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The retirement age and the future of Social Security have been big topics this presidential election season. The topics have especially caught the attention of many working Americans amid talk about potential cuts to benefits and the future for the system itself and those who will be retiring in the coming decades.

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The United States is far from the only country dealing with these situations. Countries like France have looked at options like raising the retirement age, a move which led to big backlashes from voters.

For some more perspective, heres a look at how the standard retirement age in the U.S. compares to several European countries.

Lets start with the rules in the U.S. According to the Social Security Administration, if you retire at 62, the earliest possible Social Security retirement age, your benefit is lower than if you wait. If you were born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

If you go by statistics, that means about one decade of full retirement since the average life expectancy in the U.S. is 77.5 years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. According to the Mercer CFS Institute Global Pension Index, which benchmarks retirement income systems around the world, the U.S. has a score of 63. For comparison, the Netherlands is the top one with an index of 85.

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France raised the retirement age to 64, as long as the retiree worked for at least 43 years. When it comes to the Mercer Index, France is just behind the U.S. with a score of 62.

As for average life expectancy, its quite a bit higher for France than the U.S. The average life expectancy in France is over 82.

Consider: 8 Things Boomers Should Sell Right Before Retiring

The UK did better than the U.S. on the Mercer Index. It scored 73.

When it comes to retirement age, according to Age UK, State Pension age is gradually increasing for men and women, and will gradually rise to 67 for those born on or after April 1960. As for the average life expectancy, its about 81 in the UK.

Story continues

See: Cant Retire in the US? Why Many Americans Are Choosing This Country Instead

The retirement age in Norway is similar to the U.S. at 67. However, there are options for pension pay-outs starting around age 62.

When it comes to the Mercer Index, Norway has a score just over 74. In general, there may be more years to enjoy retirement. Norway has a high average life expectancy near 83.

Learn: 5 Countries With Easy Citizenship for Retirement

The standard retirement age in Spain is 66. Thanks to healthier lifestyles and diets, the average life expectancy in Spain is around 83.

The Spain pension system does leave some to be desired. Thats why its Mercer Index score is only about 61.

Read More: How Much House You Can Afford in Retirement in Different Countries

Along with Spain, the standard retirement age in Germany is 66. However, the plan is to bring it up to 67 by 2031.

As for the Mercer Index, its 66.8 for Germany. When it comes to the average life expectancy in Germany, its between 80 and 81 years.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Standard Retirement Age in the US vs. 5 European Countries

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The Standard Retirement Age in the US vs. 5 European Countries - Yahoo Finance

There is no greater love than self-love. Pampering yourself and prioritising your needs is essential to sustain a happy and healthy life. One of the most effective steps towards self-love is to engage in a well-balanced skin care and hair care routine. It allows you to improve your skin and hair health along with helping you to feel happy and refreshed from within. So, whether you want a new sunscreen or an all-natural shampoo, the Amazon Prime Day Sale 2024 is offering you the best deals on beauty products with up to 70% discount!

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Also read: Amazon Prime Day Sale 2024 starts at midnight today: Explore deals and discounts you cannot miss out on

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Also read: Amazon Prime Day Sale 2024: Early deals on suitcases where you can bag up to 80% off on all your travel needs

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At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

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Amazon Prime Day Sale 2024: Up to 70% off on the best skin care and hair care products - Hindustan Times

In our exceedingly fast-paced society, it can be challenging to exist in any state other than doing mode. Even when we think were resting, are we really?

Think about it when did you last create some space in your day to put down your to-do list, your phone or turn off the television and simply be with yourself in the present moment?

Its not easy, but it seems more of us are trying to do this by practicing techniques, such as meditation. According to Statista, the global meditation apps market is estimated to reach $7.09 billion by 2028. A 2017 survey conducted in the United States found that the percentage of adults practicing some form of meditation tripled between 20122017.

There are many different ways to meditate, which can make defining what meditation is a challenge. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says that the term meditation refers to a variety of practices that focus on mind and body integration and are used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being. Meditation has inspired many scientific studies over recent decades, with researchers increasingly eager to pinpoint if and how these ancient techniques can deliver such benefits in modern-day life.

