Limiting daily television viewing to one hour or less may help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, even in individuals with a high genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes, according to new research. The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, is among the first to explore how genetic susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes interacts with TV-watching habits in relation to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a condition caused by plaque buildup in the arteries. "Type 2 diabetes and sedentary behaviors, including prolonged sitting, are key risk factors for ASCVD," said lead author Dr. Youngwon Kim, a professor at The University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health. "Since TV viewing makes up a significant portion of daily inactivity, it has been consistently linked to a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis," Kim noted. "Our study highlights the potential role of reducing TV time in preventing ASCVD, particularly in those with a strong genetic predisposition for diabetes." ASCVD encompasses heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, leading to complications such as reduced quality of life, arterial procedures, amputations, and premature death. Researchers analyzed genetic, lifestyle, and medical data from 346,916 adults in a large UK-based biomedical database. The participants, with an average age of 56, were monitored for nearly 14 years. During this period, 21,265 individuals developed ASCVD. To assess genetic risk, researchers calculated polygenic risk scores—an assessment combining 138 genetic variants linked to Type 2 diabetes. Participants were categorized as having a low, medium, or high genetic risk for the condition. Their TV habits were also self-reported, dividing them into groups watching one hour or less daily and those watching two or more hours. Only 21% of participants limited their TV time to one hour or less. Those watching two or more hours daily faced a 12% higher risk of developing ASCVD, regardless of their genetic risk for diabetes. However, individuals with medium or high genetic risk did not show an increased likelihood of developing ASCVD if they restricted their TV time to one hour or less per day. Interestingly, people with a low genetic risk for diabetes who watched at least two hours of TV daily had a slightly higher 10-year ASCVD risk (2.46%) compared to those with a high genetic risk who limited their TV time (2.13%). "This suggests that reducing TV time could be a key behavioral strategy for preventing ASCVD in those with a genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes," said study co-author Dr. Mengyao Wang of The University of Hong Kong. Wang emphasized that encouraging people—especially those at high genetic risk—to minimize TV time and adopt healthier habits could significantly improve heart health. Dr. Damon L. Swift, an associate professor at the University of Virginia’s department of kinesiology, who was not involved in the study, supported these findings. "This research underscores the impact of lifestyle choices on health," Swift said. "It adds to growing evidence that reducing sedentary behavior, such as TV viewing, can be an effective intervention for improving cardiovascular health—particularly for those at an elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes, who already face a higher likelihood of developing heart disease."        

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you got some sleep last night. But are you feeling rested? Experts say it's an important question to consider. Most of us spend a third of our lives sleeping, but you may need more or less than eight hours a night. Here’s what sleep scientists and doctors say about how much you really need — and whether your gender plays a role. Sleep quality over quantity Sleep is still a mystery, despite how critical it is for our health. “The reasons aren’t entirely clear, but it’s an essential thing that we all do,” said Dr. Rafael Pelayo, a sleep specialist at Stanford University. “Something remarkable happens when you sleep. It’s the most natural form of self-care that we have.” Most of the population gets between seven to nine hours — and that particular category has the lowest association with health problems, said Molly Atwood, a behavioral sleep medicine clinician at Johns Hopkins. Once people either dip into less than six hours of sleep or get more than nine hours on average, the risk of health problems inches up, Atwood said, but everybody is different. When you’re trying to figure out how much sleep you need, it’s important to think about the quality of it, Pelayo said: “What you really want to do is wake up feeling refreshed — that’s what it’s about.” “If somebody tells me that they sleep many hours but they wake up tired, something is wrong," Pelayo said. "You shouldn’t leave your favorite restaurant feeling hungry.” How much sleep we need changes The amount of sleep we need changes throughout our lives. Newborns need the most — somewhere between 14 to 17 hours. “Definitely when we’re babies and children, because we are growing so rapidly, we do need a lot more sleep,” Atwood said. The National Sleep Foundation recommends most adults between 26 and 64 get between seven to nine hours of sleep. People who are 65 and older can get slightly less, and young adults between ages 16 and 25 can get slightly more. Humans cycle through sleep stages roughly every 90 minutes. In the first portion of the night, Atwood said that more of the cycle is slow wave sleep, or deep sleep, which is essential to repairing and restoring the body. It’s also when “growth hormone” is released. In the latter hours of the night, more of the sleep cycle is spent in rapid-eye movement sleep, or dream sleep, which is important for learning and memory consolidation, or the process in which short-term memory gets turned into long-term memory. Kids get more “deep sleep,” with about 50% of the night in that realm, she said. That drops at adolescence, Atwood said, because our body doesn’t need the same kind of repair and restoration. Something else interesting happens around puberty: Gender-based differences in sleep start to crop up. Do women need more sleep than men? Research doesn’t show that women need more sleep — but women do