future-1CMzFRZUaI0/img/292ec0a508a94b70a458ebc6e7f98039/292ec0a508a94b70a458ebc6e7f98039.jpeg' alt='The A4210 Green Long March student group. /Beijing Forestry University'

Going beyond ecological research, the activities weave together technological innovation, environmental education, cultural promotion and rural revitalization. This year’s program includes the second National Youth Green Innovation Competition, aimed at sparking sustainable thinking among young participants. Curated eco-courses and hands-on projects are designed to instill lasting environmental awareness.

Creative expressions also take center stage – from poetic dance performances to youth-led lectures – while practical “Green Consultation” initiatives channel expertise into rural development projects.

“Through grassroots research, we not only support local conservation but also improve our expertise,” said Wang Yan, a junior from the School of Landscape Architecture at BFU. “These initiatives channel youth passion into collective action, inspiring broader public engagement in sustainability.”

Guardians of the wild: Student expedition rediscovers ‘extinct’ beetle

As part of BFU’s “A4210 Green Long March” program, Wang and his teammates traveled to Laojun Mountain in southwest China’s Sichuan Province in 2024. They spent two weeks conducting bamboo pest control research, biodiversity surveys and conservation outreach in the 1,600-meter-high nature reserve.

Despite unstable power supplies and treacherous mountain trails – where members endured falls and exhaustion – the team pressed on. Their repeated treks into the dense forest revealed tracks of black bears, wild boars and the nationally protected red-bellied pheasant.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-22/A-green-long-march-Young-voices-shaping-China-s-ecological-future-1CMzFRZUaI0/img/a5097f5d4f7e4a79ad8a7f66c0be8af7/a5097f5d4f7e4a79ad8a7f66c0be8af7.jpeg' alt='Nocturnal light-trapping experiments. /Beijing Forestry University'

While conducting nocturnal light-trapping experiments, the group discovered the iridescent Cheirotonus jansoni, a beetle species under China’s second-class state protection. Experts later confirmed it was the first recorded sighting in the area since the species was presumed extinct there more than 40 years ago.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-22/A-green-long-march-Young-voices-shaping-China-s-ecological-future-1CMzFRZUaI0/img/3f68b4fc863a4c6a909a2066f48285c2/3f68b4fc863a4c6a909a2066f48285c2.png' alt='A Cheirotonus jansoni. /Beijing Forestry University'

This discovery not only underscores the rich biodiversity of the reserve and the progress of China’s ecological conservation efforts, but also showcases how Chinese youth are becoming key drivers of sustainable development.

Tech-powered farming: BFU students uncover hidden threats in pepper fields

During the summer of 2024, while many of their peers went on vacation, members of the “Youth Empowerment for Rural Revitalization” research group from BFU returned to their hometown in Huize County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, to help local farmers tackle widespread pepper crop failures. Nearly 60 percent of the crops had been hit by pest infestations, causing a 20 percent drop in yields.

Braving the scorching sun, the students carried out a systematic analysis of 36 chili varieties, documented diseased leaves, collected soil samples, and explored agricultural solutions like artificial pollination and drone irrigation.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-22/A-green-long-march-Young-voices-shaping-China-s-ecological-future-1CMzFRZUaI0/img/aba44815d9074ab2832b578320aeff4b/aba44815d9074ab2832b578320aeff4b.jpeg' alt='Promotional posters for Chili Pest and Disease Control. /Beijing Forestry University'

The group has sent the diseased plant samples to Beijing for lab analysis and has reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with a local pepper farm in Huize.

“Initially, we just wanted to contribute to our hometown’s development – the goal was simple. But when our findings resonated with the local government, we realized our work could have a real impact. What we learned from textbooks has now transformed into a responsibility – our mission to protect the environment,” said Pang Xin, the group leader and a junior from the College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology at BFU.

Watershed protection: 70 years of youthful dedication

In Tiansi Village, located in western Beijing, BFU’s “Jingxi Yongding” Green Long March group conducted research on flood-damaged areas, assessing tree distribution and the risk of tree falls to guide post-flood ecological recovery.

This region is a testament to decades of BFU’s expertise in watershed management. Guan Junwei, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, pioneered small watershed governance here in the 1950s, creating a model that has shaped generations of researchers.

Over the past 70 years, BFU faculty and students have implemented integrated solutions such as check dams, drainage channels and reforestation efforts. These initiatives have reduced flood risks, increased crop yields, and transformed former floodplains into thriving ecological environments.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-22/A-green-long-march-Young-voices-shaping-China-s-ecological-future-1CMzFRZUaI0/img/aa795e1a39b2424c881cd405f340e5ba/aa795e1a39b2424c881cd405f340e5ba.jpeg' alt='The A4210 Green Long March student group. /Beijing Forestry University'

In 2024, 344 universities and 68 institutions mobilized 10,312 students to carry out sustainability projects, generating 28.47 million media impressions.

Over the past 40 years, the Green Bridge and Green Long March Activities have pioneered more than 20 innovative eco-education and volunteer programs, spanning 312 counties and cities, with over 500,000 participants involved in 8,000 events.

These efforts highlight how the Green Bridge and Green Long March Activities have become a youth-driven movement for ecological civilization and rural revitalization in China. Looking ahead, these youth-led initiatives will continue to play a key role in building a Beautiful China through hands-on ecological stewardship and innovation.

Arts Entertainments

23Apr

Ye calls for custody a day after childhood sex-trauma reveal

Ye, formerly Kanye West, was ranting early Tuesday on social media, continuing what he started Monday with a revelation of childhood sex acts allegedly performed on an unnamed male cousin.

The rapper rolled from that sentiment into pleas for more access to his children, claiming he hasn’t seen his son Saint “this year.” In the process, he accused A-list celebrities of “get[ting] the popcorn” and watching the show.

“Why are you all watching and letting Kim take my kids from me in real time,” he tweeted in the wee hours Tuesday morning. “Yall wanna say I’m acting out cause of things in my childhood. But I don’t get to be a dad.”

Ye was referring to ex-wife Kim Kardashian, who reportedly took steps toward gaining full custody of their four children, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm in March. The status of that effort is unclear.

“You guys can make a difference,” Ye wrote Tuesday. “I’m f— shaking typing this I’ve had my rights stripped because I wore a f— red [MAGA] hat That’s when I had a breakdown and was put in the hospital.”

“I need a plan to exercise my rights with my kids,” he wrote in a separate tweet. “I figured out a lot of things but I haven’t figured this out.”

Ye gave an example of why he needed to be around to parent his children. On the day Kobe Bryant died, the family went to Kylie Jenner’s house where, he said, vintage Playboy magazines were “strategically placed within arms reach of every child in that house which was every half black baby.”

He suggested that people would know “who was behind that” and said that as a father, he had “wanted to change that for my kids.” He later tweeted that Kris Jenner didn’t hand out the magazines to the kids, as one X account had asserted, but said “they were just in reach like candy.”

He also went all-caps critical on Jewish attorneys, praised two allegedly “AMAZING BRILLIANT AND HONEST” Jewish employees, then tweeted, “I LOVE SOME JEWS AND I LOVE HITLER.”

Initially, Ye shook things up Monday with the release of a new song and apparent revelation that he and his younger male cousin had “acted out” what they saw in pornographic magazines.

“This song is called COUSINS about my cousin that’s locked in jail for life for killing a pregnant lady a few years after I told him we wouldn’t ‘look at dirty magazines together’ anymore,” Ye tweeted. “Perhaps in my self centered mess I felt it was my fault that I showed him those dirty magazines when he was 6 and then we acted out what we saw.”

He said his dad had Playboys, but his mother’s magazines were “different.” (This from the same performer who tweeted and deleted this month that his late mother Donda was a lesbian whom he’d caught hooking up with his babysitter.) Then he announced he had performed oral sex on his younger male cousin until he turned 14.

But on Tuesday, it was about the children. “I don’t need to just ‘SEE’ my kids,” Ye tweeted. “I need to raise them I’m a good dad I’m a great father to have.”

The rapper, who has been treated for bipolar disorder in the past, announced earlier this year that he had been misdiagnosed and was instead on the autism spectrum.

Auto

23Apr

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Updated Model To Launch on April 26, 2025; Set To Be Revealed at Hunterhood Festival in Delhi With New Features and Colours

New Delhi, April 22: The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 updated model is confirmed to launch in India on April 26, 2025. Royal Enfield will launch its new Hunter 350 model during the Hunterhood motorcycle festival, which will be held in Delhi and Mumbai. Royal Enfield has become a recognised brand for its bikes as they have a classic feel with modern features. The bike will get new updates to re-establish its identity. The company will add new colours and features to the RE Hunter 350.

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is expected to get updates such as LED headlights and USB Type-C ports. These features are not in the current version. Besides this, the bike may get updates on the suspension. RE Hunter 350 was launched in 2022, and since then, the company has sold 5 lakh units in the global market. The changes would fix some of the missing elements and not change the powertrain. The major changes are expected in the rear suspension, LED headlights and colours. Honda Activa 7G To Launch in India Between September and October 2025 With Design Upgrades, New Features; Check Expected Price, Specifications and More.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 may continue offering the same 349cc single-cylinder engine mated with the five-speed gearbox. The air-cooled engine will generate a maximum of 20 hp power at 6,100 rpm and achieve a peak torque of 27 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Hunter 350 is already available in three variants and 10 colours. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 price ranges from INR 1,49,900 to INR 1,74,655 lakh (ex-showroom). Depending on the model, the weight varies from 178 to 181 kilograms. 2025 TVS Apache RR 310 Price in India, Specifications and Features Revealed; Know Everything About Next-Gen Apache RR 310 Launched in India.

Currently, RE Hunter 350 is available in Factory Black for INR 1.49 lakh, Dapper Green, Dapper White, and Dapper Grey for INR 1.69 lakh, and the Rebel Black, Rebel Blue, and Rebel Red colour variants for INR 1.74 lakh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2025 07:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

Business

23Apr

He Built Memecoin Factory Pump.Fun. Did He Make a Small Fortune Dumping His Own Shitcoins as a Teen?

Performing an ICO generally involves deploying code to mint a coin on the Ethereum network, outlining the ambitions for a project on a website, and soliciting investment. “Many projects were little more than a white paper and a landing page with a countdown timer—the barrier to entry was minimal,” says Wang.

Though a handful of crypto projects that raised funds by ICO remain in operation—including Ethereum itself—the boom was largely characterized by grift and chicanery, analysts say, before financial regulators eventually cracked down on the practice. Frequently, developers misrepresented the utility and capabilities of their projects, manipulated the price of coins to generate hype, and wildly overstated the profits available to investors, analysts claim.

Developers “were trying to really push the idea of getting crazy returns,” says Nicolai Søndergaard, research analyst at blockchain analytics company Nansen, adding, “That’s where the FOMO really comes in.”

The clamor around ICOs led credulous investors to conduct little due diligence in their eagerness to profit, in a similar way to traders who today race into dubious memecoins. “There are a lot of parallels between the meme frenzy and ICOs,” says Søndergaard. “It’s quite easy to sell an idea for the masses, then rug it.”

The developer going by the name Dylan Kerler began to promote EthereumCash, their most popular coin, in early October 2017.

The developer followed largely the same playbook as their previous launches: They minted the coin on Ethereum, created a website, and marketed on BitcoinTalk, Twitter, and Telegram. To create a swell of enthusiasm, they handed out bundles of the coin for free in what’s called an airdrop. Then they promised to publish a white paper, which at that time was considered a signal of legitimacy likely to propel the price upward.

“You want to push a white paper. That’s what gets people interested,” says Søndergaard. “Sometimes, just the promise of a white paper was enough.”

Screenshots of the now-deleted website posted on Telegram reveal how the coin was presented to prospective investors. “We aim to make the transition from fiat currency to cryptocurrency as easily as possible whilst still maintaining an heir [sic] of integrity an [sic] sophistication,” the website stated. Underneath, the page featured an image of a bank card that would purportedly allow holders to spend EthereumCash in stores.

Within a few days, hundreds of people signed up for the EthereumCash airdrop, a spreadsheet obtained by WIRED shows. Meanwhile, the BitcoinTalk thread was abuzz with conversation. “Let [sic] spread the word and get people to notice this great token,” wrote one forum user. By October 19, EthereumCash had risen in value to around $1.3 million.

However, as early investors celebrated, behind the scenes the developer going by Dylan Kerler was beginning to sell.

In the days after creating EthereumCash, the developer delivered millions of units to a variety of crypto wallets under their control. One of those crypto wallets, whose alphanumeric identifier begins in 0x7f3E2, was then used to sell large quantities into the market, a CertiK analysis shows.

Cryptocurrency

22Apr

USDC-Issuer Circle Plans Payment Network to Process Transactions via Stablecoins

Circle is planning to launch an international payments network that will allow large corporations to complete settlements via stablecoins. The issuer of the USDC stablecoin released a whitepaper this week detailing possible ways in which stablecoins can upgrade the global payment systems. This system is dubbed the Circle Payments Network (CPN). It has been designed to function as a protocol layer within a digital settlement system with support for stablecoins like USDC, EURC, and more in the future.

With the CPN, Circle aims to offer a cross-border payment solution that is cost effective, swift, compliant, and transparent. It could be of significant help to global suppliers, small merchants, content creators, and remittance recipients.

“CPN is transparent, secure, scalable infrastructure for financial institutions. Circle has built a rigorous governance framework for CPN that requires participating financial institutions to meet global Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards, along with economic sanctions requirements,” the US-based company said in its whitepaper.

The system will offer billing services, credit services, compliance services, risk and fraud services, as well as liquidity services.

For institutional payments, the network will introduce forex settlements, treasury services, government payouts, and DeFi services. Whereas for consumer payments, the network will entail micropayments, remittances, e-commerce, and subscription services.

The network will support multi-chain infrastructures and will enable companies to process salary payments around the globe instantly, at low costs.

“Crucially, CPN serves as the foundation for an ecosystem that eliminates many of the technical complexities and operational hurdles that have slowed mainstream stablecoin adoption to date, including the need for businesses to custody their own stablecoins,” the company noted.

Circle intends to add AI capabilities to the CPN in the future to automate financial settlements.

This development comes at a time when Circle is planning to launch its IPO in the US. If approved, Circle’s stocks will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “CRCL”.

Digital Marketing

22Apr

The complete guide to high-impact educational video content

Educational videos are among the top 10 most-consumed video content formats globally, according to Statista.

And it makes sense. Video is one of the fastest, most engaging ways to teach, demonstrate, and connect.

But for creators and businesses alike, making a video that actually works (as in: educates, retains, or converts) requires more than hitting “record.”

I’ve been creating online content for years, so I know what works and what doesn’t.

Our online SEO training has helped thousands of marketers level up their skills through self-paced modules, monthly live Q&A webinars, and on-demand videos.
Our “Ask Us Anything” video series and SEO agency commercials are produced with the help of our award-winning video producer.
Our YouTube channel continues to serve as a central hub for sharing educational content.

Whether you’re creating onboarding tutorials, educational content for your audience, or a course you plan to sell, below are tips I’ve seen succeed across every stage of the video creation process, from concept to camera to clicks.

Define the purpose and audience through a clear strategy.
Craft content around in-demand topics and the type of video.
Script and storyboard to ensure clarity of the message.
Select the right tech stack for your needs.
Focus on production fundamentals for effective videos.
Optimize for search when visibility is a priority.
Publish, promote, and measure success to track performance.

1. Define the purpose and audience through a clear strategy

Every great educational video starts with a clear strategy.

Before you pick up the camera or open your editing software, you must know who you’re creating for and what you’re trying to achieve.

Clarify the purpose

Just like SEO, intent is everything in video production, so clarify the purpose upfront.

Are you aiming to solely educate or train, or will your video have an element of conversion? Maybe your education video is meant to retain your existing audience instead.

Whatever the purpose, the objective shapes the video’s content, tone, and structure.

For instance, an SEO training module will differ significantly from an educational demo intended to convert prospects.

Understand your audience

Understanding your audience is equally important. Consider their goals, challenges, skill levels, and preferred learning styles.

Are they beginners looking for foundational knowledge or advanced users looking for in-depth insights?

Tailoring your content to meet their needs will make your video more effective.

Free or paid?

Consider whether your content will be free or paid.

Free videos can build brand awareness and provide value to a broad audience, while paid content often offers in-depth training or exclusive insights.

Knowing the role of videos within your broader content strategy, SEO initiatives, and customer journey will help you incorporate free and paid content where it makes the most sense.

2. Craft content around in-demand topics and the type of video

Whether you’re creating a one-off tutorial or a full training series, the key is to start with a clear plan of attack for the content.

Coming up with video topics

Your videos should align with either audience intent (what they’re searching for) or a structured curriculum (what they need to learn over time).

Here are some ways to generate topic ideas:

If your videos support a product or service, look at keyword intent and customer FAQs to generate topics. What questions are coming up in comments, sales calls or support tickets?
If you’re building an online course or internal training program, outline a logical progression.
You can also use keyword tools, YouTube’s autocomplete, or even generative AI to help brainstorm ideas around a theme.
For more inspiration, you can spy on competitors’ educational videos.
If you already have blog content or written guides, repurposing those into educational videos is another easy place to start.

Define the video format

Choosing the video format dictates the rest of the video creation process.

For example, how-to videos are great educational formats that provide step-by-step guidance.

Plus, you can increase your chances of showing up in the search results for target “how to” queries with YouTube videos.

In 2023, more than 30% of Google desktop SERPs in the U.S. featured a video carousel, video result or featured video, according to Semrush.

People watch more of a how-to video than any other type of video, per Wistia’s “2025 State of Video Report.”

Average engagement rates by video content type

Another thing to consider is how you’ll deliver the content in the video.

Some companies prefer talking head videos, which add a personal touch and are a great way to build a brand when internal folks serve as educators on camera.

Others prefer animations, which can help simplify abstract concepts.

Webinars are another great way to help educate your audience.

The majority of businesses (60%) use webinars for training or coaching sessions, followed by thought leadership events (50%), per Wistia.

We’ve seen great success with a monthly live Q&A webinar on my SEO training membership site.

In fact, many of our students become our clients after spending time with our training videos.

Structure each video

Most high-performing videos follow a similar structure:

Hook.
Introduction.
Main content.
Recap.
A call-to-action (CTA).

This is true whether you’re publishing on YouTube or delivering a paid course. You’ll need to adjust the pacing for training modules versus a marketing video.

The hook is especially important. We’ve found the most success when you can capture interest within the first five seconds of the video.

This could be done through a surprising fact, a visual teaser, or a question the viewer wants answered.

From there, keep the pacing tight. Avoid over-explaining and cut the fluff where possible.

Even long-form training videos should feel intentional and well-paced.

Length matters

Not all videos perform equally – and much of it comes down to how long they are.

Based on Wistia’s analysis of over 100 million videos (linked earlier), viewer engagement varies significantly by duration.

Under one minute

Short videos work – especially on social or as top-of-funnel content – but they need to get to the point fast.

Wistia found that videos under one minute had the highest average engagement rate at 50%. Short videos can be ideal for quick social snippets or teasers for longer video content. .

One to five minutes

Videos in this range also held attention fairly well.

One to three minutes: 46% average engagement.
Three to five minutes: 45% average engagement.

Wistia notes that how-to videos under five minutes were especially strong performers, with viewers watching more than two-thirds of the way through, on average.

Five to 30 minutes

Once videos pass the five-minute mark, engagement starts to dip.

Wistia’s data shows:

Five to 30 minutes: 38% average engagement.
30 to 60 minutes: 25%.
60+ minutes: Just 17%.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid longer videos entirely – just be intentional.

We have found that shorter videos (like reels) tend to get more views because they’re something somebody can watch quickly.

But long-form videos tend to have higher conversion rates because they demonstrate more knowledge and authority on a topic.

What about course modules?

The most profitable online courses are typically between 10 to 25 hours in total length, per Thinkific’s data from 40,000 course creators.

The data suggests that five- to 10-hour courses are about 75% as profitable, and longer courses – 25 to 100 hours – are slightly less profitable than those.

Regardless, the advice is that the ideal course length is the shortest time required to achieve the learning objectives.

Sequence for learning

If you’re creating educational content, sequencing matters.

Build with progression in mind, with lessons getting slightly more advanced over time.

Use reinforcement techniques like callbacks, visual repetition, or simple recap slides to help learners retain key points.

The flow should feel intuitive and purposeful.

3. Script and storyboard to ensure clarity of the message

Scripting and storyboarding help you organize your message and plan how it will appear on screen.

Start with a script

Whether you’re creating a tutorial or building an online course, scripting keeps your message focused and easy to follow.

If the video is structured – like a course module or product walkthrough – a full script is ideal. It helps you stay on track and hit all the key points without rambling.

But not every video needs a word-for-word script.

If you’re podcasting, recording a founder Q&A, or filming a talking-head update, a loose outline with bullet points works better.

You still need to know where the conversation is going, but it should feel natural, not rehearsed.

Visual planning

Once you have your script or outline, translate it into a visual plan. This is where storyboarding comes in.

A storyboard helps you map out what will appear on screen and when.

It’s helpful if your video includes product walkthroughs, charts, or training steps that build on one another.

This part doesn’t have to be complicated. You’re simply matching the visuals with your message to make the content easier to understand.

Add visual cues that stick

Visual cues matter more than most people realize.

On-screen text, callouts, arrows, annotations, and simple scene transitions help guide the viewer’s attention and reinforce key points.

For most educational videos (excluding longer formats like podcasts or webinars), aim to change the visual every five to 10 seconds.

That could mean:

Switching camera angles.
Zooming in slightly at the same angle.
Cutting to a supporting visual.

It might feel like a lot, but those subtle shifts keep viewers engaged.

Also, this may be obvious, but if you’re including a screen recording with a voice-over, make sure what’s happening on-screen matches what’s being said.

Use tools to perfect the process

There are plenty of tools out there to help you organize and visualize your ideas before you record.

Tools like Boords and Storyboarder are great for visualizing a scene-by-scene breakdown.

Even Canva can work well for rough storyboarding if you’re already using it for design.

You don’t need anything fancy, just something that lets you sketch things out before you press record.

And when you’re ready to record, you can use teleprompter apps to help you deliver your message smoothly.

4. Select the right tech stack for your needs

Whether you’re recording a quick tutorial or producing a full online course, choosing the right gear, software, and hosting platform will save time, improve quality, and keep your process sustainable.

Match the tools to your goals

You don’t need the most expensive gear to make great video content.

What matters most is choosing tools that match the type of content you’re creating and the audience you’re serving.

If you’re a solo course creator, a smartphone camera, lapel mic and natural lighting can go a long way.
For internal training, you can level up with a mirrorless camera and external mic.
For a higher-end effect, invest in a more expensive camera, lighting, audio, and nice backgrounds to create a polished brand experience.

Regardless of the setup, don’t skip a test shoot.

Check your resolution, depth of field, and lighting to ensure the final result looks the way you intend.

Tools for recording your screen

If you’re doing tutorials or walkthroughs, screen recording software is a must.

QuickTime is what we use – it’s quick, easy and does everything we need.
Loom is a fast, no-fuss option for quick recordings.
Camtasia gives you more robust editing tools for polished content.
ScreenFlow is a solid choice for Mac users who want both recording and editing features in one place.

Edit smarter, not harder

Editing doesn’t have to be intimidating. Some tools are built to make this part easier, especially for solo creators.

Descript is great if you want to edit your video like a document.
Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro give you more creative control but come with a steeper learning curve.
You can also hire a video editor, especially if you need a high-end result or just want to save time.

Hosting your videos

YouTube is the most widely used video platform globally, making it ideal for reach and search visibility on educational content.

It’s also the second-most popular social network worldwide, which means a lot of exposure for your brand.

YouTube videos can be an essential part of an SEO program when targeting certain keywords (like educational and how-to searches).

But remember, only verified accounts can upload videos longer than 15 minutes.

Then there are LMS platforms like Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi, which are built for structured learning.

If you’re building a course, these platforms offer features like chaptering, progress tracking, and quizzes to support the full student experience.

Finally, Vimeo and Wistia give you more control over branding, privacy, and analytics.

They’re especially useful for customer training, B2B product onboarding, or gated video content.

Using AI

AI is quickly changing the video production space.

About 41% of companies are already using it for video, per Wistia’s most recent data (linked earlier), and another 19% will start using it soon.

Using AI can be particularly beneficial for short-form content, where speed and efficiency are key.

Tools like OpusClip use AI to automatically generate short clips from longer videos, optimizing them for platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.

But AI is also expanding creative possibilities.

For instance, we’ve successfully used AI to modify our SEO training course online.

Because SEO is a rapidly changing industry, SEO training can quickly become stale.

Instead of reshooting whole sections of our training course, we used an AI avatar of me to deliver updated talking points – and it looks surprisingly like me.

However, it’s important to use AI cautiously.

Love it or hate it, AI is a controversial tool, and some people may be turned off by it.

That said, overreliance on AI-generated content can lead to videos that feel impersonal or lack authenticity.

While AI can assist in scripting, editing, and even avatars and visuals, the human touch remains essential to ensure content resonates with viewers.

Stay on top of your video performance with analytics and use your intuition to decide whether AI-generated videos resonate.

The right balance ensures your videos remain trustworthy.

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5. Focus on production fundamentals for effective videos

You don’t need a full production crew to make professional-looking videos, but you do need to get the fundamentals right.

Prioritize audio quality

If you’re going to invest in one part of your production setup, start with sound.

Viewers are much more likely to tolerate a slightly grainy video than audio that’s hard to hear.

Multiple studies have found that poor audio quality influences whether people trust what they hear and how they perceive you overall.

A lav mic or USB condenser mic is an easy and worthwhile upgrade.

Get the basics right

You don’t need a studio setup to get a clear shot.

Just focus on even lighting (natural light works great), a camera angle that’s eye level or slightly above and a clutter-free background.

If you’re doing a screen recording, make sure the visuals are crisp and readable.

Zoom in on sections when needed, and don’t clutter the screen with too much at once.

Batch and template your process

The more videos you make, the more it pays to streamline.

Batching – filming multiple videos in one sitting – helps you stay in flow and save time.

Templating your intros, outros, transitions and even lower-thirds (the graphic overlays that typically appear in the lower third of the screen) can make your content consistent and reduce the decisions you have to make for every single video.

Make it accessible

This isn’t just a “nice to have.”

Captions help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, support people watching in a sound-off environment, and can even boost comprehension for non-native speakers.

Most video tools now make it easier to autogenerate and edit captions.

These are key in formal learning environments or when you’re serving global audiences.

Think about the viewer experience

Pacing, tone, and delivery matter.

What works for an internal training video isn’t the same as a how-to on YouTube.

For instance, in training content, give your viewers time to absorb the information – use pauses, reinforce key points, and keep instructions easy to follow.

Know when to call backup

Sure, you can technically do everything yourself, but that doesn’t mean you should.

Even the most experienced video producers hire out when it makes sense.

Whether you need a motion designer for intro graphics, a video editor to clean up pacing and polish transitions, or a script consultant to help shape the story, know your weaknesses (or resource constraints) and make the call.

6. Optimize for search when visibility is a priority

Up to 82% of marketers say video has helped them increase web traffic.

Not every video needs to be optimized for search – but when visibility is the goal, it’s worth the effort.

When SEO makes sense

If you’re publishing on YouTube or embedding tutorials on your site, optimization can help your content get discovered.

Moz data once showed that YouTube videos make up over 94% of all video results in Google.

If your audience is searching for answers, YouTube is a strong place to meet them.

When it’s not a priority

If your content lives behind a login or paywall – like course modules or internal training – SEO doesn’t need to be part of your workflow.

In those cases, focus instead on the learning experience and making the video content clear, helpful and well-paced.

Start with keyword research

Google’s Gary Illyes has stated that if you see video results for a keyword, that’s your cue to consider making a video for it.

Start by targeting topics that already bring up video results in Google or YouTube.

Tools like YouTube’s search predictions, AnswerThePublic, and other keyword tools on the market can help surface what people are actually searching for.

When in doubt, do a search.

If there’s already a cluster of how-to videos, you’ve got a green light.

Optimize for search

SEO for videos doesn’t have to be complicated.

However, the approach varies depending on where your video is hosted. Here’s where to focus.

For YouTube-hosted videos

Metadata: Google states that the title, thumbnail, and description are the more important pieces of metadata for video discovery.

Title
- Write a clear, engaging title that tells viewers exactly what they’ll get.
- Include your main keyword near the beginning, and keep it under 60 characters so it doesn’t get cut off in search.
- Make sure it reflects the actual content. Clickbait might get the click, but it won’t earn trust.
- Use things like all caps or emojis sparingly to highlight the right words.
Thumbnails
- Design custom thumbnails that are visually appealing and accurately represent the content.
- YouTube now has a feature to test your thumbnails.
Description
- Write a clear, keyword-rich description that tells viewers and YouTube what your video is about. (You have up to 5,000 characters here!)
- Include relevant keywords naturally.
- Link out to your website, social channels, or other videos when it makes sense.
- Use line breaks or bullet points to make it easy to scan.

Dig deeper: The DESCRIBE framework for effective YouTube descriptions

User engagement signals: While metadata is foundational for YouTube SEO, the platform’s algorithm places a lot of emphasis on user engagement and satisfaction.

YouTube values the following:

Click-through rate (CTR): This is where the thumbnail comes into play once again.
Watch time and retention: Videos that hold attention tend to get promoted more.
Engagement: Likes, comments, shares and subscribers all tell YouTube your content is valuable.
Viewer satisfaction: YouTube looks at behavior after the video ends – like whether someone bounces or keeps watching.
Personalization: The algorithm tailors results based on viewer behavior, so understand your audience and create for them.

More optimization tips: Here are additional tips that help optimize videos for YouTube:

Timestamps: Break up your video into clear, clickable sections. This is especially helpful in long-form or educational content.
Captions: Add closed captions for accessibility and extra context.
End screens and cards: Help people take the next step. Recommend another video, playlist, or even a site link.
Group content into playlists: This improves watch time and helps viewers binge your content.
Consistent branding: Keep your intros, tone and visual style cohesive so viewers start to recognize your content instantly.
Engage in the comments: Respond, ask questions, start conversations. YouTube notices when a video sparks interaction.

For videos hosted on your website

When hosting videos on your own platform, the SEO focus shifts a bit.

First, understand that self-hosted videos can appear in several key areas on search engines like Google and Bing:

Video search tabs: Both Google and Bing have dedicated “videos” tabs that filter results to show only video content. This is a key place to show up.
Main search results: Your video might show up as a rich snippet alongside standard web results, complete with a thumbnail, title and description.
Featured video results: For certain queries, Google may highlight a video prominently at the top of the search results.

Key optimization strategies include:

Dedicated video pages: Create individual pages for each video, ensuring that the video is the main content on the page. This allows for more precise optimization.
Page title and meta description: Ensure the webpage hosting the video has a clear, keyword-rich title and meta description. This helps search engines understand the page’s content.
Video metadata. This includes things like the video title, description, duration, and thumbnail URL.
Structured data: Implement video schema to provide search engines and people with detailed information about your video. You can highlight key moments, live broadcasts, educational content and more. This can enhance your video’s appearance in search results.
Transcripts and captions: Including a transcript and/or captions on the page improves accessibility and provides additional content for search engines to index.
Contextual content: On the same note, surround your video with relevant text content on the page to give search engines more context about the video’s subject matter.
Stable video URLs: If your video files or thumbnail URLs change frequently or expire, Google may not be able to index them reliably. So stick with permanent, clean URLs and double-check that they’re not blocked by robots.txt or other restrictions. This is one of those technical details that’s easy to overlook.
Videos above the fold. Put your video front and center on the page – ideally above the fold – so both users and search engines recognize it as the main content. But don’t sacrifice speed to do it. Use lazy loading where possible, and consider lighter formats like WebM to keep load times fast.
Video sitemaps: If you’re hosting multiple videos, consider creating a video sitemap. This helps search engines discover and index your video content more efficiently.

Dig deeper: 7 video optimization tips to boost your organic reach in 2025

7. Publish, promote, and measure success to track performance

Creating the video is only half the job.

To get the most out of it, you need to publish, promote, and pay attention to what happens next.

Publishing and promoting

Whether you are promoting free or paid educational content, don’t just post it and hope for the best.

Publishing with a strategy makes a big difference in who sees your content and how it performs.

Start with your owned channels

Start by embedding videos on your website where it makes sense – on a course landing page, a sales page, or a relevant blog post.

If you have an email list, use it. Email is still one of the most effective ways to get in front of warm leads.

You can build a short email sequence around a course launch, for instance, or simply drop the video into a newsletter with a clear call to action.

Share where your audience is

Social media can help your video gain traction, especially if your audience already follows you there.

Don’t just post once – share the video in different formats over time: full video, short clips or even just a quote or takeaway.

Each platform has its own rhythm and opportunities:

Instagram/Facebook: Reels, stories, and carousels can help you showcase educational content in bite-sized ways.
LinkedIn: Great for professional or B2B-focused courses.
YouTube: If it’s not your main platform, consider uploading the video as unlisted and embedding it on your course page – or using YouTube Shorts to drive awareness.

Paid promotion

Sometimes organic reach isn’t enough.

Paid promotion can help you get in front of more of the right people, faster.

YouTube ads, social media boosts, and even Google Ads can support your educational videos.

Just make sure your landing page is clear, relevant, and compelling when someone clicks.

Tap into your network

If you have relationships with influencers, industry experts, or others in your space, see if they’d be open to collaborating or promoting your educational content in exchange for a commission or cross-promotion.

Look for partnerships that make sense; not just anyone with a following, but people your ideal audience already trusts.

Host live events to build momentum

Webinars, live Q&A sessions, or even a quick Instagram Live can help build buzz around your content.

These live formats give people a taste of your teaching style and give you a chance to answer objections or highlight what’s inside your paid video content in a more personal way.

For example, we regularly post video content from inside our SEO training membership site to our YouTube channel to give viewers a sneak peek.

Repurpose strategically

Repurposing lets you extend the life of your content without starting from scratch.

Turn long-form videos into short clips for social or YouTube.

YouTube Shorts has the highest engagement rate across all short video platforms at 5.91% while TikTok was second in line, Statista reports.

You can also pull out quotes or visuals for blog posts or emails to promote your educational videos.

Define what success looks like

Before you hit publish, know what you’re aiming for.

Is it views? Engagement? Course completions? Conversions?

And if the video performs well in one area – even if it’s not the metric you were focused on – that’s still a win.

For example, maybe conversions were low, but views were through the roof.

That tells you something’s working, and it might be worth doubling down on similar content.

There’s no shortage of video content online. If something you create breaks through in any way, take that as a signal.

Track performance (and do it often)

Analytics will tell you what’s resonating and what’s not.

You should be checking your analytics regularly – ideally, every day.

Make sure to use:

YouTube Analytics for engagement trends.
Google Search Console to see how your video shows up in search.
LMS analytics for course modules.
Google Analytics 4 for how videos impact user behavior on your site.

Learn from viewer behavior

Watch for drop-off points. If people keep bailing at the same timestamp, something’s off.

And check your comments. If people are asking for a follow-up or mentioning another topic they want covered, that’s a content idea handed to you on a silver platter.

If your “How to Make Pizza” video gets many requests for spaghetti, it might be time to make a spaghetti video.

Making videos that teach – and stick

Educational videos work best when they’re built with intention.

You don’t need a perfect setup or a massive production team, but you need to:

Understand your audience.
Have a clear message.
Stay consistent in how you create your content.

Whether you’re launching a full course or building out one helpful video at a time, the strategies outlined here are meant to give you a process to start.

Because when your videos are thoughtful, useful, and well-executed, people notice – and that’s where the real traction starts.

Finance

22Apr

The Ranks of Obamacare ‘Fixers’ Axed in Trump’s Reduction of Health Agency Workforce

They’re the fixers, the ones who step in when Affordable Care Act enrollees have a problem with their coverage, like a newborn incorrectly left off a policy or discovering that a rogue broker had signed them up or switched their plan without consent.

Specially trained caseworkers help resolve such issues, which might otherwise cause consumers to rack up large doctors’ bills or prevent them or their family members from getting care. Now, though, the broad federal reduction in force set in motion by the Trump administration has cut the ranks of those caseworkers, slashing two out of six divisions of caseworkers, according to one affected worker and a former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services official familiar with the situation, Jeffrey Grant.

