India, the world's largest democracy and second most populous nation had a huge challenge when Covid pandemic hit its shores. The sheer size and complexities within the country made it quite a task to battle the disease. There was no medicine, no vaccine available during initial months. Priyam Gandhi-Mody, in her book 'A Nation to Protect: Leading India through the Covid crisis', has described how India battled and emerged from the deadly crisis under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Efforts of all Indians created a compounding effect under a strong leadership that made tackling the pandemic possible.

The launch of 'A Nation to Protect' took place on February 18 at Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi. The book was launched by Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare along with Professor Shamika Ravi (Economist) and Dr VK Paul (member of NITI Aayog).

What followed was a discussion moderated by Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor In Chief&nbsp;of WION. The discussion saw Priyam Gandhi-Mody and the eminent panel discuss aspects of India's fight against the pandemic.

<img alt="Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor In Chief, WION (Photo: Manas Joshi)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6a0a021b-9ffb-46e0-81a4-d84cd9676d04" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sudhir%20Chaudhary.jpeg" />

Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor In Chief, WION (Photo: Manas Joshi)

"I was able look at the situation in top-down manner," said Priyam Gandhi-Mody as she talked about her book. When asked about her approach she said that she attempted to capture the Indian response to the pandemic from an outsider's perspective.

In her opening remarks, Gandhi-Mody noted that doomsday predictions were made about India worldover.

"It was said that because of India, global Covid response would take a hit," she said. She expressed displeasure at 'political partisanship' that was observed in Indian political arena just when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was leading the country out of the grips of the pandemic.

Sudhir Chaudhary noted that a section of media was trying to cash in on the frenzy to target the establishment.

"Do you think they did a disservice to the nation through their coverage?" asked Chaudhary.

"It is often said that 'sadness is sexy'. But how sexy is it if you are going to do it at the expense of your country?" replied Gandhi-Mody. "A section of political leaders and media made this into 'us versus them' battle"

Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya said he believed that 'A Nation to Protect' describes the reality as it unfolded during last two years.

"We have seen what happens when there is a true leadership with a vision," said Mandaviya referring to PM Modi.

<img alt="A nation to protect" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5d142129-f62a-4701-a99c-33a5dbda7ee8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220218_174928.jpg" />

Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya with author Priyam Gandhi-Modi (Photo: Manas Joshi)

"PM Modi is a very good listener," said Dr VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog.&nbsp;

"I am often surprised at his capacity to read extensively," said Prof Shamika Ravi, the economist who has been a member of Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister.

"So do you think Covid is man-made?" Sudhir Chaudhary asked Priyam Gandhi-Mody towards the end of the session. She said that she would like more information to come out.

'A Nation to Protect' has been published by Rupa Publications.

India, the world's largest democracy and second most populous nation had a huge challenge when Covid pandemic hit its shores. The sheer size and complexities within the country made it quite a task to battle the disease.

India, the world's largest democracy and second most populous nation had a huge challenge when Covid pandemic hit its shores. The sheer size and complexities within the country made it quite a task to battle the disease. There was no medicine, no vaccine available during initial months. Priyam Gandhi-Mody, in her book 'A Nation to Protect: Leading India through the Covid crisis', has described how India battled and emerged from the deadly crisis under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Efforts of all Indians created a compounding effect under a strong leadership that made tackling the pandemic possible. The launch of 'A Nation to Protect' took place on February 18 at Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi. The book was launched by Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare along with Professor Shamika Ravi (Economist) and Dr VK Paul (member of NITI Aayog). What followed was a discussion moderated by Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor In Chief of WION. The discussion saw Priyam Gandhi-Mody and the eminent panel discuss aspects of India's fight against the pandemic. Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor In Chief, WION (Photo: Manas Joshi) "I was able look at the situation in top-down manner," said Priyam Gandhi-Mody as she talked about her book. When asked about her approach she said that she attempted to capture the Indian response to the pandemic from an outsider's perspective. In her opening remarks, Gandhi-Mody noted that doomsday predictions were made about India worldover. "It was said that because of India, global Covid response would take a hit," she said. She expressed displeasure at 'political partisanship' that was observed in Indian political arena just when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was leading the country out of the grips of the pandemic. Sudhir Chaudhary noted that a section of media was trying to cash in on the frenzy to target the establishment. "Do you think they did a disservice to the nation through their coverage?" asked Chaudhary. "It is often said that 'sadness is sexy'. But how sexy is it if you are going to do it at the expense of your country?" replied Gandhi-Mody. "A section of political leaders and media made this into 'us versus them' battle" Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya said he believed that 'A Nation to Protect' describes the reality as it unfolded during last two years. "We have seen what happens when there is a true leadership with a vision," said Mandaviya referring to PM Modi. Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya with author Priyam Gandhi-Modi (Photo: Manas Joshi) "PM Modi is a very good listener," said Dr VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog. "I am often surprised at his capacity to read extensively," said Prof Shamika Ravi, the economist who has been a member of Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister. "So do you think Covid is man-made?" Sudhir Chaudhary asked Priyam Gandhi-Mody towards the end of the session. She said that she would like more information to come out. 'A Nation to Protect' has been published by Rupa Publications.

A Nation to Protect: Priyam Gandhi-Mody's book brings out India's fight against Covid

Several beached in Sydney were closed on Thursday (February 17) after a shark attack killed a swimmer. This is first such fatality at the city's beaches in nearly 60 years. The beaches that are closed include the iconic Bondi and Bronte.

Drum lines, which are used to bait sharks, have been set up near the attack site while drones have been deployed as officials search for if the shark is still in the area.