get slightly more sleep on average than men, Atwood said. It starts at a young age. Though they have the same sleep needs, teenage girls seem to get less sleep than teenage boys, Pelayo said. Additionally, teenage girls tend to complain of insomnia more frequently. When women become first-time mothers, they often care for newborns throughout the night more frequently, which means less sleep, said Allison Harvey, a clinical psychologist and professor who studies sleep at UC Berkeley. Hormones may also impact women's sleep quantity and quality during pregnancy and menopause. “With menopause in particular, women can develop deterioration in their sleep with an increased number and duration of nighttime awakenings,” said Dr. Mithri Junna, a Mayo Clinic neurologist who specializes in sleep. Atwood said women may also need more sleep right before their menstrual cycle. “There are definitely times that your body’s telling you that you need more sleep,” she said. “It’s important to listen.” When to seek help sleeping You'll know if you’re not getting enough sleep if you're feeling grumpy, irritable and inattentive. Long-term, those minor symptoms can become serious problems — even deadly. “If you’re not getting enough sleep or you have untreated insomnia or sleep apnea, your risk of depression increases,” Atwood said. “Your risk of cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure, risk of heart attack and stroke increases. Your immune system is compromised. You’re at greater risk for Alzheimer’s.” If you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep every night but still waking up feeling tired, you might consider going to your primary care physician. They can rule out other health conditions that may affect your sleep, Atwood said. But if problems persist, seeking out a sleep specialist could be helpful.

Photographer, journalist, and theatre activist Mohammd Asadurjaman Aslam Molla’s first solo photography exhibition, ‘Hajong,’ is set to be inaugurated on Friday at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in the capital’s Dhanmondi. The opening of the exhibition will be joined by Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, and Mustafa Zaman, artist-art critic and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Fine Arts Director, on Friday at 4 pm. Bangladesh’s art treasures deserve a global stage: Clare Hindle The exhibition will highlight the rich culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the Hajong community, a small ethnic group residing in the northeastern regions of Bangladesh, including Sunamganj, Sylhet, and Mymensingh. The Hajongs have a unique culture and religion, closely aligned with Hinduism but centred around worshipping Shiva, their chief deity, and Aslam Molla’s work will showcase their distinct customs, including their practice of wearing ‘Paita,’ the holy thread, and their devotion to Goddess Durga and other deities. The Hajong people, who were significantly displaced during the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent, have a history intertwined with political movements, particularly the fight against the exploitation of zamindars in the Mymensingh division. Aslam Molla's exhibition will also shed light on their struggles, including their involvement with the Communist Party and the subsequent migration of around 30,000 Hajong refugees to India in 1964. Garden Gallery Cosmos welcomes Spring with daylong ‘Live Drawing, Watercolour Session & Exhibition’ Aslam Molla is currently working as a journalist at New Age. His past exhibitions include the Colombo Art Expo 2024 and the 25th National Art Exhibition in 2023, where he won the Best Award in Photography. The exhibition will be open to all till Tuesday, March 18, every day from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Archaeologists in Cambodia are celebrating an unexpected find at the country’s centuries-old Angkor temple complex: the torso of a statue of Buddha that matches a head found nearly a century ago at the same site. The torso, believed to be from the 12th or 13th century, was discovered during a dig by a team of Cambodian and Indian experts last month at Angkor’s Ta Prohm temple. It was found along with 29 fragments that appeared to be part of the same statue, archaeologist Neth Simon said this week. It stands at 1.16 meters (3 3/4 feet) tall and is in the Bayon art style, associated with Angkor’s Bayon temple. “It was a big surprise when we unearthed this sculpture because all we’d found so far were small pieces,” Neth Simon told The Associated Press by phone from Siem Reap province. She described the statue’s design as displaying carved jewelry and robe and sash, with a unique left-hand gesture across the chest — “an uncommon representation in Khmer (Cambodian) art.” The statue’s presumed head was discovered at the same temple in 1927 during the French colonial era, and is currently kept at Cambodia’s main National Museum in the capital Phnom Penh. Neth Simon said the torso was found about 50 meters (yards) away from the site where the head was discovered, and that an optical electronic scan confirmed they were a match. A near-complete reconstruction of the status is possible, Neth Simon added, now that only the right hand of the statue remains missing. Her team will ask the Minister of Culture and Fine Art for approval to reattach the head and body of the sculpture to make it whole for public display. With metal detectors and patience, amateur treasure hunters unearth pieces of British history The Angkor site sprawls across some 400 square kilometers (155 square miles), containing the ruins of capitals of various Cambodian empires from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Scholars consider it to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The site is Cambodia’s most popular tourist attraction and in 2024 attracted about a million international tourists, according to Cambodia’s Tourism Ministry. The excavations aim to organize and preserve the numerous art objects scattered throughout the Ta Prohm complex, highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect and understand Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage, the Apsara Authority says. Neth Simon said she would be delighted if the statue’s pieces could be reassembled after being far apart from each other for a century.

