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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Shanna Nasiri, 34, decided to leave her tech job when she no longer felt aligned with the work.</li><li>Earlier this year, she opened a natural wine bar in Williamsburg called With Others.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shanna Nasiri, the 34-year-old owner of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.withothersbrooklyn.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYikrw0VpjpCpAQ0ZvjvLvpFSaoADEXEYZSPsfVYegg3r5FJj2KHjPZ-Cs_aem_1Utqp3zKNtwMvha7MZMTkA">With Others</a>, a natural wine bar in Brooklyn, New York. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified Nasiri's salary.I grew up in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-san-francisco-worth-it-cost-of-living-negativity-2024-2">Bay Area</a> near Silicon Valley, and everyone I knew was in some variation of tech. I continued on that trajectory.My first job was working for the corporate ventures team at Qualcomm. After that, I worked in semiconductors for a few years. Then, I went back to business school and got a job in product marketing for a regulatory technology startup.I liked aspects of what I was doing. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-workers-pushed-limits-of-perks-benefits-pampering-over-2024-10">perks</a> were nice. I had full benefits. And there <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/left-big-tech-job-uber-entrepreneur-2024-10">was the salary</a>. I was making around $200,000 at the time I left, plus a bonus. I also got a lot of stock options.I was working for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-to-bet-your-career-on-in-2024-2024-2">startup companies</a>, so I had the chance to be at the ground level, build teams, and craft messaging. I felt like I had an impact.But I wasn't creatively fulfilled. I didn't like what I was doing. It didn't resonate with who I am. I was kind of embarrassed to tell people I did product marketing for regulatory technology startups. I felt like I was speaking a different language.At the time, I compartmentalized. This is who I am at work, and this is who I am in my personal life. I just accepted my life for what it was and figured you could <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/happiness-at-work-employee-engagement-fulfillment-flexibility-four-days-2023-12">never be fully happy at work.</a><h2 id="ddbf58b0-8e32-403f-9d1f-46fdacdaa027">That started to change when I turned 30</h2>Around my 30th birthday, I started having these existential questions and ideas. I had recently moved from San Francisco to New York City. That was also right at the start of COVID, so I had a lot of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-pandemic-changed-my-career-2-years-stories-2022-3">alone time to reflect.</a>I was seeing this whole new world in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-new-york-london-tech-where-to-live-2024-8">New York City</a>, with so many diverse careers. In San Francisco, I knew a lot of tech founders. But when I moved to New York, I started to see that entrepreneurship could have a greater meaning beyond tech.<div type="image" title="A photo of Shanna Nasiri holding a bottle of wine next to a photo of Williamsburg" height="1500" width="3000" msid="115114938" hostid="261" sizebytes="438074"></div>I had always fantasized about opening a space, but it wasn't something I thought I would actually do.I moved to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-show-what-its-like-to-live-in-williamsburg-brooklyn-2021-5">Williamsburg in 2021</a>. It was still pretty desolate at the time. There were lots of empty storefronts. I would go on these long walks and start fantasizing about what I would do with the space.I've always been passionate about hosting. I love to curate an environment. I'm obsessed with the little details like glassware, music, lighting, and sparkling water choice. I grew up in a family where my mom and grandma would host huge parties all the time and I was the mini host. I'm Middle Eastern and I think there is a sense of Middle Eastern hospitality that's embedded within me.My <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/types-of-wine">wine journey</a> started young. My stepdad collected limited-production Pinot Noirs. He introduced me to wine and taught me how to taste and the artisanship that goes into production.When I think about it now, it was pretty brazen to start a wine bar. But it was COVID, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-people-changed-careers-jobs-during-pandemic-2022-3">life felt so short and precious</a>. I wanted to prove to myself I could do itIt was either get stuck in this unfulfilling career trajectory and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/careerist-corporate-ladder-decline-promotions-work-ethic-american-dream-2024-10">climb the corporate ladder</a>, or try to be an entrepreneur. It was a huge leap of faith and required me to believe in myself 100%So, in the summer of 2022, I got a job at a wine bar in Brooklyn to see what it was like. I was so passionate about it.After that, I started pursuing my wine education and got my Wine and Spirit Education Trust certification, which is a globally recognized qualification. I got a job at a wine shop. And I fully committed to opening my own bar.<h2 id="49faa484-70c2-47b4-9558-670c2708ed17">My tech experience came in handy</h2>A lot of my past work was helpful as I was building the bar. I knew how to manage teams. I had always worked at the ground level, so I had experience juggling a lot of responsibilities and working with limited resources.I started asking everyone to introduce me to other entrepreneurs and asking about their contractors, their agents, and their plumbers.<div type="image" title="A photo of Shanna Nasiri posing at her wine bar next to a photo of Williamsburg" height="1500" width="3000" msid="115114935" hostid="261" sizebytes="153358"></div>I used my own money and opened the bar on a very small budget.It took me a year to find the space because I was only looking for places within a few blocks of my home. I wanted it to be really integrated with the community. I found the space in June 2023 and started construction in October 2023.We opened in March of this year. It's been incredible. It's beyond anything I could have ever imagined.It has quickly become the neighborhood spot. We have regulars that come in twice a week. And the coolest thing has started happening recently, where I have probably met 11 or 12 parents of our regulars.I've continually reinvested in the bar. For example, the backyard buildout happened three months after we opened. After that, I built out the basement and cellar. Then I invested in hiring a general manager and growing out the wine list.<h2 id="ac1863d1-953a-4300-b4ce-24a04c6e730e">It's been a major lifestyle change from tech</h2>I don't have health insurance. I'm working probably 12-hour days. There's just so much stuff to do in terms of maintenance. And I work service every single night.In tech, I could work from anywhere. I traveled a lot and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/working-remotely-feel-isolated-from-coworkers-quit-2024-7">worked remotely</a>. Now, I have a physical space. I haven't left a 20-mile radius since Christmas and have no plans to.But I feel so aligned with what I'm doing. It feels like what I was always meant to be doing. I work way more hours than I did in tech, but it doesn't feel as hard.I'm in such awe of what we've been able to create in such a short amount of time.

