# 1 Indian American Weekly: Since 2006

VOL 14 ISSUE 20 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● MAY 15 - 21, 2020 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 www.theindianpanorama.news AMERICA Narendra Modi announces 20 lakh UNITED AGAINST crore economic stimulus package COVID-19 Gives a call for being 'vocal for local' and for self-reliance KEEP SAFE ● Follow President Trump's NEW DELHI (TIP) : Prime Minister Guidelines on Coronavirus Narendra Modi on Tuesday,May 12, said ● Observe Social Distancing a new-look Lockdown 4.0 beyond May 17 ● Wash Hands Frequently was in the offing, while announcing an ● No Panic Buying economic stimulus package for ?20-lakh- ● No Price Gouging crore (estimated at 10% of the GDP), KEEP AMERICA SAFE with a clearly defined leap towards economic reforms that will, in his words, lead to Atmanirbhar Bharat, or a self- Visa, OCI card reliant, resilient India. suspension prevents This amount includes packages already announced at the beginning of several Indians in the lockdown incorporating a slew of measures from the RBI and the payouts US from flying under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan back home Yojana. contd on page 32 Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Story on Page 13 nation, May 12 Photo / Courtesy DD-PTI China stealing US research on COVID-19: Pompeo U.S. Senator Richard Burr WASHINGTON (TIP): U.S. Secretary of steps aside as committee State Mike Pompeo on Thursday accused China of "stealing" U.S. intellectual chair in view of FBI stock property and data related to COVID-19 trades probe research. Mr. Pompeo's allegations came a day after WASHINGTON (TIP): U.S. Senator the FBI and the Department of Homeland Richard Burr will step aside as chairman of Security claimed that organizations the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, conducting research into COVID-19 may be after the FBI seized his mobile telephone in a Senator Burr has denied wrongdoing and targeted by computer hackers linked to the major escalation of a probe of his stock said he relied solely on news reports to Chinese government. The U.S. condemns trades before the downturn caused by the guide decisions on stock sales, amid reports he and other senators sold shares attempts by cyber actors and coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. after private briefings from intelligence on File picture contd on page 12 contd on Page 12 the risks of the coronavirus crisis. Thousands of Indian Nationals Return Home from USA in First Phase of Vande Bharat Mission India's Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty, Deputy Consul General Shatrughna Sinha supervising the boarding of passengersat EWR Airport, Newark when second evacuation flight for Mumbai and Ahmedabad left on May 10th

NEW YORK (TIP): The first Air India Indians from San Francisco to Mumbai. special flight, which took off from San Thank @airindiain @MoCA_GoI and Francisco May 9 with 225 Indians on Maharashtra Govt for support and board, landed in Mumbai on Monday, coordination. Great work by CG Sanjay May 11th, under the Government of Panda and Team @CGISFO," External India's Vande Bharat mission. The Affair Minister S Jaishankar tweeted. passengers departed from San Francisco The second evacuation flight for International Airport on Saturday under Mumbai and Ahmedabad left on May Supervision of India's Consul General in 10th, 2020 from EWR Airport, Newark, San Francisco Sanjay Panda. "First AI NJ.India's Consul General in New York spl flight from the US brings in 225 contd on Page 3 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 2 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 COVID-19 PANDEMIC BECOMING CHILD RIGHTS Countries with highest CRISIS AS 6,000 CHILDREN COULD DIE DAILY: UNICEF number of cases and fatalities

lobal deaths linked to the novel TRACKING THE VIRUS Gcoronavirus passed 300,000 on Thursday, while reported cases of the virus are approaching 4.5 GLOBAL INDIA million. About half of the Cases Deaths Cases Deaths fatalities have been reported by the United 4,526,850 3,03,405 81,970 2,649 States, the United Kingdom and Italy. The first death linked to the disease was reported on January 10 in Wuhan, China. It took 91 days for UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The UN’s children the death toll to pass agency has warned that an additional 6,000 children 1,00,000 and a further 16 could die daily from preventable causes over the next days to reach 2,00,000, six months as the COVID-19 pandemic weakens the according to the Reuters health systems and disrupts routine services. tally of official reports As the coronavirus outbreak enters its fifth month, from governments. It took the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) requested USD 1.6 19 days to go from 200,000 to billion to support its humanitarian response for 300,000 deaths. children impacted by the pandemic. Here’s a look at the The health crisis is “quickly becoming a child countries with high rights crisis. And without urgent action, a further incidence of Covid-19 6,000 under-fives could die each day,” it said. deaths in the world: With a dramatic increase in the costs of supplies, shipment and care, the agency appeal is up from a United States USD 651.6 million request made in late March – With over 1.3 million reflecting the devastating socioeconomic total coronavirus cases, the consequences of the disease and families’ rising US leads the global Covid-19 needs. tally. According to the “Schools are closed, parents are out of work and World Health organisation, families are under strain,” UNICEF Executive the country has reported Director Henrietta Fore said on Tuesday. 80,695 Covid-19 fatalities UK RESEARCHERS TRY TO CRACK GENETIC “As we reimagine what a post-COVID world would which is the highest in the look like, these funds will help us respond to the world. RIDDLE OF COVID-19 crisis, recover from its aftermath, and protect children from its knock-on effects.” The estimate of United Kingdom LONDON (TIP): British researchers the 6,000 additional deaths from preventable causes More than 33,000 people will study the genes of thousands of ill over the next six months is based on an analysis by (33,186 to be exact) have COVID-19 patients to try to crack one of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg succumbed to death in the the most puzzling riddles of the novel School of Public Health, published on Wednesday in United Kingdom so far, the coronavirus: why does it kill some the Lancet Global Health Journal. World Health organisation people but give others not even a mild UNICEF said it was based on the worst of three data showed. Over 2.29 lakh headache? scenarios analysing 118 low and middle-income cases of coronavirus have Researchers from across the United countries, estimating that an additional 1.2 million been reported in the UK till Kingdom will sequence the genetic code deaths could occur in just the next six months, due to date. of people who fell critically ill with reductions in routine health coverage, and an COVID-19 and compare their genomes increase in so-called child wasting. Italy with those who were mildly ill or not ill Around 56,700 more maternal deaths could also The country has the at all. Kenneth Baillie, an intensive care occur in just six months, in addition to the 144,000 third-highest number of The hunt for the specific genes that doctor who is leading the study at the likely deaths across the same group of countries. The Covid-19 fatalities in the could cause a predisposition to getting University of Edinburgh, told Reuters. worst case scenario, of children dying before their world, and is just behind ill with COVID-19 will involve up to “I would bet my house on there being fifth birthdays, would represent an increase “for the the UK. Italy has recorded 20,000 people currently or previously in a very strong genetic component to first time in decades,” Fore said. 33,106 deaths due to Covid- hospital intensive care with COVID-19 individual risk,” Baillie said. “We must not let mothers and children become 19. Italy has more than 2.22 and about 15,000 people with mild Health minister Matt Hancock called collateral damage in the fight against the virus. And lakh coronavirus cases. symptoms. on people to sign up to the programme. we must not let decades of progress on reducing Scientists caution that their “If you’re asked to sign up to the preventable child and maternal deaths, be lost,” she Spain knowledge of the novel coronavirus, genomics trial which is being run by said. The country has over 2.28 which emerged in China last year, is Genomics England, then please do, Access to essential services, like routine lakh Covid-19 infections. still modest though they say it is because then we can understand the immunisation, has already been compromised for The country has seen 27,104 striking how it can be so deadly for genetic links. It’s all part of building a hundreds of millions of children and threatens a deaths due to the deadly some but so mild for others. scientific picture of this virus.” significant increase in child mortality. disease. It is, as yet, unclear why. The genome is an organism’s According to a UNICEF analysis, some 77 per cent of “We think that there will be clues in complete set of deoxyribonucleic acid, children under the age of 18 worldwide are living in France the genome that will help us understand or DNA, and in humans it contains one of 132 countries with COVID-19 movement The country has how the disease is killing people,” about 3 billion DNA base pairs. restrictions. witnessed over 27,029 The UN agency also spotlighted that the mental Covid-19 fatalities till date. Covid-19 disease. It has seen Germany was reported. It has now health and psychosocial impact of restricted With nearly 1.4 lakh total 1,77,589 cases and 12,400 recorded 1,12,725 cases of movement, school closures and subsequent isolation coronavirus cases, it is deaths due to coronavirus Germany has 1,72,239 coronavirus disease and are likely to intensify already high levels of stress, among the top 10 worst hit disease. coronavirus cases and 6,783 deaths. especially for vulnerable youth. nations in the world. recorded 7,723 deaths due to At the same time, they maintained that children Belgium the coronavirus disease. Canada living under restricted movement and socio-economic Brazil The country has 53,981 Canada has recorded decline are in greater jeopardy of violence and The Latin American Covid-19 cases and has Iran 71,486 cases of Covid-19 and neglect. Girls and women are at increased risk of country has emerged as the recorded 8,843 deaths to Iran is where one of the 5,209 deaths, according to sexual and gender-based violence. new global hotspot of the date. early outbreaks of Covid-19 WHO. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 NY/NJ/CT 3 Thousands of Indian Nationals Return Home from USA in First Phase of Vande Bharat Mission passengers were allowed to travel. The 3rd Special Flight from USA under #MissionVandeBharat took off with 334 passengers on board from Chicago to Mumbai and Chennai on 11 May around mid-night. Consul General Amit Kumar saw off the passengers, drawn mostly from jurisdictions of Indian Consulates in Chicago, Atlanta and Houston. On May 12 Vande Bharat Mission in the US moved to Day 4 with Indian citizens boarded Air India flight bound for Delhi-Hyderabad from Washington Dulles International Airport.India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu took special initiative to facilitate smooth return of the passengers. "Wheels up On Day 4 of #VandeBharatMission in US. Relieved passengers depart for home to Delhi and Hyderabad from DC. Thank you India's Consul General in Chicago Amit Kumar saw off the @airindiain passengers, drawn mostly from jurisdictions of Indian . Team India Consulates in Chicago, Atlanta and Houston @IndianEmbassyUS is proud to be part of this Mission.," Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu said in a tweet. Government of India had announced on 4 May its decision to facilitate the return of stranded Indian nationals from different countries, who could not travel due to COVID-19 related international travel restrictions, in a phased manner. Under Mission Vande Bharat, around 15,000 Indians are being repatriated through 64 Special Flights from 12 countries in Europe, the North Americas, Gulf and South Asia. Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu interacting with In the first phase of Vande Bharat Mission, there passengers bound for Delhi-Hyderabad flight at Washington were 7 Air India flights to India with two flights each Dulles International Airport from San Francisco, New York and Chicago, and one 'Vande Bharat Mission' is a unique and logistically First Air India special flight took off from San Francisco May 9 flight from Washington DC. Priority was accorded to challenging operation coordinated by Ministry of with 225 Indians on board those in distress/emergency cases, including workers External Affairs. Its implementation requires CONTD FROM PAGE 1 who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced flexibility and continuous adjustments to respond to Sandeep Chakravorty, Deputy Consul General with expiry of visas, persons with medical evolving situation. In this endeavor, there is deep Shatrughna Sinha and other consular staff saw off the emergency/pregnant women/elderly, those required to cooperation among the U.S. authorities, Air India, a passengers.Medical screening of passengers was done return to India due to bereavement of a family member, number of Ministries/Departments, State before boarding the flight and only asymptomatic and students. Governments and organizations in India. India Center Foundation Launches 2nd Phase of South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund NEW YORK (TIP): Twelve artists from Shakira and, finally, cartoonist Soumya multiple disciplines, ethnic backgrounds and Dhulekar, whose cartoons with themes of grief, geographic diversity will receive the first round memory and coming-of-age have been printed in of The South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund various anthologies and included in national (SAARF), a grant program created by the India exhibitions. More information can be found on Center Foundation (ICF) for South Asian- the ICF website, TheIndiaCenter.us. American artists and arts workers who have been "We've had 120 applicants from 19 states so far impacted by the economic fallout of COVID-19. for round one, and though their contributions to From filmmakers to performance and visual culture and society are invaluable, their reported artists to writers and musicians, the grantees income loss from this pandemic, collectively, trace their roots to South Asia (Pakistan, hovers around $1.5 million," says Raoul Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan and India) and Bhavnani, one of ICF's Co-Founders. "Our goal is represent its culture through their art in the U.S. to provide $500,000 in grants to South Asian- Grantees are as diverse as the applicants and American artists and arts workers of all are chosen on the strengths of their disciplines, in order to help them continue contributions. One such grantee is LA-based MC creating work that embodies South Asian Seti X (aka Mandeep Sethi), whose politically culture, while also supporting their livelihoods." charged verses have had GQ Magazine call him The deadline for Round Two of the grant is "India's booming hip hop scene's new voice." May 15, with winners being announced May 25th. Other grantees include curator, painter, educator Although the Fund has reached $30,000 towards and advocate Sadaf Padder, who is serving her its $500,000 goal, with ICF providing the initial community of Brooklyn as an Artists-in-Masks seed money, "We have a long way to go," adds Resident with COPE NYC by designing PPE for Bhavnani. "This is very much a grassroots essential workers along with NYC youth. campaign, and although we are gaining Included also are tabla player Rajesh Bhanderi, momentum, we appreciate all donations no whose 20-year career has seen him perform with Twelve artists from multiple disciplines, ethnic backgrounds matter how big or small they are." the likes of Ustad Zakir Hussain, Falu Shah and and geographic diversity will receive the first round of The South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund THE INDIAN PANORAMA 4 INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 Indian Origin Chintan Mehta and Munish Kumar on Wells Fargo Expanded Technology Leadership Team CIOs named to support Corporate Strategy, Digital Platform & Innovation, and Wealth & Investment Management businesses SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Wells Fargo institutional trading platforms, & Company (NYSE: WFC) announced, including Institutional Allocation May 8, two new leaders joining the Platform and Chase Online Trading. Technology organization. Chintan Previously, he held technology Mehta was named chief information leadership roles at Bear Stearns and officer (CIO) and head of Digital Citigroup. Kumar has a Bachelor of Technology & Innovation, and Munish Technology and Computer Science from Kumar was named CIO and head of Punjabi University in India. Wealth & Investment Management About Wells Fargo Technology. Both will have a joint reporting relationship to Saul Van Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) Beurden, head of Technology, and the is a diversified, community-based relevant line of business leaders. financial services company with $1.98 Mehta's appointment is effective trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is immediately, and Kumar will join the to satisfy our customers' financial needs company in August. and help them succeed financially. As CIOs, Mehta and Kumar will have Founded in 1852 and headquartered in responsibility for all technology San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides underlying the company's Corporate banking, investment, and mortgage Wells Fargo, on May 8, named Chintan Mehta as chief information officer (CIO) and head of Strategy, Digital Platform & Innovation, products and services, as well as Digital Technology & Innovation, and Munish Kumar as CIO and head of Wealth & Investment and Wealth & Investment Management Management Technology consumer and commercial finance, businesses. They will work with through 7,400 locations, more than 13,000 business leaders to deliver the tools and Fargo's digital ecosystem, a position he Science from the University of ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com), and maintain the platforms needed to serve held since 2017. In this role, he was Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. mobile banking, and has offices in 31 Wells Fargo customers, while responsible for leading the delivery of all Kumar brings more than 20 years of countries and territories to support contributing to the company's digital experiences and capabilities for experience and joins Wells Fargo from customers who conduct business in the technology transformation. Wells Fargo businesses and its 70 million JPMorgan Chase, where he was global economy. With approximately "Chintan and Munish bring extensive customers. Previously, he was global managing director of digital sales, 263,000 team members, Wells Fargo technology and business knowledge, chief technology officer at Walgreens marketing and personalization, and serves one in three households in the making them both uniquely positioned from 2015 to 2017, where he was analytics technology, a position he held United States. Wells Fargo & Company for these roles," said Van Beurden. "In responsible for product management, since 2015. In this role, he oversaw a team was ranked No. 29 on Fortune's 2019 addition, their demonstrated leadership design, engineering, and operations of 400 technologists responsible for rankings of America's largest will be an important addition to the across retail, pharmacy, and health care creating personalized experiences for corporations. News, insights and organization's ongoing technology businesses. He also held technology customers through technology. From perspectives from Wells Fargo are also transformation. I am pleased to welcome leadership positions with increasing 2008 to 2014, Kumar held a technology available at Wells Fargo Stories. Chintan and Munish to the Technology levels of responsibility at American leadership role in the company's asset Additional information may be found at leadership team." Express and Barclays Bank PLC in and wealth management business where www.wellsfargo.com | Most recently, Mehta was CIO of Wells London. Mehta has an M.S. in Computer he developed and managed the retail and Twitter: @WellsFargo. Indian American Yale Student Builds Textbook Library for Needy Students Indian American Stony Brook Sisters NEW YORK use GRL PWR to fight disease (TIP): Kushal Dev, a second- NEW YORK (TIP): Ruchi Shah was 15 years old year student at when she noticed a long line of people outside of a Yale's Silliman tiny clinic waiting to get treatment for mosquito- College has transmitted diseases during a family trip to India. founded the After returning to her Ronkonkoma, Long Island Silliman home, the driven teenager began working in her Textbook family's garage and a high school classroom to Library - a develop an all-natural mosquito repellent. A political science major, Kushal Dev has founded communal space In March, almost a decade after her dream began, the Silliman Textbook Library - a communal housing over she was named one of 10 winners of Victoria's space housing over 1,000 textbooks 1,000 textbooks Secret PINK's second annual GRL PWR Project, an that can be used initiative that provides funding for young female by Yale students who can't afford them. Students can use them "leaders, trendsetters and go-getters." Ruchi's entry at any time for free. was among those selected from nearly 4,000 video The Shah sisters present their mosquito repellent After struggling to access an especially expensive economics submissions from women across the country ages textbook himself, Dev decided to do something to help fellow 18 to 25, winning $25,000 to put toward her business. continued her studies at the Renaissance School of students who found their textbooks financially prohibitive. A Shah's company, Mosquitoes Be Gone LLC, is a Medicine at Stony Brook. friend, former Yale College Council president Peter Huang '18, direct descendent of her high school science A champion of helping empower others, Ruchi had once touted the idea of a textbook library.Dev brought the project, which followed her to Stony Brook, where also created an internship program shortly after idea to fruition by soliciting donations from fellow students, she majored in biology. In 2015, her junior year as founding her company that is a collaboration alumni, and others at Yale, receiving an initial donation of an undergrad, she entered a business plan between Stony Brook's Department of Biology, the some 600 books. The books, initially kept in the Acorn - competition. To her surprise, she won, and a College of Business and the WISE Honors Silliman College's coffee shop - were moved this year to a company was born. Her younger sister Nidhi, then program, which offers educational and dedicated space in the residential college's library. a high school senior, became the company's chief professional science, technology, engineering and A political science major, Dev is interested in the operating officer. Nidhi Shah would herself come mathematics (STEM) opportunities for intersection of technology, pop culture, and politics, as well as to Stony Brook the following year as a psychology undergraduate students. in racial and queer politics. (Courtesy: Yale) major. Ruchi, after earning her BS in Biology, (Courtesy:Stony Brook University) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 INDIANS ABROAD 5

Indian American Three Indian American Students Historian Rohit De Named One of 27 Win Prestigious DOE Fellowship Carnegie Fellows NEW YORK NEW YORK (TIP): Three Indian American Students are (TIP): Rohit De, among 26 recipients nationwide of a Department of Energy an associate Computation Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF). professor of They are Priya Donti from Carnegie Mellon University, and history at Yale Dipti Jasrasaria and Amaresh Sahu, both from University University, has of California, Berkeley. been named a The program, established in 1991, trains top leaders in 2020 Andrew computational science. As part of the program, fellows Carnegie Fellow. receive exceptional benefits including a yearly stipend; full Rohit De is a legal He joins a class payment of university tuition and required fees (during the historian who studies of 27 fellows, South Asia, appointment period); and an annual academic allowance. Priya Donti from Carnegie Mellon University, and Dipti Jasrasaria and each of whom Amaresh Sahu, both from University of California, Berkeleyare among postcolonialism, and Donti earned her B.S. degree in Computer Science and receives up to 26 recipients nationwide of a Department of Energy Computation the role of lawyers in Mathematics from Harvey Mudd College in 2015. Her work Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) politics $200,000 to seeks to develop machine learning, optimization, and pursue a writing control methods for robust, emissions-minimal energy Sahu did his B.S. Chemical and Biological Engineering, and research project. system management that are powerful enough to cope with from Princeton University in 2013. His research focuses on De is a legal historian who studies the system's large-scale nature. using a variety of techniques from statistical mechanics, South Asia, postcolonialism, and the Jasrasaria did M.Phil. Scientific Computing from continuum mechanics, and finite element methods to role of lawyers in politics. Among University of Cambridge in 2017and B.A. Chemistry from develop models that better explains cell membrane other topics, his research has explored Harvard University in 2016. behavior. the significance of political trials in Asia and Africa in the 1950s, and constitutions in South Asia. Indian Origin Texas Professor De's book A People's Indian Grocery Store Owner in Constitution: Law and Everyday Life Man Admits Role in in the Indian Republic(Princeton Nearly $5 Million California Faces Price Gouging Charges University Press) explores how the Indian constitution, despite its elite Health Care Fraud authorship and alien antecedents, came to permeate everyday life and Scheme imagination in India during its HOUSTON (TIP): A 57-year-old transition from a colonial state to a Houston man has entered a guilty plea democratic republic. Mapping the use in Corpus Christi federal court for and appropriation of constitutional conspiring to commit health care language and procedure by diverse fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan groups such as butchers and sex Patrick. workers, street vendors and petty Ravinder Syal admitted he engaged A nine-count misdemeanor complaint has been filed against Apna Bazar, a large grocery store businessmen, journalists and women in a scheme that resulted in the false in Pleasanton, and Rajvinder Singh, the store's owner, with price gouging social workers, it offers a billing of $4,878,530.92 for services constitutional history from below. He never provided to patients. From Feb. NEW YORK (TIP): On May 7, Alameda County DA O'Malley and California continues to write on the social and 1, 2018, until March 1, 2020, he Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that their offices have jointly filed a intellectual foundations of acquired physicians' practices nine-count misdemeanor complaint charging Apna Bazar, a large grocery store in constitutionalism in South Asia. throughout Texas and assumed Pleasanton, and Rajvinder Singh, the store's owner, with price gouging. He is current research focuses control of their billing department. This prosecution marks the first ever price gouging action in Alameda County. around two major strands: the He then brought in a company located Customers began voicing complaints about the increase in prices of food items at histories of political lawyering and the in India to bill false claims to the Pleasanton store shortly after the state of emergency was declared in California. nature of the postcolonial state in Medicare, Medicaid and various A chorus of complaints from shoppers reached the DA's Office through phone calls, South Asia. insurance providers. e-mails and postings on social media platforms. "The law prevents businesses from Syal would submit false claims for profiteering when we are in a state of emergency. All businesses throughout Indian American services that were never performed, Alameda County must be on notice that we will not sit idly by and allow consumers Attorney Shot Dead in for nutritional servicers that were to fall prey to price gouging. My office will ensure that businesses adhere to the law never provided and even for office and do not exploit consumers," says District Attorney O'Malley. Georgia visits that occurred over holidays (Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news) ATLANTA when the clinics were actually closed. (TIP): An Indian He would also bill for services that origin senior could not even be performed at the staff attorney at clinics he acquired due to lack of Indian American Engineer Charged Cobb County equipment. Magistrate was Syal altered the billing information in Texas with COVID-Relief Fraud shot and killed and added these fraudulent services HOUSTON (TIP): An Indian origin engineer has been charged in the Eastern May 9 morning without the knowledge of the District of Texas with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking while physicians at the respective practices. more than $10 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Rajesh Mehta, 45, confronting a As a result of his scheme, Medicare, Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security was shot multiple gunman outside Medicaid and various insurance (CARES) Act. Shashank Rai, 30, of Beaumont, Texas, allegedly sought millions of times by 29-year-old a home in Locust Terrance Scott providers were billed $4,878,530.92 for dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA from two different banks by outside the home on Grove, a report in services never performed. Syal was claiming to have 250 employees earning wages when, in fact, no employees worked Hansen Drive Atlanta Journal overpaid $553,068.65 on the fraudulent for his purported business. Rai is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint Constitution claims. with violations of wire fraud, bank fraud, false statements to a financial institution, reported. Sentencing has been set for Aug. 10 and false statements to the SBA. Rajesh Mehta, 45, was shot multiple before U.S. District Judge David S. "As alleged, Rai fraudulently pursued millions of dollars in loans intended for times by 29-year-old Terrance Scott Morales. At that time, Syal faces up to legitimate small businesses suffering the economic hardships of the COVID-19 outside the home on Hansen Drive, 10 years in federal prison and a pandemic," said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice said police. possible $250,000 maximum fine. Department's Criminal Division. "The department and our law enforcement partners (Read full story at Syal was permitted to remain on will remain vigilant in our efforts to protect critical CARES Act relief programs from www.theindianpanorama.news) bond pending that hearing. fraud and abuse." (Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA 6 NY/NJ/CT FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 New York Gov. Cuomo extends the state’s stay-at-home order until June 13

