Latest news with #Lounge
Graziadaily
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Graziadaily
This Brand Is Making The Most Perfect Summer Outfits That You Won't Want To Stop Wearing
I'm willing to admit that, for years, I didn't understand the power of well-fitting underwear; if it was vaguely comfortable, I didn't mind. The moment I found Lounge, the British brand founded in 2016, this all changed. Suddenly, I realised that perfectly fitting underwear could change how I felt in my clothes for the better and it really was true: it can make or break an outfit. Something even more exciting? The all-female design team have taken their expertise around fit, contouring and generally understanding a woman's body and applied it to ready-to-wear, too. Now, we can all have the perfect fit from head-to-toe. For summer, Lounge has a range of collections to suit every kind of plan. My favourite is the British Garden range, which is full of easy-to-wear pieces which will elevate any outfit. The red checked maxi skirt, for example, will make a white tee and trainers look more exciting than ever, or you could dress it up with the brand's excellent corset top for a picnic outfit that will win the day. The top is a perfect example of Lounge applying its incredible craftsmanship to clothing, rooted in the technicalities required to design brilliant lingerie; it will give you a perfect silhouette without sacrificing comfort. Of course, there is lingerie, too, in the British Garden collection, including a perfect balcony bra and matching thong, both of which will add a dash of luxury to your everyday outfits. Some of the prettiest clothes in the same range include a sheer asymmetric top and matching maxi skirt, which is perfect for throwing over your pretty Lounge underwear. More excitingly, the British label has launched its debut footwear collection, including some of the year's best summer shoes. From the chic square-toe flip-flops to the wear-with-everything kitten heels, these sandals are made of the highest quality leather in Portugal, rivalling some of the biggest design houses. Whether you're going for gingham, on the hunt for the perfect ballet flats or need an easy outfit that's also high impact, Lounge is the brand you need to bookmark now. After all, when the secret's out, you'll be hard-pressed to add these pieces to your basket before they sell out. 1. Lounge Corset Top 2. Lounge Sheer Maxi Skirt 3. Lounge Square Toe Leather Flip-Flops 4. Lounge Sheer Tank Top 5. Lounge Sheer White Maxi Skirt 6. Lounge Moxie Leather Kitten Heels 7. Lounge Linen Blend Halter Top 8. Lounge Linen Blend Maxi Skirt 9. Lounge Juna Ballet Flats Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter . But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
One of UK's busiest airports unveils brand new £100 million upgrade
The new terminal is part of the first phase of Leeds Bradford Airport's £100 million terminal expansion project Passengers at Leeds Bradford Airport have hailed the new terminal as 'brill' and even 'better than Manchester Airport' on its opening day. The airport's £100 million terminal expansion project has unveiled a host of new facilities, including additional seating, two new lounges, an improved baggage reclaim area, and an upgraded passport control. From Tuesday, all passengers arriving and departing via LBA will move through the upgraded terminal facilities. The terminal expansion includes a modernised arrivals process, including a new baggage reclaim area and an upgraded passport control facility incorporating advanced security technologies. The new terminal has 83% more seating, an "food and drink offering" and two premium lounges, including the brand-new Six Eight One Premium Lounge. Travellers heading to Krakow on Tuesday, June 17, shared their thoughts on the new amenities and how they stack up against Manchester. Polish couple Szymon Machynia and Agata Koc, who were off to a religious ceremony related to their Rodzimowierstwo faith, which inspired elements in 'The Witcher' Netflix series, praised the new setup, reports Leeds Live. Szymon, a mill operative, expressed his disdain for Manchester Airport: "I hate Manchester, I despise that airport. It's hard to get in there, it's easy to get lost around. If they change something you suddenly have to go from one spot in the airport to the other. It's awful. "Leeds is nice and small. Security was brill, it was fast and simple. The new gate was great and the new machines improve the process. I still had to take my shoes off – but maybe one day we'll get there." Agata, a photographer, also shared her approval: "I think this terminal is better than the other one. The old one was small but this one is open and everything was [clearly] signposted where to go." Doncaster-based plumber Filip Dziegielewski, 39, set to embark on a European jaunt with friends, praised the convenience of his departure point, remarking, "It looks very nice and tidy, very modern. Good connections. Security was very fast today, everything was working." He added, "Leeds will be better than Manchester once they finish work on the bus from Doncaster to Leeds. It's 40 miles but it takes one and half hour. Manchester is busy and here it is very quiet." Wakefield local, technical logistics supervisor and father-of-three Slawomir Baokowski, 38, on his way to see family, expressed enthusiasm about the airport. He said "It's fantastic, honestly. It's really nice and fresh, good job. There's loads here. Honestly, and it's the first time I say this, but it's better in Leeds than Manchester Airport. In Manchester, there's too many people there." Alan Brytan, 23, who specialises in quality control, heading to reunite with relatives, was not aware work was underway. "It's quite surprising, to be honest, I wasn't aware of it. It's come together really nicely. This was completely new news to me. I got a notification on my phone saying 'gate seven', and I asked some guy about it. It's a whole new terminal, like a whole new world. It looks much nicer.," he said. "If you want to travel, it's still better just to go to Manchester. If you're going closer to home then this is the better airport."
