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‘Litmus Test’ of Brainstorming Capacities & Patience
W
e need to gradually bring the battered economy back to life after almost two months nationwide. Apar t from giving impor tance to the human life, there is a need to lay utmost emphasis on the revival of our economic system. As both, the economic development as well as the human lives, is stuck due to the coronavirus outbreak, we need to exert our unanimous efforts. It may be termed as a ‘litmus test’ of our brainstorming capacity, patience and selfless effor ts to regain economic momentum of the country. As such, we should refocus on multiple ways of economic development. If survey conducted by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) is taken into consideration the widespread lockdowns have affected the jobs of myriads of workers in the world. Media reports show that India’s poor are struggling to buy food because of the loss of livelihoods as a result the International Labor Organization (ILO) questioned that more than 400 million Indians were at risk of tumbling into the depth of poverty. Hence, the unanimous effor ts of the citizens as well as the exploration of decentralized strategies by the Governments to exit the lockdown will hopefully manage the situation. We have to be brave and bring in reforms that may touch the lives of common citizens. On the other hands, focusing on MSMEs and startups should be our priorities to regain the expected pace of economic development. Their collaborations and partnerships are the way forward for the industry to fight it out and emerge stronger amid outbreak of deadly Coronavirus. The startups come with crazy disruptive ideas and MSMEs have scores of different ideas on aspects as they have been in the industry for a long. As soon as both converge, it would generate a new line of business. Through these partnerships, the MSMEs can draw up a prudent financial strategy during such tough times. Technology must be used in a more fruitful manner. The 3D printing, virtual reality-based design, drone and autonomous transport, AI and ML and Internet of Things (IoT) and other such can help us revolutionize the entire things. The market has been badly hit due to the corona pandemic and hence, the focus should now be on multiple growth points with emphasis on digital growth. For better efficiencies, the employer as well as the employees should strictly follow the significant measures related to the health and hygiene. In a terse, we may say that it is only the innovation that can drive the business forward for MSMEs. All what we need to do is nothing but top step up more than ever before.
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BRIEFING COVER STORY
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NATIONAL
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Seers Perform ‘Yagna’ to Contain Deadly Coronavirus in India
Comprehensive Fights Against Coronavirus Help Us Curb Global Warming
INTERNATIONAL
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OPINIONS
16
Deteriorating Levels of Ozone Depletion Affects ‘Arctic’
BUSINESS OUTLOOK
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Authoritarianism to Increase Post Coronavirus Pandemic
IN-DEPTH
With Major Fall in Fuel Demands, Reliance Suffers Huge Loss
June 2020
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IRS Officers Chargesheeted for Putting....
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SPECIAL STORY Special on International Yoga Day - 21, June
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42 8
DEFENCE Defence Minister Unveils DRDO’s MVRDL
INT’L BIZ Deadly Virus Badly Affects Economic Figures in US, Europe
OBSERVER DAWN June 2020
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BUSINESS TIPS How Can Businesses Evolve Their Marketing Strategy During COVID-19?
FOOD “Want to be Healthy and Fit”
CAREER How to Boost Your Kid's Confidence in this Lockdown Period
National
NEW ACADEMIC SESSIONS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER: UGC Regarding pending examinations, the UGC indicated that the varsities could adopt alternative and simplified modes and methods of examination to complete the process in shorter period of time. Universities could adopt efficient and innovative modes of examinations by reducing the time from three to two hours, it added.
T
he University Grants Commission (UGC) has on April 30, 2020 announced that college sessions will begin in August for current students and September for new ones.
Releasing the annual examination details and a new academic calendar for the Universities and Colleges, closed since mid-March following the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, the education regulator said intermediate semester students will be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester, while exams for the terminal semester students will be held in July. For intermediate semester students in the states where the COVID-19 situation has normalised, there will be exams in July, according to the guidelines released on Wednesday.
Also, the varsities could conduct terminal/Intermediate semester/year examinations in offline/online mode, as per their ordinances/rules and regulations, scheme of examinations, observing the guidelines of "social distancing" and keeping in view the support system available with them and ensuring fair opportunity to all students," it added. Also allowed was extension of six-months period to the M Phil or PhD students and conduct of the PhD and M Phil Viva-voce examinations could be held through video-conferencing. The guidelines favoured following a six-day week pattern by the Universities, in view of present scenario and future uncertainties in a transparent manner by making alterations or additions or modifications or amendments to deal with particular situations in the best interest of students, educational institution and the entire education system.
SEERS PERFORM ‘YAGNA’ TO CONTAIN DEADLY CORONAVIRUS IN INDIA
A
faith and belief in eternal power may be helpful in killing the deadly coronavirus. With the same believe, a Chennai based seer has been performing "Panchagni Yagna" from past several days for the safety of the people from novel coronavirus that has already claimed over 2 lakh lives globally and is touch grim milestones every day. The seer, Yoga Maya Sri Bhuvaneswari Bharadwaj Swamigal, has been doing Yagna surrounded by flames of the fire and braving scorching heat of Sun. His prayers are set to end on Thursday. Part of spiritual invocation for the welfare of the people and for their complete emancipation from coronavirus, he also conducted a "Varagi Pooja" to spare the people from the impact of deadly virus and other sufferings that have been brought upon the world by it. In his message, the seer appealed the public to cooperate with each other and with the Government’s guidelines issued to curb the spread of this deadly virus. He averred to maintain social distancing,
10
OBSERVER DAWN June 2020
staying at home and washing hands regularly. If this deadly virus is not contained, it will create financial havoc in the country. He stressed on personal hygiene and recommended using hot water, gargle and gilohi (an Ayurvedic herb) which could help besides quarantine and medical assistance. The seer predicted that by the end of May, the devastating impact of novel coronavirus will be over in India and many other parts of the world, however, it will take some more time for world to recuperate.
National
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS AT AFFORDABLE COST TO ALLEVIATE CLIMATE CHANGE: JAVEDKAR
I
ndian Government has stressed to accelerate renewable energy deployment and create new green jobs. While addressing the 11th edition of the 'Petersburg Climate Dialogue' (PCD), India, represented by the Union Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar, via video conferencing, on Tuesday, also stated that the technology must accessible to all countries at an affordable cost. Ministers from more than 30 countries joined the Ministerial Dialogue for PCD11 virtually, and they stressed that recovery plans from the COVID-19 must build a resilient, fairer and sustainable world. “The world should unite towards making Environment Technology open source and available at affordable cost”, said Mr Javadekar while addressing the Ministerial Dialogue. He also participated in the Indo-German bilateral meeting with his German counterpart Svenja Schulze, as Germany was hosted the PCD11 and co-hosted by the United Kingdom (UK). Javadekar called for more funding to be given to developing countries to mitigate the effects of climate change. "A plan of 1 trillion dollar grant should be planned for developing countries with immediate effect”, he stated.
On the background of COVID-19, the Union Minister also stated that the world should think about adopting long-lasting modes of consumption. In his address, the Secretary General, Antoni Guterres, talked about the suffering of people and destabilisation of the global economy due to COVID-19 and stressed to strengthening the measures that will limit the global temperature rise. The 'Petersburg Climate Dialogue' began in 2010 and is held every year in Germany.
VETERAN BOLLYWOOD ACTOR, RISHI KAPOOR, DIES AT 67
V
eteran Bollywood actor, Rishi Kapoor, died at the age of 67 years after a two-year battle with leukaemia. He took his last breath at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. His wife and actor, Neetu Kapoor, was by his side. The doctors and medical staffs at the hospital said that Kapoor kept them entertained even till his last breath. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him. He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears. Among various other dignitaries, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, tweeted, “Multifaceted, endearing and lively, this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India’s progress”. Amitabh Bachchan tweeted the news saying he was shocked to know about the death of Rishi Kapoor. Born in the first family of Hindi cinema, Rishi Kapoor was the son of the man India call the showman, Raj Kapoor, and grandson of the famous Prithviraj Kapoor. Rishi was the second son of Raj and the sibling of Randhir, Ritu Nanda, Rima Jain and Rajeev Kapoor.
June 2020
OBSERVER DAWN
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International
DETERIORATING LEVELS OF OZONE DEPLETION AFFECTS ‘ARCTIC’
D
epletion of the ozone layer, ¬the shield that protects life on Earth from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation, reached an unprecedented level over large parts of the Arctic this spring, World Meteorological Organization. The communiqué attributed this enhanced ozone depletion to the continued presence of ozone¬-depleting substances in the atmosphere and a very cold winter in the stratosphere. The spring of 2011 also witnessed such strong ozone depletion over the Arctic, though the depletion is even more intense this year confirmed the WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch ozone observing stations, NASA and the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service implemented by ECMWF. The ozone hole closed in April with an increase in stratospheric temperatures which culminated in an influx of ozone-rich air from the lower atmosphere. The depletion would have been even worse if it had not been for the successful international agreement - Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. This agreement led to a phaseout of substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), though these still are present in
the atmosphere, these remain in the atmosphere for several decades and their concentrations are still high enough to cause severe ozone destruction. The WMO Secretary General, Petteri Taalas said, “The Arctic stratosphere continues to be vulnerable to ozone-depleting substances linked to human activities”. He also added that the degree of ozone loss experienced in any particular winter depended on the meteorological conditions. The 2020 ozone loss shows that we have to remain vigilant and maintain continuous observations.
LIBYA’S RESIDENTIAL AREA HIT BY INDISCRIMINATE SHELLING
I
ndiscriminate shelling hit a residential area in the Libyan capital Tripoli on May 1, 2020, killing two civilians and injuring two others.
The UN-backed government's forces accused the rival easternbased army of the shelling, to which the eastern-based army has not responded yet.
On the other hand, the UN-backed government's forces announced launching a total of 11 airstrikes on the eastern-based army. Mohamed Gonono, a spokesperson of the UN-backed Government forces, in a statement, said, “The air force launched five airstrikes on Watya air base (some 140 km southwest of the capital Tripoli) that targeted personnel and destroyed military vehicles (of the eastern-based army)”. According to the spokesman, another six airstrikes targeted a convoy of armed vehicles and individuals of the easternbased army in Wadi Mursit area, some 180 km southwest of Tripoli. The eastern-based army on Wednesday announced a humanitarian truce in the country during the holy month of Ramadan. However, the UN-backed government on Thursday rejected to stop military operations in Libya. The war between the eastern-based army and the UN-backed government continues in and around Tripoli, despite repeated international calls for cease-fire.
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OBSERVER DAWN June 2020
International
OVERSEAS TOURISTS TO GET CENTRALIZED TAX REFUND IN SANGHAI
S
hanghai launched its first centralized tax refund point in a central commercial district on May 1, 2020 offering better tax refund service for overseas travelers.
This centralized refund point for departure tax rebates is located in Plaza 66, one of the busiest shopping malls in Shanghai. After shopping at stores that provide instant departure tax refund service, eligible overseas travelers will be rebated with the valueadded tax at the centralized tax refund point in the mall. In early 2019, Shanghai became China's first pilot city for instant departure tax refund service, which allows overseas travelers to get an instant tax refund in cash from merchants after shopping. After the launch of the tax refund point, the tax will be rebated by tax refund agencies, which allows more merchants to easily participate in the pilot policy. The Balmain store in Plaza 66 is among the first batch of participating stores. Yao Yunna, the person in charge of the store, said the company had always hoped to provide customers with instant tax refund service, but they were worried about the pressure of tax refund management. "The centralized tax refund service provides more convenience, and I hope it can be promoted to other malls in Shanghai as soon as possible. As the global COVID-19 outbreak
shows signs of improvement, I believe this pilot can effectively attract more overseas customers," Yao said. On April 23, Shanghai rolled out a series of policies to promote consumption, including tax-free consumption. Sui Lei with the Shanghai Municipal Tax Service of State Taxation Administration said Shanghai will continue to expand the scope of the instant departure tax refund service to provide more convenience for travelers.
RELIGIOUS CIRCLES OF CHINA CONDEMNS US COMMISSION’S REPORT
C
hinese religious circles have slammed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom for smearing China's freedom of religious belief in the commission's recent report. The annual report, which groundlessly blamed the freedom of religious belief in China and viciously
slandered China's religious policies, was met with general revulsion and indignation among Chinese religious circles and numerous religious believers, said a statement issued by the secretariat of the joint conference of China's national religious groups. The statement said that they had expressed their strong condemnation. It is obvious to all that the Chinese government protects citizens' basic rights in accordance with the law, and religious believers enjoy full freedom of religious belief, the statement noted. As per this, the Chinese religious circles have made remarkable achievements in the development of theological theories, the construction of religious venues and the cultivation of talents. The United States has however ignored the facts and piled unwarranted criticism on China's religious situation, exposing its arrogance and prejudice, the statement said, adding that the acts have interfered in China's internal affairs, smeared China's freedom of religious belief and hurt the feelings of Chinese religious believers. It also said, “We urge the United States to stop using religious matters to interfere in other countries' internal affairs and stir up troubles”.