NEW YORK (TIP): In an executive order on On Wednesday, Cuomo said four New York regions Thursday,May 14, Cuomo said the state would continue meet his criteria to begin lifting lockdown. In his order the "New York State on PAUSE" policy put in place in on Thursday, he said certain regions that meet public March in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The health and safety metrics will be eligible for reopening. statewide shutdown was set to expire on May 15. "The Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, Cuomo said in a tweet that some regions have met his the North Country, and Central NY are ready to begin criteria and can begin to reopen on Friday. Phase 1 of reopening tomorrow," Cuomo said in a tweet New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on on Thursday. "The others can be UN-PAUSED the Thursday that the state's stay-at-home order would be moment they hit their benchmarks." extended until June 13. New York has been the state hit hardest by the In an executive order on Thursday, Cuomo said the coronavirus pandemic. As of Thursday evening, the state would continue the "New York State on PAUSE" state had confirmed more than 343,000 cases and more policy put in place in March in response to the than 27,000 deaths. coronavirus outbreak. The statewide shutdown was set As part of the "New York State on PAUSE" policy, all to expire on May 15. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday, May 14 non-essential businesses statewide have been closed, that the state's stay-at-home order would be extended until "Both travel-related cases and community contact June 13. and non-essential gatherings have been canceled. The transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in policy also states that individuals must maintain a New York State and are expected to continue," the order governments shall continue to be in full force and effect social distance of at least six feet apart and should limit states. until June 13, 2020, unless later extended or amended by outdoor activity. "All enforcement mechanisms by state or local a future Executive Order," he added. (Source: Business Standard) Immigrants Donate Hand-Sewn Masks To Naacp & Nycha Residents STATEN ISLAND, NY (TIP): As the coronavirus "We share a struggle for the right for dignity and spread throughout New York City, bringing with it strict respect. If we can't rely on the government to watch out restrictions on local businesses, many Staten Islanders for us, then we will support each other as neighbors and lost their jobs. Undocumented workers have been the communities," said Yesenia Mata, executive director of hardest hit by the economic crisis that the COVID-19 La Colmena. created. To compound the financial struggle, Cesar Vargas, immigration attorney, who was honored undocumented workers are ineligible for unemployment by the NAACP for his work in the building bridges with benefits or federal emergency relief because of their lack communities assured that "our ongoing efforts to donate of citizenship status. masks, meals, and other essential is not just about Nevertheless, undocumented immigrants have found a providing PPE but about showing solidarity with other way to keep a stable income for their families, while also communities who have been forgotten. We are here to helping others -- by sewing masks to sell and to donate to support each other now and beyond." first responders. A few weeks ago, undocumented women "It doesn't matter whether you were born here or not. who are making the masks donated to the New York City COVID-19 doesn't care. We are seeing the Police Department, nurses, and MTA bus drivers. disproportionate impact that this virus is having on black La Colmena and the immigrant women who are and brown communities, exacerbated by the health making the masks donated to the NAACP and public disparities already present. That is why we are working housing residents at the Richmond Terraces Houses. together to support each other during this crisis, as we Black and Latino city residents have died from see that we are often forgotten and misunderstood. The coronavirus at twice the rate of white or Asian New only way for all of us is to move forward together", said Yorkers, data released by the New York City Department Sarah Blas - NYCHA resident and Founder of Staten of health shows. Island Therapeutic Gardens. All Nassau Essential Workers Can Get Rapid Coronavirus Tests Now

MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County is who have the antibodies, but stressed even patients. An additional 15 patients tested expanding testing for the new coronavirus those who do have them can still spread the positive, bringing the total to 712. Three and all essential workers can now get tested, virus, even if it gives them temporary more patients were placed on ventilators, officials announced Thursday. immunity. The antibody tests will also give bringing the total in the county to 193. Even At a news briefing outside a community officials a better idea of how many people with the slight uptick, Curran stressed the clinic in Westbury, Laura Curran, the have been infected. county has seen a downward trend. "The county executive, encouraged anyone with "That will help us also in containment," change, while it may seem dramatic, may symptoms to get a diagnostic test at one of she said. To make an appointment at a not be as dramatic as when you're talking the clinics. Essential workers who are not clinicwhich are located in Hempstead, about larger numbers," she said.The rate of symptomatic can also get tested, she said. Elmont and Freeport - people should call infection continued to show signs of This includes first responders, health care 516-396-7500. Same-day appointments are slowing. While the percent of patients workers law enforcement personnel and available, and tests are performed outside. testing positive had been at 50 percent grocery store workers. "Anyone who The clinics are open Monday through during the peak, that number has fallen to interacts with the public, who is out there Friday. about 6 percent. "That's the lowest we've working, can get a test," she said. "You don't Those who do not have insurance will not seen so far," Curran said. have to be symptomatic to have it done." The be charged and workers will not ask about The rate of infection continued to show tests can deliver results in five to 15 immigration status, Curran said. "So please signs of slowing. While the percent of Nassau County Executive Laura minutes, she said. don't let that stop or prevent you from patients testing positive had been at 50 Curran said all essential workers - The clinics will soon offer antibody getting a test," she said. Wednesday's data percent during the peak, that number has symptomatic or not - are testing as well, Curran added. She warned showed a slight uptick in the number of fallen to about 6 percent. (Read full story encouraged to get tested that a lot remains unknown about those COVID-19-related hospitalizations and at www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 NY/NJ/CT 7

Remembering Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his 159th birth anniversary Rabindranath Tagore, Bengali prose and verse forms and the use and he is generally regarded as the Rabindranath Thakur, (born May 7, of colloquial language into Bengali outstanding creative artist of early 1861, Calcutta [now Kolkata], India- literature, thereby freeing it from 20th-century India. In 1913 he died August 7, 1941, Calcutta), traditional models based on became the first non-European to Bengali poet, short-story writer, classical Sanskrit. He was highly receive the Nobel Prize for song composer, playwright, essayist, influential in introducing Indian Literature. and painter who introduced new culture to the West and vice versa, (Encyclopedia Britannica)

A Poet’s Fight against Epidemic

etween 1897 and 1906, the plague in Bengal. Death attack also took place in India became huge. Its influence Thakurbari. Rabindranath's son Bin Calcutta in particular became Shamindranath died of cholera. The severe. People started leaving their poet's writing became stronger. He house in groups. There was more fear detailed the spread of the disease in than infection. And at that crucial time, a different countries in his article titled poet came down on the streets of the city 'Outbreak of Olautha'. to fight the disease - none other than A few years later, when the influenza Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. epidemic took shape, Rabindranath was Tagore was keenly aware of death already alerted. He realized that the key from an early age, having lost his mother to fighting disease was to overcome when he was young and, shortly after, his social distances. It is impossible to fight beloved sister-in-law Kadambari Devi. an epidemic without human Moreover, epidemics like cholera and intervention. The proper antidote to the smallpox recurred in his time. disease is the cooperative social mind. In the 1860s and 70s, when the poet was Rabindranath did a lot of research on the an adolescent, cholera and the plague, cooperative system in Denmark. He said along with smallpox, were the most it was possible to run a cooperative aggressive killers. In undivided India, system in Denmark because "the country ruled by the colonial government, the himself came to see the plague-hospital every house. Rabikaka and I have all is not suffering from a huge burden of healthcare system was skewed in favor of and said, "People have not committed a raised money and opened the Plague armaments." All its money can be used the rich, like the Tagore family, the crime just because they have become Hospital, distributing lime. Rabikaka for the welfare of the people. It is up to us upper-castes, and the British. The poor, paralyzed." and Sister Nivedita used to go to to release our revenue for tenants' both in urban and rural areas, faced the - In describing the death of Jagmohan different neighborhoods for inspection. education, health and other resources.' ire of epidemics like the bubonic plague in 'Chaturanga', Rabindranath has The nurse doctor were all kept." In Rabindranath's thought, despair, of 1896-98. narrated about the horrors of the Rabindranath also took initiative to hunger and epidemics are gradually Tagore was acutely aware of this epidemic. make the citizens of Calcutta aware. destroying the 'temple foundation' of injustice. In his 1916 novel Chaturanga, In this horror of the plague, Almost all the members of Thakurbari ancient India. But these are not an affluent man turns his home into an Rabindranath did not stop at writing joined it. Nivedita writes in 'Calcutta 'accidental'. "Malaria-plague-famine is infirmary for the destitute as the plague literature, he came down to the streets. Notes', "A few great Hindu families, just an occasion, they are just an breaks out, and eventually succumbs to That time Sister Nivedita had just notably the Tagores, stood firm, in the outward sign - the main disease has the disease that he contracts while arrived in Calcutta and two had become hope of allaying the agitation." When entered the marrow of the country," he nursing the sick. friends. The two philanthropists set out Thakurbari played an important role in wrote in the article 'Deshnayak'. The 'In the year when the first plague together that day to deal with the curing the plague, Abanindranath whole world will be beautiful only if we appeared in the city of Calcutta, the epidemic. Tagore's nine- to ten-year-old daughter can find this root ailment and that would people were busier than the plague for Rabindranath's nephew died of the plague. be the befitting homage to one of the fear of the king-wearing chaprasi .... The Abanindranath Tagore wrote in his book Not only plague but Rabindranath also greatest men on this earth. plague appeared in the neighborhood. 'Jorasanko Dhare', "At that time there took an active role to fight against (Acknowledgement: Anandabazar Patrika, People did not want to call a doctor lest was a plague in Calcutta. Epidemics are epidemics like cholera and influenza. In Biswajit Roy, Soumen Rakshit, Somak Ghosal) he be taken to the hospital. Jagmohan going on all around, people are dying in 1915, cholera took a serious turn in LETTER TO EDITOR Take Advantage of Local COVID-19 Testing Resources

DEAR EDITOR: are available right in our own backyard. symptoms such as fever, cough, or together. hroughout the COVID-19 COVID-19 testing is availableby shortness of breath, I urge you to get For additional information (available pandemic, health experts have appointment only at the Elmont Health tested as soon as possible. in English, Spanish and Creole), visit Tagreed that robust testing will be Center, located at 161 Hempstead I am grateful to New York State and https://www.lifqhc.com and click on the an essential component of our regional Turnpike. Appointments are available Long Island Family Health Centers for "learn more" tab in the blue "COVID-19 strategy for safely emerging from stay-at- on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and committing these life-saving resources to Information" box on the home page. home orders implemented to slow the residents can call 516-396-7500 to our community. Now that we have these Carrié Solages spread of this virus. schedule a test. All are welcome and tools at our disposal, we must not That is why it is essential for residents encouraged to call regardless of your squander this opportunity. Get tested, Nassau County Legislator, Third of Elmont, Valley Stream, Inwood and insurance or immigration status. remain vigilant, and stop the spread of Legislative District the surrounding communities to take If you or a member of your family are COVID-19 so that we can begin writing Valley Stream full advantage of testing resources that experiencing common COVID-19 our community's brighter next chapter THE INDIAN PANORAMA 8 EDITORIAL FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 AS I SEE IT

By Arun Maira Pathways to a more resilient economy

WHEN COMPLEX SYSTEMS COME TO achines do not have the capacity for emergence. CATASTROPHES, I.E. CRITICAL POINTS OF Once built, their capabilities inevitably reduce INSTABILITY, THEY RE-EMERGE IN DISTINCTLY Mwith increasing entropy.On the other hand, living NEW FORMS, ACCORDING TO THE SCIENCE OF systems evolve and acquire new capabilities over time. COMPLEX SYSTEMS. THE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS A CATASTROPHE, BOTH FOR HUMAN Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi point out in The Systems LIVES AND FOR ECONOMIES. ECONOMISTS View of Life: A Unifying Vision that among all living CANNOT PREDICT IN WHAT FORM THE ECONOMY species, humans have a special ability. Only humans WILL EMERGE FROM IT. consciously develop new concepts, new scientific ideas, and new language in their search for new visions. Institutions vii) Intellectual property belongs to the public. The of governance are human inventions for directing human earth's resources must be conserved. We are living in an era endeavors and for providing stability. Thomas S. Kuhn of knowledge. Just as those who owned more land used to explained in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions why have more power before, now those who own knowledge new ideas are invariably resisted by prevalent power have more power and wealth than the rest. Intellectual structures in societies. The scientific establishment property monopolies are producing enormous wealth for determines which ideas are worthy of admission. The THE REDESIGN OF ECONOMIES, OF BUSINESSES, their owners, though many were developed on the back of AND OUR LIVES, MUST BEGIN WITH QUESTIONS King's advisers do not want outsiders to dilute their huge public investments. Moreover, powerful technologies ABOUT PURPOSE. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF influence in the court. The Establishment resists change. ECONOMIC GROWTH? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF can be used for benign or malign purposes. It is imperative Therefore, fundamental reforms of ideas and institutions BUSINESSES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS? WHAT to evolve new institutions for public ownership of in human societies are always difficult, until a crisis. IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES? WHAT NEEDS, technologies and for the regulation of their use. CHALLENGING PRINCIPLES: The COVID-19 AND WHOSE NEEDS, DO INSTITUTIONS, AND PURPOSE OF ENTERPRISES: The paradigm shift EACH OF US, FULFIL BY OUR EXISTENCE? catastrophe has challenged the tenets of economics that necessary after the crisis will not be easy. There will be have dominated public policy for the past 50 years. Here are iv) The "market" is not the best solution. Money is a resistance to shifts in social, economic, and political power seven radical ideas emerging as pathways to build a more convenient currency for managing markets and for towards those who have less from those who have more resilient economy and a more just society. conducting transactions. Whenever goods and services are within the present paradigm. i) "De-Growth". The obsession with GDP as the supreme left to markets, the dice is loaded against those who do not The financial crisis of 2008 was a crisis of liquidity in the goal of progress has been challenged often, but its have money to obtain what they need. Moreover, by a system. Recovery was achieved by putting more fuel into challengers were dismissed as a loony fringe. Now, Nobel process of "cumulative causation", those who have money the system. The system then moved on; in basically the laureates in economics (Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen, and power can acquire even more in markets. The same shape it was before. COVID-19 has revealed structural Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and others) are calling upon "marketization" of economies has contributed to the weaknesses in the global economy.Putting fuel in the tank their profession to rethink the fundamentals of economics, increasing inequalities in wealth over the last 50 years, will not be sufficient. The vehicle must be redesigned too. especially the purpose of GDP. A five-point 'de-growth' which Thomas Piketty and others have documented. While global attention understandably is focused on relief manifesto by 170 Dutch academics has gone viral amidst JUSTICE AND DIGNITY: and recovery,this is the time to design for resilience. the heightened Internet buzz during the lockdown. Goals v) "Citizen" welfare, not "consumer" welfare, must be the The economic system cannot be redesigned by domain for human progress must be reset. What should we aspire objective of progress. In economies, human beings are experts devising solutions within their silos. Such as, trade for? And how will we measure if we are getting there? consumers and producers. In societies, they are citizens. experts recommending new trade policies, intellectual ii) Boundaries between countries are good. Boundary- Citizens have a broader set of needs than consumers. property experts recommending reforms of intellectual lessness is a mantra for hyper-globalizers. Boundaries, they Citizens' needs cannot be fulfilled merely by enabling them property rights, and industry experts recommending say, impede flows of trade, finance, and people. Therefore, to consume more goods and services. They value justice, industry policies. All the pieces must fit together. Most of removing boundaries is good for global growth. However, dignity,and societal harmony too. Economists' evaluations all, they must fit into the new paradigm, which will be very since countries are at different stages of economic of the benefits of free trade, and competition policy too, different to the one in which the experts had developed development, and have different compositions of which are based on consumer welfare alone, fail to account their domain knowledge. resources, they must follow different paths to progress. for negative impacts on what citizens value. Innovations are required at many levels to create a more According to systems' theory, sub-systems within complex vi) Competition must be restrained: Collaboration is resilient and just world. Innovation is essential in the systems must have boundaries around them, albeit essential for progress. Faith in "Darwinian competition", overall design of the economy.Innovations will be required appropriately permeable ones, so that the sub-systems can with the survival of only the fittest, underlies many in business models too, not just for business survival but maintain their own integrity and evolve. This is the pathologies of modern societies and economies. From also to move businesses out of the 20th century paradigm explanation from systems science for the breakdown of the school onwards, children are taught to compete. that "the business of business must be only business". World Trade Organization, in which all countries were Companies must improve their competitive abilities. Changes will also be necessary in our life patterns, our expected to open their borders, which caused harm to Nations too. Blind faith in competition misses the reality work and consumption habits, and in our personal countries at different stages of development. Now COVID- that human capabilities have advanced more than other priorities. The redesign of economies, of businesses, and 19 has given another reason to maintain sufficient species' have, by evolving institutions for collective action. our lives, must begin with questions about purpose. What boundaries. Further progress, to achieve the Sustainable Development is the purpose of economic growth? What is the purpose of iii) Government is good. Ronald Reagan's dictum, Goals for example, will require collaboration among businesses and other institutions? What is the purpose of "Government is not the solution... Government is the scientists in different disciplines, and among diverse our lives? What needs, and whose needs, do institutions, problem", has been up-ended by COVID-19. Even capitalist stakeholders, and collaboration among sovereign and each of us, fulfil by our existence? corporations who wanted governments out of the way to countries. Improvement in abilities to share and govern (The author isa Former Member, Planning Commission and the make it easy for them to do business are lining up for common resources have become essential for human author of 'Redesigning the Aeroplane While Flying: Reforming government bailouts. survival in the 21st century. Institutions' GUEST COMMENT Mega stimulus package: Self-reliance pitch timely, now for delivery new slogan, 'Be vocal about has only accentuated the serious crore. Clearance of all pending Aware of the ground reality, PM Modi local', has been added by the problem. Hence, PM Modi's strong pitch payments is another big takeaway. The has made clear his commitment to APrime Minister to his long list of for use of products manufactured in the statutory PF contribution has been remove all domestic hurdles before aspirational-inspirational repertoire. country and self-reliance could not be slashed by 2 per cent to increase the manufacturing units and attract from How far it goes in infusing the much- more timely. take-home salary. The 25 per cent cut in China the global value chain. The vigor required dynamism in the Covid-hit In a mega stimulus package, the tax deducted at source for non-salary and hope reflected in the speech have to business and industry is the big Finance Minister has announced payments is also a huge relief. A six- be translated into recognizable action. question. For long, the low share of measures to restart the economy, month extension has been given to The first tranche of the package would manufacturing in India's GDP as including Rs 3 lakh crore collateral-free government contractors to finish soothe frayed nerves, but the road ahead compared to China has been seen as a automatic loans for MSMEs, revising projects. is long. Forget about adding, will it huge weakness. So, while the country upwards the investment limit, It is an undeniable fact that the drive bring back jobs? Is it a booster shot or a witnessed high growth numbers over introducing an additional criteria of to push manufacturing has met with survival kit for the industry? the years, the job opportunities created turnover and no global tender for limited success. The much-touted 'Make (Tribune, India) as a result fell far short. The pandemic government procurement up to Rs 200 in India' has not lived up to potential. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 PERSPECTIVE 9 A plan to revive a broken economy An estimated 12.2 crore Indians lost their jobs during the coronavirus lockdown in April: CMIE 96% migrant workers did not get rations from the government, 90% did not By Harsh Mander Jayati Ghosh receive wages during lockdown: survey Prabhat Patnaik the lockdown restrictions, the multiplier providing inputs for "A combination of wealth and rounds of such expenditure are heavily them to process; and truncated at present and would not both these activities inheritance taxation and getting generate as much demand as in normal would generate multinational companies to pay times. Third, cash transfers in many substantial rural the same effective rate as local spheres will only enable current demand employment. to continue (such as payment of house The urban focus companies through a system of rent to continue occupancy) and not unitary taxation will garner create any fresh demand. Fourth, when In urban areas, it is substantial public revenue. They greater normalcy finally allows pent-up absolutely essential to demand to surface, output could also revive the Micro, will also reduce wealth and expand because of resumed economic Small and Medium income inequalities which have activity. Finally, putting money in the Enterprises (MSMEs). become horrendous. A 2% wealth hands of the poor is the best stimulus to Simultaneously, the vast numbers of their coverage in settlements of the economic revival, as it creates effective workers who have stayed on in towns urban poor. tax on the top 1% of the demand and in local markets. Hence, an have to be provided with employment These could easily come within the population, together with a 33% immediate program of food and cash and income after our proposed cash total package announced by the Prime inheritance tax on the wealth transfers must command the highest transfers run out. The best way to Minister, which could be financed by they bequeath every year to their priority. overcome both problems would be to printing money.But in the medium term, Revamp MGNREGA work introduce an Urban Employment public revenues must be increased. This progeny, could finance an Guarantee Program, to serve diverse is not because there is a shortage of real increase in government But the post-lockdown world will be groups of the urban unemployed, resources which, therefore, has to be expenditure to the tune of 10% of different for several reasons. First, including the educated unemployed. taken from other existing uses through millions of migrant workers have Urban local bodies must take charge of taxation. Rather, since much unutilized GDP." endured immense hardships to trudge this program and would need to be capacity exists in the economy, the back home, and are unlikely to return to revamped for this purpose. shortage is not of real resources; the here are clear, implementable towns in the foreseeable future. "Permissible" work under this government has to just get command steps the Centre can take in fiscal Employment has to be provided to them program should include, for the present, over them. Tterms to revive the economy and where they are, for which the Mahatma work in the MSMEs. This would ensure A combination of wealth and support livelihoods Gandhi National Rural Employment labor supply for the MSMEs and also inheritance taxation and getting The Prime Minister has just Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) must be cover their wage bills at the central multinational companies to pay the same announced Lockdown 4.0. Despite some expanded greatly and revamped with government's expense until they re- effective rate as local companies through resulting increase in economic activity, wage arrears paid immediately. The 100- acquire robustness. It should a system of unitary taxation will garner vast numbers of working people will day limit per household has to go; work imaginatively also include care work, substantial public revenue. They will remain without their regular incomes. has to be provided on demand without including of old, disabled and ailing also reduce wealth and income He also announced a package of ?20 lakh any limit to all adults. And permissible persons, educational activities, and inequalities which have become crore, but this includes already allocated work must include not just agricultural ensuring public services in slums. horrendous. A 2% wealth tax on the top money of ?6-lakh crore and monetary and construction work, but work in rural These measures are in direct contrast 1% of the population, together with a policy directives to banks and non- enterprises and in care activities too. to those that seek to entice private 33% inheritance tax on the wealth they banking financial companies. The The revamped MGNREGS could cover investors by easing labor laws. The bequeath every year to their progeny, announcements by the Finance Minister wage bills of rural enterprises started by humanitarian crisis of the lockdown could finance an increase in government thus far involve no additional public panchayats, along with those of existing reveals the imperative for more, not less expenditure to the tune of 10% of GDP. spending, even though this is urgently rural enterprises, until they can stand on labor protection. Such measures, far It would be argued that this might required to revive the economy and their own feet. This can be an alternative from reviving investment or cause large financial outflows, which the prevent further contraction. Here we strategy of development, recalling the employment, would also further reduce country can ill-afford. Contrarily, even discuss what the government should do successful experience of China's domestic demand. foreign capital is more likely to be immediately in fiscal terms for reviving Township and Village Enterprises The 'care' economy attracted to a growing economy than one the economy and supporting livelihoods. (TVEs). Public banks could provide in sharp decline because of lack of Food and cash transfers first credit to such panchayat-owned The pandemic has underscored the stimulus. Also, a fresh issue of special enterprises and also assume a nurturing extreme importance of a public health- drawing rights by the International The immediate need is to provide free role vis-à-vis them. care system, and the folly of Monetary Fund (which India has food and cash transfers to those rendered The second change is the palpable privatization of essential services. The surprisingly opposed along with the incomeless. Providing every household unsustainability of the earlier post-pandemic period must see United States) would provide additional with ?7,000 per month for a period of globalization, which means that growth significant increases in public external resources. three months and every individual with in India in the coming days will have to expenditure on education and health, These additional resources, we 10 kg of free food grains per month for a be sustained by the home market. Since especially primary and secondary health estimate, would suffice to finance the period of six months is likely to cost the most important determinant of including for the urban and rural poor. institution of five universal, justiciable, around 3% of our GDP (assuming 20% growth of the home market is The "care economy" provides immense fundamental economic rights: the right voluntary dropout). This could be agricultural growth, this must be scope for increasing employment. to food, the right to employment, the financed immediately through larger urgently boosted. Vacancies in public employment, right to free public health care, the right borrowing by the Centre from the The MGNREGS can be used for this, especially in such activities, must be to free public education and the right to a Reserve Bank of India. The required paying wages for land development and immediately filled. Anganwadi and living old-age pension and disability cash and food have to be handed over to farm work for small and medium Accredited Social Health benefits. The broken economy must be State governments to make the actual farmers; apart from government support Activists/workers who provide essential rebuilt in ways to ensure a life of dignity transfers, along with outstanding Goods through remunerative procurement services to the population, including to the most disadvantaged citizen. and Services Tax compensation. prices, subsidized institutional credit, during this pandemic, are paid a pittance (Prabhat Patnaik is Professor Emeritus, Centre This is easily doable for several other input subsidies, and redistribution and treated with extreme unfairness. We for Economic Studies and Planning, Jawaharlal reasons. First, food grains are plentiful, of unused land with plantations. must improve their status, treat them as Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Jayati as the Food Corporation of India had 77 Agricultural growth in turn can promote regular government employees and give Ghosh is a professor of economics at JNU. Harsh Mander is a human rights worker, million tons, and rabi procurement could rural enterprises, both by creating a them proper remuneration and writer and teacher) add 40 million tons. Second, because of demand for their products and by associated benefits, and greatly expand THE INDIAN PANORAMA 10 SOUTH ASIA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