Mint
7 days ago
- Science
- Mint
How Nasa biologist Sharmila Bhattacharya is prepping humans for space
Sharmila Bhattacharya, a scientist at the US space agency Nasa, has long focused on a singular goal: understanding how space conditions affect living organisms and using that knowledge to protect human health in space. For more than 25 years, she has focused on how phenomena like gravity and radiation impact tiny organisms like fruit flies and yeast, which share cellular and genetic traits with humans. These insights help develop strategies to safeguard astronauts. Now leading science and technology utilisation at Nasa's Ames Research Center, she also oversees initiatives that apply science and technology to advance space exploration. 'My role includes working closely with those in computing and aerospace engineering as we explore ways to foster meaningful collaborations—whether with private aerospace firms, government bodies or international partners," she told Lounge in an interview last week. Bhattacharya was in India to speak alongside European Space Agency (ESA) flight surgeon Brigitte Godard at the Lodha Genius Programme, a joint initiative by Ashoka University and the Lodha Foundation. In their talk, 'Biology: A Bridge Between Science, Medicine, and Space Exploration", they drew on their careers—from supporting astronauts to launching space experiments—to highlight how biology shapes human health in extreme environments like the International Space Station (ISS). 'Whether it's insulin for diabetes or vaccines during the covid-19 pandemic, it all begins with basic research. The process starts with understanding biology at its most fundamental level. It's no different in space science," explains Bhattacharya for whom joining Nasa was a stroke of serendipity. Born in Nigeria and raised in India, Bhattacharya, now 61, traces her love for biology to a school in Kolkata where teacher Leela Choudhury sparked her interest in the subject. She studied human physiology at Presidency College and then biological chemistry at Wellesley College in 1987. After a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Princeton and postdoctoral research in neurobiology at Stanford in 1999, she spotted a Nasa job ad seeking scientists with her precise background. She applied, was selected, and began her career at Nasa's Ames Research Center that very year. Also read: How John Matthai became a leading light of economic policy in independent India 'You can learn a lot about human responses from these tiny creatures," Bhattacharya says, referring to fruit flies. During her postdoctoral research, for instance, she showed that 'you could take genes critical for synaptic communication (how brain cells use chemical signals to share information) from a mammal and insert them into a fruit fly, and the neurons would still communicate". It's the first step, according to her. 'You start with flies, yeast or rodents—then build up to human tissue models and eventually astronauts." In 2018, as part of the Multi-use Variable-gravity Platform (MVP) Fly 01, she and her team at Nasa performed experiments on genetically identical fruit flies under three conditions: microgravity (where people or objects appear to be weightless), artificial gravity (emulating normal gravity, or 1G, in space) via centrifuge, and on Earth. 'The flies exposed to microgravity showed the most changes in brain function," she recalls. Those exposed to artificial gravity had changes that fell between those seen in microgravity and on Earth, implying that artificial gravity might be a viable countermeasure to protect astronaut health on long missions. Artificial gravity, for instance, is already being explored for future commercial space stations. 