Insomnia affects nearly 37% of older adults

NEW DELHI: Doctors routinely check blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. But they rarely ask a question that may be just as important: how well are you sleeping? As the world marked World Sleep Day on March 13, experts warned that sleep disorders may be affecting millions of Indians and quietly increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and depression. New research suggests the problem is widespread. A 2025 systematic review in the Indian Journal of Public Health that analysed 100 studies involving nearly 68,000 people found that 25.7% of Indians suffer from insomnia, while obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects about 37.4%. Another 10.6% experience restless leg syndrome, a condition that disrupts sleep. Among patients with other illnesses, the burden is even higher. Nearly 48% were found to have sleep apnea and 32%, insomnia, suggesting sleep disorders may worsen chronic diseases. Experts estimate that about 52 million working-age Indians may have sleep apnea, including nearly 29 million with moderate-to-severe disease. Insomnia affects nearly 37% of older adults. Prof (Dr) J C Suri, director and head, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, said lifestyle habits are worsening the problem. A survey of IT professionals in Hyderabad found 97% used electronic devices for at least an hour before bedtime, while 62% reported difficulty falling or staying asleep. “Sleep deprivation is perhaps the world’s biggest silent epidemic and has been worsening for decades, driven by our shift to a 24-hour society since the advent of electric lighting,” said Dr Vikram Sarbhai, president of the Indian Sleep Disorders Association. “Humans follow a circadian body clock that regulates sleep and wake cycles, making sleep essential for restoring brain and body functions.” He said healthy sleep depends not only on duration but also on quality and regular timing, which are increasingly being disrupted by modern lifestyles, shift work and technology use. Typically, adults in the age group of 18-45 years need 6-8 hours of sleep, those in 45-70 years group about 5-7 hours, and people who are 70 and above around 5 hours. These are estimates for individuals without alcohol or caffeine excess, toxic exposure, behavioural disturbances or medical conditions that affect sleep. The broader crisis may be even larger. A 2025 report by AGR Knowledge Services estimates that three out of five Indians are sleep deprived, with many turning to online remedies instead of seeking medical help. Prof (Dr) J C Suri said that poor sleep is closely linked to hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, depression and cognitive decline. Sleep deprivation is also emerging as a road safety risk. Studies by Central Road Research Institute found that about 40% of accidents on the Agra-Lucknow expressway were linked to driver fatigue. Despite these risks, India has no national policy mandating screening for sleep disorders among commercial drivers, unlike countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. Experts say poor awareness and the absence of sleep medicine in most medical curricula mean many patients remain undiagnosed. Addressing sleep disorders, they say, could be a major but overlooked opportunity in preventive healthcare.

Sanju Samson and MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Chennai Super Kings will enter the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season with hopes of securing a record sixth IPL title. The five-time champions have strengthened their squad with the arrival of Sanju Samson, and former India all rounder Irfan Pathan believes that support of Dhoni and Samson’s help could play a crucial role in CSK’s campaign.

Irfan Pathan: Samson’s presence will ease pressure on Ruturaj Gaikwad

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared views, explaining how Samson’s arrival could benefit CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.

“Sanju Samson’s arrival at CSK will allow Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to express himself a bit more. We have seen him grow as a leader. It is not easy leading in the IPL while also taking forward the legacy of MS Dhoni. That is one of the toughest things to do in your career. But Dhoni’s support, along with the help Sanju Samson brings, will always benefit Ruturaj,” Pathan said.Pathan also pointed out that CSK appear to be shifting from their traditional strategy of relying heavily on experienced players.“Looking at the squad and imagining the playing combination are two different things. CSK’s success mantra in the past was to bank on experienced players. Now, they have made a change in approach and are going for younger, less experienced players. They are building for the future too,” he added.He also expressed excitement about young talents in the squad, including Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube and Sarfaraz Khan.

Piyush Chawla backs Samson’s aggressive batting

Chawla also described Samson as a natural match-winner who has silenced his critics with impressive performances in recent matches. “Sanju Samson is a match-winner in himself. He proved his doubters wrong with three back-to-back impactful knocks against West Indies, England and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup. CSK will be very happy with his form because Samson has peaked right before the start of the IPL. That is great news for their fans,” Chawla said.He further added that the Chennai pitch conditions could help Samson flourish at the top of the order.“Coming to Chennai, the way the wicket plays there will definitely suit his game. Opening the innings, his aggressive style will benefit CSK a lot.”Samson could solve CSK’s opening problemsThe former spinner also highlighted how CSK struggled to get quick starts in the previous IPL season.“Last season, they struggled to get quick starts. Only after Ayush Mhatre arrived did CSK start scoring runs in the Powerplay. Now, with Samson in, their opening problems will finally be solved. They need that experienced opener alongside Ayush Mhatre. Samson’s trade move to CSK is going to be a blockbuster one,” Chawla said.

