<p>Americans everywhere remain concerned about getting past what feels like a never-ending litany of Covid-19-induced economic problems, from out-of-stock products to inflation and continued fears of exposure to illness when going out. When will it finally end?</p>

<p>Professional economic forecasters are struggling to answer this question.</p>

<p>Many are turning to previous recessions as a guide to how things will go. But one of the most important things to understand is that while the pandemic created a collapse — and for some even an economic disaster — it really wasn’t a recession in the normal sense.</p>

<p>That sounds strange. Indeed, the arbiter of these things, the National Bureau of Economic Research, declared that the United States had a two-month recession in March and April 2020.</p>

<p>But past business cycles look nothing like what the United States has gone through in the pandemic, so they are the wrong place to find lessons for where things are going now.</p>

<p>The causes of recessions vary, but they follow a basic pattern: The hardest-hit industries are the cyclically sensitive sectors where demand dries up. Those sectors include sales of big-ticket items like furniture, construction materials, appliances and cars, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and others have documented. These are purchases that can be delayed when times are bad. Recoveries begin when demand returns to these cyclical industries, when prices fall enough or interest rates get cut enough or pent-up needs build sufficiently for demand to return.</p>

<p>Recessions have much smaller impacts on noncyclical industries like hospitals, nursing care, gas and electric utilities, and the like. Demand there is steady regardless of the cycle. Some service sector industries, like education, see demand rise in recessions.</p>

<p>None of these familiar patterns held during the pandemic economic collapse. Spending on consumer durables went up. Indeed, sales of TVs with screens larger than 65 inches rose 77 percent from April to June 2020, compared to the year before, as the bottom dropped out of the economy. Watching TV was one of the few things people could still do during lockdown. Demand for other cyclical industry goods like housing and construction materials boomed too.</p>

<p>During the pandemic downturn, Americans also reversed a decades-long trend toward spending on services rather than goods. For 75 years, consumers in the United States have been spending less and less of their money on physical goods (from 60 percent of spending in the 1940s to 31 percent in 2019). Counter to this trend (and contrasting with previous recessions), the share of consumer spending on physical goods actually jumped during the pandemic to the highest level in 17 years and among the biggest jumps ever recorded.</p>

<p>In other words, this was a recession like no other in recent memory. The pandemic downturn was driven by all those industries that are supposed to be recession-proof — trips to the dentist, electricity usage in offices and malls, and so on. And the normally countercyclical education sector had big enrollment drops despite the bad economy.</p>

<p>Of course, this was because of the coronavirus. But it means that the recovery from past recessions doesn’t really say much about how the recovery will go now. Everyone is trying to predict when there will be a rebound in service sector industries that normally don’t decline, like health care, child care and education. That’s really more of a question about how quickly we can control the spread of the virus than it is about recession fundamentals.</p>

<p>At the same time, the unusually large demand for physical goods in the United States and other rich countries has exceeded supply, driving up inflation and leading to shortages.</p>

<p>So the most important thing to watch if you want to understand the economy is, as has been the case for a year and half now, the progress made against the virus. Related, and also worth watching, is how much Americans spend on goods relative to services. (It was 31 percent in 2019 and has risen to 35 percent now.)</p>

<p>While economic growth in the United States was disappointing in the third quarter of 2021, it could easily turn around if coronavirus case numbers improve. The U.S. employment numbers released on Friday were encouraging. New Covid-19 cases are down significantly and millions of children are now eligible for vaccination, which could reduce infection rates even further.</p>

<p>Looking beyond the coming months, though, the most interesting questions aren’t really about recession and recovery. They center on whether any of the pandemic changes will last. Some companies, for example, are now trying to hold more inventory and keep their supply chains local to avoid disruption. Many people are working partly from home and some have moved to the exurbs. But how long before they rediscover why we ended up with lean manufacturing and a global supply chain in the first place? And Americans are already moving back to cities.</p>

<p>My view is that reversals of longstanding economic trends are not likely to become permanent. Once the economic memory of the pandemic has faded, the old lessons from the regular business cycle will probably become relevant once more. Until that happens, though, best to get in line for a vaccine booster and keep your eye on the case numbers.</p>


Americans everywhere remain concerned about getting past what feels like a never-ending litany of Covid-19-induced economic problems, from out-of-stock products to inflation and continued fears of exposure to illness when going out.