A baby sea lion, holding an artificial kelp strip, was captured on video performing intricate, rhythmic gymnastics-like movements in the waters of an aquarium in Washington state. At just 9 months old and still dependent on her mother’s milk, Pepper has become the most acrobatic sea lion at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, according to Noelle Tremonti, a staff biologist. “We often joke that she’s a ribbon dancer because her movements look so graceful and surprisingly beautiful underwater,” Tremonti said. “It makes me really happy to see her engaging with enrichment activities in such a focused way.” The mesmerizing circles, performed last month in Tacoma, Washington, located about 34 miles (55 kilometers) south of Seattle, are part of the sea lion’s enrichment exercises. The kelp strips help Pepper learn how to interact with kelp, which she would encounter in the wild, and how to explore her surroundings using her mouth, Tremonti explained. Made from durable felt material, the strip is just the right size for Pepper to grasp and manipulate. In the video, the sea lion uses her flipper to drag the strip while chasing the end, creating graceful loops, and then bites down on it. Pepper, the first sea lion born at the aquarium in its 120-year history, now weighs 74 pounds (33.5 kilograms) and recently ate her first fish, although she mostly enjoys playing with them. Her favorite pastime, however, is flipping around with the kelp strips. “She spends a large portion of her day finding new ways to play with them,” Tremonti said. “It’s really fun to watch.”

It appears the tall tale that all cats have nine lives may be true for a California Maine coon named Aggie. The beloved feline was feared dead for two months after the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles left her family's home in ashes. But her owner, 82-year-old Katherine Kiefer, held out some hope. Over the weekend, Kiefer got a call from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter. Her daughter Carolyn Kiefer shared their reunion Saturday in a TikTok video that quickly garnered more than 1 million likes. It shows tears pouring from Katherine Kiefer's eyes as Aggie curled up in her arms. “I was very much worried that I was going to wake up and (discover) it had been a dream,” she said. Kiefer was at a medical appointment the day fire engulfed her neighborhood and her children couldn't find Aggie — who was prone to hiding — when they tried to rescue her. “The one thing my mom asked was: 'Did you get Aggie?” Carolyn recalls. Many pet owners struggled to reach their domesticated animals during the frantic rush to evacuate from the Palisades wildfire in January. Aggie, who is about 5 years old, was gifted to Katherine Kiefer by a friend during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media users have been so touched by the pair's reunion video that many have been asking for daily updates. The family's $30,000 GoFundMe campaign for Aggie’s vet bills had topped $21,000 by Tuesday afternoon. Delayed emergency alerts failed Los Angeles residents during wildfires The cat has undergone several blood transfusions and is now seeing a specialist. “She was basically skin and bone, and in a state of absolute starvation,” Carolyn said. The family will officially be reunited with Aggie when she is released from the hospital Thursday. Kiefer said she’s anxiously waiting, and she has a message for other pet owners: "Don’t underestimate cats,” she said.