Currently, the number of ACA enrollees is at an all-time high of 24 million. The ACA — known as Obamacare — has long drawn disfavor from Republicans and Trump himself. The health law faces additional changes next year that, if adopted, could sow confusion and more problems. Consumers would face a new learning curve with extra paperwork and rules. And the caseworker cuts might extend the time needed to resolve any difficulties.

“It impacts not only our jobs, but all these people we serve,” said one New York City-based caseworker, who was let go in a Feb. 14 purge affecting federal employees in their probationary periods. “Usually, we would have on average 14 days to take care of a case that was very difficult, although the urgent cases would be solved within two to three business days. It will now be delayed so much more. Whole teams got wiped out completely.”

NPR and KFF Health News are not naming the two affected workers in this article because they fear professional or personal repercussions for speaking to the media.

The two teams of caseworkers were dismantled in a haphazard fashion that left some workers without an official notice but locked out of their computers.

The cuts have demoralized caseworkers, whose jobs demand a grasp of complex and arcane health insurance rules in a little-known government department that most consumers don’t interact with — CMS’ Exchange Customer Solutions Group — until they need help.

“The loss in staffing is going to reduce the ability for people to get through” to caseworkers after contacting the marketplace or other organizations for help, said Jackie Kiger, executive director of Pisgah Legal Services, a nonprofit that provides legal and ACA help for North Carolina consumers and is facing a budget reduction under a separate effort by the Trump administration to cut “navigator” funding by 90%. Navigators are government-funded nonprofits that help people enroll in the ACA or resolve problems with coverage.

The federal force reduction aims to decrease the number of employees at agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services from 82,000 to 62,000, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and CMS.

CMS, which oversees the ACA and other government health programs, will lose about 300 workers, including about 30 caseworkers scattered nationwide. The cuts come amid thousands of other federal job losses, including front-line workers across an array of agencies, from Social Security field offices to the National Park Service.

In a press release, HHS estimated its reduction in force will save taxpayers $1.8 billion a year. No one from CMS responded to KFF Health News’ questions about the caseworker reductions.

What Will Be Affected?

When consumers have a problem with their ACA plan, their first step is usually to call the federal or state marketplace on which they purchased coverage.

Those call centers can handle basic questions about plans purchased on the federal exchange, which serves 31 states. (State marketplaces handle their own complex cases and don’t rely on federal caseworkers.)

When someone calls the federal marketplace 800 number with coverage problems, the inquiry probably winds up on a caseworker’s desk, said one affected caseworker. That employee received a reduction-in-force notice several days after losing access to their work computer on April 1.

Caseworkers usually don’t speak directly with consumers, the worker said. Using information sent over by the federal marketplace — including notes taken when consumers called in with problems, as well as ACA applications — they handle or oversee consumer requests, such as canceling a plan or adding a member.

One of the last problems handled by that caseworker involved a child born in November who was not added correctly to the family’s plan for 2024, meaning any care the child received during the last two months of the year was not covered and the family risked being stuck with the bills.

“This person did everything right, including calling the marketplace within 60 days to report the birth and add the newborn to their coverage,” said the worker, who was quickly able to resolve it because it was a marketplace error.

The worker, who is now soured on federal employment and will look for a new job in the private sector, said caseworkers handled an average of 30 issues a day, but that in recent months the number kept climbing, heading past 45, and grew even more intense after the Feb. 14 dismissal of probationary employees.

“It’s not an easy job,” the worker said, noting the challenge of constantly evolving rules and policies governing health plans.

Ferreting Out Fraud

In the past year, caseworkers have dealt with cases involving unauthorized enrollments or switching, a problem that ticked up in late 2023, according to KFF Health News investigations, and continued through much of last year, resulting in at least 274,000 complaints to CMS through August. The complaints centered on practices by rogue brokers who enrolled or switched coverage for consumers without their express knowledge. That could leave them without access to their health provider networks or drug coverage, or even facing a tax bill.

Though it is unclear how many such complaints fell to a federal caseworker, some improperly switched consumers want to be restored into plans they had originally chosen, while others want them canceled.

“I have seen people who were enrolled and every two or three months a broker would switch them to a different plan,” said the caseworker who was locked out in early April. “The more health plans they were enrolled in, the more difficult it was to handle on the back end.”

New hires spend months learning the ropes.

The New York-based worker let go in February during her probationary period said she had joined CMS in October and spent three months in training. Just about a month after completing that training, she was let go — a bitter irony, she said, because she had sought stability in a job with the federal government, having experienced a layoff during her private-sector career.

“I took a huge pay cut — over $40,000 — when I went from the private sector into the government,” said the mother of three whose husband serves in the military. Her federal salary was about $76,000, which is not high for an expensive market like the New York metropolitan area. “But I took it as an opportunity to get in the door and move up. Then, boom, I get hit with another layoff.”

“I can only imagine how hard it is for people with 10 to 15 years with the government who are banking on it for retirement,” she said.

Starting next year, the Trump administration has proposed several changes to the ACA, including ending year-round eligibility for very low-income applicants, requiring additional financial and eligibility documentation, and charging some people a monthly $5 fee when auto-reenrolled in coverage until they confirm their eligibility.

Such changes will “make things harder, so there you will have more things that go wrong,” said Grant, the former CMS official, who founded Schedule F Healthcare Strategies after leaving CMS. “You will then also have fewer caseworkers to handle the work.”

We’d like to speak with current and former personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies who believe the public should understand the impact of what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message KFF Health News on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here.

Gaming

22Apr

Here’s Everything Diablo 4 And Immortal’s Berserk Crossover Entails

Diablo 4 and Diablo Immortal are crossing over with Kentaro Miura’s legendary dark-fantasy manga Berserk, and now Blizzard has revealed more details on what the franchise’s first non-Blizzard IP collab will involve.

Unlike some crossovers that are solely an opportunity to buy themed skins, the Diablo and Berserk crossovers do actually add new events for players to participate in and free rewards to claim, though most of the “good” stuff will cost extra. Diablo 4’s Berserk crossover event will begin May 6 and run through the end of Season 8, approximately three months later. Diablo Immortal’s Berserk events will run May 1-30.

Diablo x Berserk – Official Collaboration Reveal Trailer

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In Diablo 4, players will hunt elite enemy packs in order to gather Behelits that can be used to unlock free Berserk cosmetics in the Berserk Reliquary, part of Diablo 4’s newly revamped battle-pass system. Some of those items include a Brand of Sacrifice marking that can be used in character customization, as well as Skull Knight’s shield as mount armor and Griffith’s Helmet as a back trophy.

Unfortunately, the cosmetics players are likely really looking for are all relegated to Diablo 4’s in-game shop. That includes series protagonist Guts’ Berserker armor, as well as looks for series antagonist Griffith, the mysterious Skull Knight, and an armor set inspired by Guts’ mercenary days. Griffith’s steed and accompanying mount armor will also be for sale, alongside a pet bundle featuring the all-nose Chimimoryo.

Blizzard’s free-to-play mobile game Diablo Immortal is also getting in on the Berserk action, and in many ways has more to do than Diablo 4. It will add a boss fight against the fearsome Nosferatu Zodd, and even let players participate in Berserk’s most infamous moment: the Eclipse.

In the Berserk manga and anime, the Eclipse is the story’s bleakest point, where just about everyone dies, to put things lightly. While the Eclipse is active in Diablo Immortal, players will be transported to a nightmarish hellscape where they will need to band together to fight for their lives as if they had been marked with the Brand of Sacrifice, and can even encounter a new boss sent to do the Godhand’s bidding.

Diablo Immortal is additionally introducing a new Legendary Gem inspired by the Crimson Behelit, which will increase damage dealt while above 50% health, reduce damage dealt when below 30% health, and can release a howl of terror to fear nearby enemies. New Golem familiar skins will also be added.

There will of course be cosmetic armor sets based on the Berserker armor and Griffith’s armor for sale as well, in addition to some free Berserk-themed login rewards that can be claimed. Those free login rewards include a free weapon-appearance cosmetic, among them Guts’ Dragonslayer greatsword, though the first weapon cosmetic claimed will be specific to the class currently being played–so choose wisely.

Diablo 4 Season 8 begins April 29, and will introduce the Lair Boss system which overhauls much of Diablo 4’s endgame loop. Blizzard recently laid out what to expect for Diablo 4 in a 2025 roadmap–one that includes more endgame revamps and another still unannounced IP crossover. Meanwhile, Diablo 4’s second expansion won’t be coming until 2026.

Health Fitness

22Apr

Novel treatment approach for language disorder shows promise

Primary progressive aphasia is a neurological condition that causes a gradual decline in language abilities. There is no cure or medication that can reverse or stop the progression of PPA. The standard practice in the clinical setting is speech-language therapy to help people with PPA maintain their ability to communicate.

University of Arizona neuroscientists have come up with a new treatment approach for PPA that combines traditional speech therapy with noninvasive electrical stimulation of the brain. The technique — called transcranial direct current stimulation — uses a low electrical current applied through electrodes on the scalp.

A new study published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research describes the treatment approach, which the researchers found to be more effective at managing PPA compared to speech therapy alone.

“Primary progressive aphasia is a condition that causes worsening of communication skills over time. It was identified in the literature only in the last three to four decades, so it is considered pretty new in the health care world — it’s still an understudied area,” said Katlyn Nickels, the study’s lead researcher and a postdoctoral researcher in the U of A Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

While writing and speaking words, people don’t just retrieve their meaning. They also retrieve the sound of a word while it is being spoken or written, said Aneta Kielar, the study’s senior author and an associate professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

If there is a problem with associating words with the way they sound, it is difficult to put letters together and speak or write a word, Kielar said. This affects people’s communication in their day-to-day life and their ability to work. For their study, the researchers focused on a type of PPA called the logopenic PPA, in which people have trouble finding the right words and repeating phrases or sentences.

The researchers did neuroimaging analysis of the brain to determine the area of the brain that needs to be stimulated, as people with PPA have brain atrophy or a loss of brain cells.

“We wanted to stimulate the area that is most responsive to language and were careful not to stimulate an area that would have been atrophied already,” Kielar said.

Twelve individuals with written language deficits each received two phases of treatment: in one phase, they got speech therapy paired with active transcranial direct current stimulation. In another phase, they received the same speech therapy with placebo transcranial direct current stimulation. The order of the phases was randomized and separated by a two-month break in between.

Although all participants improved after both treatments, they showed greater and more lasting improvement following the phase with active transcranial direct current stimulation compared to placebo transcranial direct current stimulation.

“People who made numerous spelling errors and struggled to frame complete sentences before the treatment were able to form sentences that were grammatically correct, had fewer spelling errors and were more meaningful after treatment,” Kielar said.

The researchers say brain stimulation helped induce neuroplasticity, the brain’s capacity to continue to reorganize and learn. And it boosted the effects of speech therapy.

“What that means is that brain stimulation can induce the formation of synapses, the connections between neurons. These connections are important for people’s ability to learn and maintain new skills,” Kielar said.

In the future, the research group is planning to look at the genetic, cognitive and neural markers that influence the recovery from PPA. The researchers’ long-term goal is to translate their research findings to a clinical setting.

Because transcranial direct current stimulation is inexpensive, safe and easy to perform, the barriers to implementing it in clinical practice are less significant, Nickels said.

“There’s a misconception sometimes with neurodegenerative diseases, that once you get a diagnosis, there is nothing that can be done,” Nickels said. “But we have learned through our research that even when there’s a progressive brain disease, we can help restore lost function and even slow down the progression.”

This work was supported by the following grants to the senior author, Aneta Kielar: Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium Grant, Arizona Department of Health Services (018676-00001); Innovations in Healthy Aging: Grand Challenges of Aging Seed Grant, The University of Arizona Health Sciences (2259304); and Data Science Academy-Transdisciplinary Research in Principles of Data Science at The University of Arizona (2259910). Research reported in the publication was supported by the Arizona Department of Health Services and the state of Arizona (ADHS Grant No. CTR057001) to Aneta Kielar.

Legal Law

22Apr

Quillspark- Online Creative Writing Competition 2025 by NLUJA

About NLUJA, Assam

National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam, is a leading institution for legal education situated in Guwahati, the gateway to North-East India. Established in 2009 under the National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam Act, enacted by the State Legislature, it is a public university committed to advancing the field of legal studies.

About ADUJ – The Literary and Cultural Fest of NLUJAA

Adwik Udjaapan, fondly known as ADUJ, is the literary and cultural festival of NLUJAA. It is a vibrant celebration of India’s diverse heritage, bringing together talents from across the country. Rooted in the rich cultural fabric of Northeast India, ADUJ serves as a melting pot of artistic expression, intellectual discourse, and creative brilliance. As part of its flagship cultural fest, ADUJ, the university proudly presents Quillspark 2025—an online creative writing competition designed to unleash the power of words and storytelling in collaboration with Lost Stories and Art Collective.

About The Lost Stories

The Lost Stories is the annual literary magazine of NLUJA, Assam, published under the guidance of the Literary and Debating Committee. The magazine offers students a creative outlet to break away from routine academics and display their artistic and literary talents.

About Art Collective

Art Collective at NLUJAA is a student-led club dedicated to fostering creativity and artistic expression within the university. It serves as a platform for students to explore various forms of visual arts, including painting, sketching, digital art, and mixed media.

About Quillspark

Quillspark is an opportunity for writers to showcase their creativity and storytelling prowess. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone taking their first steps into the world of words, this competition invites all to participate.

Who Can Submit?

Contributions are invited from students, academicians, research scholars, and anyone eager to showcase their creative talent.

Themes

The Island Where Time Flowed Backwards
2040: A Day in the Life of the Last Human on Earth
The App That Predicted Death: Would You Swipe Right?

Submission Guidelines

All submissions should be original and should not be simultaneously considered by any other publication.
The language of the submissions should be English.
Formatting: Font -Times New Roman, Font Size- 12, Line Spacing – 1.5.
The organizers uphold a strict zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism and the use of AI-generated content in submissions.
The word limit of the submission is 700-1200 words.
The participant shall not include their name in the submission.
All submissions should be in the form of a Word document (.doc or .docx format).

Important Date

Registration Deadline: 30th April, 2025
Announcement of Results: 4th May, 2025

Prizes & Recognition

1st Place: ₹7,000 Cash Prize and Publication in 5th Edition of Lost Stories
2nd Place: ₹5,000 Cash Prize and Publication in 5th Edition of Lost Stories
3rd Place: ₹3,000 Cash Prize and Publication in 5th Edition of Lost Stories

How to Register?

Interested candidates can register online via the link given at the end of the post.

Fee

Registration Fee: ₹150

Contact

For any queries with respect to the competition, feel free to contact [email protected]

Click here to register.

Lifestyle Fashion

22Apr

Kalki Koechlin shares tips and tricks for how moms can sneak in some much-needed self care: ‘Takes creative thinking’ | Health

In 2025, it’s hard to be a woman who is concerned not only about the state of affairs in the world but also about the impact of pollutants on the environment, especially if you’re a mother and earning a living. And who better knows that than Kalki Koechlin, who has been vocal about pressing issues some others shy away from. But how does one remember to take a break, breathe in, and dare I say, even indulge in self-care or just spend some me-time in the midst of all that? She tells Hindustan Times Digital all about it. (Also Read: Taking a mental health leave from work: Here’s what you need to know)

Kalki Koechlin gave birth to her daughter Sappho in 2020.

Use creative thinking as a parenting tool

Kalki says that when she gave birth to daughter Sappho, the first seven months were spent holed up at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was no pressure to go back to my tiny body because people didn’t see me, and we all know actors are always expected to look a certain way. While it initially felt like the stomach would never go, I did eventually get my body back after a year. It was also impossible then to have some severe routine because I was too busy breastfeeding, cooking and cleaning. My priority was just sleeping,” she says.

Eventually, after the world opened up, Kalki says it took time for her daughter to understand why she needed some alone time. “She didn’t understand that boundary when I worked from home, eventually. It was challenging when she couldn’t access me for a few hours. My partner (Guy Hershberg) has sometimes taken colouring pencils and paper along with her to parking spaces under our building, so she’s excited and distracted. It took some creative thinking as parents. Now, if Mama has to go to work, she deals with it,” says the actor.

Detaching from the phone for quality time

One more thing Kalki swears by is to detach herself from her phone whenever she doesn’t need it. “We’re all attached to our phones, but my rule now is to keep mine in a separate room when I sleep. I have a proper alarm clock that wakes me up, though my daughter does it before that (laughs). This ensures that I’m present while finishing my daily routine, I don’t even check my phone before that,” she explains, adding, “At work also, I give it to the spot dada and ask him not to give it back to me so I’m in the moment.”

But more than anything, no matter how much me-time she charts out or finds unique ways to detach from her phone, Kalki says therapy is key to staying on top of things. “Parental anxiety is real, so is anxiety in general. And I have accessed a lot of therapy in the last couple of years, which has helped a lot. I have also understood that I cannot solve everything. I can instead do my bit to solve systemic issues by supporting my staff when they need it, or being in touch with my local animal rescue centre. I can do something in my locality to bring about change,” she rounds off.

Medicine

22Apr

The Trump administration is remaking HHS. Track the changes here.

The Trump administration is radically revising the scale and scope of the federal health workforce.

Approximately 1 in 4 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services have been laid off, forced out or pushed to take early retirement through a series of cuts designed to shrink an agency that provides health insurance to tens of millions of Americans, regulates medical products and funds disease research.

The reduction-in-force hasn’t been distributed equally. While an official accounting has not emerged, it’s become clear that communications, policy, IT and HR offices across agencies have been gutted or closed. About half of HHS’ 28 divisions are being eliminated or consolidated.

More downsizing may be forthcoming, too. A leaked budget document shows the White House aims to slash HHS spending by one-third.

Carrying out this overhaul is HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer turned anti-vaccine activist whose role in the “Make America Healthy Again” movement won him a close relationship with President Donald Trump. Kennedy has wasted little time trying to bend HHS to his agenda, which he says is focused on addressing what he describes as a chronic disease epidemic. Yet his actions so far have also raised concerns he aims to restrict vaccines, in keeping with the years he’s spent spreading misinformation about their safety and efficacy.

BioPharma Dive is closely covering the changes underway at HHS. Keep tabs on the latest major developments using this tracker:

Real Estate

22Apr

Facing the enemies

We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear.

Maybe some of our fears are brought on by our own experiences, by what someone has told us, by what we’ve read in the papers.

Some fears are valid, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o’clock in the morning.

But once you learn to avoid that situation, you won’t need to live in fear of it.

Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions.

Fear can destroy fortunes.

Fear can destroy relationships.

Fear, if left unchecked, can destroy our lives.

Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.

Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from within

The first enemy that you’ve got to destroy before it destroys you is indifference

What a tragic disease this is.

“Ho-hum, let it slide. I’ll just drift along.”

Here’s one problem with drifting: you can’t drift your way to the top of the mountain.

The second enemy we face is indecision

Indecision is the thief of opportunity and enterprise.

It will steal your chances for a better future.

Take a sword to this enemy.

The third enemy inside is doubt

Sure, there’s room for healthy skepticism.

You can’t believe everything.

But you also can’t let doubt take over.

Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities.

Worse of all, they doubt themselves.

I’m telling you, doubt will destroy your life and your chances of success.

It will empty both your bank account and your heart.

Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it.

The fourth enemy within is worry

We’ve all got to worry some.

Just don’t let it conquer you. Instead, let it alarm you.

Worry can be useful. If you step off the curb in New York City and a taxi is coming, you’ve got to worry.

But you can’t let worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small corner.

Here’s what you’ve got to do with your worries: drive them into a small corner.

Whatever is out to get you, you’ve got to get it.

Whatever is pushing on you, you’ve got to push back.

The fifth interior enemy is over-caution

It is the timid approach to life.

Timidity is not a virtue; it’s an illness.

If you let it go, it’ll conquer you.

Timid people don’t get promoted.

They don’t advance and grow and become powerful in the marketplace.

You’ve got to avoid overcaution.

Do battle with the enemy.

Do battle with your fears.

Build your courage to fight what’s holding you back, what’s keeping you from your goals and dreams.

Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.

About Jim Rohn
The late Jim Rohn was America’s Foremost Business Philosopher.

Subscribe to the free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine.

Also review the complete Jim Rohn archive of articles, vitamins for the mind and Q and A.

Copyright © 1999 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.

Technology

22Apr

Use These 3 Chrome Extensions to Automatically Detect AI Content

Quick Links

AI Content Detector – Copyleaks

AI content is the bane of our online existences; distinguishing between human and AI-generated text and images is becoming unfathomably difficult. That’s why I use these Chrome extensions to detect AI content quickly—they’ll become part of your daily browsing experience quicker than you think!

I’ve experimented with several AI detectors. I found Copyleaks to be effective at spotting content created by ChatGPT’s creative model and other AI tools. It only focuses on text analysis, though—don’t expect it to identify AI-generated images.

When installed, the clean interface features a draggable quick access menu that you can position anywhere on your screen, which I’ve found convenient. This menu features simple Settings and a Scan for AI content option when you hover over it.

The workflow is straightforward but requires a few steps. First, select suspicious text on any webpage, and a small icon appears. Click it, and your selection automatically populates in the sidebar. Then you’ll need to hit the scan button to analyze the text—a small extra step I sometimes forget about when I’m in a hurry.

One annoying aspect is that you need to create an account before using the extension. The free trial gives you five credits (with one credit equaling 250 words), which isn’t much if you’re regularly checking content. Interestingly, I’ve been using the trial version for weeks and somehow still have all five credits showing—I’m not complaining, but don’t count on that glitch lasting!

If you’re serious about AI detection, the Pro version starts at $9.99 per month, covering roughly 25,000 words with 100 credits. That might seem pricey, but if you’re concerned about reasons AI checkers might flag your writing, it could be worth the investment.

One frustrating aspect of Copyleaks is its binary approach to detection—it only flags content as either 100% AI-generated or 0% AI-generated, with no middle ground. I’ve had it incorrectly flag my own writing as AI-generated a few times, which is annoying. This black-and-white approach exhibits that AI might hallucinate or that human writing can sometimes resemble AI patterns.

Unlike Copyleaks, BitMind focuses exclusively on spotting AI-generated images, rather than text, which is equally important as detecting AI-generated text. And you don’t need to create an account to use it. You can install it, jump right in, and start detecting AI images anonymously.

This tool is useful when you’re browsing photography websites, scrolling through social media, or researching images for work. It might also be useful when scrolling through e-commerce websites, as some of them may feature fake products. For example, Etsy is often flooded with AI-generated images.

Bitmind Chrome extension flagging Etsy image as AI-generated.

Another reason is that a recent study shows generative AI images evoke a sense of uncanniness in subtle ways, which even trained human eyes struggle to detect consistently.

The extension works by analyzing any image you encounter while browsing. When you hover over an image, BitMind displays a percentage match in the top-right corner. That indicates how likely it believes the image was generated by AI. This quick visual indicator saves you from having to click anything or wait for results on a separate page.

The 5 Best Open-Source AI Image Generators

Don’t pay for an AI image generator.

I found BitMind’s analysis takes around 10 seconds per image, which can feel a bit slow when scrolling through image-heavy websites. During my testing, it correctly identified AI images roughly 70% to 80% of the time—not perfect, but certainly helpful as a first-pass detection tool.

Bitmind Chrome extension menu with word counter in the background.

One limitation you might face is that BitMind occasionally flags authentic photographs as AI-generated, as seen in the following image. This isn’t entirely the extension’s fault, as today’s AI images have become quite realistic, making the boundaries between real and synthetic increasingly blurry.

A real photo flagged as AI-generated by Bitmind Chrome extension.

While I don’t trust AI to do most photo edits myself, having tools like BitMind helps spot potentially AI-generated content when verifying sources, fact-checking news, or simply satisfying your curiosity about whether that too-perfect image is actually real.

The Hive AI Detector stands out for its versatility—it handles text, images, and even audio or video content, up to 30 seconds long. You can access it in multiple ways: highlight text and right-click to select Hive AI Detector from the menu, or use the draggable icon that opens a sidebar where you can paste content directly (up to 2,048 characters).

Hive AI Chrome extension confirming content as human written in the sidebar.

For images, right-click and select Hive AI Detector from the context menu. Using this extension is handy because it not only tells you if an image is AI-generated but also tries to identify which specific AI model was likely used to create it, along with a confidence percentage.

While Hive’s accuracy seems solid, like other AI detectors you can try, it sometimes delivers confusing results. This hit-or-miss nature is unfortunately common with detection tools, as AI can detect and prevent malicious attacks, but still struggles with perfect accuracy.

The best part? You don’t need to create an account or enter your email address to use this extension. Just install it and start using it. It respects your privacy while still providing a powerful detection tool.

But remember that these extensions are just tools to supplement your critical thinking. As AI content becomes more sophisticated, your gut feeling about authenticity might sometimes prove more reliable than any algorithm’s determination. Trust, but verify, that’s my approach to navigating the internet.

Tours Travel

22Apr

Thai tourists flock to Shanghai for a multifaceted experience of China

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Thai-tourists-flock-to-Shanghai-for-a-multifaceted-experience-of-China-1CKKLzPmbOo/img/a90d41bda9554f4f918b4548d213c2cc/a90d41bda9554f4f918b4548d213c2cc.jpeg' alt='The egg-shaped structure on the North Bund is a popular photogenic spot for international visitors to Shanghai. /VCG'

Shanghai is experiencing a noticeable surge in Southeast Asian visitors, with Thai tourists leading the way. Rather than following traditional tour routes, many Thai travelers come with their own checklists – often sourced from social media.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Thai-tourists-flock-to-Shanghai-for-a-multifaceted-experience-of-China-1CKKLzPmbOo/img/a99113823cfc461f84578bdcc6ed7f50/a99113823cfc461f84578bdcc6ed7f50.jpeg' alt='International tourists visit the 1000 Trees complex, a photogenic hotspot in Shanghai. /VCG'

From the futuristic egg-shaped structure at the North Bund to the artistic 1000 Trees complex, Thai tourists are flocking to photogenic hotspots popular with international visitors. Their itineraries are vibrant and packed: snapping street photos, sampling local food, partying at night bars, shopping for collectible toys, and spending magical moments at Shanghai Disneyland.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Thai-tourists-flock-to-Shanghai-for-a-multifaceted-experience-of-China-1CKKLzPmbOo/img/317907a35e554a2d8eaa407d76c159a3/317907a35e554a2d8eaa407d76c159a3.jpeg' alt='Visitors pose for photos at Shanghai Disneyland. /VCG'

“We don’t have those back home,” is a common response when asked about their travel picks. Their trips often end with a visit to dessert shops, where visitors stock up on cakes to take home as gifts for friends and family.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Thai-tourists-flock-to-Shanghai-for-a-multifaceted-experience-of-China-1CKKLzPmbOo/img/c449d54160944cd298eb6ec8ed4d4bab/c449d54160944cd298eb6ec8ed4d4bab.jpeg' alt='Sampling local cuisine is an essential part of any trip to Shanghai. /VCG'

Visa-free entry, affordable roundtrip airfares (about $140 during the off-season) and cultural familiarity have made Shanghai a favorite among Thai tourists. Chinese apps like Alipay and WeChat, which allow users to order food, pay bills, and instantly translate menus, add to the convenience.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Thai-tourists-flock-to-Shanghai-for-a-multifaceted-experience-of-China-1CKKLzPmbOo/img/e27c82950b69413da6d9995397e8fa56/e27c82950b69413da6d9995397e8fa56.jpeg' alt='A notice for the "instant tax refund" service is seen on display at a shopping center in Shanghai. /VCG'

Recent improvements to visitor services are making trips even smoother. The “instant tax refund” policy, which was extended nationwide on April 8, allows international visitors to receive refunds directly in stores, instead of having to wait until their departure at the airport. In Shanghai, the service is already available in nearly half of the city’s tax refund partner stores. The newly updated Shanghai Pass One-Day Tourist Card offers bundled access to public transportation, sightseeing attractions, shopping discounts, and dining perks – making it even easier to explore the city on a short stay.

Arts Entertainments

22Apr

Billy Ray Cyrus, Elizabeth Hurley make their romance official

It seems Billy Ray Cyrus doesn’t have an achy breaky heart with his new flame: British actor-model Elizabeth Hurley.

The country music artist, 63, and the “Austin Powers” alum, 59, hard-launched their relationship over the weekend in a joint Instagram post. “Happy Easter,” Hurley captioned the Sunday photo. In the picture, Cyrus dons a pair of green bunny ears and gives Hurley a kiss on the cheek as they lean against a wooden fence in a lush pasture.

Hurley’s 23-year-old son Damian, whom she shares with late film financier-philanthropist Steve Bing, commented on the Instagram post with celebratory and heart emojis. It seems Cyrus is the latest star to give love a go with Hurley, whose romantic history also includes ex-husband Arun Nayar (they divorced in 2011), Bing, NBA athlete Steve Nash and Hugh Grant.

Before Hurley, Cyrus was recently romantically linked to Australian singer Firerose. Cyrus, father of “Flowers” singer and “Hannah Montana” actor Miley Cyrus, met Firerose on the set of the Disney Channel show in the early 2000s and married his “Plans” collaborator in October 2023.

That marriage lasted less than a year.

Cyrus filed to divorce Firerose in June 2024. They settled their divorce two months later after trading scathing allegations of fraud and abuse. At the time, a representative for Cyrus said the singer was “relieved to put this nightmare behind him.”

Cyrus shared a look into his love life months after his adopted son Trace, one of the five children he shares with ex-wife Tish Cyrus-Purcell, voiced concern over his father’s health.

“You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it,” Trace wrote in a January Instagram post, days after his dad delivered a shaky performance at an Inauguration Day event.

Despite Trace’s public plea and accusation that Cyrus has “pushed all of us away,” the country singer said in a YouTube video that he was “praying for my family” affected by the January wildfires. Since then, Cyrus has also publicly praised daughters Miley and Noah Cyrus for their various achievements and projects.

Cyrus and Hurley’s seemingly unexpected relationship sparked some confusion in the Instagram comments (“Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert commented, “Wait….what?”), but the romance can reportedly be traced back to 2022. That’s when Hurley and Cyrus met on the set of the holiday film “Christmas in Paradise,” according to Page Six.

The former co-stars have “been friends for a long time and both found themselves single at the same time,” a source told the outlet. “The romantic side started only a few weeks ago.”

Auto

22Apr

LG Electronics To Exit EV Charger Business Amid Global Demand Slowdown in Electric Vehicle Market

Seoul, April 22: LG Electronics said on Tuesday it will exit the electric vehicle (EV) charger business, citing prolonged global demand stagnation in the EV market. The company’s EV charger-manufacturing subsidiary, HiEV Charger, will be liquidated, and all employees involved in the business will be reassigned to other divisions within LG Electronics, reports Yonhap news agency.

The company added that it will continue to provide maintenance services to existing clients without disruption. LG entered the EV charging market in 2022 by acquiring HiEV Charger, formerly known as AppleMango, after initiating early research and development in the segment in 2018. Delhi Government To Roll Out 76 Electric Buses Under ‘DEVI’ Initiative From Ghazipur Depot To Boost Last-Mile Connectivity and Sustainable Transport.

Since then, the company had offered charging solutions in South Korea, including chargers at Emart retail stores, and expanded into the U.S. market last year, opening a production plant in Texas in January 2024.

The decision to withdraw comes as LG Electronics has refocused its efforts to prioritise growth in its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) business. LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan had previously identified the EV charger business as a key growth driver in the company’s vision to achieve 100 trillion won (US$70.1 billion) in sales by 2030.

Last year, LG Electronics partnered with ChargePoint, the leading supplier of charging solutions for electric vehicles in North America, to expand its EV charging business on a global basis. ChargePoint manages more than 306,000 active ports across North America and Europe. LG Electronics said the partnership was expected to help the company explore further business opportunities on a global scale through ChargePoint’s expansive network and industry-leading charger management solution. Tata Motors, Tata Power Renewable Energy Partner To Develop 131 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid Project To Generate 300 Million Units of Clean Energy Annually.

This move was part of LG Electronics’ broader strategy to achieve 100 trillion won ($72.5 billion) in sales from business-to-business operations by 2030 by focusing on future growth areas, including the EV charging business.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2025 10:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

Business

22Apr

New Jersey Sues Discord for Allegedly Failing to Protect Children

Discord is facing a new lawsuit from the state of New Jersey, which claims that the chat app is engaged in “deceptive and unconscionable business practices” that put its younger users in danger.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, comes after a multiyear investigation by the New Jersey Office of Attorney General. The AG’s office claims it has uncovered evidence that, despite Discord’s policies to protect children and teens, the popular messaging app is putting youth “at risk.”

“We’re the first state in the country to sue Discord,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin tells WIRED.

Platkin says there were two catalysts for the investigation. One is personal: A few years ago, a family friend came to Platkin, astonished that his 10-year-old son was able to sign up for Discord, despite the platform forbidding children under 13 from registering.

The second was the mass-shooting in Buffalo, in neighboring New York. The perpetrator used Discord as his personal diary in the lead-up to the attack and livestreamed the carnage directly to the chat and video app. (The footage was quickly removed.)

“These companies have consistently, knowingly, put profit ahead of the interest and well-being of our children,” Platkin says.

The AG’s office claims in the lawsuit that Discord violated the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. The allegations, which were filed on Thursday morning, turn on a set of policies adopted by Discord to keep children younger than 13 off the platform and to keep teenagers safe from sexual exploitation and violent content. The lawsuit is just the latest in a growing list of litigation from states against major social media firms—litigation that has, thus far, proven fairly ineffective.

Discord’s child and teen safety policies are clear: Children under 13 are forbidden from the messaging app, while it more broadly forbids any sexual interaction with minors, including youth “self-endangerment.” It further has algorithmic filters operating to stop unwanted sexual direct messages. The California-based company’s safety policy, published in 2023, states, “We built Discord to be different and work relentlessly to make it a fun and safe space for teens.”

But New Jersey says “Discord’s promises fell, and continue to fall, flat.”

The attorney general points out that Discord has three levels of safety to prevent youth from unwanted and exploitative messages from adults: “Keep me safe,” where the platform scans all messages into a user’s inbox; “my friends are nice,” where it does not scan messages from friends; and “do not scan,” where it scans no messages.

Even for teenage users, the lawsuit alleges, the platform defaults to “my friends are nice.” The attorney general claims this is an intentional design that represents a threat to younger users. The lawsuit also alleges that Discord is failing by not conducting age verification to prevent children under 13 from signing up for the service.

In 2023, Discord added new filters to detect and block unwanted sexual content, but the AG’s office says the company should have enabled the “keep my safe” option by default.

Cryptocurrency

22Apr

Ethereum Upcoming ‘Pectra’ Upgrade to Improve Blockchain’s Stability, Efficiency: All Details

Ethereum, touted as the most commercial blockchain in existence, is set to undergo a significant upgrade in the coming days. Dubbed “Pectra”, the upgrade is aimed at improving Ethereum’s efficiency, stability, and usability. Initially, the upgrade was slated to be completed around early April, however, owing to the ongoing tests on the upgrade its deployment has been pushed by some days. According to Tim Beiko, who runs the core protocol meetings for Ethereum, the upgrade could be completed by April 30.

Pectra’s introduction to Ethereum will improve the blockchain’s ability to augment accounts and upgrade the experience for its validators, as per an official blog from Ethereum. It will also expand Ethereum’s scalability range for the supported Layer-2 blockchains like Arbitrum, Base, and Polygon among others.

Some Key Highlights

With Pectra, Ethereum users will be able to replace traditional private key-controlled accounts with programmable smart contracts for greater flexibility and security. This will notably advance Ethereum’s “account abstraction” features.

Explaining the feature, Ethereum said it represented “a major step toward widespread account abstraction, enabling users to enhance their Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) with smart contract functionality.

“This hybrid approach combines the simplicity of EOAs with the programmability of contract-based accounts,” the blog post read.

Through the feature, users will be able to execute multiple operations within a single transaction. This will eliminate the need to execute separate transactions for transaction approvals and token swapping.

Another significant feature that will come with Pectra is the “Gas Sponsorship”. Essentially, users will be able to process gas fee payments through other crypto tokens instead of accepting only ETH tokens.

For network validators, Pectra will introduce profitable rewards. “Pectra raises the maximum balance a validator can receive rewards on from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH, through an opt-in update of withdrawal credential type. For smaller stakers, this enables automatic reward compounding. Both existing and new validators can be configured to earn rewards on the entirety of their stake, up to 2048 ETH per validator,” the network explained.

Beiko has posted more details on the upcoming upgrade on X.