June 2020
OBSERVER DAWN
13
Business Outlook AYUSH WILL HELP INDIA BECOME ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER:
NITIN GADKARI
U
nion Minister for MSME, Nitin Gadkari, has said that Ayush practices has a big potential to help India become a economic super power as the alternative methods of treatment and cure which has been prevalent for centuries is gaining increasing popularity. He called for greater research and innovation which will so help in further growth of the Ayush sector. Speaking at the launch of Ayush Entrepreneurship Development programme jointly organized by the Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for promoting the Ayush sector in the country under different Schemes of the Ministry of MSME, Mr Gadkari emphasised that Indian Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Yoga, Siddha are required to be promoted at a larger level.He stated that there is a great demand for Indian Ayurveda, Yoga, Homeopathy, Siddha in other countries, existing Entrepreneurs should take this opportunity and open their clinics or outlets there and support export.He added that globally the Ayurvedic treatment and yoga are in huge demand which is growing. He said this demand can be met by increasing trained man power especially under the guidance of the renowned. Gadkari also said that there is a need to launch a programme that can strengthen Ayush Sector, create -more Enterprises, Job Creation to support Indian Economy. The Minister highlighted that raw materials of Ayurveda usually found in forest area, rural areas, tribal areas, aspiration districts and there is a need to for processing units, clusters there for job creation, enterprise development, self employment. Gadkari also stressed that there is a great need to develop trained Yoga experts and trainers and for this, courses in Association of renowned training institutes can be launched. He also focused on bringing change in lifestyle by incorporating Yoga, Ayurveda and Balanced diet in daily life. Innovative and alternative treatments that are capable of providing relief are required to be affiliated and incorporated with proper
skill development so that these treatments may get popularize among all, he added. Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik, MoS for MSME Pratap Singh Sarangi along with Secretaries of the two Ministry, Development Commissioner, MSME were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Yesso Naik said he also looked for similar cooperation on a large scale to promote AYUSH across the globe. Sarangi emphasised the need for promoting AYUSH Sector in the present scenario of COVID-19 pandemic and suggested for close and larger scale coordination between the two Ministries. The Ayush Sector faces different challenges include unorganized sector, lack of Good Manufacturing Practice, Quality Systems, Testing, traditional Marketing Methods, little Opportunities for Export, lack of promotional Programmes & Support. The Programme held on Thursday is part of the Action Plan to overcome the challenges faced by the AYUSH sector. The two Ministries have drawn up an Action plan for promoting Ayush Sector and an MoU was signed MoU between two ministries few days back.
WITH MAJOR FALL IN FUEL DEMANDS, RELIANCE SUFFERS HUGE LOSS
A
lthough the conglomerate led by Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, in the last decade diversified to establish large telecoms and retail operations, but the energy division still accounts for the lion’s share of overall revenue. Reliance Industries Ltd, operator of the world’s biggest refining complex, reported a 39% slump in its March quarter profit, the steepest drop since December 2008, as a sharp fall in oil prices and lower fuel demand hammered its dominant energy businesses. The company, India’s largest by market value, posted consolidated profit of 63.48 billion rupees ($845 million) in the three months ended March 31, missing analysts’ expectation of an average 105.20 billion rupees by a wide margin. A dramatic fall in global oil prices and an unprecedented drop in oil demand due to the coronavirus pandemic has forced global oil major Royal Dutch Shell Plc to cut its dividend for the first time since World War Two. Brent crude lost an unprecedented two-thirds of its value in the first three months
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OBSERVER DAWN June 2020
Business Outlook
BANGLURU’S RMCH, STASIS SETS UP ISOLATION WARDS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS
W
ith Bengaluru braces up for a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitals are using an Indian startup's cutting-edge remote patient monitoring system to set up isolation wards to manage the increased demand. The Medical experts here predict that the city's intensive care units (ICU) will be overwhelmed at the peak of the pandemic and the highly infectious disease will pose serious threats to both medical workers and other hospital patients. To counter this, Ramaiah Medical College Hospital (RMCH) and Stasis have teamed up to set up remote monitored isolation wards to manage suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19, while protecting their healthcare workers and other hospitalized patients from unnecessary exposure. By allowing medical workers to remotely monitor patients on their smartphone, laptop or central monitors, remote patient monitoring significantly reduces the frequency of contact with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients thereby protecting the staff and reducing the requirement for PPEs, which are in short supply. “We have equipped our isolation wards with Stasis to ensure the highest level of care and patient safety, while also protecting our staff and doctors from unnecessary exposure to Covid-19”, says Dr. Anil Kumar, Prof & HOD, Internal Medicine, RMCH. Stasis has a remote patient monitoring system that measures key vital parameters like heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, skin temperature, electrocardiogram and non-invasive blood pressure. This solution can be easily deployed in any care setting - be it hospitals, homes or even hotels - to keep doctors and nurses informed about the real-time status of their patients. It automates the collection of data to a central nursing station display, and doctors can access the data remotely, in real time, with the Stasis Smartphone App. “Stasis was able to implement their solution within a few hours, with minimal IT support and infrastructure requirement. This is ideal for us as our isolation wards have been set up away from the main
of 2020 as the health crisis crushed demand and oil producers delayed supply cuts. This is the first decline in its quarterly profit in three years. The conglomerate led by Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, in the last decade diversified to establish large telecoms and retail operations, but the energy division still accounts for the lion’s share of overall revenue. The company’s profitability in March quarter was dented by an inventory loss of about 42.45 billion rupees ($565 million). Refiners like Reliance buy and store crude oil for weeks, before processing it into fuel and petroleum products. An inventory loss is booked when oil prices drop by the time crude is processed into refined fuels. Reliance said gross refining margin, the profit earned on each barrel of crude oil processed, was $8.90 per barrel in the March quarter, less than the $9.20 in the prior quarter but better than the $8.20 a year earlier. However, revenue at its telecom business Jio grew in doubledigits as more Indians signed up for cheap voice-calling and mobile internet. The Jio’s subscriber base at the end of March stood
hospital to protect those patients that come here for emergency care”, says Dr. Harish K, Associate Dean, RMCH. “We also have to work with reduced staffing, which is possible with Stasis as it automates data collection and risk scoring, and has AIdriven proactive notifications to identify patient deterioration early. This is a big advantage of having a solution like Stasis”, he added. RMCH has been using Stasis connected care for its Acute Medicine Ward since 2017. As an early adopter of the solution, they have seen significant benefits with the use of a smart remote monitoring solution in terms of improved patient care, better resource utilization and increased patient affordability of care. RMCH has now added connected care to 16 new isolation beds to manage severe cases of COVID-19 that need close monitoring without escalation to the ICU. Dr. Naresh Shetty, the President, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, who is leading the COVID-19 management at Ramaiah Hospitals said, “When we were planning the set-up of our isolation wards, it was an easy decision for us to use Stasis”.
at 387.5 million. Its retail business, which runs 10,000 stores selling groceries, consumer electronics and apparel, reported a modest 4% rise in revenue, hurt in part by India’s nationwide lockdown. Overall, Reliance’s consolidated revenue from operations fell 2.3% to 1.39 trillion rupees. Profit pressure for the group forced Ambani to cut the pay of some top oil-and-gas division employees by up to 50%. “The announcement of pay cut ahead of results signifies some tough times for the company at least for the next few months,” said Deepak Jasani, head of research at HDFC Securities. The oil-to-telecoms giant has unveiled the terms of a rights issue, its first in nearly three decades, to raise money and eliminate net debt by the end of this year. Its net debt at the end of March was $21.4 billion. Reliance set a price of 1,257 rupees per share for India’s biggest rights issue of 531.25 billion rupees with a ratio of 1:15. Its stock closed at 1,466 rupees. Jasani said, “The rights issue size was higher than expected, though staggered payment would provide some time to shareholders to subscribe. The debt reduction plan now seems achievable though with some possible delays”.
June 2020
OBSERVER DAWN
15
Opinions
AUTHORITARIANISM TO INCREASE POST CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC By Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda
B
ecause, the coronavirus pandemic is gradually causing a massive turmoil across the world, the situation has forced the masses to not only grapple with the present but also to consider how it would impact us in days to come. “He who lives by the crystal ball soon learns to eat ground glass. Nevertheless, current trends could define, with some accuracy, the trajectory of future events”, states a renowned American Economist. Some facts about the near future are clear. We are going to see a period of economic hardship that will leave no one untouched. Even when the lockdown is lifted, many industries will take time to rebound due to reduced demand and a global recession. The poorest will be the hardest hit as unemployment rises and vulnerabilities increase in the unorganized sector. Even when the curve is flattened, coronavirus will still be prevalent, and social distancing will remain the norm. Our social interactions with all except our close friends and family will be hesitant and tinged with suspicion. Work culture could also be impacted, with many opting to work from home. The pace to replace humans with robots in manufacturing and with Artificial Intelligence in the service sector would be speeded up. It would be logical to expect that the world comes together to fight a common enemy. Unfortunately, the reverse will happen. Some trends of our geopolitical future were already visible – de-globalisation, the rise of nationalism, weakening of international institutions, and rivalry between major powers. The advent of the coronavirus has accelerated these trends. As developed countries turn insular, the benefits of globalisation accruing to the developing world will diminish, adversely impacting already stressed economies. Migration and foreign remittances will be hit. There will be an escalation of the U.S.China economic and technology decoupling with supply chain disruptions, although this presents some opportunities for countries like India. Even as the global situation looks grim, the social and political consequences of the pandemic within countries could be more significant. Nation-wide surveillance
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OBSERVER DAWN June 2020
Work culture could also be impacted, with many opting to work from home. The pace to replace humans with robots in manufacturing and with Artificial Intelligence in the service sector would be speeded up
Opinions service’s cellphone tracking of confirmed coronavirus carriers cannot continue unless the government anchors the practice in law. However, citizens of countries like India that have no personal data protection law could find little relief.
toll on the low-income groups and people of colour. In Chicago, African-Americans make up 30 per cent of the population but have accounted for 68 per cent of the city's fatalities.
Other nations are not far behind, As countries close their borders, and there with almost all of them tracking is a weakening of international institutions, it millions of citizens through specially is easier than ever to invoke the nationalist developed apps or even directly from sentiment. In times of crisis, people have cellphone operators. Israel approved little option but to depend its intelligence agency, Shin on their nation-state and Beth, to track mobile data of have complete faith in the people suspected of having “In the midst political leadership. It is the virus. Pakistan Prime of every crisis, for this reason that the Minister has stated that the lies great approval ratings of most Inter-Services Intelligence opportunity”. world leaders have surged agency is using its “track and The good news during the coronavirus trace” system, meant to be is that the pandemic has crisis. This backing of the used against terrorism, to fight shown us that people could tempt some the coronavirus. governance, leaders to centralise greater
Our problems with the migrant workers have very starkly exposed the rich-poor divide in India. And now, as we stay locked up in our houses, putting out videos of yoga, dancing, and cooking, hundreds of daily workers are out working the fields in Punjab, delivering our essential supplies, and clearing our garbage. They are continually putting themselves at considerable risk to the coronavirus but have no option. Whether they will be able to afford the cost of the vaccine, when developed, is still uncertain. Social disorder could result if a large section of society remains dissatisfied.
of citizens could become the norm. The Chinese have used a combination of facial recognition, location tracking, contact tracing, and a host of apps to monitor the spread of coronavirus.
as usual, will not work, and priorities must change
In this somewhat gloomy prediction, is there a long-term silver lining? As Albert Einstein said, “In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity”. The good news is that the pandemic has shown us that governance, as usual, will not work, and priorities must change. Human security should take centre stage with a focus on marginal sections of society, healthcare, unemployment, and a social safety net. People across all spectrums will demand a better economic future that shields them from the disruption of the type that we see today. Social media could slowly lose its coercive influence and go back to its traditional role of social networking. When people are struggling to make ends meet, there would be little appetite for communal or political polarisation. Citizens would demand visible action by the government on the ground rather than tweets on their phone. If this leads to a political leadership that is more sensitive to the needs of the citizens rather than a mere focus on winning elections, it may be the best thing that comes out of this crisis. However, for any significant change to happen, the four pillars of democracy - the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and the press may not be enough. Confidence in these institutions has waned, and peoples’ power will have to be exerted.
Several countries are now coming to grips with the pandemic, but the virus will be around for a long time until the vaccine is developed. In these circumstances, digital surveillance will continue, and governments will be reluctant to cede control. Countries that have a strong privacy law could see the courts applying some checks on state authority. The Israeli High Court of Justice recently ruled that the Shin Bet security
authority in their hands, as has already happened in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Hungary. It is now apparent that while the virus does not distinguish between the rich and poor, it will, at least in the short term, exacerbate inequality. Even in highly developed economies like the US, the coronavirus has taken a disproportionate
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Many of those reading this article could say that both the pessimistic and optimistic scenarios are overstated. Perhaps, but if some introspection leads us to even finding a middle path, it would be an improvement. (The writer is a former Northern Commander, Indian Army. The Views are personal) FIRST PUBLISHED IN NEWS 18.
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Opinions
IMMUNITY OF GLOBAL TECH GIANTS By Kara Swisher (A Renowned Columnist)
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f power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, how can we best describe the kind of power Big Tech will wield when the coronavirus crisis is over? How about this: The tech giants could have all the power and absolutely none of the accountability — at least all the power that will truly matter. This is the conclusion that many are coming to as the post-pandemic future begins to come into focus. Wall Street sure is signaling that the power lies with tech companies, vaulting the stock of Amazon to close to $2,400 a share earlier this week, from $1,838 at the end of January. While the price fell on Friday to $2,286 a share, after Amazon’s chief executive, Jeff Bezos, said he would spend future profits on the coronavirus response, that still gives the company a value of $1.14 trillion. And all the other Big Tech stocks, which were hit in the first weeks of the pandemic, also are on an upward march to the top of the market-cap heap. This group now makes up just over 20 percent of the S.&P. 500, which is a flashing yellow signal of what is to come. That is to say, we live in a country in which the very big tech firms will be the very big winners in the economy of the future, which still does not look like it will be so pretty for most people and many companies, too. In a column about a month ago, I wrote about a problematic trend that would develop after the world had been turned upside down by the pandemic. “There will be a culling of most competitors of these giants that will only strengthen the power and reach of the behemoths, eliminating pesky roadblocks to their further domination”, I wrote about tech’s leading companies, who have the money and the means to wait out the storm. “This is obviously not a good thing in the long run”. But even if it is good that companies like Amazon and Google and Facebook and Apple have become an essential part of making it easier to shelter in place or to track the virus — thanks a bunch for food delivery, contact-tracing apps and lots of funny memes — there’s much that’s not good. It’s not good that we have set up an epic system of have and have-nots that could become devastating for innovative ideas and start-ups trying to get off the
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“There will be a culling of most competitors of these giants that will only strengthen the power and reach of the behemoths, eliminating pesky roadblocks to their further domination” ground. Not good because too much of our data is in the hands of fewer. Not good because these fewer are largely unaccountable to those they serve and hard to control by governments that are elected by the people. These are themes that I have repeated over and over since I started this column two
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years ago — trying to drill down on what unlimited power, Midas-like financial might, minimal oversight and very few actual consequences might mean for the rest of us. Contrary to some of the pushback I get when I say what I consider the obvious, I neither hate tech nor think most people who work in tech are bad people. But when this crisis is over, I can say that we most
Opinions
question the adequacy of laws governing how technology co m p a ni es th a t c o l l ec t and monetize Americans’ personal information must treat that information,” Judge Kelly wrote, adding that if it happened again, courts “may not apply quite the same deference to the terms of a proposed resolution”. If the courts ever get such a shot again, that is. They won’t with the current trajectory of Facebook, which has deftly used the pandemic as a redemption moment by doing its job on keeping bad health information off its platform.