Americans everywhere remain concerned about getting past what feels like a never-ending litany of Covid-19-induced economic problems, from out-of-stock products to inflation and continued fears of exposure to illness when going out. When will it finally end? Professional economic forecasters are struggling to answer this question. Many are turning to previous recessions as a guide to how things will go. But one of the most important things to understand is that while the pandemic created a collapse — and for some even an economic disaster — it really wasn’t a recession in the normal sense. That sounds strange. Indeed, the arbiter of these things, the National Bureau of Economic Research, declared that the United States had a two-month recession in March and April 2020. But past business cycles look nothing like what the United States has gone through in the pandemic, so they are the wrong place to find lessons for where things are going now. The causes of recessions vary, but they follow a basic pattern: The hardest-hit industries are the cyclically sensitive sectors where demand dries up. Those sectors include sales of big-ticket items like furniture, construction materials, appliances and cars, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and others have documented. These are purchases that can be delayed when times are bad. Recoveries begin when demand returns to these cyclical industries, when prices fall enough or interest rates get cut enough or pent-up needs build sufficiently for demand to return. Recessions have much smaller impacts on noncyclical industries like hospitals, nursing care, gas and electric utilities, and the like. Demand there is steady regardless of the cycle. Some service sector industries, like education, see demand rise in recessions. None of these familiar patterns held during the pandemic economic collapse. Spending on consumer durables went up. Indeed, sales of TVs with screens larger than 65 inches rose 77 percent from April to June 2020, compared to the year before, as the bottom dropped out of the economy. Watching TV was one of the few things people could still do during lockdown. Demand for other cyclical industry goods like housing and construction materials boomed too. During the pandemic downturn, Americans also reversed a decades-long trend toward spending on services rather than goods. For 75 years, consumers in the United States have been spending less and less of their money on physical goods (from 60 percent of spending in the 1940s to 31 percent in 2019). Counter to this trend (and contrasting with previous recessions), the share of consumer spending on physical goods actually jumped during the pandemic to the highest level in 17 years and among the biggest jumps ever recorded. In other words, this was a recession like no other in recent memory. The pandemic downturn was driven by all those industries that are supposed to be recession-proof — trips to the dentist, electricity usage in offices and malls, and so on. And the normally countercyclical education sector had big enrollment drops despite the bad economy. Of course, this was because of the coronavirus. But it means that the recovery from past recessions doesn’t really say much about how the recovery will go now. Everyone is trying to predict when there will be a rebound in service sector industries that normally don’t decline, like health care, child care and education. That’s really more of a question about how quickly we can control the spread of the virus than it is about recession fundamentals. At the same time, the unusually large demand for physical goods in the United States and other rich countries has exceeded supply, driving up inflation and leading to shortages. So the most important thing to watch if you want to understand the economy is, as has been the case for a year and half now, the progress made against the virus. Related, and also worth watching, is how much Americans spend on goods relative to services. (It was 31 percent in 2019 and has risen to 35 percent now.) While economic growth in the United States was disappointing in the third quarter of 2021, it could easily turn around if coronavirus case numbers improve. The U.S. employment numbers released on Friday were encouraging. New Covid-19 cases are down significantly and millions of children are now eligible for vaccination, which could reduce infection rates even further. Looking beyond the coming months, though, the most interesting questions aren’t really about recession and recovery. They center on whether any of the pandemic changes will last. Some companies, for example, are now trying to hold more inventory and keep their supply chains local to avoid disruption. Many people are working partly from home and some have moved to the exurbs. But how long before they rediscover why we ended up with lean manufacturing and a global supply chain in the first place? And Americans are already moving back to cities. My view is that reversals of longstanding economic trends are not likely to become permanent. Once the economic memory of the pandemic has faded, the old lessons from the regular business cycle will probably become relevant once more. Until that happens, though, best to get in line for a vaccine booster and keep your eye on the case numbers.

How to think about the Covid recession

<p>An albino activist was sworn in to Malawi's parliament on Thursday, a first in a country where people with albinism have suffered discrimination and killings.</p>

<p>Overstone Kondowe won a by-election last month in central Malawi, a milestone after years of victimisation. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Being the first person with albinism elected in this kind of office, there is high expectation, not only in Malawi, but the whole world is looking forward to what I would do," he told AFP soon after his swearing-in.</p>

<p>"My last word to persons with disability, and in particular persons with albinism, they need not to underrate themselves," he said.</p>

<p>"And they need to work hard towards their goal. I remain a model to them and I will inspire them more so that they aim higher," he added.</p>

<p>Malawi suffered a wave of assaults against albinos from late 2014.</p>

<p>At the height of the attacks in 2016, Kondowe founded the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi to push the government to take action.</p>

<p>Amnesty International says more than 20 albinos have been killed in Malawi since 2014.</p>

<p>In the last four months, Amnesty said seven attacks against albinos have been recorded, ranging from killings, tampering of graves, attempted abductions, and physical violence.</p>

<p>As in other countries in the region, albinos' body parts are used in rituals to bring wealth and luck.</p>

<p>Some albinos are also accused of being "vampires" who seek human blood for rituals, sometimes triggering vigilante violence in retaliation.</p>

<p>President Lazarus Chakwera has named Kondowe as his special adviser on people with disability. Kondowe is also the current chairperson of the African Union for Persons with Albinism.</p>

<p>Former UN independent expert on albinism Ikponwosa Ero told AFP she was elated by Kondowe’s election.</p>

<p>"Overstone’s election is a giant step forward in the protection of human rights of people with albinism in Malawi and the Africa region as a whole," she said.</p>

<p>"It shows that the context of discrimination is changing for the better for people with albinism in Malawi."</p>


An albino activist was sworn in to Malawi's parliament on Thursday, a first in a country where people with albinism have suffered discrimination and killings. Overstone Kondowe won a by-election last month in central Malawi, a milestone after years of victimisation.

