Life & Style

To say that sleeping is extremely important for the rest and restoration of our mind and brain, is an understatement. While doctors advise most adults to sleep 7-8 hours a day, some people struggle to sleep well, often tossing and turning for hours in the bed, before eventually dozing off, only to have their alarm go off in a few hours, making them groggy and irritated. If this sounds like you, then a new sleep routine, called the 10-3-2-1 Trick might help. Here’s how…

What is the 10-3-2-1 Trick?
The 10-3-2-1 trick is a structured bedtime routine (that lasts through the day incidentally), that helps your body and mind prepare for restful sleep. Each number stands for a specific rule to follow in the hours before you go to bed. By sticking to these simple steps, you can improve your sleep quality, and wake up refreshed, ready to take on the day…

Let’s start
10 hours before bed: No caffeine
Stop consuming caffeine-like coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate-at least 10 hours before bedtime (No, 6 hours prior is not enough now) Caffeine can stay in your system for a long time and block the hormone that makes you feel sleepy. This helps your body start winding down naturally. This in essence means that one should restrict their caffeine consumption to just breakfast/mid morning, and no later than that.
3 Hours Before Bed: No heavy meals/alcohol
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol three hours before you sleep. Eating late or drinking alcohol can disturb your digestion, and interrupt sound sleep, making you groggy in the morning. Give your body time to process food and drinks before lying down.
2 hours before bed: Put away that work laptop
Wind up all your work tasks, emails etc, at least two hours before bedtime. Work-related stress can keep your mind active and make it hard to relax. Use this time to unwind with calming activities like light stretching, meditation, or reading.

1 Hour Before Bed: No gadgets
Turn off all screens-phones, TVs, and computers-one hour before you go to sleep. The blue light from screens can suppress melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep. Instead, try relaxing activities such as reading a book, journaling, or listening to soothing music.

Wake up feeling refreshed
This method addresses the most common things that disturb sleep: caffeine, late meals, stress, and screen time. By gradually reducing outside stimulation and allowing your body to relax, you’re more likely to fall asleep quickly and enjoy deeper, more restful sleep. Over time, you’ll notice the changes in yourself, leading to a more productive and healthy you.
Tips to make this work
Stick to a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends.
Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.
Try gentle stretching or meditation before bed.
Avoid hitting the snooze button in the morning, to help set your body’s natural rhythm.

Shah Rukh Khan
| Photo Credit: @poojadadlani02/Instagram

King Khan’s grand Met Gala debut is official! After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that Shah Rukh Khan will make a historical debut at this year’s Met Gala. The Bollywood superstar will don a Sabyasachi ensemble at the event, set to be held at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5.

Diet Sabya, a popular anonymous fashion account on Instagram, confirmed the news on Sunday, April 27. “National headlines. Threads in meltdown. Entertainment sites foaming at the mouth. Twitter frenzy et al. Time to shut it down lol. We at DietSaby can confirm: yes, that is indeed SRK – India’s undisputed generational superstar – making his Met Gala debut in May 2025, wearing Sabyasachi (India’s biggest luxury brand). But wait, was there ever a doubt? Are we excited? Or …? Catch you on the carpet,” read Diet Sabya’s post.

Speculations about SRK’s debut at the Met Gala arose in April when the same Instagram account hinted at a massive collaboration between “the greatest Bollywood superstar and the biggest designer of our generation.” Fans began to speculate that the post was referring to Shah Rukh and Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the popular fashion designer behind the Indian luxury label Sabyasachi.

Since the news about the superstar’s Met Gala debut broke out, fans are eagerly awaiting to see what Shah Rukh wears to the popular fashion event. Interestingly, the theme of this year’s Met Gala is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The dress code, on the other hand, is “Tailored To You,” which, according to Diet Sabya, means “bringing in their own cultural flair and lived-in experience to the narrative.”