'If rotating platforms or centrifuges become viable, we'll be able to test these countermeasures more directly in human environments," Bhattacharya elaborates. Gravity, however, isn't the only variable in space. Radiation is another big one. On Earth, we're shielded by the atmosphere and the magnetic field. But beyond the Van Allen belts (which prevent the fastest, most energetic electrons from reaching Earth)—toward the Moon or Mars—exposure increases. The ISS, for instance, protects scientists by shielding against micro-meteoroids, radiation exposure controls in a pressurised, climate-controlled environment. Orbiting within Earth's magnetosphere (the protective bubble around Earth created by its magnetic field) offers added protection. Onboard protocols, exercise, nutrition and health monitoring help mitigate the effects of microgravity and ensure astronaut safety during extended missions. But galactic cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles from outside our solar system, are harder to block—they can penetrate spacecraft and pose health risks to astronauts by damaging human cells. Hence, to understand radiation's biological effects, in November 2022, Bhattacharya's lab pioneered the BioSentinel mission—a yeast-based biosatellite launched on the uncrewed Artemis I mission that sent the Orion spacecraft to a lunar orbit, and returned it to Earth after a 25-day journey. In her current role at Nasa, she is also collaborating with scientists from other countries and from fields like aerospace engineering, computation, and commercial aerospace. This explains why she's closely following the Axiom-4 mission—the first time that India, Poland and Hungary will execute a mission aboard the ISS. Axiom-4 is a partnership between Nasa, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), US-based private space infrastructure developer Axiom Space Inc., and ESA. Also read: Quick commerce will mess with people's health, says Luke Coutinho The Axiom Mission 4 crew, initially set to launch on 9 June but delayed due to a technical issue, will lift off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft en route to the ISS. Once docked, the astronauts—including Isro's Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot—will spend up to 14 days conducting science, outreach, and commercial work aboard the orbiting lab. A FASCINATION FOR THE STARS Bhattacharya is confident that space biology—and space science more broadly—will continue to grow. The reasons are twofold: more countries are now reaching for space, and the private sector is getting increasingly involved. She cites examples of companies like Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, and other US-based companies including Axiom, Varda Space, and Vast. 'This opens up many more opportunities for science," she points out. In the past, for instance, researchers might have had to wait a year between spaceflight experiments. 'Now, we could potentially send one every other month." She also believes that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will be indispensable to future space missions. 'Imagine AI tools that can autonomously analyse data, optimise experiments, and adapt in real time during long missions. That's the kind of support we'll need as we go farther. As a species, we're wired to be curious," she says. 'AI will continue to work hand in hand with the research we're doing, helping us move faster and smarter." When asked if there could be life beyond Earth, she points out that current space missions are already searching for water, oxygen, and other Earth-like conditions. Bhattacharya urges a broader perspective: 'Maybe life out there doesn't need oxygen or even carbon. Maybe we've seen it and didn't recognise it." That's where advanced sensors and human intuition must work hand in hand. Also read: Meet Morningstar Khongthaw, the man who grows bridges For her, the future lies in collaboration: humans and machines, biology and engineering, nations and disciplines. She's also proud of mentoring the next generation. A recent highlight: her former postdoctoral trainee Ravi Kumar Hosamani now leads the Sprouts experiment aboard Axiom-4, studying fenugreek and moong dal in space—crops that could feed astronauts and support their health. And what's her advice to students? 'Stay curious. Trust your instincts. And don't be too hard on yourself. You never know where the path might lead." Bhattacharya describes space as an emergent frontier, even though humanity has ventured there for decades. 'What gets me up in the morning is the love of science and technology. It's not a job, it's not work—it's fun," she says. 'The more nations work together in space, the more we learn—about the cosmos, about biology, and about ourselves."
