YEARS

# 1 Indian American Weekly : Since 2006

VOL 15 ISSUE 15 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● APR 09 - APR 15, 2021 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 ● [email protected] www.theindianpanorama.news

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN U.S. imposes new sanctions on Russia Attorney Ravi Batra Expels 10 Russian Page 9 diplomats, restricts trading and blacklists 32 individuals 's worries grow as over 'election meddling, Coronavirus cases mount cyberattack' to cross 200,000 on a WASHINGTON (TIP): A reminder of single day the cold war period, the United States announced sanctions against Russia on ● India registered 2,16,642 new Thursday, 15, and the expulsion of COVID-19 cases as of 11.15 p.m. IST 10 diplomats in retaliation for what on April 15. As many as 1,153 Washington says is the Kremlin's U.S. deaths were also recorded on the election interference, a massive day. cyberattack and other hostile activity. ● Country adds more than 1,100 President Joe Biden ordered a deaths; Maharashtra leads with widening of restrictions on U.S. banks 61,695 cases, followed by U.P. trading in Russian government debt, In a tough and decisive action, President Biden signed an executive order to impose new ● Country has so far reported a total CONTD ON PAGE 7 sanctions on Russia - File photo of 1,42,87,740 cases and 1,74,306 deaths. President Joe Biden greets Indian Americans and Sikhs on

WASHINGTON (TIP): US President Biden and the US first lady were joined Joe Biden led his country in greeting by several lawmakers in greeting Indian- Indian Americans, South Asians and Americans and Sikhs on the occasion of Southeast Asians on the eve of their New Baisakhi. NEW DELHI (TIP): Maharashtra Year. "Wishing a happy and healthy President Joe Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden greeted Indian-Americans and Sikhs on reported 61,695 infections (accounting "(First Lady) Jill (Biden) and I send Vaisakhi to the Sikh community the occasion of Vaisakhi and other festivals - for nearly 31% of new cases) on April our warmest wishes to the South Asian celebrating across the country!" Indian File photo 15, followed by with and Southeast Asian communities who American Congressman Ami Bera said. 22,339 cases and Delhi with 16,699 are celebrating Vaisakhi, Navratri, Another Indian-American lawmaker, the world!" said Congressman Frank cases. Maharashtra also recorded the and the incoming Ro Khanna, tweeted, "Wishing the Sikh Pallone. Pallone and Congressman John most casualties (349) on April 15. Delhi this week. Happy Bengali, Cambodian, community in America and around the Garamendi have introduced a resolution followed with 112 deaths, while Uttar Lao, Myanmarese, Nepali, Sinhalese, world a happy Vaisakhi!" honoring the Sikh community's Pradesh registered 104 casualties. Tamil, Thai, and New Year!" Biden "Wishing a happy Vaisakhi to all those celebration of Baisakhi. CONTD ON PAGE 7 said in a tweet on Tuesday, April 13. celebrating in New Jersey and around CONTD ON PAGE 7

DIASPORA WELCOMES MODI GOVERNMENT’S SIMPLIFICATION OF OCI CARDS RE-ISSUE PROCESS Wants parity in privileges and benefits with Indian citizens in India I.S. Saluja NEW YORK (TIP): A notification posted by Press Information Bureau on April 15, 2021 at 7.02 PM (IST) speaks of a decision which is expected to significantly ease the process for re-issue of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. CONTD ON PAGE 3 THE INDIAN PANORAMA EDITORIAL FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 02 -: OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA :-

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: Farmers are arrested on bogus charges. The Government Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja Hon. President of the United States machinery is making their lives difficult. VICE PRESIDENT: Dear President, The farmers are determined to protest and have the harmful Chitagam Saluja Request your support for India's democracy - One call does it. Farm Laws repealed. CHIEF EDITOR: Briefly, India has been our reliable ally in containing They have the support of a large chunk of Indian abroad Prof Indrajit S. Saluja Chinese influence worldwide, and we base that on the stability who understand how harmful the Farm Laws enacted by the CONSULTING EDITOR : and strength of Indian democratic institutions. However, these Modi government are for the farmers and the farm sector. Deepak Dwidedi, Chairman, institutions are crumbling, and we seek your help in Further to that, the right-wing groups have given three Bhaskar Group, Delhi sustaining our ally, India. choices to 230 million Christians and Muslims- convert to ASSISTANT EDITOR: One of the significant sources of potential political Hinduism, disappear, or live as second-class citizens. Bidisha Roy instability is Farmer's protests against the laws passed by the The Journalists, politicians, and social activists have been SPL. REPORTER UNO: Government of India. These laws help big corporations control detained, interrogated charged with treason for voicing their H.S. Panaser the agriculture sector of the economy, stripping the small support for the farmers. GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: farmers from their livelihood. The age-old wisdom goes like this, "one call does it." We hope Om Parkash Malik Nearly 60% of the Indian population works in the you can call Prime Minister Modi and ask him to restore the DIRECTOR Agriculture sector, contributing 18% to the national GDP; now, freedoms to the people and repeal the laws that will hurt ADMINISTRATION: all of this is peril. India's small farmers and food security. Gauri Beri Over 200,000 farmers from across India have been protesting The political stability of India is critical to our influence in for the last six months, living through the cold and brittle Asia. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: winters of New Delhi. Mike Ghouse Nearly 350 Farmers have lost their lives during these Baldev Singh / BJ Videos [email protected] Gunjesh Desai / Masala Junction ongoing peaceful protests. Jay Mandal, Mohammad Jaffer, -: LETTER TO THE EDITOR :- SnapsIndia Mohammad Shahzad, Zia Khan, Dear Prof. Saluja, own elected government, demanding their very legitimate Nisha Rani Greetings. fundamental rights, that have been guaranteed in the Indian Vaaho Photographers, Constitution but which are not being implemented and Vijay Shah - Photo Journalist. The Vaisakhi special edition, dedicated to the agitating given to the distressed farmers. All of the happenings are CORRESPONDENTS : Indian farmers, seeking revocation of the three laws, made really an unfortunate and unwarranted situation, especially SACRAMENTO: interesting reading, indeed. Your remarkable editorial has considering the fact that India has a parliamentary form of Parminder S. Aujla presented a very balanced account of the entire scenario. government and the following golden words are enshrined NEW YORK : Really commendable are the initiatives of Senators in the Preamble to the Constitution: "Sovereign, Socialist, Chitagam Charles Schumer and Robert Menendez writing to Secretary Secular, Democratic Republic". FRESNO: of State Antony Blinken and Congressman Andrew This is an unusually dark phase in the history of the Tarlochan Singh Garbarino's letter to Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Indian polity, post 1947 independent India, when the DALLAS: Similarly, several world leaders, celebrities and the public programs, policies, procedures and decisions of the of many nations have condemned the highhandedness of government are being denounced by the people. The earlier Harjit Dhesi, Amarjit Dhillon the Union government of India. such black period was the EmergencyEra in 1975 to 1977. OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS The People's Power of Peaceful Protest has been On the 26th of January 2021, all eyes were glued towards LONDON reinforced through an unprecedented agitation of such the grand spectacle, to be staged on 'The Rajpath' (implying Nirpal Singh Shergill immense magnitude. A momentous chapter in the history of the Pathway to the Seat of Power) in Delhi, where the SPL CORRESPONDENT protests, worldwide, is in the making, whereby democratic prowess of the Indian Defense Forces, during the Parade is DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: norms are being re-emphasized by the farming community showcased, in a gesture denoting National Glory & Esteem, Chandan Singh in India. while celebrating freedom and also saluting the Warrior- CHANDIGARH: "No farmer, no food" is the slogan which emanated from Defenders of the Indian populace and Indian territorial Manjit Sidhu Punjab, India, and soon it started resonating well, deeply sovereignty. LUDHIANA: and absolutely, with the populace of the entire world. A small group of protestors forced their way, into the A.S. Arora, During the agitation, the farmers, including women, historic Red Fort complex, hoisted the 'Nishaan Sahib', the R.P.Sharma children and the old, were subjected to excruciating Religious-Insignia of the Sikhs, that is visible atop every JAIPUR : tortures like baton-charge, water-cannons and tear-gas Gurdwara, around the world. The 'Nishaan-Sahib' was shells. And during the camping on several locations, on the deliberately labeled as the 'Flag of Khalistan' (an alleged Dr. Yashpaul Goyal Delhi borders, they were further bullied when basic separatist militant movement) even though the entire world DALLAS BUREAU CHIEF & VP amenities like water, electricity and internet connections is aware of the 'Nishaan-Sahib' being the Insignia of the Lovllien Kaurr were severed, in a blatant violation of human rights 551-year-old religion, which is the 5th largest, in terms of 972-330-3139 Accomplishment of the aspirations of the already numbers, and whose adherents reside globally. This saffron- [email protected] marginalized farmers is being further crushed by the colored insignia is very joyously hoisted by the Sikh The Indian Panorama excruciating pain inflicted upon them. However, their Regiment of the , wherever it is posted. This P.O. Box No. 190067, South resilience and indomitable fortitude, facing all adversity, flag was hoisted on the ramparts of the very same Red Fort, Richmond Hill, NY 11419, shall serve as an inspiration for many to emulate. in a historic commemoration in 2014, to mark the conquest Tel: 646-247-9458 Protests, by Indians, are being organized worldwide and of Delhi by Sikh Generals Bhagel Singh, Jassa Singh Email: outside the New York based headquarters of the United Ramgarhia and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, who vanquished the [email protected] Nations Organization, to register a vociferous opposition to Mughals. the draconian laws, enacted by the autocratic Indian They hoisted the 'Nishaan-Sahib', at the very spot where DISCLAIMER regime, which is also resorting to atrocious measures and the unfurls the Tricolor National machinations to discredit the agitation. Flag, every year, on the 15th of August, India's THE INDIAN PANORAMA ASSUMES Over two hundred people have succumbed to the Independence Day and it is folded and stored, after the NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CLAIMS MADE IN ADVERTISEMENTS. extremities of weather. One religious leader and preacher ceremony. One Tricolor is always fluttering on another pole. WE ONLY SELL SPACE. VIEWS committed suicide, leaving a note that he was sacrificing his Although this flag was untouched, yet the protestors were PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER life for the cause of the fundamental right to speech and charged with of the National Flag. ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND expression, when democratic norms are thrown to the wind, Hence, the charges of sedition are, absolutely, ill-founded DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE by an autocratic regime. One young farmer was shot dead, and hold no water. VIEWS OF THE NEWSPAPER. ALL while he was driving his tractor. RIGHTS ARE RESERVED. Most certainly, they can be awarded the rank of "farming REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN Amarjit Singh Anand soldiers on the interstate borders of Delhi". The farmers are PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IN [email protected] WRITING FROM THE INDIAN in a warzone of sorts, battling it out, "with weapons of PANORAMA IS PROHIBITED. words and demands", of course, protesting against their THE INDIAN PANORAMA NY/NJ/CT FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 03 Bollywood Superstar and Fitness Icon Shilpa Shetty Kundra Is The New Face of U.S. Based South Asian food brand, Laxmi!

Company unveils its latest campaign association with Shilpa Shetty Kundra, and vision for the North America our brand promise will come to life". market. The origins of the Laxmi brand are based in traditions and family values and axmi, the oldest and most well-loved therefore it is no surprise that their latest South Asian brand in North campaign revolves around bringing those LAmerica is best known for values to life. deliveringuncompromising quality and Commenting on the campaign authentic ethnic foods inspiration, Suhasinee Patil, VP thatstandforpurityandeverydayvaluefor Marketing shared some thoughts on what South Asian consumers. makes this campaign so special. Shilpa and Laxmi share a similar According to her, "This past year with all passion for perfectionboth having carved its challenges has proven to us that their own niche making them a dream nothing matters more than family and one team. Their association is one that forges way we all stayed positive and connected a path of excellence and will leave a legacy was through cooking. The pandemic to remember.Shilpa Shetty Kundra will be brought out the chef in all of usand the face for all brand communications for induced us to trynew foods, focusing on Laxmi with special focus on promoting reducing stress and boosting our popular products such as basmati rice, immunity. It inspired us to change our wheat flour, spices and lentils. lifestyle and prioritize health and family." Commenting on this exciting new With this campaign, our message to the alliance, House of Spices company it was time to give the brand a new voice. range of Ayurvedic spices. consumers is simple: It's time to bring executives, Neil Soni (CEO) and Amrapali We could not be happier that the voice is Speaking of category challenges in the home foods that stand for quality and Soni (COO)said, "Shilpa with Laxmi was Shilpa's." marketplace, Chief Sales and Marketing purity; it's time to bring home a brand you an easy decision. Her evolution into Laxmi is dedicated to keeping the South officer Sundeep Lambamentioned that have trusted for over 50 years; It's time to health and wellness, in addition to her Asian culinary traditions alive and "With the explosion of brand options at bring LAXMI home! culinary curiosity fits well with the thriving by continuing to fulfill our desi the store, for a consumer it is a difficult evolution of Laxmi brand. In today's cooking needs by offering range of choice to make especially not knowing FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT world, we need to engage with our superior products from the extra-long how these products are sourced and consumers, let them know we are basmati rice to the purest haldi handled. Laxmi has always stood for Neeta Bhasin: listening. After refreshing the Laxmi logo, (turmeric), ghee and the newly launched quality, trust and value and with our new [email protected]

acknowledgement of his/ her documents in the web-based Diaspora Welcomes Modi Government’s Simplification of OCI... system. CONTD FROM PAGE 1 All the above services of uploading documents will be provided on gratis basis to the OCI cardholders. It says the Modi Government has decided to simplify the Commenting on the government's latest decision, USA process. This decision has been taken on the directions of based Global organization of People of Indian Origin the Union Home Minister . (GOPIO International) Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham The OCI Card has proved to be very popular amongst saidGOPIO welcomed the new directives simplifying the foreigners of Indian Origin and spouses of foreign origin OCI Card process. of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, as it helps them a "This will remove the confusion to many OCI card hassle-free entry and unlimited stay in India. So far about holders on the process of renewing the card at the age of 37.72 lakh OCI Cards have been issued by the Government 20 and 50 and one doesn't have to go through the whole OCI of India. card renewal process again," said GOPIO Chairman Dr. As per the extant law, a foreigner of Indian origin or a Thomas Abraham. This will also encourage more foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or foreign spouse of an overseas Indians to become OCIs and it will benefit India, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, can be through their travel, business and investment in India. registered as an OCI cardholder.OCI card is a lifelong visa GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Jaipur Foot, USA Chairman "However, GOPIO strongly urges the government to for entry into and stay in India with a number of other Abraham welcomed the Prem Bhandari who has been treat OCI Card holders who have invested in business and major benefits attached to it which are not available to simplification of process a relentless critic of the creating jobs in India at par with Indian citizens and they other foreigners. with regard to the OCI card, government policies on OCI shouldn't be termed as foreign nationals by various Govt. but urged the government of Card, questioning how it Presently, the OCI card is required to be re-issued each India to treat OCI Card could be a lifelong card agencies while doing business including manufacturing time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and holders who have invested in when it required renewal and research in India," Dr. Abraham added. once after completing 50 years of age, in view of biological business and creating jobs in time and again, said the The government was forced to grant these concessions changes in the face of the applicant. India at par with Indian Indian government has made after the Diaspora leaders across the world raised their citizens With a view to facilitate the OCI cardholders, it has now a good beginning, but it has voice against the discriminatory policies which some yet to meet the aspirations been decided by the Government of India to dispense with of the NRI community. openly condemned as double standards. this requirement. A person who has got registration as Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari in OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder particular has been in the forefront of demanding have to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or an OCI revision of rules to simplify the process of renewal of OCI passport is issued after his/her completing 20 years of cardholder, the person concerned will be required to card. He is the one who questioned the nomenclature age, so as to capture his/ her facial features on attaining upload on the system, a copy of the new passport "lifelong card" when it had to be got renewed so often. adulthood. If a person has obtained registration as OCI containing the photo of the passport holder and also a Asked by The Indian Panorama for his reaction to the cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be latest photo along with a declaration that their marriage is revised "simplified" process, he said, it is still not an ideal no requirement of re-issue of OCI card. still subsisting each time a new passport is issued. These situation. OCI card holders need to be treated at par with With a view to update the data regarding new passports documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder spouse Indian citizens, living in India, and should be allowed the obtained by the OCI cardholder, it has been decided that within three months of receipt of his/ her new passport. benefits and privileges which an Indian citizen in India he/she shall upload a copy of the new passport containing The details will be updated on the system and an auto normally enjoys. He added that much more needs to be his/her photo and also a latest photo on the online OCI acknowledgement through e-mail will be sent to the OCI done, a sentiment which Dr. Thomas Abraham also portal, each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of cardholder informing that the updated details have been voiced. age and once after completing 50 years of age. These taken on record. There will be no restriction on the OCI The Indian Panorama will welcome readers' comments documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within cardholder to travel to/ from India during the period from on the issue which will keep kicking dust until a more NRI 3 months of receipt of the new passport. However, in the the date of issue of new passport till the date of final friendly approach is adopted by the government of India. THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 04 Indian American Frontline Healthcare Workers Protest at US Capitol the Green Card Backlog WASHINGTON (TIP): Urging American lawmakers healthcare workers in the backlog," she said. to pass a legislation that ends the archaic per country "COVID-19 has been brutal to frontline healthcare quota for legal permanent residency in the US, a group workers and the green card backlog makes it miserable. of frontline Indian American healthcare professionals, This is leading to serious mental health issues in this stuck in the 150-plus-year Green Card backlog, held a group," Dr Dhiman added. peaceful demonstration in front of the Capitol. Baltimore-based Dr Santanu Samanta, a radiation A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent oncologist, said he feels threatened about the Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to consequences to his family and his job, if there is no the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the change brought in the Green Card system. privilege of residing permanently in the country. "I would desperately want to see changes that would In a joint statement on Monday, the Indian-American help us become permanent green holders to serve doctors said that they are in a 150-plus-year Green Card people in this country," he said. backlog due to archaic country caps that allows no "Due to being stuck in the Green Card backlog, I nation to get more than seven per cent of employment- couldn't get fellowship training for four years despite based green cards. being the most worthy candidate. After training is Indian American healthcare workers protesting in front of the "India is a land of a billion plus people but the Capitol the archaic per country quota for legal permanent finished, I couldn't find an appropriate job. My wife and number of green cards it gets is the same as a country residency in the US daughter got so scared during COVID Pandemic that as small as Iceland. There is no cap on H-1B visa though they wanted to go back to India," said Dr Saurabh and Indians make 50 per cent of the H-1B work force. by 365 votes in 2019 and its Senate equivalent S386 Ranjan, an interventional cardiologist. This discrepancy between H-1B and green cards has passed the Senate in 2020. Now the bill is back to the "If I die while on H-1B visa, I don't get any benefits created an inhuman backlog that is adversely affecting House as a modified version. and my family will be deported. After serving the last 10 our professional and personal lives," they said. They urged Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren to bring it years as a physician, I still am alien and feel so Indian IT professionals, most of whom are highly to vote as a bipartisan solution to end the suffering of desperate and hopeless how we have been treated in skilled and come to the US mainly on the H-1B work skilled professionals. "The Green Card backlog is regard to green cards and citizenship," Dr Ranjan said. visas, are the worst sufferers of the current taking a toll on the frontline health care workers and Infectious disease and critical care physician from immigration system which imposes a seven per cent their families. They are living in fear and anxiety," Dr Wisconsin Dr Raj Karnatak said that they are fighting per country quota on allotment of the coveted Green Namita Dhiman, a child and adolescent psychiatrist to save lives on the frontline knowing that if they get Card or permanent legal residency. said. "US President Joe Biden should end the Green sick or die serving on the frontline, their families will The protesters said that the fairness bill removes Card backlog by allowing USCIS (United States get deported. country caps and allots green cards as a first come first Citizenship and Immigration Services) to utilize "We need immediate relief from the miserable Green serve basis. It passed in the House of Representatives unused green cards from the past years for the frontline Card backlog," he said. Indian American Congressman Ro-Khanna Introduces Indo- Canadian Punjabi diaspora seeks direct flights Resolution in the Congress ‘To Honor’ BR Ambedkar to Amritsar WASHINGTON (TIP): An Indian democratic values, unfettered equality, American Congressman has introduced and justice for peoples of all castes, a resolution in the US House of races, genders, religions, and Representatives for a second consecutive backgrounds. year to honor Bhimrao Ambedkar, the The resolution notes that former US architect of India's Constitution, on his president Barack Obama invoked BR 130th birth anniversary so that young Ambedkar's contribution to the Indian TORONTO (TIP): Punjabi diaspora in leaders around the world can be inspired Constitution and society in an address Canada and NGOs in India have urged to by his vision for equality. before the Indian parliament in 2010. introduce direct air connectivity from India is celebrating the 130th birth ''We believe that no matter who you are Vancouver and Toronto to Sri Guru Ram anniversary of Ambedkar this year. or where you come from, every person Dass Jee International (SGRDJI) Airport, "Ambedkar stood for an India and "Today, I'm reintroducing my resolution to can fulfil their God-given potential. Just Amritsar, to facilitate travel keeping in honor B R Ambedkar, in the hopes that young America where we respect the dignity of as a Dalit like Dr Ambedkar could lift view the year-long celebrations of the leaders around the world will read his work all," Indian American Democratic and be inspired by his vision for equality," himself up and pen the words of the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Congressman Ro Khanna said in a tweet said Ro Khanna. Constitution, that protects the rights of Bahadur, the Ninth Sikh Guru who was after introducing the legislation in the all Indians," he had said. born in Amritsar. US House of Representatives on discrimination of African-Americans Dr Ambedkar, the resolution said, led Seeking direct connectivity with Wednesday. and women in the United States, as one of the largest civil rights movements Amritsar ahead of the historic occasion, "Today, I'm reintroducing my influential in his pursuit to guarantee in history, working to establish basic Sameep Singh Gumtala, convener of the resolution to honor B R Ambedkar, in the equal rights for every human being in rights for hundreds of millions of Dalits, Fly Amritsar Initiative, said direct flights hopes that young leaders around the the Indian Constitution. and succeeded in including Article 17 in to SGRDJI Airport had been a long- world will read his work and be inspired Honoring the accomplishments of the Constitution of India which pending demand of thousands of by his vision for equality," he said. Ambedkar and the impact of his legacy abolishes untouchability and its practice Punjabis across Canada and Punjab. Ambedkar stood for an India and on the Constitution of India and in any form. Gumtala said Amritsar would be the America where we respect the dignity of jurisprudence and legal scholarship His influence as an economist is hub of celebrations of the 400th Prakash all. around the world; the resolution affirms evidenced by his seminal texts on India's Purab, with the Punjab and Central Today,I'm reintroducing my resolution the prohibition of untouchability and financial systems, his establishment of Governments already announcing many to honor BR Ambedkar, in the hopes that caste discrimination in all forms, as the Finance Commission of India, and programs in India and abroad for the young leaders around the world will read enshrined in the principles in the his role in the creation of The Reserve centennial celebrations. Lakhs of his work and be inspired by his vision for Universal Declaration of Human Bank of India, the resolution says. devotees from India and abroad were also equality. pic..com/dckRS2Kgmz Rights. Dr Ambedkar championed labor expected to travel to the country for the - Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) Recognizing that equality, justice and reforms such as changing the daily work year-long celebrations and members of , 2021 liberty are essential rights for all people, schedule from 12 hours to 8 hours and the Punjabi community were reaching Introduced by Mr. Khanna for the the resolution says that Dr Ambedkar's introduced measures like employee out to the Prime Minister of Canada, second consecutive year, the resolution contributions to economics, political insurance, medical leave, ''dearness pay'', their parliamentary representatives, and acknowledges the profound impact of science, civil rights, religious harmony, equal pay for equal work for women, Government of India for direct flights. America's discriminatory practices, and jurisprudence have had a profound minimum wages, and timely revision of (Read full story at specifically the systematic impact around the world, promoting scale of pay, it said. www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 05 Indian American Officials Meera Joshi, Radhika Fox named for key jobs WASHINGTON (TIP): President Joe Biden is Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 20, Fox tapping two Indian American women already working currently serves as the Acting Assistant Administer for in his administration as part of a 10-member team to Water. lead on climate and transportation matters across key The EPA's Office of Water works to ensure that agencies. drinking water is safe, wastewater is safely returned to While Meera Joshi is being named as Administrator, the environment, and surface waters are properly Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, managed and protected. Department of Transportation, Radhika Fox would Prior to joining EPA, Fox served as Chief Executive become Assistant Administrator for Water, Officer for the US Water Alliance, where she established Environmental Protection Agency. herself as a widely recognized national thought leader Biden's intent to elevate Joshi, an attorney with over on complex water issues, from equitable water 16 years of experience leading government oversight management to investing in our nation's water agencies, and Fox, a water issues expert, both working While Meera Joshi is being named as Administrator, Federal infrastructure. for his administration since January 20 inauguration Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Her work has helped address the most salient water day, was announced by the White House Wednesday. Transportation, Radhika Fox would become Assistant issues facing the nation-including climate change, Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency. Appointed as the Deputy Administrator and senior affordability, equity, governance, innovative finance, official of the agency she would now head on day one, Inspector General for New York City's Department of and the evolution of the One Water movement. Joshi was previously Chair and CEO of the New York Corrections, responsible for investigation of Fox previously directed the policy and government City Taxi and Limousine Commission. corruption and criminality at all levels of New York affairs agenda for the San Francisco Public Utilities At the nation's largest for-hire transportation City's jail operations and the First Deputy Executive Commission, which is responsible for providing 24/7 regulator, Joshi spearheaded novel Vision Zero Director of New York City's Civilian Complaint Review water, wastewater, and municipal power services to 2.6 campaigns using data tools to keep high risk drivers Board, leading investigations of police misconduct. million Bay Area residents. and unsafe vehicles off the road, according to his In addition to her government positions, Joshi served She also served as the Federal Policy Director at official biography. as General Manager for the New York Office of Sam PolicyLink, where she coordinated the organization's She also led landmark policy, including establishing Schwartz Transportation Consultants and was a policy agenda on a wide range of issues, including robust open transportation data standards for app- visiting scholar at New York University's Rudin Center infrastructure investment, transportation, sustainable based providers; enacting the nation's first for-hire for Transportation Policy. communities, economic inclusion, and workforce driver pay protection program and providing broad Joshi was born and raised in Philadelphia, development. Fox holds a BA from Columbia University access to for-hire transportation for passengers who use Pennsylvania. She holds a BA and a JD from the and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the wheelchairs. University of Pennsylvania. Appointed Principal University of California at Berkeley where she was a Prior to transportation regulation, Joshi was the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water at the HUD Community Development Fellow. Indian American Business and Indian American cast of 'Family Karma' tackles culturally sensitive issues in Season 2 Community Leader Sejal Desai NEW YORK (TIP): Despite Indian Americans being one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in the United States, it is named Akanksha Education Fund not very often that one gets to see an all- Indian American storyline on mainstream Executive Director television. While Indians as doctors, yoga practitioners or IT guys have been making DALLAS, TX (TIP): Sejal time friends, Azad Oommen. their odd presence on US TV shows, it is Bravo TV's first docuseries with an all-Indian Desai, an Indian American "As a business and perhaps for the first time that viewers got to cast, returns on June 2. business and community leader community leader in Dallas, see not one or two, but stories of no less from Texas has been appointed Sejal and her family will than nine young Indian American friends navigate life, friendship, careers, and the new Executive Director of continue living there but she on TV. family,continues to bring in new twists this Akanksha Education Fund to plans to travel regularly to be Bravo's docuseries, Family Karma, season. promote educational with the AEF team and engage which completed a hit Season 1, was The season would see Anisha making the opportunities for disadvantaged with our supporters," the definitely unique in that aspect. Now, as it decision of freezing her eggs. A culturally children in India. Sejal has had an message from the board said. returns with a second season, there are sensitive issue, it would be interesting to incredible 30-year "The Akanksha Education career and joins the She lived in Mumbai for more expectations of the series breaking see whether her Indian family supports her Fund is thrilled to announce that Akanksha family almost 20 years and has strong newer grounds. And if the initial storyline decision or not. Sejal Desai, of Dallas, Texas, will most recently from family and professional ties progression is any indication, the Amrit, along with his boyfriend be the new Executive Director of the Communities there. upcoming season has plenty on offer. Nicholas, plans to settle down in Miami but the Akanksha Education Fund," Foundation of Ramesh Srinivasan, AEF's The trailer for the new season got not before an important first step - seeking Texas (CFT), where the not-for-profit organization's she led a strategic Board Chair noted that Sejal's dropped on Tuesday,April 13. approval from Amrit's family matriarch - Board of Directors said in a initiative focused combined roots in Dallas and There is a new entry that promises to add another cultural taboo breaker in the message Wednesday. on engaging Mumbai are perfect for this more to the show. A character named series. But before you think that the new Sejal has had an incredible 30- businesses in the moment in AEF's growth. Monica gets introduced. Those who have season is becoming more preachy - relax. community. year career and joins the "This is an exciting venture for been watching Family Karma would know There is a whole lot of fun as Brian Akanksha family most recently from the all of us, as our future outreach depends in that the new entry would make two discovers love again - this time again with a Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), part on growing our presence well beyond characters named Monica in the series. woman named Monica! where she led a strategic initiative focused the New York, New Jersey and Monica Vaswani, who has been playing Family Karma is produced for Bravo by on engaging businesses in the community, Connecticut area. We have some terrific the part from season 1, returns for this Truly Original with Steven Weinstock, according to a media release. seeds planted already and Sejal is poised to season. Other returning members of the Glenda Hersh, Lauren Eskelin, Michelle At CFT she worked with over 400 make them grow!" cast from season 1 include Anisha Schiefen, Lucas Howe, Swaga Deb, and companies and also supported many "I am excited to embark on this new Ramakrishna, Amrit Kapai, Bali Chainani Michael Meinecke serving as executive individual donors with their chapter in my life and work together with and Shaan Patel. New actors joining in this producers. Westley Harris and Ariel Algus philanthropic giving and engagement. individuals, corporates and foundations season are Dillon Patel and Rish Karam. serve as co-executive producers. Among other career highlights, she also across the US to advance educational The critically acclaimed show, which If you haven't already, catch up on the started a US-India based social venture, outcomes for underserved children in explores the personal journeys of nine series. It will give you a tantalizing peek SevaYatra, with one of Akanksha's long- India," said Desai. young Indian American friends trying to into many layers of Indian American life. THE INDIAN PANORAMA NY/NJ/CT FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 06 GoFundMe campaign launched for slain Indian couple’s daughter found dead in New Jersey NEW JERSEY (TIP): Friends of an Indian couple together and contribute our share towards the future of found dead at their New Jersey home last week have Viha," Nihalani wrote. started a GoFundMe campaign to help their surviving "No contribution is big or small - please do whatever three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Viha Rudrawar. you can to help Viha, as that will have some financial Bodies of the couple - identified as Balaji Rudrawar, support for the future," he added. 33, and Aarti B. Rudrawar, 31 - were found inside their Meanwhile, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office North Arlington apartment in Bergen County, New and the North Arlington Police Department are Jersey Wednesday. Their daughter, who was found continuing to investigate the deaths. crying in the balcony, was unharmed. Both Balaji and Aarti had suffered from multiple stab 'Contribute to Viha's future' fundraiser has collected wounds, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark over $70, 000 in less than 24 hours of starting the Musella. campaign, according to its organizer Gobind Singh They believe Aarti Rudrawar died as a result of stab Nihalani. wounds inflicted by her husband, the prosecutor said Nihalani said they were in the process of creating a Friday. Trust Fund for this money to be used for Viha's well- Friends of the deceased couple Balaji Rudrawar and Aarti B. Balaji Ruduawar "also died as a result of multiple being and her education. Rudrawar have started a GoFundMe campaign to help their stab wounds, but his manner of death is undetermined They were also working with child welfare to arrange surviving three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Viha Rudrawar pending the completion of an autopsy and the kid's custody to her grandparents living in the Infotech Ltd, and Aarti Rudrawar "were happily investigation," the prosecutor said in a release. temple town of Ambajogai in Maharashtra's Beed married and a couple of few words but many smiles," Investigators said they do not believe anyone else was district, about 300 miles from Mumbai. wrote Nihalani. involved in the deaths. Rudrawar, an IT professional and his homemaker "In this immensely unfortunate moment, while we all North Arlington Police responded to the Garden wife moved to the US in August 2015 after they got get together to pray to the almighty to rest their souls in Terrace apartment complex after receiving a 9-1-1 call married in December 2014. peace, we are also starting an effort to think for the from a neighbor reporting that she looked through the To view the GoFundMe, please visit: future of the small child." mail slot in the front door of and saw two people lying https://gf.me/v/c/67xy/contribute-to-vihas-future. "While nobody can ever fulfill the void in Viha's life, on the floor in the living room area, Musella said in a Balaji Rudrawar, working for Larsen & Toubro as friends and family, the least we can do is to come release. Hindu American Foundation to take action to stop bans on Swastika NEW JERSEY (TIP): Describing the friends, neighbors, and colleagues and Swastika as a "symbol of peace, well- spread awareness about the ancient being and prosperity," the Hindu history and sacred significance of the American Foundation (HAF) has asked swastika. its supporters to take action to stop In , the word swastika is a Maryland and New Jersey legislators combination of 'su' (meaning 'good') and from banning its public display. 'asti' (meaning 'to exist'), it said. Popularly, "The Maryland House of Delegates is this gets translated as 'all is well.' considering House Bill 0418 (HB0418) a "The swastika is thus understood to be bill that falsely defines the swastika as a Noting the Nazi Party adopted the a symbol of auspiciousness and good symbol of hate. TAKE ACTION TODAY hooked cross (Hakenkreuz in German) as fortune, and is regularly donned on TO STOP THIS," it tweeted Saturday. its emblem in 1920, HAF describes Hindu homes, businesses, printed The New Jersey State Assembly is also Nazism as "the hateful ideology that is materials, cars, temples, and ashrams," "considering AB1749, a bill that would responsible for the killing of millions of HAF said. amend a state statute that criminalizes Jewish people and other innocents. Many adorn the threshold of display of symbols, objects, or graffiti "The swastika, a Sanskrit word and the front entrance to their homes with the exposing another to threats of violence to symbol central to Hindu, Buddhist, and swastika, it said noting, other faith specifically include swastikas," it said in Jain spiritual life, invokes wellbeing and traditions originating in India also an earlier post. prosperity," it said. regularly use the swastika, with similar The prominent Hindu group wants its "It's used in daily religious practice, auspicious meaning. supporters to email the Governors and special rites, and displayed in our homes, The swastika had a major resurgence of state legislators in Maryland and New temples, and places of business. It may usage in Europe and North America in Jersey to urge them to oppose the two also be displayed in jewelry, clothing, and the 19th century as a good luck symbol, bills. art," HAF said. HAF said. "The bills make no distinction between "These two symbols, and their history Prior to its appropriation by the Nazis, the Nazi emblem and the sacred history and meanings are NOT the same and swastikas appeared on Coca-Cola and and meaning of the swastika for over two should not be conflated," the Hindu group beer bottles, it said. The Boy Scouts in the billion Hindus, Buddhists and Jains in said. US and other scouting groups in Europe the United States and around the world as "Imagine the shame and bullying our used swastikas on badges. a Sanskrit word and symbol of peace, children could face as a result of the "To this day, there is a town of well-being and prosperity," it says. state's mis-portrayal of the swastika. Swastika, Ontario, Canada, founded in While the Maryland bill "conflates the Imagine the devastating impact it could 1908," HAF said. Nazi emblem or hooked cross with the have on Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain "The US Army's 45th infantry division swastika," the New Jersey bill "tries to families to freely practice their religion used it as a sleeve insignia during the distinguish the Nazi emblem or hooked and pass traditions on to the next 1920s up until the rise of the Nazis. The cross from the swastika by calling it the generation," HAF said. UK's Royal Air Force had it on planes up 'Nazi swastika'" HAF says. HAF also asked supporters to educate until 1939." THE INDIAN PANORAMA MISCELLANY FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 07 Changes (and potential changes) coming to $28.6B Restaurant Revitalization Grant Fund National Restaurant Association offers 39 questions and answers on program that could be lifeline for many EDISON, NJ (TIP): The coverage plans for reorganization might be Acceptable documentation of gross operators as we learn them. period for the Restaurant Revitalization ineligible. "We appreciate the speed at which the Grant Fund may be extended by 14 The minimum grant award might be receipts and, if applicable, eligible SBA is working to set up this program, months (until March 2023) … the set at $1,000. expenses, might include: and we are doing everything we can to definitions of bakeries, breweries and Some of the items with additional Business tax returns (IRS Form 1120 or make sure that it will work well for the inns may change, based on percentage of IRS 1120-S). restaurants that have been hoping for onsite sales … the gross receipts total for clarification include: IRS Forms 1040 Schedule C; IRS Forms this relief over the last 12 months." 2020 may no longer include Paycheck For gross receipt totals in 2020, 1040 Schedule F. How much money is available? Protection Program loans and other debt applicants might not need to include PPP For a partnership: partnership's IRS relief awards, says a news report loans, SBA debt relief, COVID-19-related Form 1065 (including K-1s). Grants will be equal to 2019 gross published April 9 in RIONJ.Com Economic Injury Disaster Loans, EIDL Bank statements. revenue minus 2020 gross revenue - with Applications for the $28.6 billion advances, targeted EIDL advances or any Externally or internally prepared a maximum grant of $5 million ($10 Restaurant Revitalization Grant Fund other state and local small business financial statements such as income million for restaurant groups). are still expected later this month. But, grants (via CARES Act or otherwise). statements or profit and loss statements. Will it be taxed? Grant funds will not before they come out, the National This was a recommendation from the Point of sale report(s), including IRS be taxed like income. Restaurant Association released a list of National Restaurant Association to SBA. Form 1099-K. What can it be used for?A variety of 39 answers to the most frequently asked PPP first-draw loans, returned before Sean Kennedy,executive vice president uses, including: questions the group has received since the safe harbor deadline, might not be of public affairs for the National Payroll costs. the program was introduced. counted against grant fund amount. This Restaurant Association, said the group is Principal and interest payments on a "Eligible entity" definition may have was also a recommendation to SBA from determined to provide this much-needed mortgage. new context for bakeries, breweries, the National Restaurant Association. information. Rent payments. brewpubs, distilleries, taprooms and Self-certification for prioritization Good news for restaurants seeking Utilities. wineries, only if onsite sales to the eligibility is the likely path for targeted Maintenance expenses. public comprise at least 33% of gross groups and differs from SBA Revitalization Fund grants Supplies, including personal receipts (presumably in 2019). For inns, certification for traditional loan "These updates are essential for the protective equipment and cleaning onsite sales of food and beverage to the programs. small business restaurants that are materials. public may need to comprise at least 33% The FAQ also provides specific details trying to prepare their application while Covered supplier costs. of gross receipts. about the documents that might be working long hours to keep their doors Operational expenses. Permanently closed entities might be required for application: open," he said. "For that reason, the Paid sick leave. ineligible. Application form. association and our state partners are (Source: ROI.NJ. Com) Bankrupt entities without approved IRS Form 4506-T. committed to getting these details to

