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Is UAE crypto-ready? How you can now buy property and book flights using cryptocurrency – The Times of India
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Over 60? Add these 5 anti-aging exercises to your routine to build muscle mass and increase bone density
As we age, strength training, also referred to as resistance training, becomes more important than ever. It can slow down the effects of aging on the body, help increase muscle mass and bone density, and reduce the risk of falls. But if you’re a beginner, which are the best exercises to focus on?
To help you get started, below, we’ve rounded up the five best anti-aging exercises to add to your routine.
Remember, if you’re a complete beginner or you’re returning to exercise following an injury, it’s always a good idea to check in with a medical professional before taking on a new workout routine.
5 best anti-aging exercises
These exercises can all help preserve muscle mass, which is vital as we age. After the age of 30, we naturally begin to lose muscle, in a process called sarcopenia. This rapidly increases after the age of 60, and strength training is one of the best ways to counteract this.
Weight-bearing exercises can also stimulate bone-forming cells, which increases bone mineral density, making your bones stronger and significantly reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
You’ll also be working on your balance and stability as you strengthen the muscles in your upper and lower body, plus, strength training can help you lose or maintain weight.
Remember, if losing weight is your goal, you’ll need to pair strength training with a healthy diet and ensure you’re in a calorie deficit — burning more calories than you consume. One of the easiest ways to keep track of this is to strap one of the best fitness trackers to your wrist.
Here are the exercises to focus on. Just using your bodyweight will make a difference, but as you get stronger, you might want to grab a set of the best adjustable dumbbells to increase the intensity. The exercises have all been highlighted by the personal trainers behind the Big Muscles YouTube account.
1. Squats
(Image credit: Shutterstock) Squats work most of the muscles in the lower body, as well as the back and abs. Squats are also a functional exercise, which means you’re targeting the muscles you use to do everyday tasks, like sitting down and getting up from a chair, or climbing a set of stairs. They can also help keep the knee, hip, and ankle joints healthy.
- Stand with your feet hip or shoulder-width apart. You can position your feet slightly wider
- Point your toes slightly outward at 45 degrees, or forward facing if that’s more comfortable. Engage your core
- Bend your knees and send your hips back as if you’re sitting on a chair directly beneath you
- As you squat down, push your knees outwards so that they track directly over your middle toes and keep the weight distributed through your feet
- Lift your chest, keep looking straight ahead and maintain a flat back. Avoid hunching or rounding your spine
- Lower until your thighs are parallel to the floor, keeping your knees aligned with toes, heels planted and spine neutral, then push through your heels to stand back up.
2. Plank
A plank is a great way to work on your core strength. Your abdominal muscles play a key role in stabilizing your pelvis and spine as you move. Weak core muscles often lead to lower back pain, so this is essential as we get older. If you struggle to get down on an exercise mat, complete a plank standing against the wall.
- Start in a press-up position, with your arms slightly wider than your shoulders and your body weight resting on your hands flat against the floor, or your forearms, depending on which variation you opt for
- Think about creating a straight line from your heels to the crown of your head, engaging your core
- Hold here. If this is too intense, lower your knees down to the floor
3. Lunges
Along with squats, lunges are a great way to target the muscles in your lower body and core. Lunges can also help mobilize your back, relieving tension, and are a good exercise to add to your routine if you spend a lot of time sitting down.
They can also work on coordination and posture, as you target each side of the body at one time, addressing muscle imbalances.
- Start standing tall with your feet hip-width apart
- Take a big step forward with your left foot and then bend both knees until they’re both at a 90-degree angle
- Your back knee should just tap the floor, and your front knee should be stacked above your foot. Don’t let your front knee go past your toes
- Then, push up through your front heel to come back to standing
4. Push-ups
Push-ups target the pecs, deltoids, triceps, and abdominal muscles, making them a great exercise to consider when targeting your upper body. If full push-ups are too difficult, you’ll still see results doing push-ups on your knees or against a wall.
- Start by getting into a plank position, with your weight underneath your shoulders and your palms flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart. If this is too difficult, lower your knees to the floor, like the image above.
- Straighten your arms and engage your abs, thinking about sucking your belly button into your spine
- You should maintain a straight line from your heels to the crown of your head
- Slowly, with control, bend your arms and lower your chest to the floor, pause, then raise back to your starting position.