CSK aim for record sixth IPL title

After finishing at the bottom of the table last season, CSK will be eager to bounce back strongly in IPL 2026. With a refreshed squad and Samson’s attacking presence at the top of the order, the Chennai-based franchise will hope to rediscover their winning formula and mount a strong challenge for the title.

NEW DELHI: Frowning at an advocate’s repeated attempts through PILs to seek paid two-day monthly menstrual leave for female workers, Supreme Court said Friday that such a move could create a psychological barrier among women that they are inferior to men as they can’t work when they are menstruating. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said, “Please understand the long-term impact of such a move. Affirmative action for women is constitutionally recognised. The more unattractive the human resource, the less is the possibility of consumption in the job market.” “We can adjudicate it from the rights’ perspective. But look at the perspective of the job model. Will an employer be happy if an employee takes leave every month? You want to create such a situation where employers will be reluctant to give women jobs,” the bench said. However, it said, “It is for the govt to take a call in framing model policy…”SC warns petitioner not to pursue issue On Feb 24, 2023, SC had asked the govt to examine taking a policy decision on this issue after studying the need and the possible fallout of employers getting dissuaded to engage a large female workforce. For petitioner S M Tripathi, senior advocate M R Shamshad said no action has been taken yet despite lapse of nearly three years. Shamshad said Bihar had done it since 1992 and Karnataka has implemented it in schools. There are some private companies which have voluntarily implemented a menstrual leave policy for female workers. CJI Surya Kant said, “If they do it voluntarily, it is welcome. But the moment it is made compulsory, you do not know how much damage you will cause to their careers. Nobody will give them responsibilities. On the judicial side, day-to-day trials cannot be assigned to them.”

The bench warned petitioner Tripathi of adverse order against him if he approached the court on this issue for a third time. His petitions, raising the same issue, were disposed of twice in Feb 2023 and July 2024. In Feb 2023, Spain had become the first EU country to introduce menstrual or period leave of 3-5 days, salary for which is paid by the govt. The erstwhile Soviet Union had taken a policy decision to pay female workers who were absent from work because of pain during the menstrual period. Japan had enacted a law in this regard in 1947 and South Korea in 1953.

What really happened to OVW referee Dallas Edwards during chaotic Brendan Balling and Tony Evans wrestling match? (Image via Getty)

Dallas Edwards, a wrestling referee working an OVW match in Kentucky, suddenly collapsed in the ring after taking a heavy hit during a live match on Thursday night. The scary moment happened during a “Four Corners of Chaos” match when wrestler Brendan Balling climbed to the top rope to perform a move on opponent Tony Evans. In a shocking turn, Tony Evans grabbed referee Dallas Edwards and pushed him into the path of the move.The impact sent Dallas Edwards crashing hard to the mat, and he appeared to hit his head during the fall. Wrestler Brendan Balling quickly checked on him, but the match did not stop immediately. For several tense moments, Dallas Edwards remained on the mat while the match continued around him.Soon after, the situation grew more serious when Dallas Edwards began showing signs of a medical emergency inside the ring. The frightening moment left wrestlers and fans inside the arena deeply concerned.

Dallas Edwards suffers medical emergency during OVW match after Tony Evans pushes referee into Brendan Balling’s top rope move

The dangerous moment happened during an OVW wrestling show in Kentucky. The match involved Brendan Balling and Tony Evans in a chaotic multi-corner contest.As the match picked up pace, Brendan Balling climbed to the top rope to deliver a high-impact move. However, Tony Evans suddenly pulled referee Dallas Edwards in front of him and pushed him toward Balling’s jump. Instead of hitting Tony Evans, Brendan Balling collided with the referee.Dallas Edwards hit the mat hard, and the fall appeared to be serious. Brendan Balling immediately looked concerned and checked on him, but the match briefly continued despite the referee staying down.Soon the situation became even more alarming. Dallas Edwards remained on the mat and at one point appeared to convulse, creating a very tense moment inside the ring. Fans and wrestlers realized something was seriously wrong.Tony Evans then dragged Dallas Edwards toward the corner of the ring so the match could continue safely. Not long after that, officials finally stopped the match as the medical situation became clear.Later, Dallas Edwards’ girlfriend shared an update about his condition on Facebook. She explained that doctors were monitoring him in the hospital after he suffered a brain injury during the incident.She wrote on Facebook, “I am not going to provide much more information at this time except to the parties who already know, but last night resulted in a brain injury that is being monitored and will continue to be monitored by doctors here.”Brendan Balling also spoke about the incident and expressed how shaken he felt. In a message shared online, he said Dallas Edwards is someone he respects deeply.Brendan Balling wrote, “Obvious accident, but can’t help but feel horrible about everything. Dallas will be back and better than ever and so will I. He’s one of the best guys I’ve been able to meet during my time at OVW.”As of now, OVW is still scheduled to return with another show on Sunday while Dallas Edwards continues to recover under medical supervision.