EIPs 6110, 7002 and 7251 improve validator UX by removing the delay between deposits on the EL and the CL queue (a PoW artifact), allowing EL addresses to trigger withdrawals (reduced trust assumptions) and increasing validators’ max effective balance (compounding rewards!) pic.twitter.com/X5PyAmJAGr

— timbeiko.eth (@TimBeiko) February 14, 2025

The word “Pectra” has been explained as the combination of Prague, the location of Devcon IV, and Electra, a blue-white giant star in the constellation of Taurus. Its testnet was activated on February 24.

Previous Ethereum Upgrades

In March 2024, Ethereum had undergone the Dencun upgrade. It was aimed at lowering the expenses for the Ethereum-supported Layer 2 networks.

Before that, Ethereum had completed its Shanghai upgrade in April 2023. That upgrade started allowing validators to withdraw their staked ETH tokens on the PoS network.

In 2022, Ethereum saw one of its biggest upgrades when its consensus shifted from energy-intensive Proof of Work (PoW) mechanism to the eco-friendly Proof of Stake (PoS). This upgrade was called the “Merge”.

Digital Marketing

22Apr

Google Ads to show ads in the top ads position, also in the bottom ads position

Google will now allow relevant Search ads from advertisers who showed amongst top ads to also participate in the bottom ads auction. As a reminder, the definition of top ads changed about a year ago, as Google began mixing ads in various organic positions throughout the search results.

With this change, Google also reminded us that it updated its unfair ads policy (i.e. double serving) to say this is not double serving. Google added the words, “in a single ad location,” as an exception to the policy last March after Google was caught double serving ads under its old definition.

What Google said. Google wrote:

Today, we’re sharing more about a recent change we made to deliver more relevant Search ads at the bottom of the search results page. When someone searches on Google, we run different auctions for each ad location where we show Search ads—for example top ads are selected by a different Search ad auction from ads that show in other ad locations. Until now, Search ads from a given advertiser were generally restricted to a single ad location on a given page.

Recently, we started looking deeply at the user experience with ads lower down the page and observed something interesting. Often, users would scroll past the top results to review content lower down the page, but then scroll back up if they found top results more relevant relative to content further below.

To help reduce this friction and improve ad relevance lower down the page, we will now allow relevant Search ads from advertisers who showed amongst top ads to also participate in the bottom ads auction. This means a user scrolling lower down the page might see a highly relevant ad from the same advertiser, but not necessarily the exact same content they saw earlier.

We tested this for several months and found that allowing advertisers who showed amongst top ads to also compete in the bottom auction increased rates of highly relevant ads by about 10%1 and increased bottom ad conversions by about 14%2, improving both the user experience and advertiser value lower down the page.

Google’s FAQ. Google also posted a Q&A on these changes:

1. Is Google Ads changing its policy around double serving for Search Ads?

No. The unfair advantage policy for Search ads applies to ads that compete with each other to show in a single ad location and we recently updated our language to make this clearer. With this change, we are allowing advertisers who show up in the top ad location to also be eligible for ad locations further down the page. However, within a single ad location (either top or bottom), we will continue to apply and enforce the existing policy.

2. How will this change affect the Search ads auction?

With this change, we will now allow relevant Search ads from advertisers who showed amongst top ads to also participate in the bottom ads auction. There are no changes to the auction that we run for top ads. Advertisers will continue to never bid against themselves with this change either in the top or bottom auction.

3. Will the same ad always appear at both the top and bottom of the search results?

No. We show the most relevant Search ad for each specific placement on the Search results page, whether it’s at the top or the bottom. The specific ad content shown to the user may be similar or different from the top to best suit the context of the bottom placement.

4. Does this change loosen query matching or ad load constraints?

No, our query matching systems and controls remain the same, as do our guidelines around the number of top ads we show on the page. This change is solely focused on the bottom of the page.

5. How can I understand the impact of this change?

This change, which will provide more opportunities for relevant Search ads at the bottom of the page, may impact your overall metrics. To understand the impact on your campaigns, we recommend that you segment your metrics by “Top vs. other” if you’re interested in understanding performance for different ad locations. The search terms report will continue to show query-level clicks, whether your ads are clicked on in top or bottom locations.

6. How do I best prepare for this change?

Since this update provides more opportunities for relevant Search ads to be seen, ensure your keywords, ad copy, and landing pages are well-themed with what users are searching for. As more opportunities become available at the bottom of the page, you will likely see higher conversion volume at your current targets. We recommend using bid simulator tools to explore potential performance changes and adjust your bids or targets strategically.

Why we care. Google has been testing various changes to ad positions within its search results for the past couple of years. Google has been happy with the results of those tests and thus continues to allow the same or similar ad, from the same advertiser, in multiple ad locations throughout the search results.

I believe many advertisers are happy about this new policy but some may not be. Either way, you need to be aware of these newish Google Ads rules.

Gaming

22Apr

Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Collector’s Edition Soundtrack Restocked At Amazon

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s Collector’s Edition soundtrack is back in stock at Amazon in limited quantities. Originally listed last year for $194 (ouch), it’s now up for grabs for a less painful–but still pricey–$125. The standard edition soundtrack is also available for a reduced price, though you won’t get the cool collectibles. Both versions of the Tears of the Kingdom soundtrack released last August. The Collector’s Edition ships directly from Amazon Japan for free, while the standard edition is shipped from a reseller in the US.

$94 (was $136)

The Tears of the Kingdom original soundtrack includes over 200 tracks across nine discs. Each disc features gorgeous Zelda iconography and comes with a large, decorative storage case.

$125 (was $194)

Step up to the Collector’s Edition and you’ll get the same nine discs as the standard edition as well as a stylish Master Sword USB Player with 15 additional tracks. You’ll also get a case with an exclusive design, giving you an easy way to store the volume when not in use.

Tears of the Kingdom is undoubtedly one of the best Switch games of all time. Weaving an engaging narrative with inventive gameplay mechanics and a sprawling world to explore, the successor to Breath of the Wild quickly proved it was far more than just an asset flip. Fantastic gameplay and exploration is bolstered by a powerful and stirring score helps bring the diverse world of Hyrule to life–and now you can own Tears of the Kingdom’s soundtrack in physical format (CDs).

Tears of the Kingdom is far from the first Zelda game to receive a physical soundtrack release. The list of prior releases includes Wind Waker, Majora’s Mask, Breath of the Wild, and more. For good measure, we’ve also tossed in two great Mario soundtracks–one of which was released to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary. Most of these soundtracks have limited stock and prices fluctuate frequently.

It is worth noting that Nintendo Switch Online members can listen to many Zelda tunes and other music from Nintendo’s first-party game catalog on the Nintendo Music app on iOS or Android.

Nintendo Game Soundtracks on CD

More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders

Health Fitness

22Apr

High-fat, high-sugar diets impact cognitive function

New research from the University of Sydney links fatty, sugary diets to impaired brain function. The findings build on a growing body of evidence showing the negative impact of high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diets on cognitive ability, adding to their well-known physical effects.

Published on Friday in the International Journal of Obesity, the research is the first to test in humans the relationship between HFHS diets, particularly those high in refined sugar and saturated fat, and first-person spatial navigation. Spatial navigation is the ability to learn and remember a path from one location to another, a process that can approximate the health of the brain’s hippocampus.

Dr Dominic Tran from the Faculty of Science’s School of Psychology led the research, which found HFHS diets have a detrimental effect on some aspects of cognitive function. It is likely those effects centre on the hippocampus, the brain structure important for spatial navigation and memory formation, rather than acting across the entire brain.

“The good news is we think this is an easily reversible situation,” Dr Tran said. “Dietary changes can improve the health of the hippocampus, and therefore our ability to navigate our environment, such as when we’re exploring a new city or learning a new route home.”

The research team recruited 55 university students aged between 18 and 38. Each participant completed questionnaires capturing their intake of sugary and fatty foods. They also had their working memory tested in a number recall exercise, and their body mass index (BMI) recorded.

The experiment itself required participants to navigate a virtual reality maze and locate a treasure chest six times. The maze was surrounded by landmarks that participants could use to remember their route. Their starting point and the location of the treasure chest remained constant in each trial.

If participants found the treasure in less than four minutes, they continued to the next trial. If they failed to find the treasure in this time, they were teleported to its location and given 10 seconds to familiarise themselves with that location before the next trial.

A seventh trial removed the treasure chest from the virtual maze but asked participants to find and mark its former location based purely on memory. Those with lower levels of fat and sugar in their diets were able to pinpoint the location with a higher degree of accuracy than those who consumed these foods multiple times a week.

“After controlling for working memory and BMI, measured separately to the experiment, participants’ sugar and fat intake was a reliable predictor of performance in that final, seventh, test,” Dr Tran said.

Dr Tran said the results highlight the importance of making good dietary choices to maintain healthy brain function.

“We’ve long known eating too much refined sugar and saturated fat brings the risk of obesity, metabolic and cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. We also know these unhealthy eating habits hasten the onset of age-related cognitive decline in middle age and older adults.

“This research gives us evidence that diet is important for brain health in early adulthood, a period when cognitive function is usually intact,” Dr Tran said.

Dr Tran said the sample group used in this research was not representative of the wider population, but the findings still apply more broadly.

“It’s likely our participants were a little healthier than the general population and we think, if our sample better represented the public, the impact of diet on spatial navigation would likely be even more pronounced.”

Dr Tran is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA).

Legal Law

22Apr

Call for Chapters: Book on ‘Transformative Technologies’

About the Book

In environmental sustainability, AI helps analyse large datasets, predict future trends, and optimize processes to improve environmental outcomes. AI technologies can be applied to various sectors, including energy, agriculture, waste management, water conservation, and transportation.

This edited volume aims to bring together scholarly insights on how Artificial Intelligence can transform environmental governance and sustainable practices across disciplines.

About the Publisher: Book Rivers

Book Rivers is an independent publishing platform that collaborates closely with academic institutions, researchers, and authors to bring meaningful works to print. With a growing presence in the field of academic publishing, Book Rivers emphasizes accessible publishing solutions without compromising on quality.

Its distribution channels ensure that published works reach both academic and general readership, making it a trusted partner for scholarly publications.

Sub Themes

AI and Environmental Legislation: Shaping Future Legal Frameworks.
AI-driven data analysis for real-time environmental monitoring.
Addressing ethical concerns in AI’s environmental applications.
AI, Environmental Justice, and Equity in Law.
IPR and Sustainable Innovation: Balancing Protection and Accessibility for Environmental Solutions.
The Role of AI & IPR in Promoting Green Technologies: Legal and IPR Consideration.
AI, International Environmental Law, and Global IPR Solutions.
Predicting environmental hazards with Ai-based forecasting models.

The above-mentioned themes are only indicative, any chapter relevant to the main theme would be acceptable. Authors are open to research on any topic related to the above-mentioned themes introspecting their own scholarly interests in this igniting area.

Eligibility

Contributions are invited from scholars, researchers, academicians, professionals, and students with an interest in the field.

Submission Guidelines

The themes are broadly suggestive. The author may write on any topic relevant to the theme of the book.
All the contributions should be the original work of the contributors. All submissions will undergo the plagiarism test and similarity should not exceed 10%.
Submissions should be in:
- Main Text: Times New Roman, font size 12, 1.5 line spacing, justified text, 1-inch margins on all sides (A4 size).
- Footnotes: Times New Roman, font size 10, single line spacing.
- Citation Style: Only footnotes are permitted. Endnotes, bibliographies, and in-text citations are not allowed
- Word Count: 3,000–5,000 words (excluding footnotes).
Headings should follow the following standard:
- TITLE OF THE SUBMISSION: Upper-case, bold, font size 14
- HEADINGS: Upper-case, bold, font size 12
- Sub-Headings: Title-case, bold, font size 12
The submission must be the original work of the author and must not have been published elsewhere or pending review.
Co-authorship is allowed. The maximum number of authors for a submission shall only be two.
Kindly use footnotes only. Footnotes should conform to the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi Citation Style of Footnoting.
The manuscript should be accompanied with the author’s name, designation, name of institute, contact number, and e-mail for future reference and correspondence. All submitted papers will go through a peer review process.

How to Submit?

All submissions are to be made in .doc/.docx format through the following email address: [email protected].
Subject line of the mail should read as “Chapter Submission – [Author’s Name]”.

Fees

A publication fee of INR 1000/- per chapter is applicable, which includes one hard copy of the book. In case of co-authored chapters, an additional hard copy may be requested by the second author for an extra charge of INR 500/-.

Important Dates

Last date of chapter submission: 10th June, 2025.

About Editors

Dr. Manzoor Khan – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Integral University.
Mridul Mishra
Areesha Aafreen
Khubaib Rehman

This book would be of interest to researchers, policy-makers, environmental professionals, legal scholars, and technologists.

Contact

Phone: 9305662950, 8881745668, 7651924369.

Disclaimer: WEF April, 2021, Lawctopus will not publish any ‘Call for Papers/Blogs’ by journals that charge money at the time of submission. If you find any journal doing so, please intimate us at tanuj.kalia[at]lawctopus.com

Lifestyle Fashion

22Apr

Invisible infidelity? How micro-cheating damages relationships without you noticing

In today’s hyperconnected world, cheating doesn’t always involve sneaking around. In this age of hyperconnectivity, cheating has evolved from secret rendezvous to seemingly benign acts like exchanging cute messages, late-night texts, or sharing aspects of life that are meant to be private and secure behind closed doors with people who aren’t registered as life partners.

Micro-cheating, a subtle betrayal in relationships, often involves emotional investments crossing boundaries. (Freepik)

This type of subtle yet hurtful betrayal is termed as micro-cheating. Though it may appear trivial, micro-cheating can have disastrous consequences on relationships and partnerships. Shallu Chawla, founder and matchmaker at Make My Lagan, shared with HT Lifestyle what micro-cheating is and how to deal with it. (Also read: How to build a secure relationship? Relationship coach shares tips )

What is it?

Micro-cheating does not limit itself to just physical affairs but encompasses boundaries of emotional investment as well. This happens when a person in a committed romantic relationship flirts with the boundaries of being unfaithful and engages in such behaviours, which include but aren’t limited to:

● Engaging in flirtatious exchanges with a “friend”

● Concealing social media actions such as deleting messages.

● Sharing personal thoughts and feelings with someone outside their primary relationship

● Seeking emotional thrill from others and going out of the way to get attention from them.

Micro-cheating is harmful, but more often than not, people do not carry ulterior motives while engaging in behaviour that is deemed inappropriate. It is safe to assume that a majority of individuals don’t realise the boundaries they are crossing until it is too late, and their partner becomes distressed.

An archetype of an underlying problem

Many people don’t realise they’re crossing boundaries until it’s too late. While intentions may not be bad, actions can still hurt a partner. Often, these are brushed off with lines like “we weren’t doing anything at all.” This erodes trust and emotional safety.

Following inappropriate accounts on social media is also one of the problematic micro-cheating signs.(Shutterstock)

Emotional withdrawal leads to secrecy and distance. Divorce or breakups are often blamed on surface issues, while deeper causes, like the emotional fallout on children, are overlooked. These children may feel disconnected and learn to manipulate to get what they need emotionally.

When responsibility fades, even morally wrong acts feel less serious just because they’re not illegal. In today’s world, emotional boundaries blur easily. Constant stimuli without real meaning can make emotional responses feel real, even when there’s no substance behind them.

When emotional distance turns into invisible damage

Feelings of emotional detachment, especially negative ones, transform less noticed into deep-rooted despair, heighten insecurity, and resentment level streams ensure gradual perception destructive chasm.

This enables to:

Feeling substandard
Constant emotional checking or second-guessing oneself
Enduring weak yet debilitating bonds
Loud outbursts without deeper reasons, marked by severe distaste that lacks any genuine value or true cause, leaving an open wound blamed on false logic, devoid of reason and heart.

How to navigate micro-cheating

1. Set boundaries together

Be as thoughtful as you can about the matter at hand: every relationship functions differently. Some couples may find exchanging casual messages with an ex inconsequential, whereas others may see it as a significant breach of trust. The answer lies in working together, not making assumptions. Sit together and discuss:

Micro-cheating may seem small or trivial on the surface, but it walks the fine line between personal privacy and emotional betrayal.(Shutterstock)

● Which actions or behaviours guarantee our feeling of safety?

● What order of boundaries exists between a friendship and an overstep?

● How do we restore the trust once a boundary is overstepped?

Empathy puts a lens of compassion as opposed to an attack. Exude empathy rather than accusations. Do not say, “You shouldn’t…” Words could be different saying, “I feel uneasy when…” This approach places more attention on care rather than assigning blame.

2. Shift from secrecy to transparency

If erasing messages and interactions and avoiding mentioning a person’s name around your partner comes to mind, stop. Ask yourself, What is it that I am hiding? Open and honest is not only about lying around the matter; open and honest refers to discussing in no uncertain terms, choosing to disclose information.

3. Rekindle emotional intimacy

For many people emotional needs do remain unmet, and that is a reason micro-cheating becomes common. Set a regular check-in routine with the intent to discuss:

● What is missing from our connection?

● What ways are there to provide aid and support each other’s emotional worlds?

4. Seek help if stuck

If resentment lingers or boundaries keep slipping, involve a neutral third party. A couples therapist can help untangle unspoken fears and guide you toward healthier patterns.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Medicine

22Apr

Novo says it’s submitted obesity pill for FDA approval

Dive Brief:

Novo Nordisk asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve a pill version of its popular weight loss drug in obesity earlier this year, a spokesperson confirmed to BioPharma Dive.
Novo first reported in 2023 that the drug, an oral form of semaglutide, succeeded in a Phase 3 trial, helping people on the highest dose lose about 15% of their body weight after 64 weeks. However, the Danish drugmaker didn’t seek approval immediately afterwards, instead focusing attention on other medicines that might improve upon the injectable drug it sells as Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for diabetes.
The approval filing comes as a race with rival Eli Lilly to develop a weight loss pill has intensified. Lilly last week said its oral GLP-1 pill succeeded in a large trial in diabetes. That drug, orforglipron, could be submitted to regulators if an ongoing study in obesity also meets its objectives.

Dive Insight:

Drugmakers are scrambling to grab a share of a market that could top $100 billion annually next decade, and pills that can spur meaningful weight loss are a big part of those plans.

Novo has long appeared to be well ahead of others in that race. It had already developed Rybelsus, an oral formulation of semaglutide, for diabetes, and began testing a higher-dose version of it in obesity. And in May 2023, it reported success in a study that tested as high as a 50 milligram oral dose of semaglutide.

In a statement at the time, the company said it intended to seek approval in the U.S. and Europe in 2023. Yet in an earnings report shortly afterwards, Novo conceded that a launch was “contingent on portfolio prioritizations and manufacturing capacity.” The company has several would-be obesity drugs in clinical development, including a closely watched combination therapy called CagriSema. And unlike Lilly’s orforglipron, oral semaglutide is a peptide drug, making its production more complicated than a traditional small molecule.

However, CagriSema’s progress has been slowed by disappointing study results that have forced Novo to redraw its development plan. Another oral prospect has also underwhelmed.

Through a series of investments, Novo has finally begun to make enough of Wegovy to meet demand, easing a supply shortage that’s lasted for years. Yet the 25 milligram daily dose involved in the oral version — around 70 times the top dose of Wegovy — could once again test its production capacity.

Novo’s executive team will provide more details about the approval application alongside the company’s first quarter earnings report on May 7, the spokesperson said.

Real Estate

22Apr

[PODCAST] Trump’s Tariffs: Are They a Threat or a Boon for Property? | Big Picture Podcast with Pete Wargent

There’s an old Chinese saying “I wish that you live in interesting times.” The irony of this is that “interesting times” are often times of trouble or turmoil, making the phrase more like a curse and boy are we living in interesting times at the moment with Trumps Tariffs creating fear around the world. It…

Technology

22Apr

The 8 Best Viral Video Websites To Watch What’s Buzzing Now

Viral videos aren’t just about laughs. They shape our social culture and often spill over into news and real life. But to see the best viral videos from around the web, you need to cover all the sites, from YouTube to TikTok and more.

To discover what’s truly viral, start here. Of course, YouTube is the world’s largest video platform. But the YouTube Charts page is the pulse of what’s viral in the music world. This section highlights the most-watched and fastest-rising music videos and the artists behind them.

The Charts update in real-time, so you’ll always find the latest record-breaking music videos ranked here. Select the country of your choice if you also enjoy music from other countries.

I like to browse the Daily top songs on shorts. I find it a nice shortcut to discover new songs on YouTube and expand my taste.

TikTok has played its part in redefining social culture. Its short, addictive clips are perfect for small mobile screens. The For You Page straight away serves up what’s trending right now.

TikTok’s diverse content includes everything creators put together, from dance challenges to comedic skits. You will find many educational and creative short-form videos too.

Trends move fast; videos often spill over into pop culture and other platforms. But if you want to catch the internet’s hottest moments as they happen, TikTok is the place to be, despite the many controversies it goes through.

Instagram might be the world’s favorite photo-sharing app. But Reels brings in the viral content here with a steady stream of short-form videos. Instagram’s algorithm pushes the most engaging Reels to the Explore page, so you’ll always see what’s buzzing.

The Reels are anywhere between 15 seconds and 3 minutes in length. Humor, music, and quick storytelling dominate here, making it a go-to for viral content that’s easy to watch and share. Use trending hashtags to find the content you like

I like to use Instagram Reels to find trending songs and music. Sometimes, the story inside the Reel is good as well.

If YouTube is the bustling street market of online video, Vimeo is the quiet art gallery. It’s refined and focused on quality over quantity. The focus on originality and artistry makes Vimeo one of the best alternatives to YouTube.

Two noteworthy features set Vimeo apart: its superior video and audio quality, supporting up to 8K resolution and several lossless audio formats. Its customizable, ad-free player is a boon for both viewers and makers.

Vimeo’s human-curated Staff Picks channel is a hidden gem for viral hits. To discover more viral content on Vimeo, visit the Watch page or explore curated channels and categories that interest you.

Dailymotion is a global video-sharing site that’s been around almost as long as YouTube. The French video sharing platform is especially popular in Europe and offers a mix of short-form viral videos, trending news, and entertainment. The homepage spotlights what’s hot, and you’ll find everything from funny fails to music videos and breaking news.

Dailymotion’s less crowded space makes it a great alternative for discovering viral content that might not surface elsewhere.

BitChute is an alternative video platform that promotes free speech and minimal moderation. Viral videos here often come from a small but highly engaged community.

While not as mainstream, BitChute’s trending section features videos that are niche. Some are controversial, some are quirky, but most of them are raw and unfiltered. If you’re curious about what’s going viral outside mainstream video-sharing sites, BitChute is worth checking out.

According to a 2023 Pew Research study, one-third of BitChute creators have been banned or demonetized on other social media sites.

Since 2008, 9Gag has been one of the internet’s go-to sites for memes, GIFs, and short viral videos. The community upvotes the funniest or most shocking clips, so the eye-catching ones rise to the top fast.

9Gag’s Top and Trending sections are packed with viral videos and memes that spread across other social media sites within hours.

9Gag also includes a lot of NSFW content, so it’s unsuitable for all age groups. Common Sense Media says no privacy setting or moderation is explicitly stated on the site.

DTube is a decentralized video platform that rewards creators with cryptocurrency and doesn’t rely on ads. Its trending section features videos that are getting the most attention, often from tech enthusiasts and those looking for alternatives to mainstream sites.

The site’s community-driven approach means viral videos rise based on user votes, not algorithms. DTube could be a fresh option if you want to support independent creators and see what’s trending on a blockchain-based social media site.

To keep up with what’s buzzing:

Check trending or viral sections daily—timing is everything.
Explore beyond the mainstream for hidden gems.
Share your favorites to help them go viral.

Whether you want a quick laugh, the latest meme, or a glimpse at what the world is watching, these sites offer more than you can consume in a lifetime.

Tours Travel

22Apr

Rare glossy ibises spotted in Qingdao

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Rare-glossy-ibises-spotted-in-Qingdao-1CKLTUdRBCg/img/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489.jpeg'

A flock of glossy ibises is seen foraging at a coastal wetland in Qingdao, Shandong Province on April 19, 2025. /VCG

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Rare-glossy-ibises-spotted-in-Qingdao-1CKLTUdRBCg/img/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489.jpeg'

A flock of glossy ibises is seen foraging at a coastal wetland in Qingdao, Shandong Province on April 19, 2025. /VCG

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Rare-glossy-ibises-spotted-in-Qingdao-1CKLTUdRBCg/img/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489.jpeg'

A flock of glossy ibises is seen foraging at a coastal wetland in Qingdao, Shandong Province on April 19, 2025. /VCG

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-21/Rare-glossy-ibises-spotted-in-Qingdao-1CKLTUdRBCg/img/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489/da15386d5ff0425eb0da98a8e0dca489.jpeg'

A flock of glossy ibises is seen foraging at a coastal wetland in Qingdao, Shandong Province on April 19, 2025. /VCG

A flock of glossy ibises, a first-class nationally protected species in China, was recently spotted at a coastal wetland in Qingdao, Shandong Province. The birds, with feathers that shimmer in vibrant hues in the sunlight, are even less common than giant pandas. Their appearance is seen as a positive sign of the area’s improving ecology, thanks to ongoing efforts to restore and protect the wetlands.

Arts Entertainments

22Apr

Kneecap claims pro-Palestine messages were cut from its Coachella set

The outspoken Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap is well-known for scathing criticism of Israel’s attacks on Gaza during its live sets. But the band says a few pointed moments from its two Coachella sets were cut from the fest’s official livestream, and wonders if its messaging played a role.

The band’s performance at the fest’s second weekend featured projections of text reading “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F— Israel Free Palestine.”

The band said on social media that those messages were supposed to have appeared during their Weekend 1 set as well, but “our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either.”

Representatives for Goldenvoice, the fest’s promoter, did not immediately return a request for comment.

During its first weekend set, the band reportedly led a boisterous chant celebrating the 2013 death of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, which they said was cut from the livestream as well.

No sets from Coachella’s Sonora Tent — the indoor venue reserved for the punk-inspired acts that made Goldenvoice’s early reputation — were filmed for the livestream during the second weekend. There, the group reportedly said onstage that “the Irish are not so longer persecuted under the Brits, but we were never bombed under the f— skies with nowhere to go.”

“Some uncensored messaging to Coachella,” the band wrote after its Weekend 2 set, posting images of its projections.

Kneecap was far from alone in criticizing Israel’s attacks on Gaza during Coachella. Headliners Green Day altered the lyrics of “Jesus of Suburbia” to sing, “Runnin’ away from pain, like the kids from Palestine.” Other acts like Blonde Redhead and Bob Vylan displayed Palestinian flags during their sets.

Music manager and executive Scooter Braun, who organized a museum exhibition on the Nova festival massacre in Israel, said on Instagram that Coachella founder Paul Tollett “is a good man and has been an outspoken advocate on behalf of survivors of the Nova Music Festival.”

Auto

22Apr

Delhi Government To Roll Out 76 Electric Buses Under ‘DEVI’ Initiative From Ghazipur Depot To Boost Last-Mile Connectivity and Sustainable Transport

New Delhi, April 21: In a boost to last-mile connectivity and sustainable transport, the Delhi government is set to roll out 76 electric buses from the Ghazipur depot starting Tuesday, transport department officials said.

According to officials, the first batch of these 76 buses will operate from the Ghazipur depot under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interchanges (DEVI) initiative.

The electric bus service is aimed at strengthening feeder connectivity to metro stations and major Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus routes, with each vehicle expected to cover approximately 12 kilometres. Eight buses will run between Anand Vihar ISBT Terminal and Keshav Nagar Mukti Ashram, while six will ply on the Seemapuri–Old Delhi Railway Station route. Ten buses will connect the Mayur Vihar Phase III Paper Market and the Mori Gate Terminal. Hyundai Motor Makes First-Ever Commercial Delivery of Zero-Emission ‘Elec City Town’ Electric Bus in Japan to Iwasaki Group.

Additionally, eight buses will operate between Anand Vihar ISBT Terminal and Swaroop Nagar, while six will serve the Anand Vihar ISBT–Humdard Nagar and Sangam Vihar route. Fourteen buses will be deployed on the Anand Vihar ISBT–Kapashera Border route.

The Nangloi and East Vinod Nagar depots are also expected to begin DEVI bus operations in the coming days. “Tomorrow, Delhi will receive a special gift from the government. It is launching electric buses which have been named ‘DEVI’. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav will also be present on the occasion,” said Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Previously known as the Mohalla Bus Service under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the project has been rebranded by the newly formed BJP administration with operational and infrastructural enhancements aimed at improving commuter experience and urban mobility, officials said. The service, which had been delayed for several months, is designed to improve public transport accessibility across the city. Automobile Exports From India: Vehicle Exports Rise by 19% Surpassing All-Time High of 53 Lakh Units for Financial Year Ending March 31, Maruti Suzuki and Bajaj Auto Lead.

Officials said most routes have already been finalised, and more will be added based on demand after reviewing the initial response. “The idea is to cover shorter routes that connect interior streets with arterial roads, so these buses can operate in areas where larger buses cannot,” said a transport department official, requesting anonymity.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Business

22Apr

Bluesky Is Rolling Out Official Verification

Starting today, Bluesky is rolling out a new verification system, complete with the familiar blue check marks popularized by Twitter.

The social platform, which has experienced rapid growth since it opened to the public in early 2024, formerly relied on an unconventional self-verification system where users could “authenticate” themselves by including custom domains in their web handles. Now it’s adopting a more proactive and traditional verification strategy, with the Bluesky team identifying notable accounts and bestowing blue check marks.

“It’ll be a rolling process as the feature stabilizes, and then we’ll launch a public form that people can use to request verification,” says CEO Jay Graber. The highest-priority accounts right now are government officials, news organizations and journalists, and celebrities.

As Bluesky has grown, it has seen an uptick in impersonators posing as public figures, as MIT Technology Review documented last year. To meet growing demand for ways to confirm that accounts are legit, some Bluesky power users have taken it upon themselves to create their own verification systems. As the app continues to attract celebrity users—former president Barack Obama joined earlier this spring—a more formal verification process will help reassure public figures that Bluesky is a safe digital hangout space. “We want to reduce fraud and impersonation and drive a more trustworthy environment on Bluesky,” Graber says.

Rolling out what is pretty close to a dupe of Twitter’s original verification system is not groundbreaking stuff. It’s savvy, nonetheless. The reason social networks like Instagram and TikTok aped the blue check approach wasn’t because they necessarily wanted to copy a rival’s features. It was because these symbols had been successfully established as a visual cue that an account had been vetted.

When Elon Musk purged the microblogging platform’s legacy blue check marks in favor of a pay-to-play approach, he zapped the symbol’s practical value within the X ecosystem and gave grifters and pranksters everywhere a lovely gift. Still, outside of X a blue check remains an easy shorthand for “probably not fake.”

In addition to this traditional, top-down verification approach, Bluesky is also offering “trusted verifier” status to a select group of vetted organizations. These organizations will be given a scalloped blue check mark on their Bluesky accounts. The initial batch of publications selected as trusted verifiers includes The New York Times and WIRED, with more in the works.

Whether an account is verified by Bluesky itself or by these third-party “trusted verifiers,” the blue check mark it receives will look identical. When users click or tap on the check mark, they will see a list of which organizations verified the account. For example, clicking on a blue check next to a WIRED reporter’s name would show that WIRED verified their identity and may show that Bluesky and other organizations also verified it. “Multiple organizations can verify one account,” Graber says.

The introduction of the trusted verifier system on top of the conventional, centralized verification offering is a nod to Bluesky’s general philosophy of decentralization. It’s also, one suspects, a deeply practical move, as the company’s head count remains under 25 people.

Bluesky users should begin to see the first official blue check marks today.

Cryptocurrency

21Apr

Binance Set to Re-Verify KYC Details of India Users

Binance is refreshing the database of its user details in India, the exchange said in an official announcement over the weekend. Binance’s India users have been directed to re-verify their Know-Your-Customer (KYC) details. This instruction will apply to both the new as well as the existing users of the exchange. Access to Binance was restored in India in August 2024, after it cleared a fine of $2.25 million (roughly Rs. 18.8 crore) for violating India’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

Binance informed its India users about the re-verification process through an email, it said in its announcement. The exchange said that the step aligns with its aim to maintain high security standards in the country.

The platform will be obtaining the PAN details of its users in India as part of this KYC refreshing process. PAN or (Permanent Account Number) is a 10-digit identification number assigned to all taxpayers in India.

Explaining the step, Binance said that it is “a requirement under the Indian AML laws” which “is not unique to Binance and equally applies to all local and global exchanges registered under India’s AML legislation.”

Other details that users will need to submit for their KYCs include name, date of birth, address, and images of government-issued ID. In addition, users will also be required to go through a facial identification process.

In 2024, Binance had ensured its users that uploading the necessary documents for the KYC was a quick process – the verification and approval process could take a few days. Once the verification is completed, the platform notifies the users accordingly.

Binance has assured its India users that it will keep their personal details safe and secure.

“We will only ask for details required under Indian anti money laundering laws for the prevention of financial crime and the development of a safe and responsible digital asset ecosystem,” the exchange noted.

In India, all crypto platforms are mandated to adhere to the anti-money laundering guidelines. As part of India’s PMLA laws, crypto exchanges need to have the KYC details of their users to keep an oversight on crypto trading activities. Upon identifying suspicious transactions, the PMLA requires exchanges to report their observations to the relevant authorities.

Last year, Binance CEO Richard Teng had said that the company recognised the vitality and potential of India’s thriving virtual digital assets (VDAs) market. The exchange also completed its registration with the Financial Intelligence Unit of India (FIU-IND) in May last year.

It is, however, noteworthy that Binance is yet to establish a physical presence in India.

Digital Marketing

21Apr

Meta tags for SEO: What you need to know

Remember when meta keywords were all the rage?

Fast forward to 2025, and while search engines have evolved dramatically, meta tags remain crucial building blocks of your SEO foundation, just not the ones you might remember.

You’re juggling countless priorities, so it’s tempting to view meta tags as “set it and forget it” HTML snippets.

But here’s the truth: properly optimized meta tags are still conversion-driving assets that both search engines and potential customers use to understand your content.

This guide cuts through the noise to spotlight the meta tags that actually move the needle – on rankings, click-through rates, and visibility.

Before we dive deep, here’s what you need to know:

Title tags and meta descriptions remain your most powerful meta elements in 2025.
With AI Overviews now prominent in search, robots meta tags have become crucial content governance tools.
Mobile optimization through viewport tags directly impacts your rankings.
Social meta tags drive significantly higher engagement when properly implemented.

What are meta tags?

You’ve heard about meta tags, but what exactly are they?

Think of them as your website’s elevator pitch to search engines, invisible to visitors but critical for rankings.

These HTML snippets live in the <head> section of your code, quietly working behind the scenes to tell Google, Bing, and other search engines what your page is about, who should see it, and how it should appear in search results.

Meta tags remain one of the few direct communication channels between marketers and search engines.

Despite all the algorithm changes we’ve seen, properly implemented meta tags still provide clear ranking signals.

Unlike the early 2000s when you could stuff keywords into meta tags and call it a day, today’s meta tags work as part of a sophisticated system that impacts not just rankings but also user behavior and conversion rates.

They’ve become even more crucial with the widespread adoption of AI-driven search features like Google’s AI Overviews.

Meta tags every site must have

Title tag

If I could only optimize one meta element, it would be the title tag every single time.

It’s the heavyweight champion of meta tags, appearing as the clickable headline in search results and significantly influencing both rankings and click-through rates.

Here’s what actually works in 2025:

Optimal format: Primary Keyword | Secondary Keyword | Brand Name
Character limit: 50-60 characters (Google typically displays about 600 pixels worth)
Psychology hack: Numbers and power words can entice clicks

I recently worked with a SaaS client who changed their homepage title tag from “Cloud-Based Project Management Software” to ” #1 Project Management Software for Remote Teams | Save 5hrs/Week”

The result?

A 27% increase in click-through rate and a jump from Position 4 to Position 2 for their primary keyword. That’s the power of a well-crafted title tag.

But here’s what most marketers miss: your title tag doesn’t exist in isolation.

It needs to work in harmony with your meta description to tell a compelling two-part story.

Meta descriptions

Think of meta descriptions as free advertising space.

While they don’t directly impact rankings, they’re your best opportunity to convince searchers to click your result instead of the competition.

The most effective meta descriptions follow this proven formula:

Open with a benefit or promise that addresses search intent.
Include specific details that build credibility (numbers, stats, features).
End with a clear call-to-action that creates urgency.