Just days after an unexploded World War II bomb near Paris’ Gare du Nord made headlines, a different kind of spectacle unfolded across the street: Louis Vuitton’s fashion show extravaganza on Monday evening. The only bursts of excitement at Paris Fashion Week came from fabric, form, and a whirlwind imagination. When designer Nicolas Ghesquière took his bow, the audience’s admiration reached a fever pitch, with French first lady Brigitte Macron, in a rare display of enthusiasm, leaping to her feet to kiss him. When should you eat? Before, after — or even while — exercising? A station full of mystery The show took place at "L’Étoile du Nord," described by Louis Vuitton as "a hidden station where past and future travelers converge, evoking the golden age of railway adventure." The event was held in the historic 1845 building, originally designed for the Compagnie du Nord railway company. Its atrium was meticulously transformed into a grand train station waiting room for the ready-to-wear show, reinforcing the themes of travel, anticipation, and adventure — central to Vuitton’s identity. From their front-row seats, Emma Stone, Jennifer Connelly, Ana de Armas, Chloë Grace Moretz, Lisa, Jaden Smith, Ava DuVernay, and Sophie Turner watched attentively as projected shadowy figures drifted across the upper windows, like ghostly travelers from another time. This evoked Vuitton’s origins at the dawn of the Orient Express and haute couture, when wealthy women needed to bring numerous cases to store their extensive traveling wardrobes. On the runway below, Ghesquière wove a story of train stations, both real and imagined, styling passengers for unknown journeys. There were detectives in trench coats, campers in chunky New Wave sweaters, and party girls rushing to catch the last train in ruched velvet. Ghesquière is renowned for his cinematic styling, drawing from a vast range of film influences—whodunnits, fantasies, and comedies. Aarong unveils world's largest craft store in Dhanmondi In other instances, a voluminous layered tulle skirt in deep fuchsia captured Ghesquière’s knack for blending different centuries, paired with a contemporary architectural knit top and sleek, futuristic hair. When the tracks got bumpy However, while the narrative was rich, some of the styling occasionally veered off course. One look, in particular, featured a hybrid fisherman’s hat so oversized it nearly obscured the model’s vision, paired with an enveloping scarf, shapeless dress, and a horizontally placed belt buckle above the bust, which made even seasoned fashion insiders raise an eyebrow. While some outfits were exciting, others felt like mismatched passengers on the wrong train. While fluid, translucent trenches and cleverly constructed jumpsuits stood out, some pieces seemed overcomplicated, leaning more toward hurried layering than artful disarray. Fashion on a synthesized beat A notable collaboration with electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk merged Vuitton’s travel legacy with the band’s vision of movement and modernity. 'Trans-Europe Express' was emblazoned on pinstriped jumpsuits and accessories, reinforcing the rhythm of the journey. Additionally, Vuitton revived its 1988 ceramic-bezel watch, nodding to precision in both travel and design. As the last model exited the train station set, a question lingered: Has Ghesquière lost his spark after 11 years at the helm? Perhaps not yet, but this season’s journey, while evocative, didn’t always have a clear final destination.

If you listen to some self-proclaimed exercise experts on social media, they swear that working out on an empty stomach burns more fat. But it’s a common misconception that exercising in a fasted state improves performance or burns more calories, said Abby Langer, a dietitian in Toronto. “The research shows that in terms of gains, it doesn’t really make much of a difference,” she said. Does that mean you should load up on protein and carbs right before a workout? No, that’s not true either. Here’s a look at when — and how — you should eat, before, after or even during a workout. (And remember, experts say what you eat is more important than when you eat.) What’s the case for eating before exercising? The calories in food literally are energy, so you need them to fuel your body for a proper workout. Eating too much too soon beforehand, though, can be problematic. Exercising diverts blood from organs including the stomach to the muscles, said Langer, author of “Good Food, Bad Diet.” So exercising on a full stomach affects the digestive process, which could cause cramping or even make you feel sick. That’s particularly the case with meals high in fat, protein or fiber, which take longer to digest than carbohydrates. Langer recommends eating a high ratio of carbs beforehand and waiting two to three hours before intense exercise. Surprising health benefits of walking barefoot at home “You don’t want to eat a big steak an hour before you play hockey,” she said. If you exercise first thing in the morning or before dinner, it’s OK to have a carb-rich snack like a banana with peanut butter or yogurt with fruit beforehand. It will give you the energy to perform well, and you can fuel up afterward with a full meal. When — and what — should you eat after exercise? That steak may serve you better afterward because that’s when a higher ratio of protein is easier to digest, said Krista Austin, a physiologist in Colorado Springs. Austin said if it will be an hour or longer before you can have a full meal, it’s better to have a high-protein snack in the meantime to help curb your appetite. The reason has little to do with muscle recovery or nutrient absorption: Rather, people who are too hungry make poor dietary choices. “A lot of people get very hungry about an hour after exercise, and you don’t want to do that,” said Austin, author of “Performance Nutrition: Applying the Science of Nutrient Timing.” “You want to catch it early, or you go and overeat.” But it’s another myth that you need to grab a protein shake within minutes of finishing to build the biggest muscles, Langer said. Many exercise enthusiasts point to what’s known as an “anabolic window” of about an hour within exercising that the body is primed to repair muscle. For the average person, you have a much longer window, and nutrient timing is less important than making sure you consume some protein at every meal, Langer said. The body needs a continuous supply of amino acids like protein for muscle repair and maintenance, she said, which means about 25 to 30 grams at every meal, depending on various factors. Ramadan 2025: Five tips for mental and emotional well-being while fasting “Prioritizing that will help with goals, either muscle building, satiety, weight loss, all of that,” Langer said. How about eating during exercise? Most people who are eating enough throughout the day don’t need anything during a workout. Langer and Austin said the threshold is about an hour of intense exercise. Longer than that — say you're training for a marathon — and you can benefit from a carb-rich snack in the middle. Instead of focusing on when to eat, Austin said to focus on what and how much. She cautioned against overcomplicating the topic and recommended following the USDA’s My Plate recommendations for a balanced diet. “The biggest thing we need to teach people is that nutrition is simple,” she said. “Maybe you need to stop focusing on the concept of nutrient timing and just make sure that you’re consistently eating throughout the day and focus on health.”