With this, Shah Rukh becomes the first-ever Indian male actor to walk the red carpet at the Met Gala. Earlier, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt have attended the prestigious fashion event. Interestingly, last year, Sabyasachi Mukherjee became the first Indian fashion designer to walk the Met Gala carpet.

Royal Enfield has strengthened its position in the urban mid-size motorcycle segment with the launch of the updated 2025 Hunter 350. The refreshed model introduces new colour options, mechanical upgrades, and improved rider-focused features aimed at enhancing everyday usability and riding comfort.

The 2025 Hunter 350 is now available in three new colourways: Rio White, Tokyo Black, and London Red. Alongside the visual updates, Royal Enfiled has introduced a series of significant improvements aimed at refining the motorcycle’s overall performance and ergonomics. Key changes include increased ground clearance and a retuned rear suspension, both designed to enhance ride quality and cornering agility in urban environments and on winding roads.

Complementing these changes is an intuitive ergonomic triangle that better synchronises with rider movement, offering improved comfort and control. The Hunter’s compact, muscular design remains largely intact, emphasizing a short wheelbase, which continues to make it one of the most nimble motorcycles in Royal Enfield’s lineup. The updated Hunter 350 is touted to offer sharp handling for city traffic, tight turns, and spirited short trips.

Performance is delivered by the proven 349cc J-series engine, producing 20.2 bhp at 6100 rpm and 27 Nm of peak torque at 4000 rpm. The engine’s torquey nature suits urban riding, allowing for easy acceleration and flexibility across different speeds. The 2025 model also becomes the first Royal Enfield 350cc motorcycle to feature a slip-and-assist clutch, enabling smoother gear shifts and reducing clutch effort, particularly useful in stop-and-go traffic. Other premium updates include an LED headlamp for improved visibility, the Tripper navigation pod for turn-by-turn directions, and a Type-C USB fast charger to keep devices powered on the go.

While the Hunter 350 has proven capable of handling long-distance trips, its character remains best suited for short rides and daily urban commutes. With its lively handling and compact form, it offers a fun-to-ride experience that feels refreshingly un-Enfield-like. However, there remains room for refinement to fully match the expectations of riders familiar with Royal Enfield’s evolving product range. The pricing remains competitive for the segment, and hopefully with the new upgrades, the Royal Enfield Hunter will find more takers.

The 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is available in three variants, priced as follows (ex-showroom Chennai): Base (Factory Black) – ₹1,49,900; Mid (Rio White and Dapper Grey) – ₹1,76,750; Top (Tokyo Black, London Red, and Rebel Blue) – ₹1,81,750

Motorscribes, in association with The Hindu, brings you the latest in cars and bikes. Follow them on Instagram on @motorscribes

As Melania Trump celebrates her 55th birthday, one thing remains undeniable her style legacy continues to stand tall. Over the years, the former First Lady has carved a distinct fashion identity for herself, one that effortlessly blends old-world glamour with sleek modernity. Whether stepping out in a sharply tailored coat dress or dazzling in a couture evening gown, Melania’s wardrobe choices have always reflected an air of effortless sophistication.

From her early days as a model in Europe to her time at the White House, Melania has consistently favoured clean lines, luxurious fabrics, and a neutral colour palette. She has mastered the art of “quiet luxury” long before it became a fashion buzzword. Crisp white suits, structured silhouettes, buttery soft cashmeres, and high-fashion labels – all worn with an unmistakable air of ease, define her signature look.
One of her most memorable fashion moments includes the powder blue Ralph Lauren ensemble she wore for Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, often compared to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ iconic style. The structured jacket with its high collar and matching gloves evoked classic American elegance, setting the tone for her tenure as First Lady.

Melania’s eveningwear choices have also been nothing short of spectacular. She has favoured designers like Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, and Hervé Pierre for gala events, often opting for column gowns, off-shoulder silhouettes, and sleek floor-length dresses that emphasise her statuesque figure without overwhelming it. Her style ethos seems rooted in the belief that true elegance doesn’t shout, it whispers with confidence.