I left my $195,000 tech job to open a wine bar. I work 12-hour days and don't have health insurance, but I've never been happier.

The <keyword id="6358021" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="budget" source="Orion">Budget</keyword> has left the life insurance industry a worried lot with the new tax proposal on higher premium annuity products, a move which the industry fears will hit their top-lines by 10-12 per cent. Leading private life insurer <keyword id="472962" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="hdfc-life" source="Orion">HDFC Life</keyword>'s chief executive <keyword id="323997" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vibha-padalkar" source="Orion">Vibha Padalkar</keyword> told PTI that she stares at 10-12 per cent hit on the company's top-line with the Budget proposal to tax life products having annual premium of over Rs 5 lakh. She also fears that the increased tax exemption bracket of Rs 7 lakh and the steep reduction in the maximum surcharge on the affluent to 39 per cent from 42.74 per cent earlier may nudge them to spend more and save less. This can have many cascading impacts on the macro sector by way of a spike in the already high inflation, apart from the life insurance sector which has been facing sales issues since the Covid pandemic as people were not investing in long-term savings. And since the opening up of economic activities, many are on a "revenge spending mode" and not investing in financial products even now. Given the overall increase in incomes, the government should have either ignored the new tax levy on insurance products or it should have imposed tax on products with premium of Rs 10 lakh or upwards. At this level, it will definitely hit the industry hard, she added. The industry was expecting a proposal to offer composite lincence for the insurance sector wherein life insurers would be allowed to renter the health business which they were doing till 2015. Besides, the insurance sector players were also expecting some positive moves on the annuity products front. <keyword id="699506" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tarun-chugh" source="Orion">Tarun Chugh</keyword>, chief executive of <keyword id="138574" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bajaj-allianz-life" source="Orion">Bajaj Allianz Life</keyword>, said the tax proposal on higher value non-Ulip or traditional life policies "is bit of a dampener for the insurance industry and for increasing penetration of insurance and household financial savings." "We as a market still have quite low insurance penetration and there is a need to provide measures and incentives to boost that in the coming years. Also, household financial savings have been falling and insurance is a critical component of that. Household financial savings as percentage of GDP has fallen from 8.1 per cent in FY20 to 6.5 per cent in FY23, he said and warned that discontinuing incentives on insurance plans should put further pressure on household financial savings to some extent. Vighnesh Shahane, chief executive of <keyword id="10687373" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ageas-federal-life-insurance" source="Orion">Ageas Federal Life Insurance</keyword>, said the finance minister has announced that from April income from life insurance policies, other than Ulips, with an aggregate premium amount of Rs 5 lakh per annum or more, which was earlier tax-free, will now be taxable. But she said if the insured person dies in between, the death benefit will continue to remain tax-free. The move is similar to the proposal introduced a couple of years ago which imposed tax on the maturity amount of Ulips if the annual aggregate premium exceeded Rs 2.5 lakh, he said. The proposal is likely to dent the sales of non-par products which have been witnessing strong growth over the last few years, especially during the pandemic. As the cap of Rs 5 lakh is applicable for all life policies across insurers, it may deter individuals from purchasing additional policies if they have exhausted their limit with their primary insurer, he explained. <keyword id="14942220" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="supriya-rathi" source="Orion">Supriya Rathi</keyword>, a wholetime director at <keyword id="2647323" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="anand-rathi-insurance-brokers" source="Orion">Anand Rathi Insurance Brokers</keyword>, opined that the budget has "given bad news for life insurance companies" by limiting the income tax exemption on proceeds of insurance policies.

