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Life Insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a sum of money to the beneficiary when the insured person dies or after a pre-determined period in exchange for the premiums paid by policyholder. In life insurance policy you need to pay premiums for a specified policy term and life insurance company provides you with a comprehensive life cover, in return. Life Insurance protects future of your loved by paying a lump sum amount referred to as death benefit if an unfortunate event occurs. Some life insurance policies provide you a Maturity Benefit after the end of the policy term. Lack of awareness is one of the major impediments for widespread adoption of life insurance. The availability of different types of insurance products also confuses some people. But most life insurance policies function in a similar manner. Let us understand what is life insurance and how does it work. Life Insurance Policy Meaning Life insurance ...

There are a lot of elements to think about when it comes to home security systems and that includes how the security system could benefit you and your family. Here are a few reasons how that is true. 1. Protects valuables This is, of course, the benefit most people immediately think of. We likely all know someone who has lost electronics, jewelry, or other high-value items due to a home invasion. The tragedy is compounded when the item is an irreplaceable family heirloom. While using a home safe can help protect irreplaceable items, a home security system has an alarm that can scare off many would-be burglars and can notify the local authorities if someone does attempt a break-in. 2. Deters crime A 2009 study by ­­­­­Rutgers found that, as the number of home security systems increased in an area, the number of residential robberies decreased in that area, even for people who didn’t have their own security system. Having a security system not only protects you, but helps deter crime and...

In 1987, several countries agreed to ban or phase down the use of more than 100 ozone-depleting chemicals that had caused a “hole” in the layer above Antarctica. The depletion is mainly attributed to the use of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which were common in aerosol sprays, solvents and refrigerants. That ban, agreed under the Montreal Protocol, is widely considered to have been effective in aiding the ozone layer’s recovery. But the hole, which grows over the Antarctic during spring before shrinking again in the summer, reached record sizes in 2020 to 2022, prompting scientists in New Zealand to investigate why. “This means that the hole has not only remained large in area, but it has also become deeper [i.e. has less ozone] throughout most of Antarctic spring,” said Hannah Kessenich, a PhD Student at the University of Otago and lead author of the study. “The especially long-lived ozone holes during 2020-2022 fit squarely into this picture, as the size/depth of the hole during Octo...

  The basic design of commercial airplanes hasn’t changed much in the past 60 years. Modern airliners like the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 have the same general shape as the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8, which were built in the late 1950s and solidified the “tube and wing” form factor that is still in use today. This is because commercial aviation prioritizes safety, favoring tried-and-tested solutions, and because other developments — in materials and engines, for example — mean the traditional design is still relevant. However, as the industry desperately looks for ways to reduce carbon emissions, it faces a somewhat tougher challenge than other sectors precisely because its core technologies have proven so hard to move away from. The time might be ripe to try something new. One proposal is the “blended wing body.” This entirely new aircraft shape looks similar to the “flying wing” design used by military aircraft such as the iconic B-2 bomber, but the blended wing has more...

On October 29, my family gathered in a friend’s home in Khan Younis, Gaza, to wish my nephew, Hashem, a happy 12th birthday. The six of us had been staying there for days, seeking refuge from Israeli airstrikes that have pounded our neighborhood in Gaza City for more than three weeks, causing widespread death and destruction. Our mood was solemn, but we decided to celebrate anyway. Birthdays are special, especially for children, and given everything they’ve witnessed and endured, we felt it was only right to affirm life. Together, we prepared a simple yet heartfelt party. Women in the home made a basic pineapple cake that required few ingredients and no refrigeration, as food and electricity are scarce. Popcorn, a cherished delight for children, added an extra touch of joy to the occasion. We wore smiles, yet they were accompanied by a sense of timidity. When the time came to celebrate, all 17 of us crammed around the kitchen table, lit a candle, and sang “Happy Birthday, Hashem” – but...

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday for the second consecutive meeting, leaving the central bank’s benchmark lending rate at its highest level in 22 years. Economists and financial markets had expected the pause in the Fed’s aggressive rate-hiking campaign, after several Fed officials signaled they anticipate a further slowing of the US economy as it continues to absorb the effects of higher borrowing costs. The Fed’s post-meeting statement noted that “economic activity expanded at a strong pace in the third quarter” — a recent development that has puzzled some economists. Despite the Fed aggressively raising interest rates 11 times since March 2022 in a bid to combat inflation, the US economy has not only avoided a recession so far, but instead expanded at a blistering 4.9% annualized rate in the third quarter, mostly due to solid consumer spending. The importance of bond yields The economy’s surprising resilience is one reason behind the recent run-up in bond yie...