In this article, we explore some of the latest research on meditation, the brain and well-being.

Our global population is aging in a society that presents a myriad of challenges and complexities, all of which carry the potential to adversely impact our physical and psychological well-being. Could practicing long-term meditation help?

That was the question fueling a recent randomized, controlled clinical study co-led by University College London (UCL) scientists. This trial, lasting 18 months, is the longest randomized meditation training study conducted to date.

It is increasingly crucial to understand how we can support older adults in maintaining and deepening their psychological well-being, said Dr. Marco Schlosser, honorary research fellow at UCLs Division of Psychiatry and the studys lead author. We tested whether long-term meditation training can enhance important dimensions of well-being. Our findings suggest that meditation is a promising non-pharmacological approach to support human flourishing in late life.

One hundred and thirty-seven healthy individuals aged 6584 years in Caen, France, were assigned to either an 18-month meditation training program, an English language training program of the same duration or a passive control group with no training.

The meditation program consisted of a nine-month mindfulness module followed by a nine-month loving kindness and compassion module. Often used interchangeably, mindfulness meditation refers to a type of meditation that encourages the practitioner to experience a state of mindfulness, which is the presence of the current moment without judgment.

These modules were delivered in various formats: weekly group sessions that were two hours long, a retreat day and daily home practice sessions that were 20 minutes in length. All participants were assessed at a baseline visit, mid-intervention at 9 months and post-intervention at 18 months.

Credit: iStock.

Schlosser and colleagues collected self-report data on several measures of well-being in the study, including the Psychological Well-Being Scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF Assessment. They also collected data on participants experiences of awareness, connection and insight.

In the context of this study, awareness refers to undistracted attention to our thoughts, feelings and surroundings, while connection denotes feelings of respect, gratitude and kinship. Insight describes self-knowledge and understanding how our thoughts or feelings can contribute and shape our perception.

The 18-month meditation training was superior to English training on changes in awareness, connection, insight and global scores (comprising awareness, connection and insight) and superior to no-intervention only on changes in awareness and global scores, the authors said.

While long-term meditation training induced changes in awareness, connection and insight, it was not associated with higher scores on the Psychological Well-Being Scale, nor the WHOQOL-BREF Assessment compared to the English language training or control groups. The researchers question whether these measures accurately capture the depth of human flourishing that long-term meditation training could bring.

As with many studies in the realm of psychological well-being, the study is limited by its reliance on self-report data, which is sensitive to biases. The research team also highlighted that the sample, being well-educated, healthy participants that were recruited from one geographical location, is not necessarily representative of the general population.

Mindfulness has been linked to improved sleep, but how and why remains unclear.

Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) sought to explore this further, focusing on employee well-being specifically and drawing from a theory known as emotion regulation. A simple definition of emotional regulation is that it describes an individuals ability to influence which emotions they have and when. The study is published in Health Psychology.

Led by Dr. Claire Smith, assistant professor of psychology at USF, the research group followed two independent cohorts of nurses (144 in total) over two weeks in the United States. Nurses were selected as the study population because they typically experience disrupted sleep patterns and are subjected to high-stress environments.

We know that good sleep restores us physically and psychologically, and it keeps us happier, safer and even more ethical at work. We wanted to explore which aspects of sleep are influenced by mindfulness and why, Smith said.

Participants were required to complete a survey three times a day which explored their state and trait mindfulness, and how much time they spent fixated on negative thoughts. Quality of sleep data was recorded through self-report methods and actigraphy data the following morning.

The study findings suggest that being mindful helped nurses reduce negative emotions and the amount of time spent ruminating. For instance, if you got a negative performance review at work, you might choose to shift your focus from negative thoughts of how you have failed and are incompetent to positive thoughts of what you did right and how you can grow, Smith said.

This, in turn, is associated with better sleep quality. Our research suggests that day-to-day mindful attention may help people regulate their emotions in a way that promotes their sleep quality. Particularly for those in high-stress occupations, like health care workers examined here, mindfulness may be helpful in daily maintenance of emotional well-being and sleep health, the authors said.