Life insurers stare at 10-12% hit on top-line as Budget taxes higher premium products

'With COVID expenses rising, taxpayers need more than an insurance rebate', says a wealth manager

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jenneh Rishe, 36, worked as a <keyword id="11893192" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nurse" source="Orion">nurse</keyword> for a private practice in Los Angeles before the <keyword id="11896136" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pandemic" source="Orion">pandemic</keyword>. </li><li>She left her job due to the risks associated with her chronic illnesses, including heart conditions.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Jenneh Rishe, a 36 year-old registered nurse in Los Angeles and <a href="https://www.jennehrishe.com/book">book author</a>. It has been edited for length and clarity.I've been a nurse for 14 years. Going into <keyword id="11897506" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">healthcare</keyword> was a given for me. I've always been very science-minded, and I'm a people person, so nursing was the perfect fit. I have a history of chronic illnesses, endometriosis being the main one, and I was born with two heart conditions that I didn't find out about until my adult life. I had open-heart surgery to correct them in late 2019, right before the pandemic started. One of the conditions caused a nonobstructive form of coronary artery disease. Stress and inflammation can cause it to flare. <h2>Getting COVID-19 would have been one of the worst things for me</h2>It's a disease that affects the airways and heart, and it's highly inflammatory. I was also diagnosed with lupus in 2021, which is an autoimmune disease. I'm on steroids to treat my lupus, which suppresses my immune system — also not a great thing for COVID-19. Before the pandemic, I was working in internal medicine at a private practice. During the summer of 2019, I went on short-term disability through my employer because of my heart conditions. The plan was to go back once I recovered. I ended up having to leave that job because they couldn't keep my position open for as long as I needed. I figured this might happen, and pretty early on, I let my employers know not to wait for me. Having the extra stress of a return-to-work deadline wasn't going to be in my best interest for healing. I transitioned over to short-term disability through the state of <keyword id="11892889" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="california" source="Orion">California</keyword> in September 2019, which lasts for a year. <h2>As soon as the pandemic started, I worried about what I was going to do if my benefits ran out before it was over</h2>The idea of working at a job with the potential of COVID-19 exposures was absolutely terrifying. I had to think outside of the box and start job searching.I stayed in my last job for three years because I loved it and I learned a lot. As someone with chronic illnesses, it was fascinating to see the diagnosis journey for patients. My husband and I also received <keyword id="11897507" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health-insurance" source="Orion">health insurance</keyword> through my former employer. When I stopped working that job, I was in the middle of all these follow-ups for my heart, and we had medical bills to pay. We ended up going on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-to-get-cobra-health-insurance">COBRA</a>, or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which was a huge financial burden. My previous employer covered 100% of our healthcare premiums. Under COBRA, we paid about $1,200 a month.Based on our savings, my husband and I decided five months was the longest I could go without working after my benefits expired. It was getting down to the wire, and I was really stressed out.<h2>I was taking interviews for jobs that I knew weren't the safest options</h2>One was with the California State Department doing contact-tracing for COVID-19. It was half-hybrid, but the other half was going into convalescent homes and homeless shelters to test people. The other remote options were with health-insurance companies, which I morally don't feel very good about.Then, I happened to go in for a blood draw during my job search. I was at a primary care practice called <a href="https://www.onemedical.com/">One Medical</a>, which I joined as a patient in 2017 because they offered more flexible video visits and email correspondence. I was talking to one of the phlebotomists about how I was looking for a nursing job when she told me, "Oh, all our nurses are remote." I looked at their job postings and saw they had a position in California, so I applied and was hired in spring 2021. <h2>I honestly couldn't have pictured a better job for me </h2>I get to do everything from home and can work from bed on days I'm not feeling well. I have my healthcare benefits back, and my husband is covered too. I'm able to be flexible with my schedule. When I first got hired, they asked me if I had any accommodations. As a nurse, that's the first time I'd ever been asked that. I've never had such a supportive employer.Before, I felt really guilty that I wasn't on the frontlines with my colleagues. I knew it wasn't in my best interest, but I still felt bad. Now I get to help out with COVID-19 by trying to keep people healthy. It's been a great transition. <h2>For people who are <keyword id="14436493" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="high-risk" source="Orion">high risk</keyword>, making decisions has been really hard</h2>It became a lot harder when all the mitigations were taken away, because I felt like I was in this alone. How do I function in a society that's not interested in keeping me safe anymore? It felt like nobody cared about lives like mine. The things that were issues during the pandemic — like access to care — were also issues before it. I hope the pandemic will help change the way we think about accessibility for the better.