An albino activist was sworn in to Malawi's parliament on Thursday, a first in a country where people with albinism have suffered discrimination and killings. Overstone Kondowe won a by-election last month in central Malawi, a milestone after years of victimisation. "Being the first person with albinism elected in this kind of office, there is high expectation, not only in Malawi, but the whole world is looking forward to what I would do," he told AFP soon after his swearing-in. "My last word to persons with disability, and in particular persons with albinism, they need not to underrate themselves," he said. "And they need to work hard towards their goal. I remain a model to them and I will inspire them more so that they aim higher," he added. Malawi suffered a wave of assaults against albinos from late 2014. At the height of the attacks in 2016, Kondowe founded the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi to push the government to take action. Amnesty International says more than 20 albinos have been killed in Malawi since 2014. In the last four months, Amnesty said seven attacks against albinos have been recorded, ranging from killings, tampering of graves, attempted abductions, and physical violence. As in other countries in the region, albinos' body parts are used in rituals to bring wealth and luck. Some albinos are also accused of being "vampires" who seek human blood for rituals, sometimes triggering vigilante violence in retaliation. President Lazarus Chakwera has named Kondowe as his special adviser on people with disability. Kondowe is also the current chairperson of the African Union for Persons with Albinism. Former UN independent expert on albinism Ikponwosa Ero told AFP she was elated by Kondowe’s election. "Overstone’s election is a giant step forward in the protection of human rights of people with albinism in Malawi and the Africa region as a whole," she said. "It shows that the context of discrimination is changing for the better for people with albinism in Malawi."

First albino joins Malawi's parliament

<p>The 32-year-old fisherman from Maharashtra's Palghar district who was killed in firing by Pakistan's maritime security agency (PMSA) personnel off the Gujarat coast on Saturday, was cremated in his native Vadrai village on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The body of Sridhar Chamre arrived in the village around 4 AM on Tuesday. His last rites were performed before 8 AM amid heavy deployment by police, sources said.</p>

<p>The body of the deceased was partially decomposed, they said.</p>

<p>The deceased was one of the crew members of the fishing boat 'Jalpari' which was targeted by the PMSA while it was sailing near the international maritime boundary line in the Arabian sea on Saturday afternoon, police had said.</p>

<p>Sources said Chamre was working in the fishing boat for the last three months.<br />
His father-in-law said their boat was chased by Pakistani boats for half an hour.</p>

<p>Villagers of Vadrai had observed a bandh on Monday to condemn the killing of Chamre.</p>

<p>He is survived by his parents, wife, and two minor daughters.</p>


The 32-year-old fisherman from Maharashtra's Palghar district who was killed in firing by Pakistan's maritime security agency (PMSA) personnel off the Gujarat coast on Saturday, was cremated in his native Vadrai village on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old fisherman from Maharashtra's Palghar district who was killed in firing by Pakistan's maritime security agency (PMSA) personnel off the Gujarat coast on Saturday, was cremated in his native Vadrai village on Tuesday. The body of Sridhar Chamre arrived in the village around 4 AM on Tuesday. His last rites were performed before 8 AM amid heavy deployment by police, sources said. The body of the deceased was partially decomposed, they said. The deceased was one of the crew members of the fishing boat 'Jalpari' which was targeted by the PMSA while it was sailing near the international maritime boundary line in the Arabian sea on Saturday afternoon, police had said. Sources said Chamre was working in the fishing boat for the last three months. His father-in-law said their boat was chased by Pakistani boats for half an hour. Villagers of Vadrai had observed a bandh on Monday to condemn the killing of Chamre. He is survived by his parents, wife, and two minor daughters.

Indian fisherman killed in firing by Pak maritime security personnel mid-sea

<p>At least four infants died in a government-run hospital in Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday night (November 8). The Kamla Nehru Children's Hospital is in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. The fire broke out in the special newborn care uniy (SNCU) of the hospital.</p>

<p>India's apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognisance of the tragedy and has sought constitution of an inquiry team comprising senior officials to look into the deaths.</p>

<p>NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo asked the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary to constitute the inquiry team</p>

<p>The NCPCR said the team must comprise a senior administrative officer but not from the health department or medical education department of Madhya Pradesh to inquire into lapses in available equipments and facilities in special newborn care units, director general, fire services, civil defence and home guard department (from fire services) to inquire into lapses in available fire prevention mechanism, fire exit, provision of detection, alarm and fire extinguishers.</p>

<p>The team must also include a senior officer from Public Works Department (with background of civil engineering) to inquire into lapses in infrastructure and layout and a senior police officer not below the rank of Inspector General, it said.</p>

<p>The Commission also sought to know the number of children affected due to the fire incident and details of hospitals where infants have been shifted.</p>

<p>"Further, it may kindly be ensured that infants shifted in other hospitals have SNCUs and are provided with all the necessary treatment. The families of the deceased infants may kindly be provided with adequate compensation," the NCPCR said.</p>

<p>It sought a preliminary action taken report within three days.</p>

<p>The NCPCR also asked states and union territories to conduct fire safety audits in all hospitals, medical colleges, nursing homes having medical facilities for children.</p>