A video shared online showed a shark attacking a person on Wednesday afternoon. The shark attack took place off Little Bay beach about 20 km (12 miles) south of Australia's largest city and near the entrance to Botany Bay. Police have not yet disclosed the identity of the swimmer.

"This has been a complete shock for our community," Dylan Parker, the mayor of Randwick Council which includes Little Bay, told Reuters. "Our coastline is our backyard and to have a tragic death under such horrifying circumstances is completely shocking."

A charity ocean swim at a nearby beach scheduled for Sunday was cancelled out of respect for the victim and family. Organisers of the Murray Rose Malabar Magic Ocean Swim had considered postponing the swim till March, but said they decided to cancel it after consulting with the local council and lifesavers.

A spokesperson for the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries said its shark biologists believe that a white shark at least 3 metres (9.8 feet) in length was likely responsible for the attack. It was the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963, data showed.

Authorities have ordered people to remain out of the water on a hot summer day as temperatures hovered around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

"A few crazy surfers still go out and take the risk but most of us take notice and just stay out of the water until the sharks have gone. It's a lot more dangerous driving, to be quite honest," local resident Karen Romalis told Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)

Several beached in Sydney were closed on Thursday (February 17) after a shark attack killed a swimmer. This is first such fatality at the city's beaches in nearly 60 years.

Several beached in Sydney were closed on Thursday (February 17) after a shark attack killed a swimmer. This is first such fatality at the city's beaches in nearly 60 years. The beaches that are closed include the iconic Bondi and Bronte. Drum lines, which are used to bait sharks, have been set up near the attack site while drones have been deployed as officials search for if the shark is still in the area. A video shared online showed a shark attacking a person on Wednesday afternoon. The shark attack took place off Little Bay beach about 20 km (12 miles) south of Australia's largest city and near the entrance to Botany Bay. Police have not yet disclosed the identity of the swimmer. "This has been a complete shock for our community," Dylan Parker, the mayor of Randwick Council which includes Little Bay, told Reuters. "Our coastline is our backyard and to have a tragic death under such horrifying circumstances is completely shocking." A charity ocean swim at a nearby beach scheduled for Sunday was cancelled out of respect for the victim and family. Organisers of the Murray Rose Malabar Magic Ocean Swim had considered postponing the swim till March, but said they decided to cancel it after consulting with the local council and lifesavers. A spokesperson for the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries said its shark biologists believe that a white shark at least 3 metres (9.8 feet) in length was likely responsible for the attack. It was the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963, data showed. Authorities have ordered people to remain out of the water on a hot summer day as temperatures hovered around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). "A few crazy surfers still go out and take the risk but most of us take notice and just stay out of the water until the sharks have gone. It's a lot more dangerous driving, to be quite honest," local resident Karen Romalis told Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

Sydney beaches closed for public after fatal shark attack, first in 60 years

Scientists have discovered three new coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2 which, as it is being said, could represent a risk for human health. These scientists from National University of Laos and Institut Pasteur du Laos have published their findings in Nature magazine on Wednesday.

As per the paper that is published in Nature, these scientists have found that viruses named BANAL-103, BANAL-236 and BANAL-52 have genomic similarities to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that caused the global pandemic. The new coronaviruses show specific similarities in a “key domain of the spike protein that enables the virus to bind to host cells.”

Observations made by the scientists have led them to note that these three coronavirus are able to enter human cells by making use of the same receptor as SARS-CoV-2.

"The existence of these viruses discovered in the bat animal reservoir backs up the theory that SARS-CoV-2 may originate from bats living in the vast karst highlands in the Indochina peninsula, which stretches across Laos, Vietnam and China,” Head of the Pathogen Discovery laboratory at the Institut Pasteur Marc Eloit said, adding that the result suggested that “other related viruses could represent a risk for human health.” say the scientists in their paper.

Detection of the new coronaviruses in bats lends weight to the theory that the pandemic causing coronavirus had animal origins.

So does this mean that these new coronaviruses are going to spark a fresh pandemic wave across the world? Let's hope not. 
&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered three new coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2 which, as it is being said, could represent a risk for human health. These scientists from National University of Laos and Institut Pasteur du Laos have published their findings in Nature magazine on Wednesday.

Scientists have discovered three new coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2 which, as it is being said, could represent a risk for human health. These scientists from National University of Laos and Institut Pasteur du Laos have published their findings in Nature magazine on Wednesday. As per the paper that is published in Nature, these scientists have found that viruses named BANAL-103, BANAL-236 and BANAL-52 have genomic similarities to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that caused the global pandemic. The new coronaviruses show specific similarities in a “key domain of the spike protein that enables the virus to bind to host cells.” Observations made by the scientists have led them to note that these three coronavirus are able to enter human cells by making use of the same receptor as SARS-CoV-2. "The existence of these viruses discovered in the bat animal reservoir backs up the theory that SARS-CoV-2 may originate from bats living in the vast karst highlands in the Indochina peninsula, which stretches across Laos, Vietnam and China,” Head of the Pathogen Discovery laboratory at the Institut Pasteur Marc Eloit said, adding that the result suggested that “other related viruses could represent a risk for human health.” say the scientists in their paper. Detection of the new coronaviruses in bats lends weight to the theory that the pandemic causing coronavirus had animal origins. So does this mean that these new coronaviruses are going to spark a fresh pandemic wave across the world? Let's hope not.

Scientists find new coronaviruses in bats in Laos

High bonuses to already well-paid British bankers are creating a lot of negative buzz with at least one workers' union describing it as a 'kick in the teeth for everyone suffering with the cost of living crisis'. The top bankers will collect their fat bonuses this week.