5 die in Taliban suicide attack Coronavirus cases in Pak cross over KABUL (TIP): A suicide bombing in Afghanistan's eastern Paktia province on Thursday that looked to target a 36,000; PM says country more military compound but exploded before its destination killed five civilians and wounded at least 29 others, including civilians and vulnerable to poverty, hunger military personnel, Afghan officials said. ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan is more The Taliban took responsibility for vulnerable to poverty and hunger than the bombing, calling it retaliation for the coronavirus-induced lockdown and it statements by President Ashraf Ghani is important to keep a balance between blaming it for an attack earlier this health needs and financial problems of week against a maternity hospital that the people, Prime Minister Imran Khan killed 24 people, including two said on Thursday even as the number of newborns as well as several mothers COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 36,717 and nurses. The Taliban were quick to and the death toll to 788. deny responsibility and condemn that Khan chaired a meeting of National attack on Tuesday. The IS has not Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) taken responsibility for the maternity to discuss the latest pandemic situation ward attack but the hospital is located in the country. in the Shiite dominated Dasht-e- Addressing the meeting, Khan said it Barschi area of the Afghan capital is important to keep a balance between where the IS has carried out several health needs and financial problems of bloody attacks including one in 2018 the people. killing dozens of young students “Our population is more vulnerable to taking university entrance exams. — poverty and hunger than lockdown. We AP should take decisions by keeping in mind the ground reality about the Myanmar's army problems faced by the people,” he said. investigating soldiers Khan said adopting safety measures facilities was to gauge the capacity of The number of confirmed COVID-19 was a key to fight the disease but instead hospitals,” the Prime Minister’s Office cases in Pakistan rose to 36,717 on over video of abuses of forced implementation, the people said. The meeting also reviewed progress Thursday. Punjab reported 13,561 cases, PONNAGYUN (TIP): Myanmar’s should be sensitised to adopt them. The on implementing standard operating Sindh 14,099, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa army said on Wednesday it was meeting also discussed the issue of procedures and guidelines at a 5,423, Balochistan 2,239, Islamabad 822, investigating soldiers filmed beating opening transport and shopping plazas provincial level. Gilgit-Baltistan 482 and Pakistan- and threatening to kill suspected but no decision was taken on the two Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khan occupied Kashmir 91 cases. insurgents in the western state of issues. joined world leaders in calling for a Prime Minister Khan will participate Rakhine, where dozens of people have Later, Khan tweeted that NCOC “people’s vaccine” to combat the in a meeting to be organised under been killed during an upsurge of reviewed the country’s coronavirus coronavirus. COVID Action Platform of World fighting in recent weeks. situation during its 20th consecutive The Prime Minister’s Office quoted the Economic Forum (WEF), the Radio “It is found out that some of the session. premier as saying: “We must work Pakistan reported. security force members conducted “The meeting took an in-depth review together to beat this virus.” As lockdown was eased, Pakistan unlawful interrogations,” the army of existing beds, ventilators and other Emphasising the need for pooling resumed trade activities with Iran at said in a statement posted on its medical facilities in hospitals, keeping in resources, he added that “no leader can Taftan after two trade gateways were website. view the projections of possible spread rest easy until every individual in every reopened, which were closed two-and-a- In footage shared widely on social of #Covid-19 and present data. Purpose nation is able to access a vaccine free of half months ago due to the coronavirus media since Saturday, five men can be of thorough examination of existing charge”. outbreak. PTI seen slumped on the floor of a boat, blindfolded, hands tied behind their backs, as men in military fatigues All-party meet on stamp on their chests and slap and Bangladesh lifts curbs on mosque Lanka polls kick their faces. The men whimper and plead that they are civilians. inconclusive “I am a civilian, sir,” one says, prayers as lockdown eases COLOMBO (TIP): An all- according to subtitles in the video. DHAKA (TIP): Bangladesh on escalating coronavirus crisis. party meeting convened by Sri “What civilian? Why are you fighting Thursday allowed Muslims to attend The Friday prayers were limited to 10 Lanka’s election commission to against us?” a soldier shouts, grabbing prayer congregations in mosques as the worshippers while only 12 devotees were decide whether to hold him by the hair and smacking his government continues to ease the allowed to participate in the Taraweeh Parliamentary polls in June cheek. “Let them die, let them break,” lockdown restrictions amid the prayers during Ramzan. remained inconclusive, party says another. One man is hit coronavirus outbreak which has infected In keeping with the hygiene rules to members said on Wednesday. repeatedly in the face with a shoe. 12,425 people in the country so far. reduce the risk of contagion, the new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Reuters could not determine who However, mosque leaders are not guidelines issued by the ministry said dissolved the opposition- filmed the video or independently allowed to organise Iftar gatherings on mosques are not allowed to use common controlled Parliament on March verify its authenticity. The army said the mosque premises in line with the carpets for prayers while devotees are 2, six months ahead of the the video was shot on April 27 in social distancing rules, the required to carry individual prayer mats schedule, and called a snap Rakhine state’s Ponnagyun township. Bdnews24.com reported. from home, the news portal reported. election on April 25 to elect a new The military statement said the men The mosques and devotees have been Places of worship must be cleaned with 225-member House. who were beaten had been arrested on asked to comply with a set of safety disinfectants before every prayer session However, the election suspicion of belonging to the Arakan protocols to hold prayer congregations, – five times a day. commission in mid-April Army, an insurgent group fighting for the Religious Affairs Ministry said. Mosque must also install hand-washing postponed the parliamentary greater autonomy for the western Bangladesh announced a nationwide facilities equipped with soaps or provide polls by nearly two months to region. It said they were being lockdown to enforce social and physical hand sanitisers at the entrances. June 20. The Elections transported to the state capital of distancing norms on March 26 amid a Devotees must perform their ablutions at Commission on Tuesday Sittwe when the beatings happened. surge in coronavirus cases and deaths. home and wash their hands with soap for convened an all-party meeting to Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun, a The government subsequently at least 20 seconds. Worshippers must decide whether to hold spokesman for the armed forces, restricted congregations at mosques to a wear masks to the mosques while parliamentary polls in June. known as the Tatmadaw, told Reuters maximum of five worshippers for the maintaining a space of at least three feet However, the talks ended without by phone a tribunal had been formed daily prayers, including the cleric and between each other when they line up for an agreement, the participant and soldiers had been detained. Reuter other officials, in an effort to bridle the the prayers. PTI said. —PTI THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT1 11 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 12 US FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 36 Million Have Sought Unemployment Aid Since Virus Hit

Last week alone, 3 dwindling number of companies are offices, factories and construction million people filed new reducing their payrolls. companies to reopen, but restaurants By historical standards, though, the and bars remain closed for indoor sit- highest rate since the Great Depression, claims latest tally shows that the number of down service. and employers shed a stunning 20.5 WASHINGTON (TIP): Nearly 3 weekly jobless claims remains A few states have gone further, million jobs. A decade's worth of job million laid-off workers applied for U.S. enormous, reflecting an economy that is including Georgia, which has opened growth was wiped out in a single month. unemployment benefits last week as the sinking into a severe downturn. Last barbershops, bowling alleys, tattoo Even those figures failed to capture the viral outbreak led more companies to week's pace of new applications for aid is parlors and gyms. South Carolina has full scale of the damage. The government slash jobs even though most states have still four times the record high that reopened beach hotels, and Texas has said many workers in April were counted begun to let some businesses reopen prevailed before the coronavirus struck reopened shopping malls. as employed but absent from work but under certain restrictions. hard in March. Data from private firms suggest that should have been counted as temporarily Roughly 36 million people have now Jobless workers in some states are still some previously laid-off workers have unemployed. Millions of other laid-off filed for jobless aid in the two months reporting difficulty applying for or started to return to small businesses in workers didn't look for a new job in since the coronavirus first forced receiving benefits. These include those states, though the number of April, likely discouraged by their millions of businesses to close their freelance, gig and self-employed workers, applications for unemployment benefits prospects in a mostly shuttered economy, doors and shrink their workforces, the who became newly eligible for jobless aid remains high. and weren't included, either. If all those Labor Department said Thursday. this year. The latest jobless claims follow a people had been counted as unemployed, Still, the number of first-time The states that are now easing devastating job report last week. The the jobless rate would have reached applications has now declined for six lockdowns are doing so in varied ways. government said the unemployment rate nearly 24 percent. (Read full story at straight weeks, suggesting that a Ohio has permitted warehouses, most soared to 14.7 percent in April, the www.theindianpanorama.news)

CONTD FROM PAGE 1 that particular subject (China) right now. Everything I agents after they served a search warrant at his said turned out to be right. You look at other countries Washington home. China stealing US research on they charge us tariffs to do business and we are not The warrant marked a significant step-up in the COVID-19: Pompeo allowed to charge them," he said. investigation of Mr. Burr's stock sales in mid-February, non-traditional collectors affiliated with People's Responding to a question, Mr. Trump said the Chinese when he and other lawmakers were receiving regular Republic of China (PRC) to steal U.S. intellectual have always stolen Intellectual Property (IP) from the U.S. briefings on the coronavirus outbreak and President property and data related to COVID-19 research, Mr. "They were never called (out). Now they are being called Donald Trump and some of his political allies were Pompeo said in a statement. out," he said. downplaying the threat to the public. The United States calls on China to cease this malicious "We can stop them; they are going to try doing it. I mean Mr. Trump said he did not know anything about Mr. activity, Mr. Pompeo said, adding that the potential theft you could also stop doing business with them, that is one Burr's decision and had not discussed Mr. Burr's of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure, thing. Look, we have lost a fortune dealing with China. situation with anyone at the Department of Justice. effective, and efficient treatment options. We have rebuilt China," he said. "I know nothing about it... That's too bad," he told China on Thursday termed as slanderous the U.S. The President said he does not want to speak to reporters. accusation that hackers backed by Beijing may be Chinese President Xi Jinping right now. "I have a very A senior Justice Department official said the FBI did attempting to steal COVID-19 related research and good relationship, but I just - right now I don't want to not conduct a raid but paid a visit to Mr. Burr's home to vaccine materials and said that "smearing and speak to him," he said. (Source: Agencies) collect his cellphone. Approval of the warrant - scapegoating" others will not make the deadly virus go significant because it was served on a sitting senator - away. U.S. Senator Richard Burr steps was obtained at the "highest levels" of the Justice Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said aside as committee chair in view of Department, the official said. U.S. officials are shifting the blame on Beijing as they The Intelligence Committee chairmanship is one of the struggled to handle the coronavirus pandemic back FBI stock trades probe most important positions in the Senate. The panel home. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell approves the president's nominees to lead the country's The U.S. claims have added fuel to tensions between the said Burr contacted him on Thursday morning to inform spy agencies and handles oversight of their operations, two nations, which are engaged in a war of words over him of his decision to move aside temporarily during the conducting most of its business behind closed doors. the origin of the coronavirus that has killed over 300,000 investigation. It was not immediately clear who would step in as people globally.Mr. Pompeo alleged that China's behavior "We agreed that this decision would be in the best chairman. The three senators next in line for seniority on in cyberspace is an extension of its counterproductive interests of the committee and will be effective at the end the Republican-led intelligence committee - Jim Risch, actions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. of the day tomorrow," Mr. McConnell said in a statement. Marco Rubio and Susan Collins - all chair other Mr. Pompeo in the strongly-worded statement said Mr. Burr has denied wrongdoing and said he relied committees. while the U.S. and its allies and partners are coordinating solely on news reports to guide decisions on stock sales, The Senate's Republican leadership will decide who a collective, transparent response to save lives, "China amid reports he and other senators sold shares after will take the position. continues to silence scientists, journalists, and citizens, private briefings on the risks of the coronavirus crisis. Other senators whose stock trades have been and to spread disinformation, which has exacerbated the He told reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, May scrutinized have denied trading on coronavirus dangers of this health crisis. 14, he decided to step aside because he did not want the information. The FBI said that it is "investigating the targeting and investigation to distract the intelligence committee from Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler has forwarded compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19- its work. documents and information about stock trades by her related research by China-affiliated cyber actors and non- "I thought this was the best thing to do," Mr. Burr said. and her husband to the Justice Department, the traditional collectors." Mr. Burr's attorney, Alice Fisher, said in a statement Securities and Exchange Commission and the Senate "These actors have been observed attempting to that Mr. Burr was "actively cooperating" with the Ethics Committee, CNBC quoted a representative for Ms. identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property government inquiry. Loeffler as saying on Thursday. (IP) and public health data related to vaccines, Known for bipartisanship, the Senate panel is soon to Ms. Loeffler has denied wrongdoing in connection with treatments, and testing from networks and personnel release an extensive report led by Mr. Burr on Russia's her sales of millions of dollars in shares in the weeks affiliated with COVID-19-related research," the FBI said. involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. U.S. after lawmakers were first briefed on the virus. The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the intelligence determined that Moscow sought to meddle in Senator Dianne Feinstein, an intelligence committee delivery of secure, effective, and efficient treatment the campaign to boost the Trump candidacy. Democrat, has turned over documents to the FBI about options, it said. Moscow denies such actions. President Trump stock trades by her husband that show she was not Meanwhile, President Trump, annoyed with China's dismisses the allegations as a hoax. involved, a spokesperson for Ms. Feinstein said on handling of the pandemic, has ruled out renegotiating a Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic committee vice Thursday. trade deal with China. "The Chinese said somewhere that chairman who has worked closely with Mr. Burr, told Mr. Burr's decision called to mind the decision of they would like to renegotiate the (trade) deal. We are not reporters he thought Mr. Burr had made the right choice Democratic Senator Bob Menendez to step aside as going to renegotiate," Mr. Trump told Fox Business News in temporarily stepping aside, and hoped the matter ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations on Thursday, May 14. would be resolved as quickly as possible. Committee in 2015 as he faced corruption charges. Those "Look, I'm not happy about anything having to do with The Republican senator turned over his phone to FBI charges were eventually dropped. (Source: Agencies) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 US 13 Visa, OCI card suspension prevents several Indians in US from flying back home

NEW YORK (TIP): Several Indians in that their two-year-old daughter cannot the US, either on the H-1B work visa or travel with them as she carried an OCI Green Card having children who are card. American citizens by birth, are being "I don't believe this," he said. prevented from travelling to India aboard Unlike the Pandey couple and Mamta, the special repatriation flights being run who had made the payment of USD 1,361 by Air India amidst the coronavirus- per ticket for their flight back home, linked global travel restrictions. Rakesh has not made the payment. Air According to the regulations issued by India has said that the money would be the Indian government last month and refunded. updated last week, visas of foreign All three Indian citizens requested the nationals and OCI cards, that provide Indian government to help them travel visa-free travel privileges to the people of government to reconsider their decision thus many would have no other option but back home by making necessary changes Indian-origin, have been suspended as on humanitarian basis," said the Indian to travel back home. in the current regulations. part of the new international travel national who has lost her job but could In the case of single mother Mamta As per a recent government restrictions. not leave the US within the stipulated 60 (name changed), the situation is graver as notification, all existing Indian visa For some of the Indian citizens like the days to avoid any future visa her son is just three-month old. Only she holders, and visa-free travel facility, Pandey couple in New Jersey (name and complications. was given the ticket and the infant was granted to OCI card holders who are not place changed at request), it's a double She now plans to make an appeal to the not allowed to fly along with her because in India, have been suspended till whammy. Having lost their H-1B job, they US Citizenship and Immigration Services he carried an American passport. restrictions on international air travel have to go back to India within the (USCIS) to extend their stay. "I would like to request the Indian remains. stipulated 60 days as required by law. The Last month, H-1B visa holders, mostly government to let us fly back home. I don't New York-based community leader couple has two kids aged one and six, who Indians, launched a White House petition want to stay in the US any longer," she Prem Bhandari said the May 5 travel are American citizens. urging US President Donald Trump to told PTI hours after being prevented from advisory had created multiple painful In the wee hours of Monday,they had to extend their permissible stay from 60 to boarding her hometown Ahmedabad- issues for the OCI card holders in the US return from Newark airport as Air India 180 days after job loss. However, there has bound flight from Newark on Sunday. and also to Indian citizens who are either refused to give their kids a ticket to fly to been no decision from the White House so "I am alone here. I don't have a relative on Green Card or H-1B visas and want to India along with them, despite them far. While there is no official statistics of here. It's a difficult situation," she said. travel back home, but cannot leave their having a valid Indian visa. The young how many Indian H-1B visa holders have "Vande Bharat Mission is a kids who are Americans by birth. mother and father are Indian citizens. lost their jobs, it is believed to be humanitarian mission. But this is "We would like to express our They said that the officials from Air substantial. certainly inhuman," said Rakesh Gupta disappointment with the discrimination India and (Indian) Consulate (in New The US, due to the coronavirus (name changed) from Washington DC. between OCIs and citizens in respect of York) were very cooperative. pandemic, is experiencing an An H-1B professional, Gupta has lost entering India at this critical stage when But they could not do anything as their unprecedented unemployment rate and his job and needs to return to India within many OCIs have lawfully built their hands were tied by the latest regulation more than 33 million Americans have lost the stipulated 60 days. He and his wife, homes, families and businesses in India," issued by the Indian government, a their jobs in the last two months. Given Geeta (name changed) being Indian Bhandari said in a letter to Union Home shocked Ratna Pandey told PTI. this massive job loss, Indians, who have citizens, received the confirmation of Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday. "I would like to urge the Indian lost their jobs, are unlikely to get one and their seats in the flight but have been told (Source: PTI) US immunologist warns of 'darkest winter' if coronavirus rebounds