<p>Earlier this year, at least 10 newborns died in a fire at a government hospital in Maharashtra's Bhandara.</p>

<p>Quoting these incidents, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanongoo asked all states to carry out fire audits.</p>

<p>"To prevent recurrence of fire incidents in hospitals, NCPCR recommends that fire safety audits should be undertaken in all hospitals/medical colleges/nursing homes having Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Special Newborn Care Units and other medical facilities for children," the NCPCR said.</p>

<p>"Further, it may be ensured that such medical facilities meant for children should get 'no objection certificate' (NOC) from fire department and get renewal only after they meet the given criteria," it added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


At least four infants died in a government-run hospital in Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday night (November 8). The Kamla Nehru Children's Hospital is in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh.

At least four infants died in a government-run hospital in Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday night (November 8). The Kamla Nehru Children's Hospital is in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. The fire broke out in the special newborn care uniy (SNCU) of the hospital. India's apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognisance of the tragedy and has sought constitution of an inquiry team comprising senior officials to look into the deaths. NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo asked the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary to constitute the inquiry team The NCPCR said the team must comprise a senior administrative officer but not from the health department or medical education department of Madhya Pradesh to inquire into lapses in available equipments and facilities in special newborn care units, director general, fire services, civil defence and home guard department (from fire services) to inquire into lapses in available fire prevention mechanism, fire exit, provision of detection, alarm and fire extinguishers. The team must also include a senior officer from Public Works Department (with background of civil engineering) to inquire into lapses in infrastructure and layout and a senior police officer not below the rank of Inspector General, it said. The Commission also sought to know the number of children affected due to the fire incident and details of hospitals where infants have been shifted. "Further, it may kindly be ensured that infants shifted in other hospitals have SNCUs and are provided with all the necessary treatment. The families of the deceased infants may kindly be provided with adequate compensation," the NCPCR said. It sought a preliminary action taken report within three days. The NCPCR also asked states and union territories to conduct fire safety audits in all hospitals, medical colleges, nursing homes having medical facilities for children. Earlier this year, at least 10 newborns died in a fire at a government hospital in Maharashtra's Bhandara. Quoting these incidents, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanongoo asked all states to carry out fire audits. "To prevent recurrence of fire incidents in hospitals, NCPCR recommends that fire safety audits should be undertaken in all hospitals/medical colleges/nursing homes having Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Special Newborn Care Units and other medical facilities for children," the NCPCR said. "Further, it may be ensured that such medical facilities meant for children should get 'no objection certificate' (NOC) from fire department and get renewal only after they meet the given criteria," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Four infants die in India hospital fire, inquiry sought into tragedy

<p>The UK government said on Tuesday that all frontline workers of National Health Service (NHS) in England would have to be fully vaccinated by April 1 failing which they would lose their jobs.</p>

<p>"Having considered the... advice of my officials and NHS leaders including the chief executive of the NHS, I have concluded that all those working in the NHS and social care will have to be vaccinated," UK Health Minister Sajid Javid told the parliament on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The government had already announced that all care home workers will need to have had both jabs from November 11, but were waiting on the findings of a consultation before extending it to all NHS frontline staff.</p>

<p>"Our six-week consultation received over 34,000 responses," said Javid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The scales clearly tip to one side. I'm mindful of not only our need to protect human life but the imperative to protect the NHS," he added.</p>

<p>"The weight of the data shows our vaccinations have kept people safe and they have saved lives and that this is especially true for vulnerable people in health and care settings."</p>

<p>The mandate from the UK government has come at a time when publicly funded NHS faces huge&nbsp;waiting list due to a dramatic reduction in appointments during the pandemic.</p>

<p>NHS is funded from general taxation and National Insurance contributions. It is Europe's biggest employer and one of the biggest in the world, with about 1.3 million staff.</p>

<p>Around 90 percent of NHS staff have received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, although the figure is closer to 80 percent in some areas, said Javid.</p>

<p>This means there are around 80,000 to 100,000 NHS workers in England who are unvaccinated, raising fears about how the service will cope if they lose their jobs.</p>

<p>"The NHS is under the most intense pressure this winter already, we know the waiting lists are at close to 6 million," said Labour's health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth.</p>

<p>"There will be anxiety... that a policy, however laudable in principle, could exacerbate some of these chronic understaffing problems.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We simply cannot afford to lose thousands of NHS staff overnight," he added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The UK government said on Tuesday that all frontline workers of National Health Service (NHS) in England would have to be fully vaccinated by April 1 failing which they would lose their jobs.