As per figures stated by The Guardian, mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) bankers in London earned fees of USD 3.5 billion in the year 2021. These M&amp;As were triggered by corporate takeovers fuelled by money from American buyers. The money collected in fees will soon be given to the bankers in form of high bonuses.

Four big banks (HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest) are expected to award bonuses totalling more than GBP 4 billion. These banks are expected to announce their annual results in next fortnight.

Annual profits of these four banks combined are expected to exceed GBP 32 billion.

The workers' unions are not too happy with the situation, especially after governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey's appeal to workers across the country to not ask for pay hikes from&nbsp;employers. He said he made this appeal to keep inflation in check. Bailey himself was paid £575,538 last year.

“These sky-high banker bonuses are a kick in the teeth for everyone suffering with the cost of living crisis. I hope Andrew Bailey tells his banking mates to show the same ‘restraint’ he so readily demands from underpaid workers in the rest of the economy," said Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB union. He was quoted by The Guardian. The union represents 600,000 workers.

High bonuses to already well-paid British bankers are creating a lot of negative buzz with at least one workers' union describing it as a 'kick in the teeth for everyone suffering with the cost of living crisis'.

High bonuses to already well-paid British bankers are creating a lot of negative buzz with at least one workers' union describing it as a 'kick in the teeth for everyone suffering with the cost of living crisis'. The top bankers will collect their fat bonuses this week. As per figures stated by The Guardian, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) bankers in London earned fees of USD 3.5 billion in the year 2021. These M&As were triggered by corporate takeovers fuelled by money from American buyers. The money collected in fees will soon be given to the bankers in form of high bonuses. Four big banks (HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest) are expected to award bonuses totalling more than GBP 4 billion. These banks are expected to announce their annual results in next fortnight. Annual profits of these four banks combined are expected to exceed GBP 32 billion. The workers' unions are not too happy with the situation, especially after governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey's appeal to workers across the country to not ask for pay hikes from employers. He said he made this appeal to keep inflation in check. Bailey himself was paid £575,538 last year. “These sky-high banker bonuses are a kick in the teeth for everyone suffering with the cost of living crisis. I hope Andrew Bailey tells his banking mates to show the same ‘restraint’ he so readily demands from underpaid workers in the rest of the economy," said Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB union. He was quoted by The Guardian. The union represents 600,000 workers.

UK: High bonuses to top management in banking draws ire of unions

It is perhaps a scary thought for humankind to consider itself the only intelligent life sitting on this blue planet hurtling in space. Perhaps search for intelligent alien life has been a major preoccupation of scientific communities and even governments for decades. Projects after projects have not yielded any sign of aliens but relying on the statistical probability of there being intelligent life on at least one of billions of planets in space, we've pressed on with our search.

But a comprehensive sky scan has again met with disappointment as intelligent alien life was not found.

Detection of radio waves is one of the ways to search for alien life. By our scientific logic, a civilization achieves radio transmission early in its technological development.

The sky scan was carried out using Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Australia. The sensors to receive any radio signals were pointed at our galactic centre as it is the place within our galaxy with maximum concentration of stars and planets. So the probability of detecting intelligent alien life is higher.&nbsp;

Radio waves are also produced naturally by celestial bodies. So the sky scan looked for technosignatures. These are effects generated by use of technology by the alien civilization.

The scan was aimed at 144 exoplanetary systems but it also completed a blind scan of 3 million stars near the galactic centre. The researchers involved in the serach mentioned in their paper that no technosignature was detected.&nbsp;

But does this conclusively prove that there no alien life at all? No.

Non-detection of technosignatures in this particular sky scan does not mean that there are no more technosignatures to be detected. If not advanced, life may even exist on alien planets in the form of microbes. We are just yet to stumble upon a conclusive proof.

It is perhaps a scary thought for humankind to consider itself the only intelligent life sitting on this blue planet hurtling in space. Perhaps search for intelligent alien life has been a major preoccupation of scientific communities and even governments for decades.

It is perhaps a scary thought for humankind to consider itself the only intelligent life sitting on this blue planet hurtling in space. Perhaps search for intelligent alien life has been a major preoccupation of scientific communities and even governments for decades. Projects after projects have not yielded any sign of aliens but relying on the statistical probability of there being intelligent life on at least one of billions of planets in space, we've pressed on with our search. But a comprehensive sky scan has again met with disappointment as intelligent alien life was not found. Detection of radio waves is one of the ways to search for alien life. By our scientific logic, a civilization achieves radio transmission early in its technological development. The sky scan was carried out using Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Australia. The sensors to receive any radio signals were pointed at our galactic centre as it is the place within our galaxy with maximum concentration of stars and planets. So the probability of detecting intelligent alien life is higher. Radio waves are also produced naturally by celestial bodies. So the sky scan looked for technosignatures. These are effects generated by use of technology by the alien civilization. The scan was aimed at 144 exoplanetary systems but it also completed a blind scan of 3 million stars near the galactic centre. The researchers involved in the serach mentioned in their paper that no technosignature was detected. But does this conclusively prove that there no alien life at all? No. Non-detection of technosignatures in this particular sky scan does not mean that there are no more technosignatures to be detected. If not advanced, life may even exist on alien planets in the form of microbes. We are just yet to stumble upon a conclusive proof.

Scan of millions of stars finds no signs of intelligent alien life

A micrometeorite slammed into a satellite and caused an internet outage in Australia, it has been revealed. Internet services provided by NBN Co in Australia were affected. The seven-hour net outage took place in December last year.