Smith and colleagues hope that future research on mindfulness confronts not only big picture results like sleep or productivity, but also how we handle emotions.

Research shows that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be effective at helping individuals manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, a key barrier to the study of MBIs and their clinical implementation is time they typically require several weeks of commitment from participants to complete.

Professor Michael J Telch and colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin recently devised a mindfulness-based single-session intervention (SSI), which is designed to overcome this barrier and improve the accessibility of MBIs. Telch and colleagues recently conducted a randomized clinical trial, recruiting 91 participants, which evaluated the effects of this intervention on self-perceptions of loneliness, stress, depression and anxiety.

Preliminary research suggests SSIs may reduce anxiety, stress and improve mental well-being in nonclinical samples, the authors said. Further, research suggests single-session mindfulness-based interventions may reduce negative affectivity (e.g., depression, rumination, anxiety, stress).

To date, only one clinical trial has evaluated the effectiveness of an SSI on loneliness, which became increasingly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic when the study was conducted.

The 91 participants (60.44% female) were randomized to receive either a one-hour mindfulness-only telephone intervention, a one-hour randomized mindfulness and compassion intervention, or were placed on a one-week waitlist to form a control group.

Credit: iStock.

Those assigned to the mindfulness and compassion intervention were taught a third skill related to compassion [] Participants were instructed to think of a person, place, object, or spiritual or religious figure that consistently evokes feelings of warmth, love, kindness or whatever compassion feels like to them. They were encouraged to focus their attention on any sensations that arose after evoking this feeling, the authors said.

A variety of scales were used to evaluate perceived levels of loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression at one-week follow-ups. Data analysis revealed that, compared to the waitlist control group, the inclusion of a compassionate element in the SSI led to meaningful reductions in perceived levels of stress, anxiety and depression after one week, as described by the authors.

The researchers believe that SSIs offer an approach that could be easily adopted in a wide range of contexts, but further research is required to evaluate whether changes in self-reported symptoms are maintained for long durations of time.

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The Latest Research News on Meditation, Well-Being and the Brain - Technology Networks

Oftentimes I find myself scrolling on my phone for hours without realizing it, or sitting down to do homework with the urge to check notifications or look at a screen every five minutes.

When those tendencies worsen, I like to take a break from certain apps, deleting them for a few weeks to reset and focus on other things. At first, I think about it intermittently, wondering what Im missing out on or wishing I could share a funny thought online, but after a week its the last thing on my mind. Those hours that used to be for scrolling are divided into productivity or phone calls to connect to loved ones.

The constant digital overload of information leads to a need to be up-to-date with trends and social statuses. There are numerous studies on the effects of blue-light and the addictiveness of social media. When factoring in the instant gratification of short-lived data, people are conditioned to only need attention for fleeting moments before moving on to the next topic. However, there are steps one can take to improve their attention span without a self-diagnosis of ADHD.

Many studies have looked at the attention spans of adults to show an average result of 10-15 minutes of attention for a speech or lecture. A study in 2015 from Microsoft Corp. revealed people have an attention span of eight seconds, lower than a goldfish, with an attention span of nine seconds. The National Library of Medicine also found a correlation between high screen time and low brain development in children.

Considering the addictive features of social media with our societys dependence on it, lowering ones screen time is harder than ever. Social media platforms cause surges in dopamine levels in the brain from things like comments or likes. This activates the brains reward center to show effects similar to gambling and drugs. Its impossible to remove screen use completely from our lives, but with this in mind, the practice of moderation weighs heavily on mental health.

Through a fleet of YouTube videos, I've recently developed a fascination with the long term effects of mediation. Meditation is said to increase ones attention span and ability to focus. To meditate, one sits somewhere comfortable and quiet, closes their eyes and slowly breathes through their nose for a period of time.

The point is to completely clear the mind of any thoughts to rest and reset. The only focus should be on breathing and feeling air fill the lungs. Even five minutes of this is difficult after taking in immoderate loads of information all day, but with practice, one can clear their mind for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. I started to meditate every day and found my ability to focus when studying or listening to lectures in class became significantly easier.