The effort to rein in tech companies had been building decent momentum before coronavirus outbreak, but it will be harder when focus needs to be on building up rather than breaking apart
certainly should fear Big Tech more because these companies will be freer than ever, with many fewer strictures on them from regulators and politicians. The effort to rein in tech companies had been building decent momentum before coronavirus outbreak, but it will be harder when focus needs to be on building up rather than breaking apart.
Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, have become very strange bedfellows in calling for more scrutiny of Big Tech of late. And House lawmakers on Friday were calling for Mr. Bezos to testify at a hearing on antitrust violations or face a subpoena. But the real actions the government takes are likely to feel ever limper.
Now, as we turn to the healthy companies to help us revive the economy, it could be that the only ones with real immunity are the tech giants. In this way, Covid-19 has accelerated their rise and tightened their grip on our lives. And this consolidation of power, combined with Big Tech’s control of data, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, media, advertising, retail and even autonomous tech, is daunting. Which is why politicians like Senators Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, and Elizabeth
Witness the $5 billion settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and Facebook that was approved by a judge this week. The judge, Timothy J. Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, noted the government’s complaints that Facebook flouted the terms of a previous consent decree with the F.T.C. and called such behavior “unscrupulous,” even as he let the company slide into home with its sharpest spikes out. The complaints about Facebook “call into
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That’s why power and its uses and abuses, and what it should and could be, as well as what it means to be without it, will be the central organizing principle of a new podcast I will start in the fall with The New York Times. For the past five years, in more than 500 episodes, I have been trying to do that at Vox Media with my podcast “Recode Decode” by holding tech’s feet to the fire as best I could. I have also tried to illuminate for listeners what wonder the future could hold if power were used in more creative, inclusive and, most important, more unusual ways. Power doesn’t necessarily have to corrupt, and this troubled time can show us what power can do when it is applied in different ways. There are a lot of synonyms for power, including one that connotes dominance and one that points to potential. I hope to explore which way to go as we emerge from this virus prison.
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In-Depth
IRS OFFICERS CHARGESHEETED FOR PUTTING SELF-PREPARED TAX RAISING REPORT ON PUBLIC DOMAIN OD Bureau
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hree senior Indian Revenue Service officials- Prashant Bhushan, Prakash Dubey and Sanjay Bahadur, who had played a key role in preparing a report on raising income tax and placed it in public domain, have been chargesheeted for conduct rule violations. They have also been stripped of their charge. The action comes just a day after the Finance Ministry distanced itself from the recommendations of the widely-circulated report that had proposed raising income-tax rate up to 40% from 30% for those with income of Rs 1 core per year, re-imposing a wealth tax on those with a net wealth of Rs 5 crore, and levy of a one-time Covid-19 relief cess of 4% on those with a taxable income of Rs 10 lakh and above. The government had described the report as ill-conceived and irresponsible. Officials said that a preliminary inquiry carried out by the government had blamed the three officials. Prashant Bhushan, a 1988 batch IRS officer, is the general secretary of the Indian Revenue Service Association and is alleged to have placed the report, drafted by a group of young IRS officers, in public domain. Prakash Dubey, the joint secretary of the IRS Association, and Sanjay Bahadur, a 1989 batch officer, have been charged with getting young income tax officers to prepare a report which they passed on to the IRS Association that ultimately placed it in public domain. Prakash Dubey was a director in the department of personnel and training while Sanjay Bahadur was the income tax department’s
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Principal Director Investigation, North East Region. A government official explained that the three officers, despite having more than 30 years of service, had failed to exercise due care and misguided 50 young officers to prepare the report and circulate it. In this case, the three officials of the rank of Principal Commissioner, instead of sending the government through official channels, misguided the junior officers and went public with it. “This created panic and tax policy uncertainty in the already stressed economic conditions in the country”, a top government official said, explaining why the government had moved swiftly and firmly to act against the three officers. Top government officials underscored that the officials had no business circulating reports about an official matter in their personal capacity. They, one of them said referring to the charge sheet issued to other officers, had ended up creating confusion and uncertainty with respect of the policy of the government on income tax rates, which could have an adverse impact on economy, especially when the country is battling a pandemic and the government is keen to ensure a stable tax regime. It has also been pointed out that the proposals are against the government’s existing policy on taxation. In the budget this year, the government offered individuals the option of paying lower incometax rates provided they forgo tax exemptions.
In-Depth
UAE SEEK MEDICAL HELPS FROM INDIA TO FIGHT COVID-19 PANDEMIC OD Bureau
But the effort is to find a way out to help UAE at this crucial juncture. Just a fortnight back, India had sent a 15-member team of military doctors and paramedics to Kuwait and promised to deploy more personnel should the need arise. These gestures, a foreign ministry official said, should be seen against the backdrop of how ties between India and the Gulf countries had deepened over the last five-six years. Right from the beginning of the NDA government’s first term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his key advisers have invested diplomatic energy in improving ties with countries in West Asia, particularly Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman In 2015, Narendra Modi was the first Indian PM to visit the UAE - also home to 3.4 million Indian workers - in over three
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ndia emerges to be savior of the world in the time of global COVID-19 pandemic when the United Arab Emirates has requested the Indian government to send a team of doctors and nurses to help the Emirates fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The UAE, a federation of seven emirates with a population of less than 10 million people, has already reported 11,000 Covid-19 cases and has been adding an average of 500 patients every day. It relies heavily on foreign-educated doctors and paramedics including those from India to staff its hospitals. Some of them were on leave when governments in Delhi and Abu Dhabi cancelled all commercial flights to stop the coronavirus diseases from spreading their respective countries. “We have received two requests. One, to allow the healthcare providers who were travelling to India when commercial flights were cancelled to return to UAE to resume their duties,” a top government functionary said.
The second is permission to hire or avail the services of doctors and nurses for a shorter duration to tide over the immediate crisis. “The requests are being considered of the government,” the official said. Officials said Abu Dhabi had offered to send a special plane to fly the Indian healthcare professionals employed by its hospitals. Considering the nature of the relationship between the two countries, the first request is likely to be processed first, another official said.
“We have received two requests. One, to allow the healthcare providers who were travelling to India when commercial flights were cancelled to return to UAE to resume their duties,”
The request for additional doctors and paramedical staff, however, requires wider consultations within the government, the official said. The decision would be made after evaluating India’s requirements at this stage.
decades. In all, the six Gulf countries - Saudi Arabia. Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain - have about 12.6 million Indians. The personal relations started paying off within a few years when National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was able to persuade the Gulf countries to either push out anti-Indian elements or send them over to India.
It was a reflection of this high-octane diplomacy at work that Dubai handed over Dawood Ibrahim associate and 1993 Mumbai blasts accused, Mohammed Farooq and Saudi Arabia deported Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Habibur Rahman. In all, over a 100 wanted persons have been deported to India by the Gulf countries over the last six years. Last year, UAE allowed Indian agencies to fly out AgustaWestland case accused Rajiv Saxena and prominent aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar in a special plane.
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In-Depth
FRESH VERSION OF ‘TERI MITTI MEIN MIL JAWAN…’ IS DEDICATED TO CORONA WARRIORS
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he Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Head Constable, Arjun Kheriyal, has sung a new version of the much publicized Hindi song – ‘Teri Mitti me mil jawan...’. This song is dedicated to the 'Corona Warriors' of the nation, especially those exerting their incessant efforts to prevent the spread of this deadly virus, without carrying their own lives. It was released on April 29, 2020.
The 3.31 minute video released by the ITBP on its social media handles shows how ITBP Quarantine Centre in Chhawla successfully managed the first and biggest capacity quarantine centre where it housed Wuhan, Milan and Rome evacuees for about three months including 42 foreign nationals of seven friendly nations and how its health professionals managed the quarantine centers and how it prepared PPE kits and masks at a crucial time, Pandey added.
This special song narrates the contributions of Corona Warriorsspecially the Doctors, Police and Armed Forces and ITBP in particular which is written by lyricist Manoj “We have Muntashir and partially composed in wake of various received two dedicated services rendered by various segments of requests. One, services and is sung by the jawan Arjun himself. to allow the It words the emotions, initiative and commitment of the agencies in the fight against corona in the country. This special song has been dedicated to the Corona fighters of the Nation and showcases the duties of jawans besides glimpses of service like Quarantine Centers, evacuation of Indian nationals from China and Italy and health care services rendered and fabrication of PPE kits, masks are highlighted.
healthcare providers who were travelling to India when commercial flights were cancelled to return to UAE to resume their duties,”
It also showcases soldier's commitment to fight the pandemic and their resolute to fight Corona Spread, the ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey, said. The video also showcased how the Force has been extending all possible support including distribution of ration items during the nationwide lockdown specially in the border villages along the Himalayas.
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The ITBP is an elite Central Armed Police Force or CAPF of the country. The jawans of ITBP are well known for the toughest training they receive and the professional competence they possess who are well known for taking on any challenge at any time. The Force is also known for being remained deployed at the difficult high altitude Himalayan terrains during most of their service periods under the snow conditions in the border outpost where temperature dips as many as minus 45 degree Celsius for which the jawans of this force are known as Himveers.
The ITBP was first to set up a Quarantine Centre at Chhawla in New Delhi with 1000 bed quarantine facility in the country. It is also fabricating PPEs and Masks at its Saboli, Haryana based units as well as distributing food to needy people in the remote location in the Himalayas besides supporting the supply chains in the remote areas in the ongoing lockdown.
In-Depth
BOLLYWOOD’S INCREDIBLE TALENT PASSES AWAY
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he Bollywood’s renowned actor, Irrfan Khan, who gave the industry modern classics, passed away at the age of 54, and the fraternity condoled his death, calling it a loss of an incredible talent. The Bollywood fraternity took to their social media accounts and paid tribute to one of the most versatile actor of the industry. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar said,” Bahut guni abhineta Irrfan Khan ji ke nidhan ki khabar sunkar mujhe bahut dukh hua. Main unko vinamra shraddhanjali arpan karti hun.” Amitabh Bachchan said in a tweet,”just getting news of the passing of Irfaan Khan .. this is a most disturbing and sad news .. An incredible talent .. a gracious colleague .. a prolific contributor to the World of Cinema .. left us too soon .. creating a huge vacuum .. Prayers and duas “.
demise. It’s an irreparable loss for Indian cinema. I offer my deep condolences to his wife & sons”. Karan Johar said, “Thank you for those indelible movie memories....thank you for raising the bar as an artist ...thank you for enriching our Cinema....we will miss you terribly Irrfan but will always always be immensely grateful for your presence in our lives.....our cinema....we salute you”.
The Bollywood’s renowned actor, Irrfan Khan, who gave the industry modern classics, passed away at the age of 54, and the fraternity condoled his death, calling it a loss of an incredible talent
Anupam Kher said,” Nothing can be more heartbreaking and tragic than the news of passing away of a dear friend, one of the finest actors and wonderful human being. Akshay Kumar said, “Such terrible news...saddened to hear about the demise of Irrfan Khan, one of the finest actors of our time. May God give strength to his family in this difficult time”. Parineeti Chopra said, “Irrfan sir, you were the nicest, coolest guy. Every interaction with you was so memorable”. Ajay Devgan said, “Heartbroken to hear about Irrfan’s untimely
Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar said, “My dear friend Irfaan. You fought and fought and fought. I will always be proud of you”. Shabana Azmi said, “Deeply saddened to learn that #Irffan Khan passed away this morning. Gone too soon .. such a powerful actor and how valiantly he fought back the cancer. Its a big loss not only to his family but to the entire film industry. RIP”. Taapsee Pannu said,” When we thought nothing could make us feel worse, this happened. I think I will refuse to believe you are no more by watching all your work time n again n again n again. I have known you that way n shall continue to know you that way for ever.
Vir Das said,” Irrfan Khan was a true artist, possibly the truest one we had. He was an amazing human being. Everyone in this country and the world rooted for him. Because of his talent, his humility, what he overcame, what he accomplished. Thank you for your art and your advice”. Irrfan was last seen in Homi Adajania’s comedy flick ‘Angrezi Medium’.
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COMPREHENSIVE FIGHTS AGAINST
CORONAVIRUS By Pravin Kumar Mishra
HELP US CURB
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This deadly virus, often invisible, has made our individual actions more visible than ever. The situation has however shown us our true power to face societal crises beyond COVID-19. People across the world have now come forward to battle the spread of this deadly Coronavirus together.