On December 21 last year, nearly 40 per cent of the company's internet users in remote and regional parts of Australia 7 hours after 8:30 pm

Gavin Williams, chief development officer of NBN Co told Australian Senate on Tuesday that the company investigated cause of the internet outage and it was found that most likely cause was an impact due to a micrometeorite

“It cannot be 100% characterised as this but all the evidence points to a micrometeorite that impacted the satellite,” he said. “It effectively makes [the] satellite’s body rotate while it remains in its orbit. So the satellite is no longer pointing at the appropriate spot on Earth [and] the payload – the transmission system on that satellite – is effectively switched off for that period.”

Williams was quoted by The Guardian. He added that after micrometeorite impact, the satellite was able to recover. Most of the customers were able to gain access to internet within 7 hours but 573 customers went two weeks without internet.

Williams said that it took a while for the company to really figure out what was the problem in these 573 cases. When the issue was realised, Gavin said that the company was ready to call employees from leave to dispatch them to these 600 locations in rural Australia. However, the company reportedly was able to sort out the problem remotely.

A micrometeorite slammed into a satellite and caused an internet outage in Australia, it has been revealed. Internet services provided by NBN Co in Australia were affected.

A micrometeorite slammed into a satellite and caused an internet outage in Australia, it has been revealed. Internet services provided by NBN Co in Australia were affected. The seven-hour net outage took place in December last year. On December 21 last year, nearly 40 per cent of the company's internet users in remote and regional parts of Australia 7 hours after 8:30 pm Gavin Williams, chief development officer of NBN Co told Australian Senate on Tuesday that the company investigated cause of the internet outage and it was found that most likely cause was an impact due to a micrometeorite “It cannot be 100% characterised as this but all the evidence points to a micrometeorite that impacted the satellite,” he said. “It effectively makes [the] satellite’s body rotate while it remains in its orbit. So the satellite is no longer pointing at the appropriate spot on Earth [and] the payload – the transmission system on that satellite – is effectively switched off for that period.” Williams was quoted by The Guardian. He added that after micrometeorite impact, the satellite was able to recover. Most of the customers were able to gain access to internet within 7 hours but 573 customers went two weeks without internet. Williams said that it took a while for the company to really figure out what was the problem in these 573 cases. When the issue was realised, Gavin said that the company was ready to call employees from leave to dispatch them to these 600 locations in rural Australia. However, the company reportedly was able to sort out the problem remotely.

Micrometeorite slam to satellite caused internet outage in Australia

A quarter century ago I was walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrim route. Two weeks into my 500-mile hike I was anxious, lonely and miserable. Each day was worse than the one before. I felt like a failure and a weakling.

One afternoon while walking through a parched field of cut wheat in the high plateau under blistering sun, I dropped to my knees and began to sob. My tears had caught me unaware and were unstoppable. I cursed whatever God I half believed in and demanded answers for why I felt so alone, so frail, so incomplete. I cried myself out, got to my feet and trudged on, six hours to the next village. I found a bed and fell into dreamless sleep.

The next morning I was back on the trail. Shuffling along, I couldn’t shake the feeling I had forgotten something. I stopped and checked my pack. Twice. Nothing was out of place or missing. An hour later I was taking a break beside a barn, snacking on a wedge of cheese and a hunk of stale bread. As I went to hoist my pack and soldier on, I became aware of hearing birds call, distinct and clear. I noticed how crisp the colors around me appeared, the burnt umber of the earth, the high red of a nearby tractor. The few puffy clouds overhead appeared to morph and shift in a way that felt almost preordained. The sensation was one of being wide-awake. Then it dawned on me — what I had “forgotten,” what I didn’t have, what I was missing. It was fear.

As we enter our third calendar year under the cloud of Covid, I have been thinking a lot about fear, its destabilizing, paralyzing hunger — and about travel and how we need its transformative power more than ever. Despite the slogans early in the pandemic that “we’re all in this together,” so many of the people I know have felt so alone, so isolated, so trapped, and yes, so afraid.

Fear seems to be the one commonality of the pandemic. And no one I know reacts well under sustained exposure to fear. Not all my fearful decisions have been bad, but nearly all my bad decisions have been made from a place of fear.

It strikes me now as strange that I had not been aware of fear’s presence in my life until that moment of its first absence. But anxieties born in childhood had become such a part of my rhythm that they were accepted without thought. Beside the barn I suddenly felt myself fully, without need to justify my being. It was a feeling like none I had known. I was, for the moment at least, free. Finally, I thought, here I am. And I wanted more of it.

Since I had experienced this sensation while on the road, it naturally followed — my reasoning went — that by traveling more I could build on this moment. In the void created by the absence of so much fear, feelings of joy and generosity rushed in, which led to connection with others and the world at large. I traveled to Asia and Africa, throughout Europe and South America. I met people who seemed so different, yet on closer inspection shared the same feelings I did. The farther from home I got, the more at home in myself I grew.

As variants spike and recede, it seems that Covid, in one form or another, will remain with us. Fear needs to be mitigated. And fear is a cunning and dangerous foe, a subtle and corrosive taskmaster, and it can bludgeon like a hammer. Not unlike the virus we now combat, or a politician hungry to remain in power, fear mutates, and finds a way to endure. Franklin Roosevelt. assured us that we had nothing to fear but fear itself. He knew, as many of us seem to have forgotten, that wherever fear calls the shots, trouble follows.

Fear demands submission while hiding behind good intentions. It incites wanton disregard in the name of independence. And when called out, fear is quick to justify itself: “If you’re smart, you’ll be afraid. Very afraid.”

