# 1 Indian American Weekly: Since 2006

VOL 14 ISSUE 13 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● MAR 27 - APR 02, 2020 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 www.theindianpanorama.news AMERICA UNITED US TOPS IN COVID-19 CASES, AGAINST OVERTAKING CHINA & ITALY COVID-19 More than 82,000 tested positive and at least 1,178 have died of COVID-19 in KEEP SAFE the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University ● Follow President Trump's Guidelines on Coronavirus WAHINGTON (TIP): The United ● Observe Social Distancing States on Thursday, March 26, took the ● Wash Hands Frequently grim title of the country with the most ● No Panic Buying coronavirus infections and reported a ● No Price Gouging record surge in unemployment as world KEEP AMERICA SAFE leaders vowed $5 trillion to stave off global economic collapse. More than 5,30,000 people around the Terrorist attack on world have now contracted the new coronavirus, overwhelming healthcare Sikhs in Afghanistan systems even in wealthy nations and triggering an avalanche of government- Invites worldwide ordered lockdowns that have disrupted condemnation life for billions. Page 3 contd on Page 32 New Yorkers in the borough of Queens queue at Elmhurst Hospital for Coronavirus tests on March 25, as 13 deaths are reported in one day - Photo / Courtesy AP Take a cue from India. If 1.3 billion No Dollar Value on Human Lives, Please: Opt people can survive under a total nationwide shut down, so can for Total Shut down of America America, with just 300 million

Brave Americans should not shy away forget, in the US , Coronavirus is yet to away from the scene of production of from paying a little price now to secure peak. Imagine the loss of life awaiting us. wealth and are safe and secure. They are their lives and those of their loved ones Hospitals do not have the required not the ones working in restaurants and and communities. number of beds. They do not have stores. They are not among the first Economies can be rebuilt with a little equipment for daily surges of patients. responders. They are not cab drivers, by Prof I.S.Saluja extra effort over a period of time. But the Health workers do not have the protective train drivers and construction workers. human lives lost can never be brought gear and are exposed to the deadly virus They are not the producers of wealth. lease don't provoke Nature, back to life. Americans opt willingly for themselves. We know health officials the They are managers and keepers of anymore. Be fearful of the the discipline needed to combat the world over succumbing to death while wealth. Those who produce on an hourly Papproaching catastrophe.Now is the monster of Coronavirus and follow the treating patients. And, on top of it, there is basis are the ones exposed to the deadly time to get out of the way of a devouring advice of health experts. It applies to all, no antidote to the pandemic. virus. Those who are talking about monster of Coronavirus. including President of America. Please do not believe in rumors about economy and wealth creation are out of President Trump should impose a Just look at the speed at which drugs / antidotes having been discovered the way of harm by Coronavirus in the nationwide lock down, a COMPLETE Coronavirus is advancing in the worst hit or being available until the health sanitized , secure environs of their lockdown, not a partial, half hearted one, New York. The number of cases in 1 day, authorities of America announce the mansions. The question is why the lives of which is not of much help. Let him take a from March 25 to 26 rose by 3101 to reach a drug. And, also remember drug that can common Americans s be put at stake for cue from India and stop all wheels of total of 23112. The number of deaths has kill or keep the virus away will not be creating wealth for the comfort and movement from Air to Land to Sea for at risen to 365, increasing day by day. available immediately after luxury of the few. least 4 weeks until the virus finds no prey At the time I am writing this comment, announcement, and surely not to all 300 Now is the time to decide whether and turns away in despair. The 100,000 Iget the news that the global number of million Americans simultaneously. economy is above human wealth of strong Association of Physicians of Coronavirus cases has crossed 500,000, Between the Eureka and the availability America. Surely,Americans will not want Indian Origin (AAPI) has also made the and the US has surpassed all nations, of the drug, there may be a significant dollar value to be put on their precious demand. President Trump may please not including China and Italy in the number period of wait. Americans surely cannot lives. We are and will always remain the be dismissive of the professional prowess of Coronavirus cases. It now has 82,400 go off the guard during this period. greatest nation on the Earth for the values and expertise of doctors . "If it were up to cases, with more than 1,170 deaths, All talk about economy- markets, job we cherish, not for the wealth we may the doctors they may say,'Let's keep it shut according to Johns Hopkins University. losses, revenue losses are of concern have. down, let's shut down the entire world." China and Italy had 80,000 cases. Do not mainly to the rich who stay insulated God bless America! THE INDIAN PANORAMA 2 ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

CORONAVIRUS HELPLINE Dr. VK Raju and Dr. Leela Raju of the Eye Foundation of America will be glad to answer any eye related concerns of the readers of The Indian Panorama during this difficult period of Coronavirus onslaught

DR. VK RAJU IS A DR. LEELA RAJU IS CLINICAL AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PROFESSOR OF OPHTHALMOLOGY OPHTHALMOLOGY AT WEST VIRGINIA AT NYU LANGONE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

They can be reached at [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 NY/NJ/CT 3 Terrorist attack on Sikhs in Afghanistan invites worldwide condemnation India, America, United Nations call for holding the attackers accountable He stressed that attacks targeting sacred sites and on the sanctity of life. The organization offered its worshippers are intolerable and have to stop. Recalling the condolences to the bereaving families and assured the Sikh UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, he called community that Muslims and Sikhs are together in their on all governments and relevant stakeholders to support fight against violence and terror. the implementation of the plan to guarantee the sanctity of Afghanistan once had over 50,000 strong Sikh worship places and the safety of worshipers. communities in the 1960s. However, during the last few Moratinos said the latest attack adds to an expanding decades, their number has come down to 3,000 as most have number of attacks targeting various faith communities migrated to India and other parts of the world. around the world. He reiterated that such outrageous acts AFMI has asked its members to donate to the Sikh of terror should not dissuade us from working together to community to rehabilitate the families who have lost their promote solidarity,respect, and peace globally. loved ones. The organization believes that the ones who On behalf of the UNAOC, the High Representative committed this heinous crime are not only the enemies of Afghan security personnel inspect the gurudwara in Kabul, expressed his condolences to the victims' families and peace but of the faith of Islam as well. AFMI hopes that the Afghanistan. Photo / Courtesy PTI / Reuters conveys his solidarity to the people and the Government of government of Afghanistan and Afghan civil society Afghanistan. would reassure the Sikh community of their safety and KABUL/ NEW YORK (TIP): At least 25 worshippers India's Ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar on security. The Afghan government must punish those who were killed and eight others injured when a heavily armed Thursday , March 26, visited the Sikh gurudwara and are behind the barbarism. suicide bomber stormed his way into a prominent offered condolences to families of the victims of the "We commend the brave Afghan security forces for their Gurudwara on Wednesday, March 25, in the heart of horrific attack. valorous response to the attack and their exemplary Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, in one of the deadliest "Amb @vkumar1969 visited the gurudwara and met courage and dedication to protect the Afghan people and attacks on the minority Sikh community in the strife-torn community leaders, elders and families of the victims of secure the country," it said. New York based eminent country. terrorist attack. He shared their grief and offered attorney and Chair; National Advisory Council South The Islamic State (IS) terror group, which has targeted condolences. He was told that the injured are receiving Asian Affairs has written an open letter to President Sikhs before in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the satisfactory treatment," the Indian embassy in Trump urging him to destroy the bases of Islamic State attack on the Gurudwara in Shor Bazar area at about 7.45 Afghanistan said in a tweet. which claimed responsibility for the attack. a.m. (local time) as 150 worshippers were inside the The embassy also said it was working for the return of The letter reads as follows:- building. the mortal remains of Tian Singh, one of the deceased "Unique Crime need Unique This was the second major attack on Sikhs in from Delhi, whose family wrote a letter to Prime Minister Punishment for: Kabul Gurudwara Afghanistan after the earlier 2018 attack in which 12 Narendra Modi to help them bringing back the mortal attacked by ISIS during Covid Natl members of the Sikh and Hindu communities were killed. remains. Emergency. Eliminate ISIS and use The dastardly attack has been condemned worldwide. "@IndianEmbKabul is working for the return of the Nano Nuke. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the mortal remains of Shri Tian Singh. @IndianEmbKabul Respected President Donald J. attack which killed over two dozen people and wounded will continue to provide all assistance to the community Trump: Ravi Batra wrote an eight others. and families as may be required in these difficult days," it open letter to First, I have Grief for the innocent Pompeo said in a statement, said. Prime Minister Modi said on Wednesday that he was President Trump worshipers, the dead, the wounded, "I want to address the ISIS-K "saddened" by the attack on the gurudwara when 150 urging him to and a fractured family, including the claimed attack in Afghanistan. worshippers were inside the building. destroy the bases of human family across the world. The United States condemns "I am saddened by today's terror attack at Gurudwara in Islamic State which Second, my thanks to Afghan and claimed the horrific ISIS-K claimed Kabul. I express my condolences to the families of all the responsibility for the security forces, who bravely swung attack on a Sikh temple and deceased," he said in a tweet. attack into action to protect and limit the community center in Kabul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted:"I'm shocked by carnage, even as they had little or no this morning which took the the news of a terror attack on a Gurudwara in Kabul, role in the recent Jello gelatin Peace process, which I The United States lives of more than two dozen Afghanistan in which over 25 people have died. support. condemns the horrific ISIS- innocent people. The Afghan My condolences to the families of those who have lost Third, this Crime of Terror - reaches new evil. As the K claimed attack on a Sikh people deserve a future free their lives. I pray that the injured make a speedy recovery." world know we are all in a fight to survive against an temple and community from ISIS-K and other terrorist enemy that remains attractively disarming to easily attach center in Kabul The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also activity". condemned the attack that lasted for about six hours, to every host, invisible and equally tenacious as the "old A statement from UN chief said that attacks against terming it cowardly and reflective of a "diabolical man" of the river in Sinbad the Sailor story. Yet, Terror civilians are unacceptable and those who carry out such mindset". "Such cowardly attacks on places of religious struck a Kabul Gurudwara & community center. crimes must be held accountable. and the world body worship of the minority community,especially at this time Fourth, the punishment I fear has to be unique. The emphasizing that there can be no justification for the of the COVID-19 pandemic, is reflective of the diabolical whole world is in a "no war" mode, because we are in a killing of civilians at a religious house. mindset of the perpetrators and their backers, it said in a "Covid war" mode to save humanity Sharing our scientific "The Secretary-General condemns the attack in Kabul statement. The MEA said India stood in solidarity with the and medical knowledge, as if it was "open source." Our on a Sikh-Hindu temple in which dozens of civilians were people, the government and the security forces of time is too precious to deviate. Millions of lives hang in the killed and injured. He expresses his deepest sympathies to Afghanistan in their efforts for bringing peace and balance. the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to security to the country. The American Federation of Finally, so the unique punishment I propose, with a those injured", Secretary General Guterres' spokesman Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) in a statement to The heart heavy of pain embedded in history, to the Hon Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Wednesday. Indian Panorama said the organization strongly President of the United States, H E Donald John Trump, "The United Nations stands in solidarity with the people condemns the barbaric attack on the gurdwara in Kabul. is to identify all ISIS Centers, mark them for immediate and the Government of Afghanistan and will continue "The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin destruction, and if there be a main one, for that mother supporting efforts to bring peace to their country, the (AFMI) condemns the barbaric attack on the Sikh load of evil, we go back to WWII decision-making, and for statement said. community in their Gurudwaras in Kabul that resulted in even better reasons now, roll out our Nano Nuke and In a tweet, the United Nations Assistance Mission in the killing of 25 men, women, and children. eviscerate this evil. We can then continue to fight and beat Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it is "outraged" by the attack. "It is unthinkable that a house of worship full with Covid. It is a liberal lunacy to think compassionately about "There can be no justification for the killing of civilians unarmed and peaceful devotees would come under the terrorists who have none. Right now, Mr. President, your at a religious house. Our condolences to the victims and attack of terrorists who reportedly belonged to the job is to defend the public safety,and the greater good. The their families."High Representative for the United Nations previously unknown so-called Islamic State of Khorasan deterrence of the punishment I propose will leave you free Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Miguel Angel Province (ISKP), said Dr. Abdur Rehman Nakadar, the to address the national emergency that you are. Moratinos expressed his "dismay" at the terrorist attack at trustee of the organization. "Sikhs are peaceful people and I, along with my family in New Rochelle, are Covid19- the Gurudwara, which killed 25 victims, including a child. known throughout the world for their humanitarian work, positive and in quarantine and individual isolation. Today The "despicable attack comes at a time when the world is especially in areas where Muslims have suffered is Day 12 of my Fever War. facing a pandemic which adversely impacts all of us, persecution. An attack on them is an attack on humanity," Respectfully, requiring us to stand together as "One Humanity", he further explained. "By attacking the Sikh in Kabul, the Ravi Batra, Chair, Moratinos said. terrorists have attacked Islam and hurt the Islamic ideas National Advisory Council South Asian ffairs". THE INDIAN PANORAMA 4 INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

Indian American Rashmi Vinayak Wins Indian American Vivek Murthy Named NSF CAREER Award Rashmi Vinayak to Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Panel is an assistant professor in the WASHINGTON (TIP): Vivek Murthy, Carnegie Mellon former US Surgeon General of Indian University origin, has been nameda member of Computer Democratic contender Joe Biden's Science presidential campaign's"Public Health Department Advisory Committee" to advise on steps that Biden, his staff and his supporters NEW YORK (TIP): Rashmi can take to reduce the threat to reduce Vinayak, an assistant professor in the the threat of the novel coronavirus, Carnegie Mellon University Computer which causes COVID-19. The panel is Science Department, has won a five- made up of six doctors and former year, $650,000 Faculty Early Career government officials. Development (CAREER) Award, the Vivek Murthy became the first National Science Foundation's most graduate of the Yale School of Medicine prestigious award for young faculty and the first American of Asian descent members. to be confirmed as the U.S. Surgeon The award will support Vinayak's General. Then Vice President Joe Biden work to improve the resource and swore him in during a ceremony on April energy efficiency of large-scale data 22, 2015 as nation's 19th surgeon general. centers, which together serve as the After graduating from Yale, Murthy backbone for internet-based services, founded TrialNetworks, social Then Vice President Joe Biden swore Vivek Murthy in during a ceremony on April 22, 2015 as cloud services and data analytics networking platforms for clinical trials nation's 19th surgeon general platforms. that enhance communication, "Such large-scale systems are prone collaboration, and overall efficiency. grassroots organization of doctors and Promotion, and Integrative and Public to failures and unavailability, and During the 2008 presidential campaign medical students working to improve Health. The following year Murthy therefore have a high degree of Murthy and colleagues founded Doctors access to health care. In 2011, President served as co-chair of the health care redundancy built into them to provide for Obama. After the election, the group Obama appointed Murthy to the national advisory committee for Obama's re- resilience against such events," she became Doctors for America, a Advisory Group on Prevention, Health election campaign. noted. "While redundancy provides resilience, it comes with a significant overhead in terms of resource and Indian American UT-Arlington energy requirements. The overarching Indian Origin Celebrity President Resigns amidst goal of this project is to design resource- and energy-efficient Chef Floyd Cardoz dies of Controversy redundancy algorithms for data HOUSTON (TIP): Vistasp centers using tools based on Karbhari, The University of information theory and coding theory." Covid-19 in New Jersey Texas at Arlington's Vinayak earned her Ph.D. in TRENTON, NJ (TIP): Indian president resigned and has electrical engineering and computer Chef Floyd Cardoz, who tested set his sights on a job at a science at the University of California positive for Covid-19, died of the Florida school amid an at Berkeley,where she also worked as a infection in a hospital in New investigation into the postdoctoral researcher before joining Jersey on Wednesday, March 25. school's online recruitment CSD in 2017. Her previous awards Co-owner of two popular practices and a pending include the Eli Jury Award from restaurants in Mumbai - the retaliation lawsuit, Berkeley's EECS Department, a Google Bombay Canteen and O Pedro, according to media reports. Karbhari took office in June 2013 as the Faculty Research Award, Facebook Cardoz had shot to fame in the Vistasp Karbhari eighth president of Communications and Networking Cardoz had shot to fame in the mid-1990s mid-1990s when he opened a announced last week that he The University of Research Award, and the Tata Institute when he opened a famous restaurant called famous restaurant called Tabla will leave UT-Arlington on Texas at Arlington of Fundamental Research Memorial Tabla in New York in New York. In 2011, he won the Aug. 31. In a statement, Lecture Award. Top Chef Masters Season 3 Karbhari touted the heightening of research reality show challenge. activity and an improved school reputation under Indian American He had been in Mumbai until his tenure. Former MTA Supervisor March 8. Upon his return to Karbhari took office in June 2013 as the eighth USA, Floyd tested positive for president of The University of Texas at Arlington Pleads Guilty to Covid 19 on March 18th and was (UTA). As president, he was committed to Obstructing being treated for the same at advancing UTA's national and international Mountainside Medical Centre, profile while strengthening excellence in Investigation Montclair, New Jersey. research and teaching and ensuring the success NEW YORK The Hunger Inc, the company of UTA's students in campus-based and online (TIP): Paresh that runs the restaurants, degree programs in Texas and around the world. The ace chef at work Patel,a former MTA issued a statement mourning In the 2017-18 academic year, UTA served almost manager, pled guilty Photo / Mohammed Jaffer / SnapsIndia Cardoz's death. "It is with deep 60,000 students through these programs. Under March 11 before U.S. sorrow that we inform you of his leadership, UTA has achieved Carnegie R-1 Magistrate Judge the passing away of Chef Floyd Cardoz (59 years), Co-Founder, Hunger Inc. status, was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Ona T. Wang to Hospitality, on March 25, 2020 in New Jersey, USA," it said. He is survived and is ranked as the top educational institution in obstructing a by his mother Beryl, wife Barkha and sons Justin and Peter. the State of Texas for Veterans and Adult federal investigation Cardoz was born in Mumbai and grew up between that metropolis and Learners, in addition to having nationally ranked Patel was a program into bid rigging and his ancestral state of Goa. He took up cuisine against the wishes of his programs in each of UTA's schools and colleges. manager at the MTA and was responsible fraud in connection father. After training in Bombay and later in Switzerland, he came to New Prior to joining UTA, President Karbhari for awarding with contracts York. In 1998, he opened an influential fusion restaurant in Manhattan served at the University of Alabama in Huntsville contracts and awarded by the MTA called Tabla with restaurateur Danny Meyer - the first in a string of (2008-2013), the University of California San exercising oversight for Superstorm innovative dining spots in both New York and Mumbai. Cardoz was a four- Diego (1995-2008), and the University of Delaware of Superstorm Sandy-related time James Beard Award nominee and the writer of two cookbooks. (1991-1995). Sandy-related subway repairs. subway repairs. Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty,Consul General of India in New York (Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news) (Read full story at termed the passing away of Floyd as "shocking" and offered his www.theindianpanorama.news) condolences to the family. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 COVID-19 5

