WHO SOUNDS THE ALARM BELLS: LONELINESS MAKES MANY PEOPLE SICK

Wed 02 July 2025: One in six people worldwide is affected by loneliness, which, along with social isolation, can lead to physical illness, contributing to 871,000 deaths worldwide annually, a World Health Organization (WHO) commission has said. Loneliness increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, depression, anxiety and suicide, the WHO said. Lonely teenagers […]

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TWICE-A-YEAR SHOT COULD TRANSFORM HIV PREVENTION, BUT CAN THE WORLD AFFORD IT?

Tue 01 July 2025: Around 40 million people across the world are currently living with HIV, a virus that has claimed more than 42 million lives since the beginning of the epidemic. But for the first time in decades, scientists and public health officials are daring to talk about a realistic path to ending HIV […]

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UK SCIENTISTS TURN PLASTIC WASTE INTO PARACETAMOL USING ENGINEERED BACTERIA

Fri 27 June 2025: Scientists in the UK have successfully converted plastic waste into the painkiller paracetamol using genetically modified bacteria, offering a potential solution to both plastic pollution and fossil fuel dependence. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh developed a method to break down PET plastics—commonly used in bottles and food packaging—and produce paracetamol from the resulting material. […]

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DOPAMINE CAN MAKE IT HARD TO PUT DOWN OUR PHONE OR ABANDON THE ONLINE SHOPPING CART. HERE’S WHY

Thu 26 June 2025: Ever find yourself unable to stop scrolling through your phone, chasing that next funny video or interesting post? Or maybe you’ve felt a rush of excitement when you achieve a goal, eat a delicious meal, or fill your online shopping cart. Why do some experiences feel so rewarding, while others leave […]

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UN WARNS AGAINST RETURN TO ‘DARK AGES’ AS CHILDREN SUFFER RECORD VIOLATIONS IN CONFLICT ZONES

Thu 26 June 2025: The UN’s top official for children and armed conflict issued a stark warning on Wednesday to the Security Council, urging immediate action to protect children amid surging violence in conflict zones, particularly in the Gaza Strip. “The year 2024 witnessed an unprecedented escalation of violence against children, as well as a […]

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AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS INCLUSION OF YOUTUBE IN GOVERNMENT’S SOCIAL MEDIA BAN

Wed 25 June 2025: Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has recommended that YouTube be included in the government’s social media ban for young people under the age of 16, local media reported on Tuesday. Australia is expected to ban social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and Snapchat for teens, with the final […]

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WHY DOES MY PHONE SOMETIMES NOT RING WHEN PEOPLE CALL? A COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT EXPLAINS

Tue 24 June 2025: There’s a certain feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I’m waiting for an important call to come through. You know the type – maybe a call from your boss, a potential new employer or news of a loved one who’s due to give birth. In these situations, […]

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CAN A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT HACK WHATSAPP? A CYBERSECURITY EXPERT EXPLAINS HOW THAT MIGHT WORK

Mon 23 June 2025: Earlier today, Iranian officials urged the country’s citizens to remove the messaging platform WhatsApp from their smartphones. Without providing any supporting evidence, they alleged the app gathers user information to send to Israel. WhatsApp has rejected the allegations. In a statement to Associated Press, the Meta-owned messaging platform said it was concerned “these false […]

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