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U.S. imposes new sanctions on presidential elections, in part to help Donald with more than 3,000 average daily fatalities, is leading Trump's candidacy. the world in this category. Russia The White House said the sanctions likewise expelled 10 diplomats who include alleged spies, respond to "malicious cyber activities against the President Joe Biden greets Indian... and blacklists 32 individuals alleged to have tried to U.S. and its allies and partners," referring to the "Wishing a happy Vaisakhi to all the Sikhs and Sikh meddle in the 2020 presidential election, the White massive so-called SolarWinds hack of U.S. Americans celebrating in Illinois and across the world," House said in a statement. government computer systems last year. tweeted Senator Dick Durbin. Mr. Biden's executive order "sends a signal that the The statement also called out Russia's "Warm wishes on Vaisakhi to everyone in the Sikh United States will impose costs in a strategic and extraterritorial "targeting" of dissidents and community who call New Jersey home. This is a time to economically impactful manner on Russia if it journalists and undermining of security in focus on what matters most - family and standing in continues or escalates its destabilizing countries important to U.S. national security. solidarity with our neighbors," said Senator Bob international action," the White House said. In addition, the Department of Treasury, together Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations The U.S. barrage came the same week as Mr. Biden with the EU, Australia, Britain and Canada, Committee. offered to meet President Vladimir Putin for their sanctioned eight individuals and entities associated first face-to-face talks, suggesting that the summit with Russia's occupation of Crimea in Ukraine. could take place in a third country. In Brussels, the NATO military alliance said U.S. After the White House unveiled its measures, the allies "support and stand in solidarity with the U.S., Russian Foreign Ministry said a response was following its announcement of actions to respond to "inevitable." Russia's destabilizing activities". (With inputs from "The United States is not ready to come to terms agencies) with the objective reality that there is a multipolar world that excludes American hegemony," India's worries grow as Coronavirus... spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. A total of 33.13 lakh doses of vaccines were The latest tension comes amid worries both in the administered in the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. on April U.S. and its European allies over Russia's recent 15. It is about 6.6 lakh doses more than what was troop buildup on the border of Ukraine. recorded in the previous 24 hours. However, it is about The imprisonment of Alexei Navalny, who is 8.2 lakh doses lower than what was recorded the effectively the last open political opponent to Mr. previous Thursday (April 8). Putin, has further spiked concerns in the West. India continues to lead the world in terms of average The White House statement listed in first place daily cases detected. The nation now accounts for one in Moscow's "efforts to undermine the conduct of free every four cases reported globally every day.As of April and fair democratic elections and democratic 14, India recorded over two times the average daily institutions in the U.S. and its allies and partners." cases detected in the United States. The U.S. records the This referred to allegations that Russian second-most number of average daily cases - about intelligence agencies mounted disinformation and 71,200 infections. As of April 14, India recorded the dirty tricks campaigns during the 2016 and 2020 second most number of average daily deaths. Brazil, THE INDIAN PANORAMA EDITORIAL FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 08 AS I SEE IT Some predict a thumping victory for the UDF, while other left-leaning pundits keep believing that their Elections: Will the governance in the last five years will be rewarded with continuity. BJP supporters are thinking of power shift back to Congress? shock and awe for the rest of us. The truth is somewhere in between. The author who hails from the State of Kerala is a keen observer of politics The calculus from many quarters is in his State. He was in Kerala, campaigning for the Congress candidates, that if BJP's share of vote many of whom are hispersonal friends. Fresh from the battlefield, he has increases, it may hurt Congress BY GEORGE ABRAHAM made his assessment of the political situation and electoral fortunes of the more. Currently, the BJP share is political parties in the fray. around 15 %, and any decrease The Indian Panorama requested Mr. Abraham to share his assessment, would assure UDF a stunning lections in Kerala are over. Now it is a long wait. Unfortunately, the and we are glad, he obliged. victory Eelections were not conducted Here is the articlehe wrote exclusively for The Indian Panorama readers. towards the end of April; these EVMs are credibility of our election process, the in storage until May 2nd anyway.We do not EVMs in particular. know anymore what factors drive the There is no doubt that a few in the election commission to make these majority community tag Congress as a decisions on timings. However, there are party of the minorities. Some of the ample speculations that decisions may policies that the last UDF government have been borne out of travel conveniences pursued may have contributed to such an of the political hierarchy more than an indictment. Questions are being asked why average voter's wishes! the Muslim League, a coalition partner of When I landed in Kerala 3 weeks before the UDF, has a monopoly over certain the election, Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief portfolios covering a large chunk of the Minister of Kerala, was on billboards mandatory spending and why their everywhere, guaranteeing success. Most of ministers do not hire any non-Muslim in the media outlets have come out with their their staff. Suppose it is genuinely a secular own surveys that predicted an LDF victory. party,except for tokenism, why they appear Many of us felt that history is about to take to be so reluctant to run female candidates place in the continuation of a ministry. or non-Muslim candidates for that matter. Kerala has a tradition of alternating Some politicians like P.C. George and few between these two fronts' coalitions, UDF Bishops from the Catholic Church and LDF, as anti-incumbency always plays amplified some of these issues like 'Love a role. However, the mood slowly began to Jihad' and 'minority benefits' that created a shift as the election date neared. Many chasm between Christians and Muslims. folks who have ignored those The Prime Minister himself, who has no mushrooming scandals targeted by the time to meet with the protesting farmers, opposition started to take a second look. found time to hear the Bishops' stories The most compelling argument for many from the Jacobite Church, which continues for a change is the underlying feeling that piece until it is full-blown upon their faces. the pressure on the Pinarayi government to feud with the Orthodox, their sister Congress Party may become irrelevant if The Deep-Sea fishing project, an NRI and a positive outcome in the elections may church. There is no doubt that Modi is UDF loses again. Kerala stands out as the venture, is one such scandal where people vindicate him as an effective Opposition fishing in troubled waters, and BJP would last citadel against the BJP's goal of of Kerala were totally deceived by this leader.The other important factor that may like to see a Hindu-Christian consolidation 'Congress Mukta Bharat,' and people Government and repercussions have been have turned the fortune in favor of UDF as a short-term strategy to get their foot started to grasp that reality. In the absence indeed felt at the polling stations. was Rahul and 's effective inside the door. It may be anybody's guess of two fronts, UDF and LDF,BJP will likely Then again, CPM appears to be having campaigning across the State. Keralites what would happen once they have begin to consolidate their hold in a secular the misconception that if they drive the appeared to have given thumps up how accomplished that goal. It is still fresh in Kerala and, at the minimum, may become Congress out of town, LDF would be better they have identified themselves with locals, our memory that BJP made an alliance the major opposition force in the State. positioned as the lone ranger fighting for whether it is jumping into the sea with the with PDP in Jammu Kashmir that led to The other factor is how people started secularism and diversity with BJP as their fishermen or sharing an Easter meal with the President's rule, abrogation of Article perceiving Pinarayi Vijayan's autocratic main opposition, and given the the poor children in their habitat. 370, and their former allies' imprisonment. ways and a growing number of voters vary demographics, they could continue to rule BJP leaders are busy talking about their Some predict a thumping victory for the of a future where he may go unchallenged the State forever.They appear to have short potential to win up to 35 seats in Kerala. UDF, while other left-leaning pundits keep in another LDF victory. There are already memories and have forgotten already Nobody I spoke to could attest to that believing that their governance in the last rumblings inside CPM about arbitrary about their current dilemma in Bengal and possibility. There was no doubt that races five years will be rewarded with continuity. rulings and dictatorial ways the Tripura! There were even rumors of secret in 43 constituencies on all three fronts were BJP supporters are thinking of shock and Government is being run, and more and collaboration between CPM and BJP to competitive. However, when senior BJP awe for the rest of us. The truth is more, the governance is growingly that effect, and BJP would be allowed to bag leaders continued to herald that possibility somewhere in between. The calculus from perceived to be a one-man show. There are ten seats. The Lavlin case, a long-running and a new entry like Metroman E. many quarters is that if BJP's share of vote rumors of hard feelings within the party scandal involving Pinarayi, is being Sreedharan being talked about as a Chief increases, it may hurt Congress more. cadre about denying tickets to popular postponed by CBI, and indecisions by Minister candidate, secular minded Currently, the BJP share is around 15 %, leaders such as G. Sudhakaran, Thomas many central authorities regarding Keralites should start worrying about that and any decrease would assure UDF a Issac, and Raju Abraham. There is a good various scams, mainly the Gold smuggling prospect. Some even went as far as to speak stunning victory. As everyone knows, it is possibility that Congress may even snatch and Life mission, may have led many to about a hung assembly where BJP could be the traditional Congress votes that flow at least two of those seats. Mr. Pinarayi, believe that something rotten is happening the broker. The recent tradition we have towards BJP. Keralites are an intelligent who is also dubbed as 'Captain' is fully in behind the scenes. witnessed in the Kerala Elections is that electorate, and in the final analysis, they charge, and his unquestionable authority There is no doubt that Ramesh other fronts will cross-vote and negate that tend to believe that a change is necessary. and arrogant attitude is a matter of Chennithala looks more and more like a possibility when BJP appears to be in the Only on May 2nd may we learn the size of discomfort to many. hero unearthing one scam after another. lead. Whether that would happen this time that mandate. Therefore, I remain The lack of integrity and transparency There is a realization among the people remains to be seen. People who are cautiously optimistic. by him and his colleagues in the that credit should be given where credit is knowledgeable about the vulnerabilities of (The author is a former Chief Technology Government are so evident when they tend due. Whether he will be allowed to form the EVMs have expressed their concerns as Officer, United Nations, and Vice Chairman of to deny any charges of scandals first and Government remains to be seen. However, well, and if something unexpected happens Indian Overseas Congress, USA. He can be then slowly acknowledge them piece by nobody can deny the fact that he has kept in Kerala, it may question the whole reached at [email protected]) THE INDIAN PANORAMA PERSPECTIVE FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 09 OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN Compensation Is Due from ; and If We Were Pearl Harbored, Then Reparations too- Ravi Batra ew York based attorney Ravi Batra, on 14th to demand from China due compensation for causing and asking the US President to demand due April 2020 wrote an open letter to then President colossal losses in terms of men and material to compensation, and reparation, if required. NTrump making out a case against China for the America and Americans, and additionally, if China pandemic havoc, which has taken away millions of Pearl Harbored America, reparations. We are publishing here Mr. Batra’s open letter to lives, created terrible health issues, and ruined the A year later, Mr. Batra wrote an open letter to global economy.Mr. Batra called upon President Trump President Biden repeating his accusation against China President Biden, without editing it. -EDITOR