Maybe there’s another answer, one that is paradoxical to the narrative we’ve been living. Whatever the effectiveness of closing borders, there’s little doubt that it has succeeded in exacerbating our (not always) latent fear of the “other.” But isolation is a devil’s garden. Of course, due diligence and responsible behavior are required in such a fluid situation, but taking back our agency has its own rewards. With the proper precautions, travel may provide a most unlikely way out of this quagmire of fear in which we find ourselves.

The great travel writer Paul Theroux said that “travel is optimism in action.” Confronted with ever-changing restrictions, complicated and confusing testing protocols, and inconsistent messaging, travelers today need all the optimism they can muster. But reduced services and limitations that we have learned to take in stride at home during the pandemic have created in us an adaptability that is an ideal quality for the road. If you have a willingness to be flexible, the rewards of travel still await.

I recently returned from Ireland, where fewer travelers lent the place a homey feel I hadn’t experienced since before the Celtic Tiger roared. I fell in love with the Irish anew and returned energized and expansive — feelings in short supply during Covid.

Over the summer, inspired by my desire to allay the fear that had built up in me over the pandemic, I again walked across Spain for a month on the Camino de Santiago, this time with my 19-year-old son. The liberation we both experienced was profound. The tyrannical rule of fear could not stand up under the force of human connection. Optimism returned. And I’m headed to Antarctica, where I trust all that fresh air and open space to keep me safe. The thought of encountering blue ice elicits a sense of hope that has been absent for too long.

It might feel counterintuitive to leave what is familiar and seemingly safe to venture out into the unknown in order to be free of life’s terrors, but that is exactly what has been my liberation. It’s always easier to sit on the couch than to get up and go. But maybe the couch is no longer the answer. Perhaps it’s time, with the proper safeguards, to get back out there. Travel still has the power to amaze, to delight and surprise, to awe and inspire, to unite, and most important right now, to obliterate fear.

A quarter century ago I was walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrim route. Two weeks into my 500-mile hike I was anxious, lonely and miserable.

A quarter century ago I was walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrim route. Two weeks into my 500-mile hike I was anxious, lonely and miserable. Each day was worse than the one before. I felt like a failure and a weakling. One afternoon while walking through a parched field of cut wheat in the high plateau under blistering sun, I dropped to my knees and began to sob. My tears had caught me unaware and were unstoppable. I cursed whatever God I half believed in and demanded answers for why I felt so alone, so frail, so incomplete. I cried myself out, got to my feet and trudged on, six hours to the next village. I found a bed and fell into dreamless sleep. The next morning I was back on the trail. Shuffling along, I couldn’t shake the feeling I had forgotten something. I stopped and checked my pack. Twice. Nothing was out of place or missing. An hour later I was taking a break beside a barn, snacking on a wedge of cheese and a hunk of stale bread. As I went to hoist my pack and soldier on, I became aware of hearing birds call, distinct and clear. I noticed how crisp the colors around me appeared, the burnt umber of the earth, the high red of a nearby tractor. The few puffy clouds overhead appeared to morph and shift in a way that felt almost preordained. The sensation was one of being wide-awake. Then it dawned on me — what I had “forgotten,” what I didn’t have, what I was missing. It was fear. As we enter our third calendar year under the cloud of Covid, I have been thinking a lot about fear, its destabilizing, paralyzing hunger — and about travel and how we need its transformative power more than ever. Despite the slogans early in the pandemic that “we’re all in this together,” so many of the people I know have felt so alone, so isolated, so trapped, and yes, so afraid. Fear seems to be the one commonality of the pandemic. And no one I know reacts well under sustained exposure to fear. Not all my fearful decisions have been bad, but nearly all my bad decisions have been made from a place of fear. It strikes me now as strange that I had not been aware of fear’s presence in my life until that moment of its first absence. But anxieties born in childhood had become such a part of my rhythm that they were accepted without thought. Beside the barn I suddenly felt myself fully, without need to justify my being. It was a feeling like none I had known. I was, for the moment at least, free. Finally, I thought, here I am. And I wanted more of it. Since I had experienced this sensation while on the road, it naturally followed — my reasoning went — that by traveling more I could build on this moment. In the void created by the absence of so much fear, feelings of joy and generosity rushed in, which led to connection with others and the world at large. I traveled to Asia and Africa, throughout Europe and South America. I met people who seemed so different, yet on closer inspection shared the same feelings I did. The farther from home I got, the more at home in myself I grew. As variants spike and recede, it seems that Covid, in one form or another, will remain with us. Fear needs to be mitigated. And fear is a cunning and dangerous foe, a subtle and corrosive taskmaster, and it can bludgeon like a hammer. Not unlike the virus we now combat, or a politician hungry to remain in power, fear mutates, and finds a way to endure. Franklin Roosevelt. assured us that we had nothing to fear but fear itself. He knew, as many of us seem to have forgotten, that wherever fear calls the shots, trouble follows. Fear demands submission while hiding behind good intentions. It incites wanton disregard in the name of independence. And when called out, fear is quick to justify itself: “If you’re smart, you’ll be afraid. Very afraid.” Maybe there’s another answer, one that is paradoxical to the narrative we’ve been living. Whatever the effectiveness of closing borders, there’s little doubt that it has succeeded in exacerbating our (not always) latent fear of the “other.” But isolation is a devil’s garden. Of course, due diligence and responsible behavior are required in such a fluid situation, but taking back our agency has its own rewards. With the proper precautions, travel may provide a most unlikely way out of this quagmire of fear in which we find ourselves. The great travel writer Paul Theroux said that “travel is optimism in action.” Confronted with ever-changing restrictions, complicated and confusing testing protocols, and inconsistent messaging, travelers today need all the optimism they can muster. But reduced services and limitations that we have learned to take in stride at home during the pandemic have created in us an adaptability that is an ideal quality for the road. If you have a willingness to be flexible, the rewards of travel still await. I recently returned from Ireland, where fewer travelers lent the place a homey feel I hadn’t experienced since before the Celtic Tiger roared. I fell in love with the Irish anew and returned energized and expansive — feelings in short supply during Covid. Over the summer, inspired by my desire to allay the fear that had built up in me over the pandemic, I again walked across Spain for a month on the Camino de Santiago, this time with my 19-year-old son. The liberation we both experienced was profound. The tyrannical rule of fear could not stand up under the force of human connection. Optimism returned. And I’m headed to Antarctica, where I trust all that fresh air and open space to keep me safe. The thought of encountering blue ice elicits a sense of hope that has been absent for too long. It might feel counterintuitive to leave what is familiar and seemingly safe to venture out into the unknown in order to be free of life’s terrors, but that is exactly what has been my liberation. It’s always easier to sit on the couch than to get up and go. But maybe the couch is no longer the answer. Perhaps it’s time, with the proper safeguards, to get back out there. Travel still has the power to amaze, to delight and surprise, to awe and inspire, to unite, and most important right now, to obliterate fear.