The UK government said on Tuesday that all frontline workers of National Health Service (NHS) in England would have to be fully vaccinated by April 1 failing which they would lose their jobs. "Having considered the... advice of my officials and NHS leaders including the chief executive of the NHS, I have concluded that all those working in the NHS and social care will have to be vaccinated," UK Health Minister Sajid Javid told the parliament on Tuesday. The government had already announced that all care home workers will need to have had both jabs from November 11, but were waiting on the findings of a consultation before extending it to all NHS frontline staff. "Our six-week consultation received over 34,000 responses," said Javid. "The scales clearly tip to one side. I'm mindful of not only our need to protect human life but the imperative to protect the NHS," he added. "The weight of the data shows our vaccinations have kept people safe and they have saved lives and that this is especially true for vulnerable people in health and care settings." The mandate from the UK government has come at a time when publicly funded NHS faces huge waiting list due to a dramatic reduction in appointments during the pandemic. NHS is funded from general taxation and National Insurance contributions. It is Europe's biggest employer and one of the biggest in the world, with about 1.3 million staff. Around 90 percent of NHS staff have received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, although the figure is closer to 80 percent in some areas, said Javid. This means there are around 80,000 to 100,000 NHS workers in England who are unvaccinated, raising fears about how the service will cope if they lose their jobs. "The NHS is under the most intense pressure this winter already, we know the waiting lists are at close to 6 million," said Labour's health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth. "There will be anxiety... that a policy, however laudable in principle, could exacerbate some of these chronic understaffing problems. "We simply cannot afford to lose thousands of NHS staff overnight," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Unvaccinated NHS workers in England to lose jobs: Health minister

<p>NASA on Sunday posted images captured by its Landsat 9 satellite. The satellite has taken its first light images of Earth. Landsat 9 is a joint mission between NASA and US Geological Survey (USGS). The mission was launched on September 27 this year.</p>

<p>The images that have been released have been captured on October 31. The images are likely to tell people how to better manage resources and make them realise effect climate change is having on Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that Landsat programme “has the proven power to not only improve lives but also save lives"</p>

<p>"What a sight! #Landsat 9 captured its first images Oct. 31, and they’re striking! These data-rich images show us glaciers, actively burning fires and more, continuing a 50-year partnership between @NASA and @USGS. This image of the remote coastal islands and inlets of the Kimberley region of Western Australia was Landsat 9’s very first," says NASA in its Instagram post that depicts one of the photos taken by Landsat 9.</p>

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<p>Landsat 9 has several improvements and has an edge over its predecessors Landsat 8 and Landsat 9</p>

<p>Landsat 9 has the capability to differentiate more than 16000 shades of given wavelength colour as opposed to Landsat 7 which can differentiate only 256 colours.</p>


NASA on Sunday posted images captured by its Landsat 9 satellite. The satellite has taken its first light images of Earth. Landsat 9 is a joint mission between NASA and US Geological Survey (USGS).

NASA on Sunday posted images captured by its Landsat 9 satellite. The satellite has taken its first light images of Earth. Landsat 9 is a joint mission between NASA and US Geological Survey (USGS). The mission was launched on September 27 this year. The images that have been released have been captured on October 31. The images are likely to tell people how to better manage resources and make them realise effect climate change is having on Earth. NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that Landsat programme “has the proven power to not only improve lives but also save lives" "What a sight! #Landsat 9 captured its first images Oct. 31, and they’re striking! These data-rich images show us glaciers, actively burning fires and more, continuing a 50-year partnership between @NASA and @USGS. This image of the remote coastal islands and inlets of the Kimberley region of Western Australia was Landsat 9’s very first," says NASA in its Instagram post that depicts one of the photos taken by Landsat 9. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA Earth Observatory (@nasaearth) × Landsat 9 has several improvements and has an edge over its predecessors Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Landsat 9 has the capability to differentiate more than 16000 shades of given wavelength colour as opposed to Landsat 7 which can differentiate only 256 colours.

NASA posts first images taken by Earth-observing spacecraft Landsat 9

<p>So you've called your boss/ teacher to say that you won't come because of (fake) fever at least once right? And as these stories go usually, you were asked to come nonetheless. Fever, cold, cough are such a passe.</p>

<p>Next time you want to score a holiday, try saying you are suffering from climate change. This may add some gravitas to your charade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This may actually be a thing if what has happened in Canada catches on. A woman there has become world's first person to have been diagnosed as suffering from climate change.</p>

<p>Yep, that apparently is a thing now.</p>

<p>Times Colonist, a local media outlet has quoted Dr Kyle Merritt of Kootenay Lake Hospital who has made the diagnosis.</p>

<p>Record-breaking heatwave conditions have been witnessed in Canada this year. The country, which is famous for its freezing climes has recorded temperatures soaring up to 49.5 degrees Celsius this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Reuters tally, 233 people died in British Columbia in June alone.</p>

<p>“All of her health problems have all been worsened. And she's really struggling to stay hydrated,” said Dr Merritt about the woman who has been diagnosed as suffering from climate change.</p>

<p>Climate change and global warming as we know, refer to a gradual increase in average global temperatures. Though the temperature may rise by just a couple degrees Celsius, it may have catastrophic effect for the world with polar ice caps melting, sea levels rising and heatwave conditions as witnessed in Canada this year.</p>


So you've called your boss/ teacher to say that you won't come because of (fake) fever at least once right? And as these stories go usually, you were asked to come nonetheless.