"April 13, 2021 at Captain Hook Hotel in Anchorage on March 18, 2021 - H.E. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. instead of a protocol-based public welcome, private candid President of the United States of America talks, and a public press conference at the end - started H.E. Nancy Pelosi with our honest expressions in public. In a moment that Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives evokes - albeit, in part - a declaration of independence H.E. Chuck Schumer [sadly, from us], CCP's Foreign Affairs Chief Yang Jiechi Majority Leader, U.S. Senate effortlessly responded in public, what I believe was Re: 1 Year after My April 14, 2020 "Open Letter" - M/O intended for private talks. We are at the cusp of a modern- Novel Coronavirus Aka Covid19 Aka "2019-n-CoV" or day Gordian Knot. "2019-nCoV" - Compensation Is Due from China; and If While I take note of William Stanton's recent April 9, We Were Pearl Harbored, Then Reparations too. 2021 piece on "Agents of Influence," I particularly take Honorable President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and note of former NSA H.R. McMaster's May 2020 piece in Majority Leader Schumer: The Atlantic, entitled "How China Sees the World," I As an un-conflicted American, I love and admire the freely admit that it was our then-President Nixon who Chinese culture; always have, and find Confucius wiser opened the world for China and granted CCP a as I age. With God's Grace I and my family survived Wuhan Lab permanent seat on the UNSC. Whether we have a rules- Covid19 on or about March 29, 2020. Treating this Virus based or law-based system of sovereigns co-existing in as a cancer case that I needed to crack, and after Convention on the Law of the Sea ("UNCLOS"). The the comity of nations, we ought not be in the position of learning biochemistry and epidemiology during an Virus is surely invisible, but this string of protein, having to pick between the ever-reasonable and well- intense effort, I did so, and a year ago, on April 14, 2020, despite its lab-based default programing, has no animus calibrated go-along and get-along Neville Chamberlain I wrote a 6-page "Open Letter" to then-President Trump, towards us and does not benefit by causing death and or Winston Churchill as being necessary to maintain Speaker Pelosi and then-Senate Majority Leader ("OL"; destruction - and by my last count, our needlessly dead our cherished freedoms and never surrender our copy enclosed, with uniform spelling of "Wuhan"), and well exceed our losses at Pearl Harbor. A substantial sovereignty.Methinks, a new joint Yalta and Brentwood for POTUS, emailed it to a former Marine: Deputy NSA question arises: is Covid19 a biowarfare agent? The Conference is needed, before over-due structural Matt Pottinger at 8:31pm. In the OL, I had the science, death and destruction we have suffered suggests a reforms can occur, and global peace and security re- the facts, and recommendations, including, bringing motivated animus, which is a human phenomenon that harnessed, without endless regional wars. our "supply chains" home. The next day, April 15, 2020, renders us unworthy in the eyes of God. Mr. President, you and I have had several meaningful about 1 p.m. the United States opened a preliminary Despite Truth-in-Labeling laws, CCP has succeeded exchanges, including, in the White House, and most investigation into inter alia the origin of SARS-CoV2 in blocking this Virus from being origin-labeled by relevantly, in the UN's Hall of Flags in Fall 2015 - when from PLA-run Wuhan Virology Lab, and the motives of deeming it racist. Our misguided citizens criminally I urged you to run in 2016, as an election you were born CCP China in causing its global-spread without attacking innocent law-abiding Asian-Americans has for - to revive the American Dream. The American sounding a pandemic-alarm directly or thru the WHO. I provided cover, while shaming us as a nation that Dream belongs more to everyday Americans, than Wall remain grateful for the start of the April 15, 2020 "all celebrates diversity, and staining E Pluribus Unum. Streeters, custodians of international money and hands-on deck" Investigation. Our shameful chapter of interning innocent and loyal achiever of maximum profit, as it was everyday It remains an open secret that my analysis was and is Japanese-Americans during WWII, when we did no Americans in 1814 who during heavy bombardment of correct, and that this is a lab-created Frankenstein that such thing to German-Americans while fighting Nazi Fort McHenry, kept our Flag high by paying the transplanted the "Spike Glycoprotein(S)" ("Spike") from Germany, is a lesson we need to learn perpetually, ultimate sacrifice repeatedly, and caused Francis Scott Bats - a unique feature in bats, as they are either "cold" exactly,as Kristallnacht teaches: remember always. It is Key to pen our Star-Spangled Banner. Please let it wave or "warm" blooded, and still, a warm Bat can procreate a singularly important ingredient in our effort to form high, and free, in this 21st Century. with a cold Bat due to the "Spike." OL at 3. I called a more perfect union - a point recently well made by If I can assist, as you wished of me during our "Covid19," aka "Wuhan Virus," a Trojan Horse, as its Secretary Blinken in Anchorage. substantive talk in the Hall of Flags, as a citizen- Spike feature does not cause our immune system to I write to seek from you dear and respected President patriot, devastated by January 6th more than by 9/11, I sound an alarm upon infection (and the T-cells remain Biden, given your distinguished tenure and natural would be happy to re-find diplomacy's respect-based asleep). Disturbingly, CCP has not turned over, to this God-given abilities - a clear American policy - both as to ability to "round the edges" and fashion justice-based day, the genome of Patient Zero who was admitted in our injury from Covid19 and holding the sending-nation remedies that are equitable - as the Jesuits teach us Wuhan hospital on or about December 1, 2019, while a reasonably responsible (turnover all biomedical everything must be. Sometimes, davening with the right different protein string-virus was released on or about information, indemnify our losses, etc.), and to restore Minyan helps to be better able to turn swords into December 31, 2019 at the Wuhan Wet Market. The global peace and security, by avoiding a war if we can. ploughshares. As Honor and WWIII walk into the ring animal farms about 1000 miles away from Wuhan, did Indeed, pre-Covid19, troubled by the years-long effort by to face off, the time is now for your leadership to make not experience a Covid19 outbreak, thereby decimating China to create Mischief Reef into a military base, in foreign policy into domestic policy - just as your the WHO's coddled-team's report, after a 3-hour September 2017, I had a respectful conversation with infrastructure plan is our OBOR/BRI within our chaperoned visit to the Wuhan Virology lab, falsely China's distinguished FM Wang Yi, which in sum and borders. Retail solutions will not work in the East or in asserting a virus jump from an animal to a human. substance, I explained the above facts and said, you are the West; but, wholesale solutions will turn adversaries WHO dishonored its high fiduciary obligations, and inviting a little war now or a big war later, and since I into allies. God Bless you, and continue to Bless these did not promptly alert the leaders of every nation that a don't like wars, I prefer a little war now. Minister Wang, United States of America - I prefer "united," the verb. pandemic was afoot and ask to lock-down CCP's China. with concern, immediately responded: No war! No war!, Respectfully, President Trump said we were fighting an invisible and left to end this conversation. /S/ enemy.I disagree; the cascading events in just the South Diplomacy is always needed, even to arrange a China Sea - from creating Mischief Reef, to sinking of surrender to end a war. It has been reported that President RAVI BATRA Filipino Fishing boats with Fishermen to their death, to Xi, whom I consider to be at least as much an exceptional Encl: April 14, 2020 Open Letter to POTUS et al sinking Vietnamese Fishing boats, to the recent mastermind as Chairman Mao was, if not more, has asked C: Leader Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr., Leader Kevin squatting of 245 Chinese Militia ships, lashed together his diplomatic corps to unsheathe their swords to be Wolf McCarthy, HFAC Chairman Greg W. Meeks, Ranker McCall, to appear as part of "9-Dashes" in Philippines' Exclusive Warriors - a function or definition that defies diplomacy, Chair Carolyn B. Maloney, Ranker Jim Jordan, SFRC Chairman Bob Menendez, Ranker Risch, Secretary Anthony Blinken, Economic Zone - are in violation of inter alia the UN even as it weaponizes it. Given that backdrop, we, as hosts Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, NSA Jake Sullivan." THE INDIAN PANORAMA US FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 10 Brown Women in Art - a new trend started by Biden announces withdrawal of troops Indian origin artist Sujata Tibrewala aims to bring from Afghanistan by September 11 equality in Art WASHINGTON (TIP): President Joe decades after it began, the Afghanistan San Jose based Tibrewala has Biden on Wednesday, April14, formally war is ending. been creating powerful images of announced his decision to withdraw "It is time to end America's longest American troops from Afghanistan war. It is time for American troops to brown women in her paintings to before September 11, the 20th come home," he said. create a balanced narrative in art anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Biden said the withdrawal will begin the World Trade Center and the on May 1, in line with an agreement Pentagon that led the US into its longest President 's war. administration made with the Taliban. "We cannot continue the cycle of "We cannot continue the cycle of extending He said the complete withdrawal will be extending or expanding our military or expanding our military presence in done by September 11. presence in Afghanistan hoping to Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal The deadline Biden has set is absolute, conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a create the ideal conditions for our different result," Biden said. with no potential for extension based on withdrawal, expecting a different worsening conditions on the ground. result," Biden said. George W. Bush announced the start of Officials said after two decades of war, it "I am now the fourth American the war on October 7, 2001. Afterward was clear to the President that throwing president to preside over an American he'll visit the section of Arlington more time and money at Afghanistan's troop presence in Afghanistan. Two National Cemetery where many of problems wasn't going to work. Republicans. Two Democrats," he added. America's war dead from Afghanistan "This is not conditions-based," a "I will not pass this responsibility to a are buried. senior administration official heavily fifth." Biden will say that American involved in the deliberations said on Featured in Museum of American History. In a sign he views his remarks as a diplomatic and humanitarian efforts Tuesday. "The President has judged that SAN JOSE, CA (TIP): Artist and historic bookend to the prolonged will continue in Afghanistan and would a conditions-based approach, which has activist Sujata Tibrewala believes conflict, he delivered them from support peace efforts between the been the approach of the past two that art can change narratives and precisely the same spot in the White Afghan government and the Taliban. decades, is a recipe for staying in can bring important changes in the House Treaty Room that President But he'll be unequivocal that two Afghanistan forever." - (Source: CNN) world as we see it. To mark the ongoing Women's History Month, Tibrewala who is known for her US Senate to Vote on Indian American Lawyer Vanita Three Indian origin persons feminist paintings has started a new Gupta's Nomination to Serve as Associate Attorney General charged with conspiracy to social media trend. Entitled #BrownWomeninArt Sujata is urging WASHINGTON (TIP): The US Senate distribute cocaine, heroin, all women artists to come ahead and would go through a rare procedure to show women of colors in their discharge a nomination from the opium and ketamine Parminder Aujla artwork. Talking about this initiative judiciary committee for Indian Sujata says, "As an artist of color, American lawyer Vanita Gupta to serve SACRAMENTO (TIP): Three men living and working in the United as Associate Attorney General, a senior were booked into the Sacramento States, I have myself seen how the art lawmaker said on Thursday, April 15. County Main Jail on Thursday and were space can be skewed in one direction. If confirmed, Ms. Gupta, 46, would be scheduled to appear in federal court We do not very often see women the first woman of color to serve as Friday afternoon following a six-month artists of color in mainstream and Associate Attorney General, which is If confirmed, Vanita Gupta, 46, would be the investigation that court records say worse still we rarely do see women of the third-ranking official at the powerful first woman of color to serve as Associate included undercover drug buys in Attorney General, which is the third-ranking color as the subject of paintings or Department of Justice. official at the powerful Department of Justice. Canada and the United States, cellphone art works. The whole idea is to make Senate Majority Leader senator Chuck surveillance and encrypted our presence mainstream. The aim of Schumer had to file this rare motion of nomination of Gupta to be Associate communications conducted in Punjabi. this campaign is to invite all women discharge because the Senate Judiciary Attorney General from the Committee Parampreet Singh, 55; Ranvir Singh, of color in the West to share their art Committee on March 25 voted her on the Judiciary and the Senate will 38; and Amandeep Singh Multani, 33, and show the power of choosing what nomination 11-11. The discharge motion proceed to a roll call vote relative to that are charged in a federal criminal we want the world to see." would allow a full Senate vote on her motion. complaint with conspiracy to distribute On what inspired Sujata to start this nomination. There will then be up to four hours of cocaine, heroin, opium and ketamine, trend, she says, "A number of things "This afternoon, the Senate will need debate on the motion to discharge the which the U.S. Drug Enforcement happening around us in America to go through a rare procedure to Gupta nomination from the Committee Agency describes as a "short-acting herald change and our unmistakable discharge a nomination from the on the Judiciary.The Senate will proceed anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects" presence. We have a woman first ever Judiciary Committee... Miss Vanita to a roll call vote on the motion to that is "sometimes used to facilitate Vice President who is proud of her Gupta to serve as Associate Attorney discharge the Gupta nomination from sexual assault crimes." heritage, we just had a South Asian General," Schumer said on the Senate the Committee on the Judiciary. They also face a count of distribution origin woman Swati Mohan leading floor. Schumer said Ms. Gupta will make an of a substance containing cocaine. the Mars mission, even the otherwise "The daughter of immigrants from outstanding Associate Attorney All three are being held without bail, period white drama Bridgerton on India, Miss Gupta is the first woman of General. The Senate should discharge and online court records did not list an announced that their next color to ever be nominated for Associate her nomination from the Judiciary attorney for them Friday morning. season would have an Indian origin Attorney General, the third-ranking Committee this afternoon, he said. The three men "have offered to supply lady in the lead. These are all official at the Department of Justice. "In her very first case after law school, up to hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, important moments. It is how we use Her public track record is nothing short Ms. Gupta won the release of several heroin, opium, and ketamine at a time, these signs to pave our way that will of exemplary," Schumer said before a African-Americans who had been wrongly in both Canada and the United States," make all the difference." bitterly divided Senate. convicted by all-white juries in Texas, according to an affidavit filed in court Talking about her paintings, Sujata Given that the 100-member Senate is clients who eventually won a pardon from by U.S. Drug Enforcement says, "From the moment I began equally divided among Republicans and Texas Governor Rick Perry.She continued Administration Special Agent Joshua painting, I felt drawn to the idea of the Democrats with 50 seats each, the her work at the ACLU, where she launched Matas. "They have also stated that they presenting the story from a woman's ruling party now depends on Vice a bipartisan criminal justice reform effort, have drug trafficking connections to perspective, in my paintings. President Kamala Harris to break the tie before going on to lead the civil rights Mexico, India, , Afghanistan, in favor of Ms. Gupta. division of the Justice Department under and Germany, in addition to the United (Read full story at Later in the day, Schumer is expected President Obama," the senator said. States and Canada." www.theindianpanorama.news) to make a motion to proceed to Executive (Read full story at (Read full story at Session in order to move to discharge the www.theindianpanorama.news) www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 11

Sri Lanka bans IS, 10 Pakistan deploys other groups COLOMBO (TIP): has banned 11 hardline Islamist paramilitary forces to quell organisations, including the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda. It warned that any person who conspires with them deadly Islamist protests would be sentenced to prison terms between 10 and 20 years. LAHORE (TIP): Paramilitary forces President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a deployed overnight in the eastern special gazette notification issued on Pakistani province of Punjab as police Tuesday proscribed the radical struggled to clear violent sit-ins by groups under the Prevention of Islamists protesting against the arrest of Terrorism (temporary) Provisions their leader. Act. This has been done in good faith Two police officers were killed and 125 to ensure peace, the notification said. policemen were hurt in clashes with — PTI protesters in Lahore, Punjab's capital, the city's police chief Ghulam Mehmood Dogar 5 miners die, 4 missing in said on Wednesday during a visit to a coal mine collapse in hospital treating the injured. The protests were called by Tehrik-i- Afghanistan Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline Islamist KABUL (TIP): A makeshift coal group that has made the denunciation of mine collapsed on Tuesday in blasphemy against Islam its rallying cry. northern Afghanistan, burying five Their leader Saad Rizvi was arrested in miners and leaving four more Lahore on Monday ahead of the missing, a provincial security official demonstrations. said. On Tuesday, Rizvi was charged with Jawed Basharat, a spokesman for instigating the murder of a police the provincial police chief in constable, who authorities say was northern Baghlan province said a kidnapped by protesters and later beaten to are seated on the ground surrounded by lesson. rescue team is at the site in Nahrin death. Major roads across the country were protesters, with one bleeding and For many Muslims, depictions of the district. blocked by the protesters on Monday and appearing to be badly injured. Prophet are blasphemous. Collapsing coal mines are Tuesday,but by Tuesday evening police had The TLP group blocked one of the main The group's agreement with the happening more often in Afghanistan. been able to clear most of the crowds, roads into the capital late last year and government was revised earlier this year, There are no professional ways of except in Lahore. called off their protest only after the extending to April 20 the deadline for a mining and extraction in the country. Local news outlets reported similar government signed a deal with them, parliamentary resolution to expel the Local workers use traditional incidents of protesters overpowering police agreeing to endorse a boycott of French French ambassador, when the group had techniques and put their lives at risk in other cities, as did videos shared on products. plans to hold countrywide rallies. in remote areas. social media that could not At the time, protests had broken out in Pakistan's parliament in October According to the US Geological independently verify. several Muslim countries over France's condemned the display of images in France Survey, Afghanistan has reserves of In one, a police officer with a bloodied response to the killing of a teacher who of the Prophet Mohammad, urging the oil, gas, lithium, and other rare face is frog-marched along a road by showed cartoons mocking the Prophet government to withdraw its ambassador metals and minerals worth trillions of protesters. In another, a group of officers Mohammad to pupils during a civics from Paris. Reuters dollars, most of which remain untouched due to insecurity and violence in different parts of the country. AP security forces Five new animal species discovered in Tibet arrest key protest leader TIBET (TIP): Five new animal species have been discovered in Tibet, including three kinds of frogs, one YANGON (TIP): Myanmar security old-world monkey and a bushmaster forces arrested on Thursday one of the snake, challenging the long-held view main leaders of the campaign against that the Himalayan mountains are a military rule after ramming him with a desolate and lifeless region. car as he led a motorbike protest rally, The discovery of the five new friends and colleagues said. species was the result of an eight-year Opponents of a February 1 coup that investigation of the terrestrial ousted an elected government led by wildlife in the Tibet Autonomous Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi region carried out by the regional have kept up their campaign against the forestry bureau, state-run Global military this traditional New Year week Times reported on Monday. with marches and various other displays Covering an area of 6,346 sq kms, of resistance. this was a second such investigation “Our brother Wai Moe Naing was carried out by the bureau, the report arrested. His motorbike was hit by an said. unmarked police car,” Win Zaw Khiang, The discovered species are: a type of a member of a protest organising group, macaque (a genus of gregarious Old said on social media. World monkeys), bushmaster snake Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year-old Muslim, (venomous), and three kinds of frogs. has emerged as one of the most high- The investigation also discovered 20 profile leaders of opposition to the coup. species that were not previously Earlier, Reuters spoke to Wai Moe Naing known to habitat in Tibet. by telephone as he was setting off to lead PTI the rally in the central town of Monywa, about 700 km (435 miles) north of the main city of Yangon. — Reuters THE INDIAN PANORAMA US FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 12 TAX MATTERS IRS suspends requirement to repay excess advance payments of the 2020 Premium Tax Credit; those claiming net Premium Tax Credit must file Form 8962 for health insurance coverage in a processing their tax return. refund of this amount. The IRS will qualified health plan purchased through Taxpayers who have already filed their provide more details on IRS.gov.There is a Health Insurance Marketplace. 2020 tax return and who have excess no need to file an amended tax return or Taxpayers use Form 8962, Premium Tax APTC for 2020 do not need to file an contact the IRS. Credit to figure the amount of their PTC amended tax return or contact the IRS. As a reminder, this change applies and reconcile it with their APTC. This The IRS will reduce the excess APTC only to reconciling tax year 2020 APTC. computation lets taxpayers know repayment amount to zero with no Taxpayers who received the benefit of WASHINGTON (TIP): The American whether they must increase their tax further action needed by the taxpayer. APTC prior to 2020 must file Form 8962 Rescue Plan Act of 2021 suspends the liability by all or a portion of their The IRS will reimburse people who have to reconcile their APTC and PTC for the requirement that taxpayers increase excess APTC, called an excess advance already repaid any excess advance pre-2020 year when they file their federal their tax liability by all or a portion of Premium Tax Credit repayment, or may Premium Tax Credit on their 2020 tax income tax return even if they their excess advance payments of the claim a net PTC. return. Taxpayers who received a letter otherwise are not required to file a tax Premium Tax Credit (excess APTC) for Taxpayers can check with their tax about a missing Form 8962 should return for that year. The IRS continues tax year 2020. A taxpayer's excess APTC professional or use tax software to figure disregard the letter if they have excess to process prior year tax returns and is the amount by which the taxpayer's the amount of allowable PTC and APTC for 2020. The IRS will process tax correspond for missing information. If advance payments of the Premium Tax reconcile it with APTC received using returns without Form 8962 for tax year the IRS sends a letter about a 2019 Form Credit (APTC) exceed his or her the information from Form 1095-A, 2020 by reducing the excess advance 8962, we need more information from the Premium Tax Credit (PTC). Health Insurance Marketplace premium tax credit repayment amount taxpayer to finish processing their tax The Internal Revenue Service Statement. to zero. return. Taxpayers should respond to the announced today that taxpayers with The process remains unchanged for Again, IRS is taking steps to letter so that the IRS can finish excess APTC for 2020 are not required to taxpayers claiming a net PTC for 2020. reimburse people who filed Form 8962, processing the tax return and, if file Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit, or They must file Form 8962 when they file reported, and paid an excess advance applicable, issue any refund the report an excess advance Premium Tax their 2020 tax return. See the Premium Tax Credit repayment amount taxpayer may be due. Credit repayment on their 2020 Form Instructions for Form 8962 for more with their 2020 tax return before the See the Form 8962, Premium Tax 1040 or Form 1040-SR, Schedule 2, Line 2, information. Taxpayers claiming a net recent legislative changes were made. Credit, and IRS Fact Sheet for more when they file. PTC should respond to an IRS notice Taxpayers in this situation should not details about the changes related to the Eligible taxpayers may claim a PTC asking for more information to finish file an amended return solely to get a PTC for tax year 2020. IRS reminds taxpayers to make April 15 Treasury, IRS provide estimated tax payment guidance on tax relief WASHINGTON (TIP): The Internal Revenue instructions for more information. Service, April 8, reminded self-employed How to pay estimated taxes for deductions for food individuals, retirees, investors, businesses, corporations and others who pay their taxes Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals, quarterly that the payment for the first quarter of includes instructions to help taxpayers figure or beverages from 2021 is due Thursday, April 15, 2021. their estimated taxes. They can also visit The extension to May 17, 2021 for individuals to IRS.gov/payments to pay electronically. The restaurants file their 2020 federal income taxes does not apply fastest and easiest ways to make an estimated tax to estimated tax payments. The 2021 Form 1040-ES, payment is by using IRS Direct Pay, the IRS2Go Estimated Tax for Individuals, can help taxpayers app or the Treasury Department's Electronic Businesses can temporarily deduct 100% estimate their first quarterly tax payment. Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). For beginning Jan. 1, 2021 Income taxes are pay-as-you-go. This means, by information on other payment options, visit law, taxes must be paid as income is earned or IRS.gov/payments. If paying by check, taxpayers WASHINGTON (TIP): The Treasury Department and the received during the year. Most people pay their should be sure to make the check payable to the Internal Revenue Service, April 8, issued Notice 2021-25 providing taxes through withholding from paychecks, "United States Treasury." guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of pension payments, Social Security benefits or Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated 2020. The Act added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the certain other government payments including Tax, has additional details, including worksheets amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The unemployment compensation. and examples, that can be especially helpful to temporary exception allows a 100% deduction for food or Most often, those who are self-employed or in the those who have dividend or capital gain income, beverages from restaurants. sharing economy need to make estimated tax owe alternative minimum tax or self-employment Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2022, businesses can payments. Similarly, investors, retirees and others tax, or have other special situations. claim 100% of their food or beverage expenses paid to restaurants often need to make these payments because a IRS.gov assistance 24/7 as long as the business owner (or an employee of the business) is substantial portion of their income is not subject present when food or beverages are provided, and the expense is to withholding. Other income generally not Tax help is available 24/7 on IRS.gov. The IRS not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances. subject to withholding includes interest, website offers a variety of online tools to help Where can businesses get food and beverages and claim 100%? dividends, capital gains, alimony and rental taxpayers answer common tax questions. For Under the temporary provision, restaurants include businesses income. Paying quarterly estimated taxes will example, taxpayers can search the Interactive Tax that prepare and sell food or beverages to retail customers for usually lessen and may even eliminate any Assistant, Tax Topics, Frequently Asked immediate on-premises and/or off-premises consumption. penalties. Questions, and Tax Trails to get answers to However, restaurants do not include businesses that primarily sell Exceptions to the penalty and special rules apply common questions. pre-packaged goods not for immediate consumption, such as to some groups of taxpayers, such as farmers, The IRS is continuing to expand ways to grocery stores and convenience stores. fishermen, casualty and disaster victims, those communicate to taxpayers who prefer to get Additionally, an employer may not treat certain employer- who recently became disabled, recent retirees and information in other languages. The IRS has operated eating facilities as restaurants, even if these facilities those who receive income unevenly during the posted translated tax resources in 20 other are operated by a third party under contract with the employer. year. See Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated languages on IRS.gov. For more information, see More information for business seeking coronavirus related tax Tax by Individuals, Estates and Trusts, and its "We Speak Your Language." relief can be found at IRS.gov. THE INDIAN PANORAMA US FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 13 ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS Individuals experiencing homelessness can receive Economic Impact Payments and other tax benefits; permanent address not required WASHINGTON (TIP): The Internal Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't applied to the card. Many reloadable Revenue Service, April 15, continued an required to file a tax return. For the prepaid cards or mobile payment apps ongoing effort to help those experiencing current third round of payments, people have account and routing numbers that homelessness during the pandemic by who are experiencing homelessness can be provided to the IRS. Individuals reminding people who don't have a usually qualify to receive $1,400 for would need to check with the financial permanent address or a bank account themselves. If they are married or have institution to ensure the card can be used that they may still qualify for Economic dependents, they can get an additional and to obtain the routing number and Impact Payments and other tax benefits. $1,400 for each of their family members. account number, which may be different While Economic Impact Payments Filing a 2020 federal income tax return from the card number. continue to be made automatically to that provides very basic information File for free most people, the IRS can't issue a about the person is something that can payment to eligible Americans when be done electronically using a The fastest and easiest way to claim information about them isn't available in smartphone or a computer. When the IRS the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit and the tax agency's systems. receives the return, it will automatically Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or to More details on the Earned Income To help people experiencing calculate and issue the Economic Impact get the third Economic Impact Payment Tax Credit homelessness, the rural poor and other Payments to eligible individuals. is to file a return electronically using IRS For people experiencing homelessness historically under-served groups, the IRS Permanent address not required Free File. People can use a smartphone who have a job, filing a return often urges community groups, employers and or computer to visit IRS.gov and click the carries an added bonus-getting a refund others to share information about People can claim an Economic Impact Free File link. based on various tax benefits, especially Economic Impact Payments and help Payment or other credits even if they Through the Free File system, anyone the EITC for low-and moderate-income more eligible people file a tax return so don't have a permanent address. For who qualifies for the EITC also qualifies workers and working families. they can receive everything they're example, someone experiencing to use brand-name software to prepare Like many other workers, some entitled to. IRS.gov has a variety of homelessness may list the address of a and electronically file their return for workers experiencing homelessness still information and tools to help people friend, relative or trusted service free. The IRS urges anyone experiencing qualify for the credit even if they earned receive the Economic Impact Payments. provider, such as a shelter, drop-in day homelessness who has a smartphone or too little income during 2020 to owe tax. "The IRS has been continuing to work center or transitional housing program, access to a computer to take advantage of For 2020, the income limit is $15,820 for directly with groups inside and outside on the return filed with the IRS. If they this service. singles with no children ($21,710 for the tax community to get information are unable to choose direct deposit, a Get free help from IRS partners couples with no children). The income directly to people experiencing check or debit card for the tax refund and limit is higher for people with children. homelessness and other groups to help the third Economic Impact Payment can Alternatively,anyone who qualifies for For example, the limit is $50,594 for them receive Economic Impact then be mailed to this address. the EITC or does not have a filing singles with three or more children Payments," said IRS Commissioner Individuals experiencing requirement but is filing to get an ($56,844 for couples with three or more Chuck Rettig. "The IRS is working hard Economic Impact Payment also qualifies children). Those who make less than this on this effort, enabling millions of homelessness can receive the EITC for free tax help from a trained amount must also meet other eligibility people who don't normally file a tax A worker experiencing homelessness community volunteer tax preparer. requirements. return to receive these payments. But we can get an Earned Income Tax Credit Through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Because it's a refundable credit, those need to do more, and we appreciate all (EITC). To get the credit, federal law Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counselling who qualify and claim the credit could the help we've been receiving from requires that a worker live in the U.S. for for the Elderly), volunteers prepare basic pay less federal tax, pay no tax, or even national and local groups to assist in this more than half of the year and meet tax returns at thousands of tax help sites get a tax refund. The EITC can put up to effort to reach the people who other requirements. This means living in nationwide. $6,660 into a worker's pocket. The desperately need this help." a home in any of the 50 states or the Please note that some VITA/TCE sites amount varies depending upon the Economic Impact Payments, also District of Columbia. Therefore, are not operating at full capacity and worker's income, marital status, and known as stimulus payments, are individuals experiencing homelessness, others are not opening this year. To find other factors. different from most other tax benefits; including those who reside at one or the nearest location, visit the Free Tax The IRS recognizes that eligible people can get the payments even if they more homeless shelters, can meet that Return Preparation site on IRS.gov, or workers experiencing homelessness have little or no income and even if they requirement. call 800-906-9887. VITA/TCE site often encounter unique challenges not don't usually file a tax return. This is No bank account? No problem availability is updated throughout the faced by other people. true as long as they have a Social filing season, so check back if there To find out if they're eligible, people Security number and are not being Many financial institutions will help a aren't any sites listed nearby. can use the EITC Assistant on IRS.gov. supported by someone else who can person lacking an account to open a low- The IRS also continues to work It's available in both English and claim them as a dependent. cost or no-cost bank account. Individuals extensively with community groups Spanish. The IRS needs information from who open accounts will then have an across the country to get people to file tax Help spread the word people who don't usually file a tax return account and routing number available returns and receive all the Economic - even if they did not have any income when they file and claim a direct deposit Impact Payments and credits they're Employers can help by making their last year or their income was not large of the Economic Impact Payment. entitled to. These efforts helped lead to employees aware of the third Economic enough to require them to file. The only Visit the Federal Deposit Insurance more than 8 million people last year to Impact Payment, 2020 Recovery Rebate way for the agency to have that Corporation (FDIC) website for details, submit tax returns who normally don't Credit and Earned Income Tax and Child information is for people to file a basic in both English and Spanish, on opening file. Tax Credit, and by encouraging them to 2020 tax return with the IRS. Once that an account online. Among other things, Direct deposit speeds payments file for these benefits based on tax year return is processed, the IRS can quickly people can also use the FDIC's BankFind 2020 rules. In addition, the American send stimulus payments to an address tool to locate a nearby FDIC-insured Direct deposit is the safest and fastest Rescue Plan, enacted in March 2021, selected by the eligible individual. People bank. In addition, BankOn, American way to receive a refund and Economic expands EITC and the Child Tax Credit do not need a permanent address or a Bankers Association, Independent Impact Payments. People will need to benefits for the 2021 tax year. bank account. They don't need to have a Community Bankers of America, include direct deposit information on Some people will be able to get advance job. For eligible individuals, the IRS will National Credit Union Administration their 2020 tax return to get their payment payments of the Child Tax Credit later still issue the payment even if they have all compiled lists of banks and directly deposited. this year. There is nothing those who haven't filed a tax return in years. credit union that can open an account Anyone with a savings, checking, or qualify need to do at this point other than People in this group can still qualify online. brokerage account can choose to have file a 2020 tax return. for the first two Economic Impact For veterans, see the Veterans Benefits their refund electronically deposited in Employers can also help by making it Payments when they file their 2020 Banking Program (VBBP) for access to that account. Direct deposit is available easy for employees to obtain or access return by claiming the Recovery Rebate financial services at participating banks. even for people who file a paper tax their 2020 W-2 forms. For more Credit. There's a special section on For those with a prepaid debit card, return, but processing of paper returns information, check out the outreach IRS.gov that can help: Claiming the 2020 they may be able to have their refund takes longer. material, available on IRS.gov. THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIA FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 14 FIR against in Cooch Behar for ‘instigating’ people to gherao central forces