I became a remote nurse after 13 years of working in-person — and it's vastly improved my health and life

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some white-collar parents are leaving their jobs to take family gap years.</li><li>They say it's a reprieve from American life and a way to spend time with their children.</li></ul>Claire Williams and her husband Matt had what you might call a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/infp/comments/13874zk/most_americans_today_have_what_are_known_as/">Cadillac problem</a>.They were trying to figure out how to best use some money they'd saved. They thought about buying another home or adding an extension to their current one, but while spending time with their kids in quarantine, they realized what they needed more than anything was time."We thought, how do you buy time?" Claire, 40, told Business Insider. "The answer we came up with was stepping off the hamster wheel out of the daily grind."So, Matt left his job of 11 years at an architecture and engineering firm and they set off in June 2022 to travel the world for a year with their then 13-,10-, and 7-year-olds to bond, broaden their worldview, and show the kids "that there are many different ways to live, work, and be happy," said Claire, a stay-at-home mom.From surfing in Sri Lanka to riding camels in the Sahara, they traveled to six continents and 26 countries. They rented out their Bay Area house, cooked a lot while on the road, and meticulously budgeted for each country, estimating that they spent just shy of $100,000 living abroad for a year, excluding flights, insurance, and back-at-home costs like a storage unit.Family gap years like this are a chance for 30- and 40-something white-collar parents who have enough cash to leave their jobs behind to show their kids a different way of life. It's a sabbatical with a twist — the kids are in tow and they're leaving their schools behind, too. Parents said they typically mix homeschooling on the road with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theworld.school/">worldschooling</a>, which prioritizes immersive travel as education.For a certain set, making a non-traditional move like leaving it all behind to take your kids around the world became even more appealing when the pandemic forced us to rethink life's possibilities.It's sticking around as the world somewhat normalizes; Reddit is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/askSingapore/comments/1ary3p0/family_gap_year/">littered with threads</a> looking for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskIreland/comments/1aokv9h/has_anyone_here_had_a_family_gap_year_in_spain_or/">family gap year advice</a>, which posters can easily find in various <a target="_blank" href="https://slowcamino.com/">blogs</a>. Travel with immediate family is the top travel trend for 2024, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.virtuoso.com/getmedia/90c4929f-3d17-4bf2-ae87-4fad8dc38a52/2024-Luxe-Report-Global-Release_FINAL.aspx">per travel network Virtuoso's Luxe Report</a>. Parents said that while traveling for a year makes finding alone time hard and planning on the go is tiring, the family time is priceless and it can be an escape from the stresses of the modern American economy.<h2>'We wanted to enjoy our kids while we were still their favorite people'</h2>The 2020s economic landscape sent some families packing their bags. More than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/chart/26186/number-of-people-quitting-their-jobs-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20more%20than%2050,a%20red%20hot%20labor%20market.">50 million Americans</a> quit their jobs in 2022 as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-burnout-stress">burnout and work stress</a> soared. Inflation hit a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-report-cpi-september-prices-rent-fed-rates-recession-outlook-2022-10">40-year high</a>, leading to the Federal Reserve trying to fight back by raising interest rates.At the same time, those who owned real estate and stocks saw <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-saw-wealth-grow-double-during-pandemic-2024-4">a major spike in wealth,</a> and those who worked from home found increased flexibility, both sparking new possibilities in lifestyle.Jennifer Spatz, founder of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/">Global Family Travels</a>, said she started receiving requests two-and-a-half-years ago in a newly vaccinated world from families looking to travel and educate their children for a year. She now offers a family gap year and extended travel planning service for $80 to $100 an hour. Once itineraries are approved, she works with travel partners to collect commissions on hotels and experiences."It could expand into a big business," she said, adding that her family gap year clients typically have disposable income and kids around 8 to 11 years old. Parents agreed that pre-high school years are the prime time, while kids are young enough to still value family time and old enough to absorb new experiences."We wanted to enjoy our kids while we were still their favorite people," said Amy Chang, 44. "If we took time off when they get to high school or college, that doesn't do us any good in building relationships with them because they're going to have their own lives by then."Chang and her husband Allen were among the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/pandemic-pushes-us-doctor-burnout-all-time-high-63">63% of physicians </a>burned out after working through COVID-19. She said their jobs put them in a privileged position to save money, as did having few student loans, living in a house they could afford on one salary, and driving the same car for 12 years. With a solid financial cushion to cover a year's mortgage and traveling, they left central Massachusetts with their then 9- and 7-year-olds in August 2022 for a road trip around the US to visit national parks before heading off to Asia and Europe.