But while Melania’s everyday fashion leans towards understated luxury, she also knows when to turn up the glamour. Her wardrobe boasts some of the most iconic pieces from the world’s leading luxury houses. Think bold Dolce & Gabbana coats embroidered with intricate floral motifs, glimmering metallic Balmain jackets, dramatic capes by Gucci, and sharply tailored suits by Alexander McQueen. Even her accessories- from Hermès Birkin bags to Manolo Blahnik stilettos – reflect a taste for the finest things in life, always styled in a way that feels polished, never flashy.

Accessories play a quiet but crucial role in her fashion story. Melania often keeps her jewellery minimal – favouring diamond studs, a delicate bracelet, or a single statement ring – allowing her outfits to take centre stage. Her love for polished pumps, oversized sunglasses, and structured handbags adds further polish to her public appearances.

Beyond the clothes, it’s her poised demeanour and graceful carriage that truly amplify her fashion choices. Whether accompanying world leaders, hosting diplomatic events, or strolling through the gardens of the White House, Melania’s composed presence has always added an extra layer of refinement to her look.

As she turns 55, Melania Trump remains a symbol of timeless glamour and enduring style. Her fashion journey reminds us that true elegance isn’t about chasing trends – it’s about cultivating an aesthetic that feels authentic, aspirational, and unforgettable. With her signature blend of classic tailoring, luxurious details, and undeniable grace, Melania continues to inspire fashion enthusiasts around the world – proving that real style only gets better with time.

What happens when indigenous women artists from across India come together to share their dreams and aspirations? They create art that tells their stories, and what they hope for all women: access to education, the space to nurture dreams, build strong female friendships, and much more. 

An artist residency in Bengaluru last year brought together six such artists — Gitanjali Das, Japani Shyam, Kamta Tahed, Kritika Joshi, Lado Bai, and Minakshi Vayeda — and their artworks have now gone into What I Want, a book by Pratham Books. Spotlighting art forms such as Gond, Pithora, Bhil, Warli, phad, and pattachitra, the book has each artist sharing their one ‘want’. 

Artwork by Lado Bai depicting two women protecting a tree
| Photo Credit:
Lado Bai

For Warli artist Minakshi Vayeda, her “want” was ‘the solidarity of female friendships, where we can rely on each other’. Beautifully illustrated with women figurines working, playing and dancing together, the artist says she drew from her everyday life in the village. “Women are a part of every activity: be it making art together, meeting at weddings, or conversations with neighbours. At the workshop, we were asked to think about child-friendly themes and I was instantly drawn to friendship as it is the closest to my heart,” says Minkashi, who is based in Ganjadgaon, Maharashtra, adding that the painting was done on paper, with a cow dung base.

Minakshi Vayeda’s art depicting female friendships
| Photo Credit:
Minakshi Vayeda

“Although most artists may have stories to tell, we get them illustrated by someone else,” says Canato Jimo, illustrator and art director at Pratham Books. “We thought of getting these artists together for a workshop, and get them to tell us their story in any form,” he says, adding how “women artists don’t get noticed as much as their male counterparts”. 

Japani Shyam’s Gond artwork themed on ‘Assert’
| Photo Credit:
Japani Shyam

At the three-day workshop in March 2024, the artists were taken for a screening of Lapaata Ladies, followed by days of developing ideas, sharing stories, and reading. “It was the first time we had such a workshop, and it was a great learning experience for us. We got an insight into each of their art forms and intricacies,” says Canato. “We sat down and listened to them. All of them had something specific, passionate to talk about,” he says, adding how while the artists were aware that the workshop would culminate in a book, there was no specific brief, giving way to an “open, organic process”. After rough ideas were discussed, the artists were given a couple of months to send their final artwork and text.