The common knowledge of blue light produced from cell phones is the disruption of brain activity. Blue light disrupts ones circadian rhythm and melatonin production to inhibit sleep quality. This cognitive interference should be taken into higher consideration in regard to its negative effects on attention span without quality sleep. One way to counteract this is by putting away devices 30 minutes to an hour before bed, or strengthening habits like reading before sleep.

Reading and journaling are forms of meditation to calm the mind and wear out leftover mental energy that sits unused when trying to shut down for sleep.Sleep is necessary for both learning and memory. The National Institute of Health reported adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night, and without those hours, ones ability to focus is slim to none. This makes the instant gratification of content from social media even more desirable.

Taking a break from social media altogether is also an option. Many people set a maximum screen time on their phone to limit their use. To replace that time normally spent mindlessly scrolling, practice hobbies with similar passive entertainment like reading, journaling, baking or creating something artistic.

Calm, a wellness brand, claims other ways to improve attention span are giving yourself breaks, organizing your time by writing things down in a planner, playing classical music, creating small, attainable goals to stay motivated and focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking.

Shifting away from dependency on phones is difficult when they are an important tool in daily life. However, without active practice in separation to improve attention away from the screen, the iPad kids of the world will become iPad adults, and no one wants to see that. What seems hard at first gets easier, then enjoyed, and eventually its the new normal.

Libby Evans is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Libby know by emailing her at le422021@ohio.edu.

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From the Grapevine: How to counteract a shortening attention span - The Post

Carol Raleigh, Jim LaViolet, Shelly Vanness, Ann Murphy, Diane Widi and Anne Tennis participate in a tai chi event. Tai chi is a meditation exercise form of low-impact movements that originated in 13th-century China as a form of martial arts handed down from generation to generation. Eva Westein photo

Once an ancient form of martial arts, tai chi becomes local wellness activity

By Eva Westein

Contributing Writer

GREEN BAY On Wednesday mornings at Voyageur Park, members of the Brown County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) can be found under the shade of the trees practicing the slow, serene movements of tai chi while being serenaded by chirping birds and meditative music.

At the head of the group is Shelly Vanness, a retired occupational therapist who now volunteers her skills and passion for the practice of tai chi at the ADRC as a beginner-level instructor.

Vanness first had the opportunity to learn about tai chi back in 2000 when she received a mailing about tai chi training for therapists.

Initially, she had just set the mailing aside and forgot about it, but she picked it up again a few months later and decided to look into it.

She then took several workshops for about a year and a half.

After training at the Tai Chi Center of Madison, she eventually decided to teach it herself.

Vanness later got certified to teach tai chi and has voluntarily taught it to others for 22 years, eight of which have been at the ADRC.

I feel like it was a gift that I received in my life, so I like to share it with other people, she stated.

Tai chi is a meditation exercise form of low-impact movements that originated in 13th-century China as a form of martial arts handed down from generation to generation.

It is now practiced as an art form, meditation technique, or mind, body and spirit exercise that is becoming increasingly popular across the United States.

It is an especially convenient method of exercise because it can be practiced alone or in a group setting and does not require specialized equipment or clothing.

Tai chi can be practiced by anyone.

Many seniors are interested in it. It is very meditative and works on concentration and balance too, which is good for us all, says Jean Huxtable-Hamersky, a community member who has been taking Shellys tai chi class at the ADRC in downtown Green Bay for several months now.

Tai chi also boasts many other health benefits such as improved posture, body awareness, blood pressure control, flexibility, cardiovascular and respiratory function, pain relief, emotional wellness and more.

In fact, the National Institute of Health has introduced grants to be used by organizations such as the ADRC to create opportunities for community members to practice tai chi and other similar exercises in an effort to reduce balance-related falls in the elderly.

While the practice of tai chi is accessible to anyone, Shelly warns that it can be a long process.

Be very patient with yourself because it takes a good long while, I would say if youre really interested it takes about 9-12 months before you feel like you can really do one of the forms well, Vanness explained.

