Author: TECH

The Odisha government and the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) have inked a pact to strengthen early identification, education, capacity building and community awareness for persons with intellectual disabilities across the state.The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday by the state’s Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) for establishing a structured collaboration for implementing NIEPID-developed curriculum frameworks in state-run special schools.The partnership aims to enhance the quality of educational and developmental services for children with intellectual disabilities through expert support, training, and continuous monitoring, an official statement said.According…

Sorting this out before you file your tax return will save you a big headache.There’s been a lot of confusing information going around about Social Security benefit taxes over the last year. The White House claimed that President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” eliminated it, fulfilling a key campaign promise to seniors. But diving deeper into the law reveals no major changes to benefit taxes. This doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to owe them in 2026, but there’s certainly a possibility. Understanding how much you could owe and how to prepare for these taxes is key to avoiding surprises when you file…

Terry McCarty was just six years old when he suffered third-degree burns to 70% of his body in a childhood accident. After the accident, he was in a coma for two months, was hospitalized for a full year, and underwent 58 surgeries — along with endless bullying during his adolescence.“After the accident I lived in a constant state of fear and uncertainty. I struggled to find work as an adult as people always told me I was a liability, and I had started to believe it,” McCarty told the Daily Mail. “Becoming a fireman was a spur of the moment decision. I…

PETALING JAYA, Jan 19 — The Selangor government will roll out a pilot early intervention programme in two Bandar Utama secondary schools — one of which was the site of a fatal stabbing last year — aimed at providing peer-based emotional support for students before cases are escalated to mental health professionals.State executive councillor for Public Health and Environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the PeerZ pilot initiative is intended to complement the existing Peer Support Programme (Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya, or PRS) run by the Selangor education department.She said concerns regarding school safety and the availability of counselling support for students were…

Our world is filled with beautiful examples of people looking out for one another. Every week, we bring you heartwarming stories about people’s generosity, compassion, and desire to help others, which is what the world needs more of. “When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.” – Harold Kushner Let’s take a look at this week’s uplifting stories about young children making a difference in the world with their pure hearts. Heroic students take quick action to save a bus driver in medical distress A group of teenagers performs acts of kindness for shoppers…

Natural environments give our attention a rest – we don’t have to concentrate in the same effortful way we do indoors or online. Photo supplied MICHELLE KEENAN empowers people and organisations to achieve optimal well-being by providing customised wellness coaching programmes tailored to their unique goals. As we enjoy our summer holiday, many of us enjoy spending time outdoors – walking, swimming, boating, picnicking – and then when we’re back to work, those long leisurely days are a distant memory, and we seem to have less time to get out. But being outside is more than just a “nice to…

Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo joey – SWNS / Chester Zoo Amazing “pouch cam” images provide a rare glimpse into the hidden world of an endangered baby kangaroo after he was born the size of a jellybean at a UK zoo. Experts say the special arrival marks a major conservation milestone for one of the world’s most threatened marsupials—the endangered Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo. Keepers at the Chester Zoo monitored the pouch-cam between October and December watching the joey’s development inside the kangaroo’s pouch, allowing them to identify it as a healthy male. The joey arrived to its parents Kitawa and Kayjo, thanks…

Graham Garnett – Supplied by police A 66-year-old man who had been missing in the rugged backcountry of New Zealand for over two weeks has now been found, even though rescue officials called off the search three days ago. Graham Garnett was discovered alive yesterday sheltering in a hut in the Kahurangi National Park by a crew of contractors who were working in the area. He’d gone hiking in the Baton/Ellis River area of the park and did not return as expected on December 30. An operation got underway involving Land Search and Rescue New Zealand and specialist teams from…

Fundraiser by Corie McDuff : Prevent young suicide and men’s mental health Corie McDuff, 25, and Brandon Bailey, 26, will begin their challenge on 7 February, attempting to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. While the traditional challenge aims to complete all three within 24 hours, the pair say there is no pressure to meet that target as they are not professional climbers. The challenge will take place in winter conditions, meaning the pair will face potentially harsh weather as they tackle the UK’s highest peaks. Their first ascent will be Ben Nevis in Scotland, where they will be…

Most of us aren’t using our commute for anything particularly productive. Maybe you’re scrolling through your phone, zoning out to a podcast, or mentally rehearsing that awkward conversation you’ve been avoiding. And hey, no judgment. Commutes can feel like dead time, something to just get through before the real day begins. But what if those 20, 30, or 45 minutes could actually change how you show up in the world? Emotional intelligence—the ability to understand and manage your own emotions while also tuning into the emotions of others—is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. It affects your…