Travel is my antidote for fear. As Covid eases, I’m heading out again

We have all the scientific gizmos at hand that let us peer into the deepest corners of space. The powerful telescopes we've built means we can literally go back in time and even look at celestial bodies that were formed in earlier universe. But sometimes, our observations from Earth are not able to capture space objects in a particular way just because we are on Earth.

Take planet Jupiter for example. The gas giant is farther from Sun than Earth is. As Jupiter's orbit lies beyond Earth's orbit, we can only see face of Jupiter that is illuminated due to sunlight. A crescent of Jupiter can never be seen from Earth.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pepperoni-storms-topping-jupiter-nasas-latest-video-goes-viral-watch-here-452734">'Pepperoni' storms topping Jupiter? NASA's latest video goes viral, watch here</a>

But now, NASA's Juno spacecraft has offered glimpse into how a crescent of Jupiter. Juno spacecraft reached Jupiter in 2016 after a journey of 5 years through space. The spacecraft is hovering around the gas giant and its moon.

Juno's mission team published an image of crescent of Jupiter on February 14.&nbsp;

"If you could ride along with NASA’s Juno spacecraft as it approaches Jupiter during one of its regular close passes by the giant planet, you would be treated to a striking vista similar to this one", the blog said

The planet can be seen partially illuminated due to sunlight. The photo was clicked using JunoCam. The camera took seven images during Juno’s 39th close pass by Jupiter on January 12.

We have all the scientific gizmos at hand that let us peer into the deepest corners of space. The powerful telescopes we've built means we can literally go back in time and even look at celestial bodies that were formed in earlier universe.

We have all the scientific gizmos at hand that let us peer into the deepest corners of space. The powerful telescopes we've built means we can literally go back in time and even look at celestial bodies that were formed in earlier universe. But sometimes, our observations from Earth are not able to capture space objects in a particular way just because we are on Earth. Take planet Jupiter for example. The gas giant is farther from Sun than Earth is. As Jupiter's orbit lies beyond Earth's orbit, we can only see face of Jupiter that is illuminated due to sunlight. A crescent of Jupiter can never be seen from Earth. Also Read | 'Pepperoni' storms topping Jupiter? NASA's latest video goes viral, watch here But now, NASA's Juno spacecraft has offered glimpse into how a crescent of Jupiter. Juno spacecraft reached Jupiter in 2016 after a journey of 5 years through space. The spacecraft is hovering around the gas giant and its moon. Juno's mission team published an image of crescent of Jupiter on February 14. "If you could ride along with NASA’s Juno spacecraft as it approaches Jupiter during one of its regular close passes by the giant planet, you would be treated to a striking vista similar to this one", the blog said The planet can be seen partially illuminated due to sunlight. The photo was clicked using JunoCam. The camera took seven images during Juno’s 39th close pass by Jupiter on January 12.

NASA's Juno spacecraft depicts Jupiter as we can never see from Earth

Mudslides have killed at least 94 people in Brazil's historic mountain town of Petropolis, as per local officials. Heavy rains have triggered mudslides that buried homes, swept cars and buses off the roads and flooded the streets.

Petropolis or the 'imperial city' is located above hills in Rio de Janeiro. It was the summer getaway of Brazil's monarchs in the 19th century.&nbsp;

As rainfall on Tuesday exceeded the average for the entire month of February. Floods ravaged Petropoils' elegant streets and destroyed its Germanic building.

<img alt="Petropolis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b1be240-0bea-4a41-8f8b-a54ba445ed8a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/petropolis.JPG" />

Hilda, a resident who declined to give her full name, was distraught as she waited in the street near the remains of her house that she shared with eight people.

"I lost my niece and her five-year-old daughter, who we still haven't found," she said. "We did not expect this tragedy. Our city is over."

In the Morro da Oficina neighborhood, up to 80 houses were hit by landslides, according to authorities who expect the death toll to rise. Fire department and local civil defense teams were working at the site.

"The situation is almost like war ... Cars hanging from poles, cars overturned, lots of mud and water still," Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro told reporters onsite.

A mourning of three days has been declared by Petropolis' city hall.&nbsp;Displaced people were being taken to schools and shelters. More than 300 people had to leave their homes.