Protecting The Elderly & The Vulnerable AVOIDING COVID -19: OT STUDENT'S COMPASSION KEEPS ELDERLY SAFE By Mabel Pais them to be delivered to her apartment. "My grandmother told Although it was difficult at first, her me that she was grandmother became excited by the new opportunity. She said, "I have heard apprehensive about about people ordering online but never going out to get thought I would be able to do it. Once I got the hang of it, it was easier to use." groceries after family But, some of the challenges that they members in New York faced was the limited online stock of certain items, and that orders would not encouraged her to avoid be delivered for more than five days due to high order volume. Etana helped her public spaces, but she grandmother anticipate what she would felt she didn't have any need by that time to make an appropriate order. other option." By the next day, her grandmother had - Etana Edelman, Graduate told her friends about the website and Student, SHU-SHMS, NJ they were all interested in learning about it as well. I have heard about Teach Your Clients people ordering online Online resources are crucial tools in but never thought I helping the elderly population avoid to the general population, with two- Determine whether there is a breaking isolation to go to shopping thirds of older adults now using the concrete need for assistance with would be able to do it. centers. One of the main barriers to internet. However, individuals 80 and grocery shopping or pharmacy Once I got the hang of using these resources is knowledge of older are disproportionately not medication orders. If distance is not an how to use them effectively. This accessing e-technology (Pew Research issue, then shop for them when you it, it was easier to use." presents an opportunity for Center, 2017) and this population complete your own limited trips to the Grandma Estelle Epstein Occupational Therapists (OTs) and represents some of the most vulnerable supermarket but be careful to not s officials advise the public to other healthcare professionals to help individuals to the pathogen. unnecessarily expose them to any socially isolate with warnings of their clients through these difficult In addition, changes associated with illness. Online shopping, as Etana Athe specific dangers to the times by creating guides to make these the typical aging process, such as noted, requires advance planning due to elderly, it is becoming increasingly available online resources accessible to decreases in vision, auditory, sensory temporary stocking shortages, but is difficult for the elderly population to this aging population. and cognitive skills, can interfere with preferred. safely and independently perform Sharing these guides through the person-website interface. The digital If the older adult has a health necessary Activities of Daily Living community center mailings and emails divide remains firmly in place for those concern, encourage them to call their (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of can enable these older adults to access in the oldest-age-categories, as well as physician's office if they are unable to Daily Living (IADLs), including the education that they need. A simple for those with lower incomes and less use the Internet. Prior to the call, help socializing, exercising and shopping. video tutorial itself could be a game education. them create a list of symptoms to enable On Sunday March 14, 86-year-old changer, and Google, Microsoft or any Telehealth medical staff to triage them Estelle Epstein told her granddaughter, number of tech companies, especially appropriately. Etana Edelman, 26, that she was those that cater to older adults could Medicare announced recently that Ideally,we would follow Etana's model stepping out of her beach community play an important role in fighting they are paving the way for increased and guide the person to learn to use the apartment in Florida to pick up some COVID-19. These interventions would access to telemedicine to meet physical technology to meet daily household and groceries and supplies from her help at-risk clients avoid unnecessary and mental health needs and to medical needs. This solution assumes neighborhood shopping center. exposure to COVID-19 and could maintain social distancing during the that there are underlying skills to build Under normal circumstances, this potentially save lives. Covid-19 pandemic upon. would not have caused an alarm to Identify grocery stores in the area that (modernhealthcare.com, March 17, ABOUT SETON HALL Etana. However, in March 2020, during deliver "search online grocery delivery 2020). the COVID-19 pandemic, such a trip (insert zip code)" However, Medicare UNIVERSITY (SHU.EDU) could unnecessarily expose her to the Create account, including email dangerous pathogen. address and password relaxing regulations One of the country's leading Catholic For 26-year-old Etana, soon-to- Record login information for later use universities, Seton Hall has been graduate with a degree in Occupational Input location information to see if the assumes showing the world what great minds can store will deliver Therapy from Seton Hall University's 1. The digital skills and capability; do since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 Search for specific items School of Health and Medical Sciences and understanding of health undergraduate and graduate students "milk","eggs", "bread", "tomatoes" (SHU, SHMS) New Jersey, buying literacy of older adults; and and offering more than 90 rigorous Select specific item and quantity necessary supplies such as perishables, 2. That older adults do not have academic programs, Seton Hall's Click "add to cart" groceries and even toilet paper could sensory, physical or cognitive academic excellence has been singled easily be accomplished with a few taps Go to checkout by selecting the challenges out for distinction by The Princeton grocery cart icon in the top right and swipes on her iPhone. For her Review, U.S. News & World Report and Input credit card information What We Can Do grandmother who is not as tech savvy, Bloomberg Businessweek. Input delivery address information online shopping does not come as Right Now Seton Hall embraces students of all Click "submit order" naturally. religions and prepares them to be Etana then had the idea to set up an Not Just Food Ask, but do not assume that our oldest exemplary servant leaders and global online shopping account for her adults can participate in the online citizens. In recent years, the University grandmother with her local grocery Health care delivery and everyday life environment. Start with family and has achieved extraordinary success. store. After making the account, she increasingly relies on internet access neighbors and look after the most To learn more, visit shu.edu guided her grandmother through and this was trending before COVID-19. vulnerable during this difficult time. (Mabel Pais writes on Health & Wellness, downloading the app on her phone and Older adults under 70 with higher Call people on their preferred Social Issues, Spirituality, and The Arts and taught her how to search for specific education levels and socioeconomic communication device first, whether Entertainment) items, add them to her cart and order status adopt technology at similar rates that be a landline or cell phone. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 6 NY/NJ/CT FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 Coronavirus Help: Resources, Hotlines, Unemployment, Covering Bills and More

The coronavirus pandemic continues to coronavirus website or call 211. Program Applying for SNAP Assistance in New spread throughout the Tri-State Area, NATIONAL RESOURCE GUIDES NYC Employee Retention Grant Jersey with new cases and restrictions Program Applying for SNAP Assistance in announced each day. Centers For Disease Control And New York City Small Business Connecticut Lawmakers have launched special Prevention COVID-19 Information Continuity Fund Survey websites and hotlines to keep the public WHAT IF I HAVE LEGAL ISSUES up to date. Coronavirus.gov Federal Resource Site Facebook Small Business Grants John Hopkins University & Medicine Program RIGHT NOW? SITES AND HOTLINES BY REGION Coronavirus Resource Center WHAT IF I'M BEHIND ON PAYMENTS NYC Legal Aid Society (status of NEW YORK STATEWIDE: Official John Hopkins University COVID-19 OR CANNOT COVER MY STUDENT criminal, family, housing, immigration coronavirus website or call 1-(888)-364- Interactive Map LOAN? Contact your federal student load and civil court access) 3065. BUSINESS AND INCOME TOPICS provider's online or by phone. Legal Services of New Jersey (status of New York City: Official coronavirus CornerStone: See website or call 1-800- court access, finding help) website or call 311, or text "COVID" to DID YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AMID THE 663-1662 Connecticut Network for Legal Aid 692-692 OUTBREAK? FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA): See (status of court access, finding help) Westchester County: Official New York: Filing An Unemployment website or call 1-800-699-2908 ARE YOU OR SOMEONE CLOSE TO coronavirus website or call 211 for Claim Granite State - GSMR: See website or general information, or 1-(866)-588-0195 if New York City: Help With Energy Bills call 1-888-556-0022 YOU SUFFERING FROM you are under self-quarantine or were New Jersey: Filing An Unemployment Great Lakes Educational Loan DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? exposed to a known case Claim Services, Inc.: See website or call 1-800- New York State And NYC Domestic Nassau County: Official coronavirus New Jersey: Jobs Portal To Find New 236-4300 Violence Hotlines And Shelters website and map of confirmed cases or Work HESC/Edfinancial: See website or call New Jersey Domestic Violence call 1-(516)-227-9570, or text "COVID19NC" Connecticut: Filing An Unemployment 1-855-337-6884 Hotlines And Shelters to 888777 Claim MOHELA: See website or call 1-888-866- Connecticut Domestic Violence Suffolk County: Official coronavirus ARE YOU WORKING BUT NEED TO 4352 Hotlines And Shelters website or text "COVIDSUFFOLK" to Navient: See website or call 1-800-722- DISTANCE LEARNING AND HOME 67283 TAKE PAID SICK LEAVE? 1300 Nelnet: See website or call 1-888-486- NEW JERSEY STATEWIDE: Official New York: If You Are Quarantined 4722 OSLA Servicing: See website or call TEACHING coronavirus website or call 211 for Yourself 1-866-264-9762 ECSI: See website or call 1- See CBS2's Distance Learning Tools general information, or 1-(800)-962-1253 New York: If Your Minor Dependent 866-313-3793 And Links For Parents Teaching At for clinical questions, "NJCOVID" to 898- Child is Quarantined FOOD AND SAFETY TOPICS Home. 211. New York: If You Need Time To Take YOU ARE NOT ALONE: DAILY NJ.gov New Jersey COVID-19 Care Of Family Members ARE YOU RUNNING OUT OF FOOD? Dashboard New Jersey: All Cases Food Banks Across New York State DIARIES New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund Connecticut: All Cases Food Banks In New York City COVID-19 Survivor Corps Facebook (non-governmental grant organization) WHAT IF YOU OWN A SMALL Food Banks On Long Island Page Bergen County: Official coronavirus BUSINESS AND NEED HELP? Food Banks In New Jersey Do you have a Facebook Group or blog website or call 1-(201)-225-7000, or 1-(201)- U.S. Small Business Administration Food Banks In Connecticut about living through the outbreak? Let 785-8505 after hours and weekends Guidance & Loan Resources Applying for SNAP Assistance in New us know on our Facebook page - click CONNECTICUT STATEWIDE: Official Economic Injury Disaster Loan York here. The Division of Consumer Protection Urges New NYC Census 2020 Releases New PSA Featuring Yorkers to be Aware of Latest Crop of Novel Multi-Platinum, Award Winning Rapper Cardi B Coronavirus Scams Urging New Yorkers to Fill Out the Census Scammers Using A Variety of Methods Tied to Novel Coronavirus to Target Consumers New York City officials encourage all New Yorkers to take the census NEW YORK (TIP): The New York State from their home today by visiting Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is my2020census.gov or by calling alerting consumers about scammers taking avoid a knock on their door during the advantage of the novel coronavirus. one of 15 different phone lines door-to-door enumeration period over Scammers are using techniques that typically NEW YORK (TIP): NYC Census 2020 the summer. arise with a major global event such as: falsely today released a new public service "Every New Yorker should listen to claiming to be online sellers of popular goods; announcement featuring multi- Cardi B and take a few minutes to fill out setting up fake charities; sending fake emails platinum, award winning rapper and the Census right away, either via phone and texts that contain harmful links designed native New Yorker, Cardi B, calling on or online," said Julie Menin, Director of to steal your personal information; and using New Yorkers to fill out the 2020 Census at NYC Census 2020. "When you take a few robocalls to pitch novel coronavirus this critical time for the City and the minutes to fill out the census, you make treatments and work at home schemes. People should be on the lookout for country. The PSA features Cardi B sure that your community in New York scammers looking to take advantage of public fears surrounding this issue. emphasizing how the census is safe, easy City is counted and that it receives its "Unscrupulous scammers never take a break and they are now trying to cash in to fill out, and vital for New Yorkers to fair share of critical resources for on the news of the novel coronavirus by trying to lure people into unknowingly make their voices heard and their children's health insurance, hospitals, providing their personal information," said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. communities counted and touting the senior centers, and more. While the U.S. "During this public health emergency,there are simple steps you can take to avoid online options for filling out the census. Census Bureau has delayed their field novel coronavirus scams that can help protect your hard-earned money and your The PSA will run as 30 and 60 second outreach by two weeks, by filling out the identity." English and Spanish language spots on census now, you are ensuring that no "New York State's coordinated multi-agency response to managing the novel TV and digitally throughout New York Census Bureau workers will need to visit coronavirus includes raising awareness about deceptive and dishonest attempts to City. your home later this summer." take advantage of people during this outbreak," said Commissioner of the New Given the spread of COVID-19, the "2020 is a huge opportunity to make York State Department of Health Dr. Howard Zucker. "The best ways to prevent the NYC Census 2020 campaign is focused on our voices heard. This year, we have the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses involve proven precautions, encouraging New Yorkers to self- power to decide our city's future not just like washing your hands, sneezing or coughing into your elbow and staying respond to the census now. If New for the next four years but for the next indoors when you feel sick to help prevent the spread of infection all year." Yorkers take a few minutes to self- ten," Cardi B says in the new PSA. (Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news) respond now from the safety and (Read full story at security of their own homes, they will www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 NY/NJ/CT 7 Businesses Indulging in Price Gouging

NEW YORK(TIP): Despite of administration's strict The same grocery store charged $1.00 for a roll of 50%, adding to the woes of people already suffering warning against Price Gouging, Indian businesses, tissue paper, which normally sells for 50 cents. under the difficult circumstances, consequent upon the particularly grocers are taking advantage of the Many Indian grocery stores (fairly big ones) in outbreak of Coronavirus. situation and indulging in price gouging . It is really a Hicksville and Richmond Hill have raised prices on a An Indian grocery store in Jersey City charged $6.99 shame they are hoarding and selling essential items at variety of items, like lentils, flour, rice etc. from 25% to for a bottle of sanitizer which normally sells for $1.00. 5 times to 10 times of the original price. They may have Stores like Costco and Walmart may not have certain made some extra money but at the cost of the fair name items available, but they haven't indulged in price of India. A white guy wondered why he was being asked gouging. to pay @$4 for a small bottle of sanitizer when its One finds no price tags. Receipts do not mention the original price is $1. And the receipt does not mention commodities for which higher prices are charged. the item. It simply says grocery. Instead, the receipt Same with other essential items , like water bottles. A says "grocery" . case of water bottles normally costing 3.99 max was We urge being sold by a Hicksville grocer for $14.99. The receipt consumers to not says grocery. submit to their being fleeced and report the matter to Consumer Affairs department or call 311 in New York City and 211 elsewhere. Readers will find the Helpline on another page in this edition. Report price gouging, in your interest and in the interest of America. Follow administration's advisory to keep yourself and America safe. God bless America! QUEENS LAUNCHES ‘FUEL THE FRONTLINES’ INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT WORKERS Local Entrepreneurs to Prepare Thousands of Meals for Workers at Queens' Nine Hospitals QUEENS, NY(TIP): Acting Queens Frontlines' is one hyper-local yet potential sponsors can call 718-286-3000 or Borough President Sharon Lee, the immediate step to support those trying to email [email protected], with the Queens Economic Development stem the tide and bend the curves of this subject line "Fuel the Frontlines". Both Corporation (QEDC) and the Queens unprecedented public health and QEDC and the Queens Night Market will Night Market , on March 25 announced a economic crisis. In this race against time, waive any administrative costs associated "Fuel the Frontlines" joint initiative in our trajectory depends entirely on not with the "Fuel the Frontlines" initiative. Queens to provide thousands of ready-to- just what we do, but when we do it. All "I am glad our Entrepreneur Space go "home-cooked" meals for workers across Queens, frontline workers and clients are part of the effort to provide across the borough's nine acute-care medical professionals are moving medical caregivers on the front lines with hospitals on the frontlines of battling the mountains around the clock with meals that will give them the sustenance COVID-19 pandemic. extraordinary acts of heroism, using all to carry on and continue to protect our Beginning this Sunday, March 29 and tools and resources available to save each communities," said Queens Economic fully funded by Borough President Lee, and every single life. Queens is deeply Development Corporation Executive the week-long initiative aims to both grateful, and we know every single Director SETH BORNSTEIN. support the tireless medical professionals minute counts." "While we're extremely disappointed working long, difficult hours on the The meals will be prepared by small that we won't be opening up the Queens frontlines, while also supporting Queens' businesses either enrolled in QEDC's Night Market in April this year like small businesses facing severe economic innovative Entrepreneur Space (E-Space) originally intended, we're committed to disruption stemming from social commercial kitchen incubator in Long making a positive impact while we're all distancing measures taken to combat the Island City or vendors who participate in hunkered down during this crisis," said public health crisis. Unemployment the seasonal Queens Night Market in Queens Night Market founder JOHN claims filed last week reached historic Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Many of WANG. "We hope this project can provide Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee levels, both with 80,334 claims filed in the meals will be transported to each some small businesses with a modest but announcde, March 25, a program to provide meals for workers New York State and 3.28 million hospital by the Port Authority of New important stream of revenue during nationwide in the week ending March 21. York and New Jersey. these challenging economic times. But pandemic and caring for those in need on "The COVID-19 pandemic has produced "Fuel the Frontlines" hopes to inspire most of all, we hope that our collective the frontlines." two-front battles waged by heroic subsequent funding commitments from contributions will be matched by Read full story at frontline workers and business owners," corporate and individual sponsors in corporations and generous individuals www.theindianpanorama.news said Borough President LEE. "'Fuel the order to extend or expand the initiative; who want to help out those battling this THE INDIAN PANORAMA 8 EDITORIAL FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 AS I SEE IT