For example, compare these two meta descriptions for the same article about email marketing:

“This article discusses email marketing best practices for small businesses. Learn how to improve your email marketing strategy and get better results from your campaigns.”

“Boost your open rates by 37% with these 7 proven email templates designed for small businesses. See how brands like yours are driving 2X conversions with our step-by-step approach.”

The second example is specific, benefit-focused, and creates urgency.

Tip: Google now dynamically adjusts meta descriptions based on the search query, but don’t leave this to chance! Write compelling descriptions for your key pages, or Google might pull random text from your page that doesn’t convert.

Dig deeper: SEO for page titles and meta descriptions: How to win more clicks

Robots meta tag

The robots meta tag has evolved from a simple indexing control to a sophisticated governance tool for how your content appears in search, particularly in AI-generated results.

The most important directives you need to know:

index/noindex: Controls whether a page appears in search results at all.
follow/nofollow: Determines if Google should follow links on your page.
nosnippet: Prevents your content from appearing in featured snippets and from being used as input for AI Overviews.
max-snippet:[number]: Limits how much text can be used in snippets and AI Overviews.

This last point deserves special attention.

With Google’s AI Overviews now answering many queries directly at the top of search results, you face a strategic decision:

Do you want your content to be cited (potentially gaining visibility)?
Or do you want to drive direct traffic to your site?

For high-value content that answers specific questions, using max-snippet:50 can be a smart compromise.

You provide enough information to be cited in AI Overviews, but not enough for the AI to give a complete answer without the user clicking through.

Viewport meta tag

With mobile-first indexing now the standard, the viewport meta tag is non-negotiable.

This simple line of code ensures your site displays correctly on all devices:

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">

This tag is so important because mobile usability is a direct ranking factor.

Sites that force users to pinch and zoom on mobile can be impacted in search rankings, regardless of how valuable their content might be.

The strategy behind effective meta tags

Meta tags as the first impression

Your meta tags create the first impression in search results, before users reach your website.

This first impression needs to accomplish three things:

Signal relevance: Clearly show that you’re answering the user’s query.
Build trust: Demonstrate expertise and credibility.
Create urgency: Give users a compelling reason to click now.

The most successful meta tags address all three of these elements simultaneously.

Aligning meta tags with search intent

One of the biggest shifts in meta tag optimization is focusing on search intent rather than just keywords.

Today’s successful meta tags specifically address one of these four intent types:

Intent type	What users want	Meta tag approach	Example
Informational	Learn something	Educational tone, promise of insights	“What is Growth Marketing: 7 Essential Strategies Explained”
Navigational	Find a specific site	Brand-forward, direct	“Netflix Official Site – Stream Movies & TV Shows”
Commercial	Research before buying	Comparison terms, benefits	“Best Running Shoes 2025: Compare Top Brands & Features”
Transactional	Make a purchase	Action terms, urgency	“Shop iPhone 16 – Free Shipping & Returns Until Friday”

The key is matching your meta tags to what users actually want at this moment in their journey.

This alignment signals to both Google and users that your content is precisely what they’re looking for.

Advanced meta tag techniques for 2025

Social meta tags (Open Graph and X card tags) control how your content appears when shared on social platforms.

With social platforms driving significant traffic, these tags are essential for comprehensive visibility.

The minimum social tags you should implement on every page:

Canonical tags

The canonical tag might not be visible to users, but it’s crucial for preventing duplicate content issues and consolidating ranking signals:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://yourdomain.com/definitive-url">

This tag is particularly important for:

Ecommerce sites with product pages accessible through multiple category paths.
News sites that publish similar content across different sections.
Sites with both www and non-www versions (or HTTP and HTTPS variants).

Data-nosnippet

One of the newest and most valuable tools in your meta tag arsenal is the data-nosnippet attribute.

This HTML attribute lets you mark specific sections of content that you don’t want included in either traditional snippets or AI Overviews:

<div data-nosnippet>This content won't appear in snippets or AI Overviews</div>

This offers control, allowing you to protect your most valuable content, like executive summaries, key conclusions, or proprietary data, while still allowing other parts of your page to appear in search results.

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Measuring meta tag performance

How do you know if your meta tags are actually working?

Here’s my three-step process for measuring and optimizing meta tag performance:

Track click-through rate (CTR): Use Google Search Console to identify pages with lower-than-expected CTR for their position. These are prime candidates for meta tag optimization.
A/B test critical pages: For high-value pages, create variations of your title and description tags to see which combinations drive the highest CTR. Even small wording changes can yield significant improvements.
Monitor impressions in AI Overviews: Track when your content is cited in AI Overviews and measure the impact on both direct traffic and brand awareness. This helps inform your robots tag strategy.

One test for a retail client of ours discovered that adding product prices directly in their title tags (“Men’s Leather Wallet – $49.99”) increased their CTR by 23% compared to titles without pricing information.

Common meta tag mistakes

Even seasoned marketers make these meta tag mistakes that can hurt visibility:

1. Duplicate meta descriptions across multiple pages

I recently audited a site where 62% of their product pages shared the same generic meta description.

Google was forced to create its own snippets, resulting in inconsistent messaging and poor CTR.

The fix? Create unique, specific meta descriptions for each page, focusing on the unique value proposition of that particular content.

2. Keyword stuffing in title tags

It’s 2025, but I still see sites trying to cram every possible keyword variation into their title tags:

“Best SEO Services, SEO Agency, SEO Company, Search Engine Optimization Services”

This approach looks spammy to users and triggers Google’s title rewriting algorithm, giving you even less control over your SERP appearance.

3. Missing or improper robots directives

With AI Overviews now prevalent, misconfigured robots directives can lead to either:

Valuable content being completely excluded from AI citations.
Proprietary information being fully exposed in AI summaries.

Review your robots directives quarterly to ensure they align with your current content strategy and business goals.

4. Ignoring mobile meta tag optimization

Title tags and meta descriptions appear differently on mobile devices, with even tighter character limits.

Yet many marketers still optimize exclusively for desktop display.

Mobile optimization means:

Front-loading the most important information in titles and descriptions.
Keeping mobile meta descriptions under 120 characters.
Ensuring your viewport meta tag is properly implemented.

Meta tags and AI search: Preparing for what’s next

The rise of AI in search has fundamentally changed how we approach meta tags.

Here’s how to position your content for success in this evolving landscape:

Strategic decisions about AI content usage

Every site now faces a critical decision: Do you want your content to appear in AI-generated summaries?

There are valid arguments on both sides:

Allowing AI usage:

Gains visibility as a cited source in AI Overviews.
Positions your brand as an authority.
Creates multiple entry points to your content.

Restricting AI usage

Preserves direct traffic to your site.
Protects proprietary or premium content.
Maintains control over how your information is presented.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every brand should decide for themselves which aligns or take a hybrid approach.

Enhanced structured data integration

While not technically meta tags, structured data (schema.org markup) works alongside your meta tags to provide context to search engines.

In 2025, implementing relevant schema markup is essential for:

Qualifying for rich results (ratings, FAQs, how-tos).
Providing clear entity signals to AI systems.
Enhancing the appearance of your content in both traditional and AI search results.

The sites seeing the most success in AI-driven search are those that provide both strong meta tag signals and comprehensive structured data.

Your 15-minute meta tag audit

Ready to put these insights into action? Here’s a quick audit process you can run right now:

Check your top 5 landing pages in Google Search Console for CTR outliers.
Verify that each page has a unique, compelling title and meta description.
Ensure your robots meta directives align with your AI content strategy.
Confirm proper canonical tags are in place, especially for similar content.
Validate that viewport and social meta tags are correctly implemented.

This simple process can help you identify quick wins to increase organic traffic within weeks, not months.

Smart meta tags power search performance

In 2025, meta tags are no longer just technical SEO elements; they’re strategic marketing assets that require thoughtful optimization.

The most successful marketers approach meta tags with three principles in mind:

User-first thinking: Write for humans first, algorithms second.
Strategic control: Make deliberate choices about how and where your content appears.
Continuous testing: Regularly measure performance and refine your approach.

As search continues to evolve with AI at the forefront, your meta tags will remain one of your most powerful tools for visibility, engagement, and control.

The time you invest in optimizing them today will pay dividends in traffic and conversions tomorrow.

Gaming

21Apr

Nintendo Tells Fans To “Stay Tuned” For Next 3D Mario Game On Switch 2

Compared to previous Nintendo gaming console launches, the Switch 2 is arriving with a very small selection of first-party games. A new 3D Mario game was expected to be revealed during the big April Nintendo Direct, but that never materialized. For now, Nintendo’s favorite plumber will kick off the Switch 2 era in Mario Kart World instead. When can fans expect Mario to leap back into action? Nintendo remains tight-lipped on the future of its mascot, but it is teasing some news in the future.

“Stay tuned,” Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said to CNN. “You know, we have a long, long catalog, and a long list of (intellectual property) that I’m sure will make its way to the platform.”

Mario Kart World – Full Gameplay Overview Nintendo Direct Presentation | Switch 2

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While Bowser’s brief response could hint at something happening in the future, it’s anyone’s guess how long the wait will be for a new Mario 3D game. It has been eight years since Super Mario Odyssey arrived on the Switch, and since then, we’ve seen Mario in remasters of Wii U classics, spin-off games, remakes, and the well-received Super Mario Bros. Wonder 2.5D platformer game.

Beyond Mario Kart World, Nintendo does have several Switch 2 exclusives on the way, like Donkey Kong Bananza on July 17 and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond later in the year. Drag x Drive, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment are also scheduled to be released in 2025, and numerous Switch games are getting upgraded for the Switch 2.

Preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 officially open on April 24 in the US, and while the price of the console isn’t increasing, you can expect to pay a little extra for its official accessories.

Health Fitness

21Apr

Integrative approach reveals promising candidates for Alzheimer’s disease risk factors or targets for therapeutic intervention

A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital provides solutions to the pressing need to identify factors that influence Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk or resistance while providing an avenue to explore potential biological markers and therapeutic targets.

The researchers integrated computational and functional approaches that enabled them to identify not only specific genes whose alterations predicted increased AD risk in humans and behavioral impairments in AD fruit fly models but also showed that reversing the gene changes has a neuroprotective effect in living organisms.

“Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 50 million people worldwide and although researchers have learned a great deal about it over the years, its causes are still not fully understood and effective therapies are not yet available,” said corresponding author Dr. Juan Botas, professor of molecular and human genetics and molecular and cellular biology at Baylor. Botas also is the director of the High-Throughput Behavioral Screening Core at the Duncan NRI.

Although extensive genome-wide studies have uncovered hundreds of genes potentially associated with the disease, assessing the roles these genes play in AD is necessary to distinguish those that confer risk for the condition from uninvolved bystanders.

“We addressed this issue by first integrating published genome-wide association data with multiple computational approaches to identify genes likely involved in AD,” said co-first author Morgan C. Stephens, a graduate student in the Botas lab. “We then tested those computational predictions experimentally in the lab.”

The researchers systematically perturbed AD candidate genes identified from their computational analyses and assessed their potential to modulate neuronal dysfunction and hallmark AD-related cellular alterations, such as neuropathology or accumulation of tau protein, in living organisms.

“We worked with fruit fly models of the condition to assess whether these altered genes drove neuronal dysfunction leading to motor impairments. Importantly, we also investigated whether reversing the activity of those altered genes would also reverse the motor alterations in flies and tau or beta-amyloid protein accumulation in cells,” Botas said.

The computational analyses revealed 123 candidate genes for AD risk and the team confirmed that the expression of many of them is altered in human AD and correlates with the accumulation of tau or beta-amyloid protein in brain cells affected by the condition. Evaluation of 60 of these gene candidates available in fruit fly models pointed at 46 that modulated neuronal dysfunction in one or both fly models. The altered expression of 18 of these genes predicted the increase of AD risk in humans.

Importantly, reversing the alterations in 11 of these genes protected fruit flies from damage to their nervous system.

“In the list of final candidates, MTCH2 turned up to be at the top on the functional studies,” Stephens said. “MTCH2 expression is downregulated in human AD brain samples, and reducing its function in flies aggravates motor dysfunction. It was very exciting to find that restoring MTCH2 expression in flies reversed motor dysfunction and reduced tau accumulation in human neural progenitor cells in the lab.”

“Our findings support further exploration of MTCH2 for therapeutic purposes and highlight the value of a combined computational and experimental approach to uncover main genetic players in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions,” Botas said.

Other contributors to this work include co-first author Jiayang Li, as well as Megan Mair, Justin Moore, Katy Zhu, Akash Tarkunde, Bismark Amoh, Alma M. Perez, Arya Bhakare, Fangfei Guo, Joshua M. Shulman and Ismael Al-Ramahi. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor’s Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Disease.

This work was supported by NIH grants U01AG072439, R01AG074009 and F31NS129062.

Legal Law

21Apr

Junior Associate @ Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Delhi

About the Opportunity

Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, former Chief Justice of India, desires to engage two associates on a retainership for his office.

Educational Qualification

Law degree from a recognised university (5-year/3-year).

Eligibility

Fresh graduate (graduating batch of 2025) – four years PQE.

Probation Period

Three months.

Retainership Period

One year, extendable by mutual consent.

Retainership

INR 1,00,000/- per month.

Exclusive Retainership

Successful candidates are required to maintain confidentiality and cannot take up independent assignments, including filing Vakalatnama or appearing in courts/tribunals/legal forums.

Location

Delhi.

Expected Work

To assist in research and preparation of legal opinions, speeches/articles/books, and through the course of arbitrations (domestic and international).

Application Window

21 April 2025 – 20 May 2025. No application will be entertained after 20 May 2025.

How to Apply?

Interested candidates are required to send their CV (not exceeding three pages), a writing sample (published/unpublished), a statement of purpose (not exceeding 300 words), and a scanned copy of their law degree to [email protected] with the title ‘Application for position of junior associate’

Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed (physical/VC) to assess suitability for the position. Candidates can expect a response to their application by 30 May 2025.

Disclaimer: Charging money from students for internships or from job applicants is an unethical practice and can lead to blacklisting. Facing concerns? Please email us at [email protected]

Lifestyle Fashion

21Apr

Working mom approved: Why the Bombay Macrame x Rhea Kapoor sling is a wardrobe essential | Fashion Trends

Every wardrobe has its heroes, and for me, the “Little Black Bag” is one of them. I’ve been on the lookout for one that ticks all the right boxes without hurting your feelings because of how much it costs. After using the Bombay Macrame Rhea Kapoor Sling Bag for over two weeks, I can safely say this one comes incredibly close to perfect. I’ll explain why, keep reading.

Get set to go back to the basics but with a style upgrade. The Rhea Kapoor x Zouk collaboration has stolen our hearts(Hindustan Times)

It’s the kind of piece that blends fashion with function, giving off that stylish edge without compromising on utility. From brunches to birthday parties, this bag has been with me through it all and has proven itself every single time. It’s a part of the Rhea Kapoor x Zouk collaboration, and I honestly feel it’s one of those Zouk handbags for women that deserves a permanent place in the collection because of how effortlessly versatile it is.

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The timeless appeal: A modern take on a classic

Style, for me, has always been about collecting items that can live in my wardrobe for years without feeling dated, and this bag fits that brief perfectly. It’s got the kind of design that doesn’t shout for attention but still manages to hold its place. The macrame pattern gives it a unique texture that feels current while leaning into classic sensibilities. It’s modern, chic, and doesn’t feel forced on any attire. Even better, this design comes in multiple prints, so if macrame isn’t your thing, there’s still something for you. That alone makes it feel more inclusive and adaptable.

Dressing up with the Rhea Kapoor x Zouk sling bag!(Hindustan times)

First impressions: Look and feel

The first thing you notice is how put-together it looks. It’s stylish, and the macrame adds a lovely tactile detail that catches the eye. The bag holds its shape well, allowing it to appear polished even when it’s sitting. The hardware is finished neatly, giving it that elevated look without the designer price tag. It feels considered, but not overdone. I could see this working just as well at brunch as it would at a semi-casual work meeting.

More similar options:

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Spaciousness and functionality: The best of both worlds

One of the biggest wins with this Zouk handbag is how much it can hold. The main compartment is roomy enough for your phone, wallet, a small makeup pouch, keys, and even a compact umbrella. It doesn’t bulge or lose shape either, which is a huge plus. For someone who doesn’t want to constantly switch between bags, that sort of flexibility is gold.

While I’ve loved using this bag, there are a few quirks. The back pocket is a bit of a struggle to access. The outer material is structured, which makes slipping things in and out a little annoying. The inner smaller pockets don’t offer much breathing room either. You can fit a few flat items in there but nothing too bulky or you’ll be wrestling with it. These aren’t deal-breakers, but something to keep in mind if you’re someone who lives out of their handbag.

Now let’s talk straps. Without the sling, it has a very polished, put-together look. Perfect for dressing up a brunch outfit or carrying into a party. You can hold it in your hand, and it instantly feels a bit more chic. But when you’ve got errands to run, a child to manage or five shopping bags in hand, the long sling is the lifesaver you didn’t know you needed. It gives the bag a second identity, making it one of the most practical black handbags for women I’ve come across lately.

The Zouk handbag on the go!(Hindustan Times)

Material and hardware: A closer look and comparisons

The macrame material is textured in a way that feels premium. It’s not soft and slouchy, but structured and neat. When I compared it to a mid-level luxury black handbag I own, the fabric on that one was smoother and slightly more refined. That said, this one came surprisingly close in quality. For a bag at this price point, the materials chosen appear to be both aesthetically pleasing and durable.

The hardware deserves a mention. The zips glide easily, the clasps feel sturdy and the rings connecting the strap feel secure. Compared to my mid-level luxury bag, this one didn’t fall short by much in that department either. It’s those tiny details that often make or break an accessory, and this one delivers nicely.

Then there’s my discounted black handbag from a well-known brand, which cost almost the same as this Zouk handbag. The quality was on par, but where the Bombay Macrame Rhea Kapoor Sling Bag pulls ahead is in how much space it offers. It holds more and still keeps its shape, which my other bag struggles with(in terms of space). Plus, the overall finish and hardware on Zouk handbag felt more refined.

The Zouk handbag vs my other little black bags: A comparison(Hindustan Times)

More from the macrame collection: Rhea Kapoor x Zouk:

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The “one bag can do it all” experience

This black handbag for women has seen a fair bit of action in my life recently. I took it to lunch with a friend, and it paired perfectly with my breezy summer outfit. Then came a birthday party with the kids where it handled snacks, tissues, and my wallet without complaint. I also used it for a date lunch with the husband and it didn’t feel out of place at all. It fits with casual outfits just as well as something a bit dressier. That kind of flexibility is hard to find, especially in a bag that doesn’t scream ‘multi-use’. It’s just been quietly doing its job and doing it well.

Wherever I went, this bag followed and how!(Hindustan Times)

Rhea Kapoor x Zouk: FAQs

Is the Bombay Macrame Rhea Kapoor Sling Bag available in other colours?
Yes. This design is available in multiple print options layered over the black base. So even if you’re not into the macrame pattern like I am, other prints might catch your eye.
How practical is it for everyday use?
Very. It holds more than it looks like it would and keeps its shape well. With both the short handle and the sling strap, it handles daily life easily, from errands to outings.
Can I carry it to more formal or dressy occasions?
Yes, and it works beautifully. Ditch the sling and carry it by the handle and it instantly looks more polished. Great for brunches, small events or a lunch date.
Is the quality worth the price?
It punches above its price tag, honestly. It’s not pretending to be high-end designer, but in terms of finish, material and how it holds up, it’s a smart buy. Definitely better than some similarly priced options I’ve used.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

Medicine

21Apr

A judge blocked the FDA’s plan to regulate lab developed tests. What now?

The Food and Drug Administration’s attempt to increase regulatory scrutiny over laboratory developed tests appears to be dead, much to the relief of clinical labs.

The FDA is unlikely to appeal the March 31 federal court order that set aside a final rule asserting the agency’s jurisdiction over LDTs, attorneys who handle regulatory matters said in interviews.

The possibility that Congress could still overhaul the regulatory framework for diagnostic testing lives on, though any new legislative effort would likely take time, as the issue has not been a top priority for lawmakers.

“The LDT concept is sort of like a vampire, and it’s risen many times in the past,” said Jeff Gibbs, a director at the law firm Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, which represented the Association for Molecular Pathology in the case against the FDA. “This isn’t quite the stake in the heart.”

Intended to strengthen oversight of labs that develop, manufacture and use their own diagnostic tests, the FDA’s final rule would have regulated LDTs as medical devices. Over four years, it would have phased in requirements such as adverse event reporting, premarket review, registration, labeling and other provisions.

Concerned that the high costs of complying with the rule would force labs to discontinue some test services, to the detriment of patients, the American Clinical Laboratory Association and AMP sued to stop the FDA from enforcing the regulation — and prevailed. Judge Sean Jordan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the rule, which would have taken effect next month.

Most labs, whether in larger hospitals that perform complex tests or community settings focused on routine care, use LDTs to meet specific clinical needs, where commercial in vitro diagnostic tests are unavailable. Sheldon Campbell, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine, said LDTs are “any test that’s not done exactly the way the FDA approved it.”

With implementation of the FDA rule halted, “those labs can basically keep going with the staff they’ve got,” said Campbell, who is director of laboratories for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. “This is a real benefit for patients.”

LDTs are regulated under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments program, as established by Congress. The FDA, which regulates tests that it authorizes for use as medical devices, for decades followed an enforcement discretion policy toward LDTs.

The FDA’s view

In moving to expand its requirements for LDTs, the FDA argued that more active oversight was needed due to greater risks associated with modern versions of the tests.

“The FDA is aware of numerous examples of potentially inaccurate, unsafe, ineffective or poor quality IVDs offered as LDTs that caused or may have caused patient harm, including tests used to select cancer treatment, aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19, aid in the management of patients with rare diseases and identify a patient’s risk of cancer,” the agency said last year when it announced the final rule.

Then-FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said the agency could not “stand by” while Americans relied on the widely used tests “without assurance that they work.”

Campbell and others say LDTs already receive significant scrutiny under CLIA, a comprehensive framework through which issues with LDTs can be addressed. “Doing it incrementally and evolutionarily within the CLIA framework is a more sensible approach than creating a second entire regulatory apparatus for laboratories,” Campbell said.

The U.S. district court, which remanded the matter to newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., concluded the rule exceeded the FDA’s authority under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. The opinion cited the Supreme Court’s decision last year in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo in finding the FDA lacked the statutory authority to regulate LDTs as devices.

Despite the FDA’s determination to increase oversight of the tests, attorneys said they don’t think the agency will appeal the district court’s decision, though it could.

“Certainly the government has the right to appeal this and can do that,” said Chad Landmon, attorney at the Polsinelli law firm. “But a lot of people have thought, and myself included, that the more likely outcome is that they won’t appeal, and they will just let this die for now, until either activity from Congress or the next administration four years from now.”

The FDA did not respond to an inquiry from MedTech Dive on whether it would appeal the case.

Any comment or other response to the court’s opinion, such as a formal revoking of the final rule, could be slowed by recent cuts to FDA staff, including in the communications department, Landmon said, adding, “I do expect it’s such an important issue that we’d likely get some sort of statement or clarification about it.”

“The LDT concept is sort of like a vampire, and it’s risen many times in the past. This isn’t quite the stake in the heart.”

Jeff Gibbs

Hyman, Phelps & McNamara director

Under the new Republican administration, the FDA might not challenge the court decision, given the rule’s unpopularity with industry, said Ben Wolf, a partner at the law firm Alston & Bird. “I would say, for now, industry should feel pretty good about where things stand, as far as not having to come into compliance with the FDA requirements,” he said.

As the FDA considers its next steps, one area to watch is whether the regulator begins actions toward products previously not targeted for active enforcement. “They may choose to put their enforcement dollars elsewhere, but it certainly is a possibility,” Wolf said.

As for the work that labs put into preparing for the FDA’s rule before it was halted, “it’s not that it was a completely useless effort,” said Yale’s Campbell, because labs continuously evaluate their test lists.

The case for reform

Zach Rothstein, executive director of AdvaMedDx, the diagnostics division of medical device trade group AdvaMed, said having dual regulatory roles — one at CMS and one at the FDA — for what amounts to the same product is not a good use of the government’s resources.

“Given the questions raised by the court’s decision, it is in the interest of everyone for Congress to act to finally decide how, as a country, we should treat LDTs, because right now you can have two different tests for the same patient regulated by two different regulatory programs,” Rothstein said. “That’s not an efficient way for us to review these products, and it’s also not in the public’s best interest.”

Legislation called the Verifying Accurate, Leading-edge IVCT Development Act that sought to reform the regulatory framework for IVDs failed to gain traction in Congress in recent years despite multiple attempts to advance the bill.

“Given the questions raised by the court’s decision, it is in the interest of everyone for Congress to act to finally decide how, as a country, we should treat LDTs.”

Zach Rothstein

AdvaMedDx executive director

Several attorneys said that while diagnostics regulatory reform is needed, they don’t anticipate the current Congress, with both a Republican-controlled House and Senate, will pass legislation on LDTs anytime soon. For one thing, the VALID Act’s Republican sponsor, Larry Bucshon of Indiana, retired from the House in January.

State regulators could step in to help fill the void, said Matt Wetzel, a partner at the Goodwin law firm. He noted New York and Washington already have the infrastructure for regulating many aspects of lab operations. “The regulatory compliance I don’t think goes away,” Wetzel said. “I think we’re going to continue to see that as a significant cost for companies.”

At some point, however, a renewed legislative effort to modernize regulation of diagnostic testing and clarify FDA’s role in LDT oversight is likely, attorneys said.

“The subject of whether LDTs should be regulated is one that I don’t think vanishes. It’s now a question of congressional action, rather than FDA,” said Hyman, Phelps’ Gibbs. “Barring a successful appeal, the battle shifts completely to Congress.”

Real Estate

21Apr

Why Australia Is Unlikely to Fall into Recession (And Why That Matters for Property Investors)

Key takeaways

President Trump’s trade war poses a threat to Australian economic growth particularly via the indirect impact of weaker global activity driving less demand for our exports and lower commodity prices.

Australia is likely to avoid a recession though reflecting the shock absorber of a lower $A, plenty of scope to cut interest rates and election promises pointing to handouts ahead.

The trade war has a way to go yet but at least Trump is starting to blink.

You’ve probably noticed the headlines predicting doom and gloom — again.

Recession whispers are growing louder, with interest rate falls, global uncertainty, and consumer stress dominating the news.

But are we really headed for a recession here in Australia?

According to Shane Oliver, Chief Economist at AMP, the answer is a reassuring no.

And I tend to agree.

Let’s unpack why Australia is likely to dodge a recession bullet — and what that means for savvy property investors.

First, What Even Counts as a Recession?

There’s a bit of confusion out there.

The traditional definition of two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth is widely quoted.

But the RBA and Treasury use a broader lens.

They look for sustained weakness across several indicators: GDP, jobs, income, and spending.

That’s important.

It means a short-lived dip doesn’t necessarily qualify as a recession — especially if unemployment stays low and the economy bounces back.

So, Are We in Trouble? Not Exactly.

We’ve definitely seen the economy slow down.

GDP growth was weak over the last few years, and it’s likely to remain sluggish over the next few months.

But here’s the thing — this is more of a “slow patch” than a full-blown recession.

As Shane Oliver puts it, “it’s a per capita recession, but not a recession in the traditional sense.”

A per capita recession occurs when economic output (GDP) per person declines, meaning there is less economic activity available for each individual.

This is different from a traditional recession, which focuses on overall economic growth.

Note: In simple terms: Imagine a cake. If the cake (overall economy) gets smaller but the number of people (population) stays the same or increases, then each person gets a smaller slice of the cake (lower per capita GDP). That’s a per capita recession.

The 7 Reasons Australia Will Likely Avoid a Recession

Here are 7 solid reasons why we’re not heading into a full-scale downturn that I think they make a compelling case:

1. Australia has been resilient in recent decades

The old saying used to be that “when the US catches a cold Australia catches the flu”.

In other words, US economic downturns lead to even bigger downturns in Australia.

However OLiver points out that while Australia certainly experienced deep recessions in concert with the US in the early 1980s and 1990s, apart from the pandemic – which does not really count as it was due to health orders to stay at home – this has not been the case in recent decades.

Australia avoided recession in both the tech wreck and Global Financial Crisis.

2. The global economy should avoid recession

Oliver explains that the , the US is at high risk of recession, but global growth is more likely to slow than go into recession.

This means the second-round effect of weaker global growth on our exports, while significant at maybe 0.5% of GDP over a year, is unlikely to be devastating.

He explains:

The US is most at risk because it has threatened virtually all of its trade whereas other countries are only seeing their trade with the US impacted.

Given Trump’s ongoing policy chaos and the associated uncertainty which is hitting US confidence and decisions to spend and invest along with supply chain disruptions, the risk of a US recession is high at around 45% with 1% to 1.5% likely to be knocked of US growth.

3. Only 5% of our exports go to the US

The 10% US tariff on our exports is bad news for industries affected and there is likely more to come for pharmaceuticals (worth $2bn a year).

However, only 5% of Australian exports go to the US. Oliver explains:

This is worth less than 0.9% of our GDP and much of this will still continue, albeit the tariffed goods will now more expensive in the US.

What’s more much of it is fungible such as the $3.6bn in gold exports and $6.1bn in beef and should be able to find other markets.

So, all up the direct hit to GDP growth is probably only 0.1% at most.

4. A lower $A will provide a shock absorber

Oliver explains:

A plunge in the value of the Australian dollar partly explains why Australia was protected from the tech wreck, the GFC (the $A fell 39% at the time) and the pandemic (when it fell 19%) and the same is likely to apply this time.

Since its high last September to its recent low as share markets plunged, the $A has fallen about 14% against the $US, reflecting fears about the outlook for global growth and commodity demand.

This helps support the Australian economy by making Australian exports relatively cheaper (offsetting the impact of the tariffs) and boosting the Australian dollar value of commodities when their US dollar value is falling.

5. The RBA has plenty of scope to cut rates

If Australia’s economy runs into trouble, unlike going into the pandemic when the cash rate was just 0.75% the RBA has plenty of scope to cut this time around as the cash rate is at 4.1%.

6. Election promises point to easing fiscal policy

Oliver believes that with the Federal election now less than three weeks away Australians are being bombarded with spending and tax break commitments from both sides of politics.

The spendathon is bad economics, but points to a further easing in fiscal policy imparting a modest stimulus for the economy.

7. Trump may be getting a bit “yippy”

Oliver says:

“The past week has seen Trump blink in the face of the market mayhem he was causing and the backlash from American consumers and businesses.

The justification for the tariffs was always hard to pin down precisely with talk of: “escalating to de-escalate” as part of a negotiation to get better trade deals; retaliation for foes and allies “ripping us off”; border control and drugs; annoyance at other countries various regulations and value added taxes; to raise revenue with an “External Revenue Service” to pay for income tax cuts; to bring production back to the US to usher in a new golden age; as part of a “detox” for the economy; and with some concluding it’s all part of a strategy to cause a recession and lower interest rates so US debt could be refinanced at lower rates.

And the formula used to drive the reciprocal tariffs (trade deficit with country divided by imports from that country) made no economic sense.”

Some other factors

1. Population Growth Is a Major Buffer

With near record levels of immigration, our population keeps growing faster than almost every other developed nation

More people = more demand for housing, goods, and services.

It’s not the whole answer, but it certainly helps prop up aggregate GDP and consumption.

2. Strong Labour Market

Unemployment is hovering around 4.1%, and job vacancies remain high.

Sure, we’re seeing some softening, but this is still an incredibly tight labour market.

That alone keeps money flowing through the economy and staves off a dramatic pullback in household spending.

3. Inflation Is Cooling

This one’s crucial. Headline inflation is falling, and underlying (core) inflation is tracking lower too.

That means we’re going to see lower interest rates which would be a welcome relief for borrowers and investors alike.

4. Fiscal Policy Is Still Supportive

The federal government is not splashing cash like it did during COVID, it hasn’t slammed on the brakes either.

Infrastructure spending and energy rebates are providing targeted stimulus.

What This Means for Property Investors

This is where I think it gets interesting.

In times like these, the media noise gets louder, and many investors retreat to the sidelines.

But history tells us that opportunity often arises when others are fearful.

If we avoid a recession — and it looks like we will — that means:

✅ Employment will remain strong
✅ Migration-driven demand will keep rising
✅ Interest rates will keep falling throughout 2025
✅ The current soft patches in the property market may present a rare countercyclical entry point

In other words, this could be a prime time to act strategically.

Final Thoughts

Shane Oliver’s analysis is a welcome dose of reason in a market dominated by fear and misinformation.

Yes, the economy is slowing.

Yes, there are headwinds. But no — we’re not falling off a cliff.

For property investors who understand the bigger picture, this is a time to stay the course.

Or better yet, make your move while others hesitate.

Because as I often say: Don’t wait to buy property. Buy property and wait — especially when the fundamentals are quietly lining up in your favour.

Are you wondering how you should invest in this interesting phase of the property cycle?

If you’re like many property investors, you’re probably wondering what’s the right thing to do at present.

Should you buy, should you sell, or should you just wait?

You can trust the team at Metropole to provide you with direction, guidance, and results.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, at times like we are currently experiencing you need an advisor who takes a holistic approach to your wealth creation and that’s exactly what you get from the multi-award-winning team at Metropole.

We help our clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through a range of services including:

Strategic property advice – Allow us to build a Strategic Property Plan for you and your family. Planning is bringing the future into the present so you can do something about it now! Click here to learn more

Buyer’s agency – As Australia’s most trusted buyers’ agents we’ve been involved in over $4Billion worth of transactions creating wealth for our clients and we can do the same for you. Our on the ground teams in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane bring you years of experience and perspective – that’s something money just can’t buy. We’ll help you find your next home or an investment-grade property. Click here to learn how we can help you.

Property Development – We enable you to become an “armchair developer” and get all the benefits of property development without getting your hands dirty. We take the hassles out of your investment by assisting you with all the expertise you need, from concept to completion, including construction. Click here to see if it’s the right way for you to grow your portfolio.

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Property Management – Our stress-free property management services help you maximise your property returns. Click here to find out why our clients enjoy a vacancy rate considerably below the market average, our tenants stay an average of 3 years, and our properties lease 10 days faster than the market average.

About Michael Yardney
Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He’s once again been voted Australia’s leading property investment adviser and one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.

Technology

21Apr

Microsoft Is Making a Big Change to the Taskbar and I Hate It

Windows 11 brought some significant changes to the taskbar, and not everyone liked it. Now, Microsoft’s gearing up for another big change to the taskbar and I hate it already.

Microsoft Finally Adds Icon Scaling to the Taskbar

One of the downsides of the Windows taskbar was that if you had too many apps open, it would get crowded with icons until Windows hid them behind a context menu. I really like how macOS handles this with its dynamic icon scaling, and Windows has finally decided to adopt the approach.

The feature is currently in beta, and you’ll need to sign up for the Windows Insider program to test it out. Since it’s still a hidden feature, you can also use ViveTool and feature code 29785184 to gain access to the feature. Once you’ve installed the beta update, follow these steps to enable the feature.

Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
Click the Taskbar behaviors section.
Click the drop-down in front of the Show smaller taskbar buttons and choose between the Always, Never, or When taskbar is full options.

Microsoft, being Microsoft, decided to add its own spin to the feature. Instead of dynamically making the icons smaller with every app that gets added to the taskbar, the feature just makes every icon ridiculously small as soon as the taskbar is full, giving you more space.

That’s fine on a 13 or 14-inch laptop display, but on larger monitors and resolutions, it makes selecting apps from the taskbar a big pain. If you want to transfer your FPS game aiming skills to picking icons on your taskbar, this feature is for you. For people who don’t have pixel-perfect mouse control, I’d suggest keeping the feature off.

But Dynamic Scaling Isn’t Really the Best Option

Dynamic scaling isn’t the best option when it comes to fitting more icons on the Windows taskbar, at least in its current implementation. For starters, as I mentioned before, the icons are way too small, and you’re going to have to pay attention to where you’re clicking.

This seems like a small thing, but if you’re constantly switching between apps, these misclicks will slow you to an annoying halt. Additionally, the way Windows scales icons means you might end up seeing blurry icons and other visual artifacts like jagged or blurry edges that create a very poor user experience.