KOLKATA (TIP): An FIR has been lodged against West Bengal Chief Minister Former CBI Mamata Banerjee at a police station here, alleging that she director Ranjit instigated voters to gherao central forces and that, in turn, led to the incident of Sinha passes firing in Sitalkuchi and the subsequent death of four persons. away Siddique Ali Mia, the zilla president of BJP's minority NEW DELHI (TIP): Former CBI cell in Cooch Behar, cited the director Ranjit Sinha died here on TMC supremo's comments Friday, April 16, morning in what is during a rally in Banerswar believed to be a COVID-19 related area as he filed a complaint on death, senior officials said.He was 68. Wednesday claiming that her It is understood that he was address provoked people to confirmed positive for coronavirus on attack CISF personnel during Thursday night and breathed his last the fourth phase of state at 4.30 am on Friday, the officials said. elections. Sinha, a 1974-batch officer of the He attached a video clip of few days. necessary in order to save the country for the first time Bihar cadre and who had cracked the Banerjee's speech in his "She is solely responsible for lives of the voters lined up at reported more than 2 lakh coveted UPSC examination at the age complaint at Mathabhanga the death of those four people. the polling booth, those of Covid-19 cases in a day. of 21, had taken over as the CBI chief police station. She is answerable to all the other polling personnel and There is no plan to club in 2012. He had previously headed the Villagers, after being voters of our district," Mia their own lives as the mob had remaining phases of West Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) provoked by such provocative stated. attempted snatching their Bengal elections. A meeting force, the Railway Protection Force statements of Mamata At least four persons died weapons." has been called by the Chief and served at senior positions in the Banerjee, tried to snatch fire outside a polling booth in The poll panel had also Electoral Officer of West CBI in Patna and Delhi during his four- arms of the deployed Sitalkuchi assembly banned political leaders from Bengal to ask political parties decade-long career in police service. paramilitary forces, Mia said. constituency on April 10 when entering the district for three to adhere to EC's Covid-19 “DG and all ranks of ITBP express "The said villagers CISF personnel opened fire in days. Mamata Banerjee met guidelines and ensure strict their deepest condolences on sad including women launched "self defence" allegedly after the family members of those compliance, an EC official demise of Sh Ranjit Sinha, former DG attack upon the paramilitary coming under attack from killed in the firing on said. ITBP today. He served the force from forces with the intention of locals. Wednesday. This time, election to the September 1, 2011 to December 19, 2012 causing bodily injury,knowing The Election Commission Meanwhile, the Election West Bengal Assembly is being as DG and earlier as ADG and will it to be likely to cause death of had suspended the voting Commission of India on held in eight phases. Polling always be remembered for his the deployed paramilitary exercise at the booth following Thursday said it has no plans for four phases have ended and professional acumen and exceptional forces," he wrote in the FIR, a the incident. as of now to club the for the fifth phase it will be leadership. May his soul rest in peace," copy of which is with the PTI. In its statement, the EC said, remaining phases of the West held on Saturday. Polling for the ITBP said in a statement. The BJP leader, when "The joint report of the two Bengal Assembly election and the sixth, seventh and the An MPhil from the Indian Institute contacted, said he would special observers has been hold polling for them together. eighth phase will be held on of Public Administration, Sinha was launch a massive protest received ... wherein they The comment comes at a April 22, April 26 and April 29, an avid reader and writer and a demanding the chief interalia stated that recourse time when India is reeling respectively. regular contributor on police-related minister's arrest, if the police to open fire by the CISF under a raging second wave of Votes for all the phases will issues in various journals and "sit idle" on the FIR in the next personnel became absolutely Covid-19. On Thursday, the be counted on May 2. magazines. Time has come for a woman Chief 2020 Delhi : Court grants Justice of India: CJI SA Bobde bail to

NEW DELHI (TIP): Chief Justice of High Courts have told me that there is a NEW DELHI (TIP): A Delhi court or any police witness of he being India SA Bobde on Thursday, April 15, said problem that when women lawyers are on Thursday,April 15, granted bail to present at the scene of crime on the the time had come when a woman should be asked for appointment as judges, they often former JNU student Umar Khalid in a date of incident,” Additional Sessions the Chief Justice of India. He also said deny it saying that they have domestic case related to the communal violence Judge Vinod Yadav noted in the order. there was no need for a change of attitude of responsibility or they have to take care of in northeast Delhi in February last Khalid, however, will remain in jail the Collegium to ensure greater the studies of their children”. year, saying that he cannot be made to as he is accused in some other cases, representation of women in the judiciary. However, the CJI's comment invited a incarcerate in jail for infinity. including one related to the criminal A special bench of Chief Justice SA strong response from women in the bar. Further, the court said the conspiracy lodged under stringent Bobde and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and “There are many men who refuse investigation in the case has been Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Kant said, “Why higher judiciary.We judgeship because they have a successful completed and the charge sheet has The former JNU student leader was think the time has come when a woman practice and do not want to take a cut in been filed and it is the case in which granted bail in the case in which the should be Chief Justice of India". their earnings. But has that stopped the Khalid was not physically present at FIR was registered on the statement The bench said, “We have the interest of collegium from seeking more men and the scene of the crime on the date of of Constable Sangram Singh, where women in mind. There is no attitudinal making them judges?” the incident. he stated that on February 24, 2020 at change in it. Hopefully, they (women) will quoted Bombay-based advocate Veena “The applicant is not visible in any about 2 PM, a large crowd gathered on be appointed”. Gowda as saying. CCTV footage/viral video(s) the road in a locality in the northeast SA Bobde also said several women The Women Lawyers’ pertaining to the scene of crime on Delhi and started pelting stones in lawyers turned down proposals to accept Forum also tweeted, "We are ready and the date of the incident. There is no which he and other police officials got judgeship citing domestic responsibilities. more than happy to take this responsibility identification of the applicant either injured as they were thrashed by the CJI SA Bobde said, “Chief Justices of and serve the institution." through independent public witness mob. THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIA FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 15 China-India border tensions SC asks CBI to probe remain high despite pullback cops’ role in ISRO spying case from LAC: US intel report NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on Thursday, April 15, sealed the report submitted by the Jain NEW DELHI (TIP): A United States intelligence Committee on the 1994 espionage case against former report has said that despite some force pullback from the Isro scientist Dr S Nambi Narayanan. The apex court Line of Actual Control, the tension between India and said that the report’s contents would not be disclosed to China remains high as China seeks to use coordinated any party involved and directed the Central Bureau of tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel Investigation (CBI) to probe its findings further. regional neighbours to acquiesce to Beijing’s preferences, The Jain Committee report was prepared by the including its claims over disputed territory. three-member panel, headed by former top court judge “China-India border tensions remain high, despite Justice (retd) DK Jain, on the role of erring police some force pullbacks this year China’s occupation since officials in the 1994 espionage case relating to Isro May 2020 of contested border areas is the most serious scientist Nambi Narayanan who had been acquitted escalation in decades and led to the first lethal border and was eventually awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation clash between the two countries since 1975. As of mid- by the top court. February, after multiple rounds of talks, both sides were Hearing the Centre’s plea to consider the report, the pulling back forces and equipment for some sites along Supreme Court said that the committee found “acts of the disputed border” the Annual Threat assessment of areas in the East China Sea. omission and commission” by “responsible officials” of the US intelligence community, by the office of the “China will continue pursuing its goals of becoming a Kerala police. director of the national intelligence read. great power, securing what it views as its territory, and The SC bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar The report states that Beijing is increasing combining establishing its preeminence in regional affairs by directed the CBI to treat the Jain Committee report its growing military power with its economic, building a world-class military, potentially destabilizing as a preliminary inquiry report and further technological, and diplomatic clout to secure what it international norms and relationships. China’s military investigate the issue. The central probe agency has views as its territory and regional preeminence and commitment includes a multiyear agenda of been given three months to submit its findings. pursue international cooperation at Washington’s comprehensive military reform initiatives”, the report “The report indicates something serious, thus, expense. reads. The report suggests that China has been building a appropriate action will have to be taken on the As per the US intelligence report, in the South China large and increasingly capable nuclear missile force that report. The report referred to several Sea, Beijing will continue to intimidate rival claimants is more survivable, more diverse, and on higher alert circumstances and events. They will have to be and will use growing numbers of air,naval, and maritime than in the past, including nuclear missile systems investigated thoroughly,” the SC bench observed. law enforcement platforms to signal to Southeast Asian designed to manage regional escalation and ensure an The SC revealed that the report identified the countries that China has effective control over contested intercontinental second-strike capability. police officials who were responsible for the Isro areas. China is similarly pressuring Japan over contested Source: News 18 scientist’s arrest. India to import 50,000 MT medical Monuments, oxygen amid COVID surge museums under

NEW DELHI (TIP): The meet their projected demand as on government on Thursday, April 15, April 20, 25 and 30. central govt said it would import 50,000 metric The assured supply will be notified tonnes of medical oxygen to assure through a government order, sources closed till May supplies to states even as it added said. that oxygen availability in the The meeting also decided to import country was adequate. 50,000 MT of medical oxygen to be 15 amid Covid- India has As hospitals reeled under oxygen ready for the increasing demand. shortages, the empowered group of Health Ministry has been asked to officers addressing the issue met finalise the tender and explore 19 spike administered 117 today and started mapping of oxygen possible sources for import identified NEW DELHI (TIP): All centrally sources for 12 high burden states of by the missions of MEA. protected monuments, museums and million Covid doses Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Meanwhile 162 Pressure Swing sites under the Archaeological Survey of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Adsorption plants (plants India (ASI) have been closed with till now Chhattisgarh, , Kerala, manufacture oxygen and help immediate effect till May 15 due to the , Punjab, Haryana and hospitals become self-sufficient in surge in coronavirus cases in the NEW DELHI (TIP): India had Rajasthan. their requirement for medical country, the Union culture ministry said administered over 117 million coronavirus Medical oxygen is a critical oxygen while also reducing the on Thursday. An order to this effect was vaccine doses across the country by Thursday, component in the treatment of burden on the national grid for issued by the ASI and it was tweeted by April 15, evening even as the national Capital COVID affected patients and supply of medical oxygen) Culture Minister Prahlad Patel this tightened curbs in its attempt to curb the demands have been rising unusually sanctioned under PM-Cares are being evening. surge in infections. In a boost to India’s in the high burden states. closely reviewed for early completion “Due to the prevailing COVID vaccination drive, the national drug “There has been increasing of 100 percent of the plants to situation, it has been decided to close all controller also assured that it will take just demand for medical oxygen, enhance self-generation of oxygen in centrally protected monuments, sites three days to process applications of foreign- especially from the 12 states with hospitals especially in remote areas. and museums under the ASI with made vaccines once they’ve been approved for high burden of active COVID cases. The empowered group asked the immediate effect and till May 15 or until emergency use in the country. While the demand in Maharashtra is Health Ministry to identify another further orders,” the ASI said. These In all, 117,096,037 vaccine doses have been expected to be beyond available 100 hospitals in far flung locations for include 3,693 monuments and 50 given in the country till now. This includes production capacity of the state, consideration of sanction for museums. 9,082,153 healthcare workers who have had Madhya Pradesh does not have any installation of PSA plants. In live monuments like Puri their first dose and 5,633,982 who have got production capacity to meet their The government said it was Jagannath Temple and Somnath Temple, their second dose as well. As many as demand for medical oxygen. There is monitoring the situation to ensure daily ‘puja’ will be conducted but no 10,290,850 frontline workers have had their also a trend of increasing demand in uninterrupted supply of medical public gathering will be allowed, said first dose while 5,151,557 have got their second other oxygen producing states such oxygen. India’s daily medical oxygen Nitin Tripathi, the ministry’s media dose too. as Gujarat, Karnataka and production capacity is 7127 MT. advisor. Last year, too, all monuments In the 45-59-year age group, 38,676,098 people Rajasthan,” the government said. Current national oxygen stocks are and sites maintained by the ASI were have got their first dose and another 984,785 After the meeting with 50,000 MT – more than daily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic have had their second dose as well. In the 60+ manufacturers today, the consumption of 3842 MT but the on March 17. They reopened in July with category, 44,190,147 people have been government said 4880 MT, 5619 MT government is readying for what it strict restrictions like mandatory administered their first dose while 3,086,465 and 6593 MT have been assured and calls unusual surge in demand. wearing of masks, cap on the number of have had their second dose as well. Source: HT factored for 12 high burden states to Source: The Tribune visitors and . THE INDIAN PANORAMA ELECTION BEAT FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 16

135 DECIDED, 159 TO GO Why 5th phase of Bengal election is crucial for Mamata

he West Bengal Assembly election Phase 6: 43 seats is passing through its most crucial Forty-three seats will go to the polls in Tphase. Four of eight phases of the the sixth phase. It is again a TMC- Bengal Assembly election are over. dominated region that will be voting on Altogether, voters have decided the fate April 22. In 2011, the TMC had won 28 of of candidates in 135 of 294 seats. The these seats and improved its tally to 32 in remaining 159 will go to the polls 2016. between April 17 and 29. The Congress-Left had won 11 of these The fifth phase, polling for which will seats in 2016. But the real fight is likely to happen on Saturday, April 17, completes be between the TMC and the BJP. They the most significant troika of election had taken a lead in 24 and 19 assembly phases in Bengal -- phases three to five segments, respectively during the 2019 for 120 seats. Lok Sabha polls. Here is how the Bengal election stands at the halfway mark: Phase 7: 36 seats The final two phases of the Bengal Phase 1: 30 seats election will see polling in 71 seats. Of Polling for the first phase took place on the 36 seats that go to the polls on April 26 March 29, when 30 seats went to the polls. in the seventh phase, the TMC held 14 in Of these seats, the Trinamool Congress 2016 and 17 in 2011. (TMC) had won 27 in the 2016 West The Congress-Left alliance got the Bengal election. The Congress bagged better of the TMC in 2016 on these seats two and the RSP (Left Front) one. where the TMC had enjoyed complete The BJP did not win any of these seats as it won 22 seats here. In 2011, their The TMC had strengthened its position dominance in previous polls. In 2016, the in 2011 but it got one in the 2015 Bengal combined share was 18. in 2016 over 2011 when it had won 19 of TMC had won 29 of these seats. The polls. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the these 30 seats. The BJP drew a blank here Congress-Left alliance had won two, BJP surprised the TMC in its stronghold BJP matched the TMC, sharing the lead in 2016. But it changed the election winning one seat each in Howrah and by taking lead in 19 seats. in 16 constituencies each. In the calculus in Bengal in the 2019 Lok Sabha South 24 Paraganas. The TMC was still ahead with a lead in remaining four, Congress was in the polls. The BJP was leading in 20 of the 30 In 2011, the TMC had won 25 and the 25 seats but it was a serious jolt to lead. seats that voted in the first phase. Congress-Left alliance five. The BJP Mamata Banerjee's party. The Congress drew a blank. Even in the 2019 Lok Sabha and the Left had been pushed out of the Phase 8: 35 seats Phase 2: 30 seats election, the TMC maintained its race. Among the 35 seats going to the polls in Another 30 seats went to the polls in hegemony by taking lead in 29 of these 31 the eighth phase, the TMC had 14 in 2011 the second phase on April 1. Of these constituencies. The BJP, however, Phase 5: 45 seats and 17 in 2016. The Congress-Left seats, the TMC had won 21 in 2016, almost replaced the Congress-Left with lead in Bengal will vote for 45 assembly seats alliance won 16 of these seats in 2016 maintaining its 2011 figure of 22. The two other constituencies. on Saturday. The fifth phase has the with the Congress winning 13 alone. In BJP had won one of these seats five years The TMC's performance in this phase maximum number of seats going to the 2011, their combined share was 21. The ago. The Congress-Left alliance bagged and the next two phases would, to a large polls. This is a crucial phase of the 2021 Congress had back then won 14 seats. eight. extent, decide whether Mamata Banerjee Bengal Assembly election. Of all the seats that will go to the polls In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the returns as the Bengal chief minister on The 45 assembly constituencies that in the last phase, the BJP won just one. TMC maintained its lead despite the May 2 or not. vote in the next phase are the ones where But in 2019, the BJP secured a lead in 11 BJP’s massive challenge. It took lead in the BJP collectively had more votes in constituencies. The TMC was ahead in 19 18 of the 30 constituencies that voted in Phase 4: 44 seats the 2019 Lok Sabha election than the and the Congress in five. the second phase of the West Bengal Polling in the fourth phase of the TMC. The BJP got nearly 45 per cent Assembly election. The BJP took the lead Bengal election took place on April 10 for votes compared to the TMC's 41.5 per Up next in 12. 44 seats. This was the phase in which cent. However, in terms of seats, the The 2019 Lok Sabha election brought a Nandigram voted in this phase. West Singur went to the polls. Along with TMC led 23 and the BJP 22. sharp change in the electoral dynamics Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Nandigram, Singur had played the In 2016, the TMC had won 32 of these of West Bengal. took a huge gamble by standing against catapulting role in the 2011 Bengal seats -- six more than 2011 -- going to the Going by the latest electoral output, local heavyweight and her former aide election in which the TMC defeated the polls in the fifth phase. The BJP drew a the TMC has a tougher fight at hand in Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP Left Front. blank. The Congress and the Left the last three phases of the Bengal in December last year. In 2011, the TMC had won 33 of these 44 combined won 10 seats. election (phases 6,7 and 8). As per the seats. The party bettered its record in If the TMC does not crawl back to trends seen in the 2019 Lok Sabha Phase 3: 31 seats 2016 winning 39 of these seats. The regain its lost foothold in this phase, election, it led in 59 of the seats in these In the third phase, 31 seats went to the Congress had won two and the Left Front Mamata Banerjee's road to the Writers' phases, while the BJP was close behind, polls. This phase saw voting in areas eight. Building might be rough and bumpy. leading in 46 seats. Source: India Today EC bars Bengal BJP chief for 24 hours for ‘inciteful remarks’

he Election Commission of India rally in Baranagar in North 24 On Sunday,the TMC filed a complaint process”. (ECI) on Thursday, April 15, Parganas that “there will be Sitalkuchi against Ghosh for his statement, The ban for violating the Model Code Tbanned in several places”. prompting the ECI to seek his response. of Conduct is applicable from 7pm (BJP)’s West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh Four people were killed in firing by “The commission sternly warns Dilip Thursday till 7pm Friday, April 16, the from campaigning in the state for 24 Central Industrial Security Force Ghosh and advises him to desist from order stated. hours for his “highly provocative and (CISF)?personnel in Sitalkuchi. While using such statement while making Ghosh, when asked about the ban, inciteful remarks” on the Sitalkuchi the ruling Trinamool Congress public utterances during the period said on Thursday he will take the time firing incident, in which four people (TMC)?alleged the firing was when Model Code of Conduct is in force off campaigning to rest. “The ECI were killed as polling was underway unprovoked, the poll watchdog and and imposes a ban of 24 hours...,” the ordered whatever it thought was right. I last week. central forces said it was in “self- ECI order said, adding that the “highly will stay at home and take rest. I was A day after violence broke out during defence”?as the security personnel at provocative and inciteful remarks” can not getting proper sleep and time to fourth phase of polling in Cooch Behar the polling booth were under attack by a “adversely impact law and order have a proper meal because of the district on April 10, Ghosh had said at a mob. thereby adversely affecting the election campaigning,” he said. THE INDIAN PANORAMA TRIBUTE FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 17 On Jallianwala Bagh Massacre anniversary Remembering the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

BY MIKE shooting is disputed. While the official figure given by the British inquiry into GHOUSE & the massacre is 379 deaths, the method PROF. I.S. used by the inquiry has been subject to criticism. In July 1919, three months SALUJA after the massacre, officials were tasked with finding who had been killed by ● 102 years ago, on April 13, the inviting inhabitants of the city to Vaisakhi Day, General Dyer of volunteer information about those who the British Government opened had died. This information was incomplete due fire on peaceful protestors in to fear that those who participated would Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, be identified as having been present at India.Killing 379 Indians, the meeting, and some of the dead may according to official sources. not have had close relations in the area. ● When interviewed by the members of Rabindranath Tagore renounced the committee, a senior civil servant in his knighthood as "a symbolic the Punjab admitted that the actual act of protest". figure could be higher. Since the official figures were probably Entrance to the present-day Jallianwala Bagh. he Jallianwala Bagh massacre, flawed regarding the size of the crowd also known as the Amritsar (15,000-20,000), the number of rounds Tmassacre, was a seminal event in shot and the period of shooting, the the British rule of India. On 13 April instituted a 1919, a crowd of non-violent protesters, separate inquiry of its own, with along with Vaisakhi pilgrims, had conclusions that differed considerably gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh garden from the Government's inquiry. in Amritsar, Punjab to protest the arrest The casualty number quoted by the of two leaders despite a curfew which Congress was more than 1,500, with had been recently declared. approximately 1,000 being killed. The An hour after the meeting began as Government tried to suppress scheduled at 16:30, Dyer arrived with a information of the massacre, but news group of sixty-five Gurkha and twenty- spread in India and widespread outrage five Baluchi soldiers into the Bagh. Fifty ensued. Yet, the details of the massacre of them were armed with .303 Lee- did not become known in Britain until Enfield bolt-action rifles. Dyer had also December 1919. brought two armored cars armed with The day after the massacre Kitchin, machine guns; however, the vehicles the Commissioner of Lahore as well as were left outside, as they were unable to General Dyer, both used threatening enter the Bagh through the narrow language. The following is the English entrance. translation of Dyer's Urdu statement The Jallianwala Bagh was surrounded The Jallianwala Bagh in 1919, months after the massacre directed at the local residents of on all sides by houses and buildings and Amritsar on the afternoon of 14 April had few narrow entrances. Most of them 1919, a day after the Amritsar massacre: were kept permanently locked. The main "You people know well that I am a entrance was relatively wide but was Sepoy and soldier. Do you want war or guarded heavily by the troops backed by peace? If you wish for a war, the the armored vehicles. The people had no- Government is prepared for it, and if you where to go and were boxed in like caged want peace, then obey my orders and animals. open all your shops; else I will shoot. For Dyer (without warning the crowd to me the battlefield of France or Amritsar disperse) blocked the main exits. He is the same. I am a military man and I explained later that this act "was not to will go straight. Neither shall I move to disperse the meeting but to punish the the right nor to the left. Speak up, if you Indians for disobedience." Dyer ordered want war? In case there is to be peace, my his troops to begin shooting toward the order is to open all shops at once. You densest sections of the crowd to inflict people talk against the Government and maximum damage. Firing continued for persons educated in Germany and approximately ten minutes. Cease-fire Bengal talk sedition. I shall report all was ordered only when ammunition these. Obey my orders. I do not wish to supplies were almost exhausted, after have anything else. approximately 1,650 rounds were spent. I have served in the military for over 30 Many people died in stampedes at the years. I understand the Indian Sepoy and narrow gates or by jumping into the Sikh people very well. You will have to solitary well on the compound to escape obey my orders and observe peace. the shooting. A plaque, placed at the site Otherwise, the shops will be opened by after independence states that 120 bodies force and Rifles. You will have to report were removed from the well. The Jallianwala Bagh well into which people jumped to save themselves from bullets to me of the Badmash. wounded could not be moved from where they had fallen, as a curfew was declared, and many more died during the night. The number of deaths caused by the CONTD ON PAGE 34 THE INDIAN PANORAMA FARMERS’ STIR FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 18 Farm unions say agitation to continue, announce march to Delhi on April 21

armer unions in Punjab have announced a march towards FDelhi on April 21, indicating that the over four-month-long protest is not going to end soon. The tents damaged in fire at the Singhu border on April 15. They said that farmers, activists and women protesters will begin a massive march toward Delhi on April 21. Farmer leaders made the Two tents, car allegedly announcement at a Baisakhi Conference called by Bharatiya set ablaze by miscreants Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) in Talwandi Sabo of Bathinda. The conference was organised to at Singhu border pay tribute to Jallianwala Bagh martyrs and to mark ‘Khalsa Sajna farmers protest site Diwas’. It was attended by thousands of farmers. The Baisakhi NEW DELHI (TIP): Two tents and a car were Conference was held at 38 other allegedly set on fire by unidentified people at the spots in the state as well in protest Singhu border on Thursday, April 15, morning where against the controversial farm laws. farmers have been protesting against the Centre’s three BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) state president BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) Punjab president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that the farmers' farm laws over the last few months. Furniture and Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that protest will continue till they get their rights. luggage inside the two tents were gutted. The police the April 21 Delhi march would be government will also be fought Thousands of farmers have been said no casualties were reported and the protesters at led by the union’s state general unitedly by the farmers, labourers, camping at Delhi’s Singhu, Tikri the border doused the fire in time. secretary Sukhdev Singh women and other and Ghazipur border in protest A member of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said, Kokrikalan and state treasurer countrymen.Ugrahan also said that against the newly enacted three “Around 12 noon, a man was seen near a tent. He was Jhanda Singh Jehtuke. He said that another massive march towards farm laws. trying to set it on fire. When farmers saw the blaze, they the farmers’ protest will continue Parliament will be undertaken in There had been 11 rounds of talks rushed with water to douse the fire immediately. The till they get their rights. May. between the Centre and the farmer man then set fire to another tent and left. A group of Citing the example of India’s fight SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal unions but it did not yield a result. farmers tried chasing him but he escaped.” against Britishers, he said that after said that the protest movement The farmers are demanding a The farmers lodged a complaint at Kundli police the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, started by the farmers of Punjab rollback of the three laws while the station against the accused. A senior police officer said, people fought unitedly rising above had now turned into a nationwide government is proposing to amend “We have been told that a man came from BRTS side caste, creed, religion and the fight mass movement and people from the clauses with which farmers have and set fire to two tents or shanties. These structures against the across the country are supporting it. an issue. were built by farmers for the summers. They kept their luggage, installed air coolers and put some furniture inside these small tents. Nobody was injured in the incident. The fire was doused within an hour.” “We were told that after the incident he (accused) Farmers at Singhu, Tikri borders refuse joined a group of locals nearby and couldn’t be recognised. We are looking into the matter,” said the to move amid virus surge officer. Police have initiated an inquiry into the matter. No case has been registered. NEW DELHI (TIP): Farmers protesting at the Singhu and Tikri borders for over four months against the Centre's three farm laws Canadian party condemns are not planning to call off their stir anytime soon amid the worsening India’s three farm laws Covid-19 situation in Delhi. According to the farmers at he Canadian New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Singhu and Tikri borders, Covid is Jagmeet Singh, has passed a resolution being "over-glorified" so that the Tcondemning India with regard to the ongoing government can finish all the protests against three farm laws enacted last year. opposition and protests against In fact, the ‘Resolution for International Solidarity them. with Indian Farmers’ was given the top priority in its "We will boost our immunity, take agenda in the section, Redefining Canada’s Place in the care of our health and start World, a reflection of the party’s foreign policy stances. vaccination drives at protest sites. It took top position in the convention’s prioritisation But we will not get up," protesting list, ahead of justice and peace in Israel-Palestine. farmers said. Even as two Canadians remain jailed in China, and Last week, BKU leader Rakesh Canada’s House of Commons on February 22 passed a Tikait, who has been camping at the resolution that defined Chinese actions in Xinjiang as Ghazipur border, said farmers meeting the threshold to be termed as “”, that protesting the contentious new issue only appeared at eighth place in the list, while farm laws are ready to talk if the Hong Kong Freedom of Expression came even lower at Centre invites them, maintaining umbrella body representing the The demands are also the same -- all number 12. that the dialogue would resume protesters who are camping at the three 'black' farm laws should be The resolution for ‘International Solidarity with where it had ended on January 22 three border points of Delhi at repealed, a new law made to ensure Indian Farmers’ was moved by members of the party and the demands remain Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since MSP (minimum support price) for from Brampton East. While he contested elections in unchanged. November 2020. crops," Tikait was quoted as saying 2019 to the House of Commons from Burnaby South in He said for the talks to resume, "The talks with the government in a statement issued by BKU media British Columbia, the town of Brampton, in the the government should invite the would resume from the same point in-charge Dharmendra Malik. Greater Toronto Area (GTA), is Federal NDP leader Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an where it had ended on January 22. Source: India Today Jagmeet Singh’s home base. THE INDIAN PANORAMA COVID-INDIA FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 19 2.17 lakh Covid cases in new daily record; Maha, UP, Delhi among top contributors