by Dinesh C Sharma READINESS FRAMEWORK FOR Attention to interdependencies means mapping all inter-linkages PANDEMICS NEEDED similar pattern has led to Covid-19 in critical sectors. For instance, becoming a pandemic. Before assuring essential medical supplies containment measures like travel ban and during lockdown would depend on lockdown really kicked in, thousands of the supply of raw materials and infected people from Wuhan had carried the virus to many countries around the components from industries, which globe. by themselves may not qualify as In response to the avian influenza essential. pandemic, the global health community ndia has embarked upon an led by the World Health Organisation has unprecedented experiment in the been working on strategies to address the Ihistory of mankind. Never before a challenge. The WHO has been country of the size of India has been emphasizingthat new pandemics need a under complete lockdown, not even in response not just from the health sector times of wars, internal disturbances and but also from an array of non-health ones. the national emergency imposed in 1975. This approach has helped develop a It is a medical and epidemiological 'readiness framework' based on five tenets experiment of an unthinkable scale. No - a whole-of-society approach; Lockdown: Pandemic situations require governments to enforce measures such as travel restrictions. scientist can afford or imagine to recruit preparedness at all levels; attention to this large number of subjects - 1.3 billion critical interdependencies; a scenario- during the current pandemic, has been health emergency is untested and needs people - in any study. It is an experiment based response; and respect for ethical ahead of the curve announcing a health utmost caution. There are reports of in inducing mass behavior change and norms. Every country can develop its own package (Rs 20,000 crore) bigger than that stickers being posted on Covid-19 suspects testing of health communication strategic response to a pandemic based on announced by the Prime Minister. Most and foreign returnees, leading to their messages targeted at people. The these broad principles. states don't have this level of social boycott and stigmatization. People lockdown has put the entire economy in For example, the whole-of-society preparedness capacity and simply look to were also stamped on their hands at an experimental mode - from service to approach means developing preparedness the Centre for guidelines in case of airports. All such steps are a violation of manufacturing, all industries are going to plans across government departments emergencies. Attention to personal liberties and human rights. The test their resilience and emergency and involving business and civil society interdependencies means carefully preparedness plans must also take care of preparedness during the lockdown and so that economic impacts on the society mapping all inter-linkages in critical vulnerable groups of people - migrant beyond. It is also a challenge for law- can be minimized and mitigated. Industry sectors. For instance, assuring essential labor, daily wage earners, the homeless, enforcing agencies, which for the first should not be caught off guard when a medical supplies during lockdown would people in homes for the aged and so on. time, are facing a situation when the pandemic occurs. Here, industry does not depend on the supply of raw materials Civil society and community-based whole country is under legally mean just those engaged in essential and components from industries which organizations have to be involved in enforceable curfew.Most important, it is a services, but also sectors like information by themselves may not qualify as reaching out to these groups. new experiment in governance, civil technology outsourcing, which is worth essential. While the government has liberties and human rights. $175 billion. Pandemic preparedness The pandemic situations also require implemented the lockdown and The turn of the century brought into plans should include all such sectors so governments to enforce certain empowered the Ministry of Home Affairs public imagination the term - pandemic, a that they can switch to the emergency regulatory measures such as travel to enforce it, health agencies like the global epidemic. This was a result of a mode when the need arises. Each restrictions, visa bans, social distancing, Indian Council of Medical Research and series of epidemics and pandemics which industry should have its own 'business quarantine, isolation and lockdowns the Ministry of Health need to be have unfolded in the past two decades - continuity management' plan. through existing or new laws. This has transparent about containment and avian influenza, swine flu, severe acute The preparedness plans have to work at implications for public order, personal mitigation measures being taken during respiratory syndrome (SARS), middle all levels - national, state and district. liberties and livelihood. In the present this period. The government should also east respiratory syndrome, Ebola, nipah Directing states to follow certain norms situation, the Epidemic Diseases Act of share with the nation steps it is taking to and so on. Some of them caught led to a only after a heath emergency is declared 1897 was applied in some states to enforce strengthen the health system to prepare it great loss to humanity and economy. A does not yield the desired results. a partial lockdown. The 21-day national for a surge of cases, if it occurs. Lack of pandemic can swiftly turn into an Disaster-preparedness in Odisha and lockdown has been imposed by invoking transparency can lead to lack of economic contagion and cripple epidemic-preparedness in Kerala (during the provisions of the National Disaster accountability and fuel rumors during economies, resulting in massive losses for the nipah outbreak) are excellent Management Act under which Covid-19 the lockdown period. A grievance redress countries of their origin. SARS is a examples of proactive states taking a has been declared a 'notified disaster'. mechanism should also be developed to classic case where China suppressed lead. Getting states ready in advance Some states have also used provisions of address complaints and accesses, if any, information about the initial outbreak, would also ensure more nuanced the Indian Penal Code to enforce a ban on during the lockdown. resulting in its spread to dozens of responses to emergencies based on the gatherings and curfew conditions. The (Dinesh C Sharma is a journalist and an countries. Data is now showing that a situation in every state. Again, Kerala, use of such provisions in times of a author) GUEST COMMENT Attack on Afghan Sikhs: Kabul must end religious he attack by suicide bombers on a large gathering of Sikhs persecution of minorities Tworshipping in a gurdwara in Kabul, which left at least 25 dead and With over 20 terrorist contesting in the parliamentary government having little interest in many injured, highlights once again the organizationsactive in the country, this elections later that year. protecting such a small section, it will precarious condition of the minority attack on the Sikh devotees - all sitting The dwindling number of Sikhs who not be surprising if the remaining few - communities in Afghanistan. The ducks - must goad the world community, are stoically living in their motherland around 300 families - are also forced to violence comes close on the heels of the including India, to shore up efforts to despite wide-scale persecution and migrate to India or the West, like the March 6 attack by Islamic State counter the threat of terrorism that still atrocities need to be protected. The once over two lakh Sikhs who have fled terrorists on a gathering of minority looms large in Afghanistan. It is a grim thriving trading community has been Afghanistan in the past four decades. Shiite Muslims in the Capital city, reminder of the July 2018 gory incident reduced to being one selling medicinal The violence stands to cost the country claiming 32 lives. The targeted attacks when a group of Sikhs and Hindus, on herbs or running small cloth shops. The its religious ethnic group, one that has bring into sharp focus the US-Taliban its way to meet President Ashraf Ghani Sikhs are provided security for their called it home ever since Guru Nanak deal that was signed in February to pave in Jalalabad, was struck by an Islamist funerals as the society opposes their visited the place over 500 years ago. the way for peace in the war-ravaged State bomber, resulting in the death of practice of cremation. With their Already, most of their gurdwaras have country. Peace remains elusive in the 19 people, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, Muslim hardliner brothers increasing been destroyed. Just like the Bamiyan current political impasse. the only Sikh candidate who was the hostilities against them and the Buddhists. (Tribune, India) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 PERSPECTIVE 9 ‘God’s own country’ or not?NRIs and Tourists in the throes of Coronavirus crisis important to note that 80% of emigrants from Kerala went to the Gulf, and they contribute a large chunk of the remittances that flow into Kerala. According to a previous study done by the By George Abraham Middle East Institute, remittances were 1.74 times the revenue receipts of the he world has indeed taken notice of state. Remittances in Kerala were 5.5 how well Kerala has handled the times the finance received from the TCoronavirus threat so far and central government and 36 times the widely applauded for steps the state has exporting earnings from cashews and 30 undertaken to mitigate the crisis. times that from marine products. However, as the virus fear sweeps through The study also pointed out the impact of Kerala, some of the stories coming out of remittances to Kerala and how it has my home state are very disconcerting. It manifested in household consumption, doesn't bring out the best of humanity, saving and investment, the quality of especially from those who have lived and houses, and the possession of modern God's Own Country- Kerala prospered on the largesse of the NRI consumer durables. Remittances also remittances and significant revenue from played a role in enhancing the quality of and the medical personnel should have Even students from Northeast are not the tourism boom. life and contributing to a high human been fitted with protective gear. spared this time around as many have I am referring here about the treatment development index for Kerala in terms of Instead, what we are witnessing is an experienced harassment at the hands of some of the Keralites meted out to NRIs education and health, along with the act of demonization of some of those who other students, and their interactions and foreign nationals who are either reduction of poverty and unemployment. happened to carry the Coronavirus, were marked by suspicion and rudeness returning from foreign countries or The overall result for the state has been probably of no fault of their own. Some of often bordering racism. trapped in the state due to state-imposed quite impressive. Kerala's rating for the them might have contracted the virus Finally, Keralites are one of the largest travel restrictions. Most of the NRIs are Human Development Index (HDI) 0.790, is during the travel and possibly even groups of economic refugees on this Indian citizens, and they have the right to the highest in India, resulting from the asymptomatic upon their arrival. planet, constantly exploring opportunities return to their home country.Some of the vast improvements state has made in the Therefore, there is very little justification and daring to break barriers to travel to tourists might have been caught off guard fields of sanitation, health, education, and for the harassment and name-calling they the ends of the earth to better themselves. and stranded by these fast-moving poverty reduction. In 2016, the state was were subjected to and the contempt with We do expect those foreign countries and developments around the Coronavirus or also declared 'open defecation free' with which they have been treated. their nationals to treat us fairly,provide us made the trip regardless due to their long- toilets in every household. The female The experiences of some of the foreign with opportunities, respect our cultures, term planning for a dream vacation or literacy rate in Kerala stands at 94%, and tourists at the hands of my fellow and honor our religious traditions. fearing potential losses in terms of it is the only state in the union where the Malayalees are even more appalling. An Besides, we also request them to transfer prepaid bookings. female population exceeds the male alien couple was found to be traumatized part of their wealth to our state so that Kerala's prosperity in the last five population. and crying incessantly in the middle of a folks who are left behind may do better decades can be primarily attributed to the Nevertheless, the stories being aired road as they haven't had food for three days. with their own lives as well. 'money-order economy' where the foreign about some of the experiences of According to the reports, they were denied Therefore, it is obligatory to keep our currency remittances fast-tracked the returning NRIs and stranded tourists at food or lodging by panicky guest houses end of the bargain in treating foreign socio-economic development in the state. these difficult times are heart-wrenching. and hotels across the state and finally had tourists as well as returning NRIs fairly in According to World Bank reports, India It is critical thatthe returning NRIs ought to be rescued by the Police department. good times as well as bad. We simply retained its position as the world's top to be truthful to the authorities and There were stories of tourists sleeping in cannot have it both ways! I am encouraged recipient of remittances with its diaspora mindful of their vulnerability in terms of cemeteries because their reservations to to see that the government of Kerala, sending a whopping 79 Billion dollars spreading this virus. They need to behave the hotels were not being honored. which saw more than a million tourists set back home in 2018. Kerala tops in that responsibly as per the rules and be It is not only a phenomenon in Kerala foot in the state in 2018, came out to category, with almost 20% of that accountable for their actions. However, but also across the country where foreign denounce such attacks on foreign tourists remittances directly going to the state. they shouldn't be blamed for the failures of tourists are being evicted from their asking locals not to see them as carriers of The money the NRIs send home helps not the state from properly screening all apartments, made to feel unwelcome in virus. A national crisis often reveals the only the families but also the balance of arrivals. It is the responsibility of the Taxis, asked to leave restaurants, and have character of a people. Kerala is often payments of the country. authorities to ascertain origins of travel been subjected to hostile looks in public dubbed as 'God's own country' and not let The flow of that amount of money into and routings and to decide whether spaces. Social media also bears some the world call us 'Devil's own people'! the Kerala economy by way of anyone should be quarantined. The responsibility in spreading this panic- (The writer is a former Chief Technology Officer remittances has a very significant impact infrastructure should have been already in driven disinformation that all foreign of the United Nations and Vice-Chairman of the on the living conditions of its citizens. It is place at all airports for health screenings, tourists are carries of the Coronavirus. Indian Overseas Congress, USA) READERS WRITE should be allowed to open on odd and even be required limited quantity per person only and Make Shut Down days and for limited hours . People can As a separate mission, looking at the could be a weekly delivery. only shop from their preferred stores on current scenario , Meals can be planned This way people will value what they More Effective those days during the time granted. and organized for those quarantined and have also not flock the stores, rather store he shut down in its present form This will need fewer people r to work sick at home from the Gurudwaras . A after store, collecting sanitizers, does not seem to be producing the resulting in low risk and will help truck could do the contactless delivery at disinfectants, kitchen and toilet paper and Tdesired results. There has to be a maintain social distancing. doorsteps. water. more effective shut down, may be , a total Government can assign /allow for the All it needs is a basic webpage where in If a total lockdown is not possible then, shut down. I have a couple of suggestions benefit of all opening of gas stations , 7 people can request with addresses within at least we can take measures to further in this regard. Elevens, Dunkin etc. like chains to be odd the radius of the Gurudwaras limit the people getting out just to play Government may let essential even open. The only difference here would Stores selling dairy , eggs bread and lottery or grab a drink or get gas if nothing businesses run with few more precautions be the fact that we do not need a gas station vegetables can be ordered in call or via text else. so that people are not encouraged to step at every 100 meters. Let's say 1 station , 1 or via email or website to be delivered at They have nothing to do and are always out and risk the ones trying to offer the Dunkin, or 1 7 Eleven every 2 miles. The the doorstep with no extra or bare on a mission to go to store after store best even though they are exposed and are business days and hours can be fairly minimum charge. because they are all open all the time and in turn risking their own loved ones distributed among them. Things like paper towels, wipes collect essentials even though their attics Odd-even days schedule could be more This would again restrict people from disinfectants can be delivered, and it and garages are full. effective. In a particular zip code stores going out for drives and, while in drives, would be great when all can get when in Thank you. like farmers market, BJ's , Costco etc. keep hitting stores even though it may not stock. Stores will have the right to sell a Jaskiran Saluja, Hicksville, New York THE INDIAN PANORAMA 10 SOUTH ASIA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 Pak suspends domestic flights as coronavirus cases cross 1,000 ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan has suspended all domestic flight operations until April 2 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus after the country reported over 1,000 cases and seven Bangladesh to release deaths from the COVID-19 infection, Khaleda Zia amid authorities said on Wednesday. The nationwide tally of COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak patients touched 1,037 with 413 cases in DHAKA (TIP) : Bangladesh on Sindh; 115 in Balochistan; 296 in Punjab; Tuesday initiated a process to 117 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 80 in Gilgit- “conditionally” release jailed former Baltistan; 15 in Islamabad and one in Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for six Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, The Express months amid the coronavirus Tribune reported. outbreak in the country, Law Minister The National Disaster Management Anisul Huq told PTI. Authority has said that so far seven The 74-year-old opposition people have died due to the coronavirus Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief is and 18 recovered. serving a 17-year prison term in two In the wake of the coronavirus graft cases since February 8, 2018. outbreak, the country has halted its “The decision has been taken on domestic flights operations. humanitarian ground,” Huq said. He Abdul Sattar Khokhar, the spokesman parliamentary leaders of various parties incremental lockdown,” he said. said the decision was taken in line of Aviation Division, said that the via video conference, he said: “You He asked the provinces to with Prime Minister Shekh Hasina’s decision was part of ongoing efforts to would be happy to know that till continuously reassess the lockdown as it directives and considering the age of contain the deadly coronavirus. yesterday only 153 cases were of local may have serious impact on the economy. the former prime minister. “...Zia will The ban will be effective from transmission and the rest were people “Even in the western world, there is a be released for a period of six months Thursday, Khokhar said. who entered the country from abroad”, debate on whether coronavirus comes and she must stay in her own house,” According to a statement on the defending the policy of not bringing first or the economy,” Khan said, adding the minister said. He declined to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s students from China due to which the that the construction industry should elaborate immediately but officials website on Tuesday, the government has country did not witness a single case of not be effected by the lockdown familiar with the process said the “decided to suspend all types of domestic coronavirus coming from the otherwise problems of poor workers home ministry would take subsequent scheduled/non-scheduled, chartered and neighbouring country. would increase. steps for the former premier’s private aircraft passenger flight Khan was still ambivalent on the issue He said that the national coordination temporary release under a criminal operations with effect from Thursday, of complete curfew like lockdown, which committee on the coronavirus would procedure code (CRPC). Home March 26, at 6:00am up to April 02, 2020.” he said would hit hard the daily wagers meet on Thursday to see if there was a Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal Pakistan has already suspended and those living below the poverty line. need to impose curfew and if the said his office would take steps for the international flights this week. However, He said the current lockdown in Sindh transport across the country should be release of Zia, who is being treated for cargo flights are exempted from the was a bit too much. suspended. old-age complications at the prison cell flight suspension ban. “In the federal government, we were of “Only the people can fight this war, no of a state-run specialised hospital, “as Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran the view that we need to tailor our government can,” he said. soon as” they receive the file from the Khan on Wednesday said that the response according to the number of Meanwhile, there is complete law ministry. Home ministry officials, homegrown cases of coronavirus were cases. Sindh reacted further. Due to the lockdown in the country and people have however, said the law ministry very limited but the threat of the spread pressure by the media and the people, the been told to remain inside of their proposal reached them by now while of the infection was not yet over. provinces of Balochistan, Khyber homes. They are only allowed to go out in they were now exhausting the legal Addressing a meeting of Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab also initiated case of emergency. PTI procedures to be approved “finally by the prime minister”. Bangladesh declares The development came a day after Covid-19: Sri Lanka starts programme Zia’s family sought her release in view public holiday, army to of the COVID-19 outbreak. “This is a decision we welcome,” BNP leader to deliver essential goods to homes assist in COVID-19 fight Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told reporters in DHAKA (TIP): Due to the increase in brief comments at the Bangabandhu COLOMBO (TIP): To encourage economy," a statement released by the the number of confirmed coronavirus Sheikh Mujib Medical University physical distancing due to the President's Media Division (PMD) said. cases in the country, the Bangladeshi premises here. “I thank Prime coronavirus pandemic, the Sri Lnkan The PMD statement said there was no government has declared a public Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Zia’s government has started a special shortage of rice, coconut, vegetables, holiday from March 26 to April 4, while younger sister Selima Islam said. programe to deliver essential goods eggs, and chicken. the army will be deployed to assist Zia served thrice as the premier including medicines and food items, to In the meeting, Rajapaksa had pointed authorities in the fight against the since 1991. Her party suffered a homes, it was reported on Thursday. out the possibility of distributing these pandemic. miserable defeat in the 2018 elections The new program titled "Wait for us, items through a combined effort Bangladeshi Cabinet Secretary bagging only six seats in 300-seat stay at home", will be implemented between Cooperative outlets and Khandker Anwarul Islam made the parliament. Her conviction on “moral through a local system in collaboration supermarkets after purchasing from announcement at a press conference in turpitude” charges debarred her from with Cooperative Societies and domestic farmers. Dhaka on Monday, reports Xinhua news contesting the polls. She was sent to supermarket chains, The Daily A decision was also taken to deliver agency. jail in February 2018 by a local court Financial Times quoted Head of the medicines to the homes of regular "Army would be deployed to assist on charges of embezzling foreign Presidential Task Force on Continuous patients who have registered at local administration as all the donations meant for an orphanage, Supply, Operation and Coordination of hospitals, with the support of Divisional government and the private offices in named after her slain husband and Essential Services, Basil Rajapaksa as Secretaries, Public Health Officers, and the country will be closed from March 26 President Ziaur Rehman, during her saying during the launch on Wednesday. the security forces, said te Daily to April 4." premiership between 2001 and 2006. The entire process should be in line Financial Times report. He said the shutdown will not affect Rehman, a military ruler-turned- with the coronavirus control initiatives It was also discussed to implement a emergency services such as law politician, was the founder of the BNP. carried out by the health sector. It is system to distribute medicines through enforcement agencies and hospitals. She was convicted in another imperative to maintain the day-to-day a few locally selected pharmacies, to Public transport will operate on a corruption case later the same year, life of the public. Steps have been taken patients who purchase medicines from limited scale but markets will stay open though her party claims both cases are to distribute food items, while protecting private pharmacies. as usual, Islam added. politically motivated. PTI domestic farmers and the national IANS IANS THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 11 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 12 US FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

More than 3 million USCIS Temporary Office file for Unemployment Travel Services to Closure Extended until claims at least April 7 WASHINGTON India to remain closed (TIP): More than three million people filed for unemployment until April 14 benefits last week, sending a collective shudder Advisory for Indian Nationals in USA - COVID 19 WASHINGTON (TIP): On March 18, throughout the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration economy that is unlike Services temporarily suspended in- anything Americans have person services at its field offices, experienced. asylum offices, and Application Support The report, released by the Labor Centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread Department on Thursday, March 26, of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- provides some of the first hard data on 19). USCIS offices will reopen on April 7 the economic toll of the coronavirus unless the public closures are extended pandemic, which has shut down whole further. Employees in these offices are swaths of American life faster than continuing to perform mission-essential government statistics can keep track. services that do not require face-to-face Just three weeks ago, barely 200,000 contact with the public. people applied for jobless benefits, a USCIS will continue to provide historically low number. In the half- limited emergency services. Please call century that the government has WASHINGTON (TIP): According to /2019-ncov/ the Contact Center for assistance with tracked applications, the worst week the latest Travel Advisory, updated on IV. For extension of visa in the US emergency services. ever, with 695,000 so-called initial March 26, all scheduled international during this restriction period, USCIS field offices will send notices to claims, had been in October 1982. commercial passenger services to India please apply online at USCIS applicants and petitioners with Thursday's figure of nearly 3.3 shall remain closed till 1830 hrs GMT of websitescheduled appointments and million set a grim record. "A large part April 14, 2020. In view of these https://www.uscis.gov/visit- naturalization ceremonies impacted by of the economy just collapsed," said temporary travel restrictions, all Indian united-states/extend-your-stay the extended closure. USCIS asylum Ben Herzon, executive director of IHS nationals are advised to: and and offices will send interview cancellation Markit, a business data and analytics I. Stay safe and isolated within the http://uscis.gov/coronavirus. notices and automatically reschedule firm. residential premises and follow This is per the advice of asylum interviews. When the interview The worst could be yet to come. Mr. the advisories updated on CDC concerned US authorities, with is rescheduled, asylum applicants will Herzon said he expected a similarly web site whom, the Embassy is also in receive a new interview notice with the large number next Thursday, when the https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus touch. new time, date and location of the Labor Department releases its report /2019-ncov/ and other state and V. Please also continue to check the interview. When USCIS again resumes on new claims filed this week. federal advisories relevant to website of the Embassy of India normal operations, USCIS will Thursday's unemployment numbers COVID19. in Washington DC automatically reschedule ASC provide only the first hint of the II. Please follow social distancing (www.indianembassyusa.gov.in) appointments due to the office closure. economic cataclysm in progress. Even norms and avoid any non- and social media (Twitter & You will receive a new appointment comparatively optimistic forecasters essential local travel. Facebook) for latest updates. In letter in the mail. Individuals who had expect millions of lost jobs, and with III. Approach the local health case required, please contact the InfoPass or other appointments must them foreclosures, evictions and department officials in case you Indian Embassy or one of Indian reschedule through the USCIS Contact bankruptcies. Thousands of or your family member(s) Consulates depending upon your Center once field offices are open to the businesses have closed in response to experience any of the symptoms location in the US at the 24/7 public again. the pandemic, and many will never mentioned in the CDC website helpline details mentioned below. (Read full story at reopen. Some economists say the https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus www.theindianpanorama.news) decline in gross domestic product this year could rival the worst years of the Great Depression. Department of Justice Requests Citizens to Be The terrifying speed of the economic collapse has spurred lawmakers to action. Late Wednesday night, Republican and Democratic Aware of and Report COVID-19 Fraud senators agreed on a $2 trillion aid package that would provide cash WASHINGTON (TIP): The charitable organizations. payments to nearly all Americans and Department of Justice is remaining Criminals will likely continue to use would expand the unemployment vigilant in detecting, investigating, and new methods to exploit COVID-19 system, among other changes. The bill prosecuting wrongdoing related to the worldwide. is expected to get final congressional crisis. In a memo to U.S. Attorneys, If you think you are a victim of a scam approval on Friday. Attorney General Barr said, "The or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, As staggering as the figures are for pandemic is dangerous enough without you can report it without leaving your jobless claims, they almost certainly wrongdoers seeking to profit from public home though a number of platforms. Go understate the problem. Some part- panic and this sort of conduct cannot be to: time and low-wage workers don't tolerated." ● Contact the National Center for qualify for unemployment benefits. Be aware that criminals are Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720- Nor do gig workers, independent 5721 or via email at contractors and the self-employed, attempting to exploit COVID-19 [email protected] although the emergency aid package worldwide through a variety of ● Report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov passed by the Senate would broaden scams. There have been reports ● If it's a cyber scam, submit your eligibility to include many of them. of: Disease Control and Prevention. complaint through Others who do qualify may not know ● Malicious websites and apps that https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx it. And the sudden rush of layoffs led ● Individuals and businesses selling appear to share virus-related For more information regarding to jammed phone lines and fake cures for COVID-19 online and information to gain and lock access Federal Efforts, Department of Justice overwhelmed computer servers at engaging in other forms of fraud. to your devices until payment is Resources, and Coronavirus Fraud unemployment offices across the ● Phishing emails from entities received. News, please visit the Department of country,leaving many people unable to posing as the World Health ● Seeking donations fraudulently for Justice COVID-19 Fraud Page at file claims. Organization or the Centers for illegitimate or non-existent https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 US 13