Kritika Joshi’s artwork depicting a young girl dancing in front of the mirror effortlessly, and her parents noticing it and giving her a pair of ghungroo
| Photo Credit:
Kritika Joshi

Kritika Joshi, a 30th-generation Phad artist, was the youngest of the six artists. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design in Jaipur, she is known for Phad paintings on fabric and paper that use earthy shades made with stone. “I chose the theme ‘Nurture’ to showcase how parents need to develop their child’s natural skillset. My art depicts a young girl dancing in front of the mirror effortlessly, and her parents notice it and give her a pair of ghungroo (anklets). The child is overjoyed, and seen dancing in the rain with her dog,” says Kritika, who enjoyed her time at the residency. “All the other women were married, and had stories to share about marriage, children, etc. It was interesting to hear about their dreams, and what they have achieved.”

Kamta Tahed’s Pithora artwork depicting ‘Play’
| Photo Credit:
Kamta Tahed

Akin to award-winning Bhil artist Lado Bai, the oldest from the group at 58 years. Known for her artwork that takes inspiration from her natural surroundings, village life, rituals, and festivals. For What I Want, Lado Bai chose to theme her art on ‘Protect’, depicting two women protecting a tree from being cut. “If we cut the jungles, how will we live?” says the artist, adding how trees are protected in her town, Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh. “It took me five days to finish the painting with acrylic paints on canvas.”

Priced at ₹80, What I Want is available on prathambooks.org, and storyweaver.org.in

Operators of restaurants and bakeries queue up alongside the general public to collect wheat products from a flour mill in Bengaluru.
| Photo Credit: File photo

On the narrow and winding Thyagaraj Nagar Main Road, bustling with pedestrians and vehicles in equal measure, you are suddenly hit by the aroma of fresh flour with a strong hint of chilli powder mixed with it. Your nose takes you to the source — a neighbourhood flour mill. About two decade ago, such mills may have been a familiar sight in every area in Bengaluru, but now they are few and far between.

As Bengalureans have shifted from buying grain and grinding them in such mills to buying them ready-made, many flour mills have shut down. The few that still remain, like the one in Thyagaraj Nagar, are no longer milling with customers like they once did.

Mohan, who runs Venkatachalapati Mill, with a mask covering his face to keep the pungent smell of chilli powder from his nostrils, said, “Business is not like it used to be. With the advent of supermarkets and online deliveries, flour is easily available everywhere. Only a handful of older people come to the flour mill.” 

While many flour mills in Bengaluru have shut down over the years, the ones which are still functional are being run by the same families for generations. The grinders they use were all brought from Chennai, as they were reportedly not available locally back in the fifties and sixties.

“We have had this flour mill since 1964. Back then, business was very good, and we used to charge just ₹1 per kg. But in the last 25 years, we have seen the advent of ready flour, and we started losing our business. There is no guarantee if we will have business on a given day. I need at least around ₹2,000 a day to sustain and pay the salary to my worker,” said Venkatesh, the second-generation owner of Venkateshwara Flour Mill in Vasanth Nagar. 

The flour mill owners say that if their fathers or grandfathers had not started this venture in their own spaces, they also would have shut shop by now. “The only reason we are still keeping the mill running is because we do not have the burden of rent as this is our own property,” Mr. Venkatesh said.

For old time’s sake

“My father and the owner of this flour mill were schoolmates. Since this mill was started around 70 years ago, this is where we get our flour ground still,” said Bharathi, who had come to the Girija Flour Mill in Gandhi Bazaar. 

The flour mill on D.V. Gundappa Road is a landmark in itself. From former PM H. D. Deve Gowda’s family to Kannada thespian Dr. Rajkumar’s family, most old families in Bengaluru have visited it.

Bharathi, along with her friend, had come in an autorickshaw to the mill with three buckets full of items. When asked why she chose to go through all the hassle and not just buy from a nearby store, she said, “We do not trust the purity and quality of the flour that comes in packets. It is often mixed with maida. After a few days, we see insects in the flour. But if we get it done, the shelf life and quality are assured. I get my chilli powdered here once a year, and it lasts without any infestation.” 