NEW DELHI (TIP): India added a record 2,17,353 new coronavirus infections in a day taking the total tally Delhi surpasses of COVID-19 cases to 1,42,91,917, while active cases surpassed the 15-lakh mark, Mumbai to become according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday, April 16. This is the second consecutive day that worst-hit COVID the country has reported over two lakh cases. city in India The death toll increased to 1,74,308 elhi recorded over 17,000 cases of with 1,185 new fatalities, the highest COVID-19 on Wednesday to since September 19, 2020, the data Dbecome the worst-affected city in updated at 8 am showed. the country, leaving financial capital Registering a steady increase for the Mumbai far behind in the daily tally. 37th day in a row, the active cases have Mumbai's single day peak so far is increased to 15,69,743, comprising 10.98 11,163, registered on April 4, according per cent of the total infections, while the to officials figures. Delhi recorded 17,282 national COVID recovery rate dropped to fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, 87.8 per cent. the highest single-day surge in the The active caseload was at its lowest at national capital since the onset of the 1,35,926 on February 12 and it was at its pandemic, while over 100 fatalities were highest at 10,17,754 on September 18, reported, according to data shared by 2020. the health department. The number of people who have Weekend Lockdown In Delhi recuperated from the disease surged to „ Top five states that have contributed discharges, pushing the total 1,25,47,866, while the case fatality rate more to the daily count (2.17 lakh) recoveries in the country to Delhi Chief Minister has further dropped to 1.22 per cent, the today are Maharashtra (61,695 1,25,47,866. There are 15,69,743 active on Thursday,April 15, decided to impose data stated. cases), Uttar Pradesh (22,339 cases), cases in India. a weekend lockdown in the city in a bid According to the ICMR, 26,34,76,625 Delhi (16,699 cases), Chhattisgarh „ Former Madhya Pradesh CM and to control the spread of Covid-19. samples have been tested up to April 15 (15,256 cases) and Karnataka (14,738 Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has „ Only essential services will be with 14,73,210 samples being tested on cases). tested positive for Covid-19. Gujarat allowed during weekends Thursday. „ 360.14 per cent of the new Covid-19 MLA Jignesh Mevani today tweeted „ Gyms, malls, auditoriums will Maharashtra has reported the highest cases have been reported from these to say that he has tested positive. remain closed daily new cases at 61,695. It is followed by five states, with Maharashtra alone Former Union Minister and SAD „ Cinema halls will operate at a 30% Uttar Pradesh with 22,339 while Delhi responsible for 28.38 per cent of the leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, too, capacity reported 16,699 new cases. new cases. tested positive for the infection. „ Dine-in at restaurants will not be Maharashtra saw the maximum „ A total of 1,185 deaths were reported „ A report of the Lancet Covid-19 allowed casualties (349), followed by in the country in the past 24 hours. Commission by India Task Force „ Takeaway and home delivery will Chhattisgarh with 135 daily deaths, The maximum casualties have been members has said that the country be allowed Delhi with 112, Uttar Pradesh 104, reported in Maharashtra (349), may see 1,750 coronavirus related „ One weekly market per zone will be Gujarat 81, Karnataka 66, Madhya followed by Chhattisgarh with 135 deaths per day, rising to allowed Pradesh 53, Punjab 50, Rajasthan 33 and deaths due to the infection. approximately 2,320 by the first week Tamil Nadu 29. „ India has also seen 1,18,302 of June. Covid surge: Night curfew in CBSE Class 10 exams Uttarakhand, but not at Kumbh mela cancelled, Class 12 HARIDWAR (TIP): Uttarakhand clamped night curfew across the state and curbed the occupancy of exams postponed people in large gatherings on Thursday, April 15, but NEW DELHI (TIP): After CBSE cancelled and exempted the Mahakumb from all restrictions despite postponed class 10 and 12 board exams 2021, several experts saying the rampant violation of mask protocol state boards have also announced the decision on and social distancing guidelines at the event was a the same line. matter of serious concern. Currently, the nation is witnessing an alarming The government imposed curfew from 10.30pm to situation as the COVID-19 cases are rapidly 5am every day and allowed only 50% occupancy on increasing every day. Owing to this, several states public transport. All social, religious, political, or and boards, such as CBSE, Telangana, Maharashtra, weddings of over 200 people were barred and all cinema Madhya Pradesh, among others, have cancelled or halls, restaurants, bars and gyms were asked to operate postponed Board Exams 2021. at 50 % capacity. All educational coaching institutes Recently, Punjab, UP, Odisha and Gujarat and swimming pools will be closed, said the cancelled and postponed the board exams of class 10 government. and 12. Some states have announced summer The order came hours after the state reported its vacation from classes 1 to 8 till June end. As the highest one-day spike of Covid infections, posting 2,220 states are taking strict measures to curb the cases.But the order said in case of the Mahakumbh – outspread of the virus, we have brought you the which is ongoing in Haridwar --- the standard operating the highest daily spike...exempting Mahakumbh area compiled list of states that have decided to cancel procedure (SOP) issued by Centre in January and the from these restrictions will make it difficult to check and postpone the exams. state government in February will remain in effect. The Covid in the state in particular and in India in general. The central board has cancelled the Class 10th standard operating procedure does not place any Just on Wednesday,Haridwar witnessed pilgrim rush of board exams and have postponed the class 12th restrictions on the gathering of people and only seeks over 1.3 million people at a time when we are board exams till May 30. Class 10th students will be social distancing and Covid negative test report to enter witnessing a sharp surge in Covid cases,” said Anoop marked on the basis of their internal assessment the Kumbh area. Nautiyal, from Social Development for Communities and pre-board exams. The revised date sheet of class Activists said the decision was inexplicable. “It is a Foundation, a non-governmental organisation. 12th will be released after the situation is under strange decision at a time when the state has reported Source: HT control. THE INDIAN PANORAMA BOLLYWOOD FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 20 Radhika Apte turns director; says ‘I loved the process’

adhika Apte has donned many hats while portraying different Rroles for her films, now has taken up direction too. The actress released her directorial debut The Deepika Padukone Sleepwalkers' trailer in the lockdown at Palms Spring International short steps down as MAMI film festival which won The Best Midnight Short award. chairperson Making her directorial debut with the short-film titled The n 2019, Deepika Padukone replaced Sleepwalkers, the actress in a recent Kiran Rao as the chairperson of interview with a leading publication IMAMI. Now after serving as the head shared, “I had never thought of honcho for nearly two years, the actor has making films. There was no such decided to step down from the position. plan. I just had the urge to write Deepika took to her Instagram story and because sometimes you want to create released a statement regarding the same content that challenges you. Roles citing her slate of work as the reason that come your way are not behind it. The actor said she will not be necessarily from the space that you able to give undivided attention to the want them to come from. I just festival it requires. wanted to write something that Deepika's statement read as "Being on interested me. There are things that I the board of MAMI and serving as passionately want to do. When I Chairperson has been a deeply enriching bounced off the story to Honey experience. As an artist, it was Trehan and Abhishek Chaubey, they invigorating to bring together cinema and decided to make it. I had 10 days for talent from all over the world to Mumbai, the prep and shoot. When I finished my second home. writing, I realised I didn’t want to act I have come to realise, however, that in it, but I wanted to direct it. And, I with my current slate of work, I will be absolutely loved the process.” unable to give MAMI the undivided focus Fans of the actress cannot wait to and attention it requires. witness the magic Radhika has I depart knowing that MAMI is in the created, this time being behind the best hands possible and that my bond and lens. The trailer of her short-film has connection with the academy is one that been showered with so much love and will last a lifetime." appreciation from the audiences.

Mandira Bedi says her ‘blood Ranveer Singh and Shankar come boils’ at what trolls say about together for Anniyan Hindi remake daughter Tara andira Bedi, who anveer Singh will star in earlier this week Tamil film Anniyan Hindi Mnamed and Rremake. The Gully Boy actor shamed a couple of trolls shared a picture with director for attacking her daughter Shankar Shanmugham and Tara, has said that she producer Dr Jayantilal Gada to doesn't give 'two hoots' if announce the same. Shankar had they target her, but her written and directed the original 'claws come out' when her film. children are subjected to Calling it a proud moment, abuse. In two Instagram Ranveer wrote, "Proudly stories, Mandira announcing my collaboration with highlighted the sort of the pioneering visionary of Indian abuse that Tara, whom she adopted last year, gets from cinema, the maverick master certain sections of the internet. One person had called craftsman SHANKAR the child a 'street kid' who didn't appear to fit into the @shanmughamshankar powered by family.In an interview, Mandira reflected on her moment veteran film producer Dr. Jayantilal of anger, and said that her friends had dissuaded her Gada @jayantilalgadaofficial from commenting about the abuse on social media. "I @penmovies." don’t know what struck me that I went through the S Shankar shared the same comments on this one photograph of my family. It was picture and expressed his appalling to see those nasty comments for a little child. happiness. He wrote, "In this What kind of people say such disgusting things about a moment, no one will be happier harmless kid? While I normally ignore trolls and haters, than me, bringing back the larger these two-three messages that I saw late at night on than life cinematic experience with @ranveersingh in the official adaptation of cult blockbuster Anniyan. Monday upset me, and this time, I felt the need to @jayantilalgadaofficial @penmovies." respond. Tara is innocent and too young to understand what happened, but it hurt me," she told a leading daily. THE INDIAN PANORAMA HOLLYWOOD FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 21 Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern set to star in Florian Zeller’s next movie The Son

ollywood stars Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern are all set to star in Hthe upcoming movie `The Son`, which will be writer-director Florian Colin Farrell found Zeller`s follow-up to the BAFTA-winning and Academy award-nominated `The Voyagers script a Father`. According to Variety, the film will be adapted from Zeller`s acclaimed stage play by Zeller and Christopher page-turner Hampton, who is Oscar-nominated for ollywood star Colin Farrell says the script of adapting `The Father` with Zeller, and his upcoming sci-fi thriller "Voyagers" was has won an Oscar for `Dangerous Hquite a page-turner. "Voyagers" tells the story of Liaisons`. 30 men and women sent on an interstellar mission to Oscar-winners Iain Canning and Emile save the human race. Talking about his role and the Sherman, and Joanna Laurie of See-Saw potential he saw in it, Farrell said: "I saw the part that Films, will produce the movie with I had, as quite obviously on the page was a father Christophe Spadone alongside Zeller. figure and somebody that was there to kind of corral Film4 will be co-financing the and guide and care for and monitor these children as production. they go from birth into young adulthood. I loved it." In `The Son`, Peter (Jackman) has a Delving deeper into the character, Farrell gained a busy life with his new partner Emma and new perspective on his character`s psyche. He said: "I their baby. This is thrown into disarray think Richard (his character) is lonely,I mean he`s got when his ex-wife Kate (Dern) turns up to be lonely. He`s in space and he is again the only with their teenage son, Nicholas. senior member of this team heading into the void. So, Something is amiss from the first I think he has no one!" moment that audiences meet Nicholas. A big fan of the script, he shared how invested he He is troubled, distant, and angry, was in first reading it: "It was a page-turner! It was playing truant from school for months - really, really lovely. It was very unusual. I thought it both son and mother need his father`s was very cleverly drawn, and the questions that it help. Nicholas`s wish is to live with his provoked in me as a reader were fairly profound and father for a change. substantial questions." Jennifer Aniston’s rep denies reports Matrix star Carrie-Anne Moss says she of actor’s secret adoption plans

merican actor was offered grandmother’s role at 40 Jennifer Aniston`s Arepresentative atrix star Carrie-Anne recently set the record Moss says she straight after reports Mexperienced Hollywood's circulated that the `Friends` double standards on ageing star is reportedly in the firsthand when she was offered process of adopting a child. the role of a grandmother the Fox News quoted a report day after she turned 40. by People magazine that the Moss spoke about her 52-year-old actor made a experience while moderating a personal announcement to conversation to promote actor- her co-stars during the author friend Justine Bateman's taping of the `Friends` new book Face: One Square Foot reunion for HBO Max. of Skin, which looks at the ways The news was reported society responds to women as that she`s in the process of they age, according to The adopting a child. However, Hollywood Reporter. Aniston`s rep denied the Prior to the offer, Moss said she reports to the outlet on thought female actors not finding Tuesday, calling it a good roles to play at 40 was a "fabrication." Her team also myth. told TMZ that any so-called “I had heard that at 40 announcement is "false" and "never happened." everything changed. I didn’t In 2017, Aniston had a sharp response to those who have posted false believe in that because I don’t rumours about her having her first child. "I would say,I think the best one believe in just jumping on a would be a picture of me with a hand over my stomach, saying `Finally thought system that I don’t really Pregnant!`" she explained to Glamour at the time. align with. But literally the day Aniston continued: "I mean, it`s like they take a picture of you and after my 40th birthday, I was create this story.If your body is in a normal moment of having had a bite reading a script that had come to or two, or you`re having a moment of bloat, then there`s arrows circled me and I was talking to my around your stomach, telling you that you`re pregnant. And it`s like, manager about it. She was like, actually no, it`s just my body." ‘Oh, no, no, no, it’s not that role "Not that it`s any of your business to begin with. Having a child, as we (you’re reading for), it’s the know, is no one`s business except the couple or individual that`s going grandmother'," Moss said. through it," she added. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FILM, TALK. FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 22 commUNITY: ENVIRONMENT IS SACRED BY MABEL PAIS

APRIL IS EARTH-CONSCIOUS MONTH Earth. Now, Indigenous women are raising their voices whose shooting death sparks the 1992 L.A. Riots. A CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL EARTH DAY to demonstrate what living in balance looks like, by "DO NOT SPLIT"- HIGHLIGHTING AN INDIGENOUS PHILOSOPHY TO sharing gifts given to them by Creation. DIR: Anders Hammer l USA/Norway l 36m ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES youtu.be/hlitxCUA4WQ The story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, told A SHOWCASE OF FILMS ON-DEMAND PANEL DISCUSSION: BIONEERS - APRIL 20, through a series of demonstrations by local protesters EXPLORING THE THEMES OF WATER, AIR, AND ENERGY FROM AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE 2021, 7 P.M. EST that escalate into conflict when highly armed police THE INDIGENOUS RIGHTS OF NATURE appear on the scene. ision Maker Media's second 45th Anniversary MOVEMENT "HUNGER WARD" - event presents "commUNITY: Environment is An in-depth panel discussion of Indigenous DIR: Skye Fitzgerald l USA l 40m VSacred," a free celebration of International environmental leaders sharing their approaches to Filmed from inside two of the most active therapeutic Earth Day highlighting an indigenous philosophy to adopting the "Rights of Nature" into tribal governance feeding centers in Yemen, a document of two female environmental issues. This is available until April 30, for protecting Mother Earth and Indigenous rights health care workers fighting to thwart the spread of 2021. All events are open and free to the public. takes place on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 7 PM ET/4 PM starvation against the backdrop of a forgotten war. Enjoy six on-demand films, a panel discussion about PT. "COLLETTE" - DIR: Anthony Giacchino l transforming Indigenous values into the "Rights of The panel is presented in collaboration with France/Germany/USA l 24m Nature," and a #VMMcommUNITY cleanup challenge. Indigeneity - a Native-led program within Bioneers - Nazi occupied France. 75 years later, facing one's dedicated to increasing the visibility of Indigenous ghosts may take even more. "CRYING EARTH RISE UP" knowledge and approaches to solving earth's most "A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION" - DIRS: pressing environmental and social issues. This panel Ben Proudfoot & Kris Bowers l USA l 13m event is free and open to the public with registration, available at visionmakermedia.org. For updates, panel information and registration, visit visionmakermedia.org/environment-is-sacred OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORTS The 2021 Short Films nominated for the 93rd are in 3 categories: Live-Action, Documentary and Animation. Scene from "Crying Earth Rise Up." LIVE-ACTION Photo / Vision Maker Media "THE PRESENT" - DIR: Farah Nabulsi l Palestine l 25m A scene from "A Concerto Is A Conversation." "Crying Earth Rise Up" tells the story of Debra White Photo / Courtesy David Magdael PR Plume and Elisha Yellow Thunder's parallel search for answers to the question: Why are there high levels of A virtuoso jazz pianist and film composer tracks his radiation in our drinking water and how can we protect family's lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather our families and community against this threat? from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. youtu.be/Urqmgoeg2Xo ANIMATION "RED POWER ENERGY" From tribes mining coal, drilling oil and fracking "BURROW" - DIR: Madeline Sharafian l USA l 6m natural gas to a coalition of tribes and individuals A young rabbit embarks on a journey to dig the building sustainable wind farms and small-scale burrow of her dreams, despite not having a clue what A scene from "The Present." residential solar, an engrossing story emerges that Photo / Courtesy London Flair PR she's doing. Rather than reveal to her neighbors her showcases America's Indigenous population reclaiming imperfections, she digs herself deeper and deeper into their right of self-determination. trouble. youtu.be/RbDzShpKtg4 On his wedding anniversary, Yusef and his young "GENIUS LOCI" - DIR: Adrien Mérigeau l France l 16m "GROWING NATIVE: COAST SALISH" daughter set out in the West Bank to buy his wife a gift. One night, Reine, a young loner, sees the urban chaos "Growing Native" is a four-part series focusing on Between soldiers, segregated roads and checkpoints, as a mystical oneness that seems alive, like some sort of reclaiming traditional indigenous knowledge and food how easy would it be to go shopping? guide. ways to address critical issues of health and wellness, "FEELING THROUGH" - "GENIUS LOCI" contains profanity and a very brief the environment and human rights. Venture to the DIR: Doug Roland l USA l 19m instance of nudity. The program is not recommended Pacific Northwest to capture the stories of ongoing A late-night encounter on a New York City street for children under 12. traditions and perseverance of its original inhabitants. leads to a profound connection between a teen-in-need "OPERA" - DIR: Erick Oh l South Korea/USA l 9m youtu.be/tK8PEGNQzGY and a DeafBlind man. An animation project that can be defined as a "RETURN: Native American Foodways for Health "" contemporary animated edition of the Renaissance & Spirit" DIRS: Travon Free & Martin Desmond Roe l USA l fresco mural paintings. "RETURN: Native American Foodways for Health & 25m "IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU" Spirit" is about empowering people to overcome their Cartoonist Carter James' repeated attempts to get DIRS: Will McCormack & Michael Govier l USA l 12m current circumstances through eating as their home to his dog are thwarted by a recurring deadly Grieving parents struggle with the loss of their ancestors did - nutritiously and locally. "RETURN" encounter that forces him to relive the same awful day daughter after a school shooting. An elegy on grief. explores the food-sovereignty movement occurring over and over again. While there is no objectionable content for children, across the country through the stories of women "WHITE EYE" - DIR: Tomer Shushan l Israel l "IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU" deals with championing the return to traditional food sources. 21m parents mourning their child, killed in a school youtu.be/y01iImowvRI A man finds his stolen bicycle, which now belongs to shooting, and "THE SEVEN GENERATION RIVER" a stranger. While attempting to retrieve it, he struggles "YES-PEOPLE" - DIR: Gísli Darri Halldórsson l Unlike many Native American tribes, The Pokagon to remain human. Iceland l 8m Band of the Potawatomi Indians were never removed "THE LETTER ROOM" - DIR: ELIVIRA LIND l One morning an eclectic mix of people faces the from their ancestral lands, but they saw their USA l 33m everyday battle - such as work, school, and environment and way of life fractured over time. A When a corrections officer is transferred to the letter dishwashing. As the day progresses, their small group of tribal citizens fought for decades to keep room, he soon finds himself enmeshed in a prisoner's relationships, and ultimately their capacity to cope, are traditional ways alive. deeply private life. tested. youtu.be/zWYQaoZYcuE DOCUMENTARY To learn more about The Academy Awards and the "REMATRIATION SERIES: JOANNE other categories of nominees, visit oscars.org SHENANDOAH" "A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA" - (Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and For generations, Indigenous peoples have asked DIR: Sophia Nahli Allison l USA l 18m Entertainment, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness) humanity to raise its consciousness for our Mother A dreamlike portrait of a vibrant 15-year-old girl THE INDIAN PANORAMA THEATER FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 23 BROADWAY’S BEST TO THE RESCUE! BY MABEL PAIS physical devastating damage. THE MUSICAL OF Joining the all-star roster of cast MUSICALS members are Alexandra Billings, BY YORK THEATRE COMPANY WITH Charles Busch, Robert Creighton, Ana Gasteyer, Beth Leavel, Lauren Molina, TOM D'ANGORA, MICHAEL D'ANGORA, AND TIM GUINEE Sarah Stiles and many more. Joining the star-studded evening of ALL-SINGING, ALL-TALKING, ALL- special appearances are Iain Armitage, VIRTUAL Joel Grey, Perez Hilton, Megan Hilty, PRESENTATION OF ROCKWELL AND Amanda Lopez, Darlene Love, Julianne BOGART'S OFF-BROADWAY HIT Moore, Jinks Monsoon, Bernadette "THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS" Peters, Anthony Rapp, George Salazar, York Theater at 50 Logo. ON-DEMAND BENEFIT Brooke Shields, Renée Taylor, and many Photo/ Courtesy York Theatre PERFORMANCE more. They join special guests Matthew BEGINS STREAMING SUNDAY, APRIL Broderick, Lewis Black, Giancarlo on JAY Records. 18, 2021 AT 7:00PM Esposito, Jane Krakowski, Audra "THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE "Musical Of Musicals", Poster McDonald, Debra Messing, Isaac MUSICAL!)" premieres on Sunday CONTINUING THROUGH WEDNESDAY, Photo/ CourtesyYork Theatre APRIL 21, 2021 Mizrahi, Mandy Patinkin, Martha evening, April 18, 2021 at 7:00PM and will With music by Eric Rockwell, lyrics by Plimpton, and Mercedes Ruehl. be available to view on demand through DONOR MATCHING CHALLENGE CONTINUES THROUGH APRIL 17! Joanne Bogart, and book by Joanne The evening will also include remarks April 21, 2021. Free stream at Bogart and Eric Rockwell, this special from Former Secretary of State Hillary YorkTheatre.org. Donations may be he York Theatre Company (James presentation is directed by Tom Rodham Clinton. made by visiting the GoFundMe link at Morgan, Producing Artistic D'Angora and Michael D'Angora, with A loving parody and homage to gf.me/u/znnvib. For additional TDirector), in association with Tom music direction and arrangements by Broadway's Golden Age, it is made up of information, visit D'Angora, Michael D'Angora, and Tim Deniz Cordell and associate music five hilarious mini musicals telling the Website: yorktheatre.org Guinee, has Broadway's best to the All- director Annie Pasqua. Original director same story in the style of legendary Twitter:@yorktheatrenyc Singing, All-Talking, All-Virtual special Pamela Hunt is serving as artistic musical theatre writers: Rodgers & benefit presentation of the Off-Broadway supervisor. Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry :facebook.com/yorktheatrecompany hit THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE This event raises funds to help The Herman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and YouTube:youtube.com/user/yorktheatre MUSICAL!)! York recover and rebuild after its recent Kander & Ebb. The original cast album is