Stimulus Checks: Who Indian American Lawmaker Calls for Is Eligible and How Two-Week Mandatory Shelter in Place Much Will They Be? WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna Rep. Khanna is calling on (CA-17), joined by 19 Democratic U.S. Congress to vote remotely to pass Representatives, called for a national an economic stimulus response shelter-in-place order to combat the bill that will save jobs, replace spread of COVID-19 across the United States of America. As the infection rate lost incomes, and lift up all climbs and the strain on the American Americans. Three Republican health care system worsens, the federal Governors have already called for Senate plan would send $1,200 checks to government cannot continue to slow- this as well; Ohio, West Virginia many, including Social Security recipients walk its response. ( Picture of Check for Representation "The total number of COVID-19 cases and Indiana. purposes only) and deaths have nearly doubled in the week nationwide shelter-in-place order last two days," said Rep. Ro Khanna. immediately.It is the only proven way to WASHINGTON (TIP): The "We're watching our health care system limit the growth of confirmed cases, Senate voted unanimously late collapse before us. We're seeing people insulate our health care system, and Wednesday night to approve a $2 separated from their loved ones. We're prevent catastrophe. trillion economic stimulus package witnessing students shut out from their Additionally, Rep. Khanna is calling that would send most Americans classrooms and workers let go from their on Congress to vote remotely to pass an checks of up to $1,200, as a way to jobs. If we want to demonstrate true economic stimulus response bill that put money directly in the pockets of American leadership and stop this will save jobs, replace lost incomes, and families struggling to manage the outbreak, we need a nationwide shelter lift up all Americans. Three Republican economic fallout of the coronavirus in place order. Let's listen to the experts Governors have already called for this as pandemic. who are telling us that step is the only well; Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana. The legislation, which still needs way we can truly mitigate the spread of Preventive action will save trillions of to be passed by the House of COVID-19. Months of continued half- dollars in the long run and many Representatives and signed by the measures will cost us far more than two priceless lives. president, would give single adults weeks of sheltering in place." Co-Signers of the letter are: Anthony who reported adjusted gross income The American health care system Brown (MD-04), Jim Cooper (TN-05), of $75,000 or less on their 2019 tax typically operates near full capacity and Susan Davis (CA-53), Veronica Escobar returns a one-time check for $1,200, is already experiencing shortages of (TX-16), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Jesús G. according to draft legislation. N95 masks, protective eye gear, and Additionally, Rep. Khanna is calling on "Chuy" García (IL-4), Vicente Gonzalez Married couples who filed jointly other necessary equipment to protect Congress to vote remotely to pass an (TX-15), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Andy would receive $2,400. Families would economic stimulus response bill that will our doctors and nurses. An influx of save jobs, replace lost incomes, and lift up all Lowenthal (CA-47), Stephen Lynch (MA- get an additional $500 for each child. patients due to continued spread of Americans 08), Debbie Mucarsel-Powel (FL-26), The Senate bill does not set a date COVID-19, some of whom will require Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark for when the checks would start to intensive care, will likely exceed our testing and the ability for asymptomatic Pocan (WI-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), go out, saying only that the supply of hospital beds and ventilators, individuals to unknowingly spread the Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), José E. Treasury secretary would send the leading to rationing of care and more coronavirus, the federal government Serrano (NY-15), Darren Soto (FL-09), payments "as rapidly as possible." deaths. must reduce person-to-person contact to Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Lori Trahan (MA- The money could be sent either by Given insufficient availability of mass the bare minimum by issuing a two- 03), mail or direct deposit. Who qualifies for a stimulus check? No OCI and Passport Applications Will be The size of the check would decrease based on income for individuals who earned more than Accepted: Embassy of India $75,000 based on their tax return for last year (or their 2018 return if 1. OCI applications, Indian they have not filed yet). The rebate citizenship renunciation check for individuals would shrink applications and GEP applications by $5 for every $100 earned over will not be accepted, including by $75,000. For couples who filed postal mail, until further notice. jointly, the reduction would start 2. Passport applications will not be once they earn more than $150,000; accepted, including by postal mail, for heads of household, at $112,500. until further notice. However, Individuals who earned more than applicants requiring passports on $99,000 and couples who earned emergency basis may kindly send more than $198,000 jointly would not an email to receive checks. [email protected] According to the legislation, explaining their emergency people who do not typically file situation. Once the request has taxes because their income is very been approved, the applicant will be low will need to file a 2019 tax informed to complete the return in order to receive a stimulus application process and send the check. That may be a challenge for papers by postal mail to CKGS for some, however, because many further processing. services that help low-income 3. Miscellaneous consular services taxpayers file tax returns for free shall continue to be accepted only have suspended in-person by postal mail until further notice. operations to deter the spread of the Applicants should factor in that it coronavirus. Most low-income may take longer and there could be taxpayers are eligible to file tax WASHINGTON (TIP): The Embassy of existing advisories associated with the delays in providing miscellaneous returns online for free through the India has taken the following decisions coronavirus and movement restrictions services due to the current IRS Free File program. with immediate effect in light of the in several States, situation. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 14 INDIA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 GOVT ISSUES SOP FOR AVAILABILITY OF ESSENTIAL Sitharaman unveils Rs 1.7 lakh GOODS DURING LOCKDOWN crore package for poor

NEW DELHI (TIP): India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on TRACKING THE VIRUS Thursday announced a comprehensive fiscal package of INR 1.7 lakh GLOBAL INDIA crore for the poor to help them fight the economic Deaths Deaths stress caused by the Cases Cases coronavirus disease 510,644 23,028 724 17 (COVID-19). Named Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, the stimulus package includes measures related NEW DELHI (TIP): The Union Home Ministry on to food security and direct Thursday issued Standard Operating Procedure cash transfer. It is (SOP) on availability of essential goods during the expected to benefit urban lockdown period and asked state governments to and rural poor and ensure smooth functioning of people involved and migrant workers over the services. next three months (April- The ministry said there should be no interruptions June). Aimed at the in the services of small retail shops, large organised poorest of the poor, the retail stores and e-commerce companies. package will ensure that In the two-page SOP, Union Home Secretary Ajay no one starves or Bhalla said essential commodities are available to struggles to buy the most people through small local retail shops, large basic household organised retail stores and e-commerce companies. essentials during this The SOP said in order to ensure smooth functioning crisis, said Sitharaman. of these three types of operators, it is important that The scheme will cater to constituents of the supply chain, are also allowed to two broad categories of operate. people—healthcare These constituents include suppliers of essential professionals working on goods, including restaurants supplying home delivery the forefront of COVID-19 Food-Related of cooked food items; and facilities for storage of such pandemic and the poor essential goods which, may be known as warehouse, whose livelihoods have Benefits To soften lockdown blow godown, etc. been hit due to the PM Garib Kalyan Ann It also allowed movement of transporters, drivers, countrywide 21-day Yojana will provide free Rs1.70 lakh crore relief package under PM Garib loaders, etc., of essential goods from the place of lockdown, announced by ration to 80 crore Kalyan Yojana manufacture to wholesalers or retailers. the Prime Minister on individuals (1/3rd of the Rs 50 lakh Insurance cover for health workers The SOP said such transportation may involve March 24. population) over the next 80 crore to get 5 kg wheat/rice and 1 kg of pulses intra-city, inter-city in same state or union territory Entrepreneur India three months. free for next three months or inter-state movement of essential goods; and gives a roundup of who all Each individual will get Free gas cylinders for 8 crore poor families for manufacturing units of essential goods, including will benefit under the 5 kg of rice or wheat, over next 3 months. drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, their raw fiscal package. and above the current 20.4 crore women Jan Dhan account holders to material and intermediates. monthly 5 kg given under get one-time relief of Rs1,500 The home secretary said the purpose of the Insurance for the public distribution Poor senior citizens, widows and disabled to get lockdown is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Health Workers system (PDS). direct cash transfer of Rs1,000 epidemic by ensuring social distancing while Additionally, 1 kg of EPF to allow non-refundable advance of 75% of maintaining supply of essential goods, including A special health pulses per household will the amount or three months of the wages, health infrastructure and home delivery of food. insurance cover of INR be given according to the whichever is lower He said several services were exempted from the 50 lakh will be given to receiver’s regional Govt to bear PF costs for small units with mostly lockdown that include ration shops, shops dealing all healthcare preference. Beneficiaries low salaried workers with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and professionals, including can avail this in two Increase in MNREGA wage to benefit 13.62 crore milk products, meat and fish, animal fodder, seeds and ward-boys, nurses, installments. families pesticides and home delivery of these essential goods cleaning workers, This food subsidy First instalment of PM Kisan Yojana frontloaded shall be encouraged. paramedics, technicians, scheme will cost the Lending limit doubled for women self-help “It is also provided that delivery of all essential doctors and specialists, government INR 40,000 groups goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical working in government crore, as per the States told to draw on district mineral equipment through e-commerce will remain hospitals and health care statement. development fund operational,” the letter said. hospitals where covid-19 Bhalla said those enforcing authorities must note patients are being Cash Support that these strict restrictions fundamentally relate to treated. Cash support through April. Under this April 2020 and is movement of people, but not to that of essential goods. The insurance scheme Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, all eligible expected to benefit “It is therefore, important that availability of will cover hospitalisation (DBT), is aimed at eight small and marginal about 5 crore essential goods is ensured to relieve the hardship expenses of anyone who broad categories— farmers get INR workers. faced by people during the period of lockdown” he falls sick while treating a farmers, MGNREGA, 2,000 every fourth Widows, senior said. The SOP said all facilities in the supply chain of covid-19 patient. Take widows, pensioners and month (total INR citizens and essential goods, whether involved in manufacturing, note that if a healthcare divyang, women under 6,000 annually) as Divyang: In a relief wholesale or retail of such goods through local stores, worker dies as a result of Jan Dhan Yojana and minimum income to poor widows, large brick and mortar stores or e-commerce contracting the covid-19 Ujjawala scheme, women support. senior citizens and companies should be allowed to operate, ensuring virus, no life insurance in self-help groups, MGNREGA – Daily divyang or disabled strict social distancing. cover will be provided. organised sector workers, wages under people, a one-time All such facilities as registered with the state All central and state construction workers and Mahatma Gandhi ex-gratia of INR governments or union territories under the shops and government hospitals, utilization of district National Rural 1,000 will be given establishment registration regime, which can be used health centres and mineral funds. Employment in two installments. to randomly verify the veracity of documents wellness centres will be Farmers – About 8.7 Guarantee Act A total of INR 3,000 produced. covered under this crore farmers will (MGNREGA), has crore will be spent While warehousing facilities with wholesalers and scheme, benefitting get the first been hiked by INR for this purpose retailers of essential goods might have non-essential nearly 22 lakh health installment of INR 20, from INR 182 to under PM Garib goods, they should not be closed down for the fact that workers, the official 2,000 under PM INR 202. This will Kalyan Package, the non-essential items are also stored. statement said. Kisan Yojana in be effective from statement said. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 INDIA 15 Maharashtra cops stop a container truck, find over 300 migrant workers

MUMBAI (TIP): Maharashtra Police on Thursday found over 300 migrant workers crammed inside two container trucks which were INDIA'S BANKS CONSIDER ostensibly carrying essential commodities from Telangana to CLOSING MOST BRANCHES Rajasthan. The shocked officials found that DURING COVID LOCKDOWN the workers, who hailed from Rajasthan, had chosen this NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (TIP): India's central surreptitious and dangerous mode of bank and major lenders are working on a plan to close travel as they wanted to return home. most branches during the country's lockdown, aiming Reports of desperate migrant to prevent tens of thousands of employees from workers heading home amid becoming infected with the coronavirus, four sources lockdown on account of coronavirus familiar with the matter told Reuters. pandemic are emerging from many The world's second most populous nation with 1.3 parts of the country. billion people are still very much a cash society and A team of police and revenue banks have been exempted from a 21-day lockdown department officials stopped two that began this week as they are considered an container trucks coming from essential service. Telangana in the border district of combat the spread the novel that the entire country would be Under the plan, there would likely be only one bank Yavatmal for inspection. coronavirus. going under a 21-day lockdown. He branch open every five km (three miles) in major “The officials at Pandharkavda toll Radheshyam Patel, a native of said this lockdown is very important cities, the sources said, declining to be identified as booth found something was fishy as Dungarpur district who was part of for India to fight against novel the discussions about the closures have not been the drivers could not give a the group, says he has been working coronavirus and control its spread. publicly disclosed. satisfactory answer as to what the as a daily wager in Ahmedabad but The World Health Organisation and A finance ministry official, however, said 90 percent trucks were carrying and where,” there was no point in staying back in health experts have said social of banks and ATMs were functioning normally and said a senior official. the city when there was no income distancing, self-quarantines and that he was not aware of any plan to shut them down. “Inside, they found some 300 daily due to the lockdown. lockdowns can help in containing the "The government is monitoring the situation daily," wagers in two containers. Some of "Most of us work here (in spread of the novel coronavirus. the official said. them said they wanted to go back to Ahmedabad) at tea stalls or food But while the lockdown is their home state, Rajasthan and joints. Since everything is shut, our necessary, migrant labourers like Kanpur IIT to develop could not find any other mode of employers have asked us to come Patel are hit hard financially as the transport,” he said. back only after things get normal, as lockdown means no work and portable ventilators Action will be taken against the they don't have money to pay us," he income for 21 days. A long 21 days. drivers of the trucks, but officials are said. Authorities in bordering districts at a loss as to how to deal with the No work for 21 days would mean no of Rajasthan are making travel hapless workers. income. And surviving in a city like arrangements for the migrant “We do not know what to do with Ahmedabad without any income labourers returning on foot from them. They need to go home for would be a tough task for Patel and Gujarat. survival. We will take a decision others. "We don't have money to pay to our soon,” he said. "Since buses and other modes of landlord. It's better we move back to transport are not available, we have our native places," said Mangi Lal, a Migrant labourers walk decided to walk to reach home," he native of Rajasthan's Udaipur for days to reach home was quoted as saying by news agency district. He was part of a group of 100 PTI. people who started walking from On Tuesday night, a group of 50 Speaking about the novel Gujarat's Mehsana district to return migrant labourers in Ahmedabad coronavirus and the nationwide to their homes. embarked upon a 150-km journey to lockdown announced by Prime Speaking to PTI, Inspector their native village in Rajasthan's Minister Narendra Modi, Patel said General, Gandhinagar Range, NEW DELHI (TIP): With the number of Covid-19 Dungarpur district. Of course, this they know the virus is dangerous but Mayank Chavda said the state police cases rising in the country, the Indian Institute of wasn't the first time they were they are helpless. is providing food packets and water Technology (IIT) in Kanpur is developing portable travelling home from Ahmedabad. "I know there is the threat of to the migrant workers on ventilators, which will be significantly cheaper than But unlike other times, this journey coronavirus, but we are helpless. humanitarian grounds. "We are the ones available in the market. Professors at IIT, was to be made on foot. How would we survive without any trying our best to discourage them Kanpur, claim that while invasive ventilators are The reason: all modes of public income for three weeks?" he asks. from moving to Rajasthan. This will available at around Rs4 lakh per unit in the market, transport were shut due to the 21-day At 8 pm on Tuesday, Prime defeat the purpose of nationwide this ventilator will be made at a cost of Rs70,000 per nationwide lockdown imposed to Minister Narendra Modi announced lockdown," he said. unit as all the components have been sourced from India only. Besides, Mahindra & Mahindra on Thursday said it expected to come up with a RENOWNED ARTIST SATISH GUJRAL DIES IN DELHI sophisticated ventilator at just Rs7,500, which otherwise costs up to Rs10 lakh, as it seeks to assist in NEW DELHI (TIP): Artist and Delhi. combating coronavirus pandemic. architect Satish Gujral, renowned Gujral’s artworks were heavily for his versatility across different inspired by the turbulence of his Airtel gives free access to mediums, has died, an art world early years, including the illness insider said on Friday. He was 94. that impaired his hearing as a e-book platform Gujral died here late Thursday, child and the Partition of the said Ranjit Hoskote. subcontinent. NEW DELHI (TIP): Bharti Airtel on Thursday “He had been unwell for quite “Unlike many of his peers, who announced free access to its e-book platform sometime,” the curator and artist went to Paris or London in the Juggernaut Books to support people in staying home told PTI. early 1950s, Gujral went to Mexico during the lockdown. “As India stays at home to Gujral, who was awarded the City to study with Diego Rivera support the government's efforts to contain the spread Padma Vibhushan, was an and Siqueiros. Gujral’s was a of Covid-19, readers can now access thousands of top architect, painter, muralist, versatile practice spanning books and novels on Juggernaut Books (formerly sculptor and graphic artist. painting, sculpture and known as Airtel Books) for free by simply His familiar works include the of the Delhi High Court. He also architecture. RIP,” Hosote tweeted, downloading the app (Android/iOS) on their alphabet mural on the outside wall designed the Belgian Embassy in expressing his condolences. smartphones,” Bharti Airtel said in a statement. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 16 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 Covid-19 cases soar past 500,000 as virus batters US, Europe Germany boosts coronavirus test WASHINTON/LONDON (TIP): New York City continued to be the More than a staggering 500,000 hardest hit with at least 280 rate to 500,000 a week people have been infected by the reported dead. The spiralling cases coronavirus across the world while are severely straining medical BERLIN (TIP): Germany has boosted its at least 22,000 have died as the supplies such as ventilators and coronavirus test rate to 500,000 a week, a virologist Covid-19 pandemic continued to masks and hospital beds, despite said Thursday, adding that early detection has been batter Europe and the US. government support. key in keeping the country’s death rate relatively low. On the European continent, Italy New York state has had the “The reason why Germany has so few deaths and Spain reported 662 and 498 highest number of confirmed cases compared to the number of infected people can be single-day deaths respectively on with more than 33,000, which was explained by the fact that we carry out an extremely Thursday, while across the Atlantic, nearly half of the nationwide cases, large number of laboratory diagnostic tests,” said the US saw its death toll shoot past with nearly 400 deaths. The Christian Drosten, who heads the Institute of 1,000. More than 15,000 new adjoining state of New Jersey is Virology at Berlin’s Charite University Hospital. infections were confirmed in the US groups of more than two people. next with over 4,400 cases, followed “Estimates from the last days show that we are over a 24-hour period. As the US continued to witness an by California with more than 3,100 carrying out half a million tests a week,” he added. China, Italy, the US, Spain and exponential increase in the number cases and Washington with 2,600 Drosten also highlighted Germany’s dense network Germany are now the five worst-hit of cases, White House experts cases. of laboratories spread across its territory as a factor nations in terms of confirmed warned of a second wave that could New Orleans, where large crowds contributing to early detection. cases. Spain reported 498 new come later in the year as celebrated Mardi Gras a month ago, Meanwhile, the research ministry said it would fatalities on Thursday as its death demonstrated by previous was on track to become the next US commit 150 million euros ($164 million) to improve toll climbed to 4,145, while the pandemics of this magnitude. epicentre, as Louisiana’s Gulf Coast communication between hospitals and laboratories Netherlands confirmed more than Deborah Birx, coordinator of the metropolis recorded the world’s about coronavirus patients’ health data, hoping the 1,000 new cases -and 78 single-day White House coronavirus task highest growth rate in cases. information exchange could feed into development of deaths. force, at a daily briefing, spoke of In new restrictions ordered to a vaccine. Official data compiled by the disease In the UK, the streets are empty the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic that slow down and stop the spread of control agency Robert Koch Institute show that 36,508 but hospitals are filling up to the had killed 50 million people the coronavirus, the Pentagon on people have been infected in Germany, including 198 extent that health officials describe worldwide. That epidemic had come Wednesday barred all overseas who have died from the disease. the registration of new cases as a in three waves. travel for its troops for the next 60 At 0.54 percent, Germany’s death rate is far lower “continuous tsunami”. Deaths in Anthony Fauci, another member days. “The purpose is to make sure than the 7.3 percent in Spain where 4,089 deaths were the UK rose to 477 and close to 10,000 of the task force, said the that we’re not bringing the virus recorded for 56,188 confirmed cases. cases have been reported. coronavirus could become a back home, infecting others, that France has also recorded 1,331 fatalities of 25,233 Britain brought in tough “seasonal cyclic thing”. we’re not spreading it around the confirmed infections -- a death rate of 5.2 percent. measures on Thursday to curb the These warnings came as the US military,” US defence secretary Besides the large-scale testing, experts in Germany spread of the coronavirus. The new continued to deal with a ballooning Mark Esper said. He added that an also said that the virus has largely affected a younger, powers allow police to issue instant crisis that caused 1,080 deaths until exception would be made for the healthier section of the population compared to fines to those who leave their homes Thursday and infected over 70,000 drawdown under way in elsewhere. without good reason or gather in people. Afghanistan. Coronavirus could become seasonal: US scientist

