Hong Kong's welfare minister defended the government's decision to abandon the poverty line, calling it a limited statistical concept. He stated it failed to identify needy groups beyond low income, such as carers, and announced plans for a new commission on targeted poverty alleviation.
Hong Kong's welfare minister defended the government's decision to remove the poverty line as an indicator for aid, stating it's a limited statistical concept focused solely on income. He argued it fails to identify needy groups like carers, whose varied needs will be addressed by a new commission.
The UK government has announced a ban on social media access for individuals under the age of 16. The government is seeking input from parents and carers regarding their opinions on these restrictions and how children aged 16 and under feel about the ban.
The UK government is considering new online safety measures for children, drawing inspiration from Australia's six-month-old ban on social media for under-16s. Ministers are seeking public input from parents and carers on potential restrictions.
Six months after Australia's under-16 social media ban, supporters claim it protects youth online. Critics note continued teen usage and enforcement difficulties, as other countries consider similar measures.
The NaNaz, a six-piece punk band from South Wales formed by women in their 50s and 60s, are proving to be a real-life inspiration, encouraging other women to form their own bands and embrace their creativity.
A mysterious illness dubbed Magpie Paralysis Syndrome is causing paralysis and death in hundreds of magpies in Perth and surrounding areas. Researchers are working to identify the cause, with concerns about potential population decline.
Louise Casey, head of the UK's adult social care commission, criticizes the outdated social care system for heavily relying on unpaid carers, mostly women, leading to enormous emotional burdens and unsustainable pressures.
Wildlife carers are concerned possums and birds will become casualties as trees are felled for the government's $45 million North Adelaide golf course redevelopment.
At least three households in Barry identified as having contracted the liver infectionHealth authorities have asked parents and carers to be “vigilant with their children’s hand-washing” after a hepatitis A outbreak in Barry, south Wales.At least three households in the seaside town have been identified as having contracted the same liver infection, amid worries it is spreading locally, Public Health Wales said. Continue reading...
At least three households in Barry, south Wales, identified as having contracted the liver infectionHealth authorities have asked parents and carers to be “vigilant with their children’s hand-washing” after a hepatitis A outbreak in Barry, south Wales.Public Health Wales said at least three households in the seaside town had been identified as having contracted the same liver infection, and there were worries it was spreading locally. Continue reading...
Japan has long grappled with what to do about hikikomori – the social hermits who seal themselves off from the world, sometimes for years, retreating from all human contact. In the past, these recluses were thought of as a youth problem: troubled teenagers, rudderless young men. But that framing no longer holds. Japan’s shut-ins are growing old, and the parents keeping them alive are growing older still. The average hikikomori is now 36.9 years old, according to the Asahi newspaper, citing a...
Tatsumi Hokuto, a 27-year-old former Maritime Self-Defence Force member with a bodybuilder's physique, works as a caregiver at a Japanese care home. The powerfully built young man helps elderly residents to their feet almost effortlessly, combining his passion for strength training with his job. Hokuto says his work allows him to feel his muscles are benefiting people and society.
Disabled blue badge holders in the UK are experiencing increasing harassment, questioning and assault from members of the public as anti-benefits rhetoric becomes more mainstream. About 3 million people now have blue badges, including 1 in 15 adults in England. The Guardian heard from almost 100 disabled people and their families who have been challenged by strangers, with many reporting verbal abuse, being filmed on phones, physically intimidated, or having mobility aids pulled away. Research by MS Society found more than one in five people with multiple sclerosis had been questioned for using a blue badge.
Northern Ireland will become the first part of the UK to provide free sign language classes to all deaf children and their families through the Sign Language Bill (Northern Ireland) 2025. The legislation, being passed on Tuesday, puts a duty on the Department for Communities to provide free classes for deaf people under-25 and their close families, while giving official recognition to British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language as languages of Northern Ireland. The bill is expected to cost around £3m a year and follows years of campaigning by the deaf community.
People living with disability in regional areas already face extra hurdles in accessing support and families fear changes to the NDIS could have irreversible consequences.
A Bristol haulage firm calculates the US-Iran war has added £100,000 to its fuel bills, with March £45,000 over budget and April projected £60,000 over. Carers and 1.5m UK homes heating by oil are also hit hard, with heating oil prices doubling from 60p to over £1.20 per litre. The Food and Drink Federation predicts food inflation could reach 9% by December as transport costs rise.
Thousands of unpaid carers will continue to face benefit repayment demands as the government launches an audit to fix historical injustices in carer's allowance, but existing recovery policies remain in place.