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Gold might be hitting the headlines with its sky-high prices, but Uranium is the real sleeper making a mark in the energy circles.With fuel shortages coming under the spotlight, amid closed routes and supply-line disruptions due to the US-Iran conflict. Nations are now looking forward to cleaner power, and demand for nuclear fuel is surging to power massive reactors that provide carbon-free electricity for millions.

And China just hit the jackpot as a massive reserve of Uranium was discovered in the country!

30 million tons of Uranium found under China’s desert – could this fuel the world amid the LPG crisis? (Representative Image)

China’s massive Uranium trove in the Ordos Desert

China recently made a massive Uranium discovery under the Ordos Desert in Inner Mongolia’s Jingchuan area, with estimates pegging it at 30 million tons, according to a Futura Sciences report. This super-large deposit, announced by the China Geological Survey (CGS) under the Ministry of Natural Resources, marks the world’s first ultra-large Uranium haul in aeolian sandstone landforms.

Discovery comes at the perfect time for China

China is rapidly shifting away from fossil fuels and constructing 11 new nuclear reactors to meet surging energy demands. This vast uranium reserve could power the nation for generations, cutting dependence on imports from leading producers like Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia, and Namibia, according to a Chuna Daily report.It is believed that it will greatly enhance energy security as nuclear capacity grows. “The discovery is a game-changer for China’s energy security,” said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, according to China Daily.CGS chief scientist Jin Ruoshi described it as a “new frontier for uranium exploration worldwide.” He pointed to aeolian sandstone covering 200,000 square kilometers in the Ordos Basin and others like Tarim and Junggar, suggesting more discoveries ahead.

Global ripples and power shifts

If mined big, China could flood the market, crashing prices and changing trade rules. Self-sufficiency means less sway from abroad, arming Beijing in climate talks and energy deals. Zhao Xiangbin, chief strategist at Beijing Gold and Forex Fortune Investment Management, called it a “safeguard against supply chain vulnerabilities” for China’s nuclear push.And this is not just hype, China’s already producing from Ordos via its National Uranium No.1 project, the biggest domestic mine.

Representative Image

Desert mining ain’t easy

Water-guzzling operations, radioactive waste, and ecosystem hits loom large in this dry, fragile zone. Worker safety and community buy-in hinge on green safeguards. Still, it slots into China’s mix of nukes, solar, and wind for a low-carbon future.

After wrecking records in T20Is for India, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, two of India’s T20 World Cup heroes, would now be aiming for a spot in the ODI XI. However, will India consider moving past KL Rahul in the longer format of white-ball cricket? This is the current biggest debate ahead of the 2027 WC.

India’s T20 World Cup campaign saw a major change in the topography of Indian cricket. Ishan Kishan, the left-handed batting star for India, was almost a forgotten name until 2026. He was brought back after a milestone season in 2025 and was backed by the coaches and the selectors.

He went on to be a stunning find as he smashed a century going into the World Cup and then smashed 319 runs in the T20 World Cup, finishing as India’s second-highest run-getter and overall fourth. At the end of the T20 World Cup, he is ranked no. 2 in the ICC T20I rankings for batters.

Your daily dose of cricket!

Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are in contention for KL Rahul’s spot in the ODI XI

After having led India to the ICC T20 World Cup title, Indian cricket experts feel that Sanju Samson, the player of the series, and Ishan Kishan deserve a chance in the Indian ODI XI. India have been keeping KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the loop for the format.

However, Rishabh Pant has not played a single ODI game since the Sri Lanka series back in 2024, and KL Rahul has been seen as the regular keeper and was seen captaining the Indian side against South Africa, in Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer’s absence.

He has also adapted himself to a role in the lower middle-order and often finishes off games for India. However, Abhishek Tripathi believes that India would now be considering swapping him with the likes of Kishan or Sanju Samson.