Mint
11-06-2025
- Health
- Mint
The 10-minute service will mess with people's health, says Luke Coutinho
When American millionaire and longevity advocate Bryan Johnson called out India's air pollution problem on social media in early February, it was received by typical wringing of hands accompanied with breathless headlines. For Mumbai-based integrative lifestyle expert Luke Coutinho, it was just the wake up call the country needed. In an open letter addressed to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and prime minister Narendra Modi, he'd written, 'The air we breathe is no longer just air—it is harming our lungs, our hearts, and our future. We cannot ignore this any longer." In the letter, he exhorted everyone from parents and educators to fitness trainers and influencers on the need for collective action to demand 'clean air, clean water, and clean food." Also read: Shane Watson's techniques to bouncing back: Music, meditation, and mindset 'Whether it's about obesity or demand for clean air, it's always going to be about collective action. Which is why even when I put out my initial message to the prime minister, the chief minister, it was a request. The letter was about stating that we can't solve problems in our country with anger and hatred. It has to be through the unity of everyone," says Coutinho on a video call with Lounge. The demand for 'clean air, clean water, and honest food," he says, was also part of the talk he gave at the inaugural NXT Conclave 2025 in the Capital on 28 February-1 March, that was attended by global leaders. Coutinho also presented the Bharat Dish and Lifestyle tips booklet at the conclave. 'A lot of us have superfoods in the kitchen – be it makhana, desi ghee, moringa or amla, but we're looking for fancy blueberries and raspberries that have travelled on a ship for months to reach us. With the booklet available to all, the hope is it will drive conversations back to our roots are and what real health is," Coutinho says. While well-intended health and wellness initiatives are being launched in the country, the problem at present, as Coutinho sees it, is that everyone wants to complain about things that are not going great without doing anything about it themselves. 'What's the point of us being hypocrites talking about nutrition and exercise when the air is wrong? Any doctor will tell you that without the right air, everything else is practically useless. But now we live in that country, so we can't give up. We people need to come together because that's when the government is going to listen," rues Coutinho who's penned a new book, The Calm Prescription. In this freewheeling interview, he gets talking about why the convenience of quick commerce is not good for us, how our lifestyles are the root cause for most ailments, and a current wellness subject that's got all his attention. Edited excerpts: We're living in a time of 10-minute deliveries. What are your concerns about how this 'instant delivery' lifestyle could affect us? I think 10-minute deliveries are great for many things: you want a toothpaste tube or some masalas, that's great. But I think the promotion of junk food through the 10-minute service is going to really mess up –no, it's already messing up –people's health to the extent that we have doctors telling patients to delete these apps from their phones. I think 10 minutes has just become a way of giving into people's convenience, and it's going to become a very bad habit that people will find difficult to break away from. Further, I strongly believe that the easy availability of junk food on these apps needs to be heavily regulated. Also read: 'To heal, disconnect from work, connect with nature': Soukya's Dr Issac Mathai On Instagram, you regularly post success stories of patients who've healed from severe ailments. What stands out in a lot of these cases is that the root of these issues lies in the lifestyles we lead. Does the fact that the causes are mostly elementary leave you amused or perplexed? Absolutely. And no, it doesn't amuse me anymore as much as it scares me. That's because barring about five or six per cent of the total diseases which are genetic, the balance are medically categorized as lifestyle diseases, i.e, poor lifestyle is causing most of the diseases. When we put up the cases on social media, these are real patients we are talking about. Reading them, people wonder, 'But Luke, how?" Today, we are used to telling clients that when they change their lifestyle, this is the magic that can happen. Otherwise, you'll just have people going from country to country looking for the next treatment, the next nutraceutical, the next yoga pose… with none of it working. Ultimately, to heal, people have to change their lifestyles. What you are saying is that if one wants to be healthy, it's more effective to take a close look at daily routine instead of looking at only supplements or exercise as the solutions? Yes. No one's supplements in their cupboards are ever going to solve their problems. A supplement, like the word says, is the supplement of a deficiency. If I have a deficiency of vitamin D3, I may be prescribed a supplement. But people think 'I'll take these supplements and I'll become stronger", 'get a six pack", 'I'll get a size zero". No. They still have to do the work