Latest news with #healthministry
Telegraph
20 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
French told to take more naps... but also work more
France has called for the mass adoption of the siesta just days after its prime minister said people must work more to avoid the country going into bankruptcy. The French are envied the world over – and sometimes chided – for their right to long holidays, a 35-hour working week and the ' right to disconnect ' from office-related communication, now a law. Yet despite such measures to ensure a healthy work-life balance, the French are not getting enough sleep at night and should thus take more naps in the day, France's health ministry has insisted. This week, it launched a 25-point 'roadmap for quality sleep' whose centrepiece is promoting the siesta both in schools and in the workplace. 'I am very much in favour of napping, whether at work or at school,' said Yannick Neuder, the French health minister, who unveiled the plan on Tuesday. While stopping short of issuing siesta decrees, the minister said he would push employers to set up break areas or quiet zones to encourage 15 to 20-minute power naps in a drive to improve concentration, reduce stress and limit the risk of accidents. That includes a 'quiet label', which identifies areas in schools, libraries, businesses, shops and restaurants that 'promote well-being, relaxation and even naps'. 'Studies have shown that French people's sleep has decreased by 1.5 hours in 50 years and that almost 50 per cent of French people complain of poor sleep quality,' said Mr Neuder while presenting his plan. 'And we know that poor sleep has an impact on health, both mental health – more stress, depression, etc – and physical health, with more obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease,' he added. The average French adult sleeps seven hours a night, and one in five sleeps less than six hours. Cited causes include excessive screen time, irregular lifestyles, noise, poor housing and the aftermath of Covid. 'Quiet time' The plan will also target schools where 30 per cent of children and 70 per cent of teenagers sleep less than the recommended amount, according to studies cited by the ministry. Without shaking up school timetables, it encourages teaching staff to incorporate 'quiet time tailored to pupils' biological needs'. But the call for more siestas comes just days after the prime minister François Bayrou appealed to the French to end decades of denial and accept that ' the French do not work enough '. In particular, Mr Bayrou, the centrist at the head of the minority government since December, declared war on malingering as part of his drive to 'reconcile the French with work' and salvage the country's debt-ridden state coffers. The French absentee level is one of Europe's highest and about double that of Britain and the United States. The cost is estimated at up to €80 billion, more than the state education budget. France has fewer people working than its neighbours and spends the most on benefits, 'yet the French are increasingly dissatisfied with their public services and we are the most pessimistic country in the world', Mr Bayrou said in a speech presenting his cost-cutting package last week. Inspectors found that half of all people on long-term medical leave of 18 months lacked justification, the prime minister said. France has seen a 40 per cent rise in absenteeism over the past five years in the private sector, with almost 6 per cent of employees off sick at any time. The figures are even higher for the state sector, which accounts for more than 20 per cent of the workforce and saw a 79 per cent rise in public servant sick leave between 2014 and 2022. The prime minister's austerity plans, which include scrapping two public holidays, prompted outrage from opposition parties across the political divide, and polls suggest that 60 per cent of the public oppose them.
CNA
3 days ago
- Health
- CNA
Israel sends tanks into Gaza's Deir Al-Balah, raising concerns among hostages' families
CAIRO: Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern districts of the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday (Jul 21), an area where Israeli sources said the military believes some of the remaining hostages may be held. The area is packed with Palestinians displaced during more than 21 months of war in Gaza, hundreds of whom fled west or south after Israel issued an evacuation order, saying it sought to destroy Hamas capabilities and infrastructure. Tank shelling in the area hit houses and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and wounding several others, local medics said. To the south in Khan Younis, an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people, including a husband and wife and their two children in a tent, medics said. In its daily update, Gaza's health ministry said at least 130 Palestinians had been killed and more than 1,000 wounded by Israeli gunfire and military strikes across the territory in the past 24 hours, one of the highest such totals in recent weeks. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis incidents. Israeli sources have said the reason the army has so far stayed out of the Deir al-Balah districts is because they suspect Hamas might be holding hostages there. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in captivity in Gaza are believed to be still alive. Families of the hostages have expressed concern for their relatives and demanded an explanation from the army of how it would protect them. Gaza health officials have meanwhile warned of potential "mass deaths" in the coming days due to worsening hunger, which has killed at least 19 people since Saturday, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. HUNGER Health officials say hospitals have been running out of fuel, food aid, and medicine, risking a halt to vital operations. Health ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran said medical staff have been depending on one meal a day, and that hundreds of people flock to hospitals every day, suffering from fatigue and exhaustion because of hunger. In southern Gaza, the health ministry said an Israeli undercover unit had detained Marwan Al-Hams, head of Gaza's field hospitals, on Monday in a raid that killed a local journalist and wounded another outside a field medical facility run by the International Committee of the Red