So you've called your boss/ teacher to say that you won't come because of (fake) fever at least once right? And as these stories go usually, you were asked to come nonetheless. Fever, cold, cough are such a passe. Next time you want to score a holiday, try saying you are suffering from climate change. This may add some gravitas to your charade. This may actually be a thing if what has happened in Canada catches on. A woman there has become world's first person to have been diagnosed as suffering from climate change. Yep, that apparently is a thing now. Times Colonist, a local media outlet has quoted Dr Kyle Merritt of Kootenay Lake Hospital who has made the diagnosis. Record-breaking heatwave conditions have been witnessed in Canada this year. The country, which is famous for its freezing climes has recorded temperatures soaring up to 49.5 degrees Celsius this year. According to Reuters tally, 233 people died in British Columbia in June alone. “All of her health problems have all been worsened. And she's really struggling to stay hydrated,” said Dr Merritt about the woman who has been diagnosed as suffering from climate change. Climate change and global warming as we know, refer to a gradual increase in average global temperatures. Though the temperature may rise by just a couple degrees Celsius, it may have catastrophic effect for the world with polar ice caps melting, sea levels rising and heatwave conditions as witnessed in Canada this year.

Suffering from 'climate change': Canada woman first in world with such diagnosis

<p>Collapse of an artisanal gold mine in Niger took lives of at least 18 people on Sunday, as per a local mayor who spoke about the tragedy on Monday (November 8).</p>

<p>The gold mine collapse took place in Maradi region in southern Niger, near the border with Nigeria. According to Adamou Guero, mayor of the commune of Dan Issa, the death toll is feared to rise.</p>

<p>Aboubacar Chaibou, Governor of Maradi region visited the site on Monday. He promised better working conditions for people at the site.</p>

<p>"We are with young people who are looking for work, they a looking to feed themselves, this strikes me as an official, for this reason we are going to analyse how to re-organise this operation and make sure that people work with dignity and equality, we will also look out for their safety," he added.</p>

<p>Artisanal miners often use old-fashioned and unregulated methods of digging, leading to frequent deadly accidents.</p>

<p>Increasing demand for metals and rising prices have triggered a boom in small-scale mining in poor countries around the world in recent years. The activity is common across much of West Africa.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Collapse of an artisanal gold mine in Niger took lives of at least 18 people on Sunday, as per a local mayor who spoke about the tragedy on Monday (November 8). The gold mine collapse took place in Maradi region in southern Niger, near the border with Nigeria.

Collapse of an artisanal gold mine in Niger took lives of at least 18 people on Sunday, as per a local mayor who spoke about the tragedy on Monday (November 8). The gold mine collapse took place in Maradi region in southern Niger, near the border with Nigeria. According to Adamou Guero, mayor of the commune of Dan Issa, the death toll is feared to rise. Aboubacar Chaibou, Governor of Maradi region visited the site on Monday. He promised better working conditions for people at the site. "We are with young people who are looking for work, they a looking to feed themselves, this strikes me as an official, for this reason we are going to analyse how to re-organise this operation and make sure that people work with dignity and equality, we will also look out for their safety," he added. Artisanal miners often use old-fashioned and unregulated methods of digging, leading to frequent deadly accidents. Increasing demand for metals and rising prices have triggered a boom in small-scale mining in poor countries around the world in recent years. The activity is common across much of West Africa. (With inputs from agencies)

Niger: Collapse of artisanal gold mine kills at least 18

<p>Already a front-runner in developing central bank digital currencies (CBDC), China on Tuesday said that it will continue to develop digital yuan (eCNY) and improve its design. Yi Gang, Governor of People's Bank of China made a statement to this effect. He was addressing a Bank of Finland event via video conferencing</p>

<p>"Going forward, we will continue to prudently advance R&amp;D of eCNY, improve its design and use," said Yi Gang.</p>

<p>China is already testing digital yuan in major cities like Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai. However, no timetable for its official rollout has been set.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinese-property-developer-kaisa-misses-payment-worrying-investors-426713">Chinese property developer Kaisa misses payment, worrying investors</a></strong></p>

<p>China will improve eCNY's privacy protection and anti-counterfeiting feature and increase its interoperability with existing payments tools, Yi Gang said.</p>

<p>China will test eCNY's impact on its monetary policy and financial markets, he added.</p>

<p>Yi also said eCNY aims to meet the need of domestic retail payments as cross-border digital payments involve more complicated issues, such as anti-money laundering.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Already a front-runner in developing central bank digital currencies (CBDC), China on Tuesday said that it will continue to develop digital yuan (eCNY) and improve its design.