The travel publishing empire turns 50 this year, and its bumper Best in Travel 2024 list is expanded across five categories: top countries, regions, cities, sustainable travel destinations and best-value locations. The No.1 country is Mongolia, chosen by Lonely Planet for its “wide-open spaces, adventure activities, and distinctive culinary and musical culture.” This is the world’s most sparsely populated country and the Mongolian government is ready to start filling it up a little. This year it declared 2023 through 2025 the “Years to Visit Mongolia,” easing entry conditions for international travelers and improving infrastructure, not least with a new $650 million airport. Other countries to make the 10 top picks include popular favorites such as Mexico, Croatia and St. Lucia, as well as lesser visited spots such as Benin and Uzbekistan. City Destinations The top city on Lonely Planet list is Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, which the travel giant loves for its “unique rhythms, impressiv...

Autonomous driving technology has come a long way. In recent years, the automotive tech industry has made significant enhancements to the capability and reliability of sensors, cameras, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, driving road transport toward higher levels on the autonomous driving spectrum, as defined by the SAE’s Levels of Driving Automation. This spectrum has become an internationally recognized classification for automated driving systems. Its six levels can be divided into two broad categories: driver support systems from L0 to L2 (shown in blue), and automated driving systems from L3 to L5 (shown in green). For the past several years, industry players have been working to make the jump from L2 to L3. From Level 2 to Level 3 Autonomous Driving, a Legal Matter Clearly, the leap from L2 to L3 is the most significant leap on the spectrum. Whereas L2 is considered as advanced driver support features, L3 marks the beginning of conditional autonomous driving, where d...

  The transition started a few years ago, out of necessity. After peering beneath my bed to retrieve a fallen item, I was horrified to discover a thick coating of dust on the floor. My old-school corded upright vacuum was too bulky to fit all the way under, so I picked up a robot vacuum to handle the dirty work for me. Then I got a dog, which led to the purchase of a smart air purifier to help combat allergies and asthma, and a pet camera to keep an eye on my fur baby (and my home) from my phone, 24/7. Since then, I've been reviewing smart home gadgets for PCMag and my little Florida beach bungalow has transformed into a test bed for the latest home tech, growing smarter by the week. Now I walk into the bedroom and tell Google Assistant to turn on the lights. I ask Alexa to reorder protein powder and dog food and it arrives on my doorstep two days later. I adjust my thermostat via an app on my phone from the comfort of my bed. I receive severe weather warnings and recipe ideas on t...

The first half of 2023 saw strong growth in the EV market, reflecting increasing EV popularity. Mainland China was by far the largest EV market, with 55% of global EV sales in H1 2023, a total of 3.4 million units. This represents 31% of all light vehicle shipments in the region, up from 15% in the full year 2021. “China’s growth rate in H1 2023 stood at 43%, a notable decrease from the extraordinary 118% seen in H1 2022. The end of Mainland China’s EV support scheme caused disruption, uncertainty, and a price war,” said Canalys Principal Analyst Jason Low. “While a huge choice of EVs is available in China, no single model has over 10% market share. BYD is the leading EV brand in China, but the Tesla-led price war has been challenging for smaller brands,” Low added.   Compared to overseas markets, China retains a crowded and highly competitive market, which is on the verge of consolidation and reshuffling. “Price wars have caused more automakers to focus on cost reduction, but...

This is the 38th year for our annual Fastest-Growing Companies list, which ranks companies based on growth in revenue, profits, and stock returns; this year’s edition tracks those metrics over the three years through June 2023. The companies featured are worth a combined $4 trillion in market capitalization and, on average, delivered an annual 42% return to shareholders over the past three years. That significantly outperformed the S&P 500 index’s 15% annual return to shareholders over the same period.  Industrials led all sectors with a 108% three-year average annual earnings growth rate. Alongside No. 2 Tesla, the No. 3 spot was also claimed by a Texas-based company from the industrial sector. McKinney-based electrical equipment company Encore Wire saw nearly $3 billion in revenue in the four quarters before April 2023. Chemical company Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) (No.4) is the sole South American company on this list, headquartered in Santiago, Chile. SQM generated more ...

