28-Year-Old Dutch Woman to Legally End Her Life in May. Her Story

AMSTERDAM, April 4: A Dutch woman has decided to legally end her life citing her struggles with crippling depression and autism, according to a report.

Zoraya ter Beek, a 28-year-old physically healthy, who lives in a small village in the Netherlands near the German border, is slated to be euthanised in May, according to the New York Post (NYP).

Euthanisation refers to the act of intentionally ending the life of a person or animal to relieve suffering, typically in the context of terminal illness or severe injury. It is often performed by administering drugs or other means to induce a painless death.

Ter Beek, who does not have much family, has grappled with mental health challenges throughout her lifetime. She has decided to end her life, despite being in love with her 40-year-old boyfriend and living with two cats.

The Dutch woman said she decided to be euthanised after her doctors told her nothing more could be done to improve her condition. “I was always very clear that if it doesn’t get better, I can’t do this anymore,” NYP quoted ter Beek as saying.

Ter Beek, who earlier aimed to become a psychiatrist, is just one of the growing number of people in the West who have decided to die rather than continue living in pain.

Several countries have legalised euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in some form, but the issue remains contentious and is debated by both legal and philosophical luminaries. Some of these nations include the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, Switzerland, Germany, and parts of the US.

Notably, the Netherlands was the first country to legalise assisted suicide in 2001. Fast forward to 2022, Dutch media reported 8,720 euthanasia deaths, around 5 percent of all deaths, up from 4 percent the previous year. In February, former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt and his wife died together by euthanasia.

Ter Beek plans to be cremated after she’s euthanised on the couch in her living room. Reports said a doctor will first give her a sedative, followed by a drug that will stop her heart. Ter Beek’s boyfriend will be at her side until the end but there will not be a funeral.

“The doctor really takes her time. It is not that they walk in and say, ‘Lay down, please!’ Most of the time it is first a cup of coffee to settle the nerves and create a soft atmosphere,” she said.

“Then she asks if I am ready. I will take my place on the couch. She will once again ask if I am sure, and she will start up the procedure and wish me a good journey. Or, in my case, a nice nap, because I hate it if people say, ‘Safe journey.’ I’m not going anywhere.”

Ter Beek said her boyfriend will scatter her ashes in “a nice spot in the woods” that they have picked out. “I’m a little afraid of dying, because it’s the ultimate unknown,” she said. “We don’t really know what’s next, or is there nothing? That’s the scary part.” Critics say that people like Ter Beek have been encouraged to kill themselves by the law, with many likening the suicide surge to a contagion, according to the Free Press.

'24 Million New Jobs By 2030': Explore Top 5 Climate Programmes To Pursue In UK

LONDON, April 4: Our planet currently faces a critical challenge due to climate change. Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and melting ice caps are some of the consequences.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activities, including burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, are the primary drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, which are major factors contributing to the worsening climate crisis.

Many countries aim to achieve "net zero" emissions by 2050 in response to this worsening situation. This requires a significant transformation in global economies and industries. Governments and businesses are racing to find ways to become more environmentally friendly.

Addressing this crisis requires a new generation of experts. The demand for climate professionals is witnessing a surge, with jobs for climate scientists, policy analysts, and sustainability consultants on the rise. An International Labour Organisation report suggests that tackling climate change could create 24 million new jobs globally by 2030.

The UK Parliament was the first in the world to declare a climate emergency, which shows the country's concern, making it an ideal place for aspiring climate professionals to study.

Universities in the UK offer a wide range of climate-focused programmes. These programmes go beyond theory, providing students with the practical skills they need to solve real-world problems.

The British Council has identified five master's programmes that align with the global demand for skilled climate professionals:

MSc in Climate Science, Policy, and Society: This programme explores the link between climate science, government policies, and their societal impacts. Students will learn about the science behind climate change, analyse climate policies, and understand their societal implications.

MSc in Climate Change, Sustainable Business, and Green Finance: This programme focuses on using finance to drive environmental solutions. Graduates will be prepared to lead sustainability efforts within businesses, balancing profit with environmental responsibility.

MRes in Climate and Atmospheric Science: This programme is designed for students interested in climate change research. Students will learn about the latest scientific methods for studying the atmosphere and climate, gaining experience in conducting their research. Graduates could work in research institutions, weather services, or environmental consulting firms.

MA in Environmental Futures with Climate Change: This programme explores broader environmental challenges alongside climate change. Students learn to understand complex environmental issues and develop solutions that consider multiple factors.

PG Diploma in Climate Change: This programme covers core aspects of climate science, mitigation strategies, and adaptation strategies. It is ideal for working professionals or those seeking a quicker entry into the field. Graduates acquire the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to climate change initiatives in various sectors.