There will be a medical professional onsite to check temperatures and audience members must wear FFTP CONTINUES SEASON masks and have recently tested negative for Covid-19. There will be a nominal charge for the streaming. For BY MABEL PAIS Emmy award winner Billy Goldenberg. The story those who can't make the zoom on Monday, the FFTP Award-Winning Theatre Company revolves around two older women who have met program will be repeated on Saturday and Sunday.For CONTINUES 2021 SEASON before. But only one of them remembers and is not additional information and tickets, contact FFTP at: With Theme - We Persist! certain if she should reveal the truth. This hour long 646-366-9340 or email: PENNY FULLER & BOB DISHY show also includes a behind the scenes segment with [email protected] Star In the cast, writer and composer. Total running time is ARTHUR MILLER'S FFTP "I CAN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING" approximately one hour. April 19th, 2021 at 2:00pm POST PERFORMANCE It was only a year ago the world came to an abrupt Live At Theatre 80 St. Marks halt. Our lives changed for once and forever. But FFTP And Zoomed "Live" Out To The World Following the performance, is a Q&A with the cast PERSISTED, becoming the first company to bring live OOD FOR THOUGHT PRODUCTIONS (FFTP), and led by FFTP Founder Susan Charlotte with theatre back into our world last July, and continued now in its 21st year, continues celebrating the reminiscences of Arthur Miller. presenting monthly performances through all of 2020. Foft-neglected one-act play and theatre at its best Tony Award-winner JAMES NAUGHTON joins the And FFTP, which has provided over 20 years of with Award-winning actors, writers and directors, post-performance discussion. TONY ROBERTS too theatre, continues to persist with humor in different with a tremendously fun second production on April joins the show on April 19. Tony Roberts will read a forms-parodies, satires and dramas filled with comedy. 19th, 2021. chapter called 'The Accident' from his book "Do you FUTURE PRODUCTIONS Following the successful season kick-off, Know Me?" A perfect match for Miller's "I Can't Christopher Durang's "For Whom The Southern Belle Remember Anything." Both deal with memory, loss FFTP's next production on May 24th is "The Tolls," and Tennessee Williams' "Life Boat Drill," and persistence. Hairdresser" by Susan Charlotte. A light comedy which starred Bob Dishy, FFTP is back at Theatre 80 OTHER DATES WITHOUT Q&A: turns into a serious drama with a twist ending. A six- with Bob Dishy again, this time joined by Penny time Tony nominated actress insists on the perfect Fuller in Arthur Miller's "I Can't Remember Tuesday, April 20th, from 6-7pm.; Thursday, May 6th haircut from her hairdresser/best friend. She is going Anything." from 7-8pm; Saturday, May 15th from 2-3pm. to the 'Tonys' later that evening and hopes to win. The show is directed by FFTP's resident director Repeat Zoom Performances Available On Saturday, Other dates set for FFTP productions are June 28th, Antony Marsellis. Revolving around a widow, her April 24 & Sunday, April 25. July 26th, Sept 13th, Oct 25th, Nov 22nd and Dec. 20th. husband's best friend and her inability to remember SPECIAL ZOOM ON THURSDAY, April 29th, from 7- Many of the performances will have two one-acts much of the past, this compelling drama is filled with 8pm, followed by Q&A with Louise Lasser and Susan included in the event. Besides those mentioned above, humor throughout. Charlotte. there will be plays by the likes of A.R. Gurney, Neil In addition, the audience will enjoy "Did You Know LOCATION, TICKETS LaBute, Dorothy Parker, Horton Foote and My Husband?" written by Susan Charlotte and performances by Kathleen Chalfant, Tony Roberts, originally presented by FFTP, was broadcast on PBS The April 19th, 2:00pm performance will be Cady Huffman, Larry Pine, and Laila Robins and Channel WSKG back in December of 2018. Now, the available live via Zoom as well as a limited in-theatre more. play is brought to the FFTP audience via Zoom. 'audience' who will be part of a documentary being For additional information and tickets to all FFTP "Did You Know My Husband?" stars Emmy filmed on FFTP. The entire FFT series will be shows, contact FFTP at: 646-366-9340 or email: nominated actress Louise Lasser and two-time Tony- presented at Theatre 80 St. Marks. [email protected]. To learn more award winning actress Carole Shelley. Written by Tickets for the 'live' performance are FREE to first- about FFTP, visit foodforthoughtproductions.com award-winner Susan Charlotte, the piece is directed by come patrons, who have agreed to be part of the (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Antony Marsellis. Lasser and Shelley are a perfect documentary on FFTP. Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness) match for this heartfelt drama, scored by four-time All social distancing precautions will be respected. THE INDIAN PANORAMA WORLD FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 24 Iran nuclear talks restart amid tension over Canadian lawmaker caught enrichment move VIENNA (TIP): Iran and global naked during video conference powers resumed talks on Thursday to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal in an OTTAWA (CANADA) (TIP): A reminded lawmakers to always be effort potentially complicated by Canadian Parliament member was vigilant when they are near a camera Tehran’s decision to ramp up uranium caught stark naked in a virtual meeting and microphone. enrichment and what it called Israeli of the House of Commons. Amos, the parliamentary secretary to sabotage at a nuclear site. Casting a William Amos, who has represented Industry Minister Francois-Philippe shadow over the Vienna talks, Tehran the Quebec district of Pontiac since Champagne, was visible only to on Tuesday announced its decision to 2015, appeared on the screens of his Parliament members and staffers on an enrich uranium at 60% purity, a big fellow lawmakers completely naked internal video conference feed. step closer to the 90% that is weapons- Wednesday. The pandemic has meant Because he was not speaking, his grade material, in response to an many Canadian lawmakers participate image did not show up on the public explosion at its key Natanz facility on in sessions via video conference feed. Sunday. — Reuters instead of in person. Liberal Party colleague Mark A screenshot obtained by The Holland said Amos was “utterly France asks citizens to Canadian Press shows Amos standing mortified.” Holland said he was leave Pakistan after violent behind a desk between the Quebec and satisfied with the explanation from his Canadian flags, his private parts colleague. protests hidden by what appears to be a mobile a legislator for the opposition Bloc “I don't think there was any ill intent. FRANCE (TIP): The French phone in one hand. Quebecois party, raised the incident in It's certainly an unfortunate embassy here on Thursday advised all “This was an unfortunate error,? a point of order after question period, circumstance,? Holland said. French nationals in Pakistan to Amos said in a statement sent by suggesting that parliamentary “This is a warning to everybody," temporarily leave the country after email.” "My video was accidentally decorum requires male Parliament Holland added. "You've got to really violent protests by a radical religious turned on as I was changing into my members to wear a jacket and tie — and always assume that camera is on and be group that has now been banned by work clothes after going for a jog. I a shirt, underwear and trousers. very careful any time you wander the government. sincerely apologize to my colleagues in Speaker Anthony Rota later thanked anywhere near that camera that you're The Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan the House of Commons for this DeBellefeuille for her “observations” dressed appropriately.? (TLP) took to streets on Monday to unintentional distraction. Obviously, it and clarified that while he had not seen Asked if he will be issuing a warning launch violent protests to force the was an honest mistake and it won't anything, he checked with technicians to all Liberal lawmakers to that effect, government to expel the French happen again.” Claude DeBellefeuille, and confirmed they saw something. He Holland said: "Oh, big time!" AP ambassador over blasphemous caricatures published last year. Precautionary measure 20 KILLED, 3 China protests Raisina Though no French citizen was reportedly targeted so far, the INJURED WHEN Dialogue remarks embassy has urged all French citizens to leave Pakistan, apparently as a BEIJING (TIP): The Chinese embassy here has sought to counter remarks made precautionary measure Though no BUS, TRUCK against Beijing during the ongoing Raisina Dialogue by several western political French citizen was reportedly and military leaders whose participation is high as this year’s version is fully digital. targeted so far but the embassy has CRASH IN The Chinese embassy spokesperson Wang Xiaojian protested remarks made by US urged all the French citizens to leave Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Phil Davidson and others about Xinjiang, Pakistan, apparently as a Hong Kong and Taiwan, by describing happenings in these regions as China’s precautionary measure. “Due to the SOUTHERN EGYPT internal affairs. “Making baseless and irresponsible remarks is not acceptable. We serious threats to French interests in CAIRO (TIP): A bus has overturned are firmly opposed to interference in China’s internal affairs by any country or Pakistan, French nationals and while trying to pass a truck on a anyone under any pretext,” he said. French companies are advised to highway in southern Egypt, causing a Wang also objected to some western officials stating that ‘China does not share our temporarily leave the country,” the collision that killed at least 20 people values’. “China has being calling for upholding values of peace, development, equity, embassy said in an email message to and injured three others, authorities justice, democracy and freedom. Aren’t these the values that all of us should be its citizens in Pakistan. It said that the said on Wednesday. committed to,” he asked. (TNS) departures will be carried out by The bus was travelling from Cairo on existing commercial airlines. — PTI Tuesday when it turned over and was hit by the truck on a road in the London police charge man seen Beijing skies turn yellow as southern province of Assiut, 320 sand, dust engulf Chinese kilometers south of Cairo, Assiut Governor Essam Saad said in a with axe near Buckingham Palace capital statement. LONDON (TIP): British police say they have charged a London man who was BEIJING (TIP) : The skies above Both vehicles caught fire, it added. spotted carrying an axe near Buckingham Palace. Beijing turned yellow and air pollution Photos released by the governor's The city’s Metropolitan Police force soared to severe levels as a giant cloud office showed a burned out bus, with said private security guards working of sand and dust particles rolled into rescue teams looking for survivors. The on The Mall, a main road outside the the city,propelled by strong winds from victims were taken to nearby hospitals, palace, detained a suspect on Tuesday the north of China. Beijing's air quality the statement said. evening after they were alerted to index rose to 324 as of 4 p.m. local time Traffic accidents kill thousands every reports of a man carrying what (0800 GMT) on Thursday, mainly due to year in Egypt, which has a poor appeared to be an axe. larger particles of sand and dust, transportation safety record. Crashes Police said 46-year-old Vladyslav municipal authorities said. It worsened are mostly caused by speeding, bad Dryhval was charged Thursday with in the evening, exceeding 1,300 in some roads or poor enforcement of traffic possessing an offensive weapon and a parts of the city, according to the Swiss laws. bladed article. IQAir app. The particles originated The country's official statistics Dryhval was remanded into custody from Mongolia and the Chinese region agency says around 10,000 road and was due to appear at Westminster of Inner Mongolia, and high winds are accidents took place in 2019, the most Magistrates’ Court later Thursday. expected to carry the pollutants to recent year for which statistics are The police force previously said central and eastern China by Friday, available, leaving over 3,480 dead. In there were no reports of injuries and the China Meteorological 2018, there were 8,480 car accidents, that the incident was not being treated Administration said. Reuters causing over 3,080 deaths. (AP) as terrorism-related.AP THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVT. FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 25 THE INDIAN PANORAMA COVID-WORLD FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 26 France's Covid death toll Global Covid-19 caseload surpasses 100,000 tops 138.8mn WASHINGTON (TIP): The overall rance's Covid-19 death toll passed global Covid-19 caseload has topped the 100,000 mark on Thursday, 138.8 million, while the deaths have TRACKING THE VIRUS FApril 15, and a further jump in surged to more than 2.98 million, intensive care (ICU) admissions was according to the Johns Hopkins also reported in the past 24 hours, University. GLOBAL suggesting that the coronavirus In its latest update on Friday, April 16, INDIA continues to spread unabated. morning, the University’s Center for Government figures showed 296 new Systems Science and Engineering Cases Deaths Cases Deaths deaths in one day, bringing the total (CSSE) revealed that the current global 138,827,781 2,984,236 1,42,91,917 1,74,308 number of fatalities to 100,073, Xinhua caseload and death toll stood at news agency reported. 138,827,781 and 2,984,236, respectively. The number of Covid-19 patients in The US is the worst-hit country with intensive care units increased by 22 to the world’s highest number of cases and 5,924 in total. The country initially had deaths at 31,495,164 and 565,283, only 5,100 resuscitation beds. respectively, according to the CSSE. Some 30,668 people with Covid-19 In terms of infections, India follows in remained hospitalized, down by 200 in a the second place with 14,074,564 cases. single day. Since the start of the The other countries with more than pandemic, over 5.18 million people in two million confirmed coronavirus France have been infected with the cases are Brazil (13,746,681), France virus, with 38,045 new cases confirmed (5,248,853), Russia (4,622,464), the UK in the past 24 hours. As of Thursday, (4,396,008), Turkey (4,086,957), Italy France has vaccinated nearly 12 million (3,826,156), Spain (3,396,685), Germany people (22.8 per cent of the adult (3,095,016), Poland (2,642,242), Argentina population) with a first shot and 4.26 (2,629,156), Colombia (2,602,719), Mexico million with both shots. (2,295,435) and Iran (2,168,872), the CSSE figures showed. In terms of deaths, Brazil comes UK records second with 365,444 fatalities. Nations with a death toll of over 50,000 another 2,672 are Mexico (211,213), India (173,123), the UK (127,437), Italy (115,937), Russia (102,667), France (100,232), Germany coronavirus (79,520), Spain (76,882), Colombia (67,199), Iran (65,680), Poland (60,612), cases Argentina (58,925), Peru (55,812) and nother 2,672 people in Britain South Africa (53,571). Source: IANS have tested positive for Covid-19, Abringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,380,976, according to official figures released on Thursday, April 15. Trust in J&J vax dips after pause over blood clot The country also reported another 30 coronavirus-related deaths. The total WASHINGTON (TIP): Trust in the safety of Johnson & number of coronavirus-related deaths Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine has plunged 15 percentage points in Britain now stands at 127,191. These among Americans after federal health agencies recommended figures only include the deaths of a "pause" in its use following blood clot cases, according to a people who died within 28 days of their new poll. first positive test, Xinhua news agency Adults who said they believed the single-dose shot was safe reported. dropped from 52 per cent before the pause was announced on More than 32.4 million people have Tuesday to 37 per cent afterward, Xinhua news agency quoted been given the first jab of the the poll conducted by the global opinion and data firm YouGov coronavirus vaccine, according to the along with The Economist. latest official figures. The poll was released on Thursday, April 15. Latest data have also revealed the Respondents who felt the Johnson & Johnson vaccine number of people in England waiting "unsafe" increased from 26 per cent to 39 percent. to begin hospital treatment has risen to Americans broadly trusted the other two vaccines approved a new record high in February this in the US, with 59 per cent of respondents saying they thought year. Figures from National Health the Moderna vaccine was safe and 58 per cent trusting the Service (NHS) England showed a total safety of the Pfizer vaccine. people will need to get vaccinated against the coronavirus of 4.7 million people were waiting for The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the annually, reports Xinhua news agency. routine operations or procedures at the Food and Drug Administration recommended halting the use "We need to see what would be the sequence, and for how end of February -- the highest figure of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday,after rare often we need to do that, that remains to be seen," he told since records began in August 2007. blood clot cases emerged in six recipients. CNBC. Experts have warned that despite In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous "A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a progress in vaccine rollout, Britain is sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then "still not out of the woods" amid blood platelets. from there, there will be an annual re-vaccination, but all of concerns over new variants and the All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a third wave of pandemic in the and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. key role," he said. European continent. Pfizer said earlier this month that its Covid-19 vaccine was Professor Kevin Fenton, London's 3rd vax dose likely needed within 12 more than 91 per cent effective at protecting against the regional director of Public Health months: Pfizer CEO coronavirus, and more than 95 per cent effective against severe England (PHE), said Thursday that disease up to six months after the second dose. further genetic sequencing of positive Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said people will The data was based on more than 12,000 vaccinated tests had detected more cases in likely need a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 participants. London of the variant that first vaccine within 12 months of getting fully inoculated. Researchers are still working on how long protection against emerged in South Africa. Bourla told CNBC News on Thursday that it is possible the virus lasts once individuals has been fully vaccinated. THE INDIAN PANORAMA TRAVEL FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 27 Mizoram: The land of Blue Mountains ucked away in the thickets of green and magnificence, don't miss out to add on the southern tip of Northeast this place in your itinerary in Mizoram. TIndia, Mizoram, the “Land of Blue The Dampa Tiger Reserve, among the Mountains”, is a nature lover's paradise. famous natural protected regions of Sandwiched between and India, is a popular tourist attraction Myanmar, this fifth smallest state in here. Adventure enthusiasts will also India is big on adventure with rugged love visiting the longest cave network of terrains and gurgling rivers. It also Mizoram in Pukzing. Oranges are a boasts a rich historical and cultural major produce from this district, heritage. That's not all, visit Mizoram, earning it the nickname, the 'Orange and be ready to be surprised by the Garden of Mizoram'. locals' style quotient, apart from The town of Mamit and the district is everything else. primarily an agricultural hub of the state of Mizoram. Culturally, this region Tourist Attractions is quite vibrant, with several festivals Aizawl being celebrated with pomp and vigour throughout the year. While the Lying at a height of 1132 m above sea traditional festivals of and level, Aizawl is a quaint city and the New Year are at the forefront of the capital of the state of Mizoram in yearly festivities, the more ethnic . Primarily dominated by festivals of Chapchar Kut and Mim Kut, the Mizo Tribe, Aizawl and its in celebration of the yearly agricultural surrounding areas are lush with rolling harvests are also very significant here. hills and abundant greenery. The city, Saiha along with the majority of the state is known for its agricultural produce and Saiha is known as the fastest growing ethnic handicrafts and apparel. Aizawl is town in Mizoram, as the population has well connected via roads and air significantly risen in the last decade. connectivity to other major hubs of Saiha is a census town in the Saiha northeast India such as Silchar and district in Mizoram located at an average Guwahati in Assam. An important thing height of 729 meters above sea level. This to note is that an Inner Line Pass or ILP town is considered to be a haven for is required for entry into Mizoram which angling enthusiasts. is available on Guwahati, Silchar, Revealing the mystery behind the Shillong, New Delhi and Kolkata. name of the town, the name of the town Among one of the oldest cities in the was originally Siaha where 'Sia' stands north eastern region of India, Aizawl, for elephant and 'ha' meaning tooth - An pronounced eye-zole, is a perfect place to elephant tooth. But the Mizos relax while enjoying the local food and traditionally call it Saiha. culture. Home to the Mizoram State Kolasib Museum and few other tourist complexes, tourists have few options to Among the newer districts and the enjoy a sightseeing tour in the city.Apart smallest of the eleven in Mizoram, from these, one can take a tour to the Kolasib lies in northern Mizoram nearby hilly areas of Hmuifang, Tamdil sharing a border with the Cachar district Lake and Chanmari. of Assam. It lies at a distance of 79 Kms Serchhip north of Aizawl. Like most other districts of Mizoram, Kolasib is Most famous for being the district with bountiful in culture and natural beauty. the highest literacy rate in India, Tlawng river is the best attraction of Serchhip in Mizoram is a place that can Kolasib with its beautiful river banks provide you a unique and vibrant and adjoining forests serving as a experience. countryside getaway. Leisurely boating This small town can give one the can be done by requesting some locals experience of a small village, the life, who would be willing to ferry around activities and colors that it sustains in tourists. Apart from sightseeing, the everyday. Some of the popular experiencing the local food and learning villages one can visit are the Neihloh and about handicrafts is another activity Buangpuri. The nature too plays a role in which travellers can partake in. tourism with spots such as the Vantawng Reiek Khawhltha water fall. Other places here include the Chhingpui Thlan and At a height of 1465 meters, Reiek Tlang Hriantrengna lung. or simply Reiek is one of the highest Lunglei hills of Mizoram. Located at a distance of are among the popular activities opted stream is another popular activity while 29 km away from the city of Aizawl, Literally meaning 'the bridge of rock', by tourists coming to visit Lunglei. here. For those looking to learn about the Reiek Tlang is an excellent viewpoint Lunglei is famous for its scenic beauty Lunglei is a biodiverse region, home to culture and traditions of the region, the overlooking panoramic views of Aizawl and natural setting. It is a small town, Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Saikuti Hall is a must-visit. and the surrounding valley with the located around 170 km south of Aizawl Saza Wildlife Sanctuary. While Saza Mamit backdrop of sceneries borrowed from the whose name is derived from a bridge Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for hosting Mizo Hills. The journey to the peak is shaped rock found along Nghasih which migratory and endemic bird species, The Mamit district is the fourth also an excellent trekking opportunity is a tributary of the river Tlawng. Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary is largest district of the state of Mizoram. usually reserved for calm sunny days. As Lunglei is an ideal offbeat destination for home to several animal species such as The town of Mamit, the administrative is the case with most North Eastern those who love natural sightseeing and leopards, tigers, porcupines and leaf headquarters of the district, is located destination of India, the peak of Reiek is adventure activities bundled into one. monkeys among many. Visiting the around 95 kms from Aizawl to the west. also relatively unexplored and sits pretty Trekking, bird watching and camping Lunglei Rock Bridge at the Nghasih Known for its exquisite scenic locales as a pearl in the hills. THE INDIAN PANORAMA WOMEN FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 28

CONNOISSEUR’S Home remedies that will CHOICE cover your greys

air turns grey when melanin By Tript Arora is stopped being produced by Hyour cells. If your hair turns grey below your late 30s, it is considered premature greying. Nutri kulcha There are multiple reasons for this his famous Street early greying to occur of which food from Punjab is some include stress and genetics. Tfinger licking good. The myth is, if you pluck one grey Nutri is basically Soya hair out, two will sprout up in its chunks in a gravy. Soya place! So what's one supposed to do chunks are high on in a situation like this? Here are protein. So they fulfill the some home remedies that don't requirement of protein in cause extra damage to your locks vegetarians. Very quick and easy to cook. It is a and can slow down the process of full meal at any time of greying. the day. I prefer it when I want to have something Amla powder spicy and quick. The While it is not a permanent Kulchas are easily solution, Amla is known to slow available at bakery shops. down the process of greying and So what are we waiting also helps in preventing hair loss. for? Let's get started. For the perfect Amla hair What we need treatment, mix some powder with coconut oil or olive oil and apply it Nutri Mini Soya Chunks 2 cups (if you have big chunks just at night. Let your hair soak in all cut it into 2 pieces after boiling), Tea Bag 1, Onions 2 finely the nutrients and wash it off in the chopped, Ginger 2 tsp grated, Tomatoes 4 medium sized morning. Do this once a week for and then massaged on the scalp. the quality of hair and slows down grinded to a fine paste. (You can use 6 tsp tomato puree best results. Leave this on for an hour before the process of ageing. Mix a little alternately), Green chillies 2 grinded with tomatoes, Cumin seeds 2 tsp, Cumin powder 2 tsp, Coriander powder 2 tsp, washing off, for best results. onion juice with lemon and olive oil Bhringraj Turmeric powder three fourth tsp, Kashmiri red chilli powder and massage this on your scalp. 2 tsp, Kasuri Methi 2 tsp, garam masala 2 tsp, Mango A popular Ayurvedic pick, Onion juice This will not only darken your hair Powder (amchoor) 2 tsp, Soya sauce dark 2 tsp, Cooking Oil Bringhraj works effectively against While onion juice is already over time but also aid hair growth 6 tsp, Butter 4 tsp, Ghee 4 tsp, Salt to taste. greys. The black dye got from this known for making the hair soft and and add lustre to your dull and dry works best when mixed with hot oil silky, it also drastically improves hair. Source: Pinkvilla Here we go „ Boil Nutri Soya chunks in 6 cups of water along with a tea bag and one tsp of salt until soft. Drain water but don't discard the water. Keep it to be later used in Build your skin’s health and immunity gravy. Press the Soya chunks with a spatula and drain excess water. Chunks will now be of blackish colour because of the tea bag. he skin is the largest organ of the body. It is the „ Heat a pan and add oil to it. Now add cumin seeds first line of defense and helps protect from when they start spluttering and add finely chopped Tharmful elements, microbes and also regulates onions to it. body temperature. This is why it becomes extremely „ Saute till onions turn reddish in colour. Add grated important to keep the skin healthy and maintain its ginger and 4 tsp water to it. When water evaporates immunity, which can be compromised if the protective and the mixture turns homogeneous , add tomato barrier is depleted. chilli paste and kasuri methi to it. To ensure that the good bacteria on your skin „ Now add salt , Turmeric powder , coriander powder, continues to thrive without affecting the barrier, take a Kashmiri red chilli powder , cumin powder and saute look at some simple skin care tips shared by Rajat till oil separates from the masala. Mathur, senior skincare expert from Kiehl’s India. „ Add Soya chunks , butter and saute for 2 minutes. Start your skincare routine with cleansing „ Add the tea water we have kept aside and adjust the consistency of gravy. "Cleansing is the most integral part of your skincare routine. The first step in your skincare routine should „ Add mango powder , garam masala and Ghee. be to carefully clean your face to remove any makeup, „ Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. dirt, or excess oil. Opt for a pH-neutral, soap-free face „ Garnish with ginger julians and fresh coriander. purifier that removes contamination without stripping your skin of its natural oil," says Mathur. For Kulchas : Weekly exfoliation is a must „ Heat a nonstick pan, Smear butter on kulcha with a The skin deals with a lot of external stressors and brush. that is why exfoliating it once a week is a must. "This qualities of avocado to keep the skin's texture at its „ Then roast it in a pan from both the sides till golden helps in deep cleansing the skin and removing dirt and best. brown. Accompany it with green chilli and jullians of dead skin cells. For both oily and dry skin, it is onion dipped in lemon juice. recommended to use a mild scrub," he suggests. Vitamins essential for healthy skin „ Your street food of Nutri Kulcha is ready. Don't bother about calories. Just Enjoy. Moisturise and hydrate your skin They play an important role in keeping your skin These two are different concepts; a good moisturiser healthy -- such as the use of vitamin C helps fight Tips helps in locking in the natural moisture of the skin and radical damage and works as a great anti-ageing agent also keeps the cells hydrated. While hydration for the skin. „ While putting salt in gravy remember there is Salt in maintains the water levels in your skin. soya chunks also. Mathur says, "With summers around the corner, we Sunscreen for skin protection „ A little Turmeric powder enhances colour but too tend to spend more time indoors and in AC. This leads Whether you step out or not, sunscreen is a must. much of it will spoil the taste and colour both. to the skin becoming dry and devoid of moisture. "Lather your skin with sunscreen so that it act as a Moisturising twice, in a span of 8 hours, is a must. This barrier and protects the skin. Don't forget to apply it to You Can reach me at: www.triptasfoodtunnel.com helps in keeping the skin hydrated and doesn’t make it the back of your neck and your arms as they are also Email : [email protected]. look chapped and dry." Opt for something which is very susceptible to the ," he says. Instagram: @triptasfoodtunnel lightweight, non-comedogenic or has the hydrating Source: The Indian Express THE INDIAN PANORAMA HEALTH FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 29 Lose weight while you fast