<img alt="Brazil flood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce1ca805-65b6-4ae3-a857-20f32ab87145" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/brazil%20flood.JPG" />

"The water came very fast and with great force. My loss was 100%. Our life was already tough with the pandemic and less movement, and this tragedy still comes," said shopkeeper Henrique Pereira.

President Jair Bolsonaro, who is traveling to Russia, said on Twitter he had asked ministers to help Petropolis and storm victims.

"We intend to already offer to the mayor what we can," Bolsonaro told reporters in Moscow, adding that he would release federal funds to help "restore traffic in the region."

Since December, heavy rains have triggered deadly floods and landslides in northeast Brazil and Sao Paulo state, threatened to delay harvests in the nation's central western region and briefly forced the suspension of mining operations in the state of Minas Gerais.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mudslides have killed at least 94 people in Brazil's historic mountain town of Petropolis, as per local officials. Heavy rains have triggered mudslides that buried homes, swept cars and buses off the roads and flooded the streets.

Mudslides have killed at least 94 people in Brazil's historic mountain town of Petropolis, as per local officials. Heavy rains have triggered mudslides that buried homes, swept cars and buses off the roads and flooded the streets. Petropolis or the 'imperial city' is located above hills in Rio de Janeiro. It was the summer getaway of Brazil's monarchs in the 19th century. As rainfall on Tuesday exceeded the average for the entire month of February. Floods ravaged Petropoils' elegant streets and destroyed its Germanic building. Hilda, a resident who declined to give her full name, was distraught as she waited in the street near the remains of her house that she shared with eight people. "I lost my niece and her five-year-old daughter, who we still haven't found," she said. "We did not expect this tragedy. Our city is over." In the Morro da Oficina neighborhood, up to 80 houses were hit by landslides, according to authorities who expect the death toll to rise. Fire department and local civil defense teams were working at the site. "The situation is almost like war ... Cars hanging from poles, cars overturned, lots of mud and water still," Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro told reporters onsite. A mourning of three days has been declared by Petropolis' city hall. Displaced people were being taken to schools and shelters. More than 300 people had to leave their homes. "The water came very fast and with great force. My loss was 100%. Our life was already tough with the pandemic and less movement, and this tragedy still comes," said shopkeeper Henrique Pereira. President Jair Bolsonaro, who is traveling to Russia, said on Twitter he had asked ministers to help Petropolis and storm victims. "We intend to already offer to the mayor what we can," Bolsonaro told reporters in Moscow, adding that he would release federal funds to help "restore traffic in the region." Since December, heavy rains have triggered deadly floods and landslides in northeast Brazil and Sao Paulo state, threatened to delay harvests in the nation's central western region and briefly forced the suspension of mining operations in the state of Minas Gerais. (With inputs from agencies)

Mudslides, flooding kill nearly 100 in Brazil's 'imperial city'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that the country will start rolling back Covid curbs in light of falling infection rates in the country. He said that the falling number of infections suggested that coronavirus wave due to Omicron variant has passed the peak. Scholz made the announcement after discussion with leaders of German states.

The three-step plan -- which includes allowing unvaccinated people back into shops and restaurants -- will see Germany reach its "freedom day" on March 20, as media have dubbed it.

"After two years we deserve for things to be better again and it looks like that's happening now," Scholz told reporters.

But he urged Germans to remain cautious and said they would have to keep wearing face masks. "The pandemic is not over," he said.

Germany is the latest European nation to attempt a return to more normality, two years after the pandemic first emerged and upended people's daily lives and routines.

As a first step, Germany will immediately drop a 10-person cap on private gatherings of people who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.&nbsp;

For the unvaccinated however, the rule that they can only meet two people outside their household will remain in place for another month.

Access to non-essential shops will be open to all again, without checks on whether customers are vaccinated against the virus or not. Face masks will still be required, with high-protection FFP2 masks recommended.

From March 4, restaurants and hotels will be allowed to welcome the unvaccinated again, so long as they can provide a recent negative test -- a system known as 3G in Germany.

Nightclubs will reopen, but not for the unvaccinated. Everyone else will have to be boosted or provide a negative test -- the so-called 2G plus system.

The number of people allowed to attend large events including sports competitions, under 2G plus rules, will be increased.&nbsp;

In a final step, the remaining profound restrictions on social, cultural and economic life are to be gradually lifted by March 20.

That includes ditching the requirement for employees to work from home whenever possible.

After that date, Europe's top economy will rely on "basic protection measures", Scholz and regional leaders agreed, "in particular the wearing of medical masks" in indoor public venues and on public transport.

Social distancing is also set to be maintained.