Aarong, Bangladesh’s fashion and lifestyle brand, announced the grand opening of its newest flagship outlet in Dhanmondi—the world’s largest craft store. Spread across an awe-inspiring 60,000 square feet and encompassing eight spacious floors, this stunning architectural masterpiece is set to transform the nation’s retail landscape and cement Bangladesh’s standing as a global hub for artisanal excellence, according to a press release on Friday. How to Identify a Genuine Pashmina Shawl The press release claimed that the Dhanmondi flagship outlet is more than just a store; it’s a statement of magnificence and creativity. The building’s distinctive façade and meticulously crafted interior speak to Aarong’s unwavering commitment to uplifting local artistry. As guests journey through each floor, they will be treated to a series of monumental art installations, including A 4-Storey Nakshi Kantha: Towering at the heart of the store, this spectacular piece showcases the intricate embroidery tradition of Bangladesh, telling the story of Aarong. Clay Pottery Wall: A tactile tapestry of handcrafted clay pieces that showcases age-old pottery practices as a contemporary art piece, symbolising Aarong’s innovative spirit. Alchemy: Made from copper and repurposed glass, this luminous centrepiece cascades from above, casting a warm, enchanting glow throughout the space. From the widest selection of handcrafted textiles to exclusive artisanal décor, the store promises a truly world-class experience. The children’s wear section, in particular, features a magical, forest-themed playpen—an interactive wonderland that will captivate young imaginations while allowing parents to browse in comfort. At the pinnacle of this unprecedented retail adventure lies the Orange Parrot restaurant on the 7th floor, which will open by the end of the year. Serving mouthwatering Bangladeshi fusion cuisine, this unique dining destination will offer an unmatched culinary journey complete with sweeping views of Dhanmondi from its serene terrace. “This groundbreaking destination store is a proud testament to Bangladesh moving boldly into the future,” said Tamara Abed, Managing Director, BRAC Enterprises. “It embodies our mission to preserve and celebrate Bangladesh’s rich artisanal heritage while delivering a world-class shopping experience. Every product tells a story, connecting our customers to the hands that create them. This store marks a new era for Aarong and highlights this brand’s ambitions for the global stage.” Bata launches 2025 Eid-Ul-Fitr collection 'Starlight' Founded in 1978, the press release said, Aarong has grown into a household name, renowned for preserving and promoting the art and craft traditions of Bangladesh.

In many cultures, including those in Asia, removing shoes before entering a home is a common practice, particularly in households with carpeted floors. However, few people realise that walking barefoot indoors may offer notable health advantages.  Dr Robert Conenello, a certified clinical podiatrist, explained to HuffPost that walking barefoot helps strengthen the intrinsic muscles of the feet. These muscles naturally weaken over time due to ageing and frequent shoe use, making barefoot walking an effective way to maintain foot health.  Dr Conenello strongly advocates for the practice, emphasising the connection between foot muscles and overall mobility. He noted that reduced foot strength can lead to limited movement as people grow older. “Many of the conditions I treat stem from the inability to properly engage these muscles for normal movement and metabolic efficiency,” he said.  Beyond strengthening the feet, walking without shoes also benefits the skin. Dr Hannah Kopelman, a dermatologist, highlighted that it allows the skin to breathe, reducing moisture buildup and the likelihood of fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. She also pointed out that going barefoot can have a calming effect, similar to a mini reflexology session.  Remnant Cholesterol and its impact on heart health “For those without pre-existing foot or skin conditions, this practice can serve as a natural way to connect with the surroundings and encourage mindfulness,” she explained.  Despite the benefits, there are some drawbacks. Walking barefoot may expose the feet to irritants, allergens, sharp objects, or cleaning chemicals on the floor.  Individuals with chronic skin conditions, such as eczema or dermatitis, may be particularly vulnerable. However, Dr Conenello recommended a simple solution—washing and thoroughly drying the feet before applying moisturiser.  Another concern is foot fatigue or joint discomfort, particularly for those who stand for long periods, such as while cooking. To minimise strain, Dr Conenello advised wearing supportive footwear when standing for extended durations. Wearing socks can also help by creating a protective barrier between the feet and the floor.  This is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.