or many, Navratri fasting is the ideal way to detox. FObserving a fast not only enhances the digestive capacity of one’s body but also ensures that the harmful toxins are flushed. However, one needs to keep in mind that fasting, if not done the right way, can have negative repercussions on our body and UK variant more disturb the balance. So, here is a short guide by Anshu Arora, creator of Trell, on the best transmissible, but way to fast during Navratri that not only benefits the body but also helps does not increase shed a few kilos. Hydration to the rescue Covid severity: Lancet Water is the most effective way to he novel coronavirus variant first identified in fight hunger pangs while fasting. the UK is not associated with more severe Drinking water also keeps you Tillness and death, but appears to lead to higher hydrated, and energetic all day long. viral load which makes it more transmissible, “Instead of drinking plain water, “Caffeine causes dehydration, in a pan. It is a healthy snacking suggests an observational study. include lemon water, coconut water which in turn causes more food option. Instead of having fried or The study of patients in London hospitals is or buttermilk in your diet plan,” she cravings. Say no to soft drinks oily food such as pakoras, have a consistent with emerging evidence that this lineage said. because they have too much sugar handful of this nuts mixture,” she is more transmissible than the original COVID-19 and artificial substances. Replace suggested. strain. Consume seasonal fruits these drinks with options such as A separate observational study using data logged What is Navratri if you do not green tea, tulsi or lemon tea,” she Try samak rice by 37,000 UK users of a self-reporting COVID-19 indulge in seasonal fruits? added. Since we are skipping symptom app found no evidence that the B.1.1.7. Mangoes, grapes or even in wholewheat flour, it is important to variant altered symptoms or likelihood of the form of salads, smoothies, fruit No packaged, fried food make sure the body gets its dose of experiencing long COVID. juices and raitas will keep you fibre. For this, samak rice is the best Authors of both studies acknowledge that these feeling fuller. “Fruits have natural Opt for homemade healthy because it is loaded with a high findings differ from some other studies exploring sugar and give you more fibre, iron snacks, like dry fruits, which are amount of fibre and essential the severity of the B.1.1.7. variant and call for more and vitamin B6 which helps high in calcium, potassium, and minerals like iron and magnesium. research and ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 recharge your metabolism,” Arora zinc. “You can roast nuts like Hence, it is a great source of energy. variants. told indianexpress.com. makhana, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, Samak rice is gluten-free and The studies, published in The Lancet Infectious almonds, melon seeds and flax seeds beneficial for weight loss too. Diseases and The Lancet Public Health, found no Reduce caffeine intake in little ghee or just dry roast them Source: The Indian Express evidence that people with the B.1.1.7. variant experience worse symptoms or a heightened risk of developing long COVID compared with those infected with a different COVID-19 strain. However, viral load and R number -- the number of BP pills may cause skin cancers in elderly people that one infected person will pass on a virus to -- were higher for B.1.1.7., adding to growing evidence that it is more transmissible than the first ommon medications used to treat hypertension strain detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. (high blood pressure) may adversely raise the The emergence of variants has raised concerns Crisk of skin cancers in people aged 66 and that they could spread more easily and be more above, claims a new study. deadly, and that vaccines developed based on the Long-term intake of antihypertensive medications original strain might be less effective against them. called thiazide diuretics, including Preliminary data on B.1.1.7. indicates that it is hydrochlorothiazide, is linked with higher rates of more transmissible, with some evidence suggesting non-melanoma and melanoma -- the two major types it could also be associated with increased of skin cancers, globalnews.ca reported. hospitalisations and deaths. The findings have been published in the Canadian However, because the variant was identified only Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). recently,these studies were limited by the amount of However, other common blood pressure drugs such data available. Source: PTI as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers, did not raise this risk, the PAGE SPONSORED BY study showed. Hydrochlorothiazide is known to make the skin DR. SATISH AND GITANJLI ANAND more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and sunlight, meaning patients can get sunburned more easily, DR. SATISH ANAND according to Health Canada. Former Chairman, Board of "The theory is that by making our skin cells more Trustees, AAPI National sensitive to the damage caused by ultraviolet Patients with a higher risk of skin cancer must E-Mail: radiation from the sun or a tanning bed, that consider other treatment alternatives, the [email protected] medication might increase skin cancer risk," Aaron researchers suggested, adding patients taking Drucker, study co-author and dermatologist at the thiazide diuretics must periodically monitor for skin Women's College Hospital, in Canada was quoted as cancer. GITANJLI ANAND saying to globalnews.ca. While most skin cancers do not lead to death and Former President, India The study included 3,02,634 patients in Ontario who can be treated with a simple surgery, an advanced Association of Long Island have prescribed an antihypertensive medication squamous cell skin cancer or melanoma may put a (IALI) between 1998 and 2017. patient's life at risk, Drucker said. E-mail: [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA SCIENCE & TECH FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 30 Instagram Physicists use rapidly spinning launches test black holes to look for dark matter where users can louds of ultralight bosons — such as axions — can form around a Crapidly spinning black hole, if the choose to hide black hole radius is comparable to the bosons’ wavelength. The cloud rapidly extracts angular likes momentum from the black hole, and nstagram is launching a small reduces it to a characteristic value that global test on Wednesday where depends on the boson’s mass as well as on Iusers can choose whether to hide the black hole mass and spin. like counts on their own posts or other Therefore, a measurement of a black people’s posts, a Facebook hole mass and spin can be used to reveal spokeswoman said. or exclude the existence of such bosons. The photo-sharing site, which is “If bosons exist, we would expect that owned by Facebook Inc, said this latest old black holes of the appropriate mass test came after seeing mixed responses don’t have large spins, since the boson to its experiments in which it removed clouds would have extracted most of it,” likes, commonly used as a measure of said Kwan Yeung (Ken) Ng, a graduate popularity.”In 2019, we started hiding student at MIT’s Kavli Institute for like counts for a small group of people Astrophysics and Space Research. to understand if it lessens some “This implies that the discovery of a pressure when posting to Instagram,” black hole with large spins can rule out the spokeswoman said in a statement. the existence of bosons with certain “Some people found this beneficial masses.” but some still wanted to see like counts In their study, Ng and colleagues so they could track what’s popular.” looked through 45 black hole binaries corresponding mass range. said Dr. Salvatore Vitale, a physicist at Facebook is also exploring a similar reported by the Laser Interferometer From their analysis, two black holes MIT. experience which will roll out in the Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) stood out: GW190412 and GW190517. The team also accounted for other coming weeks, she said, in response to and its companion detector Virgo. Just as there is a maximum velocity for possible scenarios for generating the users calling for more controls over The masses of these black holes — physical objects — the speed of light — black holes’ large spins, while still how they interact with content on the between 10 and 70 solar masses — there is a top spin at which black holes allowing for the existence of ultralight platform. Facebook has previously indicate that if they had interacted with can rotate. GW190517 is spinning at close bosons. tested hiding likes on others’ posts in ultralight bosons, the particles would to that maximum. For instance, a black hole could have Australia. have been between 1*10-13 eV The scientists calculated that if been spun down by bosons but then (electronvolts) and 2*10-11 eV in mass. ultralight bosons existed, they would subsequently sped up again through For every black hole, the researchers have dragged its spin down by a factor of interactions with the surrounding Scientists calculated the spin that it should have if two. accretion disk, a disk of matter from the black hole was spun down by “If they exist, these things would have which the black hole could suck up discover new ultralight bosons within the sucked up a lot of angular momentum,” energy and momentum. method to lengthen lifespan Google Assistant will now find of electronic your iPhone, help order takeout oogle on Wednesday launched some new skills for Google Assistant, the AI-powered assistant found across devices. It's devices Galso encouraging Google Assistant users to set up "routines," research by scientists at the which perform multiple actions with a single command. University of claim to The most notable new Google Assistant skill is the ability to find Ahave developed a technology your iPhone, even when the device is on silent or Do Not Disturb is that would lengthen the lifespan of enabled. The "find my phone" feature is already one of the most electronic devices. This marks a popular Google Assistant features. It works on Nest smart speakers significant step in the field of and other smart displays. To use it to find your iPhone, you have to materials science, for the first time opt in to receiving notifications and critical alerts from the Google providing a full picture of the Home app. Facebook testing video occurrence of fatigue in ferroelectric Next, Google Assistant users can find the AI tool to complete online materials. food orders. The feature only works with restaurants that have added speed dating app ‘Sparked’ Ferroelectric materials are used in an "order" button to their Google Business Profiles on Search and many devices, including memories, Maps. fter Facebook Dating, the social networking capacitors, actuators and sensors. After a customer hits the "order" button from the Google App on platform is now testing a video speed-dating app These devices are commonly used in Android, they choose from the menu and hit "check out." At that Acalled Sparked that will first allow 4-minute both consumer and industrial point, Google Assistant can take over, automatically filling in the dates to help users find if they are compatible to each instruments, such as computers, customer's contact and payment details, based on what's saved in other. medical ultrasound equipment and Google Pay and synced to Chrome Autofill. Once you "both have a great time," dates will then be underwater sonars. scheduled for a 10-minute duration. Over time, ferroelectric materials After that point, Sparked can let the users exchange are subjected to repeated mechanical contact information and stay in touch via Instagram, and electrical loading, leading to a iMessage, or email, The Verge reported on Tuesday. progressive decrease in their Sparked is developed by the company's in-house NPE functionality, ultimately resulting in (New Product Experimentation) team. failure. This process is referred to as The free-to-use app will offer no public profiles, no 'ferroelectric fatigue'. swiping and no direct messages (DMs) but a simple It is the main cause of the failure of video speed-chat. During the sign-up process, users a range of electronic devices, with need to explain what makes them a kind dater. discarded electronics a leading The responses will be "reviewed by a human at contributor to e-waste. Globally, tens Sparked" before you can go on speed dates. "Users also of millions of tonnes of failed have to choose whether they want to date men, women, electronic devices go to landfill every or nonbinary people, and then are asked if they are year. open to dating trans people," the report noted. THE INDIAN PANORAMA BUSINESS FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 31 Oil holds near Elon Musk’s SpaceX raises At Rs 20.16 lakh cr, FY21 1-month high $1.16 billion in equity tax collection as demand financing tops revised forecasts raised illionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX has raised estimate il prices were lower on about $1.16 billion in equity financing ith all major tax Thursday , April 15, though Bover the last two months, the private heads yielding Oholding near one-month highs rocket company said in an amended regulatory Wrevenues after futures jumped in the previous filing on Wednesday, April 14. significantly higher than as the International Energy Agency The filing comes after SpaceX, whose the respective revised (IEA) and others upgraded forecasts investors include Alphabet Inc and Fidelity estimates (RE) shown in for oil demand as major economies Investments, in February disclosed that it the Budget, the Centre recover from the pandemic. raised about $850 million, which had reportedly has appropriated an Brent crude was down by 21 cents, lifted its valuation to about $74 billion. additional Rs 78,000 crore or 0.3%, at $66.37 a barrel by 0129 GMT, The private space company had raised $1.9 as net (post-devolution) after gaining 4.6% on Wednesday and billion in August in its largest single tax revenue in FY21. This closing at the highest since March 17. fundraising round, according to financial means if other inflows US West Texas Intermediate futures software and data provider PitchBook. and outflows stick to dropped 25 cents, or 0.4%, to $62.9 a In February,a prototype of SpaceX's Starship budgeted numbers, the barrel, having risen 4.9% in the rocket, SN9, blew up on its final descent, like fiscal deficit for the year previous session. SN8 before it. The SN9 was a test model being could be 46 basis points US crude inventories were down by developed to carry humans and 100 tons of lower than budgeted 9.5 5.9 million barrels last week, the cargo on future missions to the moon and Mars. billion. This is the highest-ever for the per cent of the nominal Energy Information Administration Following this, the U.S. House of cryptocurrency, and the result of a semi-ironic GDP, if one goes by the (EIA) said on Wednesday, more than Representatives Transportation and movement that’s involved thousands of buyers, second advance estimate double analysts' expectations for a 2.9 Infrastructure Committee said last month it tens of thousands of online posters and the of national income. million-barrel decline. East Coast was investigating a SpaceX commercial space world’s richest man, Elon Musk. According to two crude stocks hit a record low. launch that regulators determined violated U.S. In early January, each token was worth less statements issued by the "We see robust stock draws even safety requirements and its test license. than one cent. In late January, when both the Finance Ministry this after factoring in bearish risks as Musk, who also leads several futuristic GameStop and DogeCoin movements hit their month, gross tax receipts refinery runs are set to rise sharply in companies, including Tesla Inc, Neuralink and stride, the value of DogeCoin shot up to 7.5 (GTR) — net of refunds the coming months," Citi Research Boring Co, said last month SpaceX will be cents, well over a 10-magnification, before but before transfers to the analysts said in a note. landing its Starship rockets on Mars well before sliding down to 2.5 cents. The coin has spent the states — last financial Gasoline supplied to the market last 2030. past few months in the three- to seven-cent year were up Rs 1.22 lakh week, an indicator of US consumption range. On Sunday, its price began to rise, from crore, or 6.4 per cent, over of the fuel, increased to 8.9 million Is Elon Musk's Favorite Meme around six cents, before it smashed the 10-cent the RE at Rs 20.16 lakh barrels per day (bpd), the highest Cryptocurrency the Next Bitcoin? milestone, reports CNET. crore. In FY20, GTR saw a since August, the EIA report said. Tesla CEO, SpaceX boss and currently world’s rare decline — the It started as a joke, but now the joke appears richest person, Elon Musk had announced that collections in the year to be on the people who didn’t take Dogecoin he “bought some Dogecoin for lil X, so he can be were Rs 20.04 lakh crore, seriously. The meme-cryptocurrency Elon a toddler holder.” Dogecoin surged as much as compared with Rs 20.76 Musk wouldn’t stop tweeting about has reached 16% following the tweet, spiking from $0.069 to lakh crore in FY19. an all-time high. According to Coindesk, it has $0.08. risen to 70.22% in the last 24 hours – the highest The Shiba Inu-themed digital coin surpassed ever recorded. Currently (at the time of writing 8 cents for the first time, just a week after this article) Dogecoin’s value is $0.122680, or crashing to 2.5 cents and sparking an outcry on almost 12 cents. The market cap of DogeCoin — Reddit. It rose 53 per cent in the last 24 hours to which started as a joke and is literally classified 8.2 cents, breezing through its recent record of as “a memecoin” — is currently over $14 7.8 cents posted in late January. Asian stock markets advance Bitcoin touches $64,000 high as traders eye coinbase listing after new Wall Street high itcoin advanced Wednesday, sian stock markets breaching the $64,000 level for the followed Wall Street Bfirst time after eclipsing its most Ahigher on Wednesday recent record in March a day earlier as after US inflation ticked up and the mood in cryptocurrencies turned Japanese machinery orders fell. bullish ahead of Coinbase Global Inc.’s Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul listing this week. and Sydney rose. Tokyo was off The token climbed as much as 1.6 less than 0.5%. percent to as high as $64,207 in Asia Wall Street’s benchmark S&P trading. Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks 500 index closed 0.3% higher in such as Blockchain Inc. and choppy trading. Tech and Marathon Digital Holdings Inc. consumer stocks gained on advanced during US trading hours. optimism the vaccine rollout Crypto bulls are out in force as a senior analyst at Swissquote, wrote in a will allow business activity to growing list of companies embrace note. “As such, a successful addition to return to normal. Johnson & Johnson declined after US regulators suspended use of Bitcoin, even as skeptics doubt the Nasdaq should act as endorsement of its single-dose vaccine to investigate possibly dangerous blood clots. durability of the boom. In one of the cryptocurrencies by traditional The US government reported consumer prices increased by a stronger-than- most potent signs of Wall Street’s investors.” expected 0.6% in March, the fastest rate since 2012. Higher inflation normally fuels growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and fears interest rates might be raised to keep prices stable, but the Federal Reserve has Coinbase will list on the Nasdaq on April Morgan Stanley have announced plans said the economy will be allowed to “run hot” to ensure a recovery is in place. 14 at a valuation of about $100 billion. to offer their clients access to crypto Traders “took the well-telegraphed inflation ‘pick-up’ in stride,” said Stephen Coinbase’s debut “will mark the first investments. Tesla Inc. earlier this year Innes of Axi in a report. Market also are “seemingly unfazed” by the J&J suspension. official juncture between the traditional disclosed a $1.5 billion investment in The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.2% to 3,401.72 and Hang Seng in Hong financial avenue and the alternative Bitcoin and more recently started Kong advanced 1.2% to 28,850.00. crypto path,” Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a accepting it as payment for electric cars. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 32 Shree Ganeshaya Namah

By Vedic Astrologer Nastur Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrological consultations. He can be reached at [email protected] and on phone +91 8141234275 for astrological queries VEDIC ASTROLOGER NASTUR BEJAN DARUWALLA www.bejandaruwalla.com Chirag Bejan Daruwalla with his father late Bejan Daruwalla

TIP brings you Weekly and Birthday Horoscope from the WEEKLY HOROSCOPE World's most trusted Vedic Astrologer Nastur Bejan Daruwalla. April 19-25, 2021

maximum attention this week, but all of your hard luck. Be careful not to get so caught up in the series of Aries: work will be very fruitful in the upcoming weeks. Rest new events in your life that you overlook your loved Ganesha says You will learn a lot of business assured that everything you work hard for will bear one's needs and spend your week dreaming this week. lessons because of difficult circumstances this week, fruitful results accordingly for your business this although it will come as a big hurdle to you and leave week. It will all get better than you have ever Sagittarius: you upset for some time, this is the realization you imagined. You will face no troubles in your business A lot of growth will happen in your life this week. need to save your business from falling apart and but you will have to have the dedication and focus to This will take you very far in life and your career as recognizing people who are hurting your business. spend the entire week working this week. well. Pay attention, make sure to implement whatever You might be down with a cold, in the middle of this advice you have been given this week as it will work week. You will be very fatigued by the end of the Leo: out a lot in your favor. You will do your best when it week. You need to consult a doctor and leave your This is the happiest week of the month for you. You comes to your love life and show your gentle approach work to take care of your own health this week. Even will come across a lot of people this week whose to maintain a great and serene life this week. You will though other aspects of your life are going well you. company you will thoroughly enjoy. This week is all feel generous and tolerant and will not easily lose You will feel fine sooner if you completely focus on about having lots of fun for you. Your social battery your patience when something goes wrong in your your health and do not let it mentally affect you. usually runs out pretty quickly hence this week will relationship and an argument arises as Venus is very be surprisingly good for you. Mental anxiety and dominant in your sign this week. Taurus: stress might come and go this week. Even though it is You need to stay calm and composed as you will not that prominent at all, you can avoid it by calming Capricorn: have to face a lot of unhappy people this week. yourself. You should make it a habit to meditate and Great positive energies are aligned in your favor. Something crucial will take place in your business take care of your health daily You need to do the hard work to achieve great success this week that will keep you occupied throughout this in your professional life. If you chose to work hard week. If you do not let the events overwhelm you this Virgo: this week, the financial profit you will make this week week, you will navigate through this week's Your energies will be high this week; It is a good will last you a long time. You will need to focus more challenges in your business very easily hence focus week for you to hustle as much as you can. If you're on your health. Your body might show signs that you on working on finding solutions this week. Anger, single, you'll come across many new love interests. If have been avoiding repeatedly It is nothing major to fatigue, and frustration dominate your week. You will you're in a relationship. You will feel blessed to have worry about but might be if you keep neglecting your have to create your own positive space this week by your partner this week as they will be your biggest health. making time for yoga meditation and preferably cheerleader throughout this week. New opportunities playing music or indulging in any hobby you have. will arise this week. Be cautious about them. Only Aquarius: take risks if they are well calculated and strategized. You seem to be going on a positive streak this week Gemini: New opportunities will come to you but in a very as this week will be a perfect week for you. Relish the You may be feeling overjoyed by the work you have unconventional and hidden manner. Be aware yet positive energy you have been experiencing and be as this week. You have a lot of expectations, from open-minded, with the new opportunities you receive productive as you can be. If you want to start a new yourself you feel your partner does not believe in this week. project now is a perfect time. You will feel at a very your ideas, but you need to approach the issue safe place in your relationship this week and it will delicately. Try to see your partner's point of view as Libra: progressively get better. Although things will go way well. If you explain carefully, they would understand Your business will be great and obstacle-free this too fast for you this week, it will all feel surreal and that you are as capable as them. Frequent stress due week. Your business will grow a lot this week and you magical to you. to work purposes might lead to stomach-related will acquire new clients. This week you will get the problems if you do not hydrate and eat well. You will expected results in the professional as well as Pisces: : have to either cancel your work plans by the end of personal aspect of your life. You just have to make All of the positive energies are protecting your this week or seek immediate professional help as your sure that you are determined to tread ahead with health. Your health will not bother you; at the same health will take up all of your attention and will discipline. This weekwill provide you with a lot of time, you should try to maintain this state for a long bother you a bit by the end of this week. opportunities to prove yourself at work as well, time. If you try to accommodate some health care which, in turn, may also lead to your promotion. routines like exercise or yoga and start eating more Cancer: nutritious food, you will feel even better. You will feel You will have a lot of work to do this week from a Scorpio: as if this week is a little bit challenging. Your life new prospect has arrived and that work will keep you You might face some significant changes in your seems to be falling apart, but it is actually the busy throughout the week. You will thoroughly enjoy life this week and you will be susceptible to fatigue beginning of your growth. You need to work on this week's work as you have been waiting for a new this week. You sometimes forget to look after yourself becoming the best version of yourself this week from prospect for quite a while now. Take each step with when you are busy with work; hence you are the lessons that you learn. All in all, today will be a caution as you move forward with this huge business vulnerable to health issues this week which will be fun yet lucrative dayfor you. opportunity. Your relationships, in general, will related to your stomach. This week you may see improve a lot this week. Your work will require your things turning out in your favor because of your good BIRTHDAY HOROSCOPE ON PAGE 33 THE INDIAN PANORAMA ASTROLOGY FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 33

BIRTHDAY HOROSCOPE April 19-25, 2021

to follow a regime and have new resolutions to you have had today. Try to be optimistic and April 19 achieve this year as the planetary motions turn daydream about the memories you have created You will have a great day today. Everything will out to be in your favor, you need to focus on being today. work out perfectly fine for you and you will go your best today, behavior wise as well as at work. through an amazing positive shift mentally and physically today. Your day is filled with happiness, April 24 joy and celebrations today. You might want to stay April 22 You will have an okay day today. You were alone at some point today out of exhaustion which You might spend the day worrying about a loved expecting grand surprises and celebrations which won't be possible because you will be surrounded one's health today as anxiety seems to be on the won't happen today and might disappoint you, but by people today. rise for you. Even though you won't celebrate you if you keep your expectations aside you will have will be happy that everyone considered and a very fun day today celebrating with your close listened to you and did not bother you today. You friends and your family. You might have to work April 20 will feel like you are able to be at peace even today as well but it won't be a problem for you as You will notice absence of some people in your though you are worried about your loved one. you won't face any obstacles in anything that you life today that you really expected to be present for Everything will turn out fine by the end of the day do today. your special day. This might keep you upset hence rest assured. throughout the day if you let it, but you need to look at the positive side of things and focus on the April 25 fact that there are people who really care about If you're in a relationship you're very likely to you and love you. Although you will receive a few April 23 elope with your partner today leaving everyone surprises today, you are likely to be a little upset A beautiful beginning to the day will set a very confused and upset with you, but you won't care as today. happy mood which will last throughout the day for you will be very deeply in love today and all you you. You will go through a very loving day today will care about today is spending time with your because all you will receive today is love, gifts partner. You need to focus on giving yourself April 21 surprises and a lot of your favorite food. enough importance get some time alone for A great day for you to work on your skills and Satisfaction is what defines your day today, you yourself as well. improve yourself discipline. You have been lazy might feel sad and lonely towards the end of the since a lot of time now and today you could decide day because nothing can match the amount of fun THE INDIAN PANORAMA TRIBUTE FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 34 On Jallianwala Bagh Massacre anniversary Remembering the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

CONTD FROM PAGE 17

I will shoot them. Obey my orders and open shops. Speak up if you want war? You have committed a bad act in killing the English. The revenge will be taken upon you and upon your children." Brigadier Dyer designated the spot where Marcella Sherwood was assaulted sacred and daytime pickets were placed at either end of the street. Anyone wishing to proceed in the street between 6am and 8pm was made to crawl the 200 yards (180 m) on all fours, lying flat on their bellies. The order was not required at night due to a curfew. The order effectively closed the street. The houses did not have any back doors and the inhabitants could not go out without climbing down from their roofs. This order was in effect from 19 April until 25 April 1919. No doctor or supplier was allowed in, resulting in the sick, that were shot, being unattended and left to die in Jallianwala Bagh massacre. After General Dyer reported to his superiors that he had been "confronted by a revolutionary army", Lieutenant- British Genocide and Terrorism against unarmed civilians, including women and children. Governor Michael O'Dwyer wrote in a telegram sent to Dyer: "Your action is The time has come when badges of correct and the Lieutenant Governor honor make our shame glaring in the approves." O'Dwyer requested that incongruous context of humiliation..." martial law should be imposed upon Dyer was met by Lieutenant-General Amritsar and other areas, and this was Sir Havelock Hudson, who told him that granted by Viceroy Lord Chelmsford. he was relieved of his command. He was Both Secretary of State for War told later by the Commander-in-Chief in Winston Churchill and former Prime India, General Sir Charles Monro, to Minister H. H. Asquith however, openly resign his post and that he would not be condemned the attack. Churchill reemployed. referring to it as "monstrous", while The British Lieutenant-Governor of Asquith called it "one of the worst Punjab, Michael O'Dwyerdied the kind of outrages in the whole of our history". death he had brought upon many on Winston Churchill, in the House of April 13, 1921. Commons debate of 8 July 1920, said, "The crowd was unarmed, except with On 13 March 1940, at Caxton bludgeons. It was not attacking anybody Hall in London, Udham Singh, or anything… When fire had been opened upon it to disperse it, it tried to an Indian independence activist run away. Pinned up in a narrow place from Sunam who had witnessed considerably smaller than Trafalgar Square, with hardly any exits, and the events in Amritsar and was packed together so that one bullet would himself wounded, shot and drive through three or four bodies, the people ran madly this way and the other. killed Michael O'Dwyer, the Bullet marked wall at Jallianwala Bagh When the fire was directed upon the British Lieutenant-Governor of center, they ran to the sides. The fire was Rabindranath Tagore received the Tagore "renounced his knighthood in then directed to the sides. Many threw news of the massacre by 22 May 1919. He protest against the inhuman cruelty of Punjab at the time of the themselves down on the ground, the fire tried to arrange a protest meeting in the British Government to the people of massacre, who had approved was then directed down on the ground. Calcutta and finally decided to renounce Punjab", and he quotes Tagore's letter to This was continued to 8 to 10 minutes, his knighthood as "a symbolic act of the Viceroy "The enormity of the Dyer's action and was believed and it stopped only when the protest". In the repudiation letter, dated measures taken by the Government in the to be the main planner. Dyer ammunition had reached the point of 30 May 1919 and addressed to the Viceroy, Punjab for quelling some local himself had died earlier in 1927. exhaustion." Lord Chelmsford, he wrote "I ... wish to disturbances has, with a rude shock, stand, shorn, of all special distinctions, revealed to our minds the helplessness of We pay our tribute to those who lost After Churchill's speech in the by the side of those of my countrymen our position as British subjects in India ... their lives in Jallianwala massacre, and House of Commons debate, who, for their so-called insignificance, The very least that I can do for my salute Udham Singh who avenged their MPs voted 247 to 37 against are liable to suffer degradation not fit for country is to take all consequences upon death. A nation is known by its heroes human beings" myself in giving voice to the protest of and martyrs Dyer and in support of the Gupta describes the letter written by the millions of my countrymen, (With inputs from DiscoverSikhism.com and Government. Tagore as "historic". He writes that surprised into a dumb anguish of terror. Center For Pluralism) THE INDIAN PANORAMA SPIRITUALITY FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 35 Ram Navami: Celebrating the birth of Lord The Indian Panorama wishes its readers a happy Ram Navami that falls on Wednesday, April 21, 2021