WASHINGTON (TIP): There is a strong chance the new coronavirus could WHO to launch COVID-19 app return in seasonal cycles, a senior US he total number of coronavirus cases scientist said Wednesday, underscoring around the globe has already crossed the urgent need to find a vaccine and the 4.8 lakh mark. As the total number effective treatments. T of cases increase, the World Health Anthony Fauci, who leads research Organisation is planning to launch an app into infectious diseases at the National that will not only give users tips to Institutes of Health, told a briefing the safeguard themselves against the virus virus was beginning to take root in the outbreak but also detailed statistics of cases southern hemisphere, where winter is around the world. on its way. According to a report by 9To5 Google, WHO “What we’re starting to see now... in is developing an app for Android, iOS and southern Africa and in the southern Web platforms that will provide alerts, news, hemisphere countries, is that we’re tips and other information that will keep having cases that are appearing as they users updated about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. go into their winter season,” he said. “And if, in fact, they have a substantial WHO’s COVID-19 app is likely to be called outbreak, it will be inevitable that we MyHealth app, a source code available on need to be prepared that we’ll get a cycle GitHub has revealed. It was originally proposed by a team of volunteer experts around the second time. been repurposed, including the The reasons are thought to include called the WHO COVID app Collective. “It totally emphasizes the need to do antimalarials chloroquine and that respiratory droplets remain what we’re doing in developing a hydroxychloroquine. airborne for longer in colder weather, As per the current roadmap of the app, the vaccine, testing it quickly and trying to “I know we’ll be successful in putting and that cold weather weakens group plans to launch the initial version of the app on March 30. And it will have the get it ready so that we’ll have a vaccine this down now, but we really need to be immunity. content provided by WHO’s WhatsApp available for that next cycle.” prepared for another cycle,” Fauci Another potential reason is that chatbot on Android and iOS along with There are currently two vaccines that concluded. Fauci’s comments suggesting viruses degrade more quickly on hotter localised information that is served in the have entered human trials -- one in the the virus does better in colder weather surfaces, possibly because a protective organisation’s 6 official languages, that is US and one in China -- and they could be than it does in hot and humid conditions layer of fat that envelops them dries out Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, a year to a year-and-a-half away from follows a recent Chinese research paper - quicker. But reduced infection rate does and Spanish. In addition to that, the app will deployment. - still preliminary and awaiting peer- not mean the virus gets eliminated -- feature the ability to push notifications in Treatments are also being investigated review -- that reached the same Australia has had almost 2,500 confirmed the future. -- some new drugs and others that have conclusion. cases and 8 deaths, for example. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS 17 NEARLY 90% OF WORLD’S Scientists identify 69 drugs that POPULATION COULD BECOME may help fight Covid A COVID-19 PATIENT: EXPERTS NEW DELHI (TIP): The findings present what is NEW DELHI (TIP): An the first significant global projection, taking into international team, including account population demography, social contact scientists of Indian origin, has patterns and health care infrastructure as well as the identified 69 drugs and experimental infection and mortality rates seen in the Covid-19 compounds which may be effective pandemic till now. in treating Covid-19. Nearly 90% of the world’s population could become According to the researchers, a Covid-19 patient this year and at least 40 million of some of the medications are already them could die if there are no interventions to stop used to treat diseases such as the pandemic, a projection released by the Imperial diabetes and hypertension, and College of London showed on Thursday,underscoring repurposing them to treat Covid-19 the need to take strong steps against a pathogen that may be faster than trying to invent a has already brought much of the world to a standstill. new vaccine. The findings present what is the first significant In the new study,published on the global projection, taking into account population pre-print website bioRxiv, the demography, social contact patterns and health care scientists investigated 26 of the 29 infrastructure as well as the infection and mortality coronavirus genes, which direct rates seen in the Covid-19 pandemic till now. production of the viral proteins. “The world faces a severe and acute public health “The team took a different emergency due to the ongoing Covid-19 global approach, targeting host proteins, pandemic. How individual countries respond in the not viral proteins. Twentysix out of 26 OF 29 VIRUS GENES INVESTIGATED coming weeks will be critical in influencing the 29 SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins were trajectory of national epidemics,” said the report by studied in human cells to find out Scientists investigated 26 of 29 coronavirus genes, which direct production of the Imperial College Covid-19 Response Team. what human proteins they interact the viral proteins According to the report, in the absence of with,” Gina T Nguyen, Assistant Around 332 human proteins were found to interact with the SARS-CoV-2 viral interventions – such as social distancing and shutting Director of Communications & proteins, researchers say down of cities – the pandemic “would have resulted in Events, Quantitative Biosciences These are the proteins that the virus relies on to reproduce and carry out the 7.0 billion infections and 40 million deaths globally Institute, University of California, infection in people this year”. San Francisco (UCSF) in the US, 69 drugs were identified that can target these proteins, of which 25 are The virus, Sars-Cov-2, has infected close to 500,000 said. Around 332 human proteins already US FDA approved and could be used off-label people and caused at least 22,000 fatalities till were found to interact with the Thursday. SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins, the According to estimates, the current global researchers, including Advait and could be used off-label. The “Unfortunately, the scientific population is 7.8 billion. The most severe pandemic in Subramanian, Srivats drugs identified include those that community has little knowledge of history was the 1918 H1N1 outbreak -- commonly Venkataramanan and Jyoti Batra, are safely taken to treat conditions the molecular details of SARS-CoV- known as the Spanish Flu -- which is estimated to have all from UCSF, said. such as: Type II diabetes, cancer 2 infection,” the team wrote in an infected close to a third of the population at the time. These are the proteins that the and hypertension,” Nguyen said. abstract. virus, which has killed over 21,000 Some viral proteins seemed to The identification of host Taking cue from South Korea, people and infected more than target just one human protein, dependency factors mediating virus 4,71,000 globally so far, relies on to while others are capable of infection may provide key insights ICMR seeks 5 lakh antibody kits reproduce and carry out the targeting a dozen human cellular into effective molecular targets for infection in people, they said. proteins, the researchers explained. developing broadly acting antiviral NEW DELHI (TIP): As part of efforts to step up “69 drugs were identified that can They noted that there are therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 testing for coronavirus, the Indian Council of Medical target these proteins, of which 25 currently no anti-viral drugs with and other deadly coronavirus Research has invited manufacturers to supply 5 lakh are already US Food and Drug proven efficacy, nor are there strains, according to the antibody kits for diagnosis of infection. Experts in the Administration (FDA) approved vaccines for preventing Covid-19. researchers. government point out that the serological test will act as a screening process, as was done in South Korea, one of the few countries which has been able to flatten the pandemic curve. Dr V Ravi, Head and Senior Professor, Department Italy’s slowing infections of Neurovirology, NIMHANS, who specialises in public health virology and development of indigenous kits, told The Indian Express that considering the large number of suspected patients boost case for lockdowns being quarantined in the country through contact tracing of just a single patient, the antibody testing for COVID-19 will act as a “screening test” that will ROME (TIP): Italy’s coronavirus infections rate give quick results in a few hours. slowed for a fourth successive day Wednesday as fresh “The conventional RT-PCR test (reverse evidence emerged that long and painful lockdowns transcription polymerase chain reaction) being done against pandemics will work. in India detects the virus genetic material, which is The latest data from the epicentre of the once-in-a- the RNA. The antibody test will detect the body’s century outbreak comes with more and more nations response to the virus. The former is direct evidence weighing whether to shutter their own stores and and the latter the indirect evidence. Therefore, the factories -- and for how long. antibody test will be used as a screening test where Analysts at one of the big US investment banks said large number of people are being quarantined and evidence from Italy this week could determine whether where everybody cannot undergo RNA test.” much of the United States “will diverge or follow the Italian trajectory”. Almost everything across the Mediterranean country has been closed for over two weeks. Public gatherings have been banned and much of the determination and speed.” economy is set to remain in a state of suspended Figures showed deaths staying within the high but animation for an indefinite time to come. relative narrow range they had reached at the end of Analysts think Italy is sliding into its deepest last week. recession in generations as a result. Health officials reported 683 new fatalities and 5,210 But it is the price Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has infections. decided to pay to slow the spread of a disease that has The overall rise in daily deaths among confirmed now killed 7,503 in Italy and infected almost 75,000. COVID-19 cases slowed to 10 percent. “History will judge us,” the increasingly popular It had been as high as 57 percent when the illness was Italian leader told parliament on Wednesday. still spreading exponentially on March 8. “We must all contribute to the common good,” Conte The daily infections growth rate fell to a record low of said. “The government has acted with the utmost 7.5 percent. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 18 BOLLYWOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 SHAHID REVEALS WHAT KABIR SINGH WOULD DO DURING 21-DAY LOCKDOWN rime minister Narendra Modi announced that India would Pbe under 21-day lockdown. Soon after, people were wondering what could be done during the home-quarantine period. At this time, Shahid Kapoor hosted a question and answer round with his fans and happened to answer what would Kabir Singh do if he were in the time. HRITHIK, SUSSANNE After the user asked Shahid Kapoor the question, he went on to TEMPORARILY LIVE TOGETHER give a sweet yet unexpected answer, because 'rules are rules bro'. Shahid TO TAKE CARE OF SONS replied writing, "Hug preeti ( the rithik Roshan became emotional after his dog ) and make do. Rules are rules former wife Sussanne Khan temporarily moved bro." Hback with him to take care of their sons Kabir Singh marked Shahid together, amid the coronavirus outbreak. Kapoor's highest-grossing film in 15 Taking to his social media, Hrithik penned a lengthy years of his career. The actor 'thank you' note for Sussanne. received due as an actor for the "It is unimaginable for me, as a parent, to think of Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial. having to be separated from my children at a time Shahid Kapoor's on-sceen bond with when the country is practicing lockdowns. Preeti, played by Kiara Advani, was "It is heartwarming to see the world come together well-appreciated and memes were as one in this time of deep uncertainty and possibility made on the same, which went on to of months of social distancing and potential become evergreen. lockdowns for several weeks perhaps . 'Kabir Singh' was the remake of "While the world talks about humanity coming Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Telugu together, I think it represents more than just an idea directorial film 'Arjun Reddy'. The especially for parents sharing custody of their kids. movie starred Vijay Deverakonda How to keep their kids close to them without and Shalini Pandey in lead roles. infringing on the right of the other who also has an Apart from 'Arjun Reddy' and 'Kabir equal right to be with his/her children," he wrote. Singh', the movie was also remade Along with the post, he uploaded a picture of Sussanne in Tamil as 'Adithya Varma'. sitting in bed, sipping off a coffee mug. KANIKA KAPOOR TESTS KARTIK AARYAN TURNS RAPPER TO CORONAVIRUS POSITIVE PROMOTE SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THE 3RD TIME

n an attempt to make his fans stay indoors, Kartik Aaryan shared Ianother video on social media, explaining them the importance of social distancing. This time, however, instead of performing a monologue, Kartik turned a rapper to motivate social media users to stay home with their families and prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. Kartik's mother also made an appearance by the end of the video. He captioned it, "Jab tak Ghar nahi ollywood singer Kanika Kapoor has tested baithoge, main yaad dilaata rahunga ! positive in her third COVID-19 test, reports #CoronaStopKaroNa Bof which came in on Tuesday night. #CoronaRapKaroNa. Keep spreading In the second test conducted on Sunday, she the word." had tested positive. Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi Kanika is undergoing treatment at the Sanjay announced Janta Curfew on March 22, Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Kartik posted his monologue video, Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow. urging fans to stay in isolation and take SGPGIMS Director Prof R. K. Dhiman said the pandemic seriously. that the singer continues to test positive for the He wrote, "My Appeal in my Style coronavirus and her treatment will continue Social Distancing is the only solution, until unless at least two tests show her negative. yet." Meanwhile, Kanika's friend, Ojas Desai, who Like Kartik Aaryan, many Bollywood had stayed with her at the Hotel Taj for two days stars, including Akshay Kumar, and had later gone underground, has now tested Amitabh Bachchan, Virat Kohli, negative for the deadly virus. Anushka Sharma, Vicky Kaushal and In a statement issued by Ojas, he has said that more, have been posting videos, asking he had got himself tested for COVID-19 at the fans to stay indoors. Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases at Mumbai and had tested negative. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 HOLLYWOOD 19 ANGELINA JOLIE DONATES $1 MILLION TO CHARITY THAT PROVIDES MEALS TO KIDS ngelina Jolie is looking out for SINGER JACKSON children in need of receiving Ameals at home during the BROWNE TESTS COVID-19 pandemic. The Oscar winner and activist POSITIVE FOR donated $1 million to No Kid Hungry, an organization distributing aid so CORONAVIRUS communities can help feed children who relied on school lunches for their merican singer Jackson Browne meals. revealed in an interview that he “As of this week, over a billion Ahas tested positive for the children are out of school worldwide coronavirus. because of closures linked to On Tuesday, in an interview with coronavirus,” Jolie, 44, said in a Rolling Stone, Jackson said he statement. “Many children depend on immediately sought out testing when he the care and nutrition they receive developed a cough and started running a during school hours, including nearly fever. 22 million children in America who While the singer did test positive, he rely on food support. No Kid Hungry is downplayed the severity of his illness. making resolute efforts to reach as "My symptoms are really pretty mild, so I many of those children as possible.” don't require any kind of medication and According to a press release, the certainly not hospitalisation or anything charity has already distributed $2 like that," Jackson said. million to 78 organizations in 30 states The 71-year-old further urged everyone across the country and issued new to stay at home just like he is, whether emergency grants to school districts, they have symptoms or not. "So many food banks and community people that have it (coronavirus) aren't organizations feeding kids nationwide. going to be tested. They don't have “Over the past week, people from all symptoms, but they might have it and walks of life have risen to the might be able to pass it on. That's what unprecedented challenge of feeding younger readers need to understand. They hungry kids during a global pandemic” need to take part in the global response to said Billy Shore, founder and executive need and immense creativity,but above Giving to No Kids Hungry isn’t the stop the spread. That means not going chair of Share Our Strength, the all persistence – a sense that we won’t only way the mom of six is helping anywhere, not getting into contact with organization behind No Kid Hungry. let any barrier stand between a child those in need as the coronavirus anybody, not seeing anybody," Browne “I’ve heard stories of heart-breaking and the healthy meals they need.” spreads throughout the world. added. LEONARDO DICAPRIO, GIRLFRIEND WONDER WOMAN 1984 PUSHED CAMILA MORRONE ARE BACK, RESCHEDULED FOR AUGUST ne of the last big blockbuster SELF-QUARANTINING TOGETHER films set to debut in spring, OWarner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984, has been delayed until August as the coronavirus pandemic keeps theatres closed. The superhero movie was scheduled to premiere on June 5 in North America and will now debut August 14. Warner Bros. also delayed the premieres of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights and Scooby-Doo film Scoob! indefinitely as studio executives try to assess when movie fans will be allowed back into cinemas. Film-premiere delays are now commonplace, as rules on social gatherings prompted theatres in the US merican actor Leonardo 2020, the couple shared a moment of to close. Movie distributors make most DiCaprio and girlfriend Camila PDA after Leo and his co-stars' win for of their money at the box office, and AMorrone are self-quarantining Best Motion Picture -- Musical or have largely opted to delay big-budget together at the his Los Angeles home Comedy.Despite a nearly 23-year age gap films rather than make them available amid the coronavirus outbreak. A between them, Morrone isn't worried on streaming platforms or take their source told Us Weekly, on Monday, about what others have to say about her chances in the few international Wonder Woman 1984 was one of the "They're always together, but like romance with the Titanic actor. markets that haven’t yet been ravaged most anticipated films of the year, maintaining privacy." In December, the 22-year-old model by the pandemic. according to surveys from film websites The insider revealed that the lovebirds said in an interview with the Los “In these terrible times, when theatre IMDb and Fandango. It was one of the are "not the type of couple to be posting Angeles Times, "There's so many owners are struggling as so many are, last remaining big-budget movies on social media about each other." The relationships in Hollywood -- and in we are excited to re-date our film to scheduled to premiere in the first half of insider further revealed that they are the history of the world -- where people August 14th, 2020, in a theatre near you, 2020 that hadn’t been delayed, after the really great for each other and have been have large age gaps. I just think anyone and pray for better times for all by new James Bond film No Time to Die enjoying this time together off the grid. should be able to date who they want to then,” Patty Jenkins, the film’s director, and Marvel instalment Black Widow While attending the Golden Globes date.” said on Twitter. were among those pushed back. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 20 WATER DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 Water: Our Common Wealth By Mabel Pais

"Water, thou hast no taste, no Children carrying a water container in color, no odor; canst not be Jowhar, Somalia defined, art relished while ever Photo / Courtesy UN/Tobin Jones mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself..." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (in 'Terre des hommes' "Water will be more important than oil this century. A water crisis is a global crisis. Given the urgency of the situation, the coming decade needs to be one of action."- Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO "This year's World Water Day sanitation could save the lives of more increase climate action and invest in focuses on water and climate than 360,000 infants every year. robust adaptation measures for water change." - António Guterres, UN If we limit global warming to 1.5°C sustainability. By limiting global Secretary General above pre-industrial levels, we could cut heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world climate-induced water stress by up to will be in a much better position to "I call on all stakeholders to 50%. manage and solve the water crisis that increase climate action and invest Extreme weather has caused more we all face. in robust adaptation measures for than 90% of major disasters over the last Message from Ms. Audrey water sustainability. By limiting decade. Azoulay, Director-General of global heating to 1.5 degrees By 2040, global energy demand is projected to increase by over 25% and Gilbert F. Houngbo. UNESCO, on the occasion of Celsius, the world will be in a water demand is expected to increase by Photo / Courtesy worldwaterday.org/2020 World Water Day 22 March 2020 much better position to manage more than 50%. Water will be more important than oil and solve the water crisis that we Water and Soap Against the scalable water and sanitation solutions. this century. This prediction, made in all face." - António Guterres, UN Everyone has a role to play. In our 1994 by former Secretary-General of the Coronavirus daily lives, there are surprisingly easy United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Secretary General Hand hygiene is essential to steps we can all take to address climate has alarming resonance in 2020. Water is the essential building containing the spread of COVID-19, as change. Access to water and to basic sanitation block of life. well as other infectious diseases. If you History of the Day infrastructure is already precarious in have access to soap and water, several regions. Today, four billion This #WorldWaterDay, let's show our unicef.org/coronavirus/everything-you- The idea for this international day people worldwide are forced to contend best hand hygiene moments to fight need-know-about-washing-your-hands- goes back to 1992, the year in which the with water scarcity. Studies predict that #COVID19. protect-against-coronavirus-covid-19 United Nations Conference on accelerated global warming will so #SafeHands on #WorldWaterDay This #WorldWaterDay, let's show our Environment and Development in Rio de exacerbate the problem that by 2050, 52% World Water Day, held on 22 March best hand hygiene moments to fight Janeiro took place. That same year, the of the earth's population could be living every year since 1993, focuses on the #COVID19. United Nations General Assembly in areas subjected to water stress. The importance of freshwater. #SafeHands on #WorldWaterDay adopted a resolution by which 22 March first victims of this insufficiency will be Message from UN-Water Chair, The Importance of Water of each year was declared World Day for girls and women, a circumstance which Water, to be observed starting in 1993. is likely to increase inequality even Gilbert F. Houngbo, on World World Water Day celebrates water and These observances serve to reaffirm further throughout the world. Water Day raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people that water and sanitation measures are Given the urgency of the situation, the "This World Water Day, we all have a living without access to safe water. It is key to poverty reduction, economic coming decade needs to be one of action. role to play and the United Nations about taking action to tackle the global growth, and environmental As the ultimate forum for global World Water Development Report water crisis. A core focus of World Water sustainability. conversation, UNESCO has a unique contributes to paving the way for a Day is to support the achievement of Secretary-General, António role to play calling on States, civil sustainable future that leaves no one Sustainable Development Goal 6: water society and regular people. behind." World Water Day 2020 message and sanitation for all by 2030. Guterres, Message - 2020 A safely managed drinking water by Gilbert F. Houngbo, Chair of UN- Water and Climate Change The world's water resources are under service is defined as an improved Water and President of the unprecedented threat. Today, some 2.2 drinking water source that is located on International Fund for Agricultural World Water Day 2020 is about water billion people lack safe drinking water the premises and available when needed, Development and climate change - and how the two are and 4.2 billion people live without access and free of faecal and priority chemical "On World Water Day, 22 March, we inextricably linked. The campaign to adequate sanitation. Unless we act contamination. Improved water sources release the 2020 edition of the United shows how our use of water will help with urgency, the impacts of climate include piped water, boreholes or Nations World Water Development reduce floods, droughts, scarcity and change are projected to exacerbate these tubewells, protected dug wells, protected Report. pollution, and will help fight climate figures. By 2050, between 3.5 and 4.4 springs and packaged or delivered water. This year's report focuses on climate change itself. billion people will live with limited To learn more, visit change and water. UN-Water's Members By adapting to the water effects of access to water, with more than 1 billion un.org/en/observances/water-day and Partners chose this topic for 2020 climate change, we will protect health of them living in cities. To learn more about how to protect because, right now, we have an and save lives. And, by using water more This year's World Water Day focuses against COVID-19, unprecedented opportunity to put water efficiently, we will reduce greenhouse on water and climate change. With 2020 a visitunicef.org/coronavirus/everything- at the heart of climate change gases. make-or-break year for climate action, you-need-know-about-washing-your- negotiations." Our key messages for this day are this focus is timely.Water is the primary hands-protect-against-coronavirus- Did you know? clear: medium through which we perceive the covid-19 Today, 1 in 3 people live without safe effects of climate disruption, from (The above information is excerpted from drinking water. We cannot afford to wait. Climate extreme weather events, such as various websites of un.org) By 2050, up to 5.7 billion people could policy makers must put water at the droughts and floods, to glacial melting, (Mabel Pais writes on Health & Wellness, be living in areas where water is scarce heart of action plans. saltwater intrusion and sea level rise. Social Issues, Spirituality, and The Arts and for at least one month a year. Water can help fight climate change. On World Water Day, everyone has a Entertainment) Climate-resilient water supply and There are sustainable, affordable and role to play. I call on all stakeholders to THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 21 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 22 WORLD FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