<div type="image" title="Amy Chang and her family in Venice, Italy" height="480" width="640" msid="109759636" hostid="261"></div>They rented an RV from a local family, cooked on the go, and stayed in Airbnbs. They stayed under budget, which included their savings plus room for an emergency fund after returning home."Even though it was a huge expense, it was worth it…even if it means working a little longer on the tail end of our careers," she said.<h2>World lessons, no classroom required</h2>No family gap year is complete without immersive travel. Parents said they've read "The Iliad" while in Greece, attended worship services from different religions, and taught their kids how to navigate a foreign city — all parts of their desire to provide their kids with real-world schooling.They typically value regenerative tourism, which involves giving back and positively impacting places as you travel. They want a local's experience rather than a cruise or all-inclusive resort, Spatz said. She often plans trips that involve work and education aligned with the <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals">United Nations Sustainable Development Goals</a>, like gender equality or access to clean water. For example, one of her families will be wrapping up their gap year in July in a remote Nepal village, working with a woman who started a school."It's learning about the different cultures and history, but taking the kids out of that traditional classroom," she said.Claire wanted to "get beyond the surface" by participating in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.workaway.info/">Workaway</a>, in which they stayed with local families in exchange for helping them around the home. In Sydney, Australia, they helped a family clean chicken coops on a 300-acre cattle farm. In Santiago, Chile, they helped care for baby quails on a poultry farm. It allowed them to save money and live with locals side-by-side, she said.Marisa Vitale, 47, has been experiencing different ways people live around the world, often choosing non-touristy areas to understand how the neighborhood works. She and her family lived in a Spanish-intensive homestay in Guatemala, with an indigenous Hmong family in Vietnam, and in an Argentine estancia to learn how the gauchos work the land.For her 11-year-old-twins, she said has been "a masterclass in history and anthropology," adding that her kids write reports and create art projects for each country they visit."Right when they're on the cusp of becoming young adults, what better way to understand who they are and how they feel in their skin than to take them through a wide variety of ways to live," she wrote over email from "deep in the desert" of Jordan, where they were staying in a Bedouin cave. "Empathy, kindness, and patience are the main things I take away from traveling. We wanted our kids to see those in so many different faces and places across the globe."<div type="image" title="Marisa Vitale and family" height="3088" width="2316" msid="109759639" hostid="261"></div>Her family plans to return to their Los Angeles home, which they rented out, this July. She halted her work as a self-employed photographer and her husband is on a yearlong sabbatical from his 15-year government job. While their monthly budget changes depending on where they're traveling, she estimates that they spend about $10,000 a month between lodging and general expenses, with a small amount of leeway for splurging on an experience.<h2>A year later</h2>A gap year also proves educational for parents. It helped Chang and her husband recalibrate their work lives. She's now doing shift work as an OB-GYN hospitalist — a better work-life balance than her previous work in private practice — and her husband is doing a fellowship to figure out how physicians can use AI."He wouldn't have been able to research or think about that at all if he hadn't had the time off," she said.Re-entry was a little harder for Claire, despite Matt returning to his previous job. She said traveling cost them an average of $261 per day, less per day than their daily life in California. That included food and beverage, lodging, entertainment and experiences, ground transportation and fuel, and miscellaneous living expenses like medicine or SIM cards."When you remove your mortgage, gas, insurance — there are so many little things that are gone when you're on the road," she said.Right now, they're living in Salt Lake City for two years as they contemplate what's next and prepare to launch a podcast about their travels. She hopes to keep the adventure going."Our time abroad felt not overwhelmed by consumerism," she said. "In the U.S., everything from highways to shopping to grocery stores is just really big and loud. So much of our gap year was really quiet and authentic and simple."