Already a front-runner in developing central bank digital currencies (CBDC), China on Tuesday said that it will continue to develop digital yuan (eCNY) and improve its design. Yi Gang, Governor of People's Bank of China made a statement to this effect. He was addressing a Bank of Finland event via video conferencing "Going forward, we will continue to prudently advance R&D of eCNY, improve its design and use," said Yi Gang. China is already testing digital yuan in major cities like Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai. However, no timetable for its official rollout has been set. Also Read | Chinese property developer Kaisa misses payment, worrying investors China will improve eCNY's privacy protection and anti-counterfeiting feature and increase its interoperability with existing payments tools, Yi Gang said. China will test eCNY's impact on its monetary policy and financial markets, he added. Yi also said eCNY aims to meet the need of domestic retail payments as cross-border digital payments involve more complicated issues, such as anti-money laundering. (With inputs from agencies)

China to continue developing digital yuan, says central bank governor

<p>In spite of claims of sleaze and cronyism claims against his government, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected pressure to appear before British lawmakers debating the standards system on Monday.</p>

<p>MPs are going to hold an emergency debate amid calls for an independent inquiry into the mounting allegations of apparent corruption and inappropriate conduct within the Conservative party and government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This follows outrage at efforts last week to overhaul parliament's internal disciplinary process which would have prevented the 30-day suspension of a Tory MP found to have committed an "egregious" breach of lobbying rules.</p>

<p>Johnson abandoned the unprecedented move within 24 hours which prompted the lawmaker, Owen Paterson to resign from parliament. This threw spotlight on allegations around MPs' behaviour.</p>

<p>It also prompted an extraordinary broadside from former Conservative prime minister John Major, who called the episode "shameful" and "had the effect of trashing the reputation of parliament".</p>

<p>Despite the growing crisis, Johnson was in northeast England Monday to see hospital staff receive Covid-19 boosters and flu jabs, in what he called "a longstanding engagement".</p>

<p>His spokesman noted he would make the roughly 600-mile (965-kilometre) round-trip by train -- days after being heavily criticised for flying by private jet from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow to attend a private London dinner with former colleagues at the Daily Telegraph newspaper.</p>

<p>The spokesman said Steve Barclay, a minister with direct responsibility over standards in public life, would represent the government in parliament and was "the right person to take this forward".</p>

<p>"What we do need to do is look also at the process, and that is what we were trying to do last week," Johnson said during a brief media appearance at the hospital, insisting he would now focus on a cross-party approach to reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour party, accused Johnson of "running scared", after earlier calling for further disclosures of Paterson's correspondence with ministers over Covid contracts.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In spite of claims of sleaze and cronyism claims against his government, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected pressure to appear before British lawmakers debating the standards system on Monday.

In spite of claims of sleaze and cronyism claims against his government, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected pressure to appear before British lawmakers debating the standards system on Monday. MPs are going to hold an emergency debate amid calls for an independent inquiry into the mounting allegations of apparent corruption and inappropriate conduct within the Conservative party and government. This follows outrage at efforts last week to overhaul parliament's internal disciplinary process which would have prevented the 30-day suspension of a Tory MP found to have committed an "egregious" breach of lobbying rules. Johnson abandoned the unprecedented move within 24 hours which prompted the lawmaker, Owen Paterson to resign from parliament. This threw spotlight on allegations around MPs' behaviour. It also prompted an extraordinary broadside from former Conservative prime minister John Major, who called the episode "shameful" and "had the effect of trashing the reputation of parliament". Despite the growing crisis, Johnson was in northeast England Monday to see hospital staff receive Covid-19 boosters and flu jabs, in what he called "a longstanding engagement". His spokesman noted he would make the roughly 600-mile (965-kilometre) round-trip by train -- days after being heavily criticised for flying by private jet from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow to attend a private London dinner with former colleagues at the Daily Telegraph newspaper. The spokesman said Steve Barclay, a minister with direct responsibility over standards in public life, would represent the government in parliament and was "the right person to take this forward". "What we do need to do is look also at the process, and that is what we were trying to do last week," Johnson said during a brief media appearance at the hospital, insisting he would now focus on a cross-party approach to reforms. But Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour party, accused Johnson of "running scared", after earlier calling for further disclosures of Paterson's correspondence with ministers over Covid contracts. (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Boris Johnson gives UK MPs standards system debate a skip

<p>Residents of Delhi are having to take precaution to shield themselves from extreme air pollution. Many students stayed at home rather than returning to schools.</p>

<p>New Delhi has the worst air quality of any capital city but even by its standards the past few days have been extraordinarily bad.</p>

<p>Although authorities eased restrictions on schools imposed when the COVID-19 pandemic first struck India in March last year, many parents decided against sending their children back.</p>

<p>"The pollution in Delhi is hazardous. We as parents are afraid of sending our children to school," parent Kamlesh Sharma wrote on Twitter.</p>

<p>For air to be deemed safe, the Air Quality Index (AQI), which has a scale of 500, should be below 50. In New Delhi on Monday evening it was 392, well into hazardous territory. That was a marginal improvement on the 451 registered last week as moderate winds helped disperse some of the pollution.</p>

<p>While some schools had resumed classes for higher grades, pupils aged 14 and below were allowed back for the first time on Monday as part of a staggered re-opening.</p>

<p>But many schools reported attendance below 40% on the first day back due to parents fears over the hazardous air and the coronavirus risks.</p>

<p>"After COVID, pollution has emerged a major threat for public health particularly for children and senior citizens," Ashok Agarwal, national president, All India Parents Association, said, expressing frustration with the lack of enforcement and political will to improve Delhi's air.</p>

<p>Many supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party opposed a blanket ban on fire-crackers while blaming the opposition-ruled state governments of Delhi and Punjab for worsening pollution.</p>