Christchurch mosque attack accused Tarrant TURKEY CHARGES 20 SAUDIS pleads guilty CHRISTCHURCH (TIP): The man OVER KHASHOGGI MURDER accused of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack on Thursday pleaded ISTANBUL (TIP): Turkish guilty to all the 92 charges he was prosecutors have charged 20 suspects facing, becoming New Zealands first including two former top aides to Saudi convicted terrorist. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Australian Brenton Tarrant, 29, over the 2018 murder of Riyadh critic appeared via video-link in the Jamal Khashoggi. Christchurch High Court on the first Prosecutors accuse Saudi Arabia’s day of the national lockdown in New deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al- Zealand against the coronavirus Assiri and the royal court's media czar pandemic. Saud al-Qahtani of leading the “The guilty pleas to 51 charges of operation against Khashoggi and giving murder, 40 charges of attempted orders to a Saudi hit team. murder and one charge of engaging in Khashoggi, 59, a commentator who a terrorist act were taken via an AVL wrote for The Washington Post, was (audiovisual) link from Auckland killed after he entered the Saudi Prison,” Police Commissioner Mike consulate on October 2, 2018, to obtain Bush said. Tarrant had previously paperwork for his wedding to Turkish denied all charges and was due to fiancee Hatice Cengiz. stand trial in June. The hearing was The Saudi insider-turned-critic was held after the defendant indicated via strangled and his body cut into pieces by 2017, and is accused of supporting prince on foreign tours, forensic expert his lawyers on Tuesday that he wished a 15-man Saudi squad inside the groups including the Muslim Salah al-Tubaigy and Fahad al-Balawi, a to appear before the court. “Police consulate, according to Turkish Brotherhood. member of the Saudi royal guard — appreciate this news will come as a officials. His remains have never been Saudi Arabia views the Brotherhood were also charged with “deliberately surprise to the victims and the public, found despite repeated calls by Turkish as an existential threat. Turkish and monstrously killing, causing some of whom may have wished to be officials for the Saudis to cooperate. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has torment”. present in the courtroom,” Bush said. Riyadh insists he was killed in a “rogue” vowed Ankara will not give up the case. Five unnamed persons were sentenced Two imans from Al Noor and Linwood operation. “This happened in my country, how to death in Saudi Arabia in December mosques, where the shootings took But the CIA, a UN special envoy and am I not going to follow up on that? Of while three others were handed jail place on March 15, 2019, were present Ankara have directly linked the Saudi course I'm going to follow up. This is our terms over the killing. in the Christchurch court as crown prince to the killing, a charge the responsibility,” Erdogan told Fox News The Turkish prosecutor said a trial in representatives of the victims. kingdom vehemently denies. last year. absentia would be opened against the 20 After the guilty pleas were entered, a Turkey is a key backer of Qatar, Eighteen other suspects — including suspects but didn’t give a date. The short suppression order was put in especially after a Riyadh-led economic intelligence operative Maher Mutreb prosecutor have already issued arrest place to allow victims to be notified. blockade began against the Gulf state in who frequently travelled with the crown warrants for the suspects. —AFP Tarrant was remanded in custody until May 1. Sentencing will not take place until all victims who wish to Malawi to hold vote re-run on attend can do so. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand is currently in RUSSIA PUTS full lockdown. Only essential attendees July 2 for electoral commission were in at the Christchurch court. n a BLANTYRE (MALAWI) (TIP): Malawians will return to the statement after Thursday’s hearing, polls on July 2 for a presidential election re-run ordered by the EX-US MARINE Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, country's top court, which annulled last year's vote results “The guilty plea today will provide because of irregularities, the electoral commission announced on some relief to the many people whose Monday. ON TRIAL FOR lives were shattered by what happened “Following the Constitutional Court ruling on February 3 that on March 15. — IANS nullified the presidential elections and ordered that there should be Quake hits off Russia’s fresh elections, the commission... therefore announces that the ‘SPYING’ elections will be held on 2nd July,” electoral commission chief Jane Kuril Islands, prompts Ansah said. MOSCOW (TIP): A Russian court began on In a landmark ruling last month the Constitutional Court Monday the trial of a former US Marine charged tsunami alert overturned the outcome of the May 21 election, which handed with espionage, in a case that has strained already MOSCOW (TIP): A 7.2-magnitude President Peter Mutharika a second term in office. —AFP poor ties with the US. Paul Whelan, who turned 50 quake hit off Russia’s Kuril Islands on while in custody this month, was arrested by Wednesday, prompting local residents Federal Security Service agents in a hotel room on to seek higher ground due to a brief Pompeo arrives in Kabul Dec 28, 2018, and accused of spying, a charge he tsunami threat, authorities said. denies. The Russian emergencies ministry on surprise visit The US national who also holds British, said the quake’s epicentre was 210 KABUL (TIP): US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Canadian and Irish passports could be jailed for up kilometres southeast of Severo- Kabul on Monday on a surprise visit amid a stalemate in the intra- to 20 years if found guilty. Moscow says Whelan Kurilsk, a town of around 2,500 people Afghan talks between the government and the Taliban as it was was caught red-handed with a computer flash drive on the Kuril island of Paramushir. agreed in the peace deal signed by the militats with Washington. containing classified information. He says he was Officials reported no casualties or Pompeo was expected to meet Afghan leaders including President set up in a sting operation and thought the drive, damage but said 400 residents of Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah given to him by a Russian acquaintance, contained Severo-Kurilsk were taken to higher Abdullah, reports Xinhua news agency. Afghanistan was also holiday photos. ground. witnessing a political turmoil as both leaders have taken oath as The trial will be held behind closed doors as it The emergencies ministry said a president. concerns classified information, a spokewoman for small tsunami wave of about 50 The US-Taliban deal was inked on February 29 to pave the way for the Moscow District Court said. The court ruled at centimetres (1.6 feet) high had hit the the withdrawal of thousands of the US-led coalition forces from preliminary hearings on Monday that Whelan shore. The US Geological Survey for its Afghanistan, and to secure the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners would be kept in custody until September 13, she part estimated the strength of the within 10 days ahead of the intra-Afghan talks. added. quake at 7.5 magnitude. The quake hit But the Afghan government was yet on the release of the Taliban The case, like that of Michael Calvey,a US citizen at a depth of 59 kilometres (37 miles), detainees, demanding the militants group to observe ceasefire and charged with embezzlement in Russia, has been an around 1,400 kilometres (around 850 initiate the talks ahead of the release. Afghanistan's election irritant in Moscow's testy relations with miles) northeast of the Japanese city commission on February 18 declared Ghani the winner of the Washington. —Reuters of Sapporo, USGS added. AFP presidential polls but his rival Abdullah disputed the result. —IANS THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 WORLD 23

Australia book shop Toilet paper calculator to curb gets on its bike to distribute ‘hope’ buying frenzy SYDNEY (TIP): As most shopping comes to a halt under shutdown rules BERLIN (TIP): The Covid pandemic meant to slow the spread of the has sent panicked shoppers across coronavirus, an Australian book shop Europe into a toilet-paper buying is getting its goods out by bicycle to frenzy. But how much do you really readers in quarantine or reluctant to need? And what to do if the leave their homes. unthinkable happens and you run out? Gleebooks, which has run a bricks- A German online calculator is here to and-mortar shop in central Sydney for help. 40 years, said it decided to make its At www.blitzrechner.de/ toilet online service free when the tenpapier, curious users can work out government limited public gatherings how long their stockpile will last. to curb the spread of the illness that Just type in how many rolls you have has infected nearly 2,000 Australians and your individual “usage behaviour” and killed eight of them. and the calculator will tell you for how From Monday, the restrictions went many days you’ll be covered. For true a step further when the government aficionados, there is an expert mode ordered all retailers to shut except for where you can add the length of your grocery stores, pharmacists and quarantine and your average number of others deemed essential. sheets per wipe. Whether that included Gleebooks Generally speaking, people tend to was unclear but customers will get wildly overestimate their TP needs, the their books regardless, its managers website says. “Many people use more decided, with the introduction of free toilet paper than needed. For a ‘number toilet. media — one argument over toilet drop-offs in surrounding suburbs. one’, one or two sheets should suffice,” Germany, like many European paper in a supermarket in Mannheim The shop is among thousands it adds. countries, has seen demand for toilet last week even ended in a fistfight that around the world that have been The website also offers some paper spiral since the start of the required police intervention. forced to reinvent themselves suggested alternatives to toilet paper outbreak. Similar tongue-in-cheek Chancellor Angela Merkel set a better virtually overnight to survive the should the supermarket shelves be stockpiling calculators have sprung up example when she was photographed biggest disruption to a sector already bare. Washcloths, strips of old rags and in other countries too, like the UK site doing her weekly shop last Friday with ravaged by the arrival of large even a quick shower are all good Howmuchtoiletpaper.com. just one pack of toilet paper in her internet rivals more than two decades options. But be careful not to flush Videos of scuffles in supermarkets trolley — and four bottles of wine. ago. kitchen roll as it could clog up the have been circulating widely on social That's just how Merkel rolls. —AFP “Because we’re a bookshop and we’re a retail venue, we realised we needed to make it as easy as possible for people to get their books without exposing themselves to any sort of Sikh group opens food bank to risk,” the shop’s event manager, James Ross, said. Customers have embraced the tackle shortage in Canada service, with an immediate spike in online sales, said Ross. The demand TORONTO (TIP): A Sikh non-profit for craft and children’s activity books organisation has opened emergency food had risen, not surprisingly given that banks in Canada to cater to the many schools have closed. Nerida increasing demand for food supplies and Ross, the store’s cyclist, said books hygiene products in view of the offered an escape for those cooped up coronavirus outbreak, which has at home. claimed over 15,000 lives globally. “A lot of people I know who have United Sikhs, a UN-affiliated non- been working from home have been profit, non-governmental organisation, using the time that they aren’t said the food banks aim to help commuting to read more or talk to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, friends or be creative in some way. especially seniors citizens and children, We’re learning a new way of being the Globe Newswire reported. and I think reading is a part of that.” All the supplies from United Sikhs are Reuters free, the organisation said, which include canned goods, hot meals, dry Boko Haram militants goods, medicines, the report said. kill nearly 100 Chadian United Sikhs Chief Executive Officer Jagdeep Singh said, “Those who are soldiers financially able should consider N'DJAMENA (TIP): Boko Haram donating to United Sikhs today so this Canada coronavirus death toll jumps militants killed nearly 100 Chadian free emergency food bank of life soldiers and wounded dozens more in essentials can be expanded to everyone almost 50% in less than a day what President Idriss Deby described who needs it.” United Sikhs, which also OTTAWA (TIP): The Canadian death toll from the coronavirus outbreak as the deadliest attack ever on the takes up humanitarian relief and jumped almost 50% percent to 19 in less than a day, according to official figures country's military. The soldiers were development activities, has appealed to released by the federal government on Sunday. Ottawa said late on Saturday that ambushed in the island village of the public against “panic buying”, the 13 people had died from the respiratory illness caused by the virus, but by 9 a.m. Boma in the swampy Lake Chad zone, report said. ET (1300 GMT) on Sunday that number had grown to 19. The number of confirmed where the armies of Chad, Nigeria The Canadian government has already cases rose to 1,302 from 1,099, with a further 69 people listed as probably suffering and Niger have been fighting the warned business owners looking to take from the highly contagious virus. Canada has already closed its borders to all but Islamist militants for years. “I have advantage of the Covid crisis. essential travel, announced a C$27 billion aid package for the most affected by the taken part in many operations but “When the general public is asked to health crisis and is urging people to practice self-isolation. Health Minister Patty never in our history have we lost so stock their shelves for an undetermined Hajdu said on Saturday that "Canadians need to understand this isn't about two many men at one time,” Deby said. amount of time, they overlook a great weeks of social distancing. This is about months of social distancing." - Reuters reuters number of families who cannot afford to THE INDIAN PANORAMA 24 WOMEN FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 ALL ABOUT DARK CIRCLES FOOD CORNER AND HOW TO REMOVE THEM PERMANENTLY

he skin around the eyes is fragile as compared to other Tparts of the body, and extremely delicate. Any changes happening in the deeper layers of the skin will be easily visible on the surface. Dark circles due to under eye hollowness cannot be gotten rid of with home measures are diet. The dark circles here will respond TAWA only to hyaluronic acid filler injections that are placed deep below the muscle that hydrates and rejuvenates the skin. The CHICKEN FRY hyaluronic acid absorbs many times A delicious lip-smacking dish, the Tawa Chicken Fry is its weight in water and thus helps to easy to make and can be served as a starter or as an appetizer eliminate the hollows and shadows, to a meal. making the skin look bright and reflect light. Ingredients Dark circles are a common Chicken - 500 gms problem with both genders and all Gram Flour - small handful age groups typically above 16 Juice of 1 Lemon years. We give you natural home Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tblsp remedies and makeup tricks to Turmeric Powder - 1/3 tsp hide them and make sure your Coriander Powder - 1/3 tsp eyes look fresh instantly. Dark Cold tea bags is natural astringent and contracts Curry Leaves - few circles have multiple reasons such the blood vessels around the eyes, Red Chilli Paste - 3 tsp as genetic, volume loss in that The caffeine present in tea bags reducing the blue tint. The vitamin Saunf - 1/2 tsp area, Pigmentations under the shrinks blood vessels and reduces C in mint makes the skin around Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp eyes due to various physiological fluid retention in tissues. the eyes appear brighter. Salt as per taste and pathological reasons. So This makes the skin around your Take some mints leaves and Oil as required ideally only diet modification does eyes look vibrant and glowing. Cold crush them gently using your not help. tea bags cause skin tissues to hands. Method shrink, leaving your eyes looking Make your mask at home by Clean, wash and dice the chicken into bite-sized Home remedies to less puffy. blending mint leaves and pieces. remove Dark Circles Take two already soaked tea applying them on the affected Combine the gram flour, lemon juice, ginger bags and refrigerate for 10 area. garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder, Cold Cucumber Slices minutes. Leave it for 10 minutes before curry leaves, red chilli paste, saunf, cumin seeds Cucumbers contain antioxidants Remove and place them on rinsing with cold water. and salt in a bowl. that can reduce puffiness around each eye for 5 -10 minutes. Mix well with a little water. the eyes. As a natural astringent Rinse with cold water and Aloe vera Add the chicken pieces and mix until evenly and a coolant, cucumber causes the repeat 1-3 times a day to see Aloe vera is an effective coated. skin tissues to contract. This makes effective results. moisturiser and has anti- Keep aside for 45 to 75 minutes. under-eye circles less prominent. inflammatory properties. Heat oil in a pan over medium flame. Place finely cut cucumber Mint Leaves Clean the under eye area with Fry the chicken pieces until golden brown and slices on each eyelid. Mint leaves contain menthol that moist cotton. cooked. Leave it on for 5 minutes and improves blood circulation and Massage aloe vera pulp under Remove and drain excess oil. rinse. soothes and rejuvenates the skin. It the eyes for 10 minutes. Serve with mint chutney. People with moral values trusted more as partners ow to determine that a The team used several sacrifice one to save many. person is trustworthy? variations of moral dilemmas "This explains why we appear HAccording to researchers, where a person must decide to like people who stick to these people who hold onto moral whether or not to sacrifice an intuitive moral rules -- not absolutes are more trusted and innocent person in order to save because they are sticklers for the more valued as social partners, the lives of many others. letter of the law, but because the suggesting that people gauge The results indicate that rules themselves tend to others' trustworthiness based on across nine experiments, more emphasize the absolute their moral judgments. than 2,400 participants who took importance of respecting the The findings help explain that an absolute approach to the wishes and desires of others," snap judgements about morality dilemmas (like refusing to kill an added David Pizarro from tend to be based on a set of innocent person, even when this Cornell University in the US. absolute moral rules even if a maximised the greater good) Our day-to-day moral decisions person makes different decisions were seen as more trustworthy don't fit into the neat categories when given more time. than those who advocated a more defined by moral philosophers. "If people who stick to moral flexible approach. Instead, real life morality is absolutes are preferred as social When asked to entrust a suited to the complexity of real partners, expressing this view person with a sum of money, life situations, the researchers will reap benefits for oneself," participants handed over more suggested in a paper that said lead researcher Jim AC money and were more confident appeared in the Journal of Everett from the University of of getting it back, when dealing Experimental Psychology: Oxford. with someone who refused to General. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 HEALTH 25 BEST HOME WORKOUTS DURING CORONAVIRUS ome workouts have largely fallen out of favour over the Hyears. Boutique fitness studios and gyms allow us to get outside, to make friends and to exercise alongside one another, so when pitted against them, home workouts don't always make the cut. But that's all changed. Push-up How to do it: Place your hands under your shoulders and lift your body from the ground to reach a plank position. Slowly bend your elbows and lower your body down, ensuring that you keep your core engaged to maintain a straight line. Repeat. NEW PORTABLE Dumbbell shoulder press How to do it: Stand with your feet How to do it: Lie on your back How to do it: Hold dumbbells (a hip-width apart. Push your hips with your hands placed under your CORONAVIRUS TEST CAN GIVE tin of beans or a bottle of milk will back and bend your knees to lower bottom. Raise your legs to 90 also do the job) in either hand and into a squat, making sure that your degrees, and slowly lower both of stand with your feet shoulder-width knees do not hover any further them back down without arching RESULTS IN 50 MINUTES apart. Make sure not to lock your forward than your toes. Repeat. your lower back. Repeat. knees and press your weights up esearchers in the UK have designed a portable from your shoulder height until Reverse lunge Mountain climbers smartphone-based coronavirus testing kit your arms are straight. Hold and How to do it: Stand with your feet How to do it: Place both hands Rwhich they say can provide results for COVID-19 slowly move back so that your hip-width apart. Step back with under your shoulders and push up in just 50 minutes after taking a throat swab. biceps are at three o'clock from your your right leg and bend both knees into a plank position. Bring one Most current tests take 24-48 hours to provide shoulders before pushing back up. as you lower until both knees are at knee into your chest and back to the results because they need to be sent to labs, noted the Repeat. a 90 degree angle. Push through the starting position. Do the same with researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) heel of your left foot to stand, and the other leg and repeat in the UK, who created the test to be rolled out to test Around the world repeat on the other side. immediately on the other side to National Health Service (NHS) staff in two weeks. How to do it: Stand with your feet build speed. Repeat. The new molecular test could be used to process 16 shoulder-width apart, ensuring not Kickback samples at a time -- or up to 384 samples if using a lab- to lock your knees. Hold your How to do it: Get onto all fours on Crunches based detection machine, they said. dumbbell (or makeshift household your hands and knees. Slowly kick How to do it: Sit down and hover The test kit aims to help self-isolating medical staff weight) in front of your face with your right leg back until it's on your bottom with your legs off of return to work as quickly as possible. And it will also your elbows bent, palms facing each straight, making sure that you keep the floor and your back straight at ensure that those at work are not spreading the virus, other. Circle the weight around your your core engaged and back 45 degrees. Extend your legs out according to the UEA researchers. head and keep your elbows in your straight. Slowly bring it back down straight then bend to crunch in, as "The idea behind this is that we need to test NHS eyeline as you do it. Repeat. and repeat on the other side. you bring your chest to meet your staff more quickly,so they can stay at work if they are knees. Repeat. well, or go home if they're a risk to potentially very Squat Leg raises vulnerable patients," said lead researcher Justin O'Grady, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, which began work on the kit earlier this month. "We want to move very quickly on this, and hope that it could be rolled out nationally to hospitals in Airborne spread of COVID-19 not around two weeks," O'Grady said. The kit works by sequencing the genetic material (RNA) from a throat swab sample using a rapid three minute RNA extraction -- in order to detect the presence of COVID- reported so far: WHO official 19. "The test is simple to use so it could be carried out by irborne spread of COVID-19 has not been a semi-skilled healthcare professional," said O'Grady. reported so far and it is transmitted mostly "We hope it could provide additional capacity within Athrough respiratory droplets and close contact, the NHS because only those who are definitely ill with Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia Dr Poonam COVID-19 would need to self-isolate. And it will help Khetarpal Singh said on Monday. doctors get back to work as quickly as possible once Her comments came in the backdrop of rumours they test negative," he added. about air borne transmission of the novel coronavirus doing rounds on social media. “Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19. PAGE SPONSORED BY Based on the information received so far and on our experience with other coronaviruses, COVID-19 DR. SATISH AND GITANJLI ANAND appears to spread mostly through respiratory droplets (for instance those produced when a sick person DR. SATISH ANAND coughs) and close contact. This is why WHO Former Chairman, Board of recommends maintaining hand and respiratory Trustees, AAPI National hygiene,” Singh said. E-Mail: She said Chinese authorities reported that there [email protected] could be a possibility of aerosol transmission in a relatively closed environment with prolonged exposure to high concentrations of aerosols, like in ICUs and GITANJLI ANAND CCUs in hospitals. Former President, India However, “more investigations and analysis of Association of Long Island epidemiological data is needed to understand this mode (IALI) of transmission of the virus”, she said. E-mail: [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA 26 SCIENCE & TECH FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS STAYS FOR A DAY ON CARDBOARD, 3 DAYS ON PLASTIC: STUDY