Some millennial and Gen X parents are leaving it all behind to spend 6 figures on a family gap year. Here's how they budget and 'worldschool' their kids. 

Here’s how the advertising and marketing industry reacted to Union Budget 2021

<ul class="summary-list"><li>If you're planning on booking <keyword id="6354691" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Air-travel">air travel</keyword> during the coronavirus pandemic, you may be worried about whether <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> <keyword id="35450" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="insurance">insurance</keyword> will cover a cancellation as well as how to stay physically safe while on board.</li><li>Travel writer Caroline Morse Teel spoke with travel insurance expert Stan Sandberg about the best insurance to cover your trip; he recommends a plan that allows cancellations "for any reason."</li><li>Teel also spoke with two epidemiologists who offered their best tips to reduce your exposure to potential infection throughout the flight (hint: lots of hand sanitizer).</li></ul>Confused about all things travel right now? You're not alone. To clear things up, we consulted the experts on the questions that are on all travelers' minds right now, getting the inside answers on everything from coronavirus travel insurance to masks on planes so you can travel confidently (or decide to stay at home) this summer.<div type="image" title="Caroline Teel" height="1982" width="2643" msid="77545933" hostid="261"></div><h2>If I buy travel insurance now for an upcoming trip, will it cover a cancellation due to the coronavirus?</h2>The fine print that comes along with travel insurance can be headache-inducing under normal circumstances, let alone in a pandemic.Stan Sandberg, cofounder of <a href="https://www.travelinsurance.com/">Travelinsurance.com</a>, broke down different coronavirus coverage options. The simple answer: It depends on your policy, so you'll need to carefully check terms and conditions before you buy.Sandberg says to avoid standard travel insurance policies (which tend to be the cheapest, most easily available policies, like the ones offered as add-ons when booking), as they usually have a general exclusion for pandemics and won't cover you at all for anything coronavirus-related. Trip cancellation travel insurance plans could be an option, as these will cover you if you get sick (including with <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>), but they won't help you if you need to cancel because your vacation destination has become a hotspot or if you're just worried about the virus.According to Sandberg, your best bet is a '<a href="https://www.travelinsurance.com/cancel-for-any-reason-coverage/">cancel for any reason' plan</a>, which lives up to its name by allowing you to cancel for any reason up to two days before your departure. Just be warned that these plans may only reimburse you for 50% or 75% of your trip, and that this insurance option can be really pricey — so it may only be worth it for a seriously luxe trip.<h2>Which <keyword id="44023" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="airlines">airlines</keyword> are blocking off seats for social distancing?</h2>A middle seat assignment on a packed flight used to be the uncomfortable price of budget travel, but now it may seem downright dangerous. If you don't want to risk getting stuck on a full flight, you're going to want to avoid American Airlines right now. The airline just recently ended its policy of blocking off middle seats, joining United, Spirit, and Allegiant in operating flights at up to 100% capacity.These airlines are the best option for social distancing:<ul><li><a href="https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-update-center/coronavirus-travel-faqs#safertravel">Delta</a>: blocking off all middle seats as well as some aisle seats on planes with 2x2 configurations through September 30.</li><li><a href="https://www.southwest.com/airline-cleanliness-social-distance/">Southwest</a>: blocking off middle seats through October 31.</li><li><a href="https://www.jetblue.com/safety">JetBlue</a>: blocking middle seats through September 8.</li><li><a href="https://www.alaskaair.com/content/advisories/coronavirus?int=AS_HomePage_AdvisoryBR_L1%7C%7C2020_CV_AW%7C%7C-prodID:Awareness&amp;lid=HomePage_AdvisoryBR_NLC_LPC_LP">Alaska Airlines</a>: blocking seats through September 30.</li><li>Airline policies are changing frequently, so be sure to check with the airline about their rules before you book (you'll find a coronavirus FAQ or advisory on the homepage of every airline right now, which will give you the most up-to-date information).</li></ul><h2>Is it safer to fly or take a long road trip (with stops at gas stations, hotels, rest stops, etc.) right now?</h2>Everything — even a trip to the grocery store — can feel risky right now. But the risk of travel comes down to one major factor: other people.When you're in a car, you can control your exposure to other people. But on a plane, you don't have many options to remove yourself from a risky scenario, like sitting near a coughing person or being stuck within six feet of another flyer. <a href="https://www.rti.org/expert/pia-macdonald">Pia MacDonald</a>, PhD, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the nonprofit Research Triangle Institute explains that "risk is determined by how 'safe' you and those you come in contact with are."Before you embark on road trip or flight, Dr. MacDonald says to consider questions like: "Are the people in the airplane coming from high transmission areas? Are the stops on the long drive in low or high transmission areas? Are people compliant with physical distancing and face coverings? The flight involves interacting with people beyond who is on the airplane. Did people take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft to get to the airport? How long were they in the airport? What did they do while they were waiting?"<h2>Do I have to wear a mask on a flight? What if I have a medical condition that makes wearing a mask impossible?</h2>Yep, you're going to have to wear a mask if you want to fly — no matter what. Almost all US airlines are enforcing strict face covering requirements (meaning they will kick you off the plane if you refuse to comply). Until recently, most airlines were giving passengers with a disability or medical condition a pass on this rule, but no more. Now, pretty much all American-based airlines (with the exception of Delta) are no longer allowing anyone to fly without a mask (even those with a true medical condition).Delta still has a <a href="https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-update-center/ways-we-are-keeping-you-safe/onboard-services">medical exemption for masks</a>, but anyone claiming the exemption will need to undergo a strict "clearance to fly" process at the airport that can take over an hour.So, think of your mask like an airline ticket now — if you don't have one, you're not getting onboard.<h2>Can I take off my mask to eat or drink during a flight?</h2>Yes, you can briefly take off your mask to eat or drink during a flight, but remember that the mask rule is there to protect your fellow passengers, so don't abuse this loophole. If you need to slip off your mask for eating or drinking, make sure you sanitize your hands before touching your mask, and bring a clean paper bag or other container to store your mask in (rather than resting it on the germy tray table).<h2>If I'm going to fly, is there anything I can do (besides wearing a mask) to keep myself safe from COVID?</h2>Flying used to involve a basic checklist before heading out to the airport: ticket? ID/passport? Now your mental list should look more like: ticket, ID, mask, sanitizer.<a href="https://www.research.vt.edu/sirc/contact/lisa-m-lee.html">Dr. Lisa Lee</a>, an epidemiologist and associate vice president for research and innovation at Virginia Tech, offers final day-of basic rules to follow while flying during the pandemic:<ul><li>Don't travel if you're sick</li><li>Keep six feet away from everyone else</li><li>Wear a mask around other people</li><li>Wash your hands frequently</li><li>Bring extra masks</li><li>Have a plan (for example, how will you handle crowded areas like baggage claim or the security line)</li><li>Sanitize your seat</li></ul>Caroline Morse Teel is a travel writer who has pursued stories from Antarctica to Zanzibar and (almost) everywhere in between. Her work has appeared on Lonely Planet, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, SmarterTravel, and more. Follow her travels on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/travelwithcaroline/">@TravelWithCaroline</a> or at <a href="https://www.carolinemorseteel.com/">CarolineMorseTeel.com</a>.