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he widespread roles, we have been playing within the peripheral of the natural system of the earth over the past few months, have gradually become clear as never before. Billions of humans can now see how they are interconnected, working together to slow the spread of a lethal virus through their individual actions. Within this experience, if we are successful, lies the potential lesson, we need not just to stop the worst projections for COVID-19, but to address other pressing societal challenges, including the ‘GLOBAL WARMING’. As such the beginning of the sense of individual impact in an interconnected world - what has been called, “systems thinking” - is in many ways the true story we have long avoided to acknowledge. We have got by for hundreds, even thousands of years, obfuscating the cost of the destruction of nature as an externality of
economic progress, hardly considering the debt accruing on the system that hosts the global economy itself. It has a line of thinking easy enough to believe. The choking air pollution in India is hardly palpable in post-industrial America and Europe. The dead-zone in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico caused by industrial agricultural waste is barely detectable along the beaches people frequent from Sarasota, Florida to Tulum, Mexico. While, in other ways, the warning signs of ecosystem collapse - red tides along Florida’s beaches, coral bleaching in Australia year after year, even the annihilation of global insect populations, are easy to dismiss in day-to-day life, and even harder to act upon. Our collective impact on nature may register, but our collective ability to address the damage we’ve done to nature has seemed impossible.
While environmental pollution and massive inefficiencies like food waste have long been termed as ‘externalities’ in our economic system, COVID-19 awakens every individual to an alternative, truer reality. Hence, each of us in our home ecosystems is part of an interconnected system that we have the power to change. It is a transformative narrative that accomplishes what no isolated and episodic story of environmental damage, from melting glaciers to fire storms, could ever do. Instead, we’re all attentively following a fast-moving virus, piecing together information on how we can best defend ourselves and protect our neighbors, fellow citizens and the world itself from the worst-case scenarios. In a story with no predetermined ending, we all have a role to play that is empowering as much as it is restraining. The virus is raging, but we all can help stop it. While environmental pollution and massive inefficiencies like food waste have long been termed as ‘externalities’ in our economic system, COVID-19 awakens every individual to an alternative, truer reality
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Cover Story An Opportunity in Calamity Now, we are heading towards new world, not apart from nature, but as a part of it. We now have the opportunity to see how our collective actions have a wider impact. It extends past COVID-19, even now. As social distancing and lockdowns have kept us inside, we have slowed the virus’ transmission in hard hit areas from South Korea to Seattle. Besides, that human impact on the disease, pollution has receded and our impact on nature has markedly diminished as well. In many places most of the water bodies, including the canals cleared. In New York, carbon monoxide levels shrank to half their usual March levels. In China, the initial lockdown drove pollution levels down by more than 25%. We must not forget that our individual actions that stop pollution yield collective impact - and quickly. Soon after the factories resume operations and airways come functional, emissions will inevitably pick back up. But within our hands we will have the choice to learn from COVID-19 to live better in our own ecosystems, and within the greater natural system of Earth. In particular, eliminating food waste something nonprofit are being identified as a top weapon for combating climate change - means tremendous resource savings throughout the supply chain and the avoidance of doubly harmful methane gas emissions from landfill waste. Obviously, it has a multiple impact in the human lives as well as the nature.
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It may be anticipated that once the quarantines are lifted and we are sent back to our daily lives, food waste is obvious but one more individual action that writ large as individuals in Earth’s natural system - we can affect. It is not at all a difficult concept, but it has been hard to prove the case until now. The COVID-19 makes it transparent that all individual actions can ripple out to impact all of Earth’s natural systems, from climate to agriculture. There are challenges to be met, curves to be flattened. Every action counts in this calculus. Recognizing the roles we have to play alone and together, we can be better stewards of ourselves, and the ‘Earth’ itself.
These were some obvious effects that hit the normal lives of the people around the world. But on the other hands, the Coronavirus have myriads of positive effects on the environment and hence, making our ecosystem so nit and clean. Some significant highlights are as follows
Contained Air Pollution One of the major impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak is that it has given a big halt to the incessant flows of the multi-cornered air pollutions on the planet. Hence, it has improved the air qualities around the world and the eco-system around the world.
Major Impacts on Eco-System
All these have been noted in many parts The novel Coronavirus has affected over of the world. A drop in air pollution 1000000 people around the world. While, was first observed by NASA in China’s more than almost 200000 people have Hubei province, where the coronavirus died, over 500000 have recovered from outbreak began in December 2019, Marshall this deadly disease. In a terse, it can be Burke, a researcher at Stanford University, said the coronavirus pandemic is a tragedy calculated the improvements in air quality and has affected human life very badly, recorded in China may have saved the overloaded hospitals, unemployment, due lives of 4,000 children under 5 years old and 73,000 adults over 70. to the coronavirus prices Many countries around the of food products have been One of the major world have implemented increased in many countries, impacts of the lockdown and quarantine to economic disaster and it Coronavirus outbreak is that slow down the spread of the has caused depression, the it has given a virus and due to this flights stress in millions of people big halt to the have cancelled, now there and many countries around incessant flows of are a lot less planes in the the world have lockdown the multi-cornered sky and no vehicles on the and quarantined its citizens air pollutions on the planet. Hence, streets meaning a lot less air to slow down the spread of it has improved the pollution and greenhouse the virus.
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air qualities around the world and the eco-system around the world
Cover Story gases being emitted and air quality has improved significantly and the earth’s ozone layer is also recovering.
Controlled Emission of Green Gas Slowing economic activities also brings down emissions as countries ordered closedown of schools, factories, industries and emissions are expected to fall. A study by specialist outlet Carbon Brief found that in China, carbon dioxide emissions have fallen by around 25 percent. Another unexpected effect on the environment from the coronavirus has been seen in Venice, Italy, apart from other parts to the “Mind Un Leashed.
Coronavirus Curbs Rampant Climate Change So far as the climatic conditions around the world is concerned, many research scholars as well as the scientists expect significant benefits to the environment from the decrease in economic and industrial activity as the pandemic spreads.
of Asian countries like India, China etc. With tourists numbers culled because of the virus, the waters in Venice’s canals are cleaner than they have been, so much so, in fact, that fish can be seen once again in the canals.
New York
New Delhi, the capital city of India, is one of the most polluted cities of the world, but its skies have turned blue and many people can see the Himalaya Mountains for the first time. In Italy's Venice, meanwhile, canal water is so clear fish can be easily seen. All this is an unexpected upside of the coronavirus crisis that has proved global air quality can be dramatically improved - and fast.
With many people around the world selfisolating and most of the countries and cities on lock down, some major cities The change has been created by lockdowns outside of China are also seeing their air that have grounded flights and shut factories. quality improve. One example is New York. But environmentalists warn it could be Researchers have found that there has been temporary. a 5- to 10% drop in air pollutants like carbon Climate talks have been dioxide in New York. Methane delayed to next year emissions have also dropped The fact is that the because of the outbreak, significantly. And similar effect nature prevents and responds and there are fears has been seen in northern Italy to some of the countries could prioritize as well. most pressing human and economic challenges faced welfare before that of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles by humans. It environment. India going into lockdown, purifies the air we breathe, cleans the along the coast of the eastern water we drink, Many are questioning state of Odisha, over 475,000 and produces the whether the world will endangered Olive Ridley sea variety of foods just go back to business turtles has come ashore to dig we require to stay as usual when it recovers their nests and lay eggs – all healthy and resist disease from the pandemic. sixty million of them, according
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Deadly Corona and the Biodiversity Life is a certain web where human being exists. This web is often termed as a complex, interconnected system in which each part plays an important role. When one component is changed–or removed–the entire system is affected, and this can produce positive–or negative–consequences. The fact is that the nature prevents and responds to some of the most pressing challenges faced by humans. It purifies the air we breathe, cleans the water we drink, and produces the variety of foods we require to stay healthy and resist disease. It enables medical researchers to understand human physiology; and provides substance for developing medicines and helps mitigate the impact of climate change by absorbing carbon, reducing air pollution and helping to cool cities.
Human, the Biggest Challenge The fact can never be denied that human action has reduced biodiversity and modified wildlife population structures at an unprecedented rate. While, the human population has doubled, the global economy has almost quadrupled and global trade has increased by approximately ten times over the past 50 years now. The e me rge n ce of C OVID - 1 9 h a s underscored the fact that when we destroy biodiversity, we destroy the system that supports human life. The more biodiverse an ecosystem is, the more difficult it is for one pathogen to spread rapidly or dominate; whereas, biodiversity loss provides opportunity for pathogens to pass between animals and people. Human actions, including deforestation, encroachment on wildlife habitats, intensified agriculture, and acceleration of climate change, have upset the delicate balance of nature. We have changed the system that would naturally protect us, and have created conditions that allow particular pathogens– including coronaviruses–to spread.
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COVID-19 Side Effects Earth Day-2020 Witnesses an Alternative Future The Spread of Coronavirus has led to reduced pollutions, re-emerging wildlife and plunging oil prices. As a result, the skies are clearing of pollution, wildlife is returning to newly clear waters, a host of flights have been scrapped and crude oil is so worthless that the industry would have to pay you to take it off their hands – a few months ago, environmentalists could only dream of such a scenario as the 50th anniversary of Earth Day hove into view. This disoriented green new reality has caused little cheer given the cause is the coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged much of the world. “This is not the way, we wanted things to happen. It’s nothing but just a disaster that pointed out the underlying challenges we faced. It’s not something that we can celebrate”, said Gina McCarthy, former head of the US Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama Administration. The recent Earth Day event was widely observed online, comes as public health restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have resulted in a sharp dip in
The waters of Venice are now clear, lions lounge on roads normally frequented by safari-goers in South Africa and bears and coyotes wander around empty accommodation in Yosemite national park in California
air pollution across China, Europe and the US, with carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels witnessing an annual drop of about 5%. The waters of Venice are now clear, lions lounge on roads normally frequented by safari-goers in South Africa and bears and coyotes wander around empty accommodation in Yosemite national park in California. In the mean time, almost 8, out of 10, flights have been canceled globally, with many planes in the US carrying
just a handful of people. The oil industry, a key driver of the climate crisis and direct environmental disaster, is in turmoil, with a barrel of crude hitting an unprecedented minus-$40. The pain of the Covid-19 shutdown has highlighted how ponderous the world’s response has been – the expected cut in emissions, for example, is still less than what scientists say is needed every year this
Wing Species Often Connect the World
S
udden emergence of the COVID – 19 has again reminded us that we live in a connected world. And, the situation may be taken as kind of opportunity to revive or recall our relationship with nature. Moreover, we are now supposed to rebuild an environment friendly relationship to keep ourselves safe and secure. As such, the theme of World Migratory Bird Day on May 9, 2020 May was - “Birds Connect Our World”. Conserving and restoring the ecosystems that support the natural cycles essential for the survival and well-being of migratory birds were among other major highlights of the Day. Migratory birds are part of our shared natural heritage and they depend on a
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network of sites along their migration routes for breeding, feeding, resting and overwintering. Amy Fraenkel, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals says, “Many bird species are in decline around the world, and a major cause is the loss and destruction of their natural habitats”. She added, “Given that destruction of nature has also been linked to the kinds of infectious diseases we are now combating, taking actions to protect migratory birds and their habitats is more important than ever”. The World Migratory Bird Day is organized by the Convention on Migratory Species and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird
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Agreement in collaboration with the Colorado-based non-profit organization, Environment for the Americas. Launched in Kenya in 2006, the UN-backed campaign
Cover Story decade to avoid disastrous climate impacts for much of the world.
after the pandemic will help define the crises racking the environment.
president had clearly shown no inclination to do this.
Michael Gerrard, an environmental law expert at Columbia University, says, “It’s the worst possible way to experience environment improvement and it has also shown us the size of the task”. He said, the way people react to the return of normalcy
“A key question is that have we witnessed a green recovery, do we seize the opportunity to create jobs in renewable energy and in making coastlines more resilient to climate change?” he said adding that the incumbent US
The pandemic has shown people will change their behavior if it’s for the health of their families. This has been the lost message on climate, that it’s a human problem, not a planetary problem. Meanwhile, the US President, Donald Trump, has signaled that he would try to provide a bailout to the US oil and gas industry, with $25bn already handed out by the US government to prop up airlines. But unfortunately, it’s not certain that the wildlife-packed “wet markets” of China, where Covid-19 is believed to have originated, will be shut down. The research conservationists warn that returning the world to its pre-pandemic settings will quickly wipe out any environmental benefits of the shutdown. “It’s a serious wake-up call,” said Thomas Lovejoy, an ecologist who coined the term “biological diversity ”. “We bulldoze into the last remaining places in nature and then are surprised when something like this happens. We have done this to ourselves by our continual intrusion into nature. We have to re-chart our course”, said Lovejoy.
and a host of other web events to allow people to celebrate and take action for nature. “As we plan our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, we have a profound opportunity to steer our world on a more sustainable and inclusive path—a path that tackles climate change, protects the environment, reverses biodiversity loss and As part of its broader environmental agenda, ensures the long-term health and security UNEP will mark World Environment Day of humankind,” says United Nations on 5 June this year, celebrating Secretary- General António biodiversity. The occasion’s Guterres. There is also an theme - It's Time for Nature “Many bird ethical concern to address - highlights how nature species are in decline around the biodiversity loss: we have a delivers vital services to world, and a major responsibility to pass on to humanity and the urgent cause is the loss future generations a planet need to halt its destruction. and destruction as rich in natural wonders as of their natural the one we inherited. Due to the current global habitats” health crisis, the event has Sustainable Development Goals gone digital and will provide 14 (life below water) and 15 (life on online segments that will include high land) are the principal biodiversity-related level dialogues, performances, interviews has grown in popularity over the years and countries recently agreed that World Migratory Bird Day is to be celebrated globally on two peak days—the second Saturdays in May and October—as a nod to the cyclical nature of migration.
June 2020
goals, but all the goals depend on healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. As we enter the Decade of Action to deliver the Global Goals, the challenge is immense. UNEP is contributing to the Decade and progress is being made in many areas. However, action is not yet at the speed or scale required.