WASHINGTON (TIP): America faces "Our window of opportunity is Eager to restart the economy, Trump the "darkest winter in modern history" closing," Bright says in his prepared has been urging states to lift restrictions, unless leaders act decisively to prevent a testimony posted on the House and many governors are doing so rebound of the coronavirus, says a committee website. "If we fail to develop gradually, though consumers remain government whistleblower who alleges a national coordinated response, based leery of going back to restaurants, social he was ousted from his job after warning in science, I fear the pandemic will get events and sporting competitions. the Trump administration to prepare for far worse and be prolonged, causing In his prepared testimony, Bright said, the pandemic. unprecedented illness and fatalities." "The undeniable fact is there will be a Immunologist Dr. Rick Bright makes Bright's testimony follows this week's resurgence of (COVID-19) this fall, his sobering prediction in testimony warning by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the greatly compounding the challenges of prepared for his appearance on government's top infectious disease seasonal influenza and putting an Thursday, May 14 before the House expert, that a rushed lifting of store- unprecedented strain on our health care Energy and Commerce Committee. closing and stay-at-home restrictions system." Aspects of his complaint about early could "turn back the clock," seeding "Without clear planning and administration handling of the crisis are more suffering and death and implementation of the steps that I and expected to be backed up by testimony complicating efforts to get the economy other experts have outlined, 2020 will be from an executive of a company that rolling again. darkest winter in modern history," Immunologist Dr. Rick Bright who Trump fired manufactures, respirator masks. President Donald Trump has Bright wrote. has warned that America will face the A federal watchdog agency has found dismissed Bright as "a disgruntled guy," Bright, who has a doctoral degree in "darkest winter" ever in case coronavirus "reasonable grounds" that Bright was and some of the president's political immunology, outlined a path forward rebounds. removed from his post as head of the allies have urged that Fauci be fired, that would be based on science, even as and better ones widely available. Biomedical Advanced Research and although that seems unlikely. researchers work to develop better Trump says the US has "prevailed" on Development Authority after sounding More than 83,000 people have died in treatments and an effective vaccine. testing through this strategy, but in the alarm at the Department of Health the US, representing more than one- The steps include: Establishing a Congress Democrats are demanding a and Human Services. Bright alleged he fourth of global deaths and the world's national testing strategy. The White federal framework to encompass the became a target of criticism when he highest toll. On the planet more than 4.3 House has urged states to take the lead whole nation. urged early efforts to invest in vaccine million have been infected and about on testing, even as the federal (Agencies) development and stock up on supplies. 2,95,000 have died. government pushes to make more tests THE INDIAN PANORAMA 14 INDIA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 India tally crosses 80k mark, fresh cases in corona-free Goa and Manipur

NEW DELHI (TIP): With 3,967 new cases and 100 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the COVID-19 tally in India reached 81,970 on May 15, the Union Health GOVT PREPARES FOR Ministry stated on Friday. And two states, Goa and Manipur, which STAGGERED RESUMPTION OF were declared COVID-19 free, have reported fresh corona positive FLIGHTS: STAMPING OF cases. Of the total cases, 51,401 are BOARDING PASSES active and 2,649 are fatalities so far while at least 27,919 people have SUSPENDED recovered from the disease. After being COVID-19 free for NEW DELHI (TIP): The Central government has many days, Goa reported seven started work to prepare for resumption of fresh cases, that took the total commercial domestic flights, something that may number of cases here to 14. happen in a staggered manner over the next one Similarly, in Manipur a fresh case month, senior government and industry officials emerged after 26 days, taking the Doubling time of COVID-19 cases slows said. To this effect, government agencies have began total tally in this Northeast state to laying the groundwork in terms of safety and policy three so far. down to 13.9 days in last 3 days: Vardhan measures required to start flight operations. In Maharashtra, the Covid-19 The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security issued a cases climbed to 27,524 followed by he doubling time of machine to the nation, said 14 circular Wednesday doing away with security Tamil Nadu, which has reported coronavirus infection cases states and Union Territories have personnel stamping boarding passes of flight 9,674 and Gujarat has 9,591 cases so Thas slowed down to 13.9 days not reported any case of COVID-19 passengers at airports. “In view of the prevailing far. in the last three days, Union in last 24 hours. situation of COVID-19 pandemic and Maharashtra has also reported Health Minister Harsh Vardhan These states and UTs are countermeasures being taken to contain its spread the highest number of deaths, 1,019, said on Thursday, as the COVID-19 Gujarat, Telangana, Jharkhand, by touch/contact, it has been decided to dispense followed by 586 in Gujarat and 237 in death toll rose to 2,549 and the Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, the with the procedure of stamping the passengers’ Madhya Pradesh. number of cases to 78,003. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Boarding Pass…after completion of pre- At least 8,470 people in the The minister, who visited the Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra embarkation security check of the concerned national capital have been infected National Centre for Disease Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, passenger, till further orders,” the circular said. with the highly contagious Control (NCDC) here and Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya, Additionally, the government has also circulated a coronavirus. dedicated the COBAS 6800 testing Mizoram and Puducherry. set of draft standard operating procedures with Other states which have reported various stakeholders including airlines, airports more than 3,000 cases are Rajasthan and ground handling companies seeking their views (4,534), Madhya Pradesh (4,426) and UTs that have reported a significant and Nicobar Islands. on measures for ensuring social distancing and Uttar Pradesh (3,902). number of cases are, Bihar (994), After being COVID-19 free for health safety of passengers and staff. These include Other major states and Union Haryana (818), Jammu and Kashmir many days, Goa reported seven downloading of Aarogya Setu app, increasing of Territories that have reported more (983), Karnataka (987), Kerala (560), fresh cases, that took the total passenger reporting time at airports, mandatory than 1,000 cases are West Bengal Odisha (611), Tripura (156) and number of cases here to 14. web check-in, among other such procedures. (2,377), Andhra Pradesh (2,205), Chandigarh (191). Similarly, in Manipur a fresh case Punjab (1,935) and Telangana States/UTs that have zero emerged after 26 days, taking the Deaths on roads: 14 migrants (1,414). coronavirus cases are Arunachal total tally in this Northeast state to Among other major states and Pradesh, Mizoram and Andaman three so far. killed in two accidents NEW DELHI (TIP): Fourteen migrant labourers were killed and at least 61 others injured in two road World Bank approves $1 bn for India as social accidents on Wednesday and Thursday while they were on the way to their homes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, police said. security fund for urban poor, migrants In the first case, a father and his son were among six people who were killed when an Agra-bound UP NEW DELHI (TIP): The World Bank has approved roadways bus hit a group of migrant workers, who US $1 billion for India as social security technology were walking from Haryana to their home in Bihar’s fund for country’s urban poor and migrant workers Gopalganj, near Rohna toll plaza along the during the coronavirus crisis. Saharanpur-Muzaffarnagar state highway in The focus will be to enable India to integrate all of its Muzaffarnagar. 400-plus social security schemes at a technology level, Four others were injured in the accident that took the bank said. place late on Wednesday. Two of them are in a “The project will be crucial to rebalance social critical condition and have been taken to hospital in security towards urban poor, as much as rural,” said Meerut. Junaid Ahmad, country director, World Bank. “These workers were walking along the state “I think PMs ‘Atmanirbhar mission’ is very highway when the driver of an Agra-bound bus, in important in terms of directions and India is not an inebriated condition, hit them around midnight making distinction between life and livelihoods in the on Wednesday. Two died on the spot while four aftermath of Covid-19,” he added. succumbed to their injuries at the district hospital. The World Bank said that this is the largest project Last month, the bank had approved a plan to roll out The accused, Abhishek Yadav, who had managed to after a similar package announced for health systems US $160 billion in emergency aid over 15 months to help escape from the spot has been arrested,” Anil earlier. countries deal with the impact of the global Kaparwan, in-charge of the Muzaffarnagar Kotwali “The World Bank said the support in collaboration coronavirus pandemic. police station said. Yadav hails from Firozabad and with the government is aimed at integrating platforms The board of the Washington-based development has been booked for alleged rash driving and death so that people should not have to run around from one lender announced the first set of fast-track crisis due to negligence. place to another to access a myriad of social schemes,” funding, with an initial $1.9 billion going to projects in According to eye-witnesses and survivors, the said Shrayana Bhattacharya, senior World Bank 25 countries, and operations moving forward in another group of labourers had set out from Kharera in official. 40 nations. Haryana on Sunday. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 INDIA 15 India signs navy chopper deal with US, weapons still being negotiated

NEW DELHI (TIP): India has started the process of acquiring 24 state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare helicopters for the Navy LAST MOUNTED CAVALRY from the US firm Lockheed Martin after signing a $905 million deal. REGIMENT OF INDIAN ARMY The MH-60R helicopters -- which would replace obsolete Indian Navy Sea King helicopters, first acquired TO LOSE HORSES, GET TANKS from the UK in 1971 -- are meant to NEW DELHI (TIP): The last mounted Cavalry detect and, if necessary, engage regiment of the Indian Army and one of the few in the Chinese and Pakistani submarines world, 61 Cavalry, will soon lose its special tag and be and warships in the Indian Ocean equipped with tanks instead of horses. region. Sources in the Army revealed that the wheels have The overall value of the contract been set in motion to mechanise the Jaipur-based signed is less than half the $2.6 regiment and give it a more contemporary role. billion package which had been “There are three independent armoured squadrons announced by the US State located at various parts of the country and these will Department in April 2019 which be brought under 61 Cavalry to form an armoured included the cost of the choppers, regiment. This will entail virtually no extra their sensors and communication expenditure as the squadrons are already equipped systems, and several weapon with tanks,”a senior officer said while confirming the systems including Hellfire missiles negotiations for the full package chopper prior to full-scale induction move. which can targets ships, MK 54 which was discussed is still on board aircraft carriers, The transition of the regiment to a full-fledged torpedoes and precision strike underway with no closure at the destroyers and frigates in the fleet. armoured regiment will take around five months time rocket systems. moment on the exact weapons and For several years, the Indian or even more, in view of the Covid-19 restrictions in These helicopters are also sensor fit the Indian Navy will Navy has been operating state of place. The regiment will be stationed at a new location designed to fire the Naval Strike eventually receive with the the art warships including the in an active field formation. Missile (NSM) developed by the helicopters. made-in-India Kolkata Class Sources say the horses of the regiment will be Norwegian company Kongsberg The deal itself is being handled destroyers without any modern located in Delhi where the unit already has a presence Defence & Aerospace. The NSM can through the US Navy which has anti-submarine helicopters on along with the Army Polo and Riding Club. This horse engage warships at a range of 185 allowed Lockheed Martin to speed board, the lack of which has been squadrons will have personnel who are trained in kilometers. The original package up the delivery process by considered a glaring operational equitation and will fall under the purview of Director India was looking at included the transferring three MH-60Rs from deficiency at a time when China has General Mechanised Forces. provision of NSM training missiles, the US Navy's inventory of markedly stepped up its presence in The proposal to change the regiment’s role to an a precursor to a potential deal for undelivered MH-60R choppers to the Indian Ocean region by active armoured regiment is based on the the missile system. India. This will allow Indian Navy operating a full-scale base in recommendations of the Shekatkar Committee. The NDTV has learned that pilots and engineers to train on the Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. committee, under the chairmanship of Lt. Gen DB Shekatkar (retd), had been set up to suggest measures to enhance combat capability and re-balance defence expenditure of the armed forces and had submitted Badrinath shrine’s portals opened for summers, its report in December 2016. devotees not allowed due to Covid-19 Lockdown To Stay In Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister As NEW DELHI (TIP): The portals of Badrinath Temple were opened COVID-19 Cases Spike early on Friday in the presence of only 28 people, including the chief MUMBAI (TIP): Mumbai, fighting a huge spurt in priest, due to the lockdown to stop coronavirus cases, will extend the lockdown scheduled the spread of coronavirus disease to end on May 17, a Maharashtra minister has (Covid-19), news agency ANI confirmed. Mumbai has reported nearly 1,000 Covid19 reported. cases on Thursday,taking its total to over 16,500 cases. The doors of the famous shrine in Maharashtra's Industry Minister Subhash Desai told Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, NDTV after a meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav which was decorated with strings of Thackeray on Thursday that the lockdown will be marigold flowers, was opened at extended in Mumbai and other major cities. 4:30am after a long winter break. "Looking at the way cases have bene going up in big “Devotees will not be allowed cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Malegaon, entry into the temple during that Aurangabad, it seems the lockdown may be extended. It time. The decision has been taken in will have to be done because of the situation. The view of the guidelines issued by the government focus is on the health of the people. The Centre amid Covid-19 pandemic,” first focus is that. Then of course there is industry and Anil Chanyal, Joshimath’s sub- Tehri royal family who is six-month-long winter break. economy," the minister said. divisional magistrate (SDM), had considered the ‘Bolanda Badri’ or Pilgrims were prohibited from Maharashtra has demanded a special economic said in a statement earlier. talking Lord Badri, had on April 20 visiting the shrine because of the package for Mumbai from the centre. Several decisions Religious ceremonies were also changed the date of opening of the lockdown. have been taken to get the economy on track, Desai held on Wednesday at the Narsingh portals of Badrinath shrine as the One of the most visited said. The minister said Maharashtra is planning major temple in Joshimath ahead of the chief priest was under the pilgrimage centres of India, sops for industry to rejuvenate economic activity. scheduled date for the opening of quarantine after returning from Badrinath is one of the Char Dhams To tackle the problem of migrant labourers leaving the portals of the Badrinath temple Kerala. or the four main pilgrimage centres the city, which could slow the restart of economic dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This is the first time in history of the Hindus located in Garhwal activities, Maharashtra will set up an employment Around 10,000 pilgrims had that the dates for the opening of hills. bureau. "We have decided to set up an employment visited the shrine last year on the portals of the shrines have been The Badrinath Temple is along bureau for industrial and commercial workers. And first day of its opening as per an changed. the banks of the Alaknanda River in here we will register all those job seekers in skilled, estimated figure. The portals of Kedarnath temple Chamoli district at a height of over semi-skilled and unskilled categories and then we will Manujendra Shah, the king of the were also opened on April 29 after a 10,000 feet. interact with the employers who want employees. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 16 FIGHTING COVID-19 FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

RS 20 LAKH CRORE ECONOMIC PACKAGE Nirmala Sitharaman announces EPF relief, TDS rate cut; ITR filing deadline extended

NEW DELHI (TIP): As announced by non-corporate businesses, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May proprietorship, partnership, limited 12, finance minister Nirmala liability partnership (LLP) and Sitharaman on May 13 announced the cooperatives. first tranche of the government's She said the rates of tax deduction at economic package to fight the source (TDS) and tax collected at source coronavirus pandemic. Aimed at all (TCS) has now been reduced for all non- sections of the society, including the salaried payment by 25% of the specified middle-class, SMEs, labourers, farmers rates for the remaining period of FY 2021, and the industry, the economic package which will provide liquidity to the tune of is themed around the 'Self-reliant India Rs 50,000 crore. However, the tax liability campaign'. Over the next few days, remains the same. Sitharaman will release more details In order to reduce tax compliance about the stimulus measures being taken burdens, the due date of all returns for by the Modi government. assessment year 2020-21 will be extended Sitharaman unveiled a Rs 5.9 lakh to November 30, 2020, she said. The date crore stimulus package which includes for making payment without additional Rs 3 lakh crore collateral-free loans to amount under the 'Vivad se Vishwas' small businesses, Rs 75,000 crore scheme will be extended to December 31, liquidity infusion in non-banking 2020. finance companies (NBFCs), Rs 90,000 Sitharaman extended the three-month crore financial support to power discoms employees provident fund (EPF) support and Rs 50,000 crore cash in the hands of to small businesses and organised taxpayers. workers by another three months up to The allocation is part of the Rs 20 lakh August 2020. The scheme provides for crore 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' government's contribution in 12% of (Self-Reliant India Movement) salary each on behalf of both employer announced by Prime Minister Narendra and employee to EPF in enterprises Modi on Tuesday that combines policy employing fewer than 100, with 90% reforms with fiscal and monetary earning less than Rs 15,000 a month. This measures. involves 7.2 million employees and will While a finance ministry presentation benefit them to the tune of about Rs 2,500 noted financial implications of the crore. schemes announced on Wednesday at Rs Besides, she announced reduction in 5,94,250 crore, Sitharaman declined to statutory provident fund contributions of comment on the numbers immediately. both employers and employees (in She, however, said the government companies other than those benefiting recently raised its borrowing limits to from the other EPF incentive) to 10% part fund the measures. The government each from 12% for all establishments on Friday raised its market borrowing The five pillars of ‘Atmanirbhar covered by Employees Providend Fund estimate by a staggering Rs 4.2 lakh crore Bharat’ are economy, Organisation (EPFO) for the next three to Rs 12 lakh crore in 2020-21 to make up months. "This will provide liquidity of for an expected shortfall in revenues infrastructure, system, about Rs 6,750 crore." because of prolonged lockdown since demography and demand. The In order to provide relief to real estate March 25 that has crippled the economy. special economic package that projects, state governments and real "Beginning today,for the next few days, will serve as an important link estate regulators are being advised to I shall be coming here with the entire invoke the force majeure clause, she said. team of the ministry of finance to detail to the self-reliant India "The registration and completion date for the Prime Minister's vision for Campaign. all registered projects will be extended up Atmanirbhar Bharat laid out by the Nirmala Sitharaman, finance minister to six months and may be further Prime Minister yesterday," Sitharaman extended by another 3 months based on said. the state's situation," she said. The first package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore provide any guarantee or collateral of guaranteed by the Union government. Similarly, contractors involved in was announced by the finance minister their own," she said. The amount will be Another, Rs 45,000 crore partial credit public sector projects have been given on March 26, followed by monetary 100% guaranteed by the federal guarantee scheme is also planned to additional time. "All central agencies like measures taken by the Reserve Bank of government benefiting more than 4.5 cover the borrowings of lower rated Railways, Ministry of Road Transport India (RBI) to revive the economy, which million MSMEs, she added. NBFCs, HFCs and MFIs. The and Highways and CPWD will give has been battered by a prolonged Besides, the government announced government will provide a 20% first loss extension of up to 6 months for lockdown since March 25 to check the five other measures to support MSMEs - sovereign guarantee to public sector completion of contractual obligations," spread of Covid-19 pandemic. The Rs 20,000 crore subordinate debt-based banks. she said. lockdown will continue till May 17, and scheme for stressed MSMEs, setting up a The MSME sector is, however, not DK Srivastava, chief policy adviser at may be extended in some parts of the Rs 50,000 crore 'fund of funds' with a enthused, said Vinod Kumar, the consultancy firm EY India, said, "Nearly country. corpus of Rs 10,000 crore, redefining honorary president at the India SME 30% of the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus Sitharaman said the focus of the MSMEs to allow growth of units, Forum. "There's nothing for unbanked package envisaged in Prime Minister's measures announced on Wednesday is disallowing global tenders up to Rs 200 MSMEs... Only 7% of MSMEs are using speech, that is about Rs 6 lakh crores, has "getting back to work". The fiscal and crore in all government purchases and banking today. Those with no limits will been covered in today's Finance policy support will enable employees and providing e-market linkage to boost close down. All the guys who have limits Minister's briefing. The focus is largely employers, businesses, especially micro, sales. have already given collateral, so there's on the MSMEs who may be facing small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), In order to infuse liquidity in the no need for physical collateral guarantee different sets of issues." to get back to production and workers system, particularly for small businesses of the additional amount only. It's a no "This package is based largely on credit back to gainful employment, she said. and rural sector enterprises, the starter. The fund of funds has already guarantee provisions implying minimal She said a Rs 3 lakh crore emergency government announced a Rs 30,000 crore been around, the only hope is from the direct cost for the central exchequer working capital facility is provided to special liquidity scheme for NBFCs, NPA [non-performing asset] and stressed which may be just a small fraction of businesses in the form of term loans at a housing finance companies (HFC) and fund... that too, lets see, how many banks today's package. Any additional cost concessional rate of interest. "This will micro-finance institutions (MFIs). The roll that out." would only be on account of defaults, the be available to units with up to Rs 25 scheme will allow investment in primary Sitharaman also announced some burden of which may arise only in future crore outstanding and turnover of up to and secondary market transactions in reliefs to businesses and individual years. In the case of the power sector, the Rs 100 crore whose accounts are investment grade debt paper of NBFCs, taxpayers. Measures included burden of bearing the default is in fact, standard. The units will not have to HFCs and MFIs, which will be 100% expeditious refunds to charitable trusts, on the state governments." THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 FIGHTING COVID-19 17