For beginners, she also recommends finding something online that you can follow along with at home, even if its just 15 minutes a day.

If you are interested in participating in a local in-person tai chi session, check out the following offerings: call 920-448-4300 for the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Green Bays sessions with Shelly on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.; contact Eric Peters at 920-366-0899 for beginner, intermediate and advanced sessions held on Tuesdays from 9-10 a.m. at GBASO on 2351 Holmgren Way, Suite 102; and call the YWCA of Green Bay at 920-432-5581 for tai chi sessions in the water on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and tai chi sessions in the classroom on Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Continue reading here:

For the mind and body - The Press-Times

Two U.S. Congressmen have submitted a resolution to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs urging the government to consider a Binance executive detained in Nigeria as a hostage.

In the resolution, Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) demanded the release of Binance's head of financial crime compliance Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen who has been held in custody in Nigeria since February.

Calling Gambaryan's detention "a clear violation of his rights and a grave injustice," McCormick urged the Nigerian government to release him, and called on the U.S. government to "do everything in its power to secure the release of one of our citizens wrongfully detained abroad."

Gambaryan was first detained alongside his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, who subsequently fled custody and escaped the country. Immediately afterward, Nigeria's Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Binance and the two executives with money laundering to the tune of $35 million and manipulating the foreign exchange (forex) market.

Binance was also initially charged with tax violations, but those have since been droppedby the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

In their resolution, Hill and McCormick argued that Gambaryan is "being tried in lieu of pursuing legal action against his employer," adding that during a court hearing, the Nigerian government stated that Gambaryan was "the only thing we have to hold on to." Hill added that Gambaryan should be released, returned to the U.S. and the "fabricated" charges against him dropped.

Hill, who recently visited Gambaryan in the Nigerian prison where he is being held, reported that his health is "deteriorating" in custody, while McCormick urged the Nigerian authorities to provide Gambaryan with "the necessary medical care."

During a court hearing in May, Gambaryan collapsed and was subsequently put on medication for malaria. His family claim that he has been suffering immensely while being held in the Kuje prison, noting that he has complained of numbness in his foot, back pain and been diagnosed with double pneumonia and malaria.

Nigerian officials have refuted the claims, asserting that he has no serious health condition and is doing fine in detention.

In a statement accompanying the announcement of the resolution, Gambaryan's wife Yuki said that, "I appreciate Congressional focus on obtaining Tigrans immediate release from custody in Nigeria and Representative McCormicks continued attention to Tigrans plight." She added that she was "deeply concerned" about his health, and hoped that the U.S. government's involvement "will expedite the process of getting him released."

"I just want him home so he can get the proper medical care he desperately needs and so that he can heal," Mrs Gambaryan said, adding, "He needs to be freed right now."

Chidirim Ndeche contributed to this report.

Edited by Stacy Elliott.

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Lawmakers Urge US to Treat Binance Exec Detained in Nigeria as Hostage - Decrypt

Customers can enjoy a scavenger hunt, discounts of up to 52% off, and a chance to win a trip to Niagara Falls

LAKEWOOD, Colo., July 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Natural Grocers, the largest family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the U.S., invites customers to its "Splash into Savings" event, July 11 13, 2024. In addition to special summertime savings on select products, customers can take part in the Splash Buddy Scavenger Hunt on July 13. The company is also offering more savings and incentives throughout the month including a "Spend & Win" Sweepstakes for {N}power members, where one lucky winner will win a trip to Niagara Falls!

SPLASH INTO SUMMER SAVINGS WITH NATURAL GROCERS

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Members of {N}power, Natural Grocers' free loyalty program, will have access to additional rewards, sweepstakes and meal deals throughout the month, including:

To join {N}power, visit http://www.naturalgrocers.com/join.

RECIPES & EDUCATION FROM NATURAL GROCERS

Known as America's Nutrition Education ExpertsSM, top chefs and nutrition consultants from Natural Grocers have provided a selection of seasonal good4u recipes and educational content to spark your meal-prep creativity and stay Rooted in HealthSM.