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Cover Story
Worst Pandemic cannot be Ruled Out, If ‘Nature’ Not Protected
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f we do not stop the rapid destruction of nature, the occurrence of pandemics like: COVID-19 could occur more frequently. There are almost 1.7 million unidentified viruses, known to infect humans, are supposed to exist in mammals and water birds. Rampant deforestation, agricultural expansion and infrastructure development bring us closer to catching them.
transportation such as the airlines, and fossil-fuel-dependent energy sectors, but doing so without requiring urgent and fundamental change, essentially subsidizes the emergence of future pandemics”.
These are the words of a group of biodiversity experts and scientists around the world.
“Rampant deforestation, uncontrolled expansion of agriculture, intensive farming, mining and The waters of infrastructure development, Venice are now as well as the exploitation clear, lions lounge of wild species has created on roads normally a 'perfect storm' for the frequented by spillover of diseases from safari-goers in wildlife to people”, the South Africa researchers wrote in their and bears and research papers. coyotes wander
The biodiversity experts warned that future pandemics are on the horizon if mankind does not stop its rapid destruction of nature. When we look back, the climate and biodiversity crises, recent pandemics are a direct consequence of human activity – particularly our global financial and economic systems, based on a limited paradigm that prizes economic growth at any cost. We have a small window of opportunity, in overcoming the challenges of the current crisis, to avoid sowing the seeds of future ones. Information procured from the comprehensive 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which found that one million species of plants and animals are at risk of extinction within decades. The experts says, "It may be politically expedient at this time to relax environmental standards and to prop up industries such as intensive agriculture, long-distance
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They also fault wanton greed for allowing microbes that lead to novel diseases to jump from animals to humans.
around empty
underfunded. "This is not simple altruism – it is vital investment in the interests of all to prevent future global outbreaks," the scientists argue. The programs we're talking about will cost tens of billions of dollars a year. But if you get one pandemic, even just one a century, that costs trillions, so you still come out with an incredibly good return on investment.
Meanwhile, they have also accommodation in warned that 1.7 million Yosemite national unidentified viruses known to park in California infect people are estimated to exist in mammals and water birds. Any one of these may be more disruptive and lethal than COVID-19. These assessments were however supported recently by others in the scientific With that in mind, the authors suggest community. A study published recently in March 2020, has blamed human impact three facets that should be considered on wildlife for the current outbreak. The for COVID-19-related stimulus plans. report was also covered by some noted Countries should strengthen environmental media agencies around the world. The regulations; adopt a 'One Health' approach scientists also write, “Of course, we can to decision-making that recognizes build back better and emerge from the complex interconnections among the current crisis stronger and more resilient health of people, animals, plants, and than ever – but to do so means choosing our shared environment; and prop up policies and actions that protect nature – so healthcare systems in the most vulnerable that nature can help to protect us”. countries where resources are strained and
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Cover Story
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he experts and the research scholars believe that the human beings have put utmost pressure on the nature. As a consequence, irregularities in the lifestyles of wild animals, apart from massive destructions of wild trees and plants are being witnessed. Vast portions of our eco-systems have been destroyed. Many valuable herbs and herbal plants have diapered. Experts like: Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), who is among the renowned environmentalist and commentator, says that the humans are putting too many pressures on the natural world. “If we fail to take care of the nature, it means we are not taking care of ourselves. Awful consequences cannot be ruled out”, she added. After a big impact of Coronavirus pandemic in human lives across the world, a vast improvement is needed to improve the present lifestyle of the human beings.
THE CALL OF
CORONA…. WILD ANIMALS AND OUR CATTLES The widespread Coronavirus pandemic has again forced us to contemplate over the facts about the ever-ending relationship between the human beings and the natural world on which we depend for our survival or we do rely.
June 2020
As such, sound and sustainable wildlife management is likely to receive greater attention in the post-COVID-19 world. Among others, Kruger National Park, a flagship national park, is an example of the creative efforts to conserve the eco-system. Kruger National Park is considered as a haven for wildlife and a cornerstone of South Africa’s tourism economy but the park and the communities around its borders represent the global front line in the battle against rhino poaching: there are increasingly militarized clashes between park rangers and poachers. One of the reasons for this is that rhino horn is worth more than its weight in gold, and for many impoverished people in rural South Africa and beyond, that’s an irresistible draw. The marginalized cattle farming communities living around the park were understandably ambivalent about wildlife protection. They were focused on their cattle which is their
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Cover Story livelihood, their job, their food source and their bank account. In fact, because wildlife and livestock coexist here, foot- and-mouth disease prevented any real cattle economy from taking hold. Communities could not easily sell livestock in the Kruger landscape, so wildlife itself was perceived as a threat to local livelihoods. “The idea was that if we can help marginalized cattle farmers improve grazing conditions and earn decent incomes, they would become more active conservation partners and potentially be less likely to turn a blind eye to, facilitate or participate in rhino poaching,” says Zachary Wells of Conservation International. “To help biodiversity, ecosystems and communities thrive we need to tackle wildlife crime and at the same time open up new opportunities for local communities,” he adds.
Michael Grover, Landscape Director at Conservation South Africa, recalls at the beginning of the program a community elder being asked for assistance in countering the growing poaching threat. The elder said, “You don’t value what we have. The resulting conservation agreements model has now been formally recognized by the Government of South Africa as a viable stewardship model for communal land management.
Degraded Rangelands Among the project’s beneficiaries are the livestock-dependent Mnisi communities adjacent to Kruger National Park. Under the project, communities practice environmentally friendly ways of grazing their livestock and, in exchange, receive negotiated benefits such as education around market access, fodder, livestock branding and capacity-building. The project negotiates with livestock owners to restore the ecosystem services of 9,000 hectares of degraded Mnisi rangelands (equivalent to around 13,000 football pitches).
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The idea was that if we can help marginalized cattle farmers improve grazing conditions and earn decent incomes, they would become more active conservation partners and potentially be less likely to turn a blind eye to, facilitate or participate in rhino poaching
Cover Story Healthy Grasslands and the Healthy Cattles “Planned grazing helps restore vegetation cover, ensures adequate forage throughout the grazing season, increases infiltration and decreases erosion,” says UNEP biodiversity expert Ersin Esen. “This results in improved quality and quantity of grazing for livestock— as well as improved ecosystem health for communal rangelands and the rivers that flow through them into Kruger National Park”. In areas committed to planned grazing through the conservation agreements, the condition scores were substantially higher than areas not committed to planned grazing. “The formation of grazing associations and regular farmer meetings are helping farmers become empowered stewards who make good decisions about their land,” says Rosanne Stanway, Director of Sustainable Agriculture at Conservation South Africa.
Restoration Model of Rangelands Conservation South Africa has made a long-term commitment to continue working with communities. The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere programme, in partnership with Conservation South Africa, have received five years of funding from the Flanders government in Belgium to expand conservation agreements to neighbouring villages, as a direct result of the successes they have seen through investment in Mnisi. On a broader scale, Meat Naturally, Conservation South Africa and Herding 4 Health – Peace Parks Foundation have entered into a partnership to replicate this rangeland restoration model across four trans-boundary national parks spanning Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and
The formation of grazing associations and regular farmer meetings are helping farmers become empowered stewards who make good decisions about their land
Zambia. An anticipated 200,000 additional hectares will come under conservation agreements, with support from multiple donors. “Finding solutions that promote restoration and conservation of healthy ecosystems whilst addressing societal inequities here in South Africa can be a model not only for the continent, but for the world”, says Sarah Frazee. “As we continue to relentlessly encroach on nature and degrade ecosystems, we endanger human health”, says UNEP’s Inger Andersen. “Almost 75% of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, i.e. viruses originating from the transfer from animals, whether domesticated or wild, to humans”. Threatened by biodiversity and habitat loss, global heating and toxic pollution. Failure to act is failing humanity. Addressing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and protecting ourselves against future global threats requires sound management of hazardous medical and chemical waste; strong and global stewardship of nature and biodiversity; and a clear commitment to “building back better”, creating green jobs and facilitating the transition to carbon neutral economies. Addressing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and protecting ourselves against future global threat requires sound management of hazardous medical and chemical waste, strong and global stewardship of nature and biodiversity and a clear commitment to “building back better”, creating green jobs and facilitating the transition to carbon neutral economies. Humanity depends on action now for a resilient and sustainable future.
June 2020
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Special Story In this article, we will talk about some Asana and Pranayama which you can do easily by sitting at home and make your life healthy
Special on International
Yoga Day 2 1 J U N E
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Special Story Yoga: Origin and Benefits Yoga means to add. Yoga is the union of the individual soul with the divine. Yogacharya Maharishi Patanjali has presented the secret of complete in his yogadarshan. According to him, to establish the mind in a place is yoga.
What is Ashtanga Yoga? Our sages have told us about eight types of means for the purification of the body, mind and soul through yoga and for the attainment of God, which is called Ashtanga Yoga.
These are: • Yama • Asana • Pratyahara • Dhyana
• Niyama • Pranayama • Dharana • Samadhi
mentally and spiritually for health benefits and treatment.
Step 2. Hastauttanasana (Raised arms pose)
Let's know about Surya Namaskarasanato make your body healthy:
Breathing in, lift the arms up and back, keeping the biceps close to the ears. In this pose, the effort is to stretch the whole body up from the heels to the tips of the fingers.
Surya Namaskar-Sun Salutation Steps & Benefits Surya Namaskar is considered to be the best among yogasanas, it is also known as all-round exercise. Only its regular practice is able to give the person the benefit of complete yoga exercise. The person's body becomes healthy and healthy by its practice. 'Surya Namaskar' is also said to be useful for women, men, hair, young and old people.
When to do Surya Namaskar?
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch: You may push the pelvis forward a little bit. Ensure you're reaching up with the fingers rather than trying to bend backward.
Step 3. Hastapadasana (Standing forward bend) Breathing out, bend forward from the waist keeping the spine erect. As you exhale completely, bring the hands down to the floor beside the feet.
Like all compound activities, sunrise is considered the best time for morning sunrise. Suryanamaskar should always be practiced on an empty ventilated place with an empty stomach posture. It gives full effect to yoga only if the mind is peaceful and happy.
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch:
Asanameans the state of the body in which you can keep your body and mind calm, stable and happy.The ability to sit happily for the maximum time in one position without suffering is called asana.
What are the postures of Surya Namaskar?
Step 4. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)
Surya Namaskar is practiced in twelve postures, which are as follows-
Breathing in, push your right leg back, as far back as possible. Bring the right knee to the floor and look up.
According to the tradition of Yoga Shastras, there are eighty-four million postures and all these creatures are based on the names of animals. No one knows about these, hence only eighty-four asana are considered to be prominent. And currently thirty-two asana are famous.Asana are practiced physically,
Stand at the edge of your mat, keep your feet together and balance your weight equally on both the feet. Expand your chest and relax your shoulders. As you breathe in, lift both arms up from the sides, and as you exhale, bring your palms together in front of the chest in prayer position.
In this article, we will talk about some Asana and Pranayama which you can do easily by sitting at home and make your life healthy.
What does Asana mean and what are its types?
Step 1. Pranamasana (Prayer pose)
You may bend the knees, if necessary, to bring the palms down to the floor. Now make a gentle effort to straighten the knees. It's a good idea to keep the hands fixed in this position and not move them henceforth until we finish the sequence.
Tip: How to deepen this yoga stretch? Ensure that the left foot is exactly in between the palms.
Step 5. Dandasana (Stick pose) As you breathe in, take the left leg back and bring the whole body in a straight line.
Hastapadasana (Standing forward bend)
Dandasana (Stick pose)
Pranamasana (Prayer pose)
Hastauttanasana (Raised arms pose)
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Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)
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Special Story
Ashtanga Namaskara (Salute with eight parts or points)
Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) AdhoMukhaSvanasana (Downward facing dog pose)
AshwaSanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)
Hastapadasana (Standing forward bend)
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch:
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch:
Keep your arms perpendicular to the floor.
Place the right foot exactly between the two hands and the right calf perpendicular to the floor. In this position, make a gentle effort to push the hips down towards the floor, to deepen the stretch.
Step 6. AshtangaNamaskara (Salute with eight parts or points) Gently bring your knees down to the floor and exhale. Take the hips back slightly, slide forward, rest your chest and chin on the floor. Raise your posterior a little bit. The two hands, two feet, two knees, chest and chin (eight parts of the body) should touch the floor.
Step 7. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
Step 10. Hastapadasana (Standing forward bend) Breathing out, bring the left foot forward. Keep the palms on the floor. You may bend the knees, if necessary.
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch:
Slide forward and raise the chest up into the Cobra pose. You may keep your elbows bent in this pose with the shoulders away from the ears. Look up at the ceiling.
Gently straighten the knees, and if you can, try and touch your nose to the knees. Keep breathing.
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch:
Step 11. Hastauttanasana (Raised arms pose)
As you inhale, make a gentle effort to push the chest forward; as you exhale, make a gentle effort to push the navel down. Tuck the toes under. Ensure you're stretching just as much as you can and not forcing your body.
Breathing in, roll the spine up. Raise the hands up and bend backward a little bit, pushing the hips slightly outward.
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch:
Step 8. AdhoMukhaSvanasana (Downward facing dog pose)
Ensure that your biceps are beside your ears. The idea is to stretch up more rather than stretching backward.
Breathing out, lift the hips and the tailbone up to bring the body into an inverted ‘V’ pose.
Step 12. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Tip to deepen this yoga stretch: If possible, try and keep the heels on the ground and make a gentle effort to lift the tailbone up, going deeper into the stretch.
Step 9. AshwaSanchalanasana (Equestrian pose) Breathing in, bring the right foot forward in between the two hands. The left knee goes down on the floor. Press the hips down and lookup.
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As you exhale, first straighten the body, then bring the arms down. Relax in this position and observe the sensations in your body. This completes one set of Surya Namaskar. Complete the round by repeating the steps. Only this time, start with taking the left foot behind in step number 4 and bringing the right foot forward in step number 10. Once done, you would’ve completed one round of Surya Namaskar.
