The Weekly Focus Edition 52
Veganism- The next big thing?
Firstly- What is Veganism? To be Vegan is to avoid animal products from your diet, including meat, fish and dairy products. While the term 'Vegan' was coined in 1944, it had a rich history dating back to the early Indian Empire, but did not become popular until a decade ago. There are countless reasons to become Vegan. Starting with the most basic, you are not harming animals. Everyone has heard of the circle of life, and how species have to adapt to survive. Back in the hunter gatherer days, we humans had to hunt animals for food, as we didn't know how to cook, but with the invention of farming, we have exploited animals to a great extent. Right now, we commercially feed animals in the billions, and grow them in densely populated warehouses with almost no sense of hygiene. 70% of the worlds antibiotics are used on animals, simply to produce more milk, or more meat. The animals are born to be slaughtered. If everyone knew the state of animals before they arrive to your dining table, millions would stop eating meat. Besides that, there are more reasons to turn vegan. An
estimated 60% of agricultural greenhouse emissions are from Meat and Dairy Products, but they contribute just 17% of your diet in calories. Researchers say cutting down on meat and dairy products is much better for the environment compared to buying an electric car. Veganism also prevents the waste of resources. For every 100 grams fed to a cow, only 4 grams arrives on our table, when we could be eating those 100 grams instead. It wastes lots of land, and with a growing population we would have to resort to deforestation to get more land. Finally, Veganism also benefits your health. Being vegan increases your life span, greatly reduces the risk of lifestyle diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and many more. To only concrete downside to veganism would be some nutrients such as Vitamin B-12, Omega 2 fatty Acids, and Protein in general, which is mainly found in Animal Products. But that is only but a myth, as various organic materials have these nutrients.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids- Found in Walnuts and Flax Seeds
Protein- Found in Tofu, Lentils, Soy, Beans and more.
Vitamin B-12- Found in Plant Milks, Fortified Cereal and Nutritional Yeast.
Iron- Found in Beet Root, Spinach and more.
Calcium- Found in Leafy Green Vegetables, Tofu and Tahini.
Personally, I am a vegetarian, but I also eat dairy products. I'm making the change towards being vegan after seeing its various health, environmental and the benefit it has on animals, and I hope you do too.
Israel’s Cabinet Complication:
Israel’s longest-reigning Prime Minister may be out of the position soon. Benjamin Netanyahu who has held the PM position in Israel since 2009 could be out soon due to a complicated democratic catastrophe. To sum it up, the 2020 annual budget was not met which led to chaos in the Israeli parliament. Due to the budget issue, re-election was conducted in Israel. However, there wasn’t a clear winner. After Netanyahu’s failure to form the government, President Reuven Rivlin appointed Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party to form the government. An alliance with several parties has been formed to pass a vote in the Israeli Parliament to remove Netanyahu as Prime Minister. No one can surely predict what will happen. We hope that everything runs well and is beneficial/
By Arhaan Zaveri
Secret to eating less Junk Food?
Users may use a brain training app to help them eat less junk food, says new research.
The Food Trainer (FoodT app) teaches individuals to touch on photos of nutritious meals but to stop tapping when they encounter harmful snacks, building a link between harmful snacking and stopping. The latest research from the universities of Exeter and Helsinki revealed that playing the game once a day for a month reduced junk food intake by an average of one point on an eight-point scale (the scale ranges from four or more items per day to one or zero items per month). People who used the app more often also reported significant improvements in their eating habits. About half of the 1,234 participants in the research followed the advice and played the game at least ten times. An average weight decrease of half a kilogramme (just over a pound) was observed across all individuals, as well as a minor increase in the amount of nutritious food consumed. "For example, after using the app consistently for a month, someone who ate each junk food two to four times a week decreased this to once a week," said Professor Natalia Lawrence of the University of Exeter. "The findings are, on the whole, very positive. The app is free and takes around four minutes per day to use, so it's something that most people can do, and our findings indicate that it's beneficial." Some research suggests that the advantages were greater for those who were overweight. "We would expect to observe this because the app addresses systems that lead to obesity, such as strong impulses to approach and eat appealing junk foods," says the researcher. "For anyone with poor eating habits - possibly formed during lockdown - FoodT could be useful," said Dr Matthias Aulbach of the University of Helsinki.
By Krishnav Bubna
Rafael Nadal and Djokovic cruise to the third round of the French Open.
England Pacer Robinson likely to be dropped from the squad after old sexist and racist tweets surface.
The ICC Mens Cricket World Cup will be involving 14 teams for the 2027- 2031 world cups.
Devon Conway becomes the 7th batsman in history to score a double-century on test debut
Other News
Kamala Harris and Narendra Modi talk on call about vaccines, US assures its contribution towards India’s vaccination supply.
A woman in Kashmir is 124 according to her Ration Card, and could be the oldest living person once verified.
India reports lowest Covid-19 cases since almost 2 months as the second wave steadies.
China approves Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for ages 3-17 years, however it is only for emergency use.
Hundreds gathered in Hong Kong to commemorate the 33 year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre despite government ban.
UN suspends Iran's voting rights, Iran responds saying it is 'unacceptable'
The Upside of Falling
Rating: ★★★★
Age: 12+ (teenage fiction, romance)
Find it here: Amazon India
Author: Alex Light
Review: A Wattpad Original, this story is the cheesiest page-turner you might ever read. It starts with the original “nerd” that lives and breathes books. Becca Hart is a smart, funny college student and also our main character. When her ex-best friend begins poking fun at her in the middle of the college hallways, it's only Wattpad Perfection that the popular guy comes in as her Prince Charming. From here, it's a typical whirlwind romance revolving around a girl with a single mother and constant worry about paying for college tuition and a boy with what looks like everything: rich parents, possible scholarship, and a pearly white smile. However, Prince Charming’s life can go wrong too and watch as Cinderella swoops in to save your day. I guess it’s not a Wattpad Original- it's one with a twist. A cringy but cute story I recommend to those romance-lovers everywhere.
By Dia Makhecha
On 30th May 1868, Memorial Day was observed for the first time in the US.
On 31st May 1947, Hungary’s government became communist.
On 1st June 1908, the SOS signal became the universal distress signal to call for help.
On 2nd June 1823, Brazil became independent marking the end of the Portuguese rule.
On 3rd June 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg ended.
On 4th June 2017, North Korea tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile successfully.
On 5th June 1994, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in Bellevue, Washington.
Venus is the only planet that spins clockwise!
Written by Vivaan Dharamshi
Edited by Nirvaan Zaveri