RS 20 LAKH CRORE ECONOMIC PACKAGE Rent, ration, free food for migrants in Sitharaman’s 2nd economic package tranche Announces implementation of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ benefiting 67 cr people in 23 states covering 83% of PDS population NEW DELHI (TIP): In her second press conference in as many days, MAIN FEATURES For marginal labourers Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Support for migrants on Thursday (May 14) unveiled an economic package to help alleviate the distress for small farmers, migrant workers, small traders and self-employed people under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant)” campaign announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moreover, migrant workers who do not have either central or state PDS cards would be given free food grain supply for next two months at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore, Sitharaman said. Sitharaman also announced an affordable rental housing scheme for migrant workers besides a Rs 5000 crore special credit facility for Labour code changes Mudra-Sishu nearly 50 lakh street vendors even as loans Covid-19 push the nationwide tally closer to the 80,000 mark. The death toll crossed 2,500, while more than 26,000 have recovered so far. Sitharaman on migrant Unveiling the measures, Sitharaman said the tranche workers, urban poor For street vendors’ has total liquidity support of „ Maintaining that the government aid Rs 2.46-lakh crore and was conscious of the plight of migrant workers, Sitharaman said investment expectation of the Centre would spend Rs 3,500 Rs 70,000 crore. She had crore on giving free food gain to disclosed the first tranche on eight crore migrant workers who do not have either central or state PDS Wednesday which provided cards. “For non-card holders, they support of Rs 5.94- lakh shall be given 5 kg wheat/rice per crore for the economy. person and 1 kg chana per family/month for 2 months. PDS ration cards to be made portable to said. allow migrant workers to use ration „ Sitharaman also announced a 2 per cards across states,” she said. cent interest subvention on the „ Besides, Sitharaman also smallest category of loans given announced the implementation of under the MUDRA scheme. “As “One Nation One Ration Card” much as Rs 1,500 crore interest benefiting 67 crore people in 23 subvention would be given for states covering 83 per cent of PDS MUDRA-Shishu loans of up to Rs population. “They will be covered 50,000,” she said. by national portability by August said interest subvention and (CAMPA) Funds, Sitharaman said. „ The main thrust of Wednesday’s 2020,” Sitharaman said. prompt repayment incentive on announcements was relief to „ The Finance Minister also unveiled crop loans due from March 1 had On middle income group Medium, Small and Micro the contours of a scheme for been extended to May 31. “Today’s „ For middle income group with Rs 6 Enterprises (MSMEs) in the form of affordable rental housing for initiatives focuses on migrant lakh to Rs 18 lakh annual income, credit guarantees to them. migrant workers to provide ease of workers, street vendors, small Sitharaman announced an Sitharaman’s announcements living by converting government- traders, the self-employed and small extension of the affordable housing followed up on Prime Minister funded housing in cities into farmers. Three crore marginal scheme till March 2021. “For middle Narendra Modi’s address on Affordable Rental Housing farmers have already availed Rs 4 income group with Rs 6 lakh to Rs Tuesday regarding a Rs 20-lakh- Complexes (ARHC) under PPP lakh crore of loans on concessional 18 lakh annual income. Credit crore economic stimulus, almost 10 mode through concessionaire . rates,” Sitharaman said. linked subsidy scheme for per cent of the GDP, to cushion the „ Maintaining that the government „ Besides, Sitharaman said NABARD affordable housing extended till impact of Covid-19 and to be was conscious of the plight of would extend additional re-finance March 2021. Another 2.5 lakh unveiled in a staggered manner. migrant workers, Sitharaman said support of Rs 30,000 crore for crop families will benefit. Expected to „ Besides MSMEs, the 16 states had been permitted to utilise loan requirement of Rural Co- give a Rs 70,000 crore boost to announcements in the first tranche SDRF for setting up shelter for operative banks and Regional Rural housing,” Sitharaman said. cut across sectors that range from migrants and providing them food Banks. “This will help in post- Non Banking Finance Companies and water. “We are conscious, we harvest Rabi work and benefit 3 On MNREGA, rural economy (NBFCs) to real estate and power are attending to the migrants and crore farmers,” she said. „ In what signals the huge pent up distribution and the salaried, with giving them in various different „ For farmers not possessing a Kisan demand and stress in rural India, the overarching theme being of ways,” Nirmala Sitharaman said. Credit Card, the Finance Minister Sitharaman said 2.33 crore wage liquidity infusion in an economy The Finance Minister also said 7,200 said Rs 2 lakh crore concessional seekers in 1,87 lakh gram that has been battered by weeks- new self-help groups (SHGs) for credit for 2.5 crore farmers panchayats had been enrolled under long lockdown to curb the spread of urban poor had been formed during (fishermen, animal husbandry MGNREGA. “Rs 10,000 crore under novel coronavirus. the last two months. farmers included) would be MNREGA spent in just 43 days. We „ Apart from Sitharaman’s nearly Rs extended. have already generated 14.62 crore 6 lakh crore worth of measures Sitharaman on farmers, tribals „ To create job opportunities for person-days of work till May 13, announced on Wednesday and the „ Underlining that there has been a tribals /adivasis, plans worth Rs which is 40-50% more persons fiscal package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore focus on rural economy and 6,000 crore to be approved shortly enrolled as compared to last May. in March, the Reserve Bank of India farmers since March-April in under Compensatory Afforestation Migrant workers going back to their has announced monetary stimulus providing liquidity, Sitharaman Management & Planning Authority states being actively enrolled,” she measures totaling Rs 8.1 lakh crore. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 18 BOLLYWOOD FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 SUNNY LEONE FEELS LUCKY AS FANS SHOWER HER WITH LOVE ON BIRTHDAY ctor Sunny Leone turns a year older today, and she is Aoverwhelmed with all the love she has been getting from fans on her special day. In a video message, Leone said, “I would like to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes. I am such a lucky girl to get so much love from all of you. I know we are far apart and it is a really tough time to be doing things. But, just know that I love all of you and I hope you all get through this with a big smile.” Sharing the video on Instagram, the Ragini MMS 2 actor wrote, “Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes everyone!! I am so lucky you are all a Poonam Pandey booked for part of my life! Xoxo”. Maniesh Paul shared a few photos violating lockdown norms with Leone and wished her on her birthday. “Happy birthday odel-actress Poonam Pandey was on Sunday @sunnyleone ….you wonderful booked by Mumbai Police for violating the soul…stay blessed always… #mp #hdb Mcoronavirus-induced lockdown norms, an #blessed,” he wrote along with the official said. photos. Sunny Leone is in the US with An FIR was registered against Pandey and a person her family.A couple of days ago, the 39- accompanying her by the Marine Drive Police. year-old actor shared why she chose to She was found roaming in her high-end car at fly to Los Angeles with her three kids Marine Drive without any reason, the police official and husband Daniel Weber. said. “I had the opportunity to take our “A case has been registered against Pandey and Sam children where we felt they would be Ahmad Bombay (46) under sections 269 (Negligent act safer against this invisible killer likely to spread infection of a disease dangerous to ‘corona virus’. Our home away from life) and 188 (Disobedience of order duly promulgated home and secret garden in Los by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Angeles,” Leone wrote in an Instagram under provisions of the National Disaster Act,” senior post. police inspector Mrityunjay Hiremath told PTI. URMILA MATONDKAR: KAREENA KAPOOR IS MISSING HER THIS LOCKDOWN IS A SHOPPING SPREES WITH SAIF WAKE UP CALL

ctor Kareena Kapoor is digging deep into her style files for Athrowback posts on Instagram. On Saturday, she shared a stylish photo of herself and husband Saif Ali Khan from their time in Morocco. The photo is from 11 years ago and shows Saif and Kareena strutting down a sunny street in the African country. "Saturday Mood: Morocco '09," she captioned the photo.Kareena veryone is adapting new ways to deal with is seen in a beige shirt dress with a the Covid-19 situation. Actor Urmila hangbag on her arm and Saif looks EMatondkar, too, is indulging in whatever handsome in his purple shirt and keeps her in spirits high, however, she believes white pants. that the lockdown must lead to a larger learning The two were in Morocco to shoot for each and every person. for their film Agent Vinod. Saif plays Matondkar, 46, along with her husband, Mir an R&AW agent in the film. Mohsin Akhtar, is quarantining at their farm The couple's fans loved the stylish house near Mahabaleshwar. Apart from reading, photo. Kareena's sister and actor the other things filling her heart are music, Karisma Kapoor wrote, "Love it." A nature and yoga. “This is like a wake-up call to all fan wrote "SLAY ITTT." of us. We’ve been exploiting nature every possible On Friday, Kareena had shared way. Now it’s time to slow down,” says the actor, another throwback photo of her team. who has a huge library, and her pets for company. "The good old days... no social The actor has even been trying to help those in distancing only love. But for now... do need. “The other day, a friend was worried about gaj ki doori and stay home," she had her old parents who are in another part of the city captioned the post. and urgently needed medicine. So, we took the Kareena, Saif and their son Taimur actor Rishi Kapoor. She shared many photograph of her 'Chintu uncle' help of police to ensure that medicine reaches are currently in lockdown together at throwback photos of Rishi with the (Rishi) and also posted a video of them on time. These things worry me. The plight their Mumbai home. Kareena family. Rishi with Saif, from their film Hum of daily wagers, farmers, migrant workers…,” recently lost her uncle and veteran Last week, she shared a childhood Tum. she adds. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 HOLLYWOOD 19 SHIRLEY TRAILER: ELISABETH MOSS LOOKS IMPECCABLE AS THE CELEBRATED AUTHOR hirley is a fictional story based on AMERICA FERRERA the novel of the same name by SSusan Scarf Merrell, but it GIVES BIRTH TO features two real characters — famed horror novelist Shirley Jackson and SECOND CHILD literary critic husband Stanley Edgar Hyman. ctor America Ferrera has Jackson is best known for the welcomed her second child, a baby celebrated work of psychological Agirl, with director-husband Ryan horror fiction, The Haunting of Hill Piers Williams.The couple, who have House, which has been adapted several named their little one Lucia, took to times and was recently adapted loosely Instagram to share the news on Mother’s by Mike Flanagan for a Netflix series. Day (May 10). Stephen King called the novel one of the “LUCIA MARISOL WILLIAMS arrived finest horror novels of the late 20th on May 4th to give me my Mother’s Day century. hugs and kisses herself. Elisabeth Moss plays the titular “Mama, Dada & Big Brother are over character and Michael Stuhlbarg essays the moon to welcome her bright light to the role of Hyman. The film looks like our family,” Ferrera, 36, wrote alongside a an absolute blast. First off, Moss as picture of the newborn holding onto the Jackson is pitch perfect casting. She actor’s hand. looks the part, and she seems to be Williams, 38, too shared the news, doing a superlative job in bringing out saying their daughter arrived just in time the author’s annoyance in a nuanced for Mother’s Day. way despite the stolid exterior. “Everyone is healthy and happy!” he One thing is certain, this is no wrote. In her post, the Superstore star also traditional biopic. The film had its talked about her Yes We Can Mobile world premiere at the Sundance Film Schools initiative, which helps to provide Festival in January and the reviews are education to pupils at the US-Mexico glowing. It has scored a 97 per cent border. “Quarantine may have canceled rating at review aggregation site Rotten her Baby Shower but it didn’t stop us from Tomatoes. collecting and delivering essential Josephine Decker has directed the supplies to #YesWeCanMobileSchools – film with a screenplay by Sarah spaces for moms and children at the Gubbins border to learn, play, and stay safe Shirley will be out on June 5. through these hard times.,” she said. BEN AFFLECK AND ANA DE THE OLD GUARD: CHARLIZE ARMAS WEAR MATCHING THERON’S NETFLIX FILM HEART NECKLACES ctors Ben Affleck GETS JULY 10 RELEASE DATE and girlfriend Ana Ade Armas have ollywood star Charlize Theron's displayed their affection for much-awaited Netflix project, The each other by wearing HOld Guard will premiere on July pendants in the shape of 10. The 44-year-old actor shared the news half of a heart. in a post on Twitter, sharing four stills The 'Knives Out' actress from the movie. was photographed in April "@oldguardmovie @netflix July 10," wearing her heart necklace she wrote in the caption. Written and while out for a stroll with directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the Affleck in Los Angeles. As film is based on the comic book series of for Affleck, his necklace the same name by Greg Rucka. was visible when the The story is about on a small group of 'Batman' star arrived to immortal soldiers, led by a woman meet de Armas in Venice, named Andy, who have been working as California, on Friday. mercenaries for centuries. But the group It was confirmed in March that the couple are dating after the pair were seen gets a shock when they find a new vacationing together in Costa Rica and Cuba. A source had said in April that the two immortal woman, not long after they are smitten with each other. discover an evil group has video evidence "Ben is very supportive of Ana and tells her how amazing she is," the source said of their immortality. at the time. Besides Theron, The Old Guard also "Ana's friends are constantly telling her how lucky she is to have Ben and think he features Kiki Layne, Marwan Kenzari, is so charming, cool and fun. They're so happy for her." Luca Marinelli, Harry Melling, Van The couple, who met while shooting for their movie "Deep Water" in 2019, have Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts, and been enjoying their time together despite the coronavirus quarantine. Chiwetel Ejiofor. Affleck and the "No Time to Die" star have frequently been photographed taking Theron has also produced the project walks together throughout their neighbourhood. through her company Denver and "Ana and Ben are so in love and they are just enjoying the moment and are Delilah, alongside Skydance’s David quarantined together and happy," the source added. Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 20 FILM FESTIVAL FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE MUNDHRA- KHAN FILM PREMIERS By Mabel Pais ACADEMY AWARD® Nominee "ST. LOUIS business owner. Today, he works with the Community SUPERMAN" Justice Action Fund, which holds elected officials and community leaders accountable for ending gun premieres Monday, May 18 across MTV, VH1 violence in communities of color across the nation. and MTV2 About MTV Studios via MTV Documentary Films Music Television (MTV) Studios is a unit of MTV mriti Mundhra and Sami Khan are co-directors focused on developing content for Subscription Video and co-producers of the Academy Award® on Demand (SVOD) and linear distribution platforms. Snominated "St. Louis Superman." The film will With access to one of the largest libraries of 200+ youth premiere on Monday, May 18th at 9PM ET/PT across and music titles, MTV Studios was created to harness MTV,VH1 and MTV2 via MTV Documentary Films. "St. Bruce Franks, Jr. with brother Photo / Courtesy TFF2019 the power of MTV, create new franchises and Louis Superman" was 1st screened at the Tribeca Film reimagine its most iconic hits including "The Real Festival 2019 (TFF2019). destiny as a leader. World" for Facebook Watch as well as "Punk'd" and The critically acclaimed film is now also co-produced The film won the jury prize for Best Documentary "Singled Out" for Quibi. Additionally, MTV Studios by Al Jazeera Witness and Poh Si Teng. Short at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, the launched MTV Documentary Films to explore the The award-winning film directed by Smriti Mundhra Audience Award for Best Short at Hot Docs Canadian social, political and cultural trends and stories and Sami Khan, tells the story of Representative Bruce International Documentary Festival, the Audience important to young people. Franks Jr., a Ferguson activist and battle rapper who Award for Best Short at the American Film Institute About Al Jazeera English (AJE) - Witness was elected to the overwhelmingly white and (AFI) Docs and the Special Jury Mention at Tribeca Republican Missouri House of Representatives. Film Festival. "St. Louis Superman" is produced by "St. Louis Superman" is an Al Jazeera original Known as "Superman" to his constituents, Franks Jr. Mundhra, Khan and Poh Si Teng and executive documentary from AJE Witness, an award-winning cuts a unique figure - an unorthodox politician who has produced by Sheila Nevins and Fiona Lawson-Baker. documentary strand of Al Jazeera English. AJE overcome a tremendous loss to become one of the most About Bruce Franks Jr. Witness celebrates independent filmmaking and dynamic and unapologetic young leaders in the stories challenging dominant views that reflect the country. Forced to deal with the trauma he's been Bruce Franks Jr. is an American politician and human experience. AJE provides international news, carrying for nearly 30 years after witnessing the community activist. He served in the Missouri House current affairs and documentaries that places people at shooting death of his nine-year-old brother, the film of Representatives representing the 78th District and the heart of the story,rooted in the belief that everyone chronicles his work toward overcoming both personal served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on has a story worth hearing. The AJE Witness team is trauma and political obstacles in an effort to pass a bill Police/Community Relations before resigning in 2019. proud to have the opportunity to work with film that is critical to his community. Only by confronting A St. Louis native, Franks Jr. is also a world-renowned protagonist Bruce Franks Jr., and award-winning his pain can Franks Jr. find peace and truly fulfill his battle rapper known as "Ooops" as well as a small directors, Smriti Mundhra & Sami Khan. Mumbai film fest immerses stay-at-home audiences in ‘we are one’ By Mabel Pais community of storytellers to present "All of the world needs healing right schedule will be available closer to the festival programming free to audiences now," said Tribeca Enterprises and festival start date. "All of the world needs healing around the world. Tribeca Film Festival Co-Founder and About Tribeca Enterprises Set to begin on May 29 on CEO Jane Rosenthal. "'We Are One: A right now…. YouTube.com/WeAreOne, the festival Global Film Festival' unites curators, Tribeca Enterprises is a multi- 'We Are One: A Global Film will feature programming curated by the artists and storytellers to entertain and platform storytelling company, Festival' unites curators, artists Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI), Tribeca provide relief to audiences worldwide. In established in 2003 by Robert De Niro and Film Festival, Annecy International working with our extraordinary festival Jane Rosenthal. Tribeca provides artists and storytellers to entertain and Animation Film Festival, Berlin partners and YouTube we hope that with unique platforms to expand the provide relief to audiences International Film Festival, BFI London everyone gets a taste of what makes each audience for their work and broadens worldwide."- Jane Rosenthal, Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, New festival so unique and appreciates the art consumer access to experience York Film Festival, Sundance Film and power of film." storytelling, independent film, and Tribeca Enterprises & Tribeca Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo "One of the most unique and inspiring media. The company operates a network Film Festival,Co-Founder - CEO. International Film Festival, Toronto aspects of the world staying home is our of entertainment businesses including International Film Festival, and many ability to come together and experience the Tribeca Film Festival; the Tribeca "It's an event that's never been more, immersing audiences in stories an event as one, and 'We Are One: A TV Festival; and its branded from around the world and providing a Global Film Festival' is just that," said entertainment production arm, Tribeca done before and we're proud to be voice for filmmakers on a global stage. Robert Kyncl, Chief Business Officer, Studios. the home for this fantastic At a time when the world needs it most, YouTube. "Along with Tribeca About YouTube content that is free to fans around the belief that artists and creators have Enterprises and our incredible partners, the power to bring people together and we are bringing fans the opportunity to Launched in May 2005, YouTube allows the world."- Robert Kyncl, Chief create meaningful connections, is core to experience the curated programming billions of people to discover, watch, and Business Officer - YouTube the DNA of film festivals. Through "We each of these festivals provides as part of share originally created videos. YouTube Are One: A Global Film Festival," our ten-day long event. It's an event that's provides a forum for people to connect, "We Are One: A Global Film Festival" audiences will not only get a peek into never been done before and we're proud inform, and inspire others across the May 29 - June 7 different cultures through a new lens, to be the home for this fantastic content globe and acts as a distribution platform on YouTube.com/WeAreOne they'll be able to support local that is free to fans around the world." for original content creators and "WE ARE ONE: A Global Film communities by directly donating to "WE ARE ONE: A Global Film advertisers large and small. YouTube is a Festival," a collaboration of Tribeca organizations helping the relief efforts Festival" runs from May 29 - June 7 on Google company. Enterprises and YouTube, will present for those affected by COVID-19. The YouTube.com/WeAreOne. Programming (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and an unprecedented 10-day digital film festival will benefit the World Health will be available for free, and will include Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & festival exclusively on YouTube, Organization (WHO), as well as local films, shorts, documentaries, music, Wellness, and Spirituality) bringing together an international relief partners in each region. comedy, and conversations. A full THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 CORONAVIRUS 21 From nose to toes, doctors continue to discover uncommon signs of coronavirus infection temperatures - don't experience other absence of "the more typical and symptoms of a coronavirus infection recognized" markers of a coronavirus and don't require hospitalization for infection, such as fever and cough, he care. "Many patients are developing adds. room," says XinQi Dong, M.D., director these toe lesions well after their Experts point to a few explanations of the Institute for Health, Health Care infection, or they're otherwise for the tummy trouble. Chey says the Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers By Rachel Nania, AARP completely asymptomatic, except for virus can directly infect the cells that University-New Brunswick. When the toes," she adds. line the GI tract, which is why some triaging patients, many health care ever, cough and shortness of Though most cases of COVID toes patients can test positive for the virus workers "have been focused on the breath are not the only warning occur in the feet, the hands can be with a stool sample, even if results from primary symptoms that they know to Fsigns of a coronavirus infection, affected, too. Rashes similar to those a nasal swab come back negative. GI ask." even if they are the most common. In that result from hives and chicken pox issues could also be an indirect result of Neurological effects complicate recent weeks, a growing number of have also been reported in people who the body's fight against infection. doctors have documented a handful of test positive for the coronavirus. If you don't have a history of GI diagnosis in older victims otherwise unexpected symptoms in As for how and why these skin trouble and experience a sudden onset This is starting to change, though. patients with COVID-19, the illness conditions are happening, Freeman of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or loss of Loss of taste and smell, which usually caused by the coronavirus. says, "Our knowledge on this is still appetite - with or without other COVID- return after the virus runs its course, Some are reporting red or purple evolving." It could be an inflammatory 19 symptoms - check in with your are two symptoms on a growing list of lesions on patients' hands and feet; response to the virus, for example, or doctor. Your symptoms might warrant a neurological effects doctors are noting others are treating people with even a result of small blood clots in the coronavirus test. in COVID-19 patients. Other indicators diarrhea and severe appetite loss. There blood vessels of the skin. (Medical And if you are diagnosed with of the illness include dizziness, are also patients who have lost their experts have reported concerning COVID-19, consider confining yourself headache and confusion. In fact, a study sense of taste and smell. These clotting issues in patients with COVID- to your own room and bathroom, in JAMA Neurology found that more symptoms, strange as they may seem, 19.) "I think that over the coming separate from others in your house. than 36 percent of 214 patients in reinforce what experts around the months, we're going to learn a lot more Chey says it's not yet clear whether the Wuhan, China, experienced world have come to realize in recent about why this is happening," Freeman virus can be transmitted fecal-orally, neurological symptoms during their weeks: The coronavirus is capable of adds. but if that is the case, "you should not bout of COVID-19. causing more than a respiratory illness; If you notice a lesion like rash on be sharing a toilet with somebody that For older adults, in particular, these it can launch a full-body attack. your hands or feet, contact your doctor has COVID-19 unless, obviously, you neurological effects can be just as "It takes a while for the full range of or dermatologist about your symptoms, have no other choice." devastating as the pulmonary impacts symptoms to kind of be known" when since it could signify a coronavirus A few other tips: Disinfect bathroom of a coronavirus infection, Dong says. you're dealing with a new virus, infection. That said, it's important to surfaces often, especially high-touch They can also be easily overlooked or explains Lisa Winston, M.D., an keep in mind that "not everything on areas such as toilet and sink handles. dismissed as dementia or other diseases epidemiologist and professor of clinical your toes right now is from COVID," Don't share toilet paper rolls with common with aging. medicine at the University of Freeman says. "There's certainly lots of someone who has COVID-19, and always Neal Sikka, M.D., an associate California, San Francisco. At the start other things that can appear on the feet, flush with the cover closed, to minimize professor of emergency medicine at of the U.S. outbreak, the focus was and there's things that can even look the spread of germs. Finally, continue George Washington University in primarily on treating the sickest similar," which is why it's important to to be vigilant about personal hygiene. Washington, D.C., says broader patients, many of whom experienced talk with an expert. There is no specific "This whole issue about meticulous coronavirus testing is key to classic respiratory symptoms and treatment for COVID toes, but a high- hand hygiene is so unbelievably distinguishing COVID-19 patients from needed help breathing. "And then, as potency topical steroid might reduce important," especially if the virus is those who are suffering from a stroke or time went on and people saw more inflammation. spread by the fecal-oral route, Chey experiencing a complication from an cases, they started to recognize some of One thing to note, however, is that a emphasizes. "People need to wash their underlying health condition. the things that are a bit less typical," doctor won't be able to tell if the virus is hands and not touch their face." "We're trying to be very vigilant and Winston says. still active in your body just by looking Loss of taste or smell broad in our thinking" when a patient Here are some uncommon signs at your skin. "So, the safest thing to do comes into the emergency room with is to follow CDC guidelines for self- On the CDC's recently expanded list confusion or change in mental status, of COVID-19 that fall outside the isolation and to discuss with your of common COVID-19 symptoms, one Sikka says. "That could be some other hallmark symptoms. board-certified dermatologist or other newcomer stands out. In addition to type of infection; it definitely could also 'COVID toes' physician whether COVID testing fever, chills and a sore throat, the public be a presentation of COVID. And so, we might be right for you," Freeman health agency now recognizes new loss are trying to do rapid testing on those If you had asked dermatologist advises. of taste or smell as evidence of a patients to identify them early." Esther Freeman, M.D., last year what Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and coronavirus infection. And this catchall approach is what type of skin ailment a future viral "People who have colds, if they get a Dong expects will become the norm pandemic might bring about, she never severe appetite loss really stuffy nose, they may complain of going forward, especially as health care would have predicted red- and purple- COVID-19 is producing symptoms of lack of smell, but, you know, that's sort providers learn about the different colored toes that swell, burn and itch. diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and of an unusual [symptom] right now in ways a coronavirus infection can show But that's exactly what she and other appetite loss in a number of patients the absence of COVID," UCSF's Winston up in the body. experts are seeing in patients with young and old. A recent study out of says. But it may be one of the best "You know, we started by thinking coronavirus infections, leading this Stanford University School of Medicine indicators of a coronavirus infection. about COVID as very similar to SARS unusual symptom to be dubbed "COVID found that nearly one-third of 116 A new study published in the journal [severe acute respiratory syndrome] toes." patients infected with the coronavirus Nature Medicine tracked more than 2.5 and MERS [Middle East respiratory "The good news is, they do go away," reported mild gastrointestinal (GI) million participants who reported their syndrome]," which are two other says Freeman, director of symptoms. Earlier reports showed that potential symptoms of COVID-19 on a respiratory illnesses caused by Massachusetts General Hospital Global among roughly 200 patients in China, smartphone app. About 65 percent of coronaviruses. "But this - there's Health Dermatology and assistant more than half experienced diarrhea, people who tested positive for COVID-19 something different about this virus," professor of dermatology at Harvard nausea or vomiting. The Centers for reported loss of taste and smell, making Dong says. "We're catching up now, but Medical School, who is also overseeing Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it one of the strongest predictors of the if we had focused on not just fever, an international registry that catalogs has also acknowledged GI issues on its illness among those studied. Similarly, shortness of breath and dry cough, I the dermatological manifestations of list of COVID-19 warning signs. researchers from the University of think we might have caught more COVID-19. "So, we're not seeing that this "There's no question at this point that California, San Diego, found that smell potential symptoms much earlier, is going to cause permanent damage." GI symptoms can be a manifestation of and taste loss were reported in 68 and 71 especially in vulnerable older adults." Another plus: The majority of people COVID-19," says William Chey, M.D., percent of COVID-19-positive subjects, (Rachel Nania is a reporter and editor, with COVID toes - which Freeman professor of gastroenterology and respectively. covering lifestyle, food, health, travel and likens to chilblains (also called pernio), nutrition sciences at the University of "But we don't always ask those parenting) an inflammatory skin condition that Michigan. And oftentimes these questions [about loss of taste or smell] (Courtesy AARP) often occurs after exposure to very cold symptoms can come on even in the when we are in the busy emergency THE INDIAN PANORAMA 22 WORLD FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