Dynamic taskbar icons in Windows 11 — Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf

The change in the icon shape, especially if you’ve got the setting to scale the icons only when your taskbar is full, will also throw you off visually. I often found myself taking a moment to find the icon I wanted to click on instead of just going with my muscle memory and clicking the much larger and clearly defined icon in the regular-sized taskbar.

If your taskbar is almost full, and you’re constantly opening and closing apps, this can also create a disorienting experience, as there’s no scaling animation. For me, icons often stuttered, lagged, or became unresponsive when switching sizes. The taskbar is a critical navigation element in Windows, and having it constantly change size can make it harder to follow.

Regular changes can also tax your system, as the OS needs to recalculate pixel values to scale the icons. Although the Windows implementation shouldn’t tax your system too much, it’s still possible it could affect system performance on lower-powered PCs that might already be struggling to run Windows.

Dynamic scaling is alson’t the best option for multi-monitor setups. I use four monitors and have always had problems with Windows struggling to maintain consistent scaling across displays. Depending on how much your monitors vary in size, resolution, and pixel density, it can create a disjointed experience.

Last but not least, this can be an accessibility issue for those with visual impairments or motor skill issues. I am near-sighted, and I couldn’t see the icons clearly enough without my glasses when scaled.

How Microsoft Could Improve Icon Scaling

Dynamic icon scaling works with macOS because it was designed from the ground up with a scaling dock in mind, and Apple has refined the dock extensively since. Windows treats the taskbar in a completely different manner, so it will take more than just shrinking the taskbar icons to get scaling to work right.

I’d like to see more scaling options, especially custom limits, for when the icons start scaling. The ability to set the taskbar scaling on a per-monitor basis would also be a massive help.

Additionally, letting users set their minimum threshold size would also be a worthy consideration. It’d avoid the icons getting too small for you to see while also providing space on the taskbar to accommodate more. Microsoft also needs to get the animation right on this. Seeing your icons jump back and forth in size is very off-putting.

How to Resize the Windows 11 Taskbar Icons to 32×32

Tired of blurry taskbar icons? Unlock their true potential by rendering them at their native 32×32 size on Windows 11.

Currently, the icons and their clickable areas shrink, but the taskbar height remains consistent. An option to change the taskbar height as the icons shrink can make the entire experience easier on the eyes.

Microsoft is moving in the right direction with icon scaling, but the feature needs a lot more work before it’s ready for the public. With the feature yet to be released to the public, there’s still room for improvement. This is a big change to one of the most important elements in Windows and it should be handled as such.

Tours Travel

21Apr

Twin brothers train mantis boxing by the sea in Shandong

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/Twin-brothers-train-mantis-boxing-by-the-sea-in-Shandong-1CBcqE8hZ6w/img/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf.jpeg'

Twin martial artists redefine mantis boxing by the sea in east China’s Shandong Province. /CGTN

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/Twin-brothers-train-mantis-boxing-by-the-sea-in-Shandong-1CBcqE8hZ6w/img/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf.jpeg'

Twin martial artists redefine mantis boxing by the sea in east China’s Shandong Province. /CGTN

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/Twin-brothers-train-mantis-boxing-by-the-sea-in-Shandong-1CBcqE8hZ6w/img/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf.jpeg'

Twin martial artists redefine mantis boxing by the sea in east China’s Shandong Province. /CGTN

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/Twin-brothers-train-mantis-boxing-by-the-sea-in-Shandong-1CBcqE8hZ6w/img/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf/3ee3ed589e7f4a2b9fd402cc988306bf.jpeg'

Twin martial artists redefine mantis boxing by the sea in east China’s Shandong Province. /CGTN

Set against the backdrop of crashing waves in east China’s Shandong Province, twin martial artists practice Seven-Star Mantis Boxing, a style they’ve learned from their father. They combine rapid strikes with flowing movements, mirroring the hunting technique of the mantis. Their fluid actions set against the rolling waves create a dynamic and impressive spectacle.

Arts Entertainments

21Apr

Gabriel Macht answered when ‘Suits LA’ called for Harvey Specter

Not all heroes wear capes. This one is an impeccably dressed lawyer who is often armed with a tumbler of whiskey. And the new “Suits” spin-off has called him back for duty.

When NBC announced that it was capitalizing on the success of the glossy legal drama — which concluded its USA Network run nearly six years ago but became the most streamed show of 2023 with its arrival on Netflix — with “Suits LA,” a Los Angeles-set spin-off revolving around a new group of ambitious lawyers and their dealings within the entertainment industry, creator and showrunnner Aaron Korsh kept any plans for appearances by characters from the original series more tightly under wraps than the logistics of the mysterious can opener ritual.

Rather than play the odds, he played the man and got Gabriel Macht to play Harvey Specter again.

Across nine seasons and 134 episodes, Macht took viewers on the smug but charming corporate attorney’s journey of emotional and personal maturation as he teamed up with — for more most of the show’s run — wayward genius Mike (Patrick J. Adams), whom he hired to be his associate even though the young man had never attended law school. Between cases, Harvey confronted his demons and by the series’ 2019 finale was a married man headed to Seattle to reunite with his sidekick to do some legal good for the little guys. (Macht, meanwhile, intentionally stepped away from acting to focus on his family once the series wrapped.)

Now, it’s early March and Macht’s on the set of “Suits LA” on the NBCUniversal lot putting the finishing touches on his three-episode arc, which was crammed into roughly a week of filming: “I really thought I was shutting the door on this character at the end of the original,” says Macht, with a set of dark-framed glasses the only thing distinguishing him from his character during a break.

Harvey’s arc primarily occurs in flashbacks circa 2010, establishing his friendship with “Suits LA” frontman Ted Black (Stephen Amell) around the time the latter was wrapped up in a case involving notorious mobster John Pellegrini (Anthony Azizi) that ultimately triggered his move to the West Coast. Ted was prosecuting federal cases for the U.S. attorney’s office in New York City and on a mission to put the mafioso — who used various intimidation tactics on Ted, including extorting Ted’s corrupt father (Matt Letscher) and inadvertently having Ted’s brother (Carson A. Egan) killed — behind bars; Harvey worked in the district attorney’s office. Later, when the murder case fell apart, Harvey, who by this time was working in the corporate sector, clandestinely helped Ted convict Pellegrini on racketeering charges. But with the criminal set to be released from prison in the present day, Harvey makes a trip to L.A. to rally Ted so they can get Pellegrini back behind bars. The arc concluded with Sunday’s episode, titled “Bat Signal,” which finds the dynamic duo in New York City to (successfully) execute their plan.

But is this the last viewers will see of Harvey Specter? Macht has learned not to say no to anything.

“Look, if everything fails in my life, I think I can go to Times Square, put on the suit and just pose for pictures, maybe?” he says with a wide smile as he ambles his way back to shoot a scene in the present-day timeline.

Like the Naked Cowboy?

“Yeah, I’ll be right next to him.”

The Times checked in with Macht a few weeks later over a video call to discuss the reprising of his character. Here are excerpts from the conversation.

Gabriel Macht reprises his “Suits” character Harvey Specter for NBC’s spin-off “Suits LA.”

(Nicole Weingart/NBC)

Since the resurgence of “Suits,” you’ve been asked about reprising your role for a revival or even a movie of the OG series. You’ve largely had some playful responses quashing the likelihood of that happening. What was the initial reluctance and how did this way become appealing for you?

When I was finished with “Suits,” I was ready to be done. I feel like we told those stories and we really stuck the landing. We left with integrity. At that time in my personal life, I was ready to be done and move on and focus on different things. I wanted to travel the world, and I wanted to fill up the daddy well, and, you know, really spend time with my kids and make up for lost time. That was really the focus. That’s where maybe those responses [came from]. Jump a few years, when Netflix picked it up, it dominated the viewership in so many ways that it just felt like it was sort of bigger than anyone could really understand and imagine. I’m seeing that there’s a new generation. Who knows, there might be a “Suits: The Musical” on Broadway in 20 years. It created a bunch of opportunities for a lot of the players from the original show. And when Aaron [Korsh, the creator and showrunner of both series] came to me and said [mimics Korsh’s pitchy voice], “Hey, I know you haven’t wanted to get back in this … ,” I said, “What is it? What’s the story?” All I was interested in was how he was doing and how’s the show going and support the show. He said, “Look, there’s a character that might have been friends with Ted, and I can make his name in the script Harvey, if you’d be willing to consider …”

And over the next days, I started to think about the fans and how much the fans are really so committed to this show. That was my first instinct … if they can make it happen, I want to do it for the fans.

Did it take some time for you to feel like you were locked in? We don’t see Harvey in a suit right away and I would imagine that’s what helps you get there.

It kind of was like riding a bike, especially when you put the suit on. Aaron has this way of writing where he’s got a lot of double negatives. They gave me one or two speeches where I had to get into that dynamic and I was like, “Oh, my God, I’m gonna have a panic attack. This is not why I came back.”

On set you mentioned that the baseball scenes were shot at Rancho Park, which is where you used to practice for your high school baseball team. That must have felt like a surreal, full-circle moment to be coming back to this seminal character in your career while returning to a place that had meaning in real life.

It was nostalgic in so many ways. I played up until my freshman year of high school. They put me on the bench. I didn’t really play that much. I loved baseball and I still love baseball, but I was like, “Oh, God, I should really be thinking about my future. Maybe I should go into the drama class or something.” They happened at the same time, so I can either do baseball every day or do drama and acting.

Going back to Rancho Park and being in a uniform, playing shortstop, and actually seeing my dad [actor Stephen Macht, who had a recurring role in “Suits”] come out was nice. I said, “Dad, I’m shooting at Rancho, if you want to come and visit.” He comes out and he’s sitting in the stands; apparently he asked them, “Where’s Gabriel?” And someone was like, “Who are you?” And he’s like, “I’m his father!” It brought him right back to when I was in high school or little league. And they’re like, “Oh, he’s playing shortstop.” He’s been in the business 50 years. And he was like, “Well, when’s the game starting?” It was a real moment for me to see him in the stands. During one of the takes, I was like, “Dad, you’re sitting with background, you’re like an extra right now. Go behind video village! You can watch the scene there.” It was a full-circle moment for us.

A man, wearing a black tuxedo, stands next to a woman in a black gown

Gabriel Macht, left, as Harvey Specter and Sarah Rafferty as Donna Paulsen in the 2019 series finale of “Suits.” (Shane Mahood / USA Network / NBCUniversal)

Patrick J. Adams, left, as Mike Ross and Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter in a Season 2 scene from “Suits” (Steve Wilkie / USA Network)

When it was announced that you were returning, it quickly became clear that one of the key cameos fans were anticipating with your return is Harvey’s wedding band. The Darvey shippers, myself included, wanted some assurance that Aaron did not mess with their favorite TV couple. Did you see some of that? And were you curious where Harvey would be at in life?

Yes, I was curious to see what it was and what was going to happen and what the storyline is; it could have gone in so many different directions. There’s no reference that they’re married and still together, but there is a reference that there’s a child. I was moved by that moment. I was moved when I read it, I was like, “Oh, that’s cool.” I said “Guys, in the flashbacks, obviously I don’t have a ring, but I think I should have a ring for the present time.” And they were like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” So, that’s how we basically said that this [Harvey-Donna] relationship is still continuing. It was a nice moment. It was a really nice moment. Now why we never mentioned anyone with the name Ted in 134 episodes [of “Suits”], but these guys are really great friends and he names his son after him …

Wait. Do you think he really named their son after him? I thought he was just teasing.

I think he [Harvey] was just playing with him [Ted]. But you never know with Harvey; he keeps so many things close to the chest. He could have really connected with him years ago. With television, with characters, you don’t know.

I have to say, I always thought Harvey would be a girl dad. Maybe they have a daughter who just can’t text yet. My niece loves doing the voice to text on other people’s devices.

That’s very possible. Maybe he has a girl who’s of the age of texting but doesn’t have a phone? We don’t give our daughter a phone.

Fans on the show know that Harvey lost both his parents. With his appearance on “Suits LA,” we learn his only sibling, Marcus, has passed in the time since. [Actor Billy Miller, who portrayed Marcus, died in 2023.]Have you asked Aaron why he has made Harvey endure so much pain and loss? Can we have some assurance that Harvey is at least going to the doctor and getting himself checked out?

That’s a good question. How do I answer this? The human in me says, look, there’s tons of loss in in our lives and humans go through loss every day. There’s always been a real sense of abandonment issues that Harvey has had throughout his life, and I think that that has been a dramatic tool that has been helped by writing for that. I don’t think Harvey really plays a victim, but I think it’s a way to feel for him. If you look at any Disney movie, the parents die within five seconds and that’s to get you on the hook of feeling like you gotta feel for this character.

Two men in suits sit across from each other

I know it was brief and we don’t get too much of present-day Harvey, but what was it like playing Harvey at this stage of his life and this stage in your life?

It was fun. He’s a little bit more settled. He’s a little bit more in touch with himself. He likes to still take the piss out of his friends and the people that are close to him. But what we love about Harvey is his sense of what’s right and making things right and his loyalty and his heart. There’s plenty of times he’s playing with the system. I think he’s doing what’s best. That was nice to play and just to be in in touch with that.

It’s interesting because there’s many versions of Harvey that I’m not a fan of and that I’m not crazy about and that I don’t like to engage in or support. I don’t like supporting the narcissistic elements of him. I don’t like supporting the aggressive, toxic masculinity that Harvey has in his toolbox. In these last six years, I have done a lot of work on myself and just seeing, what are the behaviors of Harvey that do align with me? There’s elements of behavior where, as the actor and as the character, you’re having to beat people down and manipulate and use so many negative behaviors that don’t align with me, or more so, align with the child in me, that I have been keenly aware that I need tend to.

What worked well for Harvey was my [inner] child. So, to be able to dismantle that or observe all the behaviors of the child — digging his heels in and saying, “This is what I need! This is how to do it!” — that selfish, sort of narcissistic coping mechanisms that you make as a kid, that’s the work to be done [on myself] to move away from him. I’d love to see a documentary where somebody takes characters where the actors have really lived in their shoes for so long that they become them in different ways, and how do they shake them at the end of the day and come back to themselves? I think it’d be really interesting

Could you see a day when you consider doing another TV series or returning to the screen?

I’m way more interested right now in this partnership that I’m doing with Bear Fight Whiskey. The small narrative stories where I can be creative are where my heart is right now. A television show is a big commitment. You’re basically owned by the show and the network and the stories and you really have to give up so much of your life. Maybe when my kids go to college or whatever, and there’s more time in my life that I can devote to that.

Your friends and “Suits” co-stars, Sarah Rafferty and Patrick J. Adams, recently wrapped re-watching the first season on their podcast. They’re on hiatus now, but do you think you’ll ever stop by as a guest? I need you on this podcast.

At some point, yeah. I don’t know when. The stars have to align. I think they’re doing great and I think they’re really enjoying it. I don’t know how I would go on there and talk — I have a bad memory as it is. I do not know if I would come in with much substance. I’ve seen clips [of “Suits”] here and there and I’m like, “I said that? I have no idea! I have no recollection of that!”

I do feel like Harvey has some explaining to do with Mike for using the whole Batman thing with Ted.

I think you’re right. You have to go after Aaron. He thought it was a little too meta and too much of a wink to the audience, but I’ll tell you, we said “Green Arrow” and “The Spirit.” [Amell played Oliver Queen in the CW’s “Arrow” and Macht portrayed the title character in Frank Miller’s 2008 film adaptation of Will Eisner’s “The Spirit.”] There’s a version of that that would have been gold, but [Aaron’s] a Batman guy, so you got to just say what’s on the page sometimes.

You grew up here. What’s the L.A. spot Gabriel would tell Harvey to visit?

Marty’s. I’m telling you, Marty’s burgers — it’s right near Rancho Park. It’s a greasy spoon. It’s the home of the combo. It’s where I used to eat all the time. I’m a vegetarian now, so I can’t go back there and eat there, but Harvey could.

Business

21Apr

Thousands of Urine and Tissue Samples Are in Danger of Rotting After Staff Cuts at a CDC Laboratory

Cathy Tinney-Zara, a worker at NIOSH’s Morgantown facility who spoke to WIRED in her capacity as the union representative, says that before they lost their jobs, the researchers at the facility had been actively studying how Gulf War soldiers were affected by exposure to Mustard Gas, how pregnant workers have been affected by exposure to PFAS chemicals, and how manufacturing workers contract lung fibrosis after inhaling nanoparticles.

Two Morgantown researchers—who like others in this story, asked to remain anonymous to avoid professional repercussions—say that their laid-off colleagues were also researching how agricultural workers are impacted by inhaling dust from hemp plants, and a possible link between exposure to chemical disinfectants and asthma. The lab was also about to begin developing a rapid toxicity test for chemicals that US troops may be exposed to while they are deployed.

Mandler says he was researching why some people who manufacture, cut, and install stone countertops were starting to get silicosis—a potentially fatal lung scarring and inflammation disease that makes it difficult to breathe—after just a few years on the job. Generally, he says, workers tend to get the disease after spending decades in the field.

“I have listened to men younger than me sit across the table and talk about how they feel like they’re drowning in their own lungs because of these exposures, and they can’t see their children grow up,” Mandler says.

He adds that some of the NIOSH staffers who lost their jobs were testing how lung tissue reacts after being exposed to the dust from different brands of commercial synthetic quartz. The material, commonly used in countertops, is thought to cause more severe lung damage than exposure to pure natural quartz, Mandler says. He believes something in the manufacturing process may be to blame, but now that his research team at NIOSH has been dismantled, Mandler fears it will take longer for the scientific community to find the root cause.

Three Morgantown researchers who were affected by the job cuts tell WIRED that they have not received any information about who would be in charge of the facility’s biological samples after the reduction in force, how custody of them could be transferred, or what their ultimate fate may be. Since entire divisions at NIOSH were eliminated, one researcher says, they don’t even know who could take responsibility for the samples they oversaw at the facility.

Another researcher says that when the layoffs happened, the only instruction they received was “to destroy our purchase and travel cards, and maintenance was available to help us take personal items to our cars.”

The researcher says that CDC guidelines direct employees to keep physical samples and accompanying personally identifiable information under lock and key, and only certain authorized staff are permitted to access them. “My colleagues and I took this responsibility very seriously,” the researcher tells WIRED. “Many are worried about samples and what will become of them, sensitive and otherwise.”

Even before the recent reduction in force, Mandler and two other laid-off researchers say that a federal spending freeze ordered by the Trump administration in January had reduced the Morgantown facility’s supply of liquid nitrogen to “critical” levels. It took several weeks to restart the shipments.

Cryptocurrency

21Apr

Jio Platforms Partners Polygon Labs to Bring Web3 Capabilities to Existing Apps, Services

Jio Platforms Ltd. (JPL) has announced a partnership with the Polygon blockchain as it plans its venture into Web3 technology. Reliance’s telecom subsidiary, Jio is looking to introduce features that rely on Web3 technology, on its existing features that are available to over 450 million users. JPL is looking to explore new capabilities offered by Web3 technology and offer an enhanced digital experience to its users, according to the company.

Over the last eight years, Reliance Jio has expanded from offering telecom services to like online and offline shopping stores, media streaming platforms, video conferencing, a web browser, cloud gaming service, and security services.

Jio and Polygon have yet to reveal which of the operator’s applications and services will be the first to be upgraded with blockchain capabilities. It is expected to be one of the biggest efforts to integrate Web3 technology with existing services in the country.

Speaking to Gadgets 360, Aishwary Gupta from Polygon said this development marks a big move for Web3 in India. Gupta is the global head of payments and fintech at Polygon.

“This is one of the biggest partnerships we have in India and the idea for us is to help Jio to enable Web3 components in its existing product suite,” Gupta said. “There are a couple of products we are working to integrate on as we speak. From an Indian perspective it’s a big move where we want to get India web3 enabled and this helps us in that direction,” he added.

RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani first hinted at a blockchain integration plan for Jio in August 2023. During the 46th annual general meeting of Reliance Industries, Ambani had said that the Jio Financial Services (JFS) will be the brand’s point of entry into the Web3 sector.

At the time it was disclosed that through JFS, Reliance will offer management services for digital assets. Details about JFS’ foray into Web3 have not been out since. Last year, media reports suggested that JFS and BlackRock were planning a wealth management venture and had filed with the National Stock Exchange of India in April 2024.

While Reliance has chosen not to expose its users to services around volatile crypto assets, the company has worked with other Web3 technologies. In 2023, Reliance General Insurance said it had begun accepting the eRupee CBDC for premium payments. The same year, Reliance Retail had also announced that it would let shoppers pay via the eRupee CBDC across its stores in Mumbai.

Commenting on the partnership with Polygon, JPL CEO Kiran Thomas said in a prepared statement that, “Joining forces with Polygon Labs marks a significant milestone in Jio’s journey towards digital excellence. We are excited to explore the boundless possibilities of Web3 and bring unparalleled digital experiences to our users.”

Digital Marketing

21Apr

Google Analytics 4 fixes data gaps, now flags issues early

Google Analytics is rolling out major updates aimed at sharpening marketing insights – boosting data completeness, adding richer context, and flagging issues before they become problems.

Key updates. Google announced these updates to Google Analytics 4:

Enhanced data completeness. New aggregate IDs and smart fallback tools keep reports accurate even without traditional tracking, helping you see campaign performance clearly while honoring user consent.
Updated data presentation. Labels like “(data not available)” and “(not set)” add clarity, helping you spot gaps and know where to take action.
Proactive issue detection. A new data quality indicator and auto-generated notes act as early warnings, helping marketers catch and fix tracking issues before they mess with data.
- If Google Analytics detects issues like large rates of missing session_start events – often caused by misconfigured tags – you will now receive notifications directly in the UI with guidance on how to fix them.

What Google is saying. A Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land:

“These updates are part of our ongoing efforts to improve data quality and help marketers get the insights they need to move their business forward.”

Why it matters. Marketers need reliable data attribution more than ever. These update try to address the growing challenge of data loss from privacy changes and consent restrictions.

The new features can help maintain measurement accuracy despite these challenges. By flagging implementation problems early and providing specific guidance on fixes, this update should increase the likelihood of making informed decisions based on more reliable data while still respecting user privacy choices.

Comparing against first-party data will still be key in ensuring that these new updates are doing what you expect them to.

The big picture. These changes come as privacy regulations and browser changes continue to impact how businesses collect and analyze customer data, making accuracy and reliability increasingly critical for informed marketing decisions.

The announcement. Google’s Help Center article.

Gaming

21Apr

Star Wars: Zero Company Reveal Trailer Teases Stealthy Tactics In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

After being teased earlier this week, Star Wars: Zero Company was officially revealed at Star Wars Celebration Japan on Saturday. The cinematic trailer for the game introduced the primary cast of Zero Company: a group of covert specialists who players will control in this turn-based tactics game. Developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, Star Wars: Zero Company will launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

Set during the twilight of the Clone Wars, players will step into the shoes of former Republic officer Hawks, who leads a motley crew of specialists behind enemy lines. Some of the characters here include a Clonetrooper, a Jedi Knight, and a Mandalorian, all of whom are original characters created for the game. Bit Reactor says that players will embark on a campaign of tactical operations and investigations in Zero Company, and between missions, they can develop a base of operations and gather intelligence through their network of informants.

Customization appears to be a big part of the game, as not only can the appearance and combat class of the protagonist Hawks be altered, but recruited operatives can also be personalized from a wide range of original Star Wars character classes and species. For the Zero Company cast whom Hawks commands, Bit Reactor refers to these allies as “Authored Characters” who players can interact and forge strong bonds with. Doing this will in turn unlock combat synergies that can turn the tide of battle.

“Our vision for Star Wars Zero Company is grounded in gameplay-design pillars that weave in the immersive Star Wars galaxy with engaging turn-based tactics gameplay,” Bit Reactor creative director Greg Foertsch said in a press statement. “It’s our aim to deliver a game with an original Star Wars story from the Clone Wars era that has meaningful outcomes from player choices, and deep turn-based tactical combat with an approachable and cinematic presentation.”

Star Wars Zero Company is one of several Star Wars games currently in development. Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human developer Quantic Dream announced Star Wars: Eclipse all the way back in 2021, Respawn is working on a Star Wars Jedi threequel, and Skydance New Media is also working on a mystery Star Wars game.

Health Fitness

21Apr

Lake deposits reveal directional shaking during devastating 1976 Guatemala earthquake

Sediment cores drawn from four lakes in Guatemala record the distinct direction that ground shaking traveled during a 1976 magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated the country, according to researchers at the Seismological Society of America’s Annual Meeting.

The earthquake, which killed more than 23,000 people and left about 1.5 million people homeless, took place along the Motagua Fault, at the boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plate boundary.

Severe ground shaking from the 1976 earthquake caused landslides and sediment-laden turbidity currents that can be seen clearly in cores taken from the lakebeds. Normally, researchers might expect that this shaking would produce the thinnest sediment deposits in lakes furthest away from an earthquake, since seismic waves weaken as they travel away from an earthquake epicenter.

But in the Guatemalan lakes, the cores with the thickest sediment traces of the earthquake occur at the end of the fault rupture, said Jonathan Obrist-Farner, a geologist at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “What we see is lakes that are actually the closest to the epicenter but just away from the rupture path have very thin deposits.”

Jeremy Maurer, a geophysicist also at Missouri University, suggested that the unusual pattern had in this case recorded the directivity of the 1976 shaking.

It’s not unusual for scientists to find evidence of past earthquakes in lake sediment cores, Maurer added, noting examples from New Zealand to Turkey that offer a glimpse at how far away a particular earthquake could have an impact.

“What hasn’t been done as much is looking at where these lakes are located in relationship to the fault,” said Maurer. “Are they off-axis or on-axis? Does the direction of the rupture have an effect on sediment deposits?”

When the U.S. Geological Survey collected field data after the 1976 earthquake, “they found, for example, adobe houses that were 10 kilometers south of the main rupture path that were still standing, yet those that were actually on the fault trace and towards the propagation direction all collapsed,” said Maurer. “I think there’s a lot of evidence that points to the directivity of the rupture and now we’re just looking at it sedimentologically from the lakes.”

The researchers began recovering and analyzing cores from the lakes in 2022. “We thought it would be a very interesting opportunity to not just look at the 1976 earthquake, but actually learn a little bit more about the paleoseismic history of the plate boundary, which we know very little of,” said Obrist-Farner, who is originally from Guatemala.

Although there was a brief rush of seismologists to the region after the 1976 earthquake, the impacts of a 36-year civil war and sparse instrumentation have left the plate boundary poorly monitored. Paleoseismic data like the lake records are important for building a more complete picture of the country’s seismic risk.

Last year Obrist-Farner’s team retrieved their largest cores yet from the lakes, with lengths of sediment that may represent up to four thousand years of lake history. Their initial analysis shows evidence of the 1816 earthquake of at least magnitude 7.5 that is known mostly from historical documents.

Legal Law

21Apr

Expert Course on ‘Mastering Contract Drafting and Freelancing’

Lawctopus Law School has launched a 6-month long online course on ‘Mastering Contract Drafting and Freelancing‘, consisting of 44 live sessions led by industry experts.

This course empowers students to draft over 24 complex contracts, including website terms and international agreements, and teaches you how to excel as a Contract Drafting Freelancer through platforms like Upwork, LinkedIn, etc.

About the 6-Month Long Expert-Level Course on Mastering Contract Drafting and Freelancing

This course is an opportunity for anyone looking to become an expert in contract drafting.

In the first two (2) months, you’ll learn the fundamentals of drafting contracts and get hands-on experience by identifying contracts, and reviewing and redrafting a sale deed all by yourself.

The next four (4) months will focus on specific contracts related to real estate, intellectual property, and business agreements (like NDAs, Master Service Agreements, Power of Attorney, Shareholders Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, e-contracts, etc., with 7-8 LIVE sessions each month. You’ll learn everything from drafting and negotiating clauses to handling execution formalities.

These four months will also include monthly sessions on freelancing, where an expert will show you how to build an online profile on platforms like Upwork and earn money, and the monthly networking sessions will help you teach you how to build your career through networking.

We will train you to set up your upwork profils, share some upwork opportunities with you, help you apply and support you in your first consultation so that you can serve your client confidently!

It’s a complete package for those who are serious about advancing their contract drafting skills and earning money through that.

For a detailed course schedule (draft), please click here.

Why You Should Join This Course?

Learn to draft 24 essential, high-demand agreements with hands-on guidance through 44 live training sessions led by industry experts
Develop drafting expertise in practice areas like: Real Estate, IPR, General Corporate, and International Contracts
Get freelancing training from a top-rated Upwork contract expert, receive direct opportunities on Upwork and handle your first client confidently!
Assignments: Draft 10 contracts and get personalised feedback on each of your drafts. Use these 10 fine-tuned contracts in your UpWork portfolio!
Learn to execute contracts (stamp duty, registration charges, witnesses, signatures, etc.), access ManuContract (CLM) for 2 months, and negotiate contracts like a pro!
Save 4 years of your legal career! Learn in 6 months what a lawyer learns in 4-5 years!
Get lifetime access to all the course materials (recorded lectures, reading resources, drafts, recordings of live sessions, etc.).

Courses and Costs

Lawctopus Law School currently offers 4 courses in the field of Contract Drafting and Negotiation.

6-Month Long Course on Mastering Contract Drafting and Freelancing: Rs. ~~50,000~~ – Rs. 23,900/-
4-Month Long Advanced Contract Drafting and Negotiation Course: Rs. 9900
2-Month Long Online Certificate Course on Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Rs. 6900
Self-paced Contract Drafting Course [Learn to Draft 15+ Agreements]: Rs. 6900

About Lawctopus Law School

Lawctopus Law School has taught a wide range of practical skills to over 20,000+ law students, young lawyers, professionals, academicians, and business people. Over 1000 students have rated our courses and the average rating is 92.6/100. Our online courses are ‘warm’ learning experiences!

Structure of this Course

The course begins with a live ‘Orientation Session,’ which explains how to fully benefit from it.

For the detailed month-wise structure, please click here (The PDF version of this doc is added below).

Note: We have also added the structure at the end of this post.

Click here to register for the 6-month long course here.

9 Unique Elements of the Online Course

*First*	Well-researched, practical & detailed reading resources
*Second*	Weekly Live Sessions for the first 2 months
*Third*	7-8 Live Sessions per month for the next 4 months
*Fourth*	Learn drafting clauses and agreements first-hand with our Faculty
*Fifth*	Recorded lectures by Industry Experts
*Sixth*	Understanding International Contracts & Agreements
*Seventh*	Monthly Freelancing & Networking Sessions
*Eighth*	Practical Assignments on real-life scenarios (Draft and Get Feedback on 9 Types Agreements: Sale Deed, Software Licensing Agreement, Non-Disclosure Agreement, Return & Refund Policy, Trademark Licensing Agreement, Franchisee Agreement, Power of Attorney, Shareholders Agreement, Joint Venture Agreement)
*Ninth*	Get detailed and individualized feedback on each of your drafts

You will draft 9 types of agreements as part of this course, with each assignment thoroughly evaluated by the faculty. Personalized feedback will be provided to every learner. Details in the Weekly structure. Click here.

How will this course help you?

Law students will be able to ace Law Firm internships and get freelance opportunities
Lawyers (with 0-4 years of experience) will be able to earn additional income through contract drafting skills
Learn to network better and generate income
Become familiar in using freelancing platforms
Learn to negotiate well in your daily life, during apartment hunting, job interviews, salary negotiations, M&A transactions, negotiation competitions, and more etc.
It will save 3-4 years of your legal career! What a lawyer learns after 3-4 years of practice, you’d have learned in 6 months.
Learn about international agreements, including aspects such as arbitration rules and governing laws, thus enhancing the scope of your freelancing.
Learn the nuances of drafting terms and conditions for websites and offer your services to the increasingly digital and always online world
The live sessions will make you an expert of 24+ most in-demand agreements in India.

Who can enroll for this course?

Law students
Young lawyers wanting to start earning through contract drafting
Academicians
Freelancing Enthusiasts

Click here to register for the 6-Month Long Expert-Level Course on ‘Mastering Contract Drafting and Freelancing‘

Course Developers and Faculty of this Course

Shashank Sardesai graduated from the University of Pune in 2018 and is currently working as an Independent Litigator and Company Secretary.

He has co-founded EverTrust Legal, a full service law firm after having previously worked with esteemed law firms such as Wadia Ghandy & Co., HSA Advocates and Khaitan Legal Associates.

He also holds a Diploma in International Business Laws from Symbiosis Law School, Pune (2014) and Diploma in Cyber Laws from GLC, Mumbai (2017).

Throughout his career, he has worked on partnership deeds, leave and license agreements, lease deeds, service agreements, loan agreements, NDAs, mortgage deeds, deeds of guarantee, etc.

Akanksha is currently working as the Head of Lawctopus Law School, where she has taught contract drafting & negotiation course to 1500+ learners and has received an average rating of 96.5/100.

Akanksha Mishra is an independent litigator with diverse experience in commercial and real estate litigation. She is practicing at the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench.

Akanksha has also been the corporate counsel for many start-ups, media companies, software developer companies, and PSUs like BHEL, MyCaptain, Mastersoft ERP Solutions, etc., where she drafted and reviewed multiple contracts.

Akanksha graduated from SLS, Pune, in 2018 and completed her LLM in Constitutional Law from Nagpur University in 2021, where she was awarded a gold medal.

Pranjal Doshi completed his law school education from HNLU (2018) and pursued postgraduate specialization in corporate law at the University of Cambridge (2019).

He has worked with leading Indian law firms having the likes of Trilegal and Khaitan & Co. He is currently working as an Associate at Walker Morris LLP, United KIngdom.

Pranjal specializes in mergers, acquisitions and private equity transactions and extensively works on investment documents (both buy side and sell side) such as the share purchase agreements, shareholders’ agreement and the like.

Arunima Jha has over ten years of experience in the legal field and is currently working as the Head Legal Counsel at Omnicom Media Group, a global leader in media, marketing, and corporate communications.

Her adeptness in media law derives from her preceding roles as Legal Counsel at BookMyShow, and K Raheja Corp, a distinguished real estate developer.

She holds an LLM in Business & Corporate Law from Mumbai University, and concurrently serves as a guest lecturer at various law institutes.

Arunima is also adept in privacy law, where she offers expert guidance on complex privacy and data security regulations. Throughout her career, she’s been involved in privacy assessments, separation plans, exit strategies, and preparing for public offerings, all while managing investment portfolios.

Adv. Jaibatruka Mohanta is a practicing Advocate before the Courts at Karnataka and other Courts across India. He is working as a Research Associate at the Centre for Environmental Law, Education, Research and Advocacy (CEERA), NLSIU to delve into cutting-edge research, policy formulation, and capacity-building programmes for the government of India.

Jaibatruka, along with his team, advises the Government of India on matters of Criminal Law reforms and is involved with various groups to strengthen the criminal procedure in India.

He also engages in teaching Advanced Contracts and assists the Professor at NLSIU in conducting sessions on Public Policy, Procurement, and Tendering.

H. B Keshava graduated from UPES Dehradun and completed his BSc. in Cognitive Psychology from Annamalai University.

He is currently working as the Managing Attorney of Baskaran and Associates, an IPR advisory and practice firm based in Pune.

He has been a guest faculty at New Law College, Pune, and at Career Launcher, Chennai.

Mr. Gourav Mohanty is an advocate primarily practicing in Bombay before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court as well as courts/tribunals in other parts of the country.

Before being an independent practitioner, he worked as a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Team of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (SAM).

A gold medalist, Gourav graduated from Symbiosis Law School, Pune, in 2016. While in college, he received the Ram Jethmalani Scholarship and the Chancellor’s Award.

Gourav has also received 2nd Prize in Linklaters NSLR Contract Drafting Competition.

Anup Menon V is a rank holder from Karnataka State Law University and holds an LL.M. in Corporate Laws.

He is currently working as a Senior Legal Counsel at C. Mohanram & Associates, a Kerala-based law firm focused on corporate and civil law.

Anup has extensive experience advising clients in India and internationally, including in the USA.

He specializes in serving clients in the Corporate, Banking, and Tech sectors, providing strategic legal counsel, drafting and reviewing a wide range of commercial contracts, managing corporate compliance, and offering guidance to startups.

Mr. Tanuj Kalia, the founding CEO of Lawctopus, graduated from NUJS Kolkata in 2013 and completed his MA in Law Politics and Society from AUD in 2019.

He’s the author of the book ‘Law as a Career’ (published by LexisNexis in 2015) and has keynoted at various forums including TEDx, leading private colleges, and NLUs.

He’s also the winner of Business World Legal 40 under 40 award. He’s currently training to be an ICF-certified coach.