(With inputs from agencies)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that the country will start rolling back Covid curbs in light of falling infection rates in the country. He said that the falling number of infections suggested that coronavirus wave due to Omicron variant has passed the peak.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that the country will start rolling back Covid curbs in light of falling infection rates in the country. He said that the falling number of infections suggested that coronavirus wave due to Omicron variant has passed the peak. Scholz made the announcement after discussion with leaders of German states. The three-step plan -- which includes allowing unvaccinated people back into shops and restaurants -- will see Germany reach its "freedom day" on March 20, as media have dubbed it. "After two years we deserve for things to be better again and it looks like that's happening now," Scholz told reporters. But he urged Germans to remain cautious and said they would have to keep wearing face masks. "The pandemic is not over," he said. Germany is the latest European nation to attempt a return to more normality, two years after the pandemic first emerged and upended people's daily lives and routines. As a first step, Germany will immediately drop a 10-person cap on private gatherings of people who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19. For the unvaccinated however, the rule that they can only meet two people outside their household will remain in place for another month. Access to non-essential shops will be open to all again, without checks on whether customers are vaccinated against the virus or not. Face masks will still be required, with high-protection FFP2 masks recommended. From March 4, restaurants and hotels will be allowed to welcome the unvaccinated again, so long as they can provide a recent negative test -- a system known as 3G in Germany. Nightclubs will reopen, but not for the unvaccinated. Everyone else will have to be boosted or provide a negative test -- the so-called 2G plus system. The number of people allowed to attend large events including sports competitions, under 2G plus rules, will be increased. In a final step, the remaining profound restrictions on social, cultural and economic life are to be gradually lifted by March 20. That includes ditching the requirement for employees to work from home whenever possible. After that date, Europe's top economy will rely on "basic protection measures", Scholz and regional leaders agreed, "in particular the wearing of medical masks" in indoor public venues and on public transport. Social distancing is also set to be maintained. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany to begin rolling back coronavirus curbs, says Chancellor Scholz

Covid is a problem enough but the aftereffects of the infection are increasingly getting looked at. Many symptoms and tendencies are seen among those who have recovered from Covid in the year following the infection.

A study now says that Covid survivors were 40 per cent more likely to develop symptoms of depression. The study also says that people may also struggle sleeping. The survivors have also been found to 20 per cent more likely to abuse substances within a year of catching Covid.

Suicidal thoughts were found to be 46 per cent more common among Covid survivors.&nbsp;

The study was carried out by researchers from St Louis University who observed 150,000 people who were military veterans. The cohort was mostly male, in their 60s. People from this group were tested positive up to January 2021.

There was a correlation seen between Covid infection and mental health issues. People were also found to be at higher risk to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and panic attacks.

For the purpose of this study, the military veterans who were observed were compared to a group of 5.6 million veterans who had not caught the virus till date.

The study was observational in nature. It has been published in British Medical Journal (BMJ). No direct cause was established as to why Covid survivors were showing symptoms of mental health issues.

Covid is a problem enough but the aftereffects of the infection are increasingly getting looked at. Many symptoms and tendencies are seen among those who have recovered from Covid in the year following the infection.

Covid is a problem enough but the aftereffects of the infection are increasingly getting looked at. Many symptoms and tendencies are seen among those who have recovered from Covid in the year following the infection. A study now says that Covid survivors were 40 per cent more likely to develop symptoms of depression. The study also says that people may also struggle sleeping. The survivors have also been found to 20 per cent more likely to abuse substances within a year of catching Covid. Suicidal thoughts were found to be 46 per cent more common among Covid survivors. The study was carried out by researchers from St Louis University who observed 150,000 people who were military veterans. The cohort was mostly male, in their 60s. People from this group were tested positive up to January 2021. There was a correlation seen between Covid infection and mental health issues. People were also found to be at higher risk to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and panic attacks. For the purpose of this study, the military veterans who were observed were compared to a group of 5.6 million veterans who had not caught the virus till date. The study was observational in nature. It has been published in British Medical Journal (BMJ). No direct cause was established as to why Covid survivors were showing symptoms of mental health issues.

Covid survivors at increased risk to develop depression, use drugs: Study

'How far will you go for me?' is perhaps the most cliched question lovers ask each other just to tease. By this literal measure, humpaback whales should be called the most ardent lovers on the planet. Because a study says that they swim across oceans crossing more than 3000 miles just to find a mate.

For this study, the scientists took a look at and analyzed more than 450,000 pictures of whales in the wild in order to track movements of the animal. Scientists found that the whales travelled thousands of miles in search of a mate.

The researcher tracked two distinctive males that had unique markings on their tails. They were observed off the western coast of Mexico and near Hawaii in a span of less than two months. The distance between these two oceanic regions is 3700 miles. The time taken by the whales to swim the distance revealed that they were swimming a bit faster than their typical speed of 2.5 miles per hour.&nbsp;

"They might just be traveling the ocean like it's their own backyard," said James Darling of the Whale Trust Maui in Hawaii and an author on the study. He was quoted by The New Scientist.

So next time you have to go the extra mile for your significant other, don't crib too much. Just try to keep up with the race to be a good lover. You probably would never win it. Doesn't hurt to try,&nbsp;eh?

'How far will you go for me?' is perhaps the most cliched question lovers ask each other just to tease. By this literal measure, humpaback whales should be called the most ardent lovers on the planet.

'How far will you go for me?' is perhaps the most cliched question lovers ask each other just to tease. By this literal measure, humpaback whales should be called the most ardent lovers on the planet. Because a study says that they swim across oceans crossing more than 3000 miles just to find a mate. For this study, the scientists took a look at and analyzed more than 450,000 pictures of whales in the wild in order to track movements of the animal. Scientists found that the whales travelled thousands of miles in search of a mate. The researcher tracked two distinctive males that had unique markings on their tails. They were observed off the western coast of Mexico and near Hawaii in a span of less than two months. The distance between these two oceanic regions is 3700 miles. The time taken by the whales to swim the distance revealed that they were swimming a bit faster than their typical speed of 2.5 miles per hour. "They might just be traveling the ocean like it's their own backyard," said James Darling of the Whale Trust Maui in Hawaii and an author on the study. He was quoted by The New Scientist. So next time you have to go the extra mile for your significant other, don't crib too much. Just try to keep up with the race to be a good lover. You probably would never win it. Doesn't hurt to try, eh?

Humpback whales swim more than 3000 miles to find a lover, says study

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