However, PTI reporter Kushan Sarkar has opined that though Ishan Kishan has the skillset to perform in ODIs, which he had shown before with a double century against Bangladesh, India would need more of KL Rahul in the team.

Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh laughs off speculations on Rahul’s removal

In this entire discussion, former Indian bowler and a former veteran of 100+ First Class games, Dodda Ganesh, has made a controversial post on X, where he laughed at the possibility of a swap.

KL Rahul has been in some touch for India since the 2023 ICC World Cup; however, it cannot be neglected that his role in winning games for India has been limited to bilaterals, as his performances have dipped in major ICC tournaments.

However, as per Ganesh’s recent antics, it seems that to him, Rahul is still the fine wicket-keeping option for India in ODIs, and Ishan Kishan might be swapped as a backup but would not make it to the XI as an immediate replacement. However, this further mounts pressure on KL Rahul to perform to retain his spot for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

😂🤣🙏 https://t.co/KuQIUrDkQk

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) March 13, 2026

Will Gautam Gambhir repeat the same mistake?

After the ICC Champions Trophy success, Gautam Gambhir had his first major successful Test series in England, where Shubman Gill remained the major highlight. The Indian captain scored a flurry of runs, which made the Indian management reconsider him for the shortest format of the game.

This did not work out well, as Gill, in 15 outings, failed to score more than 291 runs without a single half-century and averaged awfully low. He was eventually dropped from India’s T20I World Cup squad as well. Hence, Gambhir might have learnt his lesson that form in one format cannot be used to give them a chance in the other.

With Ishan Kishan firing it in T20Is, the ODIs will be a different challenge for the batter. Moreover, he would not powerplay or have a top-order spot in the XI, and would have to play varying roles coming lower in the order.

Hence, for entrusting him with such a huge responsibility, it would be correct if Gambhir only tries him as a backup before experimenting with the experienced KL Rahul.

ALSO READ: Gudakesh Motie rejects Shaheen Afridi’s team, pulls out of PSL over shocking reason

Suni Lee celebrates 23rd birthday with friends in Turks and Caicos as Olympic gymnast’s fun TikTok moments go viral (Image via Getty)

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee marked her 23rd birthday with a sunny vacation that quickly caught fans’ attention online. The American star shared short dance clips and photos from a tropical trip with friends, and the posts spread fast across social media. In videos posted on TikTok, Lee can be seen enjoying time by a pool at a luxury oceanfront property while celebrating with close friends. One of the friends in the clips was popular content creator Erica Ha. Lee also posted several pictures from the trip on Instagram and wrote a short caption that read, “staying forever.”The birthday posts come at a time when Lee’s popularity continues to grow after her strong performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Since those Games, the gymnast has stepped further into modeling, media appearances, and social media work while still thinking about her athletic future.

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee celebrates birthday trip with Erica Ha as Paris Olympics medalist opens up about career, life, and future plans

The birthday celebration videos show a relaxed side of Suni Lee away from the pressure of elite gymnastics. In the clips, she laughs, dances by the pool, and spends time with friends during the tropical getaway. Fans quickly shared the posts across social media, helping them go viral within hours.Lee’s profile has grown a lot since the Paris Games. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, she won two individual bronze medals and also helped the United States win a team gold medal. The strong Olympic showing pushed her even further into the spotlight.Soon after the Games, Lee stepped into new opportunities in fashion and media. She appeared as a model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and later walked the runway during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York. The appearance placed her alongside many well-known names from the fashion world.Lee later moved to New York City after the Olympics. Since then, she has focused more on influencer projects, brand partnerships, and modeling work while still staying connected to gymnastics.During an episode of the HAHA Podcast last November, Lee also shared a rare look into her personal life and dating preferences. She said, “I feel like my type is, like… athletes. I like a very emotionally intelligent man.”She continued by explaining that maturity matters a lot to her. “I feel like a lot of the guys that I’ve talked to or come across, they always just end up being so immature,” Lee said on the podcast. “And I’m like, you’re five, six years older than me and you act like that. I act older than you.”Even with her busy life outside the gym, fans still wonder if Lee will compete again at the Olympics. The next Summer Games will take place at the 2028 Summer Olympics.Speaking on Today recently, Lee explained that the decision is still personal and depends on how she feels mentally. She said, “I think it’s just a matter of where my mental health is. If I come back, it will really just have to be for me. I don’t want to do it for anyone else and have that pressure on me.”For now, Suni Lee appears to be enjoying life, celebrating milestones, and exploring new paths while keeping the door open for whatever comes next.