Prakash, the second-generation owner of the mill, says that he gets loyal customers like Bharathi, but he too adds that business is not as good as before.

“We get very few family customers now, but the shops nearby get rice and wheat done here, and then sell it in packets. We are also the designated mill for all the hotels in the neighbourhood, including Vidyarthi Bhavan, and temples nearby,” Mr. Prakash said.  

No flour mill in newer neighbourhoods

In some newer areas, even though people are interested in going to flour mills, they cannot find any in their neighbourhood.

“I wanted to get some ingredients powdered for mango pickle. I scoured the area and could not find any flour mills. I ended up buying readymade powder instead,” said Bharath D., a resident of Vijaya Bank Layout near Bannerghatta Road.

Flour mill owners say that while they are considered as cottage industries, they have not received any benefits from successive governments. “When compared to the flour that comes in packets, our quality is always superior. We appeal to everyone to do their best to save the neighbourhood mills,” Mr. Prakash said.

Feeding the young ones with the mother’s milk is is usually associated with the mammals that sets them apart from other animals. And just like many other species, birds also have no mammary glands and are generally not known to produce any milk-like substance. They rely on feeding their chicks regurgitated food, insects, or even whole prey, depending on the species. However, like most rules in nature, there are exceptions.
What is surprising to know is that a handful of bird species have evolved to produce a substance known as crop milk. It’s not the milk similar to what the mammals produce, and contains no lactose and doesn’t come from mammary glands, but it serves a similar purpose for the young. Crop milk is a nutrient-rich secretion produced from the lining of the crop, a pouch in the throat area, that provides necessary fats and proteins to hatchlings during their most vulnerable early days.
“Despite its name, crop milk is not a true milk but a secretion rich in proteins and fats that serves a comparable function,” says ornithologist Dr. Sarah Wagner in Bird Biology Today.
Here are three special bird species that produce crop milk to nurture their young ones.

Pigeons and doves are perhaps the best-known birds that produce crop milk. Both male and female members of the species contribute to feeding their chicks this thick, yellowish-white fluid for the first few days after hatching.
Crop milk in pigeons is incredibly rich as it contains about 60% protein and high levels of fat, which helps the chicks grow rapidly in their first week. This crop milk is produced by the triggering of the hormone prolactin, the same hormone responsible for milk production in mammals.
As Dr. Wagner explains, “The production of crop milk in pigeons is hormonally regulated by prolactin, mimicking the biological pathway seen in mammals.”

Flamingos are another unexpected member of this group. Both male and female flamingos produce a bright red-coloured crop milk; this red colour comes from carotenoid pigments in their diet, the same pigments that give flamingos their iconic pink colour.
Flamingo crop milk is also rich in fat and protein and contains immunity-boosting compounds to support the chick’s development in their early stages. During the first few weeks of life, flamingo chicks are entirely dependent on this substance for nutrition.According to a 2022 article in National Wildlife, “Flamingo crop milk is so essential that parents can lose up to 10% of their body weight during the feeding period.”

Even though the Emperor Penguins live in one of the most extreme climates on Earth, they have developed this astonishing adaptation. When the female leaves to hunt after laying the egg, the male incubates the egg for over two months without eating.

If the chick hatches before the mother returns, the father produces a milk-like secretion from his esophagus(food pipe) to keep the chick alive.
This substance is high in protein and is a temporary solution until the mother returns with real food. It’s not actually crop milk but serves the same nurturing role.
As said by marine biologist Dr. Linda Cheng in Polar Life Journal, “Emperor penguin fathers produce a curd-like secretion that allows the chick to survive for days in the mother’s absence”.
Phot credits: Canva

Tesla stock soared nearly 10% Friday on the rule changes [File]
| Photo Credit: AP

Rule changes announced by the Trump administration this week could allow automakers to report fewer crashes involving self-driving cars, with Tesla potentially emerging as the main beneficiary.