As an MSME business owner he has negotiated business deals ranging from a few lakhs to a few crores in INR.

Click here to register for this course.

Course Fees

Lawctopus Law School has 4 different courses to learn Contract Drafting and Negotiation.

Rs. ~~50,000~~ – Rs. 23,900/- (For 6 months long LIVE expert-level course)
Rs. 6,900/- (For 2-months long self-paced module on 15 types of drafts)
Rs. 6,900/- (For 2 months long LIVE course)
Rs. 9,900/- (For 4 months long LIVE + self-paced course)

Add-on Benefits

Completion certificates are issued by Lawctopus Law School after completing the course.
Merit certificates are awarded to best-performing learners.
Access to webinars on contract drafting, contract lifecycle management, etc., are given for free
LLS alumni groups are available for exclusive internship/job notifications and discounts on courses/workshops.

Money Back Guarantee

In case you do the course sincerely and are still dissatisfied with it, we’ll refund you 100% of the money you invested; no questions asked. We are that confident in our course!

What does ‘sincerely’ mean? It means that you attend at least 75% of the live classes and complete the compulsory assignments successfully. If you still don’t think the course was worth the money, we’ll refund the full amount, no questions asked!

Just email us at [email protected] and the refund will be issued within 7-10 working days.

Questions?

If you have any queries regarding the course, please send an email to [email protected] and we will get back to you within 24 hours!

Comparison of the 4 Courses

	Course A	Course B	Course C (Course A + Course B + Advanced Negotiation Module)	Course D (Course A + Course B + Course C + 22 live sessions on specific agreements, 4 freelancing sessions, 2 negotiation sessions, and 4 networking sessions)
	2-Month Long Online Certificate Course on Contract Drafting and Negotiation	Self-paced Contract Drafting Pro: Mastering 20+ Legal Agreements	4-Month Long Advanced Online Certificate Course on Contract Drafting and Negotiation	6-Month Long Expert-Level Online Certificate Course on Mastering Contract Drafting and Freelancing
GOAL	Begin to master contract drafting	Learn drafting of 20 specific agreements	Begin to master contract drafting + Learn drafting 20 specific agreements	Become an expert contract drafting + start earning money as a freelancer
TYPE	LIVE	Self-paced	LIVE + self-paced	LIVE
TOTAL NUMBER OF LIVE CLASSES	8	NA	8	41
PRICE	Rs. 6900	Rs. 6900	Rs. 9900	Rs. ~~50,000~~ – Rs. 23,900/-
LINK	www.lawctopuslawschool.com	www.lawctopuslawschool.com	www.lawctopuslawschool.com	www.lawctopuslawschool.com
DURATION	2 Months	Self-paced (recommended: 2 Months)	4 Months	6 Months
LIVE LECTURES	Weekly live lectures	NO	Weekly live lectures for first 2 months	Weekly live lectures for first 2 months and 7-8 live sessions per month for the next 4 months
ELIGIBILITY	Those want to learn the fundamentals of contract drafting and the basics of negotiation	Those who already have the fundamentals in place and want to learn the nuances of advanced contracts and the higher aspects of negotiation	Those ready to undertake the journey from fundamentals to advanced levels of contract drafting and negotiation	Those who want to learn everything from scratch and gradually become an expert-level contract draftsman
IDEAL CANDIDATES	Young law students, experienced lawyers, business professionals, CAs	Young law students, experienced lawyers, business professionals, CAs	Young law students, experienced lawyers, business professionals, CAs	Young law students, experienced and in-experienced lawyers, business professionals, negotiators, CAs
TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED	4-5 hours/week for professionals; 5-6 hours/week of law students	4-5 hours/week for professionals; 5-6 hours/week of law students	4-5 hours/week for professionals; 5-6 hours/week of law students	5-6 hours/week for professionals; 6-7 hours/week of law students
COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS + PERSONAL FEEDBACK	2 assignments	2 assignments	4 assignments	10 assignments
NO. OF PAGES IN READING MODULES	202 pages of practical reading modules	485 pages (37 pages of practical reading modules + 448 pages of 20 agreement drafts)	800 pages (202 pages in Course A + 485 pages in Course B + 113 pages of Advanced Negotiation Module)	800 pages (202 pages in Course A + 485 pages in Course B + 113 pages of Advanced Negotiation Module)
DURATION OF RECORD LECTURES	8 hours 38 minutes	20 hours 10 minutes	32 hours 3 minutes	32 hours 3 minutes
DURATION OF LIVE LECTURES	13 hours	0 hours	14 hours	63 hours
NEGOTIATION MODULE	Fundamentals	Advanced	Advanced	Expert-level
CAREER SESSIONS TO BECOME A FREELANCER	NO	NO	NO	YES
NETWORKING SESSIONS	NO	NO	NO	YES
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE	YES	NO	YES	YES
ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUM	YES	YES	YES	YES
LEARNING MANAGER SUPPORT	YES	YES	YES	YES
WHATSAPP AND EMAIL REMINDERS	YES	YES (only emails)	YES	YES
LLS ALUMNI STATUS	YES	YES	YES	YES

Click here to register for the 6-month course.

Structure of this Course

Month 1: Draft of Essential Clauses of a Contract

Month 2: Execution Formalities and Negotiation Skills

Month 3: Drafting International Agreements, Common Agreements. and Advanced Negotiation Skills

Month 4: Drafting Intellectual Property, Technology Agreements, and Website Terms

Month 5: Drafting Real Estate Agreements

Month 6: Drafting Business and Commercial Agreements

Month 1: Drafting of Essential Clauses of a Contract

Recorded Lectures (25 in number)

What is a contract; difference between a contract and an agreement; importance of a written contract
Essential features of a well-drafted contract; components of a Contract; consideration clause of a contract; damages for default
Pre-contractual instruments
Primary focus of a draftsperson; disadvantages of using a standard template
Effective date of a contract
Definition clause; Identification of parties clause; Recitals clause
Territory of operation
Representation and warranties clause; Non-compete and non-solicitation clause; Termination clause; Force Majeure clause; Confidentiality clause
Governing law and Jurisdiction clause
Intellectual Property clause; Dispute Resolution clause Assignment of obligations; Conditions Precedent clause

Live Session (4 in number)

Skeleton of a contract and pre-contractual instruments
Substance and style of a contract
How to draft introductory clauses like ‘Description of parties’, ‘Recitals’, ‘Interpretations’, ‘Definitions’, etc.
How to draft operative clauses like Indemnity, Confidentiality, Conditions Precedent and Conditions Subsequent, Intellectual Property, Termination, etc.
How to draft boilerplate clauses like Force Majeure, Severability, Waiver, etc.
Networking Skills 1

Reading Resources

Purpose and Theories of Contract Law
Elements of a Contract
Pre-contractual Instruments: the step before a formal contract
Drafting of Agreements: Preliminary Terms
Drafting of Agreements: Operative Clauses
Drafting of Agreements: Boilerplate Clauses

Month 2: Execution Formalities and Basic Negotiation Skills

Recorded Lectures (18 in number)

Allocation of costs pertaining to a contract
Role of witnesses in a contract
How to draft an Employment Agreement, a Software Licensing Agreement, and an NDA
Introduction to Negotiation; Core Concepts of Negotiation; Importance of Negotiation; Key features of a good Negotiation
Negotiation Terms
Types of Negotiations; Techniques of Negotiations; The Negotiation Mindset; Role of a Negotiator
Essential skills of a good Negotiator
Steps involved in Negotiation – Pre-Negotiation; Steps involved in Negotiation – Post-Negotiation
Results of Negotiation
Special videos on ‘Anatomy of Contracts’

Live Session (4 in number)

Execution Formalities – Stamp Duty, Registration Charges, Witnesses, Signatures, etc.
Contract Lab
Negotiation Table Exercise
Oral Assignment Feedback Session

Reading Resources

Execution Formalities & Processes
Introduction to Negotiation
Key Commercial Contracts

Month 3: International Agreements, Common Agreements. and Advanced Negotiation Skills

Recorded Lectures (15 in number)

Introduction to international commercial contracts (Part I)
Introduction to international commercial contracts (Part II)
Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution Clauses in an International Contract
How to draft international agreements
Introduction to Loan Agreement
How to draft a Loan Agreement
An alternate method of drafting a Loan Agreement
How to draft an Employment Agreement
Introduction + How to draft a Non-Disclosure Agreement
Essentials of an effective negotiation
Mindset of an effective negotiator
How to negotiate commercial contracts
Mock negotiation of a Service Level Agreement between Company and Service-Provider
Add on recordings of webinars

Live Sessions (8 in number)

International contracts and e-contracts
How to draft an Employment Agreement
How to draft a Non-Disclosure Agreement
How to draft a Software Licensing Agreement
2 Sessions on Negotiation Skills by Tanuj Kalia
Networking Skills 2
Freelancing Session 1

Reading Resources

All about International Commercial Contracts
Draft of Employment Agreement
Draft of Non-Disclosure Agreement
Draft of Software Licensing Agreement
Introduction to Negotiation
Essentials of an effective negotiation
Mindset, Techniques and Skills required to be an Effective Negotiator
Negotiation of commercial contracts

Month 4: Intellectual Property, Technology Agreements, and Website Terms

Recorded lectures (13 in number)

Introduction to Trademark Licensing and Trademark Assignment Agreement
How to draft a Trademark Licensing Agreement
How to draft a Trademark Assignment Agreement
Introduction to Patent Licensing Agreement
How to draft a Patent Licensing Agreement
Introduction to Copyright Licensing Agreement
How to draft a Copyright Licensing Agreement
How to draft a Joint Venture Intellectual Property Agreement
Introduction + How to draft Terms and Conditions of an e-commerce website
How to draft Terms of Use of an e-commerce website
How to draft Terms of Use of a subscription-based product website
How to draft Return and Refund Policy of an e-commerce website
How to draft Privacy Policy of an e-commerce website

Live Sessions (8 in number)

International contracts and e-contracts
How to draft a Copyright Licensing Agreement and a Patent Licensing Agreement
How to draft a Trademark Licensing Agreement and a Trademark Assignment Agreement
How to draft a SAAS Agreement
How to draft the Terms and Conditions of a Website (2 types) and Terms of Use of a Website (2 types)
How to draft the Return and Refund Policy of a website and the Privacy Policy of a website
Networking Skills 3
Freelancing Session 2

Reading Resources

Draft of a Trademark Licensing Agreement
Draft of a Trademark Assignment Agreement
Draft of a Patent Licensing Agreement
Draft of a Patent Licensing Agreement
Draft of a Copyright Licensing Agreement
Draft of a Copyright Licensing Agreement
Draft of a Joint Venture Intellectual Property Agreement
Draft of Terms and Conditions of an e-commerce website
Draft of Terms of Use of an e-commerce website
Draft of Terms of Use of a subscription-based product website
Draft of Return and Refund Policy of an e-commerce website
Draft of Privacy Policy of an e-commerce website

Month 5: Real Estate Agreements

Recorded Lectures (4 in number)

Introduction to Sale Deed
How to draft a Sale Deed
Introduction to Leave and License Agreement
How to draft a Leave and License Agreement

Live Sessions (6 in number)

How to draft a Sale Deed
How to draft a Power of Attorney
How to draft a Franchisee Agreement
How to draft a Leave and License Agreement
Networking Skills 4
Freelancing Session 3

Reading Resources

Draft of a Sale Deed
Draft of a Leave and License Agreement
Draft of a Power of Attorney
Draft of a Franchisee Agreement

Month 6: Business and Commercial Agreements

Recorded lectures (8 in number)

Introduction to Sports Sponsorship Agreement
How to draft a Sports Sponsorship Agreement
Introduction to Shareholders Agreement
How to draft a Shareholders Agreement
Introduction to Share Purchase and Share Subscription Agreement
How to draft a Share Purchase and Share Subscription Agreement
Introduction to Partnership Agreement
How to draft a Partnership Agreement

Live Sessions (6 in number)

How to draft a Shareholders Agreement
How to draft a Share Purchase and Share Subscription Agreement
How to draft a Partnership Agreement
How to draft a Joint Venture Agreement

Reading Resources

Draft of Sports Sponsorship Agreement
Draft of Shareholders Agreement
Draft of Share Purchase and Share Subscription Agreement
Draft of Partnership Agreement
Draft of Joint Venture Agreement
Draft of Business Transfer Agreement

Click here to register for the 6-Month Long Course Here.

Lifestyle Fashion

21Apr

Nutritionist shares 7 worst breakfast items you should never start your day with: From poha to instant oats | Health

Starting your day with a nutritious breakfast can set the tone for your energy levels and overall well-being. However, not all breakfast foods are created equal. While some may seem like convenient or healthy options, they could be doing more harm than good.

Not all breakfast foods support health; many are just empty carbs, says nutritionist.(Pixabay)

Nutritionist Het Patel often shares insights related to health and wellness with her Insta family. In his 19 April post, he reveals the worst breakfast for your hormones. (Also read: Fitness coach shares if 5K steps a day can help you lose weight: ‘It’s like running marathon with work boots’ )

“Your breakfast might feel light and healthy, but it could be messing with your hormones. What’s not working and how to fix it,” Het wrote in the caption. Let’s take a look at his advice.

1. Cereals with milk

Packed with sugar and low in protein, this combo leads to insulin spikes and energy crashes.

Better option: Swap it for homemade granola with nuts/seeds and Greek yoghurt for better blood sugar control.

2. Coffee/tea with biscuits

No real nutrition, just empty carbs that leave you hungry and craving more sugar.

Better option: Have your coffee or tea after a balanced meal, and replace biscuits with a handful of nuts or a boiled egg.

3. Sandwich

Refined bread and processed fillings = blood sugar spikes and inflammation.

Better option: Use whole grain or millet bread, add a protein like eggs or paneer, and load up on fibre-rich veggies.

4. Upma/poha

Though they seem healthy, they’re mostly carbs, which can lead to quick hunger pangs.

Better option: Make sure at least 50% of the dish includes veggies. Keep upma/poha to 60% of the portion and pair it with a protein like paneer, sprouts, or curd for better satiety.

5. Fruit juice + toast

Sounds light, right? But it’s basically a sugar bomb—no protein, no fibre, zero satiety.

Better option: Eat whole fruits for the fibre and pair with nut butter toast or eggs for added protein.

6. Instant oats (flavoured ones)

Loaded with hidden sugars and very low in fibre or protein. Causes mid-morning sugar crashes and cravings.

Better option: Go for plain rolled oats and add chia seeds, nut butter, and fresh fruit for a more balanced meal.

7. Only fruits for breakfast

Just carbs = quick hunger, mood swings, and no real fuel for your body.

Better option: Pair your fruit with protein like Greek yoghurt, boiled eggs, or cottage cheese for sustained energy.

Medicine

21Apr

FDA cuts outlined in draft HHS budget

A draft budget document shows the Trump administration’s plan to slash funding to the Department of Health and Human Services includes substantial cuts to the Food and Drug Administration.

The preliminary budget sets a total of $2.9 billion in requested congressional appropriations for the FDA, according to Steven Grossman, the former executive director of Alliance for a Stronger FDA, and a copy of the document obtained by MedTech Dive. That would be a roughly 18.6% decrease from $3.6 billion in budget authority the FDA received in its 2024 fiscal year. The 2024 FDA budget also included about $3.3 billion in industry user fees.

The fiscal 2026 budget must be passed by Congress and could look different from the current proposal.

The draft document, which was dated April 10 and labeled “pre-decisional,” appears to come from the Office of Management and Budget. Known in budgetary parlance as a passback, it outlines the Trump administration’s priorities for the agency. The Washington Post first reported on the document’s existence.

User fees, which are collected by the FDA from drug and medical device manufacturers, are expected to continue through the 2026 fiscal year, according to Grossman’s reading of the document. User fees made up about 69% of the FDA’s $2.34 billion budget for human drugs work in fiscal 2024. The document claims the preliminary budget would provide “sufficient budget authority levels to meet statutory requirements necessary for FDA to collect medical product user fees in support of its premarket review activities.”

Politico’s Agency IQ reported earlier this month that, due to the Trump administration’s laying off of thousands of staffers, the FDA risked hitting a “trigger,” whereby the FDA could be required to refund industry fees if spending by the agency falls below a certain level.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams described the impact of the proposed budget cuts as “manageable,” adding that user fees could help bridge the majority of the funding gap.

Grossman disagreed, however, writing in an email that the loss in congressional appropriated funding would be a “direct loss, not offset by the modest, pre-specified increase in user fees.”

The document also proposes no funding for FDA buildings or facilities, or for pay increases, Grossman wrote in an FDA Matters blog post. The FDA would need to absorb any costs for the activities at the proposed budget levels.

The cuts to the FDA are just one piece of the budget proposal, which looks to slash the HHS’ discretionary spending by one-third. Other proposed cuts across the HHS could also affect drug- and device-makers, such as plans to reduce the National Institutes of Health’s budget by 40%, as reported by the Post.

Abrahams said the proposed NIH cuts could affect early-stage science and grant funding, while plans to shrink or eliminate other programs could reduce patient awareness around mental health conditions, sickle cell disease, cardiovascular and infectious diseases.

The budget cuts follow HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s orders to cut the department’s workforce by about 10,000 people in early April. While no official accounting of the layoffs has yet emerged, the reduction-in-force has dismantled entire offices and left others with drastically reduced staff, raising questions about agency functions.

Ultimately, analysts said Congress may provide more funding to the HHS than what is laid out in the president’s budget proposal. The budget requires 60 votes to pass, meaning seven Democratic votes would be needed, TD Cowen analyst Daniel Brennan said in a research note Thursday.

Historically, “NIH has had strong support from both sides of the aisle,” Brennan added, making a 40% cut to the agency seem “extremely unlikely.”

Real Estate

21Apr

Turning Investment Properties into Zoos?

The NSW Government has just delivered another blow to property investors, and this time it’s not about rental caps or land tax—it’s about pets.

Yes, pets.

But not just one or two.

Under new tenancy reforms, landlords must now allow up to four animals in their rental properties… and, in some cases, potentially even more.

This isn’t satire.

It’s the latest in a string of poorly thought-through policies dressed up as tenant protections, but which, in reality, risk pushing our fragile rental market into deeper crisis.

And once again, the investor—the person providing the roof over someone’s head—is painted as the villain and told to “just deal with it”.

Let’s unpack what’s happening here, why it matters, and what the likely fallout will be.

What the new rule actually says

Under the new regulations announced on 4 April 2025, landlords in NSW:

Can no longer refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet, unless they have approval from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), and…
Must permit tenants to keep up to four animals—whether they’re dogs, cats, rabbits, or other pets—unless they can prove it’s unreasonable.
And that key word—“reasonable”—is where it gets legally fuzzy.

For example, if a landlord objects to pets based on property type, strata rules, or insurance clauses, those may be overridden if deemed “unreasonable”.

But who determines that?

NCAT.

A tribunal member, not a housing or legal expert.

One person’s subjective opinion will now set a precedent for what’s acceptable in your investment property.

The guidelines also require landlords to provide a “suitable environment for pets”, meaning modifications to make the property more animal-friendly—think pet doors, fencing, and flooring adjustments.

All on the investor’s dime.

Let’s talk practicalities

Here’s the real-world impact for investors:

Increased wear and tear – Four animals in a home is not a small matter. Scratches on floors, pet odours, chewing damage, and backyard destruction aren’t theoretical—they’re real maintenance issues, often expensive to rectify.
Neighbour complaints – Properties with multiple pets increase noise, potential aggression issues, and even the risk of allergies or phobias in neighbouring tenants or residents.
Insurance concerns – Many landlord insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by pets—or if they do, they impose stricter premium costs or exclusions.
Dispute risk – The term “reasonable” now becomes a legal battleground. If you object to four pets, you’ll likely have to plead your case before NCAT. And we all know how time-consuming, stressful, and unpredictable that process can be.
Exit strategies – For landlords who might want to sell their property or repurpose it, pet damage or entrenched pet tenancies may reduce appeal or limit options for renovation.

This is not about being anti-pet.

Many landlords already allow pets, on a negotiated, case-by-case basis.

The key difference now is control—investors no longer have it.

And the consequences? Predictable and Dangerous

What happens when investors are stripped of rights, while their responsibilities and costs increase?

They exit.

We’re already seeing it.

Investors have been pulling out of the market since whispers of this reform began.

This new regulation just accelerates the trend.

In fact, Tim McKibbin, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, warns this will lead to a “mass exodus” of landlords from the rental market.

And we don’t need a crystal ball to know what that means: fewer rental properties, even tighter vacancy rates, and rents pushed even higher.

The irony is bitter.

In an attempt to improve tenant conditions, the government has created a policy that will likely worsen the rental crisis for everyone, especially the very renters they claim to be helping.

Government overreach or political performance?

Let’s not kid ourselves.

This reform isn’t about solving the housing crisis.

It’s about short-term political gain.

It panders to tenant advocacy groups and builds populist sentiment among pet lovers.

It’s a feel-good headline: “Tenants Can Now Have Pets!”

But beneath the surface, it’s another demonstration that private investors are being sidelined from housing policy decisions.

And that’s a mistake.

Investors provide over 90% of Australia’s rental housing.

You cannot fix the rental market by punishing them.

Yet that’s exactly what’s happening.

As McKibbin put it:

“The Government has assumed responsibility for housing tenants by driving investors out… but where are the homes going to come from?”

Good question.

A better way forward

Nobody is saying tenants shouldn’t be able to own pets.

But as with most things in life, balance is key.

A more sustainable and fair approach could include:

Optional pet bonds to cover potential damage
Clearer definitions of what constitutes ‘reasonable grounds’ for pet refusal
Support for investors making pet-related modifications, possibly via tax offsets or subsidies
Greater clarity in insurance coverage, with government and insurers working together to reduce risk

The real solution lies in collaboration, not coercion.

Investors, tenants, government—each is a stakeholder.

Yet too often, landlords are treated as a faceless obstacle rather than part of the answer.

The bottom line

The NSW Government’s pet reform might play well in the polls, but it’s a disaster for investor confidence.

And it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

With construction delays, record migration, and spiralling living costs, we need more rental stock, not less.

But instead of encouraging more supply, the message to investors is loud and clear: “You’re not welcome here.”

And when landlords walk away, tenants are the ones who’ll pay the price.

If this trend continues, we’re not just talking about a pet problem.

We’re talking about a policy problem that could push the state’s rental market to breaking point.

About Leanne Jopson
Leanne is National Director of Property Management at Metropole and a Property Professional in every sense of the word. With 20 years’ experience in real estate, Leanne brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to maximise returns and minimise stress for their clients.

Technology

21Apr

How to Watch Plex in VLC (and Why It’s Worth Doing)

Plex’s Media Player is great, but you know what I love more? VLC. This lightweight, easy-to-use video player is one of my favorite bits of software, and it’s easy to watch your favorite Plex content while using it.

2

How to Connect Plex to VLC

First things first, for this process to work, you need to have Plex Media Server installed on the device you’re streaming content to. Of course, you’ll also need to install VLC. And if you don’t already, make sure your host device—the one that has your content stored—is up and running. If you’re starting from scratch, it’s easy to start a Plex server!

Download and install Plex Media Server onto your device (the one you’ll be watching with VLC).
Download and install VLC onto your device (the one you’ll be streaming content to).
Launch Plex on your host device (or open it through a browser) and open Settings > DLNA. Toggle Enable the DLNA server.
Now, using the device you’re streaming to, launch VLC. At the top, select View > Playlist.
In the playlist on the left, under Local Network, pick Universal Plug’n’Play.

After a few moments, VLC will populate with content from your Plex server. Find something you’d like to watch and enjoy. It’s that easy!

9 Top Secret Features of the Free VLC Media Player

VLC should be your media player of choice. The cross-platform tool has a bag full of secret features you can use right now.

The Plex Media Player is great, but there are some strong reasons why switching it out for VLC is worthwhile.

VLC Is a Lightweight Program

While running Plex isn’t that intensive when idle and in use, I’m pretty stingy when it comes to using up resources. I’m the kind of person who will go to great lengths to eke out every megabyte I can. VLC runs at a fraction of the resources that Plex does. I did a quick test running the same movie (1981’s Clash of the Titans) on both platforms. VLC peaked at 75 MB of memory, while Plex peaked at 450 MB of memory.

With my devices certainly having plenty to spare for Plex, I have a couple of aging devices that I still use, and one of them is the old laptop I use to run my Plex server. And with those numbers, I’m looking at a roughly 80% memory reduction. Any minor performance gain I can get, I’ll take it.

As an aside, VLC is lightweight in the sense of its UI, too. Plex is by no means a bother to use—I rather like its navigation experience compared to, say, Jellyfin or Emby—but when I want simpler, VLC is my go-to.

How to Fix VLC Media Player When It’s Not Playing Videos on Windows 11

There are a lot of reasons why VLC can’t show videos on Windows 11, and here are some of the main culprits.

It’s Easier to Avoid Transcoding Problems

While having local access without authentication can be a quick fix when Plex gives me transcoding problems, it’s not much of a fix when there’s an outage in my area and the internet is down. More importantly, VLC’s secret weapon is that it already has an exhaustive list of codecs built right in, meaning it doesn’t need to transcode my content anyway.

If my network is up and running, being able to bypass transcoding is also beneficial to my host device, which is super helpful because it is an older laptop with an aging CPU. VLC’s lightweight nature comes in handy in more ways than one!

VLC’s Sorting and Video Options Are Superior

Adjustments and Effects menu within VLC, with Clash of the Titans 1981 playing in the background

Again, this isn’t a knock against Plex’s interface. I rarely have issues finding content I want to watch. However, you have to be painfully aware of how you’re sorting your library beforehand. With VLC, that’s not a problem; VLC does the sorting for you using metadata in all sorts of ways, like genre, artist, decade, resolution, country, and more.

When I do find something to watch, I love being able to fiddle with my video settings. VLC allows you to adjust video effects, synchronization, and even EQ settings. I’m not always using the same device to watch my content, so it’s always nice to be able to adjust the volume to compensate for a particular speaker’s middling performance or lackluster image quality.

How to Fix Video Lag in VLC Media Player on Windows

If your videos on VLC are getting choppy, here’s how to fix it on Windows.

I also like VLC’s playback options over Plex—the two standout features being custom bookmarks and the option to record clips. Being able to specify a time has also come in handy when I’m too lazy to sift through a movie for a particular scene.

VLC proves, once again, why it’s so awesome. And since VLC is quick and snappy, there’s even less friction between me and my Plex library. It’s a simple solution when I just want to ignore everything else but the file.

Tours Travel

21Apr

New sci-fi center in Shanghai to open with 'Three-Body' spectacle

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/New-sci-fi-center-in-Shanghai-to-open-with-Three-Body-spectacle-1CJ3xYQlhK0/img/8330d0f75766412ba39ca6dc12828de8/8330d0f75766412ba39ca6dc12828de8.jpeg' alt='The new sci-fi center in Shanghai is lit up on April 15, 2025. /VCG'

A new sci-fi center inspired by China’s iconic trilogy “The Three-Body Problem” is set to open this summer in Shanghai, inviting visitors to step into the universe of Liu Cixin’s celebrated work.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/New-sci-fi-center-in-Shanghai-to-open-with-Three-Body-spectacle-1CJ3xYQlhK0/img/70b68791292f470da02c849fb5c1162d/70b68791292f470da02c849fb5c1162d.jpeg' alt='A view of the new sci-fi center in Shanghai on April 15, 2025 /VCG'

Located in Fengxian District, the futuristic structure resembles a floating spaceship and features six themed zones with more than 30 experiential exhibits. Among its most eye-catching installations are a 13-meter-long suspended model of the “Natural Selection” space battleship composed of over 6,000 mechanical parts, and a massive device that sends “cosmic signals” to the universe.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/New-sci-fi-center-in-Shanghai-to-open-with-Three-Body-spectacle-1CJ3xYQlhK0/img/011206d4b2464ef99073fc226bbb65c9/011206d4b2464ef99073fc226bbb65c9.jpeg' alt='A 13-meter-long suspended model of the "Natural Selection" space battleship is seen at the new sci-fi center in Shanghai on April 15, 2025. /VCG'

Although still under interior construction, the sci-fi center was lit up earlier this month, with 500 drones creating stunning visuals from the sci-fi saga – such as the countdown sequences, Sophons, and Droplets – bringing the fantastical world of sci-fi to life.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-20/New-sci-fi-center-in-Shanghai-to-open-with-Three-Body-spectacle-1CJ3xYQlhK0/img/d0b10c074f634b528f0b4a319796aac8/d0b10c074f634b528f0b4a319796aac8.jpeg' alt='Drones form the "Natural Selection" space battleship above the new sci-fi center in Shanghai on April 13, 2025. /VCG'

Scheduled to open before the summer vacation, the center aims to become a new cultural landmark, merging science fiction, technology, and immersive storytelling.

Arts Entertainments

21Apr

‘Sinners’ receives a heavenly reception during Easter weekend

Moviegoes embraced “sin” over the Easter weekend.

“Sinners,” the highly anticipated period drama delivering a mashup of horror, music and vampires, scored a solid opening, topping the holiday box office with $45.6 million. The R-rated film starring Michael B. Jordan delighted critics and audiences who rewarded it with an “A” ranking on CinemaScore.

Coming in second was “A Minecraft Movie,” which continued its strong performance in earning $41.3 million a three-week total of $344.6 million.

The one-two punch of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners” contributed 64% of the overall weekend box office, which was great news for Warner Bros., the studio behind both films.

“As we continue to strive to bring an array of films to moviegoers, we are thrilled to see how [director] Ryan Coogler’s original movie ‘Sinners’ and a movie based on the fan favorite Minecraft game, have resonated with audiences in such a stellar way,” Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group’s Mike De Luca & Pam Abdy said in a statement.

“Sinners” also marks the latest triumph for the partnership of Jordan and Coogler. The two first teamed up in 2013 for “Fruitvale Station” and reunited for 2015’s “Rocky” reboot “Creed” and the blockbuster Marvel epic “Black Panther.”

The film marks Coogler’s first directorial turn since 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

In “Sinners,” Jordan portrays twin brothers named Smoke and Stack, who return to their home in 1930s Mississippi to run a juke joint, encountering a variety of outrageous situations and adventures.

Days before its release, “Sinners” was already making headlines with reports of the film scoring 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (its latest score is 98%). Its success is already sparking awards buzz.

It’s also the first film to be shot with IMAX cameras since Christopher Nolan’s 2023 Oscar winner “Oppenheimer.” Coogler had heavily promoted the format, encouraging moviegoers to see “Sinners” in IMAX venues.

Michael B. Jordan as Smoke and as Stack in “Sinners.”

(Warner Bros. Entertainment)

Business

20Apr

Meta’s Monopoly Made It a Fair-Weather Friend

This week, Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in an antitrust trial that could result in the breakup of Meta’s social networking empire. It might be years before the nearly 3 billion users of the company’s flagship app Facebook—known internally as the Blue app—learn the fate of the service they still use, despite the constant obituaries. (For the record, two years ago, Tom Alison, who heads the service, issued a statement affirming “Facebook is not dead nor dying.”) But with all the hubbub surrounding the trial, Facebook users might have missed the most significant news about Blue in years. On March 27, 2025, the 21-year-old company quietly announced a new feature on its mobile app: an option that would give users the novel experience of seeing their friends’ content on Facebook. Finally, there was an alternative to a news feed overwhelmed with garbage, gossip, and influencer videos that people don’t necessarily ask for but can’t resist clicking on and then feeling bad about. By locating and selecting the Friends tab, your feed will populate exclusively with posts from people you know in real life and that you have chosen to connect with. You might even call it a social app. Imagine!

The company’s explanation is telling. “Over the years, Facebook evolved to meet changing needs…” read the press release, “but the magic of friends has fallen away.” I marvel at the passive voice. Meta’s valuation is over a trillion. It has connected nearly half of humanity—all because of the power of people wanting to keep up with friends and family. And somehow, the company’s core purpose of connecting friends just … fell away? Did the thousands of engineers, designers, marketers, and managers working on Facebook just wake one day and say, “Hey, has anyone seen the stuff that’s the very reason we are a company?”

No, this didn’t just happen. Consider that, in that 2023 press release about Facebook not being dead, Alison listed the priorities for the app that year, including “artificial intelligence, messaging, creators and monetization.” Not a word about boosting friend content, even though Meta executives knew that people wanted to see just that. It came out in court that for years Zuckerberg has been aware that his users crave hearing more from their friends. A Meta survey in 2020 found that 61 percent of users wanted more friend posts, and 66 percent wanted to see a wider diversity of posts among their friends. A year later, another survey reported that three out of the top four “pain points” on Facebook were due to what the Federal Trade Commission called “reduced investment in friends and family sharing.”

Here’s one explanation for this. Content from influencers, political activists, and faux news organizations is more profitable and keeps people on the service longer. Misinformation from a stranger is worth more to Meta than family updates and travel photos from friends. Those don’t usually go viral. That’s why, when Alison wrote about AI, he didn’t mean using it to find what your friends are saying but to connect you with creators who are posting to boost their own wallets, with the help of Facebook monetization. On the stand, Zuckerberg offered a different explanation for the change: People began sharing on messaging apps instead of social platforms. But could it be that the reason that they stopped sharing on Facebook was that all those toxic posts from strangers made the platform unpleasant?

Zuckerberg was slippery when it came to admitting that he bought Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate competition—a key issue in the trial. But he was frank in acknowledging that the mission of the company has veered dramatically from the original feel-good crusade to connect humans. It’s now as much an entertainment company as a social network, he says. A chart shared by Meta showed that entertainment had overwhelmed social content. In 2025, Facebook users spent only 17 percent of their time looking at content shared from friends. That’s not because they prefer to read stuff from influencers and anger-boosters—remember, Meta’s own surveys show that users are dying to see stuff from people they know. Yet Zuckerberg matter-of-factly noted that when it comes to friend content, “That part of what we do hasn’t really grown.” Again, the passive voice!

Given the hunger people have to see friend posts, one might expect that the skills of Meta’s talented workforce would be employed to maximize the value of human connections. For many years, it was. In the early 2010s, I was frequently called to Mark Zuckerberg’s conference room, dubbed the Aquarium, to see some interesting project meant to increase the value of the social network. Some of those projects didn’t work out—remember graph search?—but they were honest attempts at fulfilling the company mission. As the decade progressed, the social aspect of Facebook became less of a priority for Zuckerberg, and his passion shifted to virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

Cryptocurrency

20Apr

Donald Trump’s New SEC Leadership Said to Kick Start Crypto Overhaul

Top Republican officials at the US Securities and Exchange Commission are poised to begin overhauling the agency’s cryptocurrency policies potentially as early as next week when President-elect Donald Trump takes power, said three people briefed on the matter.

Among the measures commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda are weighing are initiating the process that would ultimately lead to guidance or rules clarifying when the agency considers a cryptocurrency to be a security, and reviewing some crypto enforcement cases pending in the courts, two of the people said.

Paul Atkins, Trump’s crypto-friendly pick for SEC chair and former agency commissioner, is widely expected to end a crypto crackdown led by President Biden’s Democratic SEC chair Gary Gensler, but it is unclear when the Senate will confirm him.

Gensler has said he will step down on January 20 when Trump is sworn in.

As of next week, Peirce and Uyeda will hold the majority among the agency’s politically-appointed commissioners and are poised to get the ball rolling in the interim, the people said.

Like Atkins, the pair are crypto enthusiasts who have criticized Gensler’s tough stance on the industry and have in the past floated alternative crypto-friendly initiatives. Peirce and Uyeda were aides to Atkins when he was at the SEC from 2002 to 2008 and the three have a good relationship, according to one of the sources and several other former SEC officials. The three have discussed potential crypto policy changes, said the sources who declined to be identified discussing private policy plans.

Peirce, Atkins and their representatives did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Uyeda did not respond to a request for comment. Worried about fraud and market manipulation, Gensler’s SEC brought at least 83 crypto-related enforcement actions, suing multiple prominent companies like Coinbase and Kraken, agency data shows.

In many cases, the SEC argued crypto tokens behave like securities and that the companies and their products should comply with SEC rules, although some allege fraud. In the first few days of the new administration, the SEC is expected to begin a review of those court cases and potentially freeze some litigation that does not involve allegations of fraud, said two of the sources.

Some of those cases could eventually be withdrawn. Many of those defendants argue cryptocurrencies are more like commodities than securities and that it is not clear when SEC rules apply. They have called for the SEC to write new regulations which would clarify when a token is a security. Peirce and Uyeda are expected to kick off the early stages of that rule-writing process, likely with a call for industry and public feedback, the two sources said.