Brazil registers record 13,944 new AMAZON COULD BE NEXT coronavirus cases RIO DE JANEIRO (TIP): Brazil VIRUS HOT ZONE: SCIENTIST registered a daily record 13,944 new cases of the novel coronavirus on SAO PAULO (TIP): The next Thursday and 844 additional deaths, pandemic could come from the Amazon according to health ministry data. rainforest, warns Brazilian ecologist Brazil has now tallied 202,918 David Lapola, who says human confirmed cases of the virus since the encroachment on animals' habitats — a outbreak began and 13,933 deaths. — likely culprit in the coronavirus Reuters outbreak — is soaring there because of rampant deforestation. Virus vaccine possible Researchers say the urbanization of in a year, says EU once-wild areas contributes to the emergence of zoonotic diseases — those agency that pass from animals to humans. AMSTERDAM/BRUSSELS (TIP): That includes the new coronavirus, A vaccine to counter the new which scientists believe originated in coronavirus could be approved in bats before passing to humans in China's about a year in an "optimistic" rapidly urbanizing Hubei province, scenario, an agency which approves probably via a third species. planet but for human health, said now," he said. medicines for the European Union said Lapola, 38, who studies how human Lapola, who holds a PhD in earth system And one more reason to be alarmed by on Thursday. activity will reshape the future modeling from the Max Planck Institutes the surge in deforestation by illegal Britain is in talks with Swiss ecosystems of tropical forests, says the in Germany and works at the University farmers, miners and loggers, he added. drugmaker Roche Holding AG to buy same processes are in play in the of Campinas in Brazil. Bolsonaro, a climate-change skeptic an accurate COVID-19 antibody test, Amazon. "When you create ecological who wants to open protected indigenous following the lead of the European "The Amazon is a huge reservoir of disequilibrium... that's when a virus can lands to mining and agriculture, Union and United States, which had viruses," he told AFP in an interview. jump" from animals to humans, he said. deployed the army to the Amazon this already given preliminary approval to "We'd better not try our luck." HIV,Ebola, dengue week to fight deforestation, in a rare the tests. Mass antibody testing with The world's biggest rainforest is Similar patterns can be seen with HIV, protective move. millions of kits is being considered by disappearing at an alarming rate. Ebola and dengue fever — "all viruses But Lapola said he would rather see many countries as a way to speed the Last year, in far-right President Jair that emerged or spread on a huge scale the government reinforce the existing reopening of economies devastated by Bolsonaro's first year in office, because of ecological imbalances," he environmental agency, IBAMA, which the lockdowns and to introduce more deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon said. has faced staffing and budget cuts under social distancing measures. A Public surged 85 percent, to more than 10,000 So far, most such outbreaks have been Bolsonaro. Health England laboratory concluded square kilometers — an area nearly the concentrated in South Asia and Africa, "I hope under the next administration on May 7 that the Roche test detected size of Lebanon. often linked to certain species of bats. we'll pay more attention to protecting the exact antibodies prompted by the The trend is continuing this year. But the Amazon's immense what may be the planet's greatest virus, but the findings were made From January to April, 1,202 square biodiversity could make the region "the biological treasure," Lapola said. public on Wednesday. kilometers were wiped out, setting a new world's biggest coronavirus pool," he "We need to reinvent the relationship As the world rushes to develop a record for the first four months of the said — referring to coronaviruses in between our society and the rainforest." vaccine, the European Union, hard hit year, according to data based on satellite general, not the one behind the current Otherwise, the world faces more by Covid-19, fears it may not have images from Brazil's National Space pandemic. outbreaks — "a very complex process sufficient supplies, especially if a Research Institute (INPE). "That's one more reason not to use the that is difficult to predict," he said. vaccine were developed in the US or That is bad news, not just for the Amazon irrationally, like we're doing "We'd better just play it safe." — AFP China. The European Medicines Agency, in communication with 33 developers, was doing all it could to speed up the Canada likely to extend travel approval process, the EMA's head of vaccines, Marco Cavaleri, said, but he was sceptical of claims any could be ready by September. restrictions until June 21 “For vaccines, since the development has to start from OTTAWA/WASHINGTON (TIP): trading relationships. scratch...we might look from an Canada and the United States appear Prime Minister Justin The United States takes 75% of all optimistic side in a year from now, so likely to extend a ban on non-essential Trudeau said talks about Canadian goods exports. beginning of 2021,” he said. travel until June 21 amid the novel The total Canadian death toll edged up He ruled out the possibility of coronavirus pandemic, a Canadian the border "are going well by just over 3% to 5,209 from 5,049 on skipping the third phase of a vaccine government source and a top US official and we're confident Tuesday, official data showed on trial, which he said would be needed to said on Wednesday. about being able to Wednesday. be sure a vaccine was safe and The two neighbours had agreed on The data are another sign the outbreak effective. April 18 to extend border restrictions continue to keep in Canada is slowing whereas the The EMA is also looking at 115 until May 21 as cases of the disease Canadians safe." situation in parts of the United States is different therapeutics, or treatments, continued to rise in both nations. Canada more challenging. for the coronavirus. Cavaleri said is now pressing for the measures to measures “at least in the short term.” The Canadian provinces of Ontario some of those therapeutics could be remain for another month. Separately, a Mexican government and Quebec neighbour the state of New approved in Europe as early as this "It's too early to lift the restrictions, so source said an extension for a limited York, a US epicenter of the disease. summer. we're working toward an extension," said period seemed likely. Canadian officials have been repeatedly “If a vaccine is first developed one Canadian government source, On Tuesday,the chief Canadian public pressed about the potential risk posed by outside Europe, we must do everything describing the talks with Washington as health officer said the United States — arriving truck drivers. possible to ensure that the vaccine is positive. where cases are increasing steadily — Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public actually available to all countries," Chad Wolf, acting US Department of presented a risk. health officer, said on Tuesday the said Peter Liese, who is a prominent Homeland Security secretary, said later News of the request for a 30-day coronavirus "could take off rapidly" member of Germany's Christian on Wednesday that restrictions across extension was first reported by Canada's unless extreme caution was exercised Democratic Union (CDU) party, the the borders with Canada and Mexico Globe and Mail newspaper. about relaxing the ban. same as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s. would likely be extended. The agreement allows the flow of "The United States being one country —Reuters Speaking to reporters in San Diego, goods across a border that stretches 5,525 that still has cases and is still trying to Wolf said officials from Canada and miles (8,891 km) and is a crossing point manage outbreaks ... presents a risk to Mexico were willing to continue the for one of the world's largest bilateral Canada from that perspective." Reuters THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 WORLD 23

Japan expected to lift New Zealand unveils NZ$50 billion emergency in most areas except Tokyo COVID-19 recovery plan TOKYO (TIP): Japan is expected to lift a state of emergency across a large WELLINGTON (TIP): New Zealand part of the country on Thursday but unveiled a record NZ$50 billion ($30 the capital Tokyo will likely remain billion) spending package on Thursday under restrictions until there is a to revive an economy hit by the convincing containment of the coronavirus pandemic, but warned it coronavirus. may not be enough to stop thousands Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is from losing jobs and businesses scheduled to hold a news conference at shutting. 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) when he is expected The massive budget stimulus, which to announce the lifting of the includes billions on infrastructure, emergency in 39 of Japan’s 47 healthcare, housing and wage subsidy prefectures, but not in Tokyo. schemes, sets the stage for Prime The world’s third-largest economy Minister Jacinda Ardern’s re-election declared a nationwide state of campaign, as her centre-left government emergency a month ago, urging seeks to consolidate support ahead of citizens to reduce person-to-person the September poll. contact by 80% in an effort to slow the Ardern said the priority was to stop pace of new coronavirus infections massive unemployment and described and ease the strain on medical the package as a “jobs” budget. services. The NZ$50 billion will be spent over a Grant Robertson said in his speech. the lowest tolls in the world. The government had said it would four-year forecast period and is more GDP for 2020 was seen shrinking 4.6% But she faces a tough task rebooting reassess the situation in mid-May. than any New Zealand government has but gradually recovering by 2022. the $200 billion economy, which is Abe, like leaders everywhere, is ever spent in one budget. “Today’s budget delivered an dependent on trade and tourism, with striving to strike a balance between “Nothing about this time in our economic support package that was even growth expected to slow significantly damage to the economy from history is usual and so neither should more massive than expected, an and hundreds of thousands of jobs to be prolonged shutdowns and the need to our response be,” Ardern told extraordinary response to lost. contain the virus. lawmakers in a speech to parliament. extraordinary times,” said Michael She eased some tough lockdown Economists said normalisation Economic forecasts released with the Gordon, a Senior Economist at Westpac. measures this week amid growing would be gradual as the government budget cast a grim picture for the years Recovery expected pressure from critics who said they were keeps a wary eye on the possibility of a ahead, with unemployment seen spiking crippling small businesses and hurting second wave of infections as seen in to nearly 10% by June from 4% Ratings firm S&P said in a note the the economy. The main opposition countries such as South Korea and currently. budget indicated a significant hit to New National Party slammed the budget, China. The dark outlook comes as Zealand’s finances in the next couple of saying it lacked any detail of how money “The focus is whether the neighbouring Australia on Thursday years before slowly recovering. would be spent and what it will achieve. government will lift the emergency in reported record monthly jobs losses of “We expect New Zealand’s economy to “Kiwis have sacrificed so much the big areas such as Tokyo and Osaka about 600,000 in April. recover faster than the budget assumes, through the restrictions of the before the end of May, as was initially New Zealand’s spending means debt aided by the quicker easing of lockdown lockdown, our collective efforts have so planned,” said Atsushi Takeda, chief projections balloon to NZ$200 billion for restrictions than assumed in the far worked well, now we need to get our economist at Itochu Research 2024, from NZ$76 billion in December’s budget,” the agency said. economy cranking again,” opposition Institute. forecasts. The operating deficit for fiscal Robertson said the measures will leader Simon Bridges said. “If it does, economic recovery will year ending June 2020 is now expected to bring unemployment rate back to its The government said it would build likely be faster than previously be 9.6% of gross domestic product, well current level of 4.2% by June 2022. He 8,000 new homes to support the estimated.” up on the 0.3% forecast in December. estimated the package would save construction sector, and create 11,000 The emergency gives governors The deficit is expected to average 9.3% 140,000 jobs over two years. jobs in environmental projects. It plans more authority to tell people to stay at over the next two years. Prime Minister Ardern has garnered to spend NZ$4 billion on supporting home and to close schools and “There will be a sharp fall in economic global praise for her leadership amid the businesses and extended its current businesses, but there is no penalty for activity and a substantial rise in pandemic, with the country recording wage subsidy scheme for another eight non-compliance. unemployment,” Finance Minister only 21 deaths from coronavirus, among weeks. Reuters Some non-essential businesses, even in areas hit hard by the coronavirus, have started to reopen ahead of the government’s review, and the scope of China reports 15 new COVID-19 restrictions has varied across the country. The emergency is also expected to remain in force in Osaka, Japan’s cases, Wuhan begins mass testing second-largest metropolis, but its governor has announced criteria for BEIJING/WUHAN (TIP): China has NHC said. was quoted as saying by the Hong Kong- gradually lifting some restraints on reported 15 new COVID-19 cases, Following a spike in cases, officials in based South China Morning Post. businesses including eateries and including 12 asymptomatic infections, Jilin city of the northeast China’s Jilin The NHC said that 712 people with bars. The 39 prefectures in which the the health authorities said on Thursday, province have adopted a number of more asymptomatic infections were under emergency is expected to be lifted as the mass testing for the deadly stringent measures to curb the spread of medical observation. This included 574 account for 54% of Japan’s population. coronavirus began for the 11 million COVID-19. in Hubei province and its capital Wuhan. The greater Tokyo area, where the people in the city of Wuhan, amid Gai Dongping, vice-mayor of Jilin, told The local health commission in Wuhan emergency is expected to remain in apprehensions about a second wave of reporters on Wednesday that the city had said no new confirmed case of force, represents about a third of the the pandemic. reported a total of 21 community cases, coronavirus was reported on Wednesday. economy. According to China’s National Health with two asymptomatic patients, since Meanwhile, Wuhan began a massive “Tokyo is the heart of the Japanese Commission (NHC), the three new cases the first cluster infection was reported a campaign on Wednesday to test all of its economy. It’s like driving a car with are domestically transmitted, with two week ago. over 11 million people. three wheels,” said Jesper Koll, chief reported in Liaoning province and one in “The current outbreak is very serious The tests to be completed by May 20 executive of asset manager Jilin province. and complex and poses a major risk of began as a top health official warned WisdomTree Japan. The government As of Wednesday, the overall further spread. In order to prevent and that China’s risk of COVID-19 cluster is set to add four economists to its confirmed cases on the mainland had stem the spread of the epidemic, the infections caused by the sporadic cases advisory panel for combating the reached 82,929, including 101 patients Jilin epidemic prevention and control cannot be ignored, although the epidemic and another review will be who were still being treated. Overall, the group has decided to implement control epidemic is in a generally stable state in conducted again in about a week. death toll in China stood at 4,633, the measures in the urban area of Jilin,” she the country at the moment. PTI Reuters THE INDIAN PANORAMA 24 WOMEN FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 HOMEMADE TONICS FOOD CORNER FOR HAIR GROWTH ur hair is our crown, and most of us are very touchy Oabout it as well. Hair fall, hair loss, white hair, dry hair, too oil, well all these are issues with different people. If we are happy with our hair then too we have to maintain it to keep them like that. Here, particularly if you have hair growth issues then there are some tonics as I call them or juices that will help majorly when it comes to the hair problem. Lamb Kofta Potato Juice Ingredients Not just for hair, but juice of fruits and vegetables are good for Minced lamb - 250 gms the overall human body.The juice of Breadcrumbs - 1/2 cup potatoes has vitamin C, zinc, beta Onion - 1, small, finely chopped carotene, iron and phosphorus, Egg - 1, beaten which keeps the hair healthy by Mint leaves - handful, finely chopped nourishing the cells in our scalp. Coriander leaves - handful, finely chopped Potato also helps in keeping the pH Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp level balanced and prevents Cardamom powder - 1 tsp dandruff. It also stops hair loss. Cumin powder - 1 tsp Method: Blend the pieces in the blender Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp with some water and then Turmeric powder - 1 tsp Cut the peeled potato into strain it into a glass. Salt as per taste small slices and put them in a You can add some honey to Black pepper powder as per taste blender. reduce the acidity. Wooden skewers - few, soaked in cold water for 30 minutes Now add some water to it and Olive oil - little blend to make the juice. Carrot Juice Optional ingredients: Strain the potatoes in a glass Carrot juice is full of many Ginger garlic aste - 1 tsp and drink immediately. nutrients, which are crucial for hair Red chilli flakes - 1/4 tsp growth. The juice of carrots have Amla Juice high amounts of antioxidants Method Amla juice is the best medicine which are known as carotenoids. 1. Combine the minced lamb and breadcrumbs in a bowl. for your hair. It is excellent for your They reduce the oxidative damage 2. Mix well. scalp and hair. Indian gooseberry of the cells of the head. Carrot juice 3. Add the onions, mint leaves, coriander leaves, juice is well known for being rich in has vitamins present that prevents cinnamon powder, cardamom powder, cumin powder, vitamin C and for being a natural hair loss by curing dry and red chilli powder and turmeric powder. antioxidant. It fights free radicals damaged hair. It hydrates the hair 4. Sprinkle some salt and pepper powder. and can prevent hair loss quite fast. and makes it soft. The biotin in it 5. Mix well. Not just this, it is very good for the prepares keratin to prevent hair 6. Add the egg and mix again until all ingredients are prevention of premature greying. loss. evenly combined. Have the juice every day as it also Method 7. Make small balls of the mixture and insert a skewer has anti-microbial properties that into the center. prevent yeast infection and Peel the carrots properly and 8. Gently press the mixture around the skewer and keep dandruff. Here we are telling you wash and cut into pieces. aside. how to make this juice. 9. Heat a grill pan over medium flame. Method Blend it in a jar and put some 10. Add some olive oil and grill the prepared koftas until water in it to make a juice. golden brown on all sides. Wash the amla properly and Now filter the juice and drink 11. Remove and serve with naan/parathas and lemon chop into small pieces. it. wedges. FACE PACKS TO GET RID OF SUN TAN