he novel coronavirus, responsible for the COVID-19 SCIENTISTS ARE RACING Tpandemic, can stay for up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to TO PERFECT A BLOOD TEST two to three days on plastic, according to a study which says FOR CORONAVIRUS even people who do not yet show symptoms of the disease can spread f you feel sick and are able to get a test for the the infection to others. novel coronavirus, it’s most likely to involve a The research, published in the Imouth and nose swab. The swabs will be sent to a New England Journal of Medicine, lab technician, who will search them for the virus’s described the stability of the novel unique RNA sequence. If they’re present, it means coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, noting you have an active Covid-19 infection. While counts that people may acquire the virus vary,one estimate suggests 368,000 of these tests have through the air, and after touching been administered in the US. contaminated objects. But what if you felt sick a couple weeks ago, got Researchers, including those over it, and want to know if you may have had Covid- from the University of California, 19? For that, the molecular RNA test won’t help. Los Angeles (UCLA) in the US, said Instead, you need a serologic test: One that searches SARS-CoV-2 was detectable in your blood serum for signs of an immune response to aerosols for up to three hours. the infection. They said the virus can also become a much larger outbreak. study noted that most secondary Serologic tests for the new coronavirus aren’t yet remain stable for about four hours The researchers attempted to cases of virus transmission of widely available in the US, even though processing on copper, up to 24 hours on mimic virus being deposited from SARS-CoV-2 appear to be occurring them is simpler and less tech-intensive than cardboard, and for two to three days an infected person onto everyday in community settings rather than molecular tests. A number of serologic tests are in on plastic and stainless steel. surfaces in a household or hospital healthcare settings. various stages of development by labs and private In the research, the scientists setting, such as through coughing However, healthcare settings are companies, mostly in China, some of which are compared how the environment or touching objects. also vulnerable to the introduction modifications of older tests developed for the 2004 affects SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV- They then assessed how long the and spread of SARS-CoV-2, and the SARS outbreak. Now, immunologists are racing to 1, which caused the 2002-2003 SARS virus remained infectious on these stability of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols evaluate these tests, develop streamlined epidemic. surfaces. and on surfaces likely contributes alternatives, and decide how best to use them in the They said SARS-CoV-1, which was According to the scientists, people to transmission of the virus in current coronavirus response. eradicated by intensive contact infected with SARS-CoV-2 might be healthcare settings, the researchers tracing and case isolation spreading the virus without said. Coronavirus may be killing measures, is the human recognizing, or prior to recognizing, Based on the findings, they coronavirus most closely related to symptoms. suggested that public health more men than women SARS-CoV-2. This would make disease control professionals use precautions The current study noted that the measures that were effective similar to those for influenza and moking, drinking, general poor health: two viruses behaved similarly, against SARS-CoV-1 less effective other respiratory viruses to prevent Researchers say these are some of the factors which according to the scientists, against its successor, they said. the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Sthat could explain why more men seem to be fails to explain why COVID-19 has In contrast to SARS-CoV-1, the dying from coronavirus than women. In countries such as Italy, men represent nearly 60% of people who tested positive for the virus and more than 70% of those who have died, according to the country's National Health Institute (ISS). Even in Coronavirus: Pinterest launches countries like South Korea, where the proportion of women who have tested positive for the virus is higher than that of men, about 54% of the reported new Today tab which will offer advice deaths are among men. But while health officials are starting to take note of these staggering numbers, the United States is not releasing the basic nationwide from health agencies data that is crucial to understanding who is most vulnerable to the virus, according to a CNN analysis. interest saw a record number of users over the Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus weekend as more Americans hunker down and response coordinator, said at a White House press Plook for at-home inspiration during the advancing briefing on Friday: "From Italy we're seeing another coronavirus crisis. concerning trend. That the mortality in males seems As a result, the microblogging platform sped up the to be twice in every age group of females." launch of a new feature called Today tab, which Regarding this data on Italy, Birx said in an refreshes daily to show users curated topics and interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "Just having the trending posts. The front launched Tuesday, offering knowledge of that helps us in the United States so we advice from experts and health agencies as well as can be very specific in talking to the American people timely posts like home workspaces and study tips for about who to protect and how to protect them." kids. CNN has reached out to Birx for additional "To make the new space as relevant and helpful as comment. When CNN asked the US Centers for possible right now and with the fight against Disease Control and Prevention for data split by sex misinformation a top priority, they’re launching with for US cases of coronavirus and deaths by expert information from the World Health Organization coronavirus, known as sex-disaggregated data, the and the Centers for Disease Control," Pinterest said in a CDC did not respond. statement. guest editors will be at the helm. Comprehensive data about those who have gotten The online destination is as much a search engine as Pinterest says searches related to homeschooling, sick could help inform more effective responses to the it is a tool for social networking. People often use the board games and indoor activities for kids were crisis. app for inquiries surrounding vacations, recipes, home trending over the past few weeks as more people self- But public health researchers say that when decor and various other how-to tasks. quarantined and school districts temporarily shut governments such as the United States either don't The website is also known for offering pins related to down. collect, or don't publish their data, it's impossible for self-care, health and wellness. The new Today tab will More people were also looking for content related to experts to gain an accurate sense of what's going on. be curated by the Pinterest team for now. In the future, working and exercising from home. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 BIZ & FINANCE 27 China’s factories reopen, only to fire workers as COVID shreds global trade

BEIJING (TIP): Shi Xiaomin, CHINA’S XI CALLS FOR TARIFF who used to export suits and blazers by the thousands to South Korea, CUTS AT G20 VIRUS TALKS the Netherlands and the United States, was luckier than many other hinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday urged Chinese factory owners. G20 countries to remove trade barriers in an When his factory in the eastern Ceffort to spur a global recovery after the city of Wenzhou reopened last economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic. month after an extended shutdown "Xi urged G20 members to cut tariffs, remove due to the coronavirus outbreak, barriers and facilitate the unfettered flow of trade" the local government sent a bus to a during his remarks at the emergency online summit, nearby province to ferry back more the official Xinhua news agency reported. than 20 of his stranded workers. China has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak Staff with cars volunteered to fetch since it emerged in the country late last year, with colleagues. more than 80,000 infected and nearly 3,300 dead In the past week, requests to nationwide, according to official figures. cancel orders or delay shipments The world's second-largest economy ground to a halt from his European and U.S. clients in February as authorities shut factories and imposed have flooded in. drastic lockdowns to curb the spread of the disease. Early in the outbreak, China contraction in Chinese exports, province, the epicentre of the Economic growth had already slowed as a result of imposed tough travel restrictions probably in the range of a 20-45% outbreak in China, to find jobs the long-running trade war with the United States that and factory suspensions to curb the year-on-year drop in the second elsewhere. saw billions of dollars in tariffs slapped on trade spread of the virus, squeezing quarter,” said Thomas Gatley, “We know this year is bad and between the two countries. labour supplies and sending senior analyst at research firm next year would be better, but the exporters scrambling to fulfil Gavekal Dragonomics. question is how many factories can Facebook eyes multi billion dollar orders. Shi said his fabric supplier in make it to next year?” Shi said. Now the reverse is now hard-hit Italy suspended operations Economists had initially stake in Reliance Jio: Report happening - overseas orders are on Sunday, meaning no fresh raw anticipated a V-shaped recovery for being scrapped as the pandemic materials from May.His stockpile of China’s economy, similar to that ravages the economies of China’s fabric will last until the end of seen after SARS epidemic in 2003. trading partners. April. But analysts have since slashed “The unprecedented shutdown of Shi said he would slow production their forecasts to levels not seen normal economic activity across and might suspend all output soon if since the Cultural Revolution ended Europe, the U.S. and a growing business does not improve. in 1976. number of emerging markets is He also told the 50-odd workers China’s net exports accounted for certain to cause a dramatic who have yet to return from Hubei 11% of economic growth last year. World Bank call for sus- EXPERTS PEG INDIA’S COST OF CORONAVIRUS pending debt payments MUMBAI (TIP): Facebook Inc is in talks to buy a LOCKDOWN AT $120 BILLION multi billion dollar stake in Reliance Industries Ltd’s MUMBAI (TIP): Pegging the cost of the COVID- (RELI.NS) telecom unit, the Financial Times reported by poorest nations 19 lockdown at USD 120 billion (approximately Rs 9 on Tuesday, citing two people with knowledge of the lakh crore) or 4 per cent of the GDP, analysts on matter. WASHINGTON (TIP): The International Monetary Fund Wednesday sharply cut their growth estimates and The report said the social media giant was in talks and World Bank on Wednesday called for governments to put a stressed on the need to announce an economic for a 10% stake in Jio, controlled by India’s wealthiest hold on debt payments from the world’s poorest nations so they package. man Mukesh Ambani, but the talks were halted due to can battle the coronavirus pandemic. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which is global travel bans amid the coronavirus outbreak. “The World Bank Group and the IMF believe it is imperative scheduled to announce its first bi-monthly policy at this moment to provide a global sense of relief for review on April 3, is set to deliver a deep rate cut Supply chains disrupted, developing countries as well as a strong signal to financial and it should also be assumed that the fiscal deficit markets,” the Washington-based development lenders said in a targets will be breached, analysts said. automakers shut production, joint statement. The move aims to help countries that are home Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a to two-thirds of the world’s population living in extreme three-week complete lockdown of the country to jobs at risk poverty -- largely in sub-Saharan Africa -- and qualify for the prevent the spread of the coronavirus infections in most generous, low-cost loans from the International the country. The equity markets were in the red NEW DELHI (TIP): The lockdown across 30 Development Association (IDA) financed by wealthier nations. early into the trade on Wednesday, down 0.47 per states and Union Territories to prevent the spread “The coronavirus outbreak is likely to have severe economic cent. “We estimate that the cumulative shutdown of the coronavirus has brought economic activity to and social consequences for IDA countries” which will face cost around USD120 billion or 4 per cent of the a virtual halt. Transportation and logistics system “immediate liquidity needs to tackle challenges posed by the gross domestic product (GDP),” British brokerage are struggling to get past checkpoints amid varying coronavirus outbreak,” the organization said. Barclays said in a note, revising down its FY21 interpretations across state jurisdictions of what The IMF and World Bank called on the Group of 20 nations growth forecast by 1.7 percentage points to 3.5 per comprises essential services. The country’s top to support the initiative for “all official bilateral creditors to cent. It specified the cost of the three-week manufacturing and services hubs are closing offices suspend debt payments from IDA countries that request nationwide lockdown to be alone at USD 90 billion, amid the restrictions. Construction activity across forbearance.” In addition, the institutions called for an which is over and above the lockdowns announced the major metropolitan regions is crimping to a analysis of the financing needs these countries will face, and by various states like Maharashtra earlier. stop. whether their total debt load is sustainable. They also said that the RBI is most likely to go While the lockdown started with 75 districts that Part of the World Bank, the IDA is one of the largest sources for a 0.65 per cent rate cut in the April review and make up about 10 per cent of the country’s of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, providing will slash interest rates further by 1 per cent population, three-fourths of these figure in the list zero or low interest loans spread over 30 years or more, and during the course of the year. of 49 high-potential metropolitan clusters that grants to some distressed nations. In the fiscal year ending Domestic brokerage Emkay congratulated consultancy firm McKinsey & Co has projected will June 30, 2019, IDA commitments totaled $22 billion, of which 36 policymakers for acting earlier than other account for about 75 per cent of India’s incremental percent was provided on grant terms, according to the World countries, but rued that there is not much to GDP between 2012 to 2025. The shutdown has since Bank. cushion the economic impact. been expanded to 30 states and UTs. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 28 ASTROLOGY FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 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 011-91-8141234275 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 March 30 - April 5, 2020 ARIES: Ganesha says there may be LEO: There may be some rebellion to SAGITTARIUS: There may be a welcome problems with the spouse. All this is, no what you see around you as you cannot addition to the family and happy times with doubt, worrying. This impacts your life and stand injustice of any kind. But, whatever birthdays, anniversaries and other group you will be more reserved than usual and the provocation, keep away from physical activities. You are in the spotlight and just love wary about forming new relationships. New violence. Avoid conflicts with others at all it. If you are a performer, like a dancer for people enter your life and assist you in y our cost as it will be futile and you will only example, there may be stage shows and many work as you branch out to new areas of emerge the loser. Ganesha urges you to plaudits. You make big plans which will be the activity. You have kept contact with friends stay calm. Ganesha's blessings are with culmination of many ideas that have taken root from the past and this networking will help you. over a period of time. you now when you most need it. VIRGO: Despite it all, you make steady CAPRICORN: You think big and attempt what TAURUS: Ganesha says you make steady progress. This is a very positive time. But could be termed grandiose and impractical. But progress and there is no obstacle that you it all depends on how you handle it, on this is also an excellent time to sign contracts or can't conquer. You will make giant strides in what shape you give it. This is a period of to conclude any kind of commercial establishing yourself in the world. This is a culmination in your life. The old order transactions. But Ganesha cautions you not to period when you know who and what you are. will end and there will be new beginnings. overlook the minute details; this helps you avoid Your ambition is stimulated and your desire There is very good chance of success in deceit and deception which may be on the cards. for power growth. If there is a ruthless side whatever you undertake. You have made It is best to see the overall patterns and to plan to your personality, it will show itself now. enough money and it is time to divert with foresight and wisdom to avoid any GEMINI: You know precisely what you your attention to spiritual needs. unforeseen incident. need to do to succeed. You will go after it LIBRA: You may be on a buying sphere. AQUARIUS: The pace of life accelerates. Old doggedly and share your success with others. You indulge yourself and then feel empty. projects or plans come to fruition now. It is in You are also shrewd enough to make You go after everything that you want in your hands to work out the details and leave as compromises and carry the team along to the material world and when you have little as possible to chance. You must also deal share the success. You display a rare, acquired it all, you feel empty. You have with others tactfully and recognize the fact that accommodating spirit that takes you where ego issues with people and are arrogant as it is not proper to be high-landed. There is a you want to be. You strike hard and the iron you assume that you are always right. You danger of alienating people by being self- is hot. Ganesha is with you. need more meaningful encounters where righteous or arrogant. You need to be more CANCER: There is love in your life and you focus more on mutual growth. tolerant and generous. you enjoy yourself no end. There will be SCORPIO: If you soften your PISCES: Ganesha tells you to remember that stolen moments with a new friend and a lot temperament and slow down a bit, this you need to carry the team along. Tempers are of bliss to savour for those who are married. can be an extremely productive and running high and it may be a good idea to cool On the work front, there could be growth - oriented phase. There is a lot to off. There is a lot going on in your life right now. competition as you will face opposition from be done and you are filled with energy. You feel optimistic and hopeful about the future. someone who is on a power trip. You may How you use it depends on your personal You gain insights that can make your life much have to stand up for your rights. There could evolution, says Ganesha. Emotions ride better. You feel very idealistic. Truth is very be power struggles, quite possibly with high. There are domestic issues to attend important in your life now; you are keen to know someone in authority. to. how the universe works.