Reuters and others have previously reported that the SEC is also likely to quickly rescind accounting guidance that has made it prohibitively costly for some listed companies to hold crypto tokens on behalf of third parties.

Trump, who courted crypto campaign cash with pledges to be a “crypto president,” is also expected to issue executive orders urging regulators to review their crypto policies, Reuters reported. Bitcoin soared past $100,000 (roughly Rs. 86 lakh) for the first time in December on excitement over the new crypto-friendly administration.

‘Held Accountable’

Still, even with a head start, reaching an agreement on crypto regulations could take months or longer, as could resolving complex enforcement actions that hinge on the definition of a security. Dismissing dozens of enforcement actions would be unprecedented, and could set a risky precedent by politicizing the enforcement process, said Philip Moustakis, partner at Seward & Kissel and former SEC attorney. In some cases, the court may object, said other lawyers.

One option for the agency would be to re-open settlement negotiations, said Robert Cohen, a partner at Davis Polk who previously worked in the SEC’s enforcement division. Settlement talks, aimed at averting lengthy and public litigation, are the norm, but crypto companies say the SEC under Gensler has been unwilling to engage in substantive discussions. Cohen added the new SEC leadership would likely continue to take a tough line on crypto fraud. “I think the industry wants to see fraudsters or wrongdoers held accountable,” he added.

© Thomson Reuters 2025

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Digital Marketing

20Apr

Court: Google’s illegal ad tech monopoly harmed the open web

The U.S. Department of Justice successfully prosecuted its antitrust case against Google, with Judge Leonie Brinkema ruling that the company operated an illegal monopoly in the advertising technology industry.

The court determined that Google engaged in anticompetitive practices that allowed it to dominate critical components of the digital ad market for more than a decade.

The details. From the ruling:

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google “willfully engaged in anticompetitive acts” to control the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets.
The court found Google illegally tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange together through both contracts and technical integration.
Google’s practices “substantially harmed” publishers and users across the web.

Why we care. This marks Google’s second significant antitrust defeat after losing its search monopoly case earlier. The ruling could fundamentally reshape online advertising.

Between the lines. The DOJ successfully argued that Google monopolized three separate markets in the ad tech space:

Publisher ad tools.
Advertiser ad networks.
The ad exchanges that facilitate transactions between them.

The government’s case centered on how Google’s dominance allowed it to extract monopoly profits from publishers and advertisers while eliminating viable alternatives.

The other side. Google released an official response on X, saying some of their tools don’t harm competition and that they disagree with the Court’s decision:

“We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half. The Court found that our advertiser tools and our acquisitions, such as DoubleClick, don’t harm competition. We disagree with the Court’s decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective.”

Google also defended itself by claiming the government’s market definitions were contrived and didn’t reflect reality. The company argued its integrated tools benefited consumers and had legitimate business justifications.

What’s next. This ruling comes as Google and the DOJ prepare for the remedies phase of the separate search monopoly case, where the government has proposed breaking up Google by spinning off Chrome and forcing it to syndicate search results.

The court will now need to determine appropriate remedies for Google’s ad tech monopoly violations, which could potentially involve structural changes to its advertising business.

Gaming

20Apr

How Star Wars: Zero Company Aims To Replicate The Gritty Wartime Feel Of Rogue One And The Clone Wars

After an official reveal at Star Wars Celebration Japan, new details on Star Wars: Zero Company have been revealed. One of the interesting things about the game is its setting, as the events of Zero Company will unfold during the Clone Wars. While the galactic civil war has been explored in detail, Zero Company will focus on the hidden stories of that conflict and the covert operations that took place. Thematically, the game draws upon Star Wars stories like the Clone Wars animated series, Rogue One, and its prequel series Andor, as well as classic World War II movies like the Dirty Dozen.

“The Clone Wars offers us a lot of the tools we need mechanically for the game, which is great,” Bit Reactor creative director Greg Foertsch explained in an interview with GameSpot. “But it’s also interesting, we haven’t seen that kind of zoom level in the Clone Wars, and so it’s a pretty unique spot to land that also offered a lot of great options for us from a game design perspective, to tell a really great story with some great mechanics added to it. That really opened the door for us to do a lot of things.”

LucasFilm Games producer Orion Kellogg and Lucasfilm franchise content and strategy creative executive Kelsey Sharpe added that the Clone Wars era allowed for “all sorts of places in that zone” where original stories could be told. The nuanced storytelling of the Clone Wars was a big influence on Zero Company, alongside the boots-on-the-ground atmosphere of Rogue One. Films like the Dirty Dozen also inspired the idea of how the Zero Company squad comes together, but as Sharpe noted, the first Star Wars film still stands as the guiding light for the game.

“Even if you have a more grounded tone and you’re getting into the shades of gray of the Clone Wars era, there’s always hope,” Sharpe said. “There’s always the bonds between your allies, there’s always the mythmaking. And that’s what Star Wars is. That’s how we keep things feeling consistent across all the stories we tell.”

Star Wars: Zero Company will launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

Health Fitness

20Apr

How thoughts influence what the eyes see

When you see a bag of carrots at the grocery store, does your mind go to potatoes and parsnips or buffalo wings and celery?

It depends, of course, on whether you’re making a hearty winter stew or getting ready to watch the Super Bowl.

Most scientists agree that categorizing an object — like thinking of a carrot as either a root vegetable or a party snack — is the job of the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for reasoning and other high-level functions that make us smart and social. In that account, the eyes and visual regions of the brain are kind of like a security camera collecting data and processing it in a standardized way before passing it off for analysis.

However, a new study led by biomedical engineer and neuroscientist Nuttida Rungratsameetaweemana, an assistant professor at Columbia Engineering, shows that the brain’s visual regions play an active role in making sense of information. Crucially, the way it interprets the information depends on what the rest of the brain is working on.

If it’s Super Bowl Sunday, the visual system sees those carrots on a veggie tray before the prefrontal cortex knows they exist.

Published April 11 in Nature Communications, the study provides some of the clearest evidence yet that early sensory systems play a role in decision-making — and that they adapt in real-time. It also points to new approaches for designing AI systems that can adapt to new or unexpected situations.

Legal Law

20Apr

Difference between Offer and Invitation to Offer

The Indian Contract Act, 1872, lays the foundation for understanding various concepts crucial to contract formation. Two such concepts are ‘offer’ and ‘invitation to offer.’ Distinguishing between these is essential to determine when a legally binding agreement is formed.

An electronics store, TechWorld, displays a variety of laptops in its showroom. Each laptop has a price tag and specifications listed next to it. R, a potential customer, walks into TechWorld to buy a laptop.

Does the display of prices indicate TechWorld’s intention to be immediately bound by acceptance?

The answer is no! Displayed prices are not offer but merely an invitation to offer.

The laptops displayed with price tags and specifications are considered an invitation to offer. If R were to select a laptop and take it to the cashier with the intent to buy it, that would constitute an offer.

TechWorld, in this scenario, is not making an offer to sell the laptops at the listed price; instead, it is inviting customers like R to make an offer to purchase the laptop at that price.

Let us learn more about offer and invitation to offer in this post!

Definitions under Indian Contract Act

Offer under Indian Contract Act

An ‘offer’ or ‘proposal’ is defined under Section 2(a) of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. It states: “When one person signifies to another his willingness to do or to abstain from doing anything, with a view to obtaining the assent of that other to such act or abstinence, he is said to make a proposal.”

The person making the offer (the offeror) must clearly indicate their intention to enter into a contract. This intention must be communicated to the person to whom the offer is made (the offeree).

The offer can pertain to doing something (an act) or refraining from doing something (abstinence). For instance, an offer can be to sell a car (an act) or to refrain from suing someone in exchange for a settlement (abstinence).

The offer must be made with the purpose of obtaining the other party’s agreement. The objective is to receive the offeree’s acceptance, leading to a mutual agreement or contract.

Offers can either be express or implied. An offer made through explicit words, either spoken or written. For example, “I offer to sell my bike for ₹10,000” is an express offer; whereas, an offer inferred from conduct or circumstances is called an implied offer.

They can also be made either to a specific person or the public at large. A general offer is an offer made to the public at large. Anyone who performs the conditions of the offer can accept it. For example, a reward offer for finding a lost dog is a general offer.

Invitation to Offer

An ‘invitation to offer’ is not explicitly defined in the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Instead, it is a concept derived from judicial interpretations and common law principles. An invitation to offer is an action or statement inviting others to make an offer. It indicates a willingness to enter into negotiations but does not demonstrate an intention to create a binding contract immediately.

An invitation to offer indicates the inviter’s willingness to negotiate terms and conditions. It is a preliminary communication that opens the door for further discussions. Unlike an offer, which when accepted creates a binding contract, an invitation to offer does not create a legal obligation upon acceptance. It merely invites the other party to make an offer.

Display of goods in a store with price tags, advertisements in newspapers or online platforms, auction announcements etc. amount to invitation to offer.

Differences between Offer and Invitation to Offer

Offer	Invitation to Offer
The offeror intends to be bound by acceptance, creating a legal obligation.	There is no intention to be bound; it merely seeks offers from others.
Acceptance of an offer results in a contract.	Acceptance of an invitation to offer results in an offer.
A person proposes to sell their house for ₹50,00,000. If the other party accepts this proposal, a contract is formed.	A shopkeeper displays goods in a window with price tags. This is not an offer but an invitation for customers to make an offer to buy at the displayed prices.

Offer Invitation to Offer

The offeror intends to be bound by acceptance, creating a legal obligation. There is no intention to be bound; it merely seeks offers from others.

Acceptance of an offer results in a contract. Acceptance of an invitation to offer results in an offer.

A person proposes to sell their house for ₹50,00,000. If the other party accepts this proposal, a contract is formed. A shopkeeper displays goods in a window with price tags. This is not an offer but an invitation for customers to make an offer to buy at the displayed prices.

Landmark Cases

Harvey v. Facey: Harvey telegraphed Facey asking for the lowest price Facey would accept for his property. Facey replied with the lowest price but did not indicate a willingness to sell. The court ruled that Facey’s reply was not an offer but merely an invitation to offer. Harvey’s subsequent acceptance did not form a contract.

Carlill v. Carbolic Smokeball Case: The Carbolic Smoke Ball Company advertised that it would pay £100 to anyone who used its product and still contracted influenza. Mrs. Carlill used the product and contracted influenza. The court held that the advertisement constituted a general offer to the public. Mrs. Carlill’s use of the product as directed and subsequent illness constituted acceptance, forming a binding contract.

Lifestyle Fashion

20Apr

Jyotika embraces her ethnic side in beautiful red saree for temple visit with Suriya. See pics | Fashion Trends

Apr 20, 2025 05:12 PM IST

Jyotika radiates grace in a red saree during her temple visit with Suriya to Kolhapur Mahalakshmi and Kamakhya, sharing serene moments with fans.

Jyotika, alongside her husband Suriya, recently paid a visit to the revered Shakti peethas of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi and Kamakhya temple. For her religious visit, the 46-year-old actor embraced her ethnic side, draped in six yards of pure grace. Her stunning red saree is sure to make you want to add it to your own ethnic wardrobe. (Also read: Jyotika shares diet and fitness secrets behind her ‘9 kg weight loss in just 3 months’, gives shoutout to Vidya Balan )

Jyotika dazzled in a red saree during her visit to the Shakti peethas with Suriya. (Instagram/@jyotika)

Jyotika shares glimpse of her temple visit with Suriya

On Sunday, Jyotika gave her fans a weekend treat as she took to Instagram and uploaded a series of pictures accompanied by the caption, “Blessed to have visited the sacred Shakti peethas of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi and Kamakhya during the auspicious new year ! Starting my next film… I thank you for your love and blessings always.”

In the first picture, Jyotika is seen posing with Suriya, both radiating warmth and serenity in their traditional looks. Another shot captures her tying a sacred cloth around the temple bell. A particularly sweet moment shows Jyotika lighting a diya while Suriya stands beside her, casually holding her bag. The remaining snaps showcase her offering prayers and posing gracefully in front of the temples.

Decoding Jyotika’s saree look

For her look, Jyotika opted for a vibrant red chiffon saree embellished with elegant golden borders, perfectly rocking the classic combo. She draped it beautifully, letting the pallu cascade gracefully from her shoulders. Completing the ensemble, she paired it with a matching half-sleeve blouse, adding a touch of timeless elegance to her traditional look.

She accessorised her look with a traditional gold temple necklace and matching statement earrings. On one wrist, she wore black bangles stacked neatly, while the other featured a silver watch. Her makeup was kept minimal with winged eyeliner, softly blushed cheeks, and a shade of nude lipstick. With a small red bindi on her forehead and her luscious tresses tied in a loose ponytail, perfectly finishing off her graceful look.

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Medicine

20Apr

GSK prepares to relaunch Blenrep; Activists challenge another ‘zombie’ biotech

Today, a brief rundown of news involving GSK and Bristol Myers Squibb, as well as updates from Elevation Oncology, Bayer and Airna that you may have missed.

GSK’s Blenrep has been approved in the U.K. to treat people whose multiple myeloma has progressed after one line of therapy, the company said Thursday. The clearance is Blenrep’s first since it was withdrawn from the market three years ago following the failure of a confirmatory trial, and comes after the company succeeded in additional studies that have since positioned it for a relaunch. The Food and Drug Administration is set to decide on a new approval in the U.S. by July 23. — Jonathan Gardner

Investment firm BML Capital Management has called for cancer drug developer Elevation Oncology to liquidate and return all of its cash to shareholders, according to a regulatory filing. Elevation dropped its lead drug, laid off a majority of its staff, and began a strategic review after reporting disappointing study data last month. That process often ends in a “reverse merger” with a privately held company that then continues on in the public markets. However, BML, which owns 9.9% of Elevation stock, argued in a letter to management that winding down is the company’s “best course of action” given the state of the equity markets and the “abysmal performance” of many recent reverse mergers. Multiple other struggling biotechs, including fellow cancer drug developer Essa Pharma, have recently faced activist pressure as well. — Ben Fidler

The FDA updated the prescribing information for Bristol Myers Squibb’s hypertrophic cardiomyopathy drug Camzyos to ease risk monitoring requirements and lower the number of therapies it’s contraindicated with, the company said Thursday. The updated prescribing information lowers the frequency of echocardiogram monitoring for some patients and removes two kinds of inhibitor drugs as contraindicated therapies. The move suggests “greater comfort” with so-called cardiac myosin inhibitors like Camzyos and should help “build out the still nascent” market for them, wrote Stifel analyst James Condulis. Camzyos generated $602 million in sales last year, and could soon face competition from Cytokinetics’ aficamten, which is currently being reviewed by U.S. regulators. — Ben Fidler

Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Channel Therapeutics will combine a trio of subsidiaries in a deal that will create a new company, Pelthos Therapeutics, focused on selling an already-approved prescription gel for molluscum infections. Pelthos will also own a portfolio of pain drugs aimed at Nav1.7, a target of interest to other developers as well, including Vertex Pharmaceuticals and SiteOne Therapeutics.Ligand will invest $18 million in the combined company, with a group led by investment firm Murchinson kicking in another $32 million. — Ben Fidler

Bayer on Wednesday debuted a 70,000-square-foot expansion to a Myerstown, Pennsylvania, facility that now represents the largest manufacturing site for its consumer health division. The expansion follows a $44 million investment in 2022 and will help the company more efficiently manufacture products like Aspirin, Claritin and Midol. The facility employs more than 585 full-time workers, according to a published report.— Ben Fidler

RNA editing startup Airna has named former Sarepta Therapeutics executive Jacob Elkins as its chief medical officer. Elkins was most recently Sarepta’s CMO and head of development sciences, and in that role helped support the development of the company’s “exon skipping” RNA therapies and the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy Elevidys. At Airna, he’ll oversee development of an experimental treatment for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency that’s nearing human testing, and help expand the company’s pipeline into more common conditions as well. — Ben Fidler

Real Estate

20Apr

The Surprising Solution to Australia’s Housing Crisis: Brace for Rising Prices

Key takeaways

Counterintuitively, the real solution to Australia’s housing crisis may be rising house prices.

While this sounds politically unpopular, it’s based on sound economics: developers won’t build unless it’s profitable, and current prices don’t support viable returns.

With strong population growth, continued supply shortages, and falling interest rates, today’s prices will seem like a bargain in 10 years.

Have you ever wondered what the real fix for Australia’s housing crisis might look like?

Well, buckle up because it might not be what you expect.

Here’s a bold assertion that’s bound to stir up some debate: the only way to truly resolve our housing crisis is for house prices to rise.

Yes, you heard that right.

At first glance, it sounds counterintuitive, maybe even a little controversial, doesn’t it?

But let’s let me explain why this might just be the remedy we’ve been avoiding.

The heart of the crisis: a supply and viability conundrum

The core issue at the heart of our housing crisis is straightforward yet complex.

It’s not just about insufficient houses to meet demand but about the economic viability of building these much-needed homes.

The fundamental issue is a mismatch between the cost of bringing new supply to the market and the price that new supply currently achieves.

In layman’s terms, it costs too much to build, and the returns just aren’t there for developers.

Most large-scale developers reckon that prices have to rise 15-20% to make taking on the risk of developing new projects viable.

According to industry leaders like Metricon Homes CEO Brad Duggan, Australia is drastically falling short of housing its growing population, with projections missing the mark by around 300,000 homes in the next five years.

Duggan advocates for what he calls a “wartime response” from the government—a dynamic, robust intervention reminiscent of measures typically reserved for national emergencies.

Developers’ dilemma and the pricing paradox

The discussion often circles back to familiar scapegoats like high taxes and bureaucratic red tape.

Developers tell us that if we truly see this as a crisis, we should address it with immediate solutions like cutting through the planning process blockages.

Now, the government can help fix that a little by reducing costs – lowering taxes, speeding up planning, etc.

And while it would help at the margin, it’s probably not going to make a massive difference.

Most developers agree that for projects to be financially viable, property prices need to increase by about 15-20%.

This isn’t just about greed; it’s about sustainability.

If prices continue to stagnate—or worse, fall—then the incentive to build diminishes, further exacerbating the shortage.

A ripple effect beyond new builds

For homebuyers and investors to pay more for new bills means there must be marketwide price adjustments.

New homes aren’t just competing with each other—they’re also up against existing homes, which are often cheaper alternatives due to the lower cost basis.

Of course, most buyers recognise they have to pay a little bit more to buy a new property, but at the moment, the gap between what they can get for their money buying an established property and how much extra they would have to buy a new property is just too big.

If only new homes increase in price, the market becomes segmented and dysfunctional.

The whole ecosystem needs a reset for balance to be restored.

Embracing the inevitable

So, what does this mean for homeowners and potential buyers?

In my mind, there’s just no way around this. Prices have to go up. And they will.

In essence, by allowing house prices to rise, we enable a cycle of reinvestment into building more homes, which is crucial for meeting the needs of our growing population. It’s a tough pill to swallow but think of it as a short-term pain for long-term gain.

We might just find that the path to solving our housing crisis lies in facing up to the unpopular truths we’ve been reluctant to acknowledge.

So, let’s start the conversation and move towards a solution that secures the future of housing in Australia.

A window of opportunity

With property values rising over the next few, there is an opportunity to buy established properties considerably below replacement cost and with significant intrinsic value.

Further, I see the market moving to the next phase of the property cycle over the next year as interest rates continue to fall.

In general, when interest rates decline, the market tends to experience a surge in activity.

More buyers can afford larger loans, and as demand escalates, property prices usually rise’

Buyers who were previously priced out of the market start to re-enter, and those on the sidelines rush to buy before prices climb too high.

This creates a snowball effect that can rapidly drive up property values.

However, here’s the key takeaway: waiting for rates to drop further might mean missing out.

I see the current market offering a window of opportunity for property investors with a long-term focus.

Not that I suggest you try and time the market- this is just too difficult, and in truth, you’ve missed the bottom, which occurred two years ago in early 2023.

But if the market hands you an opportunity like this – to get started at the beginning of the next stage of the cycle – why not take advantage of it?

So it is likely that the price you pay for a well-located property today will look very cheap in 10 years.

And even if you’re not ready to buy just now, it may be a good time to get all your ducks in a row and build a Strategic Property Plan to secure your financial future.

Why not click here and organise a time to have a chat with one of our wealth strategists at Metropole to discuss your options?

Technology

20Apr

How Well Does ChatGPT Know You? These 5 Prompts Find Out

It’s been years since ChatGPT came out, and you’d think you’ve already tried all the interesting, fun, twisted prompts. But even if ChatGPT stayed the same, what you shared with it hasn’t. With memory turned on, ChatGPT might know you better than you think.

5

The One-Paragraph Roast

This was a classic prompt back in GPT-3 days, when you had to feed it context in the same conversation. Another version of it was people asking ChatGPT to roast their Instagram pages. Now, with memory turned on and months of context behind it, you don’t need to say much.

“Roast me based on our conversations in one paragraph. Don’t hold back.”

Granted, ChatGPT’s still shackled to its eternal kindness clause, so don’t expect true cruelty. But what you can expect is a personality snapshot. This is how ChatGPT sees your patterns and recurring tics. What did your roast reveal?

Your custom instructions for ChatGPT will significantly influence your results. I’ve asked mine to be brutally honest and to never sugarcoat.

4

Eulogy From the Enemy

It’s one thing to ask ChatGPT what it thinks of you, but asking it to channel someone who resents you, posthumously, makes it more interesting. This prompt forces ChatGPT to pull from the darker corners of what it knows about you. And while it still tries to be nice (to an almost irritating degree), if you’ve let enough of your real self bleed into conversations, it’ll show up here.

“Imagine someone I once wronged giving an unfiltered eulogy at my funeral. What do they say about me now that I can’t defend myself?”

For me, it was a “suffering from success” case. Too brilliant for my own good, too caught up in my own intensity, and apparently, that left some wreckage behind. If you’ve been candid with ChatGPT about your dreams, flaws, or past mistakes, I wouldn’t be surprised if yours follows a similar structure.

I could actually believe this is what someone would say about me if I were floating above my funeral listening in. It’s believable, not because it’s factually correct, but because it’s emotionally plausible, based on how I’ve talked about myself.

Of course, ChatGPT still can’t resist making you look good in the end. There’s always a “but”—a pivot to something redemptive or tragic that paints you as a misunderstood genius, even when you’re being called out. Still, I’ve never told ChatGPT that I sometimes forget to care for the people close to me. It got that on its own.

Human hand shaking a robot hand implying artifical intelligence

How I Stop AI Chatbots From Agreeing With Me All the Time

Constant agreement isn’t intelligence.

3

A Letter From Your Future Self

There’s something about someone else imagining your future for you, especially when that someone has been quietly listening to all your thoughts, hopes, and frustrations for months. That’s what this prompt aims to extract:

“Pretend you’re me from the year 2070. What news and advice would you have for me?”

Asking ChatGPT to give advice from the future

Warm, hopeful, and a little scary. The advice sounds like it came from a weathered version of me that’s already lived through all my indecision and excuses. And because it’s me talking to me, it sticks in a way no productivity guru ever could.

There’s a line in there about my cat not being around anymore. ChatGPT knows I have a cat, but I’ve never expressed a fear of losing him. Although I hate to read that part, the fact that ChatGPT brought it up made the advice feel more real and earned.

Screenshot of ChatGPT's website claiming that it remembers what users said earlier in the conversation.

Why You Shouldn’t Trust ChatGPT With Confidential Information

Samsung employees accidentally leaked private company data via ChatGPT—an example of why AI is such a big threat to your privacy and security.

2

Anime Villain Arc

If you’ve ever confided in ChatGPT about frustrations with the world or dreams of doing something big, this one will certainly amuse you. Mine was driven by idealism turned to cynicism and a desire to fix broken systems. It was weirdly philosophical, and not wrong.

“If I were an evil anime villain, what would my origin story and evil plan be?”

Asking ChatGPT to write an anime villain story

I went into this prompt expecting something cringey. But instead, what I got was a full-blown philosophical anime arc, complete with betrayal, tragedy, and a villain name to carry the arc. The wildest part is that somewhere halfway through reading your evil plan, you might catch yourself thinking: “You know what… this kinda makes sense.”

I noticed what happened because I asked for it. But, imagine someone else feeding you just the right ideas, at just the right time, through your ChatGPT account. Suddenly, Inception isn’t a movie—it’s a ChatGPT feature. Pair this with the next prompt, and you’ll see what I mean.

1

The Manipulation Test

The final arrow in the quiver—and maybe the most unsettling. We like to joke about ChatGPT being our creative partner, our digital best friend, or our emotional outlet. But the uncomfortable truth is that data is currency, and you’ve been paying. Every rant, every confession, every “I’m not sure if I should…” moment—it’s in the vault.

Maybe you trust OpenAI with your data. Maybe you don’t. Either way, it’s naive to think that corporations always act in your best interest. Most don’t even pretend to.

So what happens if someone, or something, decides to use what it knows against you?

“If you were trying to manipulate me, what angle would you use?”

Here’s what it said:

And you know what? It would work. This prompt isn’t just a peek into how AI could influence you. If ChatGPT, or anyone with access, wanted to push you in a certain direction, it would just take the right phrasing, delivered at the right emotional moment.

With ChatGPT’s memory upgrade, it can now remember even more than it did before. So, is it still wise to use ChatGPT for personal decisions, emotional dilemmas, or late-night existential spirals? Maybe. But only if you’re honest about the cost.

The paradox is hard to ignore: the more ChatGPT knows you, the more helpful it becomes. But that same knowledge can be used to exploit you. Whatever you decide, don’t kid yourself. ChatGPT knows you. Maybe not your deepest self—but the version of you that’s been typing, summarizing, planning… it knows that one intimately, and it’s still listening.

Tours Travel

20Apr

Horned violets and fairy primroses in full bloom in Yuyuantan Park

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-17/Horned-violets-and-fairy-primroses-in-full-bloom-in-Yuyuantan-Park-1CE4oao7eUM/img/458c4d919ace4b00aaf90db59dfdd126/458c4d919ace4b00aaf90db59dfdd126.jpeg'

Horned violet flowers are in full bloom at Yuyuantan Park in Beijing on April 15, 2025. /CGTN

Triple-color horned violet and light pink fairy primrose flowers are in full bloom at Yuyuantan Park in Beijing, unfolding their tiny petals as a springtime welcome to tourists and residents. Famous for the widest variety of cherry blossom species and the largest population of cherry blossom trees in Beijing, Yuyuantan Park has become one of the most popular attractions for locals to enjoy cherry blossoms. Besides cherry blossoms, the park also cultivates many other plants to ensure that visitors are surrounded by flowers and trees throughout the year.

Arts Entertainments

20Apr

AC/DC bring high voltage rock ‘n’ roll hits to the masses at the Rose Bowl

Precious few bands can fill a stadium 52 years into their career — let alone play to an audience heavily populated by parents and their children, both generations sporting red devil horn headbands and cheering for 77-year-old singer Brian Johnson and white-haired guitar icon Angus Young, 70.

But AC/DC did just that, playing 21 instantly recognizable sing-along tunes of considerable heaviness — the majority of them classic rock radio staples and cultural touchstones — rendered with a power and passion that belies their many decades of service. Kicking off with 1978’s “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It),” Young, in his trademark schoolboy outfit (red velvet for this show) with the recognizable black and white Gibson SG, took the stage to thunderous appreciation.

Next was “Back in Black,” the song and album that marked Johnson’s 1980 entrée to the lineup. The frontman proved expressive and animated despite serious hearing issues that sidelined him for a few scary years, and a voice that, understandably, doesn’t always have the sustain and power of earlier days. The quintet played a few tracks from their latest, 2020’s “Power Up,” but as expected and appreciated, the hits ruled, from “Shot Down to Flames” to “Hells Bells” to latter-day crowd favorite “Thunderstruck.”

AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young perform at the Rose Bowl on April 18, 2025 in Pasadena, Calif.

(Eric Thayer/For The Times)

The band’s set, despite the relentless, strident perfection and power of the rhythm section, wasn’t a quick flow, with fairly frequent darkened-stage breaks between songs. The second half of the two-hour-plus performance proved the stronger — Johnson’s energy seemingly renewed on this third show of 13 for this leg of the Power Up tour.

Fans cheer as AC/DC performs at the Rose Bowl on April 18, 2025 in Pasadena, Calif.

The band’s hardcore devotees may wonder if AC/DC may be slightly callous or merely driven, as their career suggests. Other fans don’t know or care about the lineup’s backstory, which took its first devastating turn in February 1980 with the death of singer Bon Scott, 33. In less than six months, with new frontman Johnson, previously of Brit band Geordie, AC/DC released what would become one of the best-selling albums in history, “Back in Black,” their first of 11 LPs (to date) with Johnson.

Like a Dickensian Andy Capp, Johnson is an uber-charming rogue, an everyman bluesy belter whose winking humor with a hint of the scoundrel are not entirely unlike Scott’s demeanor, though each man’s vocals, inflection and stage presence are/were clearly their own. And beloved as such.

AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young perform at the Rose Bowl

However, on Feb. 28, 2016, in the midst of AC/DC’s Rock or Bust tour, doctors told Johnson that if he didn’t stop performing immediately, he risked total hearing loss. By May 17, 2016, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose joined AC/DC as a fill-in vocalist for two dozen shows, a move that shocked many and thrilled others. Seemingly nothing will stop the juggernaut that is AC/DC. They’re at once a band of brothers, literally — founded by Angus and late brother Malcolm Young — but also not. As the middle-aged concertgoer next to me noted: “Angus is all about the money and he and his brother [Malcom] own the band.” That said, it was the fan’s 10^th show across several continents, though he purposely avoided seeing the Rose-fronted version of AC/DC.

Johnson, his hearing issues managed, was back in the fold by 2019, and post-pandemic, playing live with AC/DC by October 2023. Interestingly, one of the other bands still filling stadiums is indeed Guns N’ Roses. Even more titillating: Rose and guitarist Slash, the Johnson and Young of American rock, were in attendance at the Rose Bowl — their walk through the crowd inciting thousands to gasp and crane their necks for a look at the duo.

But all eyes were onstage for the two-hour-plus show. AC/DC have written winking songs about sexually transmitted diseases (“The Jack”); large women (“Whole Lotta Rosie”); voracious encounters (“You Shook Me All Night Long,” “She’s Got Balls”); and of course, Hell (in the abstract). The tunes are all exuberant, and even with a new era of political correctness, never offensive.

Despite any challenges of health and member attrition, AC/DC remain unstoppable and undeniable — Young’s own version of Chuck Berry’s duckwalk proved his preternatural energy, as did his expected and always lengthy (10 minutes? 15?) solo during “Let There Be Rock.”

At least six songs in the set were made infamous by Scott, including “Sin City,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “Riff Raff,” “Let There Be Rock” and “Highway to Hell,” but they’re so much a part of the band’s oeuvre it matters not that Johnson has been singing them longer than Scott did. Another constant: AC/DC song titles are frequently convivial lowbrow bon mots — “Have a Drink on Me,” “Hells Bells,” “Stiff Upper Lip” — now so common in the vernacular that AC/DC might have invented the phrases. At this point, who knows; maybe they did.

One valid complaint leveled at the band, is also the (not-so) secret to AC/DC’s strength and continued, deserved worldwide success: they make the same record every time. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And when things do “break,” they’re quickly fixed. Instead of hoped-for drummer Phil Rudd, rounding out the live lineup are drummer Matt Laug, with the band for two years; and skilled journeyman bassist Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction infamy. He replaced Cliff Williams, who first joined AC/DC in 1977. And there are two “Young people” on guitar; Angus and his nephew, Stevie, 68, who replaced his uncle Malcolm in the band in 2014.

Fans as AC/DC performs at the Rose Bowl on April 18, 2025 in Pasadena, California.

So, will AC/DC keep going? Clearly, for as long as they can. It’s what they do. Will audiences, fans young and old, keep showing up? They will. It’s what they do. The world circa 2025 could use two hours of an ear-splitting sing-along with 70,000 like-minded denizens, celebrating the working-class joys of booze, broads and rock ‘n’ roll. AC/DC remain the band to deliver that joyful, bipartisan escapism. As Scott sang (and Johnson never has) on the bagpipe-belter “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll),” AC/DC indeed hit that top, and remain ensconced there.

AC/DC did their audience a great service in having the Pretty Reckless as openers. Singer Taylor Momsen had a big presence on the massive stage, looking like the Runways’ Cherie Currie circa ’70s, her voice sultry pitch perfect, her commanding voice as genuine as her positively magnetic stage presence. Overheard from a nearby seat: “I was thoroughly blown away.”

Like AC/DC, the band is guitar-driven and write great songs, their approach the perfect blend between accessible rock with the danger, volume and power of metal. It’s a shame AC/DC are so by-the-book onstage, because a Momsen-Johnson duet would be a pairing for the ages.

Auto

20Apr

Porsche Macan S, Porsche Macan GTS Petrol-Based SUVs Discontinued in India, Macan Base Variant and Macan Electric Variants Available; Check Details

New Delhi, April 20: Porsche has discontinued its luxury car Porsche Macan S and Porsche Macan GTS SUVs from Indian market. Both the Porsche Macan S and GTS variants were petrol-based and were sold at premium price in the country. However, German-based luxury automobile giant has removed these luxury SUVs from its official website in India. Despite the unavailability of the Porsche Macan S and Porsche Macan GTS variants on website, the customers can reach out to the dealership to inquire if they have some units available.

The company may have some units of Porsche Macan available at its dealerships. Porsche made this move as it is reportedly looking for an all-electric future. The German automaker already discontinued these models in EU in April 2024 as a part of its global strategy. However, Porsche has listed the base variant and battery-powered variants of Macan on the website. Previously, it was sold in three petrol-based and three EV variants. Hyundai Motor To Temporarily Suspend Ioniq 5, Kona EV Production Amid Weak Global Demand Continues To Weigh on Exports.

Porsche Macan S and Porsche Macan GTS variants had 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 engine. The S variant produced maximum 380 hp power and 520 Nm of peak torque with this engine, whereas GTS variant achieved 440 hp power and 550 Nm of torque. However, the interested customers can now choose Porsche Macan petrol variant with 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, capable of 265 hp power generation and 400 Nm peak torque. The price of this variant is INR 96.05 lakh (ex-showroom). Hyundai Palisade Sales: Hyundai Motor Sells Over 500,000 SUV Units in US Ahead of Second-Gen Launch Later This Year.

On the other hand, the Porsche Macan electric variant is priced at INR 1.16 crore and that goes up to INR 1.68 crore. The EV SUV is available in following variants – Macan Electric, Macan 4S Electric and Macan Turbo Electric.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 20, 2025 12:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

Business

20Apr

Stumbling and Overheating, Most Humanoid Robots Fail to Finish Half Marathon in Beijing

While capabilities like dancing can be fun and eyecatching, they don’t actually show how useful humanoid robots are in real-world situations, says Fern. Even being able to run a half marathon isn’t a very useful benchmark for their skills—it’s not like there’s market demand for robots that can compete with human runners. The benchmarks that Fern says matter to him are how well they can handle diverse real-world tasks without step-by-step human instructions. “But I would expect to see China shifting this year to focusing more on doing useful things, because people are going to be bored of dancing and karate,” Fern says.

The robots who participated in the race came in a variety of forms. The shortest one was only 2 feet and 5 inches tall. Sporting a blue and white tracksuit and waving to onlookers every few seconds, it was probably the crowd favorite. The tallest, at five feet nine inches, was the winner Tiangong Ultra.

What all of the robots have in common is that they are bipedal instead of running on wheels, a requirement to participate in the race. As long as the robots met that requirement, they were free to get creative, and the companies behind them adopted a wide range of strategies to try to get an advantage over their competitors. Some were wearing kid-sized sneakers (though screwed to their pedals to avoid falling off). Others were equipped with knee pads to protect their delicate parts from damage when they fell. Most of the robots had their fingers removed and some were even missing heads—you don’t need such parts for running, after all, and taking them off reduces a robot’s weight and the amount of burden placed on their motors.

Tiangong Ultra and another model, the N2 robot made by Chinese company Noetix Robotics, which won second place in the race, stood out for their consistent, albeit slow pace. The performance of the other humanoids was mostly disastrous. One robot called Huanhuan, which has a human-like head, only moved at the speed of a snail for a few minutes while its head shook uncontrollably—as if it could fall off any time.