<p>Environmentalists said both federal and state governments were reluctant to take tough steps because they feared loss of support among their voters.</p>

<p>In a letter to the federal and state authorities, the Central Pollution Control Board Chairman Tanmay Kumar regretted that they were not "taking sufficient measures to control pollution" and asked them to curb all air polluting activities.</p>

<p>Exposure to pollution was causing more harm than the use of tobacco or of smoking, Randeep Guleria, director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, told India Today TV channel.</p>

<p>"If you have higher levels of air pollution then the chances of having more severe COVID and dying from it goes up," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Residents of Delhi are having to take precaution to shield themselves from extreme air pollution. Many students stayed at home rather than returning to schools. New Delhi has the worst air quality of any capital city but even by its standards the past few days have been extraordinarily bad.

Residents of Delhi are having to take precaution to shield themselves from extreme air pollution. Many students stayed at home rather than returning to schools. New Delhi has the worst air quality of any capital city but even by its standards the past few days have been extraordinarily bad. Although authorities eased restrictions on schools imposed when the COVID-19 pandemic first struck India in March last year, many parents decided against sending their children back. "The pollution in Delhi is hazardous. We as parents are afraid of sending our children to school," parent Kamlesh Sharma wrote on Twitter. For air to be deemed safe, the Air Quality Index (AQI), which has a scale of 500, should be below 50. In New Delhi on Monday evening it was 392, well into hazardous territory. That was a marginal improvement on the 451 registered last week as moderate winds helped disperse some of the pollution. While some schools had resumed classes for higher grades, pupils aged 14 and below were allowed back for the first time on Monday as part of a staggered re-opening. But many schools reported attendance below 40% on the first day back due to parents fears over the hazardous air and the coronavirus risks. "After COVID, pollution has emerged a major threat for public health particularly for children and senior citizens," Ashok Agarwal, national president, All India Parents Association, said, expressing frustration with the lack of enforcement and political will to improve Delhi's air. Many supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party opposed a blanket ban on fire-crackers while blaming the opposition-ruled state governments of Delhi and Punjab for worsening pollution. Environmentalists said both federal and state governments were reluctant to take tough steps because they feared loss of support among their voters. In a letter to the federal and state authorities, the Central Pollution Control Board Chairman Tanmay Kumar regretted that they were not "taking sufficient measures to control pollution" and asked them to curb all air polluting activities. Exposure to pollution was causing more harm than the use of tobacco or of smoking, Randeep Guleria, director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, told India Today TV channel. "If you have higher levels of air pollution then the chances of having more severe COVID and dying from it goes up," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

New Delhi reels under pollution, students stay home

<p>Many of us give up our hobbies once professional life begins. But as a nurse in the UK found out, our hobbies sometimes make us strike gold, quite literally.</p>

<p>Buffy Bailey, a nurse working with UK's National Health Service was using a metal detector in a field in York, UK when it started buzzing. On digging the surface, she found a very small golden piece which she took to be an everyday object probably bought by someone from a gift shop.</p>

<p>The small piece however, felt heavier for its size and exquisite artistry on it did appear to set it apart from curios on sale in a gift shop.</p>

<p>It turned out that the small piece was made of gold. It was a bible made in gold. And to top it all, it may have been owned by the medieval aristocracy or even royalty.</p>

<p>The gold bible was found on land near to a property once owned by Richard the Third, a King of England who ruled in 15th century.</p>

<p>As per news reports, the gold bible weighs 5 grams and is either 22 or 24-carat gold.</p>

<p>The discovery of the gold Bible is being compared to that of Middleham jewel, a gold pendant set with a blue sapphire.</p>

<p>The gold bible is currently being assessed by the Yorkshire Museum in York. But it is estimated that value of the Bible would exceed USD 1.3 million.</p>


Many of us give up our hobbies once professional life begins. But as a nurse in the UK found out, our hobbies sometimes make us strike gold, quite literally. Buffy Bailey, a nurse working with UK's National Health Service was using a metal detector in a field in York, UK when it started buzzing.

Many of us give up our hobbies once professional life begins. But as a nurse in the UK found out, our hobbies sometimes make us strike gold, quite literally. Buffy Bailey, a nurse working with UK's National Health Service was using a metal detector in a field in York, UK when it started buzzing. On digging the surface, she found a very small golden piece which she took to be an everyday object probably bought by someone from a gift shop. The small piece however, felt heavier for its size and exquisite artistry on it did appear to set it apart from curios on sale in a gift shop. It turned out that the small piece was made of gold. It was a bible made in gold. And to top it all, it may have been owned by the medieval aristocracy or even royalty. The gold bible was found on land near to a property once owned by Richard the Third, a King of England who ruled in 15th century. As per news reports, the gold bible weighs 5 grams and is either 22 or 24-carat gold. The discovery of the gold Bible is being compared to that of Middleham jewel, a gold pendant set with a blue sapphire. The gold bible is currently being assessed by the Yorkshire Museum in York. But it is estimated that value of the Bible would exceed USD 1.3 million.

Nurse finds gold Bible worth USD 1.3 million in a field

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