Lifestyle
Alongside taking care of other people and the planet, make sure you take good care of yourself. The Lifestyle section at the Optimist Daily has solutions for everyday wellbeing on topics like food, beauty, fashion, and the latest trends. Curious about caring for houseplants, eating plant-based, or parenting tips? It’s all in there.
Can gadgets actually make you more zen? We give 3 a try
Maybe hacking your meditation practice with high-tech programs and devices also is the ultimate irony, but can they really be time savers? A brain-trainer? I tested three systems that promised to deliver more quickly the effects of meditation. As they say about traditional meditation, you don’t Read More...
Colombia's President Santos says peace with Farc will boost growth
Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos says the peace deal with the Farc rebel group will boost economic growth and will enable the country to rebuild its social fabric. "War is always more costly than peace," he said in an interview with the BBC. Mr Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez, known Read More...
The US Congress now has a caucus dedicated to bitcoin and blockchain
Blockchain is permeating the world’s spheres of influence. A U.S. Congressional group dedicated to studying the technology underpinning the bitcoin cryptocurrency was set up today (Sept. 26) by two congressmen. The Congressional Blockchain Caucus was formed by Jared Polis, a Democrat Read More...
China’s risk-loving mom and pop investors have abandoned local stock markets for bitcoin
China’s individual investors are known for their huge appetite for new assets. The government’s strict currency controls make it difficult for them to invest overseas, so their money has traditionally had to go somewhere inside the country’s borders. That’s why from property Read More...
How the largest majority-Muslim nation stood up to ISIS
Indonesia, which boasts the largest Muslim population in the world, has stood strong in the face of extremism. The nation of over 250 million people is in a period of relative peace, and has effectively eliminated the threat of extremist violence from organizations like ISIS. Here’s one Read More...
Iceland, Sweden and Singapore are the healthiest countries
Scandinavian countries always lead international rankings based on health and happiness. A very comprehensive, decade-long new study offers no exception: Iceland and Sweden share the top slot with Singapore as world leaders when it comes to health goals set by the United Nations. Using the UN’s Read More...
Indian technology institute to put the art of happiness under the microscope
Build roads, electrify villages, clean up the holy river Ganges: for the past 70 years, successive governments in India have stuck with virtually identical to-do lists for the country’s development. Now, a new item seems to have cropped up on the political agenda: make people happy. In July, Read More...
Afghanistan signs peace deal with warlord
After months of delays, Afghanistan government negotiators signed a peace deal Thursday with an insurgent faction led by one of the country's most notorious warlords. The deal was signed at a ceremony attended by negotiators, the president's national security advisor, and representatives of the Read More...
What the big tech companies are doing to help refugees
The White House published a list of companies that it will work together with to make new, durable efforts in the global refugee crisis. The list included names such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter, all of whom have projects in place that will help refugees develop the skills they need Read More...
UK Labour leader Corbyn plans 'Minister For Peace'
Jeremy Corbyn has revealed that he will appoint a minister for peace and disarmament if he becomes Prime Minister. The Labour leader outlined his plan in an hour-long documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ken Loach, detailing his interactions with party supporters. Corbyn underlined his Read More...