Everything you need to know about traveling on an airplane in a pandemic, according to experts

The decline in the tax-GDP ratio over the years and declining share of direct taxes in total tax revenue, clearly suggest that the Central government should emphasize in the <keyword id="6360189" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-budget" source="Orion">Union Budget</keyword> 2022-23 on substantially improving the tax revenue, Primus Research said in a note. The policies regarding 'tax effort' could be designed through various ways such as, rationalising tax rates, policies regarding widening tax base and net, and improving tax compliance and tax administration. This process would have enormous implications on ameliorating economic growth, deficit (in both the absolute term and as per cent to GDP) would come down. It added that the Budget for FY 2022 should continue to provide more support on the demand side than the supply side by reviving the informal sector and MSMEs. It is expected that against contraction in revenues, increase in expenditures could collectively revive the aggregate demand in the economy. This could lead to a high growth in the near future, henceforth, reducing the fiscal deficit (estimated to be 6.8 per cent in 2021-22) both in absolute terms and as a percentage of GDP. In this regard, it is expected that central government would re-assess its ministry-wise allocations, and increase spending on social and economic sectors to boost aggregate demand in the economy. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2022-expectation-in-higher-standard-deduction-tax-slabs-and-covid-insurance/slidelist/88891751.cms">From higher standard deduction and change in tax slabs to clarity on Covid insurance, here’s what tax experts want from Budget 2022</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/the-indian-government-has-spent-less-than-half-the-money-it-had-budgeted-for-capital-investments-so-far/articleshow/88852518.cms">The Indian government has spent less than half the money it had budgeted for capital investments, so far</a>