5. Glute bridge
The glute bridge is an isolated exercise which works on strengthening the glutes, or the muscles in your buttocks. The main muscle worked is the gluteus maximus, but your thigh muscles and core are also working to stabilize the body in this move.
To increase the intensity, you can hold a dumbbell against your hips, but you’ll still work your body hard using just your body weight.
- To do a glute bridge with correct form, you’ll need to start by lying on your back on an exercise mat, with your feet pressed into the floor about hip-width apart
- Engage your core (think about sucking your belly button into your spine) and squeeze your glutes together as you raise your hips and pelvis to the sky
- Squeeze your glutes at the top, before slowly lowering your hips back to their starting position. That’s one rep
- To make bodyweight glute bridges harder, raise your arms up to the sky
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World’s Biggest Camera May Find 50 Interstellar Objects, Scientists Say
Countless star trails appear as colorful brushstrokes spread across the night sky above NSF–DOE Vera … More
The new Vera C. Rubin Observatory detected interstellar object 3I/ATLAS and may detect up to 50 more during its 10-year mission, according to a new model.
The observatory in Chile, which unveiled its first images last month, is equipped with a unique view of the night sky, supported by the world’s largest camera.
What Is The Vera C. Rubin Observatory?
A new survey telescope in Chile, the Rubin Observatory, looks set to become astronomy’s most ambitious and productive eye on the sky ever made. It will begin a 10-year mission later this year, during which it’s expected to discover 10 million supernovas, 20 billion galaxies, and millions of asteroids and comets.
About the size of a car, Rubin’s $168 million LSSTCam imager — the most sensitive optical device ever made — weighs over three tons and captures 3,200-megapixel images. Every image is big enough to fill 378 4K screens. It took 10 years to manufacture, features six optical filters, and, crucially, has a 9.6 square-degree field of view — it can see a large portion of the sky at once.
What Is 3I/ATLAS?
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope network at El Sauce Observatory in Chile and thought to be around 12 miles (20 kilometers) in diameter, 3I/ATLAS’s eccentric trajectory suggests that it’s from outside the solar system. The third interstellar object ever to be found after ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and a comet called 2I/Borisov in 2019, 3I/ATLAS could be three billion years older than the solar system — the oldest comet ever seen. It could even be up to 14 billion years old, according to Matthew Hopkins, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, who spoke on July 11 at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting in Durham, U.K., about a new model, the Ōtautahi–Oxford Model, that simulates the properties of interstellar objects based on their orbits and likely stellar origins.
Why Rubin Will Find Interstellar Objects
The next interstellar object to enter the solar system is likely to be discovered by the Rubin telescope. Objets such as 3I/ATLAS are incredibly faint when they are far from the sun, but Rubin’s wide field and large aperture make it ideal for finding interstellar objects. “Rubin’s speed means it also scans 18,000 square degrees every few nights,” said Bob Blum, Director of Rubin Observatory Operations, in an email. “The combination of depth, field of view, and speed is ideal for finding rare objects.”
With all of this in its favor, Rubin is expected to find any interstellar objects sooner than other facilities because it will detect them when they’re farther away. “We expect Rubin will be able to find at least multiple 10’s of these rare interlopers over the course of its 10-year survey,” said Bloom.
It’s already begun its work, with Rubin’s team locating 3I/ATLAS in test images taken since early June and now studying the object in the night sky.
A Surprising Discovery
For astronomers working on how to best detect interstellar objects, the sudden arrival of 3I/ATLAS took them by surprise — just as they were preparing to begin using the Rubin Observatory. “The solar system science community was already excited about the potential discoveries Rubin will make in the next 10 years, including an unprecedented number of interstellar objects,” said co-researcher Dr Rosemary Dorsey of the University of Helsinki. “The discovery of 3I suggests that prospects for Rubin may now be more optimistic; we may find about 50 objects, of which some would be similar in size to 3I.”
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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SANZAAR Teams Announced for World Rugby U20 Championship Semi-Finals
Round 3 in Italy Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa qualified for the semi-finals. Australia’s loss to England means they play in the 5th place semi-finals. New Zealand and South Africa qualified as pool winners with Argentina qualifying as the best second-placed team in the three pools.
South Africa versus Argentina – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
New Zealand versus France – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, ViadanaAustralia v Italy [5th place semi-finals] – Payanini Center, Verona
Where is it?
Rugby’s future stars will play matches across four cities in the Lombardia and Veneto regions of Italy – Calvisano, Rovigo, Verona and Viadana.
What are the dates?