  If you don't normally drink alcohol, there's no good reason to start now. In fact, health experts say there isn't a safe level of drinking alcohol, as alcohol use is the seventh leading risk factor for deaths globally, according to a landmark August 2018 study in ​The Lancet​. But if you like to kick back with a glass of wine or a cold beer every now and then, there are safer ways to drink — and the first step is to curb your intake. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people assigned female at birth (AFAB) limit their intake to one alcoholic drink per day and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) only have up to two drinks. What does that look like exactly? Here's a breakdown from the CDC: 12 ounces of beer (5 percent alcohol content) 8 ounces of malt liquor (7 percent alcohol content) 5 ounces of wine (12 percent alcohol content) 1.5 ounces or a shot of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor, such as gin, rum, vodka and whiskey One way to ap...

If you've found yourself wondering how to prepare your child for the first day of school, you wouldn't be alone. The first day of school doesn't have to be a time of stress and anxiety. With a bit of preparation, you and your child will be ready to start school with confidence, ease and excitement. 1. Visit the school with your child Prepare for the first day of school and get your child excited about learning with Reading Eggs. Explore hundreds of fun and exciting online reading activities and over 3500 e‑books to choose from.  Before the first day of school comes around. Find out if your school runs an open day or tours of the buildings. If not, you can drive past the school with your child or even walk through the grounds after checking in with the administration office. This is a great way to get your child excited about beginning their journey in a brand‑new place. To add some fun and spark your little one's imagination, you can get them to draw a picture of what t...

You've no doubt been dreaming about your newborn baby for months: what they'll look like, what they'll sound like, and even what they'll feel like. But no matter how much you've prepared, you'll likely welcome tips for taking care of a newborn—especially if it's your first child. Well, take heart. Lots of parents have been there, struggling to know how to care for their baby in those exciting but often challenging first weeks. If you're a new parent, keep reading our newborn baby care guide for advice on handling visitors, choosing clothing, navigating car seat safety, maintaining a feeding schedule, settling into a sleep routine, handling fevers, and more. Newborn Feeding No matter how you feed your baby, there are some things to remember. Below are tips for breastfeeding and formula feeding in the early weeks. Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Nursing may be a natural phenomenon, but it can prove challenging at first. These strategies will help if you cho...

Mother Nature wasn't modest with America, where her handiwork ranges from magical desert mesas to wooded river valleys to whisper-thin barrier islands. You might even say she was particularly heavy-handed when doling out American scenery. The natural beauty found across the 50 states is so vast and staggering, it's practically impossible to make sense of — though you can't say we didn't try. Here, our totally subjective, state-by-state list of the most beautiful places in the U.S. Alabama: Magnolia Springs Mail is delivered by boat — the last year-round river mail delivery in the country — in this small coastal village along the Magnolia River. Dating to the late 1700s, the town is named for its natural assets: gushing springs and a shady canopy of magnolia trees. Alaska: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Few states seize the popular imagination like Alaska. And at 13 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias (the largest national park in the U.S.) encompasses the o...

On Wednesday morning, 18 states from Texas to Connecticut were on alert for a freeze, including major cities such as Dallas, Atlanta, Raleigh, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. A lake effect snow warning was issued for northern Ohio and Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning, where some areas got up to 10 inches of snow. By Thursday morning, the core of the coldest air will move into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, with temperatures in the teens possible in northern New England, and temperatures in the 20s and 30s expected along the I-95 corridor. Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia could see its first freeze of the season, while New York City will be in the middle 30s. Temperatures in regions outside the Big Apple will see temperatures in the 20s. The first measurable snow of the season fell on Halloween for millions of people in the Midwest. Minneapolis saw nearly 3 inches of snow, marking the first white Halloween for the city since 1991, according to the NWS. Chicago got almost an inch...

President Joe Biden said Wednesday night he believes there should be a "pause" in the Israel-Gaza conflict to get the hostages out after he was interrupted by a heckler at a campaign fundraiser, according to a pool report from the event. “I think we need a pause," Biden told the heckler, who had interrupted a speech to call for a cease-fire in the conflict. The heckler asked what Biden meant by his comment and the president replied, "A pause means give time to get the [hostages] out. Give time." “I’m the guy that convinced Bibi to call for a cease-fire to let the [hostages] out. I’m the guy that talked to Sisi to convince him to open the door,” Biden said of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the latter remark seemingly a reference to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Biden’s comment Wednesday night is different from the position the White House has pushed since the conflict began: That they would not...