with their nutrition, in the gym, with their sleep, and with their recovery. There is always something new emerging in the world of wellness. What's a subject that you are currently interested in? I'm very interested in circadian medicine. That's become huge. What is circadian medicine? It's about aligning ourselves with the cycles of nature, be it our sleep time and wake up time, understanding the importance of sunlight, the importance of eating your meals at the same time or doing your exercise at a time that suits your body. This new science of circadian medicine and quantum healing intrigues me because it comes back to common sense— that we as human beings have moved too far away from nature and that is why we have more disharmony and disease. We need to start aligning with the laws of nature, that is when things are going to start getting better. What are some simple habits that one should practice every day? Meditate. Even if it's five minutes a day, do your pranayama, your deep breathing, because it settles you down, it reduces stress in your body. If you don't have time for a workout, do some yoga asanas, even Surya Namaskar – do five or six of them. That ensures you've moved your body and breath together. These are simple habits that we can all do, even if we have just five minutes to spare. How do you unwind? Do you have a cheat day? No, I don't have a cheat day. The word 'cheat" comes guilt and that's not a great emotion to have. I have a reward day instead. I reward myself whenever I want, but I get back on track. It's as simple as that. I think everything is about prioritizing, managing and knowing where you want to put most of your effort, and that's how I manage my day. I unwind with exercise. Or a walk in nature. It can also be a recorded voice note where I'll scream, I'll shout, I'll abuse and then delete it (laughs). Yes, that's how it is. Also read: What's causing low AMH levels in Indian women?
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major bar chain to shut ALL 250 venues across the UK for 24 hours next week in unusual business move
Customers have praised the business for its unusual decision LAST CALL Major bar chain to shut ALL 250 venues across the UK for 24 hours next week in unusual business move Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A CHAIN of popular cafe bars will close for 24-hours next week. The closure will affect more than 250 branches countrywide on Monday June 9. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 There are over 250 Lounge bars across England and Wales Credit: instagram 4 The chain will close countrywide on Monday June 9 Credit: instagram Loungers opened their first store in 2002 in Bristol and have since expanded across the country. They are known for their wide range of food, cocktails and coffees, as well as each lounge having its own unique decor - with some customers not realising it's even a chain. The closure is so that it's staff can enjoy a grand celebration, which they call LoungeFest. Beginning in 2013, the event celebrates the company's 9,000 staff. In an announcement on Facebook, the company wrote: "Attention Loungers! "All of our Lounges will be closed on Monday, 9th June, as we will be heading to our annual staff party - Loungefest! "We do this every year to celebrate everybody's hard work. "Regular Lounging will resume on Tuesday, 10th June." Photos of the event show an exciting mix of music, fairground rides, and a healthy dose of partying. Guy Youll, Loungers' Chief People Officer told Wales Online: "Back in 2013, Loungers was one of the first in the hospitality industry to host a party like this and I'm delighted we've kept close to our roots by continuing every year getting bigger and better. Most popular treats for Brits on holiday "Our teams work incredibly hard all year round so LoungeFest is our way of celebrating them and showing how much we appreciate the dedication and care they put in every day at all our sites to deliver great hospitality. It's going to be quite a party!" Facebook commenters were pleased to see the company showing appreciation for their staff. One wrote: "Well done for treating your staff I hope the staff and you have a brilliant time." While another commented: "Oh that's a lovely thing to do for all the hard working staff." This year's LoungeFest will take place at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. Its theme is 'at the movies' as the event will be equipped with funfair attractions, DJ sessions, music stages featuring live bands and performances by Loungers' employees - as well as games, activities and complimentary food and drink. 4 Each cafe-bar has a unique interior Credit: instagram 4 They serve a wide range of food, cocktails and coffees Credit: instagram Loungers was founded in 2002 by a group of three friends on North Street in Bristol. They also run the popular Cosy Club chain of restaurants, as well as the roadside eatery Brightside. As of March 2025, the company operates 291 sites in England and Wales across the three brands. Its 250th Lounge - Pionero Lounge - opened in Rochdale in January 2024. With plans to expand with 10 more restaurants, loyal customers have been begging the company to come to their town. The company won the employer of the year award at the Casual Dining Awards 2025.
