Silver slowly rising in value again

After weeks of languishing around the $20.00 an ounce mark silver has begun a recovery of sorts. From June 19th of this year (when the metal dropped nearly a dollar and half in one day) through August 8th, the 'poor man's gold' seldom broke the aforementioned threshold, at one point dipping dangerously close the $18 point.

Since the 8th, however, silver has been on a steady rise, ending this week at $23.26 an ounce. While nowhere near the $45.00 prices being quoted in September of 2011, the recent gains have enthusiasts of precious metals optimistic. Gold has been rising as well, threatening to break the $1,400 per ounce ceiling for the first time in 9 weeks.

Silver remains one the most under-appreciated, over-performing commodities / barter items available. The white metal hit its low point on November 5, 2001 at an anemic $4.13 oz., meaning that it has jumped in value over 500% in less than 12 years.

Europe grapples with tuberculosis resurgence

A study by German health economists is raising alarms in Europe, over a potential economic cataclysm facing the continent. Cases of tuberculosis [TB] are on the rise in Europe, and the costs associated with fighting it are at crisis levels. Currently the treatments alone are estimated at €500 million ($655 million), with lost productivity rising to €5.2 billion ($7 billion). Researchers warn that these costs will continue to expand if no action to taken.

The price-tag for defending against this (once-considered 'eradicated') infectious disease has been growing due the emergence of drug-resistant versions of the virus. The current vaccines and medicines have no effect on the mutated strains of TB, causing scientists to implore both public and private-sector entities to expand development of new treatments.

According to the World Health Organization [WHO], TB killed 1.4 million people in 2011 alone, with total global cases estimated at 8.7 million. The WHO fears that by 2015 there will be at least 2 million cases of the mutated strains, which - if left unchecked - could eventually overwhelm the capabilities of health-care professionals on a global scale.