t's blazing hot in Chennai. Despite the heat we have for half-an hour and wash it. to step out for work and for other activities. It is Inatural that our skin would get tanned when Fruit pack exposed to this scorching heat. Apart from applying Soak 10 grams of dry raisins and two dates in 50 ml sunscreen lotion you can also try out these face packs to tea decoction for two hours.Then grind this into a help remove the tan. City-based skin care expert smooth paste.Add a tsp of papaya pulp, apply the mix on Vasundhra Ravi gives us six homemade face packs that face, neck and other exposed areas. Rinse after 10 will keep your skin looking fresh this summer. minutes. Barley pack Orange pack Grind 30 grams of barley with 20 grams of khus khus. Dry orange peel (mandarin orange) and powder it. Mix this powder with five drops of lemon juice and a Take a tsp of this powder and add one tsp curd, a tsp few drops of rose water to make a smooth paste. Apply Multani mitti, and one tsp sandal paste. Add a little this paste on the exposed areas. Leave the pack on for water and mix it into a fine paste. Apply the paste on the half-anhour and wash your face with cold water. tanned areas and leave it on for 20 minutes.Wash off with water. Dal pack Take two tablespoon of tuvar dal, two tsp green gram Aloe vera pack dal, two tsp cucumber seeds, two tsp channa dal. Grind Mix two tsp of aloe vera pulp, three tsp tomato juice, all these into a fine powder. Add two pinches of kasturi one tsp Multani mitti and one tsp sandal paste. Apply on manjal and two tsp cucumber juice to this powder and tanned areas. Leave on for 15 minutes, pat on cold milk. make a paste. Apply this on the tanned areas. Leave it Leave on for five minutes and then wash off with water. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 HEALTH 25 FOODS THAT ARE BEST SOURCES OF COPPER or the proper functioning of the immune system and Fgrowth development of the foetus, we require this essential trace mineral in the right amount and one can include copper-rich food items in their diet to get the same. If you have copper deficiency then you may experience bone weakness, muscles & joints pain among others. However, it is important to note that you should not get pass the daily recommended allowance. Nuts and seeds Nuts and seeds are two superfoods that you should include in your diet as they provide a wide range of nutrients including copper. Almonds, cashews and sesame seeds are good sources of copper and that's why you should add them in your daily diet. GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP Seafood and liver 'CRUCIAL' FOR ASTHMA Seafood especially oysters and lobster are very rich in copper. SUFFERERS Organ meats such as liver, you must be aware of, how nutritious they among others. 4 dried Shiitake Dark chocolate etting a good night's sleep is vital for asthma are. The liver also provides other mushrooms can give 89% of the RDI sufferers, researchers have reported. Experts micronutrients such as B12, for copper. Chocolate lovers must be Gfrom the American College of Allergy, Asthma, vitamin A, riboflavin (B2), folate grinning from ear to ear. Dark and Immunology have discovered that too little sleep, (B9), iron and choline. Green leafy vegetables chocolate which boasts several and occasionally too much sleep, could lead to a It is no surprise to see their nutrients includes health-boosting greater likelihood of an asthma attack, dry cough, and Mushrooms mention in this list. Green leafy antioxidants is also rich in copper. hospitalisation compared to normal sleepers. Mushrooms, especially, Shiitake veggies are powerhouses of so A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate The study involved 1,300 adults, aged 20 and over, Mushrooms are incredibly rich in many vitamins and minerals has 200% of the RDI for copper. who self-identified as having asthma. copper. They also a great source of including copper. For the unversed, Make sure to not overeat dark More than 25 per cent of participants slept five selenium, manganese, zinc, folate cooked spinach can give you 33% of chocolate as they are a high-calorie hours or less, while nearly two thirds slept between six and vitamins B1, B5, B6 and D the RDI. food. and eight hours, and just over eight per cent slept more than nine hours. Short sleepers had an increased risk of having an asthma attack, and also had significantly worse Here’s why your knees might hurt health-related quality of life, such as poor mental health and physical inactivity. Long sleepers were also associated with having an increase in wheezing compared to normal sleepers. after sitting still for a few hours "Compared to normal sleepers, short and long sleepers had a higher proportion of people who hanks to a movie marathon, reported having an asthma attack in the past year, and you haven't moved from the had more days with impaired health-related quality of Tcouch in hours - but your life," Faith Luyster, lead author of the study, knees feel like you just ran an actual explained. marathon. While allergist Gailen D. Marshall noted that Since 26.2 miles never happened, disturbed sleep in asthma patients can cause the you might be wondering why these condition to become out of control, leading to poor aches appeared. health. TV binges are a fail-safe way to "This study adds solid evidence to the practice of zone out, relax, and unwind, but asthma patients discussing sleep issues with their sitting in one place for prolonged allergist to help determine if they need to change their periods of time doesn't always have asthma plan to achieve adequate sleep as a component the same effect on your joints. of overall good asthma management," he added. "Sitting in one position for a long period of time puts a lot of contact pressure on the patella (knee cap). PAGE SPONSORED BY This type of pain is especially common in females who are more DR. SATISH AND GITANJLI ANAND likely to have soft or slightly damaged cartilage in the front of DR. SATISH ANAND their knee," Dr. Sabrina Strickland, Former Chairman, Board of an HSS orthopedic surgeon, Trustees, AAPI National explains. E-Mail: One solution is fairly simple and and pulling your heel toward your propping up your foot for periods of [email protected] probably pretty obvious - make buttock," Dr. Strickland says. "For time so that the knee isn't rested in movement a priority. your hamstrings, prop your heel on one position all day. Dr. Strickland suggests setting a an ottoman and lean over your leg - Knee pain can be caused by more GITANJLI ANAND timer to move every 30 minutes, as you should feel the stretch from than just sitting still, so if you Former President, India well as completing quad and your buttock down to the back of regularly deal with this type of pain Association of Long Island hamstring stretches a few times a your knee." - especially after exercise - reach out (IALI) day. If you plan on being seated for a to your doctor for a specific E-mail: "For the quads, try reaching back while, Dr. Strickland suggests diagnosis and set of instructions. [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA 26 SCIENCE & TECH FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 RESEARCHERS DEVELOPING FACE MASK THAT LIGHTS UP WHEN IT DETECTS VIRUS andemics were top of mind for Jim Collins years before the Pnew coronavirus emerged. In 2014, his bioengineering laboratory at MIT began developing sensors that could detect the Ebola ALEXA, IS THIS A SCAM? virus when it was freeze-dried onto a piece of paper. The small team of AMAZON CRACKS DOWN ON scientists from MIT and Harvard first published their research in TECH SUPPORT SITES 2016; by then, they'd tailored the technology to address the growing mazon is suing two companies for “widespread Zika virus threat. tech support fraud,” alleging that they tricked Now, they're adjusting their tool Anew users of Echo speakers and other Alexa again to identify coronavirus cases. devices into paying for purported technical The team is developing a face support through an elaborate ruse designed to mask that produces a fluorescent convince them they had encountered frustrating signal when a person with the technical glitches. coronavirus breathes, coughs, or The formal complaint follows a series of earlier sneezes. legal actions by Amazon against the companies, If the technology proves many countries' ability to control The team hopes to demonstrate resulting in the shutdown of most of their apps and successful, it could address flaws outbreaks, tools that quickly that the concept actually works sites. associated with other screening identify patients are critical. within the next few weeks. In one example cited in the suit, a purported methods like temperature checks. Fluorescent signal could show "Once we're in that stage, then it support technician — speaking on the phone with a "As we open up our transit would be a matter setting up trials user who was actually an Amazon investigator — system, you could envision it being whether coronavirus is in saliva with individuals expected to be used a remote connection to the investigator’s used in airports as we go through Collins said his lab's current infected to see if it would work in a computer in a creative attempt to make it look like security, as we wait to get on a project is in the "very early stages," real-world setting," Collins said. there was a problem installing Alexa. plane," Collins told Business but the results have been promising. The virus-identifying technology “The technician opened the command function, Insider. "You or I could use it on the For the last few weeks, his team has more generally, however, has and prompted a simple directory search,” lawyers for way to and from work. Hospitals been testing the sensors' ability to already been proven. By 2018, the Amazon write in the suit. “The perpetrator stated could use it for patients as they detect coronavirus in a small saliva lab's sensors could detect SARS, this task would identify the problem. At the come in or wait in the waiting room sample. measles, influenza, hepatitis C, conclusion of the search, the perpetrator wrote at the as a pre-screen of who's infected." They're also experimenting with West Nile, and other viruses. bottom of the dialogue box: ‘Foreign Address Doctors could even use them to design: Right now, the lab is "We initially did this on paper to Detected . . . IP is not secure . . . Unable to connect diagnose patients on the spot, debating whether to embed sensors create inexpensive paper-based Alexa.’ ” without having to send samples to a on the inside of a mask or develop a diagnostics," Collins said. "We've That’s one of several tactics alleged by Amazon in laboratory. At a time when testing module that can be attached to any shown it can work on plastic, the lawsuit against Robojap Technologies LLC of snafus and delays have hampered over-the-counter mask. quartz, as well as cloth." Covington, Wash., and Quatic Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. of Punjab, India, and their respective principals. GOOGLE CHROME WILL NOW ALLOW Scientists make You can now have your very own fastest soft digital avatar on FB, Messenger USERS TO GROUP THEIR TABS TOGETHER e've all been there: 27 browser robots based on acebook is rolling out its own version of bitmoji tabs open and struggling to find biomechanics of – personalized avatars – for U.S. users, Facebook Wthe one we need. Google wants Ftold USA TODAY exclusively. to help. Designed to infuse a bit of playfulness into a social The tech giant is rolling out a new tool a cheetah network that many young people eschew for to organize tabs in its Chrome browser aking inspiration Instagram or Snapchat, these cartoon versions of and group them together, it announced from cheetahs, ourselves are clones of Snapchat's Bitmoji and Wednesday. Tresearchers from Apple's Memoji stickers, tapping into a popular form Users can right click on tabs to add North Carolina State of expression in text messages and on social media. them to groups and then label those University have developed On Facebook, the avatars will be used to share groups with a custom name, color, emoji a new type of soft robot feelings and interact with friends in comments, on or a combination of the three, Chrome that is capable of moving Messenger and in Stories and, shortly, in text posts engineer Edward Jung said in a blog more quickly than with backgrounds, too, says Fidji Simo, head of the post. Google's initial research showed previous generations. The Facebook app. You can also use your personal avatar some popular ways that people tend to paper “Leveraging Elastic on your gaming profile. group their tabs — by topic, by urgency instabilities for Amplified Facebook avatars were first introduced last year in ("ASAP," "this week" or "later") or by Performance (LEAP): Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and progress ("haven't started," "in progress" spine-inspired high-speed Ireland and expanded this year to Europe and or "completed"). and high-force soft robots” Canada. "Tab groups are customizable so you published in the journal From skin tone and complexion to facial features can decide how to use them," Jung said. — this is the first time Google is offering Science Advances claims and hairstyles to outfits and accessories, you can (This writer's trick is to open a new its own. that the new soft robotics personalize your avatar to reflect who you are, browser window for each story he is The feature, which Google has been based on the biomechanics Facebook says. working on or when he hits a certain testing for months, is currently only of a cheetah is also "Avatars enable you to share a range of emotions threshold of tabs, which means instead available on Chrome's beta version. The capable of grabbing and expressions via a digital persona that’s uniquely of having 36 tabs open he has three company will add it to the new version of objects delicately and with representative of you," Simo says. windows with 12 tabs each). (The editor Chrome starting next week, rolling it out sufficient strength. The social network, which tends to cherry-pick of this story has 18 tabs open in one gradually to avoid impacting the Soft robots have good ideas like this one from competitors, says it took window right now). browser's "stability and performance." attracted researchers its time building the feature for Facebook to make While tab organizers aren't a new One thing that won't change no matter because of their safe and sure the avatars represented the diversity of its concept — services such as OneTab, what Google does, however, is the joy of adaptive interaction with billions of users. It says it has no plans to monetize Cluster and Toby offer Chrome closing dozens of tabs when you're done humans in harsh the avatars at this time. extensions for this purpose, for example working on something. environments. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 BIZ & FINANCE 27 Vijay Mallya faces extradition, loses appeal in UK court

LONDON (TIP): Fugitive Indian businessman Vijay Mallya today lost his application seeking leave to appeal in the UK Supreme Court, news agencies reported. UK Home Secretary Priti Patel will now take a final call to formally certify the court order for Vijay Mallya to be extradited to India within 28 days. The 64-year-old businessman had 14 days to file ASIAN SHARES STRUGGLE this application to seek permission to move the higher court on the High Court judgment from April 20, which dismissed his appeal against a AS CORONAVIRUS STRAINS Westminster Magistrates' Court's extradition order certified by the UK Home Secretary. US-CHINA RELATIONS The latest ruling will now go back for re- certification and the process of extradition should TOKYO (TIP): Asian stocks struggled to extend be triggered within 28 days. gains on Friday and were on course to end the week Earlier, Mallya had urged the government to lower as deteriorating US-China relations undercut unconditionally accept his offer of bank loan optimism over the reopening of major economies. repayment and close the case against him. Worries about confrontations between the two "Congratulations to the government for a Covid-19 largest economies in the world eclipsed Chinese relief package. They can print as much currency as economic data, which showed it economy is gradually they want BUT should a small contributor like me KEY HIGHLIGHTS recovering from the shock of the coronavirus who offers 100 per cent payback of state-owned bank Vijay Mallya lost his appeal in the London High outbreak. loans be constantly ignored? Please take my money Court against an extradition order to India on With China the first to relax lockdowns, global unconditionally and close," Mallya had tweeted. alleged charges of money laundering investors are closely watching it for clues on how long Vijay Mallya, promoter of the defunct Kingfisher Earlier, Mallya had urged the government to demand will take to bounce back, as other countries Airlines is wanted in India over alleged fraud and unconditionally accept his offer of bank loan begin to ease their own anti-virus measures. money laundering charges amounting to estimated repayment MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares ?9,000 crore. He was arrested by the UK authorities UK Home Secretary Priti Patel will now take a outside Japan were little changed, with gains in on April 20, 2017 on the request of the Indian final call to formally certify the court order Australia offset by falls in Hong Kong. investigative agencies. Japan’s Nikkei dipped 0.3% while mainland Chinese shares also ticked lower. US S&P500 futures dipped 0.15% after the index gained 1.15% the previous day, recovering from a Oil prices inch higher on US three-week low. While many analysts regarded the drop as a natural correction after a fast rally since mid-March, they are stockpile drop, but bleak also increasingly worried about US-China relations as US President Donald Trump blames China for the outlook caps gains disease that killed more than 85,000 Americans. SEOL (TIP): Oil prices were lifted on Thursday by an US MORTGAGE RATES HOVER unexpected drop in US crude stocks, but gains were capped by both a bleak outlook for the world’s no. 1 economy as the NEAR ALL-TIME LOW coronavirus pandemic crushes fuel demand and concern over a potential second wave of cases. WASHINGTON (TIP): Long-term US mortgage Brent crude futures were up 6 cents, or 0.2%, at $29.25 per rates were mostly steady this week, hovering near all- barrel at 0401 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude time lows. futures were up 18 cents, or 0.7%, to $25.47 a barrel. Cost of Coronavirus pandemic Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday Prices have risen in the past two weeks as some countries that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home relaxed coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns to allow loan edged up to 3.28% from 3.26% last week. A year factories and shops to open again. But new cases have could reach almost 10% of ago, the rate stood at 4.07%. emerged in South Korea and China, raising concerns over a The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage possible second wave of infections which would weigh on world’s GDP: Report eased to 2.72% from 2.73% last week. economic recovery and fuel demand. he cost of the coronavirus pandemic could Mortgage applications for home purchases reached US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned on reach as much as $8.8 trillion, or almost 10% a new low in April as the economy and housing market Wednesday of an “extended period” of weak economic Tof global gross domestic product, depending reeled from the shutdown spurred by the coronavirus growth and called for additional fiscal spending to stave off on how long the outbreak continues and the pandemic. The normally busy spring homebuying the fallout from the virus. strength of government responses, according to season has been upended. At the same time, however, “It is hard to get excited about a steady rebound for crude the Asian Development Bank. home prices have been rising. demand when the world’s largest economy has significant A shorter containment period of three months Grim data, meanwhile, continues to pour in showing uncertainty about the outlook and big downside risks,” said coupled with strong policy measures could limit the economic damage from the virus that shut down Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA. the impact to $4.1 trillion, or 4.5% of world output, wide swaths of business and social life. The A drop in US crude inventories provided some support to the Manila-based lender said in a report Friday. government reported Thursday that the number of prices early in the trading session, but Moya said much The Asia Pacific region is expected to account for Americans filing for unemployment benefits because bigger drawdowns over the next few weeks would be needed about 30% of the overall decline in global output, it of the pandemic has soared to 36 million in two to boost prices. US crude inventories fell by 745,000 barrels to said. months. 531.5 million barrels in the week to May 8, marking the first The analysis “highlights the important role The spike of nearly 3 million laid off workers decline since January, the Energy Information policy interventions can play to help mitigate applying for US unemployment benefits last week Administration said on Wednesday. Analysts in a Reuters damage to economies,” ADB Chief Economist came despite most states having begun letting some poll had forecast a 4.1 million barrel increase. Yasuyuki Sawada said in a statement. businesses reopen under certain restrictions. Amid the slump in fuel use, the Organization of Petroleum The new cost estimates are more than twice the Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Wednesday it expects range of $2 trillion to $4.1 trillion the development 2020 global oil demand to shrink by 9.07 million bpd, worse bank gave April 3. There are now more than 4 than its previous contraction forecast of 6.85 million bpd. It million confirmed cases of coronavirus globally said it also expected the second quarter to see the steepest with deaths exceeding 300,000. decline in demand. ING Economics said in a note the The lender suggests boosting health systems, as lowering of demand forecasts made for “bearing reading”. well as income and employment protections, to “(Second-quarter) demand for OPEC oil is just 16.77 avoid an even more difficult recovery. Sustained million bpd, well below OPEC output levels, even when full measures from governments could soften the compliance of OPEC+ cuts are taken into consideration,” economic impact of the virus by as much as 40%, ING added. ADB said. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 28 ASTROLOGY FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

Shree Ganeshaya Namah

Bejan Daruwalla is world's most famous astrologertoday. He appears regularly on world wide TV shows. Bejan who has been a professor in English, hasauthored a number of books on astrology. India'sPrime Minister Narendra Modi , on March 29, 2012,lunched one of Bejan's books, '2012- End of theWorld? Bejan contributes to a number of journals andnewspapers in many parts of the world which includeBerkley Communications Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrological (London) Times of India(Delhi, Mumbai, consultations. He can be reached at Kolkata, Chennai) and The IndianPanorama ( [email protected] and on phone New York and Texas). Bejan's predictionshave mostly been correct and 91-8141234275 people the world overrely on his predictions. www.bejandaruwalla.com

The Indian Panorama brings you Weekly and Birthday Horoscope from the World's most trusted astrologer Bejan Daruwalla. Latest correct prediction: Modi's historic victory Weekly Horoscope May 18 - May 24, 2020 ARIES: Ganesha says money will be important LEO: Ganesha says there is personal SAGITTARIUS: This period Ganesha decides for you and you will look at making some evolution and you grow in credibility, generously to give you several things you have important financial transactions. Matters related popularity and authority. This is a period of long been craving for. There are rewards, to legacy, joint-finance, insurance, real estate, achievement and consolidation. This is a good returns, recognition and romance. This period buying / selling / shopping / investing / capital period to achieve, that's for sure. But what you is powerful and your sexuality and charisma are formation take on an extra dimension and need to think about, warns Ganesha, is the expressed easily.You look pleasing to the eye too importance. This is a pivotal period astrologically. manner in which you go about it. It will impact and may win beauty contests if you enter any. There will be better health and more opportunities you personally and individually. But, You also fall prey to indulgences and the good to job-switch, start a business, get a promotion or definitely, you will catapult to new heights of life. have a spin at games of chance. excellence. CAPRICORN: Ganesha says those in films, TAURUS: Quick gains are more than likely,says VIRGO: Ganesha says do not do anything fashion and media do well for themselves and Ganesha. There will be many new developments as that you don't believe in and do not look for a win rewards and awards. There is grand success your money worries get resolved. There is passion quick buck, however tempting the offers. You and accomplishment waiting for you. Work and and deep bonding as you soar with the ecstasy of will have the necessary money to go ahead with play will be enhanced in this period. Your life is the moment. You will also indulge in strange plans, projects, assignments and commitments. moving the way you want it to, and this pleases esoteric pursuits, to flights of fancy, the Prestige, status, position, power will be the you no end. This is the time for expansion in supernatural, interest in spirits, witches, life-after- attributes which will concern you very deeply thought processes and a new focus. death, and occult phenomena. You also meet old this period. The gains of this period will be AQUARIUS: Ganesha says this period you friends and spend great moments in fond long-lasting, pleasing, profound and deep- manage to do exceedingly well. However, you memories of wonderful times gone by. routed. could find yourself falling prey to moods of GEMINI: There are many expenses as you love LIBRA: Ganesha says you find the time to angst, depression or ennui all of a sudden. It to splurge on the good life. You may look at a new delve into the spiritual and meditative aspects could well be caused by a desire to assess, take home or even expansion of the office, at renovation of life. You are oozing with confidence by mid stock of your life, aspirations and orientation. or redevelopment. The trend of loans and funds, of this period. You push ahead in all areas of You will seek deeper insight, greater meaning or investment and buying / selling of the last period work and make money and also powerful just plain consolation, as you feel that there is a continues. Ganesha says it will also ensure a hectic professional links. You are filled with self- certain futility in your life. social whirl as well as professional and business belief and hope for the future. As the period PISCES: Ganesha says, you could be into interactions that could prove very good. ends, the intensity of the phase increases. healing, nursing, helping people. A certain CANCER: Ganesha says you manifest the SCORPIO: Ganesha says there is love in restlessness caused by anxiety or even charm, social skills and charisma of your sign in your life and you could be torched by it as it nervousness is a distinct possibility. This is a plenty and could feel on top of the world. You will may not be just a fleeting romance. Love and common occurrence, astrologically. You are be a human dynamo, a powerhouse of energy, entertainment bring welcome relief from looking at genuine, physical, mental and ready to attain targets. There is a renewed zest for money and professional concerns. There is a emotional expansion. You need wider horizons life, lots of vigour and energy, as you work chance that you may even lose all reason and and a broader canvas for your ambitions. There exceptionally hard. Your success will be the envy of logic. Friends, sweethearts and fraternizing are many sources of income and inspiration as all. Children bring joy and you will spend a lot of lead to great happiness, especially in the you grow financially, emotionally and time with them. second half of the period. spiritually.

Birthday Horoscope May 18 - May 24, 2020

May 18:Ganesha says a public alliance May 20:Someone's in a roustabout mood, positive turn of mind and swim in happy amplifies power. If you struggle for control, taking an edgy stand for independence and approval. Others rally round with their own others hold it over you. If you combine wasting away yesterday's happy community jovial good news and views. influence, you'll be transformed into an anticipation. If money's in the mix, watch for May 23:Get started early since yesterday's unbreakable united force. Either way, you'll lunch - bill anger. high communications vibe motors the morning want to bolt. May 21:If you've got a pal in high places, you into activity. Take the rest of the day to chill or May 19:If you chose yesterday to join forces can count on support or special influence. make notes. rather than struggle for dominance, today Talks or local connections throughout the day May 24:An insecure moodiness sets everyone solidifies the union with joint benefits that reinforce positive connections and congenial on defensive edge, but you'll find a way to could include funding or create long-term accord. enjoy your freedom amidst exciting communal stability and trust. May 22:You have an original, progressive, ties. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 SPIRITUALITY 29

