How do you cope in a flatshare?

How to work your virtual work - Chinadaily.com.cn Virtual work programs are proliferating rapidly in organizations all over the world. Millions of employees now use portable electronic tools to do their jobs from a "virtual office" with extensive flexibility in the timing and location of work. Virtual work has been prevalent in Western countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, but has been relatively new in developing countries, such as China, until recently. The spread of the COVID-19 virus has precipitated the practice of remote work. However, employees have not been prepared for this new practice mentally and behaviourally, and managers do not have the relevant experience to tackle the challenge of managing virtual work.

Coronavirus panic: Why are people stockpiling toilet paper? Image copyright Getty Images Perhaps the worst doomsday scenario is this: being stuck on the toilet and finding you're down to the last square. At least that appears to be the nightmare prospect scaring many Australians right now, who have become the latest group to respond to coronavirus fears by buying toilet paper en masse. Coronavirus: the week explained Welcome to our weekly roundup of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic, which is continuing to pose unprecedented challenges around the world. By Friday morning the outbreak had grown to more than half a million confirmed infections – more than double the figure a week ago – with the US, China, Italy and Spain accounting for more than half of these, according to trackers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The true number is certain to be far higher since many countries are not aiming to test all cases. Addressing world leaders at a virtual summit on Thursday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization director general, described the pandemic as “the defining health crisis of our time”, warning that millions of people could die without decisive action from leaders. “We are at war with a virus that threatens to tear us apart,” he said. On Thursday the US overtook China as the country with the most cases.

In pictures: The battle of the oranges Image copyright Andrea Capello Once a year, in the run-up to Shrove Tuesday, the citizens of the old medieval town of Ivrea, in Italy, gather in the main square to hurl oranges at each other. As the town prepares to celebrate once more, we look at the pictures by photographer Andrea Capello who documented the event last year. The origin of the so-called Battle of the Oranges dates back to medieval times and is said to commemorate the day the townsfolk were liberated from the harsh rule of an evil duke. The legend goes that the miller's daughter, Violetta, cut off the duke's head when he tried to claim his right to sleep with young brides on their wedding night.

Healthy injection Outbreak brings new opportunities for China’s burgeoning digital economy Wang Jiayi, a 31-year-old fashion magazine editor in the Tongzhou district of Beijing, is relying on a vending machine powered by artificial intelligence at her residential compound to supply her with fresh fruit, vegetables and other necessities. “I select products displayed on the transparent door of the machine and use my mobile to scan a quick-response code,” Wang said. “Once it is scanned, the door opens and payment is processed automatically after I make my selection and close the door,” Wang said. 'Get robbed in Rio': Brazil tourist board mistakenly publish rant Image copyright Getty Images Come for sunshine, beaches and the violent crime is not the typical message a tourist board broadcasts. But Brazil's national tourism board surprised its social media followers when it inadvertently shared a tourist's rant about her holiday in Rio de Janeiro. "Rio is such a beautiful city," begins the post by user Withlai on Tuesday. But it goes on: "My family and I were robbed and my 9-year-old sister witnessed a violent robbery."

Food wholesalers offer online orders to sell stock Image copyright HG Walter's Food wholesalers are making online home deliveries in response to Covid-19 measures. As bars, restaurants and hotels shut due to government restrictions, the wholesalers that usually provide them with food and drink, have seen a huge drop in business. Mexican ambassador caught shoplifting book resigns citing health problems Image copyright Getty Images Mexico's ambassador to Argentina has resigned amid new allegations of theft, after video previously emerged of him attempting to shoplift a book. Ricardo Valero, 77, cited health problems as he stepped down, and the Mexican foreign minister said he was undergoing neurological treatment. Mr Valero was recalled this month after CCTV showed him taking a book from a Buenos Aires shop without paying. He is now accused of the attempting to steal a shirt from an airport shop. The diplomat made headlines after he was caught picking up a book from the shelf in the El Ateneo Grand Splendid in October and then slipping it inside a newspaper before attempting to exit the store.

Coronavirus: Lockdowns continue to suppress European pollution Image copyright Copernicus/KNMI/ESA New data confirms the improvement in air quality over Europe - a byproduct of the coronavirus crisis. The maps on this page track changes in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - a pollutant that comes principally from the use of fossil fuels. Lockdown polices and the resulting reductions in economic activity have seen emissions take a steep dive. Social media awash with scorn for 'sloping toilet' Image copyright StandardToilet A toilet designed to slope downwards slightly, making it uncomfortable to sit on for more than a few minutes, has been pooh-poohed on social media. The toilet design has an upper surface that slopes downwards at a 13-degree angle. The concept - for which a patent application has been filed in the UK - is intended to have medical benefits, according to its designer, Mahabir Gill. The BBC spoke to Mr Gill about the toilet, which has been branded "StandardToilet".

International Conference on Sustainable Technology and Development - Conferences - Elsevier Global leaders from both academia and industry will give an overview of the latest advances in their fields in a series of inspiring plenary lectures. A topical interdisciplinary programme will include selected contributed talks arranged within parallel sessions and poster sessions for which abstracts are invited. A series of training courses and workshops will take place immediately prior to the conference. Contributions to the programme are invited by 6 November 2020 on the following conference topics: Sustainable Environment 'Ice eggs' cover Finland beach in rare weather event Image copyright Risto Mattila Thousands of egg-shaped balls of ice have covered a beach in Finland, the result of a rare weather phenomenon. Amateur photographer Risto Mattila was among those who came across the "ice eggs" on Hailuoto Island in the Gulf of Bothnia between Finland and Sweden.