The Transportation Department announced Thursday that it will no longer require automakers to report certain kinds of non-fatal crashes — but the exception will apply only to partial self-driving vehicles using so-called Level 2 systems, the kind Tesla deploys. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had complained the old reporting rules cast his company in a bad light.

If Tesla and other automakers are required to report fewer crashes into a national database, that could make it more difficult for regulators to catch equipment defects and for the public to access information about a company’s overall safety, auto industry analysts say. It will also allow Tesla to trumpet a cleaner record to sell more cars.

“This will significantly reduce the number of crashes reported by Tesla,” said auto analyst Sam Abuelsamid at Telemetry Insight. Added Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, noting that Tesla rival Waymo won’t get an exception, “This is a win for Tesla, a loss for Waymo.”

Tesla stock soared nearly 10% Friday on the rule changes. Wall Street analysts, and Musk critics, have said that Musk’s role as an adviser to President Donald Trump could put Tesla in position to benefit from any changes to regulations involving self-driving cars.

Other car makers such as Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and BMW make vehicles with Level 2 systems that help keep cars in lanes, change speed or brake automatically, but Tesla accounts for the vast majority on the road. Vehicles used by Waymo and others with systems that completely take over for the driver, called Automated Driving Systems, will not benefit from the change.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which enforces vehicle safety standards, said the new rules don’t favor one type of self-driving system over another, and that raft of changes it announced will help all self-driving automakers.

“No ADS company is hurt by these changes,” the agency said in statement to The Associated Press, using the acronym for Automatic Driving System. It added that the changes also make sense because “with ADS, no driver is present meaning stronger safety protocols are needed.”

Waymo declined to comment for this story. The AP reached out to Tesla but did not receive a reply.

Under the change, any Level 2 crash that is so bad it needs a tow truck to come will no longer be required to be reported if it doesn’t result in death or injury or air-bag deployment. But if a tow truck is called for crashes of vehicles using ADS, it has to be reported.

The vast majority of partial self-driving vehicle crashes reported under the old NHTSA rules involved Teslas — more than 800 of a total 1,040 crashes in the past 12 months, according to an AP review of the data. It’s unclear how many of those Tesla crashes required the vehicles to be towed, because a column requesting that information in the database is mostly blank.

The NHTSA said after the story was published that only 8% of total reported crashes under the old criteria were cases in which partial self-driving vehicles had to be towed away and there was no other qualifying crash-reporting factor involved. It is not clear about cases where tow-away information wasn’t provided.

The relaxed crash rule was part of several changes described by the Transportation Department as a way to “streamline” paperwork and allow U.S. companies to better compete with the China in the race to make self-driving vehicles. The department said it would also move toward national self-driving regulations to replace a confusing patchwork of state rules.

“We’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday. “Our new framework will slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard.”

Traffic safety watchdogs had feared that the Trump administration would eliminate the NHTSA reporting requirement completely.

The package of changes came days after Musk confirmed on a conference call with Tesla investors that the electric vehicle maker will begin a rollout of self-driving Tesla taxis in Austin, Texas, in June. Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet, already has cybercabs available in that city and several others.

Musk has argued that the previous reporting requirements were unfair since Tesla vehicles all use its partial self-driving systems and therefore log more miles than any other automaker with such technology. He says that his cars are far safer than most and save lives.

Tesla sales have plunged in recent month amid a backlash against Musk’s backing of far-right politicians in Europe and his work in the U.S. as head of Trump’s government cost-cutting group. The company has pinned its future on complete automation of its cars, but it is facing stiff competition now from rivals, especially China automaker BYD.

Communication is key for any relationship to thrive. However, it not just involves open and honest communication, but also active listening. People often love to talk about themselves, and so if you listen to them without interrupting or questioning then it is one of the most powerful ways to be a genuine people pleaser. Active listening means giving someone your full attention, maintaining eye contact, nodding, and offering thoughtful responses.