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Hastauttanasana (Raised arms pose)
Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Special Story
INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
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n the year 2014, Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi proposed to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) liked the proposal and on 21 June 2015, the first International Day of Yoga was celebrated. The decision was praised by spiritual leaders and practitioners of yoga around the world. Indian spiritual leader and founder of Art of Living, Shri Ravi Shankar said that yoga was like an orphaned child before but now it is not so. This art has gained the stature it deserved after being recognized by the United Nations.
First International Yoga Day The first International Yoga Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in different parts of the world. It was a special day especially for India. The reason for this is that yoga originated in India in ancient times and it was a matter of pride for us as
was the largest number of participating countries. The event was arranged by it was recognized at this stage. Thus it was celebrated on a large scale in the country. Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy. Ayush Minister A major event was organized ShripadYessoNaik received the atRajpath, Delhi. The event A major event award for this. was attended by Mr. Modi was organized atRajpath, Delhi. and notable personalities The event was Apart from this, many yoga from 84 countries. Apart attended by Mr. from this, the general public camps were organized at Modi and notable gathered in large numbers for different places in the country. personalities this first Yoga Day celebration. People gathered in parks, from 84 countries. During this yoga day, 21 yoga community halls and other Apart from this, asanas were performed. places to practice various the general The trained yoga instructors yoga asanas. Yoga instructors public gathered in large numbers guided the people to perform inspired people to make these for this first Yoga this asana and people yoga sessions successful. The Day celebration followed their instructions enthusiasm shown by the with great enthusiasm. general public was surprising. Not only people living in metros The event set two Guinness but also people living in small towns and World Records. The first record was villages, organized and participated in yoga made for the largest yoga class attended sessions. It was a sight indeed. by 35,985 participants and the second
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Defence
DEFENCE MINISTER UNVEILS DRDO’S MVRDL OD Bureau
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he Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has on April 23, 2020 unveiled the Mobile Virology Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (MVRDL) through video conferencing. This hightech laboratory has been developed by DRDO, in association with ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad and Private industry. “The union government, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has taken several relevant decisions that could help in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country”, Singh said while inaugurating the MVRDL. Singh appreciated the setting up of this Bio-Safety Level 2 and Level 3 lab within a short span of 15 days that usually takes about six months. He said, this testing facility can process more than 1,000 samples in a day and hence it can enhance country’s capabilities in fighting COVID19. The Armed Forces are contributing in many ways including setting up of quarantine centres, providing healthcare facilities, evacuating Indian Nationals from other countries and others enabling them fight woes of COVID19.
“We have received two requests. One, to allow the healthcare providers who were travelling to India when commercial flights were cancelled to return to UAE to resume their duties,”
Besides, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister for IT Industries, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Govt of Telangana, KT Rama Rao and the Secretary DDR & D & Chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy. Noticeably, the first of such Mobile Viral Research Lab (MVRL), which would play a vital role in speeding up the screening of
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COVID-19 cases and related R&D activities, was developed by Re s e a r c h C e n t r e Imarat (RCI), a Hyderabad based laboratory of DRDO in consultation with ESIC Hospital. The MVRL is the combination of BSL 3 lab and BSL 2 lab that are essential to carry out these activities. It has been as per WHO and ICMR Bio-safety standards to meet international guidelines. The system has built in electrical controls, LAN, Telephone cabling and CCTV.
The Mobile Lab will be helpful to carry out diagnosis of COVID-19 and also virus culturing for drug screening, Convalescent plasma derived therapy, comprehensive immune profiling of COVID-19 patients towards vaccine development early clinical trials specific to Indian population. The lab screens 1000-2000 samples per day. This lab can be positioned anywhere in the country, as per requirement.
Defence
RAJNATH SINGH REVIEWS CONTRIBUTION DPSUS, OFB COVID-19 PANDEMIC OD Bureau
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efence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has on April 28, 2020 reviewed the contributions of Defence Public Sector Undertaking Units (DPSUs) and Ordinance Factory Board (OFB) to fight COVID-19 from New Delhi. He also reviewed their operational plans through video conference. Singh appreciated the innovative skills displayed by the DPSUs in devising manufacture of new products to fight COVID-19 and also their assistance rendered to the local administration in several forms.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has manufactured 300 aerosol cabinets and supplied them to various hospitals. It has also distributed 56,000 masks and extended support to migrant labourers
He also directed the authorities concerned to prepare contingency plans for resumption of operations after the lifting of lock down to compensate for the lost working time to the extent possible and ramp up production. Referring to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s plans to revive the economy post-lock down, the Defence Minister said DPSUs along with private defence industry could play a major role in the economic revival. Singh appreciated the monetary contribution of about Rs. 77 crores made by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD), OFB and DPSUs to the PM CARES Fund, generated from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and one day salary contribution. It was intimated that more contribution to PM CARES Fund from the DPSUs is expected during the current month.
During the conference, the Ordinance Factory Board reported that there was no COVID 19 positive case in any of its 41 manufacturing locations. The OFB’s contribution in fighting COVID 19 included repair of more than 100 ventilators, manufacture 12,800 Coveralls, development of specialised machines for testing of PPEs, supply of 6.35 lakh masks to local authorities, supply of 340 specialised tents to Arunachal Pradesh for COVID 19 patients, distribution of 1 lakh litres of hand sanitizer, etc. OFB has earmarked 280 isolation beds
at its hospitals in 10 locations. In addition, HAL has also earmarked 93 isolation beds in Bangalore for COVID-19 patients. Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has made arrangements to manufacture 12,000 ventilators in the month of May 2020 and another 18,000 in June 2020. Around 3,000 engineers will also participate in training of the health professionals in operationalising these ventilators.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has manufactured 300 aerosol cabinets and supplied them to various hospitals. It has also distributed 56,000 masks and extended support to migrant labourers. In addition, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has also earmarked 93 isolation beds in Bangalore for COVID-19 patients. No positive COVID-19 case has been recorded among HAL employees. Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) is also working with eminent scientists for finalisation of design for ventilators and to make the prototype. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) provided PPE and medicines worth Rs Five lakh to Naval Quarantine Centre, Mumbai and distributed 4,000 litres of sanitiser. Several Units of OFB and DPSUs which are located in non-red zones have already started operations. Almost all DPSUs have made contingency plans to ramp up production after the lockdown is lifted by drawing up plans to work in three shifts and extending the work days from five to six days a week. Work will be carried out by observing social distancing and other relevant health guidelines.
Besides other senior officials of the Department of Defence Production, the secretary, Raj Kumar, senior officials MoD, OFB, BEL, HAL, MDL, BEML, GRSE, BDL, HSL, MIDHANI and Goa Shipyard Ltd also participated in the meeting through video conference.
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Defence
INDIAN ARMY’S MEDICAL TEAM SUPPORTS SERVE QUARANTINE CENTRE IN DELHI OD Bureau
Presently 932 members of Markaz Jammat are being taken care in the facility. Altogether 367 out of them were tested COVID positive. There has been tremendous synergy with Civil administration to run this entire facility.
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he army team that had been supporting the civil administration at Narela Quarantine Camp since April 1, 2020, has initiated steps to manage the facility completely under its own arrangement April 16, 2020 onwards. They serve the quarantine centre at least for 12 hours, from 8 am to 8 pm. During this period, they relive the civil doctors and medical staffs so that they could manage other important activities across the region. The civil doctors and other staffs have to manage the facility only during the night. The army team comprising of 40 personnel including 6 Medical Officers along with paramedical staffs have volunteered to stay within the premises only.
Narela Quarantine Centre in Delhi is amongst the largest centres in the country for managing the COVID suspects at Delhi. The camp was established by the Delhi Government in mid March 2020.
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Initially, about 250 foreign nationals were kept in this centre. In addition, about 1000 members of Tablighi Jamaat were brought in the Narel centre of Delhi between March 31 to April 2020 from Nizamuddin Markaz.
The professional approach of the army medical team has won the hearts of inmates. They have been very cooperative and positive to the army medical team thereby facilitating smooth handling of all medical procedures. Presently 932 members of Markaz Jammat are being taken care in the facility. Altogether 367 out of them were tested COVID positive. There has been tremendous synergy with Civil administration to run this entire facility. Army will continue to fight with resolve and determination and contribute wholeheartedly to the national efforts against the Corona pandemic for safety of all our citizens.
Defence
ARMY SURGEON PERFORMS LIFESAVING OPERATION AMID FIGHTING AGAINST COVID-19 PANDEMIC OD Bureau
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octors at the Pathankot Military Hospital amidst fighting in the frontline against COVID-19 Pandemic have performed an emergency lifesaving operation on a newborn baby. One day old baby of a soldier born out of a caesarian section was suspected to have a rare congenital anomaly of the intestines (Hirschsprungs Disease) which had consequently developed intestinal block and perforation with contamination of abdomen with fecal material leading to Septic Infection. Prompt diagnosis was made, but the condition of the baby was critical and he was not fit for transfer to the nearest pediatric surgery centre of the Armed Forces (Command Hospital, Chandimandir) which was 06 hours travel by road. Due to COVID-19 Lockdown
June 2020
there was no pediatric surgeon available in the civil hospitals of Pathankot. Major Adil Abdul Kalam, Surgical Specialist of Pathankot Military Hospital performed the intricate and challenging operation of opening up the abdomen of the new born baby who was on a ventilator, repairing of the tears in intestine and creation of stoma for diverting the stools. This is for the first time in the Armed Forces Medical Services wherein such an intricate operation on a newborn is done at a zonal hospital with no Pediatric Surgeon, Pediatric Anesthesiologist or Neonatologist available. The operation was performed in emergency, which if even delayed by few minutes could have resulted in exacerbation of multi organ failure, leading to death. The doctor said that it was an extremely challenging and stressful task to manage the case in the absence of super specialty facilities.
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Int’l Biz
DEADLY VIRUS BADLY AFFECTS ECONOMIC FIGURES IN US, EUROPE The Global Economic pain inflicted by the coronavirus- The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits has climbed past a staggering 30 million, while Europe’s economies have gone into an epic slide.
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nd as bad as the numbers are, some are already outdated because of the lag in gathering data, and the true economic picture is almost certainly much worse. The statistics are likely to stoke the debate over whether to ease the lockdowns that have closed factories and other businesses. While many states and countries have pressed ahead, health officials have warned of the danger of a second wave of infection, and some employers and employees have expressed fear of going back to work when large numbers of people are still dying. The United states Government reported that 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for jobless benefits last week, raising the total to 30.3 million in the six weeks since the outbreak took hold. The layoffs amount to 1 in 6 American workers and encompass more people than the entire population of Texas. Some economists say that when the U.S. unemployment rate for April comes out next week, it could be as high as 20% — a figure not seen since the Depression of the 1930s, when joblessness peaked at 25%. The number of Americans thrown out of work could be much higher than the unemployment claims show, because some people have not applied and others couldn't get through to their states' overwhelmed systems. A poll by two economists found that the U.S. may have lost 34 million jobs. There was grim new data across Europe, too, where more than 130,000 people with the virus have died. The economy in the 19 countries using the euro shrank 3.8% in the first quarter of the year, the biggest contraction since the eurozone countries began keeping joint statistics 25 years ago. “This is the saddest day for the global economy we have ever seen” in the 50 years that economists at High Frequency Economics have been following the data, they wrote in a report. Even then, the statistics do not capture the enormity of the crisis. Stocks fell on Wall Street as the discouraging news piled up, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing nearly 290 points, or more
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to great fanfare a month ago than 1 percent. The virus left town after treating has killed over 230,000 just 182 patients. The people worldwide, surge of cases there including more than The economy in has fallen well short 61,000 in the U.S., the 19 countries using the euro of the doomsday according to a tally shrank 3.8% in the predictions. by Johns Hopkins first quarter of the The 24-hour U n i v e r s i t y. year, the biggest contraction since number of deaths Confirmed the eurozone statewide was infections globally countries began down to 306, the topped 3.2 million, keeping joint statistics 25 years lowest in a month. with 1 million of ago. them in the U.S., but — With signs that the the true numbers are outbreak has stabilized believed to be much higher in places, President Donald because of limited testing, Trump said he would not extend the differences in counting the dead and White House’s social-distancing guidelines concealment by some governments. past their expiration Thursday. Those guidelines encouraged people to work from In other developments: — Dr. Anthony home and avoid restaurants, groups and Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectiousnonessential travel. diseases expert, said he expects federal approval for the first drug to prove effective — A suburban Minneapolis nursing home, against the coronavirus to happen “really St. Therese of New Hope, said 47 residents quickly.” Remdesivir, made by California's have died as a result of COVID-19 in yet Gilead Sciences, hastened the recovery of another severe outbreak at an institution for COVID-19 patients in a major government the frail or elderly. At least 70 people have study, and it might also have reduced deaths, died at a veterans home in Massachusetts according to Fauci. — A 1,000-bed Navy in the deadliest known cluster of its kind. hospital ship that arrived in New York City
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Int’l Biz Foundation, said the wave of layoffs at vulnerable businesses such as restaurants, hotels and stores may have largely run its course. “Thankfully, for now, the economic contagion seems to have plateaued,” Stettner said. “But we’re still at a level that is a mortal threat to the nation’s financial well-being.” Across the U.S., many governors have taken steps to gradually reopen their economies, amid impatience among Americans who complain their livelihoods are being destroyed and their rights trampled.
— California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered beaches in Orange County closed until further notice after tens of thousands of people flocked to the sand last weekend. — Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain is “past the peak” and “on a downward slope” in its coronavirus outbreak. France’s economy shrank 5.8%, the biggest quarterly drop since 1949. In Spain, the contraction was 5.2%. Germany is projecting that its economy, the eurozone’s biggest, will shrink 6.3% this year. Unemployment in Europe has reached 7.4%, the statistics agency Eurostat reported. However, jobprotection programs run by governments are temporarily keeping millions of Europeans on payrolls, sparing them from the monumental layoffs the U.S. is seeing.