am Navami is one the most celebrated Hindu festival that is observed on the ninth day of the RShukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra (Hindu ). As per the Gregorian calendar, the day usually falls between the months of March and April. Ram Navami is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama, the descent of god Vishnu as Rama avatar, through his birth to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya. On this day many people conduct homa and conclude the nine days festivities of Chaitra Navratri, due which the festival is known as Ram Navami or Rama Navratri. This year, Rama Navami falls on Wednesday,April 21, 2021. The birth of Lord Rama took place during the Madhyahna (mid of a day), this period lasts for 2 hours and 24 minutes. Hence, one should perform all the Puja rituals related to Rama Navami during this phase. According to drikpanchang.com, the auspicious time for puja during the Rama Navami festival are as follows: Rama Navami Madhyahna Muhurat is from 11:02 to 13:38. (Duration: 02 hours 36 mins) Rama Navami Madhyahna Moment is 12:20. Navami Tithi begins at 00:43 on Apr 21, 2021, and ends at 00:35 on Apr 22, 2021. Background Bhagwan Rama exemplified the perfect person (maryada purushottam). He was the embodiment of compassion, gentleness, kindness, righteousness and integrity.Although he had all the power in the world, he when the Sun is overhead and is at its maximum place where he victoriously slew Ravana, he reported still was peaceful and gentle. brilliance. In some Hindu sects, prayers on Ramnavami it to Sitaji only as, “and this is where Ravana died.” His reign in Ayodha is referred to as Ramarajya, the day start not with an invocation to Rama but to Surya He didn’t say, “This is where I crushed the demon,” epitome of perfect governance. Ayodhya was the capital (Sun). Again the syllable Ra is used in the word to or “This is where I killed Ravana.” founded by the king-rishi Manu. During the reign of describe the Sun and brilliance in many languages. In The story of Lord Rama as told in the great epic King Dasharath, Ayodhya reached a period of great Sanskrit, Ravi and Ravindra both mean “Sun”. Ramayana is one that most Indians know prosperity. But Dasharath had one problem–he had no irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Lord Rama children. Therefore he decided to perform the Significance of Ram Navami is a legendary figure, the epitome of all that is good ashvamedh sacrifice. Elaborate and difficult rituals had The story of the Ramayan is a classic, eternal, and true, the man who vanquished the demon king, to be observed. Rishi Rishyashring presided over the universal message of Dharma versus adharma, of Ravana. Lord Rama is not just a hero, but has been yagya. The performance of this sacrifice was a great deva versus demon, of good versus evil, as given the status of a god by the Hindus. Therefore, it event in Ayodhya. At the end, Rishyashring recited a represented in the battle between Rama and Ravana. comes as no surprise that his birth is celebrated year Mantra and made an offering to the fire. Then the gods, Ravana was a brahmin; he was a great scholar who after year with great pomp and enjoyment on the gandharvas, siddhas, and rishis present around began wrote numerous works on scriptural philosophy. He ninth day after the new moon in Sukul Paksh (the to pray to . During that time Ravana, the king of was powerful, dynamic, and beautiful in appearance. waxing moon), which falls sometime in the month of Lanka, was terrorizing the people, and they were As the brilliant, handsome king of Lanka, he had April. longing for liberation from his menace. Ravana had everything one would need to be happy and peaceful. acquired great power because he had obtained from Yet, he was arrogant, egoistic, greedy and lustful. His PAGE SPONSORED BY God Brahma the boon that he would never die at the insatiable desires led him to crave more and more hands of gods, or gandharvas, or yakshas power, more and more money, and more and more ARISH K. SAHANI (demigods) or demons. As he was not afraid of men, ladies to fulfill his every whim. Serving Since 1972 he did not care to include men in the list of his potential There is one main difference: Bhagwan Rama’s slayers. So Brahmadev declared that Ravana would die heart overflowed with divinity, love, generosity, Please Call or Write for Your at the hands of a man. Then the gods went to Vishnu for humility, and a sense of duty. Ravana’s heart, in Insurance Needs help and requested him that since Dasharath was a contrast, was filled with avarice, hatred, and egoism. Arish K Sahani glorious king, that He take birth in the wombs of his Under Bhagwan Rama’s divine touch, the animals (Father) three queens in four different incarnations of His became his devotees and his divine helpers. Under divinity. When Dasharath’s sacrifice came to an end, a Ravana’s touch, even humans became animals. Shiv Sahani (Son) shining figure appeared over the sacrificial kund, and Through his noble and divine choices, he teaches Priya Sahani Sood offered the king a divine beverage called “payasam”, the world to choose dharma over Artha (when he (Daughter) which was to be given to his queens Kausalya, Kaikayi, leaves for the forest rather than be coronated as and Sumitra. In due time, Kausalya gave birth to Rama, King) and to choose Moksha over Kama (when he 7 1 8 - 2 7 1 - 1 9 0 6 Kaikayi to Bharat and Sumitra to Laxman and chooses his kingdom over his marriage). Shatrugna. Ravana’s ego led to his own demise, first the [email protected] The Sun is considered to be the progenitor of Rama’s demise of his spirit and heart and then the demise of dynasty, which is called the Solar Dynasty (Raghukula his body. He thought he was the one who ran or Raghuvamsa –Raghu means Sun and Kula or Vamsa everything. He thought that he was the “doer” of it “If Hindus don’t maintain Hinduism, who shall save it?” mean familial descendant). Rama is also known as all. On the other hand, Bhagwan Rama was always “If India’s own children don't cling to their faith, who shall Raghunatha, Raghupati, Raghavendra etc. That all humble, and he never took credit for anything. At the guard it?” these names begin with the prefix Raghu is also end of the war in Lanka, Bhagwan Rama was giving suggestive of some link with Sun-worship. The hour Sitaji a tour of the city, showing her where all of the “Indians alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are chosen for the observance of the Lord’s birth is that various events had occurred. When, they reached the one.” THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVT. FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 36 THE INDIAN PANORAMA SPORTS FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 37

IPL 2021 Arsenal, Man Utd, Roma, Morris, Miller star as RR edge Villarreal into DC in low-scoring thriller

MUMBAI (TIP): Rajasthan Royals’ Europa League expensive buy this IPL Chris Morris delivered as he hit an unbeaten 18-ball 36 (4×6) to power his side to a stunning semis three- victory over Delhi Capitals ith their season on the line, in the IPL match on Thursday, April 15. Arsenal’s players produced a Chasing a modest target of 148, Royals Wdevastating first-half lost half of the side 42 runs in the 10th performance Thursday, April 15, to over. But David Miller scored a strokeful beat Slavia Prague and reach the half-century (62 off 43, 7×4, 2×6) to revive Europa League semifinals. their innings. But his departure in the They’ll meet a familiar face there. 16th over with 44 needing from last four Arsenal’s 4-0 win in the Czech overs put Capitals ahead. However, capital — secured courtesy of a Morris turned the match in Royals’ three-goal burst in six minutes from favour with his big hits. He smashed the 18th — clinched a 5-1 aggregate Kagiso Rabad for 15 runs in the 19th over victory and set up a last-four match with two sixes to bring down the target to against Villarreal, which is managed 12 from last over. He then smacked Tom by Unai Emery. Curran for two sixes to finish the match The Spanish coach spent an with two balls to spare. underwhelming 18 months at Earlier, nn inspired bowling Arsenal as Arsene Wenger’s performance by Jaydev Unadkat, Morris, replacement in 2018-19 and is and Mustafizur Rahman helped rebuilding his managerial career at Rajasthan Royals restrict Delhi Capitals David Miller of Rajasthan Royals plays a shot during his half-century knock in the IPL match Villarreal, which beat Dinamo to 147/8. Delhi kept on losing at against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Zagreb 2-1 and advanced 3-1 on regular intervals, and although skipper aggregate. Rishabh Pant played a knock of 51, partnership from skipper Rishabh Pant Delhi’s innings started to come on track, Manchester United and Roma Rajasthan managed to maintain a and Marcus Stoinis, but this was not to Pant (51) was sent back to the pavilion complete the semifinal lineup. stranglehold over the opposition. be the case as Mustafizur Rahman had via a run-out. Soon after, Lalit Yadav (20) United is back in the last four for a Asked to bat first, Delhi Capitals got off Stoinis (0) fooled by a slower delivery in was dismissed by Chris Morris, reducing second straight season after beating to a bad start as the side lost its first the seventh over, and as a result, Delhi Delhi to 100/6 in the 15th over. Spanish team Granada 2-0 for a 4-0 three wickets — Prithvi Shaw (2), was reduced to 37/4. In the final overs, Tom Curran (21), aggregate win. Shikhar Dhawan (9), and Ajinkya Lalit Yadav and Rishabh Pant then Ravichandran Ashwin (7), and Chris Arsenal and Roma were under Rahane (8) with just 36 runs on the board. revived the innings for Delhi by stitching Woakes (15*) added some crucial runs to pressure to advance because the All three batters were sent back to the a partnership of 51 runs for the fifth the total and as a result, Delhi Capitals Europa League represents their only pavilion by Jaydev Unadkat. wicket, and this saw skipper Pant going posted a total of more than the 140-run chance of winning a trophy this Delhi would have been hoping for a big past his 50-run mark. However, as soon as mark. season and their only realistic route into next season’s Champions League, owing to their lowly current placing in their domestic leagues. Arsenal is ninth in the Premier BCCI Central Contracts: Virat, Rohit, Bumrah League and Roma seventh in Serie A. The winner of the Europa League remain in top bracket; Pandya promoted to grade A earns an automatic spot in the far more lucrative Champions League. NEW DELHI (TIP): The star trio of India captain Virat Arsenal sent a message before and Kohli, his white-ball deputy Rohit Sharma and pace spearhead during the win over Slavia. Jasprit Bumrah retained their top bracket BCCI contracts, The hosts learned the day before worth Rs 7 crore each, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya earned the game that their defender, Ondrej a promotion despite an injury-plagued season. Kudela, had been banned for 10 A total of 28 cricketers were awarded central contracts in games for racially abusing Rangers’ four categories on Thursday, April 15. Glen Kamara during a round-of-16 At this moment in Indian , there are only three game last month. certainties across formats and the scenario hasn't changed Before kickoff, as Slavia’s players with Kohli, Rohit and Bumrah being the elite of elites. stood in a line at the center circle, All-rounder Pandya is one of the notable promotions to Arsenal’s players took a knee in a Grade A, which is worth Rs 5 crore, despite the fact that he symbolic gesture in support of the endured a back injury which has prevented him from bowling Black Lives Matter movement, with for much of the last year. He was in Grade B last year. Alexandre Lacazette doing so right "Hardik is very much in line to play Test matches in England in front of the Slavia team and and will be one of the most important players after our A+ staring at the players. cricketers when we play the T20 World Cup. So Hardik's Arsenal responded to having an promotion is about what he brings to the team. That's what the early goal by Emile Smith Rowe selectors have factored in," a senior BCCI official told PTI on ruled out for offside by VAR by conditions of anonymity. scoring three times in quick Rookies Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj have got their succession, first though Nicolas Pepe maiden central contracts worth Rs 1 crore in grade C while in the 18th and then Lacazette — Shardul Thakur has been elevated to group B. Grade A to C. from the penalty spot — and Bukayo The trio has been rewarded for lion-hearted performances "Kuldeep is slowly slipping down the radar and he should Saka. during India's historic Test triumph in Australia this year. consider himself lucky that he has managed to retain his That meant Slavia, the runaway Among the demotions, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has contract," said the source. leader of the Czech league which dropped to Grade B, which is worth Rs 3 crore, while Kedar However Shikhar Dhawan, who is now a certainty in only one hadn’t lost at home in nearly 18 Jadhav has been dropped for good. format (ODI), has managed to remain in category A along with months, needed to score four goals to Bhuvneshwar's demotion from A to B comes in the wake of Test specialists Ravichandran Ashwin and Cheteshwar Pujara. qualify. By halftime, the hosts had prolonged absences due to different injuries and he is no longer Axar Patel's 27-wicket haul against England at home has also essentially given up as they removed an all-format regular. got him back in the central contracts fold. One is required to some of their key players to preserve The biggest setback has come for left-arm wrist spinner play a minimum of three Test matches to enter the lowest their condition for the league. Kuldeep Yadav, who has been pushed down two notches from bracket. THE INDIAN PANORAMA MISCELLANY FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 38 IRS reminds U.S. territory residents about U.S. income tax rules relating to pandemic unemployment compensation

WASHINGTON (TIP): The Last year, in response to the sourced where the taxpayer performed Internal Revenue Service reminds COVID-19 pandemic, Congress the underlying services. For guidance eligible residents of the U.S. passed legislation providing on the U.S. income taxation of territories that if they receive eligible individuals with two new residents of the U.S. territories, see Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and unemployment compensation types of pandemic-related Publication 570, Tax Guide for the U.S. Virgin Islands. payments that are otherwise unemployment compensation, Individuals with Income from U.S. U.S. territory residents should subject to U.S. income tax, they may which are subject to the same U.S. Possessions. contact their territory tax department be eligible to exclude up to $10,200 tax rules that apply to other The U.S. territories are American with questions relating to the taxation per person of unemployment unemployment compensation: Samoa, the Commonwealth of the of COVID-related unemployment compensation from U.S. income tax Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the compensation at the territory level. for 2020, following legislation that Pandemic Unemployment was passed March 11, 2021. Taxpayers with modified adjusted Assistance (PUA) income of less than $150,000 may Federal Pandemic Unemployment exclude the first $10,200 of Compensation (FPUC) unemployment compensation from The $10,200 exclusion applies to their 2020 federal income tax return. In the case of taxpayers these new types of unemployment that are married filing jointly, the compensation for U.S. income tax maximum exclusion would be $10,200 for each spouse for a purposes. maximum of $20,400. Taxpayers The IRS also notes that for U.S. who filed before the law was passed income tax purposes, unemployment should not file an amended return. compensation is generally considered THE INDIAN PANORAMA US FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 39 ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS IRS, Treasury disburse 2 million more Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan VA beneficiaries bring total to approximately 159 million as payments continue WASHINGTON (TIP): The Internal payments based on their 2019 tax returns tax return, as well to people who qualify Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of but are eligible for a new or larger for "plus-up" payments. the Treasury and the Bureau of the payment based on their recently Special reminder for those who don't Fiscal Service announced, April 14, they processed 2020 tax returns. This batch normally file a tax return are disbursing nearly 2 million payments included more than 700,000 million of Although payments are automatic for in the fifth batch of Economic Impact these "plus-up" payments, with a total most people, the IRS continues to urge Payments from the American Rescue value of more than $1.2 billion. people who don't normally file a tax Plan. Another 72,000 payments went to return and haven't received Economic April 14 announcement brings the Social Security beneficiaries who didn't Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return total disbursed so far to approximately file a 2020 or 2019 tax return and didn't to get all the benefits they're entitled to 159 million payments, with a total value use the Non-Filers tool last year. under the law, including tax credits such of more than $376 billion, since these Overall, this fifth batch of payments as the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, the payments began rolling out to contains nearly 1.2 million direct deposit Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Americans in batches as announced on payments (with a total value of just Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 tax return will March 12. under $2 billion) and nearly 800,000 paper also assist the IRS in determining The fifth batch of payments began check payments (with a total value of whether someone is eligible for an processing on Friday, April 9, with an over $1.4 billion). advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't official payment date of April 14, with Additional information is available on Credit, which will begin to be disbursed required to file a tax return. some people receiving direct payments the first four batches of Economic this summer. Free tax return preparation is in their accounts earlier as provisional Impact Payments from the American For example, some federal benefits available for qualifying people. or pending deposits. Here is additional Rescue Plan, which began processing on recipients may need to file a 2020 tax The IRS reminds taxpayers that the information on this batch of payments: April 2, March 26, March 19 and March return - even if they don't usually file - to income levels in this new round of In total, this batch includes nearly 2 12. provide information the IRS needs to Economic Impact Payments have million payments with a value of more A larger percentage of payments was send payments for a qualifying changed. This means that some people than $3.4 billion. made electronically during this round of dependent. Eligible individuals in this won't be eligible for the third payment More than 320,000 payments, with a payments than during previous rounds. group should file a 2020 tax return as even if they received a first or second total value of $450 million, went to This accelerated the delivery of quickly as possible to be considered for Economic Impact Payment or claimed a Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries who payments to millions of American an additional payment for their 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. Payments receive Compensation and Pension families whose payments would qualifying dependents. will begin to be reduced for individuals (C&P) benefit payments but who don't otherwise have been sent by mail. Over People who don't normally file a tax making $75,000 or above in Adjusted normally file a tax return and didn't use 95% of all Social Security beneficiaries return and don't receive federal benefits Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing the Non-Filers tool last year. have been paid electronically during this may qualify for these Economic Impact jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for Nearly 850,000 payments, with a total round of payments, compared to 70% in Payments. This includes those individuals ($160,000 for married filing value of nearly $1.6 billion, went to the first round and 72% in the second experiencing homelessness, the rural jointly); people with Adjusted Gross eligible individuals for whom the IRS round. poor, and others. Individuals who didn't Incomes above these levels are ineligible previously did not have information to The IRS will continue to make get a first or second round Economic for a payment. issue an Economic Impact Payment but Economic Impact Payments on a weekly Impact Payment or got less than the full Individuals can check the Get My who recently filed a tax return. basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to amounts may be eligible for the 2020 Payment tool on IRS.gov to see the This batch also includes additional eligible individuals for whom the IRS Recovery Rebate Credit, but they'll need payment status of these payments. ongoing supplemental payments for previously did not have information to to file a 2020 tax return. See the special Additional information on Economic people who earlier this year received issue a payment but who recently filed a section on IRS.gov: Claiming the 2020 Impact Payments is available on IRS.gov. IRS urges participants of abusive micro-captive insurance arrangements to exit from arrangements WASHINGTON (TIP): Internal determination of accuracy-related In the past several years, the IRS has transactions that are the same as or Revenue Service officials, April 9, penalties and rejected the taxpayer's ratcheted up its efforts to combat substantially similar to transactions urged participants in abusive micro- claim of reliance on tax advice. abusive micro-captive insurance that are described in the notice as captive insurance arrangements to exit Taxpayers who engaged in abusive arrangements. In 2020, the IRS deployed "Transactions of Interest." The notice these transactions as soon as possible. micro-captive transactions are once 12 newly formed micro-captive established reporting requirements for The IRS has stepped up examinations again encouraged to consult an examination teams to substantially those entering into such transactions of these arrangements and has independent tax advisor prior to filing increase the examinations of ongoing on or after Nov. 2, 2006 and created recently won yet another case in U.S. their 2020 tax returns. Taxpayers abusive micro-captive insurance disclosure and list maintenance Tax Court that such arrangements are should consider exiting the transaction transactions. The IRS will disallow tax obligations for material advisors. not eligible for the tax benefits claimed. and not reporting deductions benefits from transactions that are In March and July 2020, IRS issued On March 10, 2021, the U.S. Tax Court associated with abusive micro-captive determined to be abusive and may also letters to taxpayers who participated in held in Caylor Land & Dev. v. insurance transactions. require domestic captives to include a Notice 2016-66 transaction alerting Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2021-30 "In multiple cases before the courts, premium payments in income and them that IRS enforcement activity in (2021), that yet another micro-captive judges have held that these 'fanciful' assert a withholding liability on foreign this area will be expanding arrangement failed to qualify as and 'unreasonable' arrangements don't captives. The IRS will continue to significantly and providing them with insurance for federal tax purposes. add up to insurance in the commonly assert penalties, as appropriate, the opportunity to tell the IRS if This decision follows several earlier accepted sense," said IRS including the strict liability penalty they've discontinued their Tax Court decisions that also Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "I that applies to transactions that lack participation in this transaction before confirmed the IRS's determinations strongly urge participants in these economic substance. the IRS initiates examinations. Early that certain micro-captive arrangements to get independent legal In Notice 2016-66, the IRS advised that responses indicate that a significant arrangements were not eligible for the advice separate from those who helped micro-captive insurance transactions number of taxpayers who participated claimed federal tax benefits. In Caylor, steer them into these abusive have the potential for tax avoidance or in these transactions have exited the the Tax Court also sustained the IRS's arrangements." evasion. The notice designated transaction. THE INDIAN PANORAMA US FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 40 ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS IRS, Treasury disburse 25 million more Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan Social Security and other beneficiaries bring total to more than 156 million payments

WASHINGTON(TIP): The Internal Revenue Service, millions of American families. the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Bureau of Direct deposits are also more likely to be successfully the Fiscal Service announced, April 7, that they are delivered than mailed payments, and the return rate of disbursing more than 25 million payments in the fourth direct deposits is also lower than in previous rounds of batch of Economic Impact Payments from the payments. American Rescue Plan. Over 3.1 million Direct Express cardholders have April 7 announcement brings the total disbursed so received payment electronically, more than a half- far to more than 156 million payments, with a total check payments (with a total value of nearly $3 billion). million more than in previous rounds. Making most of value of approximately $372 billion, since these Additional information is available on the first three these payments to Direct Express cards enables payments began rolling out to Americans in batches, as batches of Economic Impact Payments from the cardholders, many of whom are unbanked, to receive announced on March 12. American Rescue Plan, which began processing on their Economic Impact Payment the same way they The fourth batch of payments began processing on March 26, March 19, and March 12. typically receive their federal benefits. Friday,April 2, with an official payment date of April 7, No action is needed by most people to obtain this Special reminder for those who don't normally with some people receiving direct payments in their round of Economic Impact Payments. People can check accounts earlier as provisional or pending deposits. the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov on to see if their file a tax return Here is additional information on this batch of payment has been scheduled. Some federal benefits recipients may need to file a payments: Payments to non-filer VA beneficiaries will be 2020 tax return, even if they don't usually file, to In total, this batch includes more than 25 million provide information the IRS needs to send payments for payments, with a total value of more than $36 billion. disbursed on April 14 a qualified dependent. Eligible individuals in this group The largest block of these payments went to Social The IRS continues to review data received from should file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an Security beneficiaries who didn't file a 2020 or 2019 tax Veterans Affairs (VA), which covers veterans and their additional payment for their qualified dependent as return and didn't use the Non-Filers tool last year. More beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension quickly as possible. than 19 million payments, with a total value of more (C&P) benefit payments who don't normally file a tax People who don't normally file a tax return and don't than $26 billion, went to these beneficiaries, which return. If no additional issues arise, the IRS expects to receive federal benefits may qualify for these Economic include Social Security retirement, survivor or begin processing these VA payment files at the end of Impact Payments. This includes those experiencing disability (SSDI) beneficiaries. this week. Because the majority of these payments will homelessness, the rural poor, and others. Individuals More than 3 million payments, with a total value of be disbursed electronically, they would be received on who didn't get a first or second round Economic Impact nearly $5 billion, went to Supplemental Security the official payment date of April 14. The IRS projects Payment or got less than the full amounts may be Income (SSI) beneficiaries. VA beneficiary payment information would be available eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, but they'll Nearly 85,000 payments, with a total value of more in the Get My Payment tool this weekend, April 10-11. need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on than $119 million, went to Railroad Retirement Board Payments continue to be made rapidly and IRS.gov: Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if (RRB) beneficiaries. you aren't required to file a tax return. effectively This batch includes additional ongoing supplemental Free tax return preparation is available for payments for people who earlier in March received The IRS and Treasury are disbursing Economic payments based on their 2019 tax returns but are Impact Payments authorized by the American Rescue qualifying people. eligible for a new or larger payment based on their Plan quickly and successfully, while improving on The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in recently processed 2020 tax returns. This batch previous rounds of payments. this new round of Economic Impact Payments have included more than 1 million of these "plus-up" Within two weeks of the American Rescue Plan changed. This means that some people won't be eligible payments, with a total value of more than $2 billion. becoming law, the IRS and Treasury had started for the third payment even if they received a first or More than 1 million payments, with a total value of disbursing 127 million payments, including 107 million second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 nearly $3 billion, went to people for whom the IRS completed direct deposits. At a similar point during the Recovery Rebate Credit. Payments will begin to be previously did not have information to issue a payment first round of Economic Impact Payments authorized a reduced for individuals making $75,000 or above in but who recently filed a tax return and qualified for an year ago, the first payments had yet to be completed. Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing Economic Impact Payment. Payments to this group -- to Social Security and other federal beneficiaries are jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals and the "plus-up" payments noted above -- will continue being issued faster than they were during the first ($160,000 for married filing jointly); people with on a weekly basis going forward as the IRS continues round of payments a year ago. Adjusted Gross Incomes above these levels are processing tax returns from 2020 and 2019. Approximately 85% of the current round of ineligible for a payment. Individuals can check the Get Overall, this fourth batch of payments contains payments have been made by direct deposit, up from My Payment tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status nearly 24 million direct deposit payments (with a total 74% in the first round of payments and 77% in the of these payments. Additional information on value of over $33 billion) and more than 1 million paper second round. This helps to expedite payments for Economic Impact Payments is available on IRS.gov.

A U.S. person is a citizen or resident of reported a foreign account on a late-filed IRS reminds foreign bank and financial account the United States or any domestic legal FBAR if the IRS determines there was entity such as a partnership, reasonable cause for late filing. holders the FBAR deadline remains April 15 corporation, limited liability company, More details and help available estate or trust. IRS.gov has several resources WASHINGTON (TIP): The Internal Financial interest in, signature The 2021 FBAR must be filed available 24 hours a day: Revenue Service is reminding U.S. authority or other authority over one or electronically with the Financial Crimes Fact Sheet 2021-07 citizens, resident aliens and any more accounts, such as a bank account, Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and is International Taxpayers page, domestic legal entity that the deadline to brokerage account, mutual fund or other only available through the BSA E-Filing IRS Tax Map file their annual Report of Foreign Bank financial account in a foreign country, System website. Taxpayers who are IRS FBAR Reference Guide and Financial Accounts (FBAR) is still and unable to e-file their FBAR must call FAQs About International Individual April 15, 2021. The aggregate value of all foreign FinCEN at 800-949-2732, from outside the Tax Matters The extension of the federal income financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any U.S. 703-905-3975. FinCEN's website Reporting tax filing due date and other tax time during the calendar year. Penalties for failure to file an FBAR Maximum Account Value. deadlines for individuals to May 17, 2021, Because of this threshold, the IRS Those who don't file an FBAR when To help avoid delays with tax refunds, does not affect the FBAR requirement. encourages U.S. persons or entities with required may be subject to significant taxpayers living abroad should visit Who must report foreign accounts, even relatively small civil and criminal penalties that can Helpful Tips for Effectively Receiving a The Bank Secrecy Act requires U.S. ones, to check if this filing requirement result in a fine and/or prison. The IRS Tax Refund for Taxpayers Living Abroad persons to file a FBAR if they have: applies to them. will not penalize those who properly on IRS.gov. THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVT. FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 41 THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVT. FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021 YEARS 42