Cross. An ICRC spokesperson said the ICRC had admitted and treated patients injured in the incident but would not comment further on their status in order to protect their privacy. It said it was "very concerned about the safety and security" around the field hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel has raided and attacked hospitals across Gaza during the war, accusing Hamas of using them for military purposes, an accusation the group denies. Sending undercover forces to carry out arrests has been rare. The incursion into Deir al-Balah and escalating number of deaths appeared to be complicating the latest push for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with US backing. A Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday that the militant group was angered over the mounting death toll and the hunger crisis, and that this could affect the talks on a 60-day truce and hostage deal. AID WAITING UNRWA, the UN refugee agency dedicated to Palestinians, said in a post on X on Monday that it was receiving desperate messages from Gaza warning of starvation, including from its own staff as food prices have increased 40-fold. "Meanwhile, just outside Gaza, stockpiled in warehouses UNRWA has enough food for the entire population for over three months. Lift the siege and let aid in safely and at scale," it said. On Sunday, the health ministry said at least 67 people were killed by Israeli fire as they waited for UN aid trucks to enter Gaza, after saying at least 36 aid seekers were killed a day earlier Israel's military said its troops had fired warning shots to remove what it said was "an immediate threat." It said initial findings suggested reported casualty figures were inflated. Israel's military also said it "views the transfer of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as a matter of utmost importance, and works to enable and facilitate its entry in coordination with the international community". The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
Israel launches ground assault in Gaza's Deir Al-Balah for the first time
Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern areas of the Gazan city of Deir Al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area where Israeli sources said the military believes some of the remaining hostages may be being held. The raid and bombardment pushed dozens of families who had remained to flee and head west towards the coastal area of Deir Al-Balah and nearby Khan Younis. In Khan Younis, earlier on Monday, an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people, including a man, his wife, and their two children, in a tent, medics said. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis incidents. Israel's military said it had not entered the districts of Deir Al-Balah subject to the evacuation order during the current conflict and that it was continuing "to operate with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area." Israeli sources have said the reason the army has so far stayed out is that they suspect Hamas might be holding hostages there. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in captivity in Gaza are believed to be still alive. Families of the hostages expressed their concern for their relatives and demanded an explanation from the army of how it would protect them. The military escalation comes as Gaza health officials warned of potential "mass deaths" in the coming days due to mounting hunger, which has killed at least 19 people since Saturday, according to the territory's health ministry. Health officials said hospitals were running out of fuel, food aid, and medicine, risking a halt to vital operations. Israel's military said its troops had fired warning shots towards a crowd of thousands of people in northern Gaza to remove what it said was "an immediate threat." It said initial findings suggested reported casualty figures were inflated, and it "certainly does not intentionally target humanitarian aid trucks." The new raid and escalating number of fatalities appeared to be complicating ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel that are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with US backing. UNRWA, the UN refugee agency dedicated to Palestinians, said in a post on X on Monday, it was receiving desperate messages from Gaza warning of starvation, including from its own staff as food prices have increased 40-fold. "Meanwhile, just outside Gaza, stockpiled in warehouses, UNRWA has enough food for the entire population for over three months. Lift the siege and let aid in safely and at scale," it said. Israel's military said on Sunday that it "views the transfer of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as a matter of utmost importance, and works to enable and facilitate its entry in coordination with the international community."
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Palestinians queuing for aid in Gaza describe terrifying moment soldiers opened fire, killing 73
Palestinians queuing for aid in Gaza describe terrifying moment soldiers opened fire, killing at least 73 people. The victims were killed while attempting to access aid at locations across Gaza on Sunday (20 July), the health ministry in the Palestinian territory said. Witness Al-Zein said: "We were waiting for flour because of hunger. We wanted to eat and drink. Suddenly the tanks came out, surrounding us. They started shooting at us and we were unable to move. We could not get the flour and we remained surrounded for about an hour and a half to two hours. Some escaped, some were killed and others were injured.'
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
2 boys drown after falling into drain in Shah Alam
The boys were found unconscious and were later confirmed dead by health ministry officials. (Selangor fire and rescue department pic) PETALING JAYA : Two boys were found drowned after they fell into a drain in Section 24, Shah Alam, today. The Selangor fire and rescue department said the boys, aged nine and 12 were found unconscious and were later confirmed dead by health ministry officials. Six personnel from the Shah Alam fire and rescue station were dispatched to the scene after it received an emergency call at 7.19pm. The search and rescue operation took about 30 minutes before both children were located. Their bodies were handed over to the police for further investigation.