rom Sanskrit, Shakti translates to power or energy in common terms. FThis energy belongs to the domain of “Prakriti” or the female aspect of creation. She is the Mother Goddess and is worshiped in various occasions all THE ROLE OF SHAKTI around the Hindu customs. How does it work? First of all, you should know that God is an undivided consciousness. In other words, he is nothingness, if you want to IN CREATION look it from a perceptual perspective. In this devoid form, he is the Nirguna Brahman, that is devoid of any distinguished features or appearance. In him, the division of time and space, and other forms of ego consciousness do not exist. But for some reasons, he awakens and sets in motion with Prakriti. He enters into the universal energy, and from this amalgamation, what we know as “reality” is created. And thus, there is a Big Bang with the latent energy hidden in the cosmic egg (Hiranyagarbha), and it is pretty much in cohesion with the modern theory of Big Bang too. Everything in the world, tangible, sensible, unstable, anything within the aspect of the sensory world, can be transformed from one state to another and is a part of Prakriti only. Law of Conservation of Energy? Matter possesses energy at any time. Even the human body and the mind and other constituents are a manifestation of energy in one way the other of the Prakriti but at the higher form. The divine energy is way higher than the humans, in terms of the evolutionary scale. The Holy Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar – are indeed above the rest, and at the highest level can be the combination of distinguished energy sources. This energy is the energy of Mother Goddess acting as the Shakti of Isvara. When Brahman is for the ego to distinguish from the rest of nature and ego by which each created Saraswati who helps Brahma in his awakened, Isvara arises. Brahman is the the creation. It acts as if it is the only ego is permitted to return to the responsibility for creation. In the world field of play for Shakti. This is how real self, and separates from the rest of “reality” for another rebirth and of Vishnu, she is the Laxmi, who Shakti is structured and this is how the creation. This is ignorance at its continue the unfinished work. Even manages the world through wealth and Shakti originates. highest form, and it leads to the belief when a being dies, the ego does not die resources. In the world of Shiva, she is that the real self that the ego created completely. the yogini or Siddhi, who helps in The Manifestation of exists in reality when it does not. The A small portion of it survives destroying the illusions. Things and Beings Real Self-exists, losing its own buddhi containing the basic tendencies, desires, and higher intelligence, keeping the and impulses, which then becomes Is Shakti female? According to Hindu Dharma, when body, the mind and the false ego ticking attached to the soul as a kind of program The simple answer is no. Shakti is Pure Self, Purusha, combines with the and breathing. file, and passes through the door of neither male or female. The matter or energy, Prakriti, then there is This leads to the bondage of the self. death, heaven or hell, as the body is interpretation is only human, and some sort of creation. What happens is Mind you that this doesn’t mean the soul reborn again. This is the cycle of should not be taken literally. One should the Pure Self-enters into the matter and suffers, and you should also know that Prakriti. For us, the Prakriti will always never consider energy to be female while awakens the various energies in the the soul cannot suffer since it is pure keep us in delusion by the use of the self in the male. The Purusha exists matter, thus, leading to the formation of a consciousness. Nothing can touch it or elements and interplay of triple Gunas. in both male and female, and so does false self, known as ego. All of this punish it. But we do say it suffers For the highest levels, Prakriti acts in Prakriti. They are two sides of the same happens over a period of time, through because it goes through the same cycle of the same way by combining with Shakti truth and is difficult to impose who is differentiation and combination of five birth and death, stopping it from going of various worlds and divinities. superior to whom. But consider this: Mahabhutas (the five gross elements), back to the source. From our However, she cannot delude the without energy, self cannot move, and Panchendiryas (the five sense organs), “conscious”, “self-ego” point of view, the awakened soul. She, instead, becomes a without self, the energy does not have the Karmendriyas (the five organs of soul suffers, but not from the “soul” force in their consciousness to help them any field for its move. It can be said, action), the Tanmantras (the five subtle point of view. Wherever it is – in heavens in their assigned responsibilities. “Prakriti is undivided consciousness elements), manas (mind), ahamkara or in any other loka – the soul is the In the world of Brahma, she is the (Purusha).” (deluded self) and buddhi (discriminating same: eternal, unchanging and pure bliss intelligence). With this, individual beings consciousness. PAGE SPONSORED BY come into the world and then move But what suffers then? It is the false towards liberation. The same happens in self or the ego that suffers. But this ARISH K. SAHANI the most macro of a level, resulting in the suffering doesn’t stop the self from creation of the world and higher indulging in its desire-driven action, Serving Since 1972 divinities. until one point, when this suffering Please Call or Write for Your Insurance Needs Ego is formed as part of the process, becomes unbearable too. And this is and it is an important tool in an armory. when the ego turns into spiritualism. Arish K Sahani (Father) This ego is driven by three Gunas: Sattva, Otherwise, this ego would not mind to rajas, and tamas, which is nourished by exist in the “reality” for even thousands Shiv Sahani (Son) the activity of senses and motivated by of years if it could, considering the the force of desires. These are nothing physical limitations. Priya Sahani Sood (Daughter) but the false sense of identity, developed When life ends, the ego is frustrated through the formation of mind and with itself because it leaves behind a lot 7 1 8 - 2 7 1 - 1 9 0 6 mind’s awareness of the body. of tasks unfinished, dreams unrealized [email protected] and fruits of the past actions untasted. The Bondage and Nature also limits itself from escaping “If Hindus don’t maintain Hinduism, who shall save it?” Delusion in Prakriti the clutches and perpetuation of the delusion is the chief design of nature. “If India’s own children don't cling to their faith, who shall guard it?” A mind is only a field in space and time Thus, there is a compromise between “Indians alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are one.” THE INDIAN PANORAMA 30 CLASSIFIEDS FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 31 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 32 TURN PAGE FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 contd from page 1 employees for the next three months. class housing under PMAY will also be extended by one Apart from MSMEs, other stressed business sectors year to March 2021, and is likely to benefit 2.2 lakh more Narendra Modi announces 20.... which got attention were non-banking finance families, said Ms. Sitharaman, expressing the hope that Addressing the nation on television, Prime Minister companies (NBFCs), power distribution companies, this would also create jobs and stimulate demand for the Modi said the whole world was reeling from the crisis contractors and the real estate industry. steel, cement and construction industries. engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic, as was India. In MSMEs will get the bulk of the funding. The ?3 lakh Street vendors who have been hit hard by the this crisis, however, India had had an opportunity to crore emergency credit line will ensure that 45 lakh lockdown will be given access to easy credit through a look at systems and institutions that were in existence units will have access to working capital to resume ?5,000 crore scheme, which will offer ?10,000 loans for before the crisis hit and how they crumbled. "We have business activity and safeguard jobs, Ms. Sitharaman initial working capital. been hearing for many years that the 21st century will said. For two lakh MSMEs which are stressed or The scheme will be launched within a month and will be India's century, and this crisis is, I believe one that considered non-performing assets, the Centre will benefit 50 lakh vendors, said the Finance Minister. carries a message, that we have to move forward not just facilitate provision of ?20,000 crore as subordinate debt. Small businesses who have taken loans under the to combat the crisis but to prevail," Mr. Modi said. "That A ?50,000 crore equity infusion is also planned, through MUDRA-Shishu scheme, meant for loans worth ?50,000 can happen when we are self-reliant." an MSME fund of funds with a corpus of ?10,000 crore. or less, will receive a 2% interest subvention relief for He gave the example of India's ramped-up capacity in NBFCs, housing finance companies and microfinance the next year, which will cost the government ?1,500 producing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits institutions - many of which serve the MSME sector - crore. and N-95 masks required by medical personnel and will be supported through a ?30,000 crore investment The Centre plans a drive to enroll 2.5 crore farmers frontline health workers to illustrate his point that India scheme fully guaranteed by the Centre, and an expanded who are not yet part of the Kisan Credit Cards scheme, could achieve this. partial credit guarantee scheme worth ?45,000 crore, of along with fish workers and livestock farmers, and "When the first case hit us, we didn't produce either of which the first 20% of losses will be borne by the Centre. provide them with ?2 lakh crore worth of concessional these things. Now, within weeks we have the capacity to Power distribution companies, which are facing an credit. NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and produce 2 lakh of PPE and 2 lakh of N95 masks every unprecedented cash flow crisis, will receive a ?90,000 Rural Development) will also extend additional day," Mr. Modi said. crore liquidity injection. Contractors will get a six- refinance support worth ?30,000 crore to rural banks for Clarifying that by self-reliance he did not mean month extension from all Central agencies, and also get crop loans, Ms. Sitharaman said. insularity and suspicion of the world as in the past but partial bank guarantees to ease their cash flows. "The only fiscal outlay in today's announcements are embracing the world in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Registered real estate projects will get a six-month the ?3,500 crore for food grains to migrants and ?1,500 Kutumbakam (the world is one family). extension, with COVID-19 to be treated as a "force crore for the MUDRA loanees. So only ?5,000 crore is "Self-reliance in this sense is neither exclusionary nor majeure" event. actually coming from government coffers, while the rest isolationist, it is for helping the world, with our actions. are credit-based measures," said Himanshu, an In the past whenever we have acted it has impacted the economist at Jawaharlal Nehru University's Centre for world in a positive way - be it solving the Y2K riddle in Economic Studies and Planning. 1999, or our campaigns against open defecation, Terming the government's approach as "stingy and tuberculosis and polio," Mr. Modi said. half-hearted", he noted that at a time when demand is He said that the new edifice of this self-reliant India down, any moves to provide liquidity are not going to would be based on the five pillars of the economy, help, adding that putting cash in people's pockets would infrastructure, demography, technologically driven have been a better approach. systems and to strengthen demand and supply chains, "Banks are parking money with the RBI (Reserve with the supply chains being based on local sourcing. Bank of India), so the problem is not liquidity,but rather "In the past few days we have seen how local supply the appetite of people to take credit at this time," he said. chains and shops are the only things that have helped," "Effectively, the burden of revival has been passed on to he said. the people most affected by the lockdown," he added. The Prime Minister said the economic package would Meanwhile, Congress spokesman said Govt's 'jumla not be based on incremental changes, but a quantum package' fell way short of what PM Modi had promised. leap in bold reforms with regard to land, labor, law and A senior spokesperson of the party, Anand Sharma, liquidity. said the country believed that Prime Minister Narendra "In the last few days we have seen the suffering of our Modi was serious when he made the "dramatic" workers, migrant labor, street vendors and daily wagers Nirmala Sitharaman with MoS Anurag Thakur outlines stimulus announcement of giving 10 per cent of the GDP as a and farmers. This package will be aimed at them. It will plans at a news conference on Thursday, May 14. package to revive the economy and support workers and be aimed at the honest taxpayer, at our industry that Photo Credit/ Shiv Kumar Pushpakar migrant laborers, and that expectations had soared. makes its capital work," he said. "The Finance Minister's announcement dashed all Mr. Modi signed off on a strong note to buy local, and On May 14, the Finance Minister announced another hopes," he said. to be vocal about it. "Local production helped us in this round of stimulus. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said crisis, and when you look at several global brands, they The Centre will help create affordable rental housing Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's began as local but were marketed and raised to a global for the urban poor and provide relief worth ?1,500 crore announcements were nothing but a "jumla package". level. We have to do the same with our produce. We need to small businesses through an interest subvention Senior party leader Ahmed Patel said: "It is not an to be vocal about local," he said. "We must and will make scheme, apart from extending credit for street vendors, economic package. It is an empty package wrapped with India self-reliant," he said. farmers, and middle-class housing. speeches since the last three days." A day after PM Modi made the announcement, the Apart from free food for migrant workers, these are Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari pointed out Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on May 13, the major highlights of the second tranche of the that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman articulated announced a ?3 lakh crore collateral free loan scheme Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package, the second tranche of the bailout or economic package for businesses, especially micro, small and medium announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that this government had conceptualized. enterprises (MSMEs), as part of a ?20-lakh-crore on Thursday, May 14. "It is unfortunate that the entire press conference (of economic stimulus package to deal with the COVID-19 Noting that migrant workers and other urban poor Sitharaman) was a classic display of arrogance, pandemic. face difficulties in finding affordable housing, the ignorance and insensitivity," he said addressing For salaried workers and taxpayers, some relief was Finance Minister said a scheme to build rental housing reporters via a video link. provided in the form of an extended deadline for income complexes through public private partnership mode "We expected that the Finance Minister would come tax returns for financial year 2019-20, with the due date would be launched under the existing Pradhan Mantri out with what the government is doing to ferry the now pushed to November 30, 2020. The rates of tax Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme. Both public and private migrants who are walking on the roads back to their deduction at source (TDS) and tax collection at source agencies will be incentivized to build rental housing on homes safely. But nothing like that happened," Tewari (TCS) have been cut by 25% for the next year, while government and private land, while existing said. statutory provident fund (PF) payments have been government housing will be converted into rental units. (With inputs from agencies) reduced from 12% to 10% for both employers and The credit linked subsidy scheme for lower middle THE INDIAN PANORAMA PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja Mohammad Shahzad, Zia Khan , Nisha Rani CHANDIGARH: Manjit Sidhu E-mail [email protected]; Phone: 646-247-9458 VICE PRESIDENT: Chitagam Saluja Vaaho Photographers, Vijay Shah -Photo Journalist. LUDHIANA: A.S. Arora, R.P.Sharma www.theindianpanorama.news CHIEF EDITOR: Prof Indrajit S. Saluja DISTRIBUTOR : Sukhwinder Singh Published by Prof. Indrajit Saluja ASSISTANT EDITOR: Bidisha Roy CORRESPONDENTS : The Indian Panorama CONSULTING EDITOR: Deepak Dwivedi SACRAMENTO: Parminder S. Aujla P.O. Box No. 190067, South Richmond Hill, NY 11419, GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Om P arkash Malik NEW YORK : Chitagam Tel: 646-247-9458 DISCLAIMER DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION: Gauri Beri Email: [email protected] The Indian Panorama assumes no responsibility for the FRESNO: Tarlochan Singh claims made in advertisements. We only sell space. Views CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: DALLAS EDITION DALLAS: Harjit Dhesi, Amarjit Dhillon published in the newspaper are those of the authors and do Baldev Singh / BJ Videos P.O. BOX 121695, ARLINGTON, TX 76012 OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper. All rights Gunjesh Desai / Masala Junction Lovllien Kaurr, VP & Bureau Chief are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Ashishpal Singh Jay Mandal, Mohammad Jaffer/ SnapsIndia Bureau Chief Phone: 972-330-3139 permission in writing from The Indian Panorama is prohibited. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 TRAVEL 33 NAINITAL: THE LAND OF MISTY LAKES AND MOUNTAINS

he gem of Uttarakhand - Nainital is a charming hill station that sits Tprettily at the green foothills of the Kumaon ranges in the Himalayas. Located at an elevation of around 1938 metres, the epicentre of the town’s popularity and beauty lies within the gorgeous Naini Lake, after which the town is named. Founded by the British due to its resemblance to the Cumbrian Lake district, Nainital brims with elegant colonial structures that amplify the beauty of this place. It is a perfect weekend getaway from the Indian capital of Delhi. This quaint little town experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year, making it a tourist getaway, especially preferred by families and honeymooners. The Naini Lake, along with the other lakes in the area, has earned this town the title of ‘City of Lakes’. Whether you want to go boating on the beautiful Naini Lake or any of the other lakes, relish some local delicacies, shop at the Tibetan Market and Mall Road, or take a ropeway ride to soak in the beauty of the Himalayas from Snow View Point, Nainital is sure to leave an imprint on you that will last a lifetime. Top Places to Visit Eco Cave Gardens Famous for its interconnected rocky caves, hanging gardens and the musical fountain, the Eco Garden are a set of six small caves in the shape of various animals. Located in the Mallital area of Nainital, you need to crawl your way in. In the evenings, you can see the spectacle of the musical fountain with various audio video effects. The Eco Cave Garden is set up to give tourists a glimpse of the natural habitat of the Himalayan Wildlife by constructing different caves for different animals, similar to their natural home. Lit with petroleum lamps, the most different peaks namely Ayarpata, temple is built on the exact spot where Devi, Trishul and Nanda Kot peaks popular caves are Tiger Cave, Panther Deopata, Handi Bandi, Cheena Peak, Goddess Sati's eyes fell on the Earth after together from this point. Cave, Apes Cave, Bat Cave and Flying Alma, Laria Kanta and Sher Ka Danda. Lord Shiva carried her charred body Fox Cave. Visiting Eco Cave Garden is The lake itself can be divided into two after taking it out from the fire of the A huge pair of binoculars has been not recommended for old people and distinct sections, the northern part yagna that was performed by Sati's installed at the Snow View Point that toddlers. called Mallital and southern region father- Daksha. Inside the Naina Devi allows you to take a closer look at the Nainital Lake called Tallital. Coniferous trees that Temple, you will find the two eyes on the Himalayan range and its magical peaks. cover the hillside add charm to the raw roof, depicting Goddess Naina Devi, If you look closer, you will find a small Nestled amidst the township of beauty of the place. You can also visit placed in the centre; with the statues of temple housing the images of Ram, Sita, Nainital, Naini Lake (short for Nainital Naini Temple on the shores of the lake. A Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha Laxman, Hanuman with Durga and Lake) is a beautiful natural fresh body pretty lake that once a European man fell surrounding it. It would be interesting to Shiva. An aerial cable car connects you lake. The lake is in crescent or kidney in love with, Naini Lake today serves as a note that the city of Nainital got its name to the Snow View Point directly from the shape and is one of the most famous major tourist spot for people from all from the temple of Naina Devi only. As Mall Road of Mallital and shows you a lakes of the Kumaon region. Bounded by over the country. you climb the hill to reach the temple, spectacular view of the beautiful town. Naini Peak on North West, Tiffin Point Naina Devi Temple various shops selling prasad and other Dorothy's Seat on the South West and snow-capped essential puja items will greet you on the peaks on the north, the Nainital Lake Regarded and revered as one of the way. Considered to be extremely pristine Located in Ayarpatta Hill of Himachal offers a breathtaking view, especially fifty-one Shakti Peeths that are located and sacred by the devotees, the venerated Pradesh, Tiffin Top is a very famous during early morning and sunset. The all across India, the Naina Devi Temple Naina Devi Temple is a must visit on tourist attraction in Nainital, also mesmerising lake is most famous for its is a holy site that is situated on the your next trip to Nainital. popularly called as Dorothy's Seat. A wonderful scenic beauty which is a northern shore of Naini Lake, in the Snow View Point fantastic picnic spot in its own right, one hotspot for family picnics. Boating, long Nainital district of Uttarakhand, India. gets a complete view of the town of evening walks and endearing This temple is one of the most renowned Snow View Point in Nainital stands at Nainital and its surrounding hills in the interactions with ducks are some of the places of Hindu worship all over the a dizzying altitude of 2270 meters above Kumaon region from this location. The things that are a must do whilst visiting country. Dedicated to Devi Sati's eyes, sea level and is one of the most attractive serene and peaceful environment of this glittering lake. You can also seek the devotees from all parts of India flock to tourist spots of the area. As the name Tiffin Top makes it irresistible to the blessings of Goddess Naina Devi at the this region in huge numbers all year suggests, Snow View Point offers a photographers. Those who love nature's Naina Devi temple which is also situated round. panoramic view of the mighty beauty must not miss out on this near the Naini Lake. The presiding deity of the Naina Devi Himalayas draped in a blanket of milky- vacation spot. Adventure activities such The Nainital Lake is a charming Temple is Maa Naina Devi or Mata Sati. white snow. One can see a picturesque as rappelling and rock climbing are beauty that is surrounded by seven According to Hindu mythology, the view of all three important peaks- Nanda conducted at Tiffin Top as well. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 34 SPORTS FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 Football-starved world awaits the ‘most important’ contest BABAR IS PAKISTAN’S ODI Dortmund meet Schalke in Bundesliga on Saturday as Europe’s top flight returns to action

PARIS (TIP): German football will find itself in an SKIPPER, AZHAR TO unaccustomed global spotlight this weekend as audiences starved of live football turn to the only major CONTINUE AS TEST CAPTAIN European league back in action. With the Premier KARACHI (TIP): Star batsman Babar Azam on League, Spain’s La Liga and Serie A in Italy all still Wednesday took over the reins of Pakistan’s white- sidelined by the pandemic, the Bundesliga will take ball cricket after being appointed as the ODI skipper. centre stage on Saturday. Azar Ali will continue to lead in Tests, the Pakistan Even in Brazil, media coverage has switched from Cricket Board announced. domestic football stories to what TV viewers can expect Babar, who was one of the world’s leading batsmen to see when Borussia Dortmund meet Schalke in the across formats last year and already the T20 skipper, biggest match of the opening day, albeit it without replaced wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed as spectators in the stadium. the ODI captain for the 2020-21 season. Pakistan is Cable channel Fox Sports, which holds exclusive scheduled to play six ODIs and 20 T20Is, besides the rights to show the Bundesliga in Brazil, will be showing Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup this season. the Ruhr Derby at 9:30 am local time. Its website already “I want to congratulate Azhar Ali and Babar Azam features a lengthy article about the games entitled “The for getting captaincy extensions,” chief selector and wait will soon be over”. head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said in a PCB statement. Even Brazil’s biggest media group, Globo, is getting “This is absolutely the right decision as they also in on the act with interviews with four Brazilians who haven’t seen this level of interest in the Bundesliga in require certainty and clarity on their future roles. I play for Bundesliga clubs, including Wolfsburg 20 years. Normally people support Bayern Munich, am sure they will now start looking to the future and midfielder William, who admitted players were “a little Dortmund or even Bayer Leverkusen and that’s it. start planning so that they can build sides that can bit scared” about the implications for their health. “But now they are also looking forward to seeing perform at the expected levels.” In India, foreign football leagues have found a market Fortuna Duesseldorf and Paderborn. It’s crazy.” In Pakistan also announced an 18-player men’s in India’s urban youth who keenly follow the Premier Mexico, football journalists are grateful for something central contract list for the 2020-21 season, which will League and support clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool and to cover—and the sorely-missed revenue live sport come into effect from July 1. Manchester United. But a few of these fans also watch generates. “For those of us who make a living from Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz La Liga and Bundesliga. “I am desperately waiting for football the fact there hasn’t been any activity really missed out, while Imam-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and the Bundesliga to start this weekend. I am thirsty for affects us. A weekend without football is really Yasir Shah slipped one category each. live football in this lockdown,” Amjad Rehan Ibrahim, a difficult,” said Emilio Fernando Alonso, a Mexican “The selectors have made the tough decisions to student of Delhi University, told AFP. reporter for ESPN. leave out Amir, Hasan and Wahab but considering Indian international forward Jeje Lalpekhlua said he In China, where the Super League might not begin Hasan missed most of the season due to an injury would also be tuning in to the coverage on Indian until June, German football’s meticulously planned and Amir and Wahab decided to focus on white-ball broadcasters Star Sports and Hotstar: “It’s difficult return is being closely watched. Writing in the Oriental cricket, this was the right move,” Misbah said. without football for so long. I am surely going to watch Sports Daily, columnist Ji Yuyang said the biggest “However, Amir and Wahab are senior and it.” In Japan, rightsholder Sky Perfect is going to show challenge for the Bundesliga was not restarting during experienced bowlers and they remain in contention two Bundesliga matches this weekend free of charge. In the pandemic, but being able to outlast it because of as we believe they can still contribute to the Pakistan Europe too, the matches in Germany will provide a financial pressures that clubs were facing due to the men’s cricket team and also mentor our young much-needed fix of live sport. Adolfo Barbero, who health crisis. “So for many German clubs, whether it battery of fast bowlers.” Naseem Shah and commentates on Bundesliga games for the Spanish was better to wait for failure or risk restarting, they Iftikhar Ahmad are the two new faces in the contract channel Movistar+, said: “I can assure you that I chose the latter.” list.

GAYLE LIKELY TO BE PENALISED SERENA WILLIAMS EAGER TO RETURN TO FOR OUTBURST AGAINST SARWAN KINGSTON (TIP): Chris Gayle is likely to be penalised for TENNIS AFTER LOCKDOWN BREAK his recent outburst against Ramnaresh Sarwan, said Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief Ricky Skerritt and hoped that it LOS ANGELES (TIP): US superstar Serena doesn't end the maverick big-hitter's "outstanding career". Williams says she's ready to play "real tennis" after The 40-year-old Gayle, who was signed by St Lucia Zouks for the enforced rest of coronavirus quarantine. the 2020 season of the Caribbean Premier League, called his "I really look forward to getting back on the former teammate "worse than coronavirus", accusing the court," the 23-time Grand Slam champion said in a Guyanese of plotting his exit from CPL outfit Jamaica chat with elder sister Venus during an Instagram Tallawahs. live workout on Tuesday. Skerritt said though it is an "interpersonal battle", he "It's what I do best. I absolutely love playing." doesn't expect the controversy to die down so easily. Tennis is on hiatus until at least mid-July thanks "I'm sure there is some kind of discussion taking place at to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the French Open the moment between Chris and the CPL because the CPL has postponed until autumn and Wimbledon cancelled rules which will come into view here because Chris is signed for the first time since World War II. into a franchise team," Skerrit was quoted as saying by Serena said she'd come to see the break as "a 'Jamaica-Gleaner'. necessary evil." "I hope it doesn't become a world matter in terms of the "I felt like my body needed it, even though I didn't career of Mr Gayle, because it's been a very outstanding want it," said the 38-year-old, who last won a Grand career and I really wouldn't want to see it brought to an end by Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open. this event," he added. "And now I'm feeling better than ever. I'm feeling The opener had claimed that Sarwan was behind his ouster more relaxed, more fit. Now I can go out and play Serena said the exercises, which took about half as the former middle-order batsman wanted to take control of real tennis." an hour, served as a warm-up for her, even though the franchise. Elder sister Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam they were "a little intense." "Sarwan, you are worse than the coronavirus right now," winner, began posting workouts on Instagram eight "Do not injure yourself doing this," she Gayle had said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel. weeks ago and this week she invited Serena, "the admonished during one lunge, while advising at "What transpired with the Tallawahs, you have a big part to greatest tennis player to ever exist — my little another point: "If you have bad knees, like me, use a play because you and the owner are like this (very close)." sister" to share a yoga-inspired stretching session. pad." THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 35 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 36 ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

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