Keep up on the latest that Natural Grocers has to offer this summer by visiting http://www.naturalgrocers.com or follow Natural Grocers on Natural Grocers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

ABOUT NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGEFounded in 1955, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE:NGVC) is an expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries, body care products, and dietary supplements. The products sold by Natural Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only USDA-certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised, non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, clean, and convenient retail environment. The Company also provides extensive free science-based Nutrition Education programs to help customers and Crew make informed health and nutrition choices. Natural Grocers is committed to its5 Founding Principlesincluding its "Commitment to Community" and "Commitment to Crew".In fiscal year 2023, the Company invested$15 millionin incremental compensation and discretionary payments for Crew.Headquartered in the Union Square neighborhood ofLakewood, CO, Natural Grocers has 168 stores in 21 states. Visitwww.naturalgrocers.comfor more information and store locations.

[i] Offers are redeemable only for in-store customer purchases at participating Natural Grocers stores from 07/11/24 07/13/24. Any stated discounts are on regular prices and cannot be combined with other offers. Quantity limited to stock on hand; no rain checks. Pricing excludes taxes and is subject to change without notice. Natural Grocers reserves the right to correct errors. Void where prohibited by law.

[ii] NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Void where prohibited by law. Contest starts at all stores on 7/13/2024 at 11:00 a.m. local time. 10 prizes will be awarded at each store upon finding an animal splash buddy, including nine $10 gift cards and one $50 gift card. Limit one gift card prize per winner. Crew and members of their households are not eligible.

[iii]Unless otherwise noted, offers are available only from 06/28/24 to 07/27/24 and are redeemable only for in-store customer purchases at participating stores. Quantity limited to stock on hand, no rainchecks. Unless otherwise noted, all discounts are on regular prices, cannot be redeemed for store credit or cash and cannot be combined with other offers. Pricing excludes taxes and is subject to change without notice. Natural Grocers reservesthe right to correct errors. Void where prohibited by law.

[iv] Offer valid only from July 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024 ("Offer Period"). To receive an {N}power BINGO reward, you must purchase items from Natural Grocers stores that meet the stated requirements in five consecutive BINGO squares (a "BINGO line"). Complete at least five (5) BINGO squares during the Offer Period to receive one of the following {N}power rewards: Complete one (1) BINGO lineto receive a $5 reward; complete four (4) to nine (9) BINGO lines to receive a $10 reward; and complete a full BINGO board (all squares) to receive a $15 reward. The maximum reward amount under this promotion is $15. No more than one (1) reward will be applied. Reward may not be redeemed for gift cards, store credit or cash. Unless stated otherwise, minimum purchase requirement set forth in a BINGO square will be met when cumulative, in-store purchases of qualifying items during Offer Period, exclusive of sales tax, exceed the minimum amount (in Natural Grocers' sole discretion). Earned rewards will be autoloaded to {N}power account by August 1, 2024. Instacart purchases do not qualify for this promotion. Use phone number at checkout for purchases to qualify. Progress may be viewed on{N}power dashboardorNatural Grocers Mobile App.

[v] NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Open only to legal residents, 18 years or older, of the following states: AZ, AR, CO, ID, IA, KS, LA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA and WY. Must be an {N}power member to enter. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes starts on7/1/2024and ends on 7/31/2024. One winner per store will receive a$50gift card, equal to approximately the value of one cooler bag and drinks. Grand prize winner will receive a trip to Niagara Falls or$2,500in cash, at sponsor's sole discretion. For Official Rules and complete details, including alternative method of entry, visit:www.naturalgrocers.com/sweepstakes. Sponsor: Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc.

[vi] OFFER IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO REGISTERED {N}POWER MEMBERS. MUST ENTER PHONE NUMBER AT CHECKOUT TO REDEEM. Under price reflects 4 bagels, 4 eggs, 1/2 package of bacon or 2 avocados, and 4 slices of cheese. This offer ends September 30, 2024 and is redeemable only for in-store purchases at participating Natural Grocers stores. Pricing subject to change without notice. Quantity limited to stock on hand; no rain checks. Natural Grocers reserves the right to correct errors.

SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.

Original post:

Natural Grocers Celebrates Summer With 'Splash into Savings' Event: July 11 - 13, 2024 - PR Newswire

Could a three-day week be the routine of an average European with advanced quantum computing? We spoke with experts on the continent.

When Emma Mller, a 44-year-old German woman, wakes up each morning, she already has a detailed plan for her health status, dietary suggestions, and exercise recommendations to optimise her day.

She also works only three days a week, thanks to her high productivity levels.

Will we ever live Mllers idyllic life? Is this the promised heaven of a future foretold by advanced quantum computing? When will it happen? Will it be our generation or the ones to come?

For now, it remains pure science fiction, speculation rooted in the promise of advanced quantum technology.

What is real is that IBM's first European Quantum Data Centre is expected to be operational in Ehningen, Germany, by the end of 2024.

"Europe has some of the world's most advanced users of quantum computers," said Jay Gambetta, Vice President of IBM Quantum.

Euronews Tech Talks has interviewed quantum computing experts across the continent to provide a current perspective.

Frank William Marshall, a theoretical physicist at the cultural center of Munich and a leader at the European Quantum Technology Flagship, oversees projects developing quantum computing hardware systems.

He says strong development is happening in superconducting platforms in Delft (Netherlands), Munich and Jlich (Germany), Gothenburg (Sweden), and Helsinki (Finland).

Javier Aizpurua, the Scientific Director of Basque Quantum, notes that IBM will deploy its sixth quantum computer in the world next year in the Basque Country, in northern Spain".

The Basque ecosystem is characterized by strong, fundamental research in materials science, physics, chemistry, and materials engineering.

This foundation was crucial when exploring the potential of deploying a quantum computer to aid in computing and designing these materials, physical processes, and chemical compounds".

Ignacio Cirac, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, said "there are many expectations surrounding quantum computation in the media and industry.

"However, it's very difficult to turn these expectations into reality," he added. "It's crucial that people have the patience to wait for these developments to materialise".

Original post:

Could 3-day workweeks be possible thanks to advanced quantum computing? - Euronews

Ethan Graber of Barr-Reeve High School was announced as the recipient of the Phil Gardner Mental Attitude Award for Class 1A Baseball.

The award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals who best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability and is nominated by their principal and coach.

Academically, Graber graduated with a 4.15 GPA, an Academic Honors Diploma, and a Technical Honors Diploma. He has secured certifications as a Clinical Medical Assistant and Dementia Care and he looks to go into the health care field. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, First Mennonite Youth Group, and ventured to Mexico on a mission trip to help build homes in 2022. He is pictured with his parents, Brent and Cheryl.

See the rest here:
Graber wins Mental Attitude Award | | washtimesherald.com - Washington Times Herald

ByZarafshan Shiraz, New Delhi

The International Day of Yoga or World Yoga Day is observed on June 21, every year, to raise awareness about the numerous benefits of practicing Yoga and encourage people around the world to adopt a healthier lifestyle. It serves as a reminder of the importance of physical and mental well-being and highlights the role of Yoga in achieving that balance.

On this day, various events, workshops and yoga sessions are organised worldwide, which aim to promote Yoga as a means to enhance physical fitness, relieve stress, improve mental health and foster a sense of peace and unity among individuals. The International Day of Yoga has witnessed widespread participation and support from people worldwide and has become a platform for promoting the practice of Yoga, raising awareness about its benefits and fostering a sense of unity and well-being among individuals across borders and cultures.

It has become an opportunity for people from diverse cultures and backgrounds to come together and embrace the practice of Yoga as a unifying force. Though the International Day of Yoga is observed on June 21 every year, Yoga is practiced and celebrated throughout the year by millions of people worldwide and as we mark the annual celebrations this Friday, here are some of the best SMS, images, WhatsApp messages, quotes, wishes and Facebook status to wish family and friends a Happy International Yoga Day:

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.

Read more here:
Happy International Yoga Day 2024: 25 best SMS, images, WhatsApp messages, quotes, wishes, Facebook status to share - Hindustan Times