The tournament runs from 29 June up to the final on 19 July.
[Matchday 1: Sunday, 29 June]
[Matchday 2: Friday, 4 July]
[Matchday 3: Wednesday, 9 July]
Matchday 4: Monday, 14 July – Semi-Finals and Qualifying Finals
Matchday 5: Saturday, 19 July
Click HERE for the World Rugby U20 official tournament website
The New Zealand Under 20 will face France in the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The clash is a rematch of last year’s semi-final, where France claimed a 55–31 victory. Four players from that match, Stanley Solomon, Rico Simpson, Dylan Pledger and Mosese Bason, have been named in the starting line-up and will be eager to turn the tables this time around.
There are two changes to the team that defeated Ireland in the final round of pool play. Rico Simpson shifts from fullback to first five-eighth, with Stanley Solomon moving into the 15 jersey.
Up front, prop Sika Pole and lock Xavier Treacy retain their starting spots, continuing their streak of starting every match for New Zealand in 2025.
New Zealand Under 20 versus France:
1. Sika Pole, 2. Manumaua Letiu (c), 3. Robson Faleafā, 4. Xavier Treacy, 5. Jayden Sa, 6. Finn McLeod, 7. Caleb Woodley, 8. Mosese Bason (vc), 9. Dylan Pledger (vc), 10. Rico Simpson, 11. Maloni Kunawave, 12. Jack Wiseman, 13. Cooper Roberts, 14. Frank Vaenuku, 15. Stanley Solomon.
Replacements: 16. Eli Oudenryn, 17. Israel Time, 18. Dane Johnston, 19. Aisake Vakasiuola, 20. Micah Fale, 21. Jai Tamati, 22. Tayne Harvey, 23. Harlyn Saunoa.
After making a few rotational changes for their last Pool A match against Scotland, which the Junior Springboks won by 73-14 in Calvisano, Foote has selected mainly the same combination that defeated Australia and England in their first two group games.
For Monday’s important knockout match with Los Pumitas, Demitre Erasmus is back at outside centre after missing the England clash due to illness and coming off the bench against Scotland.
Jaco Williams is retained at left wing for his second start in a row since replacing Siya Ndlozi, who returned home with a hamstring injury sustained against England.
The Junior Bok pack remains the same as the combination that faced Australia and England, with Norton leading a starting team that have impressed with their physicality and ability to create plenty of scoring opportunities with their speedy outside backs.
However, Foote has opted for six forwards and two backs on the bench for the semi-final in a bid to use their explosive forwards and attack the Argentina pack, with No 8 Stephanus Linde now the extra forward among the replacements.
Foote said it was a tough task to select the team to face Argentina: “It was so difficult to leave out anybody because the players did so well against Scotland. My message to those who weren’t selected for the match-23 is to help us prepare the starting team as best as we can.”
According to Foote, Argentina’s forward prowess will be a huge test for the SA U20s, which is one of the reasons why he has decided to go with a six-two split on the bench.
“The Argentineans are very confrontational and physical, and they play with lots of passion,” he said. “We know we are in for a fight which is why we went for six forwards on the bench, because we have so much respect for them.”
Junior Springboks team to play Argentina:
15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese
Replacements: 16 Jaundré Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Stephanus LindeContinue Reading
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Neurodiversity festival in Exeter born from ‘passion project’
A mother with autism and ADHD has worked with an art venue to put together a festival celebrating neurodiversity in Devon.
Emily Way-Evans, who was diagnosed with the conditions two years ago at 38, said the Kaleidoscopic Minds Festival of Neurodiversity in Exeter was a “passion project” for her.
The event is on from 11:00 to 16:00 BST at Exeter Phoenix.
Organisers said it featured workshops, a family disco and various activities for neurodivergent people and families.
Ms Way-Evans, who has two neurodivergent children, said she “wanted to create an event which is for families like mine… to feel welcome and understood and just to kind of relax and have a nice day”.
“The hope is that people will take something from it, whether it’s a feeling of connection, maybe some tools and strategies, information,” she said.
The “pay what you can” event would see local neurodivergent charities on site, such as Dimensions for Autism, to offer resources to attendees.
Ms Way-Evans said people could “book a free ticket if you need to, otherwise it’s £5 or £10”.
“The lovely team at the Phoenix have kind of allowed me to create it and they’ve helped me make it happen,” she said
“It’s for all ages and everyone’s welcome.”
