Author: TECH

ReutersIsrael’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu has convened a meeting with his top advisers to discuss US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza, after Israel said it was not included in talks about the makeup of one of the board’s lower bodies. The US on Saturday named the first members of the Gaza Executive Board – including Turkey’s foreign minister, a Qatari official, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.Netanyahu’s office has since said this was “not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy”. The Board of Peace is part of Trump’s 20-point plan…

You won’t find a more literate bunch of 4th graders anywhere in the nation than if you go and stand in a Mississippi elementary school. Over the last few years, the Magnolia state has risen from 49th in the country for 4th grade reading level to number 1 in both reading and math at the 4th grade level after adjusting for poverty and other socio-economic factors. The state’s 4th graders “exceeded the national reading average” for the first time in 2024, according to the International Business Times, while its 8th graders are ranked in the top 10 for reading and…

While ‘Blue Monday’ is mostly dismissed as pseudoscience and not credible, mental health experts use the third Monday in January to raise awareness about “winter blues” that can bring depression.Blue Monday is a name that some tie to the third Monday of January, claiming that it’s supposedly the most depressing day of the year.First introduced in 2005, it’s been discredited as a travel public relations move that is not recognized by mental health experts. Instead, medical professionals use this day as an opportunity to raise awareness about depression and mental health issues during the colder winter months.While Blue Monday may…

credit – Andre Smits, via SWNS Underwater photographers and free divers recently rescued a mobula ray tangled in a rope while being circled by sharks. After swimming away, the injured ray unexpectedly returned, circling the divers in what they described as a “thank you” moment. The mobula ray was trapped more than 30 feet below the surface, completely wrapped in rope from a shark fisherman’s buoy. Mobulae, also known as flying rays, devil rays, or eagle rays, are smaller than their cousins the giant manta rays, and also far more diverse, with around 12 different extant species and several extinct…

Health misinformation remains one of Covid’s most damaging legacies, with online falsehoods fuelling vaccine hesitancy, sowing mistrust and eroding public health efforts worldwide. Shifting policies and political rhetoric in the US have deepened the confusion, with some experts warning that scepticism is partly to blame for the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough. Now, a study involving millions of children in England – covering 85% of the entire youth population – has compared for the first time the cardiac risks of Covid infection with those linked to vaccination. It found that infection came with a “substantially higher risk” of…

The famous quote attributed to legendary former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, albeit one which was undoubtedly delivered without expecting it to carry a literal meaning.Of course, football will always be massively important to supporters.  And to a town and city.  But life, and indeed mental health, is of course far more important.Back in September, a new ‘Together Against Suicide’ campaign was launched by the Premier League in partnership with the Samaritans.One of the key influences in the campaign was broadcaster Roman Kemp, driven to use the power of football to help raise awareness of suicide prevention following the death of his best…

Sick and disabled people will have more opportunities to move into work following the overhaul of a scheme that will boost living standards and workplace inclusion. The Disability Confident scheme – launched by the previous government in 2016 – has delivered huge variations of support across different UK regions, often overlooking specific local needs and priorities. While around two thirds of employers agree that joining the scheme had a positive impact on their organisation, the landmark Keep Britain Working review by Sir Charlie Mayfield concluded that while it has many positive aspects it “lacks teeth”. In response to the review,…

Social Security is an interesting program in that its rules tend to change from one year to the next. And while certain rules can change for the worse, others can change for the better. In 2026, Social Security’s wage cap is higher than in 2025, which means some workers will have to pay more taxes. And that’s hardly something to celebrate. Image source: Getty Images. But there are also some very good things happening with Social Security this year could result in a world of benefit for you. Here are three changes that could boost your finances. Each year, Social…

Personal lifestyle represents the way individuals manage their health, work habits, leisure activities, nutrition, fitness, and social balance. In today’s fast-moving environment, lifestyle choices directly influence productivity, mental well-being, and long-term health outcomes. Importance of Personal Lifestyle Modern lifestyles are increasingly influenced by digital work culture, urban living, and time pressure. As a result, consumers are now prioritizing structured routines, wellness-focused habits, and balanced daily schedules. A healthy personal lifestyle improves physical energy, emotional stability, and overall life satisfaction. Key Elements of Personal Lifestyle Personal lifestyle includes nutrition management, physical activity, sleep quality, mental wellness, work-life balance, and social engagement.…

A community leader and author has launched a campaign to challenge the way people use language around mental health.Barry Ingleton, from Oxfordshire, lives with bipolar disorder and said he believes the line between everyday emotion and clinical illness has become increasingly blurred.The “confusion” has contributed to rising pressure on the NHS and left some people unable to talk about their feelings without using medical labels, he said.The Mental Health Foundation charity said more people seeking support with mental distress due to a greater awareness of mental health “isn’t a bad thing”.Ingleton, founder of Witney-based social enterprise Synolos, said he wants…