Widening tax base should be a focus area in the Union Budget, says Primus Research

As the Indian economy pushes forward to grow at 9 per cent and above over the next few years, a key challenge for the country would be to rebalance its energy needs in favour of renewable sources by 2030 to 50 per cent as per the Paris agreement. This is where the <keyword id="44891" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="aluminium" source="Orion">Aluminium</keyword> sector will play a greater than ever before role. Extensive growth in electric vehicles, renewables, modern infrastructure, energy efficient consumer goods and greater dependence on strategic sectors such as aerospace and defence, will drive Aluminium consumption to grow at CAGR of 10 per cent or more. For example, Aluminium usage in EV battery is 40-50 per cent more than a normal ICE. Being 3 times lighter than steel it aids in fuel efficiency making it an efficient choice for EVs. However, the Indian aluminium industry is struggling to revive itself over the last two years following the unprecedented Covid pandemic. The declining domestic producers market share with surging imports coupled with significant cost escalation for primary producers due to a rise in input costs of critical raw materials, escalating ocean freights &amp; logistics costs due to container shortage, current coal crunch situation etc, is restricting the industry's ability to support the future of the country at a time when India cannot rely on import sources alone to fuel this growth. To give relief to the sector, there is a need for urgently looking at the duty structure. The basic custom duty on Aluminium and <keyword id="1865776" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="aluminium-scrap" source="Orion">Aluminium scrap</keyword> is not in line with other non-ferrous metals like Zink, lead, nickel and tin which is a huge disadvantage for domestic Aluminium producers. The industry expects increase in tariff rate of basic custom duty or peak custom duty rate from existing 10 per cent to 15 per cent. Currently custom duty on Primary Aluminium is 7.5 per cent, Downstream Aluminium is 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent and Aluminium <keyword id="6374716" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="scrap" source="Orion">scrap</keyword> is only 2.5 per cent. This is the reason why despite having significant presence of primary Aluminium capacity and potential to generate sufficient domestic scrap, India's consumption of scrap is 100 per cent import dependent. The way forward is to increase custom duty on Aluminium srap from 2.5 to 10 per cent. Primary aluminium industry is facing severe threat from the increasing import of Aluminium scrap. The share of scrap in total imports increased from 52 per cent in FY-16 to 66 per cent in FY-21. resulting in Forex Outgo of $2 billion (Rs 15,000 crore). What is also affecting the Indian industry is China's renewed measures to restrict Scrap imports through National Sword Policy, which is leading to greater inflow of scrap into India. China imposed 25 per cent duty on Aluminium Scrap imports from USA, and classified Aluminium Scrap in restricted import list from July, 2019, with plan to completely ban all scrap and waste imports. Post that the share of import from the US in China's total Aluminium scrap imports has declined from 53 per cent in 2017 to just 16 per cent in 2019. India has overtaken China as world's largest aluminium scrap importer due to Chinese measures. As a result, entire global scrap chain is shifted to India in absence of any quality or BIS standards for scrap recycling/ usage and imports in the country. A major threat is from US scrap imports, as US is diverting large volume of scrap to India, since EU and other developed countries have stringent standards for scrap. The import from US as share of India's total scrap imports increased from 8 per cent in FY16 to 24 per cent in FY21. This precarious situation can be resolved by safeguarding the domestic industry against these non-essential imports in the upcoming union budget. The industry demands increasing the basic custom duty on Chapter-76 (Aluminium &amp; articles). SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2022-expectation-in-higher-standard-deduction-tax-slabs-and-covid-insurance/slidelist/88891751.cms">From higher standard deduction and change in tax slabs to clarity on Covid insurance, here’s what tax experts want from Budget 2022</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/widening-tax-base-should-be-a-focus-area-in-the-union-budget-says-primus-research/articleshow/89093457.cms">Widening tax base should be a focus area in the Union Budget, says Primus Research</a>

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