This week, the U.S. estimated its economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in the first three months of the year, the sharpest quarterly drop s i n ce t he 2008 financial crisis. The current quarter is expected to be much worse, with a staggering 40% drop projected.
But even in states where businesses are being allowed to reopen, some workers are uneasy about returning. Lacey Ward, an Omaha hairstylist, said she is worried that the Nebraska governor's decision to let salons reopen on May 4 could put her and her family at risk. France’s economy shrank 5.8%, the biggest quarterly drop since 1949. In Spain, the contraction was 5.2%. Germany is projecting that its economy, the eurozone’s biggest, will shrink 6.3% this year
St i l l , a n a l y s t s s a w a glimmer of hope in the way new unemployment claims have fallen for four straight weeks. Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century
June 2020
“Even with every precaution taken, I’m highly at risk,” he said. Finding enough workers willing to return is proving to be a challenge for Jennifer Holliday, manager at a restaurant in Oklahoma City that will reopen its dining room Friday. Many of her employees are not returning calls or messages.
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Int’l Biz
WITH RISING ECONOMIC DAMAGES, DRUG SEEMS EFFECTIVE AGAINST COVID-19 The research scholars and the scientists has on April 29, 2020 announced that the coronavirus — an experimental drug that can speed the recovery of COVID-19 patients — in a major medical advance that came as the economic gloom caused by the scourge deepened in the U.S. and Europe.
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he United States Government has said that it is working to make the antiviral medication remdesivir available to patients as quickly as possible. The country’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci said, “What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus”. Stocks surged around the world on the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining more than 530 points on the day, or over 2%. Still, word of the new drug came as the U.S. government reported that American economic output is shriveling in the biggest and fastest collapse since the Depression. The virus has killed over 220,000 people worldwide, including more than 60,000 confirmed deaths in the U.S. The U.S. said its gross domestic product, or output of goods and services, shrank at an annual rate of 4.8% in the January-March
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The U.S. unemployment rate for April will be released at the end of next week, and economists have said it could range as high as 20% — a level last seen during the Depression. Mario Franco, who worked And the worst is yet to come. The at a McDonald’s at a rest stop along Congressional Budget Office has estimated Interstate 95 in Darien, Connecticut, for that the GDP of the world’s biggest 26 years, rising to night manager in charge economy will plunge at a 40% annual rate of the kitchen staff, was laid off in during the three-month period late March. The 50-year-old that ends in June. said he has little savings and now relies on a According to the The food bank and union report, the people Congressional donations. applying for Budget Office has unemployment estimated that the “They didn’t tell benefits in the GDP of the world’s us about it. Just U.S. is perhaps biggest economy will plunge at a 40% suddenly the night 1 in 6 American annual rate during shift ended and that workers, or the three-month was it. There was no nearly 30 million period that ends more work.” Amid people, have lost in June the economic carnage, their jobs over the President Donald Trump past six weeks. period, the sharpest quarterly drop since the global financial meltdown of more than a decade ago.
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Int’l Biz
Economic damage, meanwhile, is piling up around the world. The United Nations’ main labor body predicted the world will lose the equivalent of about 305 million full-time jobs in the second quarter. It also projected that 1.6 billion workers in the “informal economy,” including those working beyond the reach of the government, “stand in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed.” That is nearly half the global workforce of 3.3 billion people. was pushing to reopen the country, allowing federal social distancing guidelines by April 30th. Trump, who in recent weeks, had predicted the total U.S. virus death toll would come in at around the 60,000 milestone passed Wednesday, laid out plans for returning to pre-virus normalcy despite doctors’ warnings that the country will need to embrace extended social distancing and mask-wearing. Confirmed infections globally reached about 3.2 million, including 1 million in the U.S., according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers of deaths and infections are believed to be much higher because of limited testing, differences in counting the dead and concealment by some governments. California-based biotech company Gilead Sciences and the U.S. government reported that in a major study, remdesivir shortened the time it takes for COVID-19 patients to recover by four days on average — from 15 days to 11. Also, a trend toward fewer deaths was seen among those on the drug, Fauci said. The study was run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and involved 1,063 hospitalized coronavirus patients around the world. An effective treatment could have a profound effect on the outbreak, since a vaccine is probably a year or more away.
In Europe, almost every measure of the economy is in free fall. Figures due to be released Thursday are expected to show a Italy’s credit rating was lowered drop of about 4% in the first downgrade in the first three of a major economy months of the year as a result of the crisis. in the eurozone, Its rating stands just one level above junk and an even steeper bond status. Italy hit is projected expects its economy this quarter. Unto shrink 8% this year. employment is expected to rise to about 8%. The figure would be worse if not for massive amounts of government aid to keep millions of workers on payrolls. Government debt is exploding to cover the costs of such relief. “The lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are taking an unprecedented toll on the European economy,” said Florian Hense, an economist at Berenberg Bank. In Paris, aircraft maker Airbus reported a first-quarter loss of 481 million euros ($515 million), laid off thousands of workers and sought billions in loans to pull through the crisis. U.S.-based rival Boeing said it is cutting 10% of its workforce and reducing the production rate of commercial jets. Italy’s credit rating was lowered in the first downgrade of a major economy as a result of the crisis. Its rating stands just one level above junk bond status. Italy expects its economy to shrink 8% this year.
June 2020
Germany ’s economy minister said the government is projecting a contraction of about 11% in GDP by the end of the quarter. But he also predicted a sharp recovery in 2021. Many economists are skeptical the U.S. economy will bounce back quickly later in the year, noting that the virus could flare up again or consumers and employees might be too worried to return to business as usual.
“The virus has done a lot of damage to the economy, and there is just so much uncertainty now,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. With the crisis easing in places like Italy, France and Spain, European governments are making adjustments in their transportation networks to try to get their economies running again without setting off a second wave of infections. In Italy, Milan is putting red stickers on the floor to tell bus passengers how far apart to stand. The Dutch are putting on longer, roomier trains. Berlin and many other cities are opening up more lanes to bicyclists. And in Britain, bus passengers are using the middle or rear doors to reduce the risk to the driver.
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Infra
BICYCLES, BIKES TURN TO BE THE BEST COMMUTING OPTION POST-LOCKDOWN
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ycling activists from Germany to Peru are trying to use the moment to get more bike lanes or widen existing ones, even if it's just a temporary measure to make space for commuters on two wheels. Morton Kabell, who Co-chairs the European Cyclists’ Federation says, “The transition to more bike-friendly urban environments is necessary if we want our cities to work”. He added, while there are a lot of people that will be afraid of travelling on public transportation, but we have to get back to work someday. Very few of the cities can handle more car traffic, as per the present situation. In addition to bike lanes separated by curbs, Kabell backs subsidizing electric bicycles, which could encourage commuters who have longer or hilly journeys. The benchmarks are Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, where half of the daily commuters are cyclists, and the Netherlands, with its vast network of bike lanes. Still, countries around the world are catching up at different speeds.
there is little point now in cycling that isn't recreational. But cities like Oakland, San Francisco and New York are closing some streets to traffic to allow room for runners and cyclists.
The French government asked cycling activist Pierre Serne to draw up a plan for when its lockdown ends May 11. His recommendations, including bicycle lanes separated from other vehicles at an estimated cost of 50,000 euros per kilometer ($32,000 per mile), have been submitted to the Transportation Ministry. For now, France has said it will riders up to 50 euros (nearly $55) for repairs so the French can get their bicycles ready for post-lockdown rides. In Berlin, the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg council simply painted yellow lines on the some roads to take space from car lanes. This bike infrastructure builds on what is called “tactical urbanism” — low-cost changes that are technically simple and reversible, and they can make an immediate difference.
Pedro Díaz, a member of Pedalibre, a Madrid cycling club, sees this as a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to take over space from cars and resist giving it back when the pandemic ends. “If we wait for proper infrastructure for bicycle lanes, we’ll need a municipal plan, which will take at least four years to be designed and get approved”, Díaz said. This way, it’s just a matter of subsidize putting a fence and stopping cars from using a lane. Then Pedro Díaz, it will be a fait accompli. If a member of arguing for environmentally Pedalibre, a friendly transportation was a Madrid cycling key factor for activists before, club, sees this the economic fallout from the as a oncevirus is adding momentum, in-a-lifetime said Laura Vergara, head of opportunity to Spain’s ConBici advocacy take over space group. from cars and resist giving it back when the pandemic ends
Similar initiatives are popping up elsewhere. Officials in Lima, Peru; Barcelona, Spain; and Milan, Italy, are speeding up plans to expand bike paths or take space from cars or current parking sites. In Bogota, where bicycles are used mostly by Colombia's blue-collar workers, Mayor Claudia López has urged everybody returning to work this week to cycle instead of using public transportation, which is now operating at 35% of capacity. With many U.S. nonessential businesses closed,
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With tourism accounting for nearly 15% of the GDP in Spain, outdoor vacations — whether on two wheels or not, but away from crowded beaches and resorts — could keep the industry afloat, she said. “In Australia, bicycle sales have already skyrocketed”, Vergara said. Despite having sunny days the year round, car-loving Spaniards seem to be decades behind northern Europe when it comes to commuting by bicycle. Environment Minister Teresa Ribera, in charge of postconfinement planning, says the changes must overcome resistance derived from habits
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and conceptions that are well-established. Ribera said she has asked mayors to extend bike lane coverage, reduce car speed limits and provide for bike parking. But it wasn’t clear if the government would fund it. “We can, and we should, take advantage of this impulse to advance towards a new paradigm of sustainable mobility”, she said. Beyond infrastructure, cycling advocates say many minds must still be changed, noting that many officials have called for prioritizing the use of private vehicles in the lockdown. That’s where differences by country are sharper. In Britain, where people are still allowed to leave home to exercise, cycle shops stayed open during the lockdown that began March 23. In Spain, gas stations were considered essential, but not bicycle repair shops. And while bike-sharing in London and Paris was made free to health care workers, most Spanish cities rushed to shut down the services, saying they would be a source of contagion. Madrid's hugely successful bicycle sharing operation reopened only last week, the sixth of Spain’s strict lockdown. Bikes are disinfected nightly and riders must wear gloves. Many riders have been fined. The French Federation of Bicycle Users has received more than 800 reports from cyclists stopped by police, and dozens had to pay a 135 euro ($146) fine for violating restrictions. “The attitude of the police is the attitude that many people show in the streets”, said Pasamar, who keeps riding despite the risks of being stopped again. “Unfortunately, bicycles are for many just a nuisance”, he said. (Courtesy: AP)
Infra
LOCKDOWN AGONIZES MORE THAN THE DEADLY CORONAVIRUS IN ITALY
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he two months’ lockdown in crumbling apartments in a mobinfiltrated town north of Naples, their hand-to-mouth existence has grown even more precarious with no work, no food and no hope. Italy is preparing to reopen some business and industry on Monday in a preliminary easing of its virus shutdown. But there is no indication that “the invisibles” of Castel Volturno will get back to work anytime soon, and no evidence that the government’s social nets will ease their misery. “I need help. Help me. For my children, for my husband, I need help”, said a tearful Mary Sado Ofori, a Nigerian hairdresser and mother of three who has been holed up in her overcrowded apartment block. She ran out of milk for her 6-month old, and is getting by on handouts from a friend. A patchwork team of volunteers, medics, a priest, a cultural mediator and local city hall officials are trying to make sure “the invisibles” aren’t forgotten entirely,
has ground to a halt. The migrants, who Castel Volturno is another world entirely, already were living precariously without a 27-kilometer (17-mile) strip of land official residency or work permits, now running along the sea north of Naples that can’t pay their rent or buy food. “We don’t is controlled by the Camorra organized have electricity. We don’t have water. We crime syndicate. Here there have only been don’t have documents,” said Jimmy Donko, about a dozen COVID cases, and none a 43-year-old Ghanaian migrant who lives among the migrants. But Castel Volturno with 46 Nigerian and Ghanaian men in a has other problems that the COVID crisis dark, rundown house where filthy dishes has exacerbated. Known as the “Terra dei fill the kitchen sink and old blankets serve Fuochi” or land of fires, Castel Volturno as curtains over broken windows. and surrounding areas have unusually high cancer rates, blamed on the To bathe, wash and flush the illegal dumping and burning of One of the toilet, he and his housemates toxic waste that have polluted best ways walk 300 meters (yards) with the air, sea and underground to prevent buckets to a fountain and back. wells. Here the mob runs drugs the spread of The level of desperation is and waste disposal, and officials false news apparent everywhere: With have warned the clans are is to enable no electricity or refrigeration, primed to exploit the economic your readers, food spoils quickly and is misery that the virus shutdowns viewers and cooked immediately. On a have caused. It is also here that listeners to recent day, cooked fish and “the invisibles” have settled assess and goat heads were left out on over the years, many after investigate the shelves. Outside, chicken was crossing the Mediterranean stories seen on being cooked on a makeshift from Libya in smugglers boats social media stove made from old mattress hoping for a better life. No springs. A consortium of unions and nonprofit organizations has called for a general amnesty to legalize undocumented migrants. Government ministers have vowed to help even those in the black-market economy survive the emergency. A proposed law would legalize migrant farm workers for the strawberry, peach and melon harvests, given that Italy’s legal seasonal farm hands have been kept at home in Eastern Europe because of virus travel restrictions. But no proposals have made it into law, and there is fierce opposition nationwide and in tiny Castel Volturno to any moves to legalize the African workforce currently here.
delivering groceries daily to their choked apartments and trying to provide health care. But the need is outstripping the resources. “There is an emergency within the COVID emergency which is a social emergency”, said Sergio Serraiano, who runs a health clinic in town. “We knew this was going to happen, and we were waiting for it from the beginning”. The virus struck hardest in Italy ’s prosperous industrial north, where the first homegrown case was registered Feb. 21 and where most of the infected and 27,000 dead were recorded. The bulk of the government’s attention and response focused on reinforcing the health care system there to withstand the onslaught of tens of thousands of sick.
one knows their numbers for certain, but estimates run as high as 600,000 nationally. In Castel Volturno, a city with an official population of around 26,000, there are estimates of 10,000 to 20,000. The men get by on day jobs picking tomatoes, lemons or oranges, or in construction where they earn 25 euros (US$28) a day. The woman sell their bodies, or if they are lucky, work as freelance hairstylists or selling trinkets and cigarette lighters on the street. In normal times, the men gather at 4 a.m. at the roundabouts that dot the Via Domiziana main drag, waiting for trucks to pick them up and take them to farms or construction sites. But since the lockdown, even that illegal offthe-books system known as “caporalato”
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“We are talking about 20,000 illegal migrants in a population of 26,000 inhabitants – that makes it almost equal one foreigner for one Italian”, said Mayor Luigi Petrella, of the right-wing, anti-migrant Brothers of Italy party. That said, city hall is working to feed the masses, teaming up with the local Centro Fernandes refugee center to bring bags of food each day to the locked-down, out-of-work migrants. The Rev. Daniele Moschetti, a former missionary in Nairobi, Kenya, now delivers groceries to the poor in his homeland. “It was different when I was in Nairobi,” he said, during a break in his grocery rounds. There was poverty, but it was more human. Here there is something diabolical about all this, something evil in how all these people are treated.