There are movement and writing workshops, art and printing workshops aimed specifically for people with disabilities, guidance on regulation techniques and a family rave.
There will also be ear defenders available for those who need them, as well as two regulation areas, a play room and a sensory garden.
Ms Way-Evans said: “I’ve done as much as I can to design it specifically for neurodivergent people based on my experience… and I’ve tried to think of everything but if there’s anything I’ve missed I would really love to know.
“I have put a lot of effort into it, and it’s been a bit of a passion project for me, it’s obviously very close to my heart.”
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Why baby formula is in Knowsley Council’s sights for advert ban
Lynette HorsburghBBC News, Merseyside
PA MediaThe World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until at least six months A council is set to restrict advertising of baby formula and baby foods sold in jars and pouches on sites it owns.
Knowsley Council said the move was part of its plans to prevent the marketing of “health harming or misleading products”.
A report prepared for the Merseyside council’s cabinet on Wednesday said infant formula was often marketed in such a way that it suggests “its benefits outweigh breastfeeding”.
It comes after the authority announced last year it would restrict adverts for unhealthy food on its sites as part of its strategy to tackle its obesity rates, which according to NHS data is among the highest in England.
The World Health Organization and Unicef recommend exclusive breastfeeding until six months as best practice and continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods until a child is at least two years old.
In the UK there are restrictions on advertising infant formula for babies under six months but companies are able to advertise follow-on milks.
The council report proposes to add restrictions on advertising baby formula and baby foods to its Healthier Advertising Policy introduced in January 2024.
It said the move would “align” with the aims of the authority’s breastfeeding strategy.
The document said: “Infant formula is often marketed in such a way it suggests its benefits outweigh breastfeeding or simply using cows’ milk after the age of one.”
“The marketing and packaging of these products can be misleading and undermines public health messaging for breastfeeding, widening health inequalities particularly for those on lower incomes,” it added.
Knowsley Council says formula and baby pouches are marketed as “healthier or better” than breastfeeding or homemade food The report said baby foods – usually sold in packets, jars or pouches – were also marketed in such a way “they appear to be healthier and better for the child than fresh foods prepared at home or used in raw form”.
It said the so-called “health halos” such as “organic” or “supports with hand to mouth co-ordination” undermined the use of non-processed foods instead.
The report said they were “often less nutritious” than preparing food at home and were advertised as suitable for babies from four months, “directly contravening global health guidance for weaning at six months”.
A BBC investigation in April found parents had been “misled” by marketing of baby food pouches which were often lacking key ingredients.
In response, the Department of Health said there were existing laws to ensure the safety and quality of baby food and it was “committed to tackling the childhood obesity crisis and improving children’s health through our Plan for Change”.
The Knowsley Council report also proposed restricting advertising payday and high interest loans.
It said they were “damaging to financial wellbeing” and “trapping people into a cycle of unaffordable debt” which “can lead to severe mental health impacts”.
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Tourist coins pose giant problem at N. Ireland’s famous causeway site
Northern Ireland’s Giant Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks — to bring love or luck — is damaging the world-famous wonder.
Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape.
Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago.
Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool.
In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks.
The gesture is “a token of love or luck”, according to Cliff Henry, the causeway’s nature engagement officer.
But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving “unsightly” rust-coloured streaks, Henry told AFP.
He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys.
“We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world — any currency you can think of, pretty much — we have had it here,” he said.
A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were “doing some serious damage” and something had to be done about it, he noted.
Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to “leave no trace”.
– ‘Distressed’ –
“Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it,” causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy told AFP.
She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist.
At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were “distressed” to hear of the damage the metal caused.
“Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It’s really terrible to hear that,” said Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida.
“It’s kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It’s not good,” said his wife, Geri, 70.
As part of a £30,000 ($40,000) conservation project, stone masons recently removed as many coins as they could — without causing further damage — from 10 test sites around the causeway.
Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway.
“If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in,” he said.
“If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved.
“We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant’s Causeway,and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations.”
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Cricket: Devon Conway and Jimmy Neesham return to New Zealand’s T20I squad for Zimbabwe Tri-Series | Cricket News
Devon Conway, Mitch Hay, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Robinson have joined the New Zealand T20I squad in Harare for the upcoming Tri-Series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.Wicketkeeper-batter Conway will replace Finn Allen for the full T20I series, after Allen was ruled out earlier this week with a foot injury.Hay, Neesham and Robinson will join the squad as additional cover for Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra, who are all involved in the Major League Cricket final on Monday.BLACKCAPS head coach Rob Walter expressed his disappointment for Allen.“We’re really gutted for Finn,” said Walter.“I was looking forward to working with him and seeing him continue his form from the MLC, but unfortunately, injuries happen.