What King Charles told Kate Middleton after learning about her cancer diagnosis

LONDON, Mar 24: Before Kate Middleton delivered a moving message on her cancer diagnosis to the world, King Charles met with his "beloved daughter-in-law", the Princess of Wales, on Thursday, in London. The meeting occurred as Kate wanted to know about the King's own struggles of battling cancer.

She met King Charles at a private lunch before the Princess of Wales made a bombshell announcement about her cancer diagnosis, the Mirror reported.

"It is highly unusual for just the two of them to sit down together like this. The King had already been made aware that the woman he calls ‘my beloved daughter-in-law’ had cancer. They would have had lots to discuss and share because just weeks earlier the King had begun his course of treatment and dealt with announcing his diagnosis," said a source from Windsor Castle.

The source added that King left his lunch feeling very emotional as they both share a very close bond and he thinks of Kate as his own daughter. "There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer battles.”

Meanwhile, Kate and Prince William have taken several weeks off from royal duties as the couple wants to spend most of their time with their three children George, Charlotte and Louis. However, Prince William is anticipated to return to his royal responsibilities following the Easter break.

On Friday, Kate broke her silence amidst widespread speculations about her health and announced that she is battling cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.

In January, she was hospitalised at London Clinic for over two weeks after undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Speaking boldly of “an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire home”, the mother of three described the terrible moment when she and William considered disclosing the news to their kids.

While Kate did not disclose what type of cancer she is battling with, she informed that she has started the course of "preventive chemotherapy" in February.

According to Kensington Palace, Kate maintains a "positive mindset for her recovery" and she's currently in "good spirits". She claimed to have told her kids that she is "well and getting stronger every day".

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Princess of Wales wrote the touching statement to the nation on her own in a very short span of time as he wanted to strike the correct tone of comfort for concerned royal supporters.

Citing a Royal Family friend, the Sunday Times reported Kate penned down the speech "very quickly" and she thought that a video message would be more reassuring than a written statement.

Finland Is World's Happiest Country For 7th Time Straight, India Stands At 126

NEW YORK, Mar 20: India was ranked 126th out of 143 nations in a global happiness index released on Wednesday which noted that older age is associated with higher life satisfaction in the world's most populous country.

Finland emerged as the happiest country in the world, topping the World Happiness Report 2024, the seventh successive year that the country has occupied the top spot on the list.

The other of the top 10 countries are Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia.

India is ranked 126th on the list, behind countries such as Libya, Iraq, Palestine and Niger, according to the findings announced on Wednesday to mark the UN's International Day of Happiness.

The World Happiness Report is a partnership of Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the WHR's Editorial Board.

The young in India are the "happiest" while those in "lower middle" rung are the least happy.

The US (23rd) has fallen out of the top 20 for the first time since the World Happiness Report was first published in 2012, driven by a large drop in the well-being of Americans under 30.

Afghanistan remains bottom of the overall rankings as the world's 'unhappiest' nation. Pakistan is ranked 108th on the list.

The report said that older age is associated with higher life satisfaction in India, "refuting some claims that the positive association between age and life satisfaction only exists in high-income nations."

On average, older men in India are more satisfied with life than older women "but when taking all other measures into account, older women report higher life satisfaction than their male counterparts," it said.

In India, older adults with secondary or higher education and those of higher social castes report higher life satisfaction than counterparts without formal education and those from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

"India's older population is the second largest worldwide, with 140 million Indians aged 60 and over, second only to its 250 million Chinese counterparts. Additionally, the average growth rate for Indians aged 60 and above is three times higher than the overall population growth rate of the country," the report said.

Satisfaction with living arrangements, perceived discrimination, and self-rated health emerge as the top three predictors of life satisfaction for India in this study, the report said.

"We found that older men, those in the higher age groups, currently married, and those who were educated, report higher life satisfaction compared to their respective peers. Lower satisfaction with living arrangements, perceived discrimination, and poor self-rated health were important factors associated with low life satisfaction among older Indians," it said.

The findings of this study indicate that strengthening family networks to ensure a comfortable living arrangement for older adults, men, widowed, and those without formal education in particular, and bolstering social networks to reduce discrimination may enhance well-being in older age, it noted.

The report added that Serbia (37th) and Bulgaria (81st) have had the biggest increases in average life evaluation scores since they were first measured by the Gallup World Poll in 2013.

The next two countries showing the largest increases in life evaluations are Latvia (46th) and Congo (Brazzaville) (89th), with rank increases of 44 and 40 places, respectively, between 2013 and 2024.

For the first time, the report gives separate rankings by age group, in many cases varying widely from the overall rankings. Lithuania tops the list for children and young people under 30, while Denmark is the world's happiest nation for those 60 and older.