Birthday Horoscope March 30 - April 5, 2020

March 30: Ganesha says expect a depressing expression, fun activities, sports, and children or paperwork have the smart eye of reason. stalemate in connection with home, family, or will keep you happily on the move. The only April 4: The Moon draws you into the private marital disputes. Aim for areas of known challenge will be to dispel moods and brooding recesses of your life, your subconscious, compatibility by emphasizing long-range plans, upon awakening. sprouting a new sense of self / others, while an shared-value based views. April 2: Moods can be a problem. As the days outburst, breakaway, or sudden change there or March 31: Creative work could stall. Children gets underway, try your best to clear your mind at work disrupts. could present you with a challenge. Just focus on of problems you can't do anything about just April 5: The Moon in your sign increases your getting things done without waiting for the right now, and later curb over compensatory indulging. desire to have things your way or have someone inspiration to motivate you. It helps to talk things April 3: There's a graceful stability available you want. If it's a morning contact, put out your out. today that you can bring up from inner resources best manners. Something harsh or rude is off- April 1: Personal projects, creative pursuits and and apply to your fiscal world. Purchases, plans, putting. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 SPIRITUALITY 29

am Navami is a religious and traditional festival, celebrated Revery year with great enthusiasm by the people of Hindu religion. It is celebrated to remember the birthday of the Lord Rama, son of the King RAM NAVAMI: THE Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, of the Ayodhya kingdom. Lord Rama was the 7th avatar from the Dashavatar of the Lord Vishnu, a Hindu God. According to the Hindu calendar, this festival falls BIRTH OF LORD RAMA every year in the Shukla Paksha at 9th day in the month of Chaitra. Ram Significance of Ram Navami Navami is also called as the Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami which ends Ram Navami festival is the festival of as nine-day long Chaitra-Navratri great importance for the people of Hindu celebrations. religion. Celebrating the festival of Ram Hindu people celebrate it as a 9 days Navami on the 9th day of Chaitra month festival by organizing the Akhand Paath indicates the removal of bad powers and of the Ramacharitamanas, religious entrance of divine power on the earth. bhajan, havan, ritual kirtan and To remove the Asura power on the earth distribution of prasad after the puja and in order to maintain the Dharma, Lord Aarti at 9th day. Devotees make the Vishnu had to born on the earth as a son statue of the Lord Rama in infant form of the Ayodhya King Dasharatha. Ram and make prayer in front of the God. As Navami is a ritual celebration for the Lord Rama was the 7th avatar of the people of Hindu religion which they Vishnu born among common people to celebrate enthusiastically for their soul remove their problems, people decorate and body purification. Lord Rama came temples and other religious places to to the earth to perform a special make the traditional prayers and responsibility means to destroy the offerings of fruits flowers in order to get demon Ravana in order to maintain the their problems removed and lot of Dharma. prosperity and success. They get This festival celebration indicates the together at this day to chant Vedic victory of goodness and defeat of evil mantras, Aarti and lots of religious power and establishment of the Dharma songs. after removal of Adharma. Ram Navami Most of the devotees celebrate this festival celebration starts with the Jal festival by making fast for whole nine offering in the early morning to the days or first and last day of the Navratri Hindu God, Sun to get blessings from the to get the full blessings. South Indians supreme power as people beliefs the God celebrate this festival as a wedding Sun as an ancestor of the Lord Rama. anniversary of the Lord Rama from Mata People involve in singing the devotional Sita. All the temples get decorated songs for whole day as well as listening throughout the south region to celebrate the recitations from the various Hindu the Navratri. However, people in the religious books. Vedic mantras are Mithila and Ayodhya celebrate the chanted by the religious people of the wedding anniversary at Vivaha community at this occasion. Panchami according to the Valmiki Keeping fast at this day has another Ramayana. A grand celebration of the significance of getting body and mind Ram Navami takes place by the purified. At some place, people perform a thousands of devotees in the Ayodhya, religious and cultural event called Uttar Pradesh; Sitamarhi, Bihar; Ramlila to reveal the history of Ram Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, to come to the Earth to finish Adharma mantras and Aarti at the end of puja to Navami in front of people. People play Bhadrachalam, Andhra Pradesh and etc. and maintain the Dharma. Lord Rama remove the bad powers from their houses the whole history of the life of Lord At some places (like Ayodhya, Varanasi had protected his devotees from the and welcome the good power and Rama through their dramatic and etc), the Rathayatra means the attack of rascals. He had vanquished energies to their house. They also pray performances. Chariot processing is a chariot procession (Shobha yatra) of the Adharma from the earth and maintained for the good future and health of their grand and ritual event of the Ram Lord Rama, Mata Sita, Lakshman and the Dharma all over the earth by children and other family members. Navami festival to show the peaceful God Hanuman is carried out by the destroying all the Asura including They make fast for whole nine days or Ram Rajya in which people decorate the thousands of people after taking a holy Ravana. People of the Ayodhya were very last day of the Navratri to perform the statues of the Rama, Sita, Lakshman and dip in the sacred river, Sarayu or Ganga. happy from his new King Rama and holy annual puja. They read the holy Hanuman in a well manner to start started celebrating his birthday every Hindu religious Epic called Ramayana; processing on the streets. Generally, Ram Navami History year with big joy and enthusiasm as Ram worship Rama and Sita to get the peace people like to have a holy bath in the Ramayana is the great and religious Navami which is still traditionally and and happiness in their life. They offer Saryu River of the Ayodhya in the belief Epic of the Hindu religion, tells the religiously celebrated all over the India Morning Prayer to the Hindu God, Surya of the complete purification of the body history of King Dasharatha and his son by the people of Hindu religion. Dev after having a holy bath in the early and soul. South Indian people celebrate Rama of the Ayodhya. Once, there was morning. People offer puja to the this occasion as a wedding anniversary an emperor in the Treta Yuga called King Ram Navami Celebrations Lakshman, Mata Sita and God Hanuman of the Rama and Sita which symbolizes Dasharatha who had three wives People of the Hindu religion located in with the Lord Rama as all of them were enhancing the love bondage between (Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi). He had the South region of the India generally devoted heartily to each other. husband and wife. no children and was very sorry for a perform the Kalyanotsavam means future emperor of the Ayodhya. One day marriage celebration of the Lord Rama. PAGE SPONSORED BY he was suggested by the great Rishi They celebrate it at the day of Navami named Vasistha to perform the Puthra having the statue of Hindu deities called ARISH K. SAHANI Kamesti Yagna to fulfill his desire for a Rama and Sita in their houses. They child. perform a procession on the streets Serving Since 1972 He was suggested to specially invite taking statues of the deities at the end of Please Call or Write for Your Insurance Needs the Maharshi Rishyasringa in order to day to celebrate the Ram Navami. It is perform yagna. After performing the celebrated by different names at Arish K Sahani (Father) yagna, he was given a bowl of the divine different place such as in the Kheer by the Yagneshwara. He was Maharashtra it is celebrated by the name Shiv Sahani (Son) requested to offer that bowl of Kheer to Chaitra Navratri, in Andhra Pradesh, his all three wives. Some days after Karnataka or Tamil Nadu it is celebrated Priya Sahani Sood (Daughter) eating that Kheer, all his wives get by the name Vasanthothsava and etc. conceived. At the day of Navami (at 9th People celebrate this festival by 7 1 8 - 2 7 1 - 1 9 0 6 day) in the Chaitra month at noon decorating the statues of the Lord Rama, [email protected] Kausalya gave birth to Rama, Kaikeyi to Lakshman, Mata Sita and Lord Bharata and Sumitra to twin boys named Hanuman. They prepare the sweets, “If Hindus don’t maintain Hinduism, who shall save it?” Lakshmana and Shatrughna. sweet drinks, prasad to perform the puja, Kausalya’s son Rama was the 7th they invite Pandit Ji to perform havan “If India’s own children don't cling to their faith, who shall guard it?” avatar of the Lord Vishnu who took birth and katha, they read religious songs, “Indians alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are one.” THE INDIAN PANORAMA 30 CLASSIFIEDS FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 31 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 32 MISCELLANY FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 AT LEAST 15 KILLED IN MULTI-CAR CRASH AFTER CURFEW IN EGYPT Fatal collision occurred a few hours after Egypt's nighttime curfew took effect to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

CAIRO (TIP): A truck smashed into construction materials ploughed into the multiple cars stopped at a checkpoint on cluster of vehicles at high speed, the a large Cairo road on Wednesday, killing state-owned Ahram news agency said. 15 people just a few hours after a Officials are still investigating what nighttime curfew took effect in Egypt to happened. The injured were taken to El curb the spread of the coronavirus. Saff Central Hospital in the province of A dozen people were reported injured Giza for treatment. in the incident. About 8,000 people die from traffic Under the curfew, public transport accidents each year in Egypt, where shuts down after 7pm (17:00 GMT) and roads are poorly maintained and traffic people are forbidden from the streets laws rarely enforced. unless they have an exemption. The accident happened on a stretch of Authorities said a string of the capital's ring road known for hairpin microbuses, trucks and cars were lined turns and speeding traffic. up at a checkpoint on a road from In its most aggressive response yet to southern Egypt into central Cairo the coronavirus pandemic, Egypt has waiting for officers to approve their imposed an 11-hour nightly curfew for its curfew exemptions. 100 million people. Suddenly, the truck loaded with Aljazeera.com contd from page 1 injecting over $5 trillion into the global With hospitals under severe strain, seek a quick return to normal. economy,as part of targeted fiscal policy, medical workers in Italy and Spain are The global lockdown - which also US tops in COVID-19 economic measures, and guarantee making painstaking choices. hemmed in India's huge population this cases, overtaking China schemes to counteract the social, "If I've got five patients and only one week - tightened further on Thursday as economic and financial impacts of the bed, I have to choose who gets it," Sara Russia announced it was grounding all and Italy pandemic." Chinchilla, a pediatrician at a hospital international flights, while Moscow's In the United States, more than 82,000 They also pledged "robust" support for near Madrid, told AFP. "People are dying mayor ordered the closure of cafes, shops people have tested positive for COVID-19, developing nations, where coronavirus who could be saved but there's no space and parks. edging out Italy, which has reported the could next take hold after ravaging in intensive care." Tokyo's millions of citizens have been most deaths, and China, where the virus China and then Europe. In Britain, the National Health Service told to stay home, too, just days after the was first detected in December in the But the unity pledged by the G20 has said London's hospitals are facing a city was forced to postpone the 2020 metropolis of Wuhan. been in short supply with China and the "continuous tsunami" of seriously ill Olympic Games for a year. In New York, the virus hotbed in the United States trading barbs over their COVID-19 patients, despite a lockdown China said it was barring entry to most United States, authorities hope to stem handling of the coronavirus crisis. imposed this week. foreigners, fearing that imported cases the growth of infections as the city needs And Italy as well as Spain, which has The pandemic has already,and rapidly, were undermining its success in to more than double the number of the second-highest death toll, objected to been catastrophic to the global economy. bringing domestic transmissions way available hospital beds. a draft economic plan by the European In the United States, the world's largest down. "Almost any scenario that is realistic Union which they saw as too weak. economy,the Labor Department reported And South Africa braced for a will overwhelm the capacity of the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte that 3.3 million people applied for nationwide lockdown as its cases current healthcare system," Governor wants a "strong and sufficient" financial unemployment benefits last week - by far climbed to more than 900 - about a third Andrew Cuomo warned. response that deploys "innovative the highest number ever recorded. of Africa's 2,975 cases. The state has identified four new sites financial instruments truly adapted to a Job losses have swept across sectors The impact of the virus has stretched for temporary hospitals, Governor said war," his office said. from food services to retail to well beyond frontline health workers, at a press briefing on March 26. Alarmed by the rapid spread of the transportation as nearly half of the with billions trapped in their homes and "As of this morning, we have lost 385 sickness in Italy, France has taken country has closed to "non-essential" facing what experts say could be lasting New Yorkers to Coronavirus-related aggressive action to stem the virus and businesses. "It is staggering. We are only psychological harm. illnesses. We mourn them and my went under lockdown on March 17. seeing the initial numbers; they will get In virus-stricken Italy,clergy members thoughts are with their loved ones. But the 365 deaths reported Thursday worse, unfortunately," New York Mayor have been among the worst affected. Out Tragically, we expect the number to rise was its highest in a one-day period and, Bill de Blasio told reporters, estimating of Italy's more than 7,500 deaths, 67 have as many patients have been on alarmingly, included a 16-year-old girl - a that half a million people in the city been priests. ventilators for weeks. NY will keep rare case of a young person succumbing would lose work. But offering a glimmer of hope, both fighting to save lives. Help us save lives to a virus that has devastated the elderly. The Senate early Thursday, March 26, Italy and Spain have seen lower daily by staying home", Governor Cuomo "It is very difficult to estimate when unanimously passed a $2 trillion package rates of new infections this week. added. With fears mounting of a global the peak will come," French health that will provide cash payouts of The World Health Organization called recession if not depression, leaders from official Jerome Salomon said. "People $1200.00 per adult and $500.00 per child. Italy's numbers "encouraging signs" but the Group of 20 major economies held who are ill now were infected before the Speaker Nancy Pelosi voiced warned it was "still too early to say crisis talks by video link Thursday, confinement began." confidence that the House of whether the pandemic is peaking." pledging a "united front" to fight the "Now there is less contact, people are Representatives would follow suit on A study from Britain's Imperial outbreak - along with an enormous going out less and get infected less. So we Friday. President Donald Trump, who College provided a grim prediction, financial injection. hope there will be fewer people getting has been hoping that a strong economy saying 1.8 million people could die "The virus respects no borders," the sick next week and fewer people going to would win him re-election in November, worldwide this year even with swift leaders said in a statement. "We are hospital," he told reporters. has been one of the few U.S. leaders to action to halt the virus. (Agencies) 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, MARCH 27, 2020 TRAVEL 33 THE WILD SIDE OF GOA efore you start getting ideas from the heading, let me clarify that we Bwill be discussing a totally different form of wild. Goa is more than just pristine beaches, feni, floating casinos and a happening nightlife. Being a place of immense natural beauty, the state is endowed with breathtaking wilderness and there are more places to visit in Goa, which are perfect for someone who wants to get out of a mundane week and get into something peaceful. MHADEI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the eastern part of Goa. Spread in around 208 sq km, this sanctuary supports a wide variety of wildlife and is famous as a bird watcher's paradise. It is considered as an International Bird Area, and is home to 255 bird species, including Nilgiri wood-pigeon and crimson-backed sunbird. Visitors can also see over 257-recorded species of butterflies flutter around. Owing to the presence of resident Bengal tigers, the sanctuary has been proposed as a tiger reserve. Along with the diverse fauna, it is also popular for its variety of flora that includes sacred grooves, creepers, evergreen species of Ashoka and colourful flowers, among others. Besides its unique biodiversity, Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is also popular for its cascades, especially Vazra Sakla COTIGAO WILDLIFE DUDHSAGAR FALLS Western Ghats, the sanctuary is home to waterfalls and Virdi Falls. SANCTUARY One of the important destinations pristine evergreen, semi evergreen and within Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary is deciduous forests at different altitudes. SALIM ALI BIRD SANCTUARY Located 60 km south of Panaji, Cotigao the Dudhsagar Falls. Of the numerous The fauna includes the rare black Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named after Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest waterfalls in the Western Ghats, this is panther, varieties of deer, bison, several the famous ornithologist, is located on in Goa. This sanctuary is notable for its one of the most impressive and is the members of the primate family, the island of Chorao along the Mandovi dense forest cover with trees as high as second highest in India after the Jog porcupines and a number of species of River. Spread in an area of 440 acres, the 30m and is a haven for tree lovers. The Falls. The trip involves a short hike on resident and migratory birds. It is also sanctuary is covered with a thick Talpona River flows through the area the road and requires a minimum of home to a great variety of butterflies. mangrove forest, which is usually a and the major watering holes are located fitness. The best season to see the falls is The sanctuary contains several natural nesting ground of birds. on its back. in the monsoons, soon after the rains. natural and historical attractions that Different varieties of swallows, bulbuls, There are fewer big animals in this make this the largest protected area. kingfishers, swans, woodpeckers, sanctuary than Mollem, however one can BHAGWAN MAHAVEER Some of them are Dudhsagar Falls, hornbills, etc. are found in plenty at this still expect to see bears, wild boars, deer SANCTUARY Tambdi Falls, Devil’s Canyon and place. and monkeys. Birds are plentiful in ancient Kadamba Temples. The sanctuary has 1km-long pathway general and some species of eagles, With an area of more than 240 sq km, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary is 63 on which one can walk as close as which are not easily spotted elsewhere, this park happens to be the largest km from Panaji and can be reached by possible to see the natural habitat of can be seen here. Several tribal wildlife sanctuary in Goa. It was earlier road or train from the capital or Margao. birds, without disturbing them. One can communities live inside these forests called Mollem Game Sanctuary and was To go around, vehicles are provided by also choose to hire a boat and go around and one can get an insight into their fast renamed to the current one in 1969. the Forest Department at economical the place. fading lifestyle. However, the core area is still called rates. One can get more idea from Goa Mollem National Park. Nestled in the tourism. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 34 SPORTS FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

2020 OLYMPICS POSTPONED UNTIL 2021 Six stars for whom Olympics in 2021 may come too late ith the 2020 Olympics Olympic gold medals -- singles at However, there is a hint of postponed until 2021, there London in 2012 and women’s unfinished business for Lin who Ware fears the delay will doubles with sister Venus in 2000, was defeated in the bronze medal shatter the gold medal hopes of 2008 in Beijing and London four match in Rio in 2016 having been many ageing athletes. years later. downed in the semi-finals by great AFP Sport looks at six evergreen The sisters lost their opening rival Lee Chong Wei, the man he IPL cancellation on cards stars for whom a delayed Tokyo round match in Rio in 2016 while had beaten in the 2008 and 2012 Games might be a step too far. Serena’s gold medal defence in the Olympic finals. NEW DELHI (TIP): The cancellation of this year’s singles was ended by Elina Indian Premier League looks inevitable with the ROGER FEDERER Svitolina in the third round. ALLYSON FELIX Indian cricket board (BCCI) under tremendous The only female track and field pressure after the declaration of a 21-day nationwide TIGER WOODS athlete in history to win six lockdown to contain the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. Olympic gold medals, Felix had When BCCI postponed the IPL to April 15 earlier this spent the last two years preparing month, it said conducting the tournament could be for a golden farewell at the Tokyo considered only when the pandemic subsides. Olympics. However, there hasn’t been any remarkable change in Felix, who turns 35 at the end of the situation. this year, will be racing against BCCI president Sourav Ganguly did not have much Father Time as she attempts to to say on the current scenario, which was made improve her medal tally in what worse by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to will be her fifth consecutive the summer of 2021, on Tuesday.“I can’t say anything Olympics appearance. at the moment. We are at the same place where we The American star can take were on the day we postponed. Nothing has changed comfort from the fact she is by no in the last 10 days. So, I don’t have an answer to it. means the oldest woman to chase Status quo remains,” Ganguly said, his helplessness Olympic glory in sprint events. palpable. Kings XI Punjab owner Ness Wadia was Merlene Ottey was 40 when she more forthright. “BCCI should really consider anchored Jamaica’s 4x100m relay postponing the IPL now. As a premier event, we need The 20-time Grand Slam team to a bronze medal in 2000. to act with great responsibility.Contemplation of IPL champion, who will be 40 in August is inhuman right now,” Wadia said. 2021, won Olympic gold when he Woods, who will be 46 in JUSTIN GATLIN partnered Stan Wawrinka to the December next year, would have Kohli & boys handed men’s doubles title at the 2008 struggled to make the US team for Beijing Games. Federer was a the Games if they had remained in customised indoor workout quarter-finalist in singles in China, their 2020 slot. He is currently only silver medallist in 2012 in London the sixth-ranked American with routines before injury forced him skip the just the top four guaranteed to make 2016 Games in Rio. the squad. NEW DELHI (TIP): The Indian cricketers are all In Sydney, in 2000, Federer made Woods, the winner of 15 majors, home and spending time with their families. But the semi-finals in singles but he still has been fighting a recurrence of a strength and conditioning coach Nick Webb in remembers Australia fondly as it back injury so at least the delay to consultation with physio Nitin Patel has customised was the place where he first started 2021 for the Olympics gives him routines for Virat Kohli and his team to ensure they his romance with Mirka Vavrinec, renewed hope of a golden stay in top shape despite the pandemic-induced who is now his wife. swansong. break. “Overall it was probably the most Organisers would be desperate The duo of Webb and Patel have made player- unbelievable Olympics I ever had,” for Woods to play after he missed Gatlin had planned to retire in specific routines for all the contracted players to said Federer, who was also the return of golf at the 2016 Games 2020 after competing in his fourth ensure that they can continue to stay in shape even as Switzerland’s flag-bearer in Beijing in Rio due to injury. Olympics at the age of 38. However the country fights the coronavirus outbreak. “All the and in Athens in 2004 where he the controversial American star players, irrespective of whether they play red-ball exited in the second round. LIN DAN now plans to extend his career in cricket or white-ball cricket or all formats have been order to compete in the rescheduled given fitness routines which they are to follow and SERENA WILLIAMS Tokyo Games. give updates to Webb and Patel from time to time,” a “I think a lot of people think that BCCI official said. “For example, a bowler will has time is against me or against older been given exercises which work to make his core athletes in this situation, and it’s far and lower-body strong. Similarly,a batsman has been from the truth,” said Gatlin, who given exercises which also work on his shoulders and has twice served suspensions for wrists,” he added. drug offences during his career. Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, though could face a Keep indoors, it’s not battle to even qualify given the depth of the US men’s sprinting a vacation: Tendulkar squad, with Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles the favourites in the "Our government and health experts across the 100m and 200m. world have requested us to stay indoors and not step .....But plenty of time for this outside our houses until there’s an emergency. But pair.... Syrian table tennis player some people are not taking this advice seriously. Hend Zaza was set to become the Everyone feels that they should go outside and meet The colourful and controversial youngest athlete at the Tokyo friends. But now is not the right time. This is very Chinese badminton superstar will Olympics - at just 11 years old. dangerous for the entire nation. Remember, these The US great will be 40 in be 37 by the time the next Games She would not have been alone in days are not holidays. If coronavirus has reached our September next year although her roll around. Japan as professional skateboarder country, it’s because of us only. We need to stay desire to play in Tokyo might not be Lin already has gold from Beijing Sky Brown - only five months older - indoors for the doctors, nurses and the medical as pressing as that of Federer. in 2008 and London four years later, was hoping to compete for Great professionals who are risking their lives for us." Williams already has four adding to his five world titles. Britain. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 35 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 36 ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020