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We’re lucky to be able to call on someone of Devon’s quality to step in.”Walter said the team had anticipated the need to expand the squad.“We knew there was a possibility a handful of players could be involved in the MLC final on Monday, so we’re bringing in Mitch, Jimmy, and Tim as possible replacements.”New Zealand will face South Africa in their opening Tri-Series match on Wednesday.
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Statue of first British-made Stephens car unveiled in Clevedon
Jonathan HolmesBBC News, West of England
Mark ReberMark Reber raised the money to build a statue of this car, which was built in Clevedon in 1898 A statue of the first entirely British-designed and built motor car has been unveiled.
The 1:1 replica of a car built by Richard Stephens in 1898 in Clevedon, now sits on Six Ways roundabout, a short distance from where the original was made.
Mark Reber, organiser of the Clevedon Cars and Coffee event, who commissioned the statue, said: “I am so happy to see the town’s response, everyone is excited by this project.
“It’s a reflection of how the car originally came together, it was several Clevedonians who made it happen, and it’s gratifying to see that pattern repeat again today.”
Richard Stephens began his car manufacturing business in Clevedon in 1897, taking inspiration from engineers he met in America, including Henry Ford and Ransom Olds, founder of the Oldsmobile car company.
Today, there are two surviving cars from 12 that were built and the company folded in 1916 after competition from other firms. One of the cars is still using its original tyres, installed 127 years ago.
The new statue sits on Six Ways Roundabout in Clevedon The two have participated in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run for several years.
Stephens’ vehicles could reach 40mph (64km/h), and he invented his own suspension systems for his cars, as well as manufacturing early taxis and buses.
His granddaughter Georgina Westlake, who unveiled the statue, said it looked “amazing”.
“Richard Stephens would be proud and so would my father,” she said.
Public domainStephens’ cars could reach 40mph and only two of the 12 made have survived The car statue was funded from private donations.
“Richard Stephens was a big believer in using cars for public transportation, creating them with local people using locally-sourced materials,” Mr Reber said.
“Then he built them for mass transit, and his final car carried 10 people.
“Here we are in 2025 and we realise how many things he got right.
“He is the road not taken, and he addressed things in his design and business model we only appreciate now.”
Mr Reber next plans to commission a mural of Richard Stephens for the building which formerly housed his workshop.
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Alder Hey gets child-friendly MRI scanner with TV for patients
Angela Ferguson & Thomas BerringtonBBC News, Merseyside
Alder Hey Children’s HospitalThe new scanner has begun operating at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital A state-of-the-art MRI scanner built to have child-friendly features including a TV so young patients can watch their favourite shows during a scan has entered use at Alder Hey Children’s hospital.
The £3.1m 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner is among the first in Europe, and researchers have hailed the technology as “game-changing”.
It is used as part of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with conditions such as epilepsy and is the preferred method for follow-up assessments for children with cancer as they do not use radiation.
Alder Hey research manager Jason Taylor said it was “fantastic” to have the new scanner at the hospital.
He said the new scanner meant more “game-changing research” could be done with partners in hospitals, universities and industry.
Lead radiographer Neil Fanning said the new scanner was “much more patient-friendly”, with lighter and more comfortable equipment.
GoogleThe new scanner is said to use cutting-edge software Alder Hey’s consultant radiologist Professor Shivaram Avula said the scanner “provides the imaging speed, resolution and flexibility needed to lead the way in studying childhood and adult conditions”.
The scanner was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is being used in a new child-friendly MRI suite.
Among its features are lighting, sounds and video projections and the TV screen.
An Alder Hey spokesperson said one of the first studies using the scanner would involve scanning newborns during natural sleep to explore how early life and environment affect brain development.
What is MRI?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe and non-invasive way to see inside the body, including the brain, muscles, joints and organs, an Alder Hey spokesperson said.
Unlike traditional scanners, the new 3-Tesla model is able to capture much higher quality images in less time, using cutting-edge hardware and software.
MRI scanners help identify early signs of disease, enabling medics and researchers to understand how differences such as genetics and the environment can influence health, which is vital for developing tailored treatments.
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