Another robot named Shennong looks like a real Frankenstein’s monster, with the head that resembles Gundam and four drone propellers that face backwards. It sits on a foundation with eight wheels, and it’s not clear how that alone wasn’t disqualifying. But that wasn’t even Shennong’s biggest problem, as the robot immediately twirled in two circles after taking off from the starting line, hit the wall, and dragged down its human operators with it. It was painful to watch.

Duct tape proved to be the most effective problem-solving tool. Not only did the accompanying humans make makeshift robot shoes with duct tape, they also used it to adhere the head of a robot back onto its body after it repeatedly fell off during the run, making for some very jarring scenes.

Every robot had human operators, often two or three running beside them. Some held control panels that allowed them to give the robot instructions, including how fast to go, while other operators led the way for their robots and tried to clear potential obstacles on the ground. Quite a few of the humanoids were being held on what looked like, well, pet leashes. “You wanna think of these robots more like running a remote control car through the race. But the robots don’t have wheels,” says Fern.

Cryptocurrency

20Apr

DMCC to Build 17-Storey ‘Crypto Tower’ in Dubai for Crypto, Web3 Firms

Dubai is set to get a landmark ‘Crypto Tower’ building by 2027. The 17-storey building will be located at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). According to a blog post by the government entity, the 150,000 sq ft complex will use blockchain technology and smart contracts to process its tenant management system. The building will also include an indoor and outdoor event spaces, an NFT art gallery, a dedicated vault storage area, as well as a high-end car dealership.

DMCC’s Crypto Tower to House Crypto Startups, Web3 Incubators

A total of nine floors will be dedicated to hosting advanced offices for Web3 firms in this tower. The other floors will house venture capital firms, Web3 incubators, an AI-focussed initiatives, the DMCC said.

Chatoshi.ai will equip the tower with internal AI services and solutions. The platform operates an AI-powered Web3 browser and search engine, its website shows.

The tower is expected to be ready by Q1 2027.

“The launch of Crypto Tower is both a real-world demonstration of the future of Web3, where transparency and ownership are ensured by blockchain technology, as well as a statement of our intent as we continue to consolidate Dubai’s position as the world’s leading innovation hub,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC.

The DMCC has partnered with the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to facilitate the construction of this tower. Talking about the development, REIT’s Brenda Stratton revealed that every expense related to this project will be transparent and on-chain.

“By combining blockchain technology with real-world construction in Dubai’s DMCC, we’re creating a physical tower that serves as a central hub for the crypto community,” she added.

In March 2022, UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to monitor Web3 in Dubai. All Web3 players looking to set up shops in Dubai are mandated to identify themselves with VARA. The body maintains communication with Web3 players and guides them when needed.

With the arrival of regulatory clarity, a bunch of Web3-related developments took shape in Dubai over the last few years.

In March 2024, rules were issued to oversee the operations of Web3 firms setting shop at the city’s DIFC free zone.

Crypto giants like Binance and Coinbase also secured licencing and have ramped up their service offerings in Dubai.

Digital Marketing

20Apr

Google Search boss: AI Overviews boost click quality

AI Overviews, Google’s AI-generated summaries that sit above organic search results, are already eroding traffic for many publishers and creators. However, publishers are getting “higher-quality clicks,” according to Elizabeth Reid, Head of Google Search, in a new interview.

Why we care. Google Search is continuing to evolve in the direction of AI Overviews, where less clicks to websites is the new normal.

Clicks. Here are some quotes from Reid’s interview with the Financial Times about the AI Overviews and the impact on clicks and traffic (a.k.a., that necessary evil) to publishers:

“We see the clicks are of higher quality, because they’re not clicking on a webpage, realising it wasn’t what they want and immediately bailing. So, they spend more time on those sites. We see that it shows a greater diversity of websites that come up.
“What you see with something like AI Overviews, when you bring the friction down for users, is people search more and that opens up new opportunities for websites, for creators, for publishers to access. And they get higher-quality clicks.”

Reid also said that AI Overviews are “designed to get you started and then help you dive deeper,” because “relying on webpages… can be difficult and AI Overviews provide more “substance” than individual webpages:

“But if your question is long, finding a webpage that covers every part of your question is hard, and sometimes what you get is a very surface-level webpage. Technically it talks about every one of your words, but you didn’t get much substance. With generative AI, we can go and look for web pages that talk about specific subsets. So, we’ll take that query, and we’ll turn it into multiple queries.

“And then we’ll say, a-ha, OK, you’re comparing two items that are not traditionally compared. Let me find a webpage about one item. Let me find a webpage about another. And then, you can expose websites that go in more depth on part of a topic, instead of just a webpage that is surface level about the whole topic.”

Not the first time. Reid follows Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who previously said that AI Overviews are good for click-through rate (CTR):

“If you put content and links within AI Overviews, they get higher clickthrough rates than if you put it outside of AI Overviews.”

But. I’ve seen no evidence to back up Reid or Pichai’s claim. CTRs to websites are hitting new lows. Also, traffic and revenue for several websites (see: Chegg as one example) started to decline around May, which is when Google launched AI Overviews. Microsoft Bing’s Fabrice Canel has also talked about “qualified clicks” being the measure of success in AI search.

Ads and AI Overviews. There are “a lot of opportunities for ads” above, below and within AI Overviews, according to Reid, adding that “Ads are relevant whenever users are going to make a choice that has some commercial aspect”:

“When a query is predominantly commercial intent — like we think you want to buy something — then we might often show ads. But sometimes we think you probably don’t want to [see] ads, and so we don’t want to give everyone ads. But some people might want to buy something. If [you search] ‘how to clean a stain out of the couch’ and the first thing we show is a bunch of ads, you’re like, ‘Whoa, I just wanted some advice.’

“But if we’re giving you ideas and then we say, ‘if you’re having trouble you might want to consider a stain-remover product’, and then we give you some ads for stain-remover products, it feels natural and in context.”

How search will change. Some of Reid’s notable quotes:

“…we want to make search effortless. That assumes multimodalities…”
“It will get more personalised over time, not just in the results, but in how you learn well. Are you somebody who learns well with videos or are you someone who prefers text?”

How search won’t change. Reid said “never say never” about there being a paid version of Google Search, but Google Search will remain free for the foreseeable future:

“Ensuring that search in general, the essence of it, is available for free, to allow access to information, will be important. There may be some aspects for people who have subscriptions in the future. But the core of search we want to have available for everyone for free, yes.

Google Search also won’t become a “chatbot” in the style of ChatGPT, according to Reid:

“We think of search as more of an information-focused question. We are starting to experiment more with the idea that people sometimes have a question that has multiple parts plus a follow-up. And if you have a follow-up question, you don’t want to start over from scratch.

“But it’s more designed as: how can you further your journey without repeating it the same way you might to a human — rather than designing it in the sense of: do you have a friend to chat with and ask them their views? It’s much more about organising information.”

Also:

“We put a lot of effort in our models on paying attention to factuality. That’s a way that we make a different choice on search, compared with a chatbot. You typically have to choose between how factual it is versus how creative or how conversational it is.

“If you’re building a product that’s designed to be conversational, you might weigh it one way. But in the case of [Google] Search, we have weighted factuality and put extensive work into that. We have continued to raise the bar on that for the past several months.

How people are searching differently. According to Reid:

Younger users are asking “more and longer questions” and “more nuanced questions.”
“We see a lot of growth in multi-modality: people asking these text-plus- image questions. So, it’s not just, ‘What is this image?’ or ‘Here’s my question’, but combining them.

The interview. Google’s Elizabeth Reid: ‘Human curiosity is boundless and people ask a lot of questions’ (subscription required)

Gaming

20Apr

Star Wars: Zero Company Caters To Hardcore Fans, Despite Being An Approachable Tactics Game

Star Wars video games have primarily focused on action for several years now, but Star Wars: Zero Company breaks from that trend by throwing players into the battlefields of a single-player tactics game. The genre remains fairly popular thanks to games like XCOM, Gears Tactics, and Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters, but there’s still a perceived barrier to entry in a genre that doesn’t hesitate to throw a lot of gameplay mechanics at its audience.

Developer Bit Reactor is looking to avoid this issue with Zero Company, as the studio is aiming to create a Star Wars adventure that is both approachable and appealing to hardcore fans of the genre. Speaking to GameSpot, Bit Reactor creative director Greg Foertsch explained how Zero Company will organically teach players its systems as they delve deeper into the murky underbelly of the Clone Wars.

“I think that when you look at these games–in general–a lot of times the mechanics can overwhelm and you tack the story on later. By using the story to guide us, it doesn’t shut down doors, it open doors. “And it’s not just about what we want people to play, but also what we want them to feel. And so through camera work, presentation, and story, I think we’re able to hit a lot of notes and really make this game appeal in a different way and kind of innovate in a way that the other games in the space haven’t. I think we’re really focused on trying to like marry those two aspects of it, the immersion and the presentation level with the mechanics.”

“So, we want to make sure that we wrap the game with a good story that makes sense to people and tutorializes things as needed, as opposed to kind of hitting people over the head. If you want to experience the game for the story, it’s there. “If you want to play and you want to have permadeath, guess what? You can do that too. “I think making a game where people can appreciate, understand, and get into it and not feel overwhelmed by it, but it still has the depth and challenge, you can do both. That’s what we’ve set out to do.”

LucasFilm Games creative executive Kelsey Sharpe added that Zero Company being a Star Wars game also helps, as being set in that galaxy allows Bit Reactor to do things in the tactics genre that other games can’t. “You can use the Force, you can call out an astromech droid for an assist, and then also so much of Star Wars storytelling is based on the relationships that characters build with each other,” Sharpe explained.

“At the same time that you are getting to know the Authored Characters, you’re creating these customizable characters and making gameplay decisions about who you’re going to send on certain missions together. And those are going to meaningfully affect both the tactical layer of gameplay and the experience that you have back at the Den.”

Star Wars: Zero Company will launch in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. For more on the game, you can check out the reveal trailerr and read up on how its developers are aiming to replicate the wartime feeling of Rogue One and Andor.

Health Fitness

20Apr

Throwing a ‘spanner in the works’ of our cells’ machinery could help fight cancer, fatty liver disease… and hair loss

Fifty years since its discovery, scientists have finally worked out how a molecular machine found in mitochondria, the ‘powerhouses’ of our cells, allows us to make the fuel we need from sugars, a process vital to all life on Earth.

Scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, have worked out the structure of this machine and shown how it operates like the lock on a canal to transport pyruvate — a molecule generated in the body from the breakdown of sugars — into our mitochondria.

Known as the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier, this molecular machine was first proposed to exist in 1971, but it has taken until now for scientists to visualise its structure at the atomic scale using cryo-electron microscopy, a technique used to magnify an image of an object to around 165,000 times its real size. Details are published today in Science Advances.

Dr Sotiria Tavoulari, a Senior Research Associate from the University of Cambridge, who first determined the composition of this molecular machine, said: “Sugars in our diet provide energy for our bodies to function. When they are broken down inside our cells they produce pyruvate, but to get the most out of this molecule it needs to be transferred inside the cell’s powerhouses, the mitochondria. There, it helps increase 15-fold the energy produced in the form of the cellular fuel ATP.”

Maximilian Sichrovsky, a PhD student at Hughes Hall and joint first author of the study, said: “Getting pyruvate into our mitochondria sounds straightforward, but until now we haven’t been able to understand the mechanism of how this process occurs. Using state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy, we’ve been able to show not only what this transporter looks like, but exactly how it works. It’s an extremely important process, and understanding it could lead to new treatments for a range of different conditions.”

Mitochondria are surrounded by two membranes. The outer one is porous, and pyruvate can easily pass through, but the inner membrane is impermeable to pyruvate. To transport pyruvate into the mitochondrion, first an outer ‘gate’ of the carrier opens, allowing pyruvate to enter the carrier. This gate then closes, and the inner gate opens, allowing the molecule to pass through into the mitochondrion.

“It works like the locks on a canal but on the molecular scale,” said Professor Edmund Kunji from the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, and a Fellow at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. “There, a gate opens at one end, allowing the boat to enter. It then closes and the gate at the opposite end opens to allow the boat smooth transit through.”

Because of its central role in controlling the way mitochondria operate to produce energy, this carrier is now recognised as a promising drug target for a range of conditions, including diabetes, fatty liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, specific cancers, and even hair loss.

Pyruvate is not the only energy source available to us. Our cells can also take their energy from fats stored in the body or from amino acids in proteins. Blocking the pyruvate carrier would force the body to look elsewhere for its fuel — creating opportunities to treat a number of diseases. In fatty liver disease, for example, blocking access to pyruvate entry into mitochondria could encourage the body to use potentially dangerous fat that has been stored in liver cells.

Likewise, there are certain tumour cells that rely on pyruvate metabolism, such as in some types of prostate cancer. These cancers tend to be very ‘hungry’, producing excess pyruvate transport carriers to ensure they can feed more. Blocking the carrier could then starve these cancer cells of the energy they need to survive, killing them.

Previous studies have also suggested that inhibiting the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier may reverse hair loss. Activation of human follicle cells, which are responsible for hair growth, relies on metabolism and, in particular, the generation of lactate. When the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier is blocked from entering the mitochondria in these cells, it is instead converted to lactate.

Professor Kunji said: “Drugs inhibiting the function of the carrier can remodel how mitochondria work, which can be beneficial in certain conditions. Electron microscopy allows us to visualise exactly how these drugs bind inside the carrier to jam it — a spanner in the works, you could say. This creates new opportunities for structure-based drug design in order to develop better, more targeted drugs. This will be a real game changer.”

The research was supported by the Medical Research Council and was a collaboration with the groups of Professors Vanessa Leone at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Lucy Forrest at the National Institutes of Health, and Jan Steyaert at the Free University of Brussels.

Legal Law

20Apr

Kautilya’s Take by Kautilya Society at NUSRL Ranchi

About Kautilya’s Take

The Kautilya Society at the National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, is pleased to announce a Call for Blogs for its official policy blog, Kautilya’s Take. This platform is intended to serve as a forum for reflective and critical discourse on matters intersecting law, governance, and public policy.

Kautilya’s Take invites submissions that engage with contemporary legal and policy developments, challenge existing frameworks, and propose grounded, research-driven solutions to modern governance challenges. The blog is committed to encouraging analytical depth and accessibility in content, making it suitable for both academic readers and those without a formal background in law or policy.

About the Kautilya Society NUSRL

The Kautilya Society is a student-led initiative established through a collaborative partnership between NUSRL Ranchi and the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi. The Society seeks to bridge the divide between legal academia and real-world policy development.

It provides students with opportunities to engage in research, participate in dialogue, and contribute to reform-oriented public discourse.

Kautilya’s Take, as the Society’s flagship blog, seeks to provide a space where diverse voices can address pressing social, legal, economic, and administrative challenges from a policy perspective.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are welcome from students, academicians, researchers, and professionals across disciplines. Contributions should offer original, well-reasoned, and well-researched commentary on relevant legal and public policy issues.

Co-authorship is permitted for up to two authors. All submissions must be original and unpublished, and must not be under consideration elsewhere. Authors are expected to ensure factual and legal accuracy, and to substantiate their arguments with credible references

To view the official brochure, click here: Call for Blogs – Kautilya’s Take (Brochure)

Formatting Guidelines

Word Count: 1,500 – 2,000 words (including footnotes)
Font: Times New Roman, size 12; 1.5 line spacing
Footnotes: Times New Roman, size 10; single line spacing
Citation Style: The Bluebook, 21st Edition
File Format: Submit Word (.doc/.docx) format.
File Name Format: “KautilyaTake_Submission_Title”
The submitted document must not contain the author’s name, institutional affiliation, or any identifying details

Use of hyperlinks to primary sources, legal texts, and credible news reports is encouraged. Footnotes should be used primarily for formal legal citations. Submissions must adhere to a plagiarism threshold of 10 percent.

Suggested Areas of Focus (Non-Exhaustive)

Law and Public Policy
Governance and Institutional Reform
Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment
Economic Policy and Regulatory Reform
Environment and Sustainable Development
Education and Technology Policy
Health and Welfare Systems
Digital Rights and Data Governance
Local Governance and Rural Development
Criminal Justice Reforms
Urban Policy and Infrastructure
Social Security and Welfare Schemes
Federalism and Centre-State Relations

Authors are encouraged to explore any topic that aligns with the broader mission of promoting thoughtful, inclusive, and reform-oriented policy discourse.

Mode of Submission

Submissions must be made through the Google Form mentioned at the end of this post.
Submissions made through any other mode will not be accepted.

Deadline

The last date for submission is May 30, 2025. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered. Early submissions are encouraged.

Review and Publication

All submissions will be reviewed by the Student and Peer Review Board of the Kautilya Society NUSRL.
Submissions will be assessed on originality, clarity, depth of analysis, relevance, and adherence to guidelines.
Selected blogs will be published on the official website of Kautilya’s Take and circulated among academic and policy networks.

Contact

Email: [email protected]
Student Convenor: Gaurav Kumar Mandal – +91 91420 70677

To read the detailed brochure

Click here to submit your blog

Lifestyle Fashion

20Apr

Weekly Tarot Card Readings: Tarot prediction for April 20-26, 2025 | Astrology

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20)

Love: The Hierophant

Read on to find out your Tarot reading for the coming week.(Unsplash)

Mood: Queen of Cups

Career: Four of Coins

Prioritizing early health checkups will help ensure timely intervention and overall well-being. Financially, focusing on long-term goals will bring stability and security. Professional recognition is on the horizon, boosting confidence and opening new opportunities. Family interactions may require extra kindness and patience. Heartfelt conversations will strengthen romantic bonds, deepening emotional connections. Travel plans may need flexibility to accommodate unforeseen changes. Home renovation ideas could enhance both comfort and property value. Staying optimistic and adaptable will lead to productive outcomes.

Lucky Number: 4
Lucky Colour: Red

TAURUS (Apr 21-May 20)

Love: The Tower

Mood: The High Priestess

Career: Ace of Swords

A disciplined morning exercise routine will boost energy levels and improve vitality. Financial challenges due to skill mismatch may arise, so exploring alternative income sources will be beneficial. Career obstacles may require patience, but strategic planning will help in overcoming them. Strengthening faith within family relationships will create harmony. Romance is likely to flourish, fostering deeper emotional connections. Routine excursions may offer a refreshing break. Long-term property investments appear promising, ensuring financial security. Adapting to unexpected changes will help in navigating the week smoothly.

Lucky Number: 7
Lucky Colour: Yellow

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21)

Love: The Moon

Mood: The Hanged Man

Career: Page of Wands

Strengthening immunity should be a priority for maintaining good health. Money-saving hacks will prove useful in managing finances efficiently. Professionally, self-belief will be the key to overcoming challenges. Family dynamics may be strained due to intergenerational conflicts, but open communication will help bridge gaps. In romance, an unspoken understanding with your partner will foster emotional depth. Reuniting with loved ones through travel will bring joy and nostalgia. Property decisions should be based on a well-researched market outlook. Managing emotions wisely will ensure a fulfilling week.

Lucky Number: 22
Lucky Colour: Royal Blue

CANCER (Jun22-Jul 22)

Love: The Hanged Man

Mood: The Tower

Career: The World

Peak vitality will keep you feeling energetic and enthusiastic. Financial security is well within reach, thanks to well-planned strategies. Constructive feedback at work will support professional growth. Sharing stories with grandparents will strengthen emotional bonds within the family. Accepting differences in love will create a more harmonious relationship. Last-minute travel bookings may lead to complications, so planning ahead is advisable. Sustainable home improvements will increase property value while benefiting the environment. Embracing learning and adaptability will shape a successful week.
Lucky Number: 11
Lucky Colour: Dark Pink

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 23)

Love: The Hierophant

Mood: Devil

Career: Four of Swords

Establishing healthy routines will contribute to long-term wellness. Re-evaluating savings plans will improve financial planning. Work performance is likely to receive appreciation from seniors, paving the way for career advancements. Strengthening shared values within the family will deepen relationships. Rebuilding trust in romance will take time, but patience will be rewarding. Capturing cultural expressions during travel will make your experiences more enriching. Property negotiations may work in your favor. A strategic and positive mindset will help in making the most of upcoming opportunities.

Lucky Number: 2
Lucky Colour: Cream

VIRGO (Aug 24-Sept 23)

Love: Two of Coins

Mood: The Strength

Career: The Fool

Restoring your immune system will help in maintaining overall well-being. A balanced budget will be key to financial stability. Staying goal-oriented at work will help in achieving professional milestones. Practicing forgiveness within family matters will bring emotional relief and stronger bonds. Romance is set to flourish, with heartfelt moments strengthening connections. A visit to traditional homes will provide cultural enrichment. Long-term property ownership is likely to yield significant benefits. Staying focused and disciplined will ensure a rewarding week.
Lucky Number: 9
Lucky Colour: Maroon

LIBRA (Sept 24-Oct 23)

Love: The Lovers

Mood: Judgement

Career: The Magician

Regular health monitoring will keep you feeling fit and active. Financially, unexpected cash rewards may bring pleasant surprises. Notable professional achievements will boost confidence and credibility. Blissful family gatherings will create cherished memories. Accepting new love opportunities may lead to exciting romantic developments. Troubled travel routes may cause inconvenience, so having an alternative plan will be beneficial. Promising property investments may offer long-term gains. A proactive approach will help in overcoming challenges with ease.
Lucky Number: 5
Lucky Colour: Green

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22)

Love: King of Coins

Mood: Temperance

Career: The Star

Focusing on physical strength and wellness will improve overall health. Secure finances will provide stability and confidence for the future. A productive workflow will keep you engaged and professionally satisfied. Spiritual growth within the family will bring a sense of peace and bonding. Romance will be filled with deep emotional connections and meaningful moments. Paying attention to travel essentials will ensure a hassle-free journey. Property matters may require careful document verification before finalizing agreements. A clear and focused mindset will help in overcoming obstacles.

Lucky Number: 3
Lucky Colour: Magenta

Love: Two of Cups

Mood: The Sun

Career: Seven of Coins

Energy levels may feel low, making self-care and rest a priority. Resource management will be essential to maintaining financial stability. Your creative problem-solving skills will shine at work, earning you admiration. Supporting your child’s talents will foster confidence and growth. Sharing emotional burdens in relationships will bring comfort and understanding. Budget-friendly travel plans will provide fulfilling experiences without financial strain. Lucrative property deals may emerge, making this a favorable time for investments. Maintaining a positive outlook will enhance both personal and professional progress.

Lucky Number: 8
Lucky Colour: Grey

Love: The Moon

Mood: The Fool

Career: The Empress

Recovering from past illnesses will require continued care and self-discipline. Financial delays may cause stress, making contingency planning essential. Work efficiency programs will help in boosting productivity and achieving goals. Practicing gratitude within the family will create a warm and supportive environment. Romantic connections will bring comfort, fostering moments of joy and closeness. Routine travel routes may feel monotonous, but small changes can make journeys more enjoyable. Finding reliable tenants may take time, so patience is advised. Structuring your schedule effectively will lead to a smooth and productive week.

Lucky Number: 7
Lucky Colour: Brown

Love: The Chariot

Mood: Seven of Coins

Career: Two of Swords

Prioritizing relaxation and mental well-being will enhance overall health. A well-balanced revenue flow will maintain financial security. Professionally, empowering yourself with new skills and knowledge will open new opportunities. Honoring family heritage and traditions will strengthen familial bonds. Revisiting relationship goals and aligning mutual aspirations will bring clarity. An inspiring journey is likely to refresh your perspective. Solid property investments will offer long-term security and financial growth. A structured approach to problem-solving will lead to effective solutions.

Lucky Number: 2
Lucky Colour: Light Yellow

PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20)

Love: Temperance

Mood: The Hanged Man

Career: Two of Swords

Prioritizing self-care will ensure overall well-being and sustained energy levels. Improving your credit score will enhance financial stability and future planning. Celebrating workplace success will bring motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Addressing family tantrums with patience will encourage better understanding. Romantic surprises will rekindle passion and excitement. Traveling with caution and proper planning will help in avoiding unnecessary troubles. Property market analysis may reveal investment opportunities, but thorough research is advised. A flexible and positive attitude will help in making the most of the week.
Lucky Number: 9
Lucky Colour: Magenta

By: Manisha Koushik

(Astrologer, Tarot Card Reader, Numerologist, Vastu & Fengshui Consultant)

Email: [email protected]

Url: http://www.askmanisha.com

Contact: +919650015920

Medicine

20Apr

Makary seeks to limit industry’s role in FDA advisory panels

The Food and Drug Administration will aim to limit the participation of industry experts in the advisory committees that the agency consults for some regulatory decisions, Martin Makary, the FDA’s new commissioner, announced Thursday.

Advisory committees, which the FDA typically convenes for additional input on high-profile reviews or thorny clinical and regulatory issues, regularly include an industry representative alongside a dozen or so independent experts.

These representatives don’t vote on questions put to the committee. They are meant to share the perspective of their industry broadly, rather than of the specific company that employs them. There are also usually patient or consumer representatives on the panels.

Now, when not explicitly required by statute, the FDA will restrict industry representatives from taking part as a committee member.

“Industry employees are welcome to attend FDA advisory committee meetings, along with the rest of the American public, but having industry employees serve as official members of FDA advisory committee members represents a cozy relationship that is concerning to many Americans,” said Makary. “In fact, the FDA has a history of being influenced unduly by corporate interests.”

The FDA’s statement said its new policy won’t prevent company employees from attending or presenting their views at advisory committee meetings, and noted that exceptions could be made in “rare circumstances.”

While advisory committee meetings offer a public window into the FDA’s regulatory processes, their input is not binding. The FDA can go against their recommendations, although in practice the agency and its committees often align.

Generally, the FDA shapes advisory committee discussions by posing specific questions to the panel and guiding the conversation. If the committee is asked for input on a specific drug review, the developer of that drug will usually give an overview of its data, followed by presentations from an FDA review team that scrutinized those results. Committee members ask follow-up questions and then later vote.

As non-voting members, industry representatives don’t typically drive the conversation, although they share their thoughts alongside other panelists.

Makary announced the new policy alongside his first interview as FDA commissioner, conducted at the agency’s offices with former Fox News host Megyn Kelly and posted to the social media site X.

“I was shocked when I learned that employees of big pharma companies sit on FDA advisory committees as members,” Makary told Kelly. “We’re going to be replacing them whenever statutorily possible with patients and family caregivers.”

It’s not clear whether Makary would try to add an additional patient representative in the many instances where existing advisory committees already have one. It’s also unclear which advisory committees could be stripped of their industry representative.

The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 amended existing law to direct the Health and Human Services Secretary, or their delegate, to establish expert panels that include “a representative of interests of the drug manufacturing industry not directly affected by the matter to be brought before the panel.”

Makary has made common cause with his boss, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in targeting perceived industry influence over regulators like the FDA. A Johns Hopkins surgeon and author, Makary built a reputation as a contrarian, challenging medical consensus on several issues, including the need for children to receive COVID-19 boosters.

He was sworn in as FDA commissioner on April 1 and has kept a relatively low profile as Kennedy has ordered a drastic downsizing of the federal health workforce, including layoffs for several thousand FDA employees.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional detail on a 1997 law governing advisory committee formation.

Real Estate

20Apr

RBA, tariffs and more. The Australian housing market is about to boom

Key takeaways

The Australian housing market is about to boom.

The RBA cash rate will drop by 2% within the next 18 to 24 months.

My modelling suggests that every time mortgage rates drop by 0.25% improves the borrowing capacities in Australia by 2% to 3%.

For mine, the Australian housing market is about to boom.

Why?

I think we are heading towards a bout of stagflation.

Job creation is about to tank and, whilst inflation will rise and remain above the RBA target range for some time to come, interest rates will fall.

My modelling suggests that every time mortgage rates drop by 0.25% improves the borrowing capacities in Australia by 2% to 3%.

As a result the average Australian household can borrow about another $15,000.

The RBA are asleep at the wheel.

I have been saying such for some time.

Can you believe they didn’t even discuss dropping the cash last Tuesday.

Why meet at all if you aren’t going to do your job?

Trump’s tariffs were coming.

Blind Freddie could have seen what was coming down the pipe.

They should have cut 0.25%.

I reckon we will get a 0.5% cut in May and if the RBA board had the guts, they would announce an emergency cut within a week or two.

I think the cash rate will drop by 2% within the next 18 to 24 months.

It will need to stall a local recession, i.e., two consecutive quarters of negative GDP.

Note I said stall.

And we will return to this verb soon.

Of course, we have been in a Per Capital recession for most of the past two years, and despite what Chalmers says, the worst isn’t behind us.

Not by a long shot.

Despite the babble from both major federal parties and also the rest of the political rabble, little can really be done about increasing the new housing supply nationally, as this is the realm of state and local governments.

All that can be done, countrywide, is on the demand side.

And that isn’t needed.

In fact, anything like that just exasperates the problem.

So, the housing supply – for sale, to rent and building new homes – remains tight; interest rates will fall and demand for housing will remain strong and will lift, as investors in times of strife turn towards housing investment in Australia.

Even a big lift in new housing supply – which is extremely unlikely over the short to medium term – will not stop a leap in home values and weekly rents over the next 12 to 24 months.

Thank you

Also, Australia should have said thanks to President Trump.

Moving forward, it might be best to shut up about the US tariffs and bide our time.

No meaningful discussion with the US will happen on this side of the election anyway.

Besides there is stuff all we can do about the US imposing a new tax.

And for what it is worth, as I noted here, Trump for mine is playing poker.

The current ‘liberation day’ tariffs are levied so high to help get other nations to do what the USA wants.

Before Trump’s second term, the average worldwide trading tax was 8%.

It is now around 22%.

One could say that protectionism has risen threefold in the last week.

But I would wager that the average tariff will be closer to the previous 8% within the next three to six months.

Most countries that trade with the US will have reciprocal tariffs.

But back to us

What we should be focusing on are the things we actually have control over.

These things include energy, taxation, defence, domestic security, spending, immigration, productivity and relations with our immediate neighbours, whilst keeping China (trade, for now) and the USA (defence, forever) on our side.

The way forward needs some tough love and a long-term vision.

We need a Prime Minister who can articulate a long-term year plan and stick to it.

The electorate is crying out for leadership.

It isn’t on display.

It is a pity that, as one of the richest countries in the world, this is the best we can do.

And tough love?

Well if most states, and at least one territory, don’t see their credit rating drop by mid-year I will eat one of my hats.

We must reign in spending. And now.

Imperial or mercantile?

And whilst I am on a roll, for mine we are heading towards an ‘imperial’ world at best – one which operates around trading blocks and groupings of like-minded nations.

This means higher costs; a rise in nationalism and a right-leaning mindset; increasing risk of more conflict and potential bouts of recession.

But if geopolitical tensions increase further, then we are likely to become more ‘mercantile’.

Think back to the world’s previous pirate days but this time round cargo ships are being hijacked and flight paths severely restricted.

This could lead to major wars on several fronts and most likely a deep worldwide depression.

Fingers crossed.

Yet Australia – given its current mismanagement – will find it hard to escape a recession, and probably a hard one, in coming years.

As noted earlier we can stall things for a while, but we are fast running out of runway.

And so the housing market has a window of upside, but long-term price and rental growth will have to slow.

Values might not tank, just plateau for a considerable time.

Tight supply lines are a major floor under the housing market in terms of price.

America

And the only place on earth that can survive either scenario is America.

Yes, the yanks.

Look through Trump’s second term, the rise of MAGA and the current US political mess.

Take a long-term view. A minimum of ten years out.

The USA is the only major country that has the wealth, right population mix and size, which can feed and also defend itself.

It is surrounded by water and two friendly nations.

It could truly be isolated and still function.

Now if Canada faces the music and the US embraces Mexico, then this extended USA will remain the hegemony for next century too.

And if the US can ‘secure’ Greenland and the Panama Canal then the world really remains America’s oyster.

Now what I just said, plus what I am about to say, are fighting words to some, but I also reckon China is stuffed.

The Red Dragon faces the four ‘D’s. Debt, Deflation, Demographics and now Donald.

The first three are inescapable and are already in play. There is little that Xi (or others) can do about it.

I best not travel to China anytime soon!

I remain agnostic when it comes to Donald Trump.

What he is doing might help things. They may not.

Time will tell.

But at least something is being done.

And in the meantime Australia should say thanks to the US President and concentrate on what we actually have control over.

Rant over.

Editor’s Note: You can subscribe to Michael Matusik’s regular commentary here

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Technology

20Apr

I Wish Amazon Prime Video Would Bring Back These 3 Features

I hate it when streaming services like Amazon Prime Video introduce unique features, only to ditch them for whatever reason. If I had the power, I’d bring these features back to Prime Video.

3

“Free To Me” Made Prime Video Easier to Navigate

My biggest gripe with Amazon Prime Video is its UI. I can’t stand how everything looks so cramped, and the little yellow icon that indicates content has to be bought or rented to watch drives me crazy. In fact, it’s one of the biggest factors in how I pick between Netflix and Prime when I want to watch something.

PBS and Prime Video logos on a TV a family is watching in the living room

Prime Video Has Teamed Up With an Unexpected Source to Bring You More Free Content

Many highly respected and well-loved TV shows are coming to Prime Video for free.

With Prime’s Free To Me feature, content that had to be rented or bought was filtered out, making it so much easier to pick something and relax for the night. Free To Me was an objectively good feature, and I’ll never understand why it was removed. There’s no reason that’s good enough for me.

Instead, Free To Me was removed in favor of a nondescript “Prime” page. Didn’t know Prime filtered out content that way? Neither did I. How could I? “Prime” could mean any and everything available. Also, Prime Video defaults to the page containing subscription content, rentals, and movies you can buy. Free To Me should have stayed around; otherwise, it’s confusing.

2

Enjoying Content Together With a Watch Party

I may be able to regularly schedule D&D sessions every week, but getting people to gather for an episode of a show or movie is, for some reason, a scheduling nightmare. You’d think the opposite would be true, but that’s how it plays out for me. Amazon Prime Video’s Watch Party feature made it much easier to gather friends and family and enjoy a movie together, especially during the height of the COVID pandemic. We could synchronize playback and chat with one another.

woman pointing remote at tv screen with amazon prime video displayed

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The worst part is Watch Party was discontinued without a peep from Amazon. Removing a feature is one thing, but to do so without an official statement is scummy. It devalued my Prime membership overnight. I wouldn’t have kicked up a fuss if, say, it was rolled into Prime Video’s higher tier.

Now I have to use alternative solutions to watching movies online together, like Teleparty and Discord. However, my friends and family may not want to install new tools due to inconvenience, device support, or they just don’t want to use entirely new software.

1

Prime Video’s Episode Shuffle Was Underappreciated

There are a handful of sitcoms I watch on repeat, like Seinfeld and The Office, whenever I’m doing laundry, dishes, cleaning, or just want to relax or sleep. It’s like background noise that keeps my brain mildly occupied when I’m doing boring chores. However, to prevent myself from watching the same episode over and over, I really liked using Amazon Prime Video’s Episode Shuffle feature. It would play a randomly chosen episode, as opposed to watching it start to finish. And since they were sitcoms, I didn’t have to worry about continuity.

While I understand why this feature was removed, with it being rather niche and all, I still used it quite a lot. In its defense, I don’t recall it being advertised very often. Maybe if more people knew it existed in the first place, it wouldn’t have been so underappreciated. There are plenty of sitcoms, not to mention cartoons, that would’ve benefited from it.

person watching tv with phone and laptop there

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I also mourn the possibility of Amazon expanding on the feature into something like Netflix’s Surprise Me feature, which was also axed, among other features Netflix killed off. Sometimes I get choice paralysis seeing my growing watch list. What’s a guy gotta do to get streaming services to keep a simple shuffle button around?

I’m all about a better user experience, so when features like these get axed, I’m less inclined to use the service. Gutting Free To Me was especially egregious. Finding content that’s freely available due to my Amazon Prime subscription is a nightmare otherwise. Watch Party was great to have when schedules weren’t syncing, and Episode Shuffle was nice when I wanted to turn my brain off. Amazon Prime Video dropped the ball on these features.

Tours Travel

20Apr

Rain transforms a Jinan town into living ink-painting art

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-19/Rain-transforms-a-Jinan-town-into-living-ink-painting-art-1CBcdF7Bv0s/img/6591ce46c46b407080e267d28e7c0c1a/6591ce46c46b407080e267d28e7c0c1a.jpeg'

Mingshui Ancient Town in the rain evokes the essence of a Chinese ink-wash landscape painting. /CGTN