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Business Tips
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t is important to recognize how the current global crisis affects more than just the way we do business. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a physical and mental impact on billions of peoples’ lives around the world. During this unprecedented event, it is essential we come together as a community. Looking for ways to evolve your marketing strategy during COVID-19? Start by reviewing how other industries have adjusted their products and services to meet changing customer needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has left no industry untouched and we can expect it to change everything from the way people shop to how they socialize with each other. As governments around the world encourage people to stay home, a new kind of normal is being embraced. This may feel like a daunting time for businesses, but it’s essential we remain flexible and adapt to the changing needs of consumers. With the huge impacts this situation is having on people’s lives they are looking for new, convenient ways to access everyday comforts.
HOW CAN BUSINESSES EVOLVE THEIR
MARKETING STRATEGY DURING
COVID-19?
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE HOW THE CURREN
That means a surge in online opportunities to help support. Now the demand for online services has become paramount. Digital media is the primary way for people to connect, discover and make purchases. It is through online channels they can fulfil their needs and find a sense of normalcy. At this time people are turning to technology as a tool for work, communication and to stay in touch with consumers across the globe. As a result, the technology and software as a service industry have experienced a boost in the last several months. The ability to connect
Digital media is the primary way for people to connect, discover and make purchases. It is through online channels they can fulfil their needs and find a sense of normalcy
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Business Tips face-to-face while working remotely has become a high commodity. In response, many technology companies are rolling out tools that can help businesses with the transition to working from home. For example, Google is waiving the monthly fee all G Suite and G Suite Education users pay for Hangouts Meet. Similarly, Zoom has lifted the 40-minute limit it had for conference calls through their free Basic plan. Technology companies are shifting their focus towards providing solutions designed to help people through COVID-19. The aim is to make things as affordable as possible while giving customers the chance to discover the features that are most relevant to their needs. As a business owner, it’s important to figure out how your services can be tailored towards solving today’s challenges.
How to change your marketing strategy: • Adapt your services to be compatible with remote working environments. • Consider ways to reduce or eliminate unnecessary fees or registration costs for new customers. • Utilize virtual solutions for any services that do not require in-person contacts, for example, a virtual tour of your retail store to help consumers look inside the store without visiting.
E-Commerce As more people continue to practice social distancing the need for unnecessary trips to the store has reduced. Retailers in the US experienced a dramatic decline in in-store visits as advertisement conversions dropped 90% at the end of March. For businesses, this means a mandatory transition to e-commerce sites and online selling
online selling. A small business owner can optimize their website reach through SEO, content marketing or social media campaigns: • Consider using SEO content and influencer marketing to reach customers on social media • Utilize e-commerce options to optimize your website for online purchases • Leverage lower cost, basic feature plans that customers can customize to meet their current needs • Transition your current distribution channels to provide contactless delivery/ pick-up
Video Streaming Businesses are becoming more and more reliant than ever on their digital strategies. A major challenge of this change is developing new channels for hosting live events and
NT GLOBAL CRISIS AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS strategies to reach customers. The CEO of 123 Internet Group, Scott Jones explained that there has been an increase in companies looking to incorporate digital channels into their marketing strategy. This has included a desire to create or update websites, develop new e-commerce channels and even release social media campaigns centeredon people working from home. Some businesses are also looking to shift their focus towards influencer marketing, and SEO content to reach different audiences.
conferences, as well as face-to-face business. For B2B companies in particular who rely on trade shows and exhibitions for networking with customers, the shift to online may prove more difficult.
With everyone looking to become an online retailer, support from existing e-commerce websites is essential.
For the events technology agency Buzznation, events often consume 50 to 60 percent of their client’s marketing budgets. In their research, the agency found that in addition to offering immersive 3D virtual events, businesses are looking to improve their use of live social platforms. In today’s current circumstances clients and consumers have begun recognizing the value these types of digital channels have.
It’s crucial you remain connected with customers by embracing the benefits of
During late March, Snapchat’s calling feature, often accompanied by augmented reality
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Business Tips experiences, grew by more than 50% compared to February. The company’s technology has made it possible for people to connect more easily, and stay informed by trusted media publishers. As of April 7, 40% of Gen Z users in the United States have used the app’s Discover platform to find content that interests them. Other social networking sites have also switched their product development focus toward live streaming. The number of users watching live video on Facebook has increased by 50% since January, prompting the company to accelerate development for new Facebook Live features. Facebook’s overall marketing strategy is aimed at making live streaming video more accessible, while also improving the potential income for broadcasters.
• Utilize video and digital marketing strategy to share content that interests and informs different target demographics • Replicate in-person marketing tactics by creating virtual webinars, meet-ups and/ or events
Fitness With gyms and other fitness facilities being forced to close, the sale of indoor fitness equipment and services has received a boost. The smart bike app Echelon has already experienced a 40% spike in class attendance. As well, the company has
added daily-rides designed for children to help promote physical fitness and support customers at home. As the expectations of social distancing become more restrictive, it is recommended people take part in some form of physical activity every day. Many fitness professionals are joining the transition to digital media by offering virtual workouts and personal training sessions via social media, as well as other video calling platforms. Crunch and Planet Fitness are prime examples, both adapting their services for online, and even extending some classes to non-members for free.
Video content streaming is in high demand leaving business owners to target consumers through video/YouTube marketing strategy. While capitalizing on the increased demand, these channels are able to explore potential new avenues for growth. • Understand the value live streaming platforms have for connecting your business with a wider audience
Digital media is the primary way for people to connect, discover and make purchases. It is through online channels they can fulfil their needs and find a sense of normalcy Personal trainers and Instagram fitness influencers have also followed suit by offering their programming online for free or at a reduced cost. The direct result has been a surge in sales for home gym suppliers. Fitness equipment company Nautilus says they expect an 11% rise in first-quarter net sales as more people turn to home gym solutions. The best way to shift your positioning during this time is by offering products or services that meet customers’ at home needs. Two ways you can adjust your marketing strategy is to shift the focus toward products that are considered indoor essentials or consider developing an online platform for some
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Business Tips online. Demonstrate how your business can complement the fitness training at home at a minimum cost.
services by providing remote consultations. This will demonstrate a willingness to help customers achieve their at-home goals while creating a new opportunity for online reach and growth.
Entertainment
• Expand your services to offer video fitness training. • Leverage social media and reach out to people who are willing to adapt the concept of fitness and home and offer your product, training, and consultation
Online entertainment serves a vital role in the digital media world. It was expected streaming content would see an increase in users; however, the surprising growth has been in the video game sector. Game ad spends increased 25% at the start of March with predictions that they will reach their
The world’s largest video game streaming platform, Twitch, announced its audience grew by up to one third in March. People are searching for comfort during these uncertain times, therefore, the easiest way to reach them is through their devices. To improve online positioning, businesses need to consider promoting their products through entertainment channels such as recreational apps and streaming services. It’s time to think outside the box and create relatable content that connects with customers. • Utilize App Marketing Services and PPC advertising strategies toward niche online channels, targeting specific audiences through mobile apps and video games • Develop partnerships with professional gaming influencers who can help promote your content • Consider optimizing your content for mobile, making products and services easily accessible on smart devices
Today’s digital marketers need to adapt quickly Right now marketers have to make quick, informed decisions in order to generate quality leads, increase revenue and develop strategic content.
Online entertainment serves a vital role in the digital media world. It was expected streaming content would see an increase in users; however, the surprising growth has been in the video game sector
Marketing agencies like offer a wide range of services designed to support businesses. You can get help to updating your website, create an eCommerce platform, create the software as a solution, develop mobile apps or even utilize them for the right marketing strategy to promote your brand at this difficult time. It is important to recognize how the current global crisis affects more than just the way we do business. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a physical and mental impact on billions of peoples’ lives around the world. During this unprecedented event, it is essential we come together as a community.
revenue peak as a result of COVID-19. Ingame advertising, especially through apps, is an often overlooked avenue for acquiring new customers. During the initial week of quarantine, Verizon reported that the domestic use of video games during peak hours had increased by 75%. Along with the rise in personal video gameplay, it is anticipated that esports will also grow in popularity.
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Overall, throughout these uncertain times, we will most likely experience changes in the way we work, interact, communicate, make purchases and live our lives. With our marketing strategy , we are giving our clients the best support possible to succeed now and in the future is our goal. Our first priority is to do everything we can to make sure all of us get through this safely.
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Fake News
HOW TO FIGHT WITH FAKE NEWS From misinformation to false news, false, incomplete and fake news spreading online has been called Fake News. Fake news is also sometimes used for political or commercial benefits. By Shrishti Nagar
I
t is not a new way for governments to use propaganda weapons to trap their opponents. However, the major change that has come since then is that now the opportunities and benefits of spreading false news have increased. Apart from this, social media can now be used beyond international boundaries. There is also controversy over 'fake news' as some politicians use the term to criticize legitimate and right media. This is especially so when the media criticizes the actions or decisions of these leaders and makes such an accurate story, which they disagree with. Those working in this field advocate naming such news as 'Information Disorder' so that the problem of false news spreading in the digital world can be highlighted. And this includes not just political manoeuvre but all kinds of issues. For example, false health stories, celebrity rumours and false allegations of criminal activity, which can lead to not only ethno-provincial tensions but also violence between different communities. The problem of false news is getting worse from bad. Far from the limits of reality, fake news sometimes messes with our emotions and spreads faster than true news. A research by MIT shows that false information is spread fastest and farthest on Twitter in all categories of news. Researchers have also found that not only automated robots, but ordinary people also retweet misinformation and spread fake news. Artificial intelligence has also been affected and due to the development in this field, it has become easier to produce synthesized audio-video. This has meant that it is now possible to make such videos of well-known people, politicians and celebrities, in which such things are said in their mouths, which they have never said. These videos are called 'DeepFake'. It is said that this technology, which can distort the news, can cause unlimited damage. It is not just a weapon to create false news, but can also make us doubt right content of the past, which has never been doubted before. So what should reporters and reporters do? There are areas where journalists can make a difference: Verifying truth, removing fake news and increasing media literacy.
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Verification of Truth In order to re-establish trust in reputed media, journalists will have to take such steps so that they do not get caught in the trap of false news. When journalists are working on their story and want to use any kind of material available online, then they have to check the veracity of the content. It is an important first step to find out who is posting the story, video or picture first. In addition to testing the source, there are many other ways to find out the reliability of the content. Apart from reverse image search and geolocation tools; old techniques of investment are also needed. Meta-data such as video or image can tell where it is made. However, be cautious in this matter as it can also be played with.
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of false news is to enable your readers, viewers and listeners to assess and investigate the stories seen on social media
In addition, crowd-source verification techniques are also growing rapidly. If one has to fight false news on a large scale, there may be a need to partner with other journalists and volunteers and work together to check the accuracy of the content.
Eliminating Fake News One problem that journalists are facing is how to prevent the spread of false news.Some people can argue that if a story is fake, you should not touch it. But if claims made in false news spread fast or false facts fall in the level of political debate, then fighting false information or news becomes a matter of social service. It can be discussed at the editorial level whether the investigation of a particular story is really necessary or the interests are related to it and whether there is evidence and documents to dismiss it completely. Whatever claims are made online, it is quite important to find out the actual source of the data. Apart from this, many institutions are working to detect fake news, such as Full Fact in Britain and Africa Check
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in Africa. Apart from this, sharing the results of image verification and fact checks with other journalists is also very important to deal with the problem.
Transparency Journalists and Media houses have to work actively to gain the trust of our readers, viewers and listeners in the noisy and trendy markets.
However, all of us can make mistakes. Reaching conclusions at a particular moment or quoting without checking, too. But transparency is most important. Give your editor a call and revise your story with new information. It is also important to be transparent about your sources and evidence. And this also makes it easier for people to understand where the news comes from and what is called good journalism.
Media literacy One of the best ways to prevent the spread of false news is to enable your readers, viewers and listeners to assess and investigate the stories seen on social media. Being vigilant and taking steps to identify the correct content can help viewers understand the claims and counterattacks made online and know the truth. Knowing how a fake story is detected can spread awareness among audience and audience about the dangers of false news and the challenges of reaching the truth.
Productivity
PRODUCTIVITY By Shrishti Nagar
Work from home. What is the right way? Coronavirus Lockdown has forced most of us to work from home. Working from home, as easy as it may sound, isn't easy for people like us, who are not accustomed to it. But surprisingly, taking small steps is all it requires. Yes, making very small changes in your work from home schedule, can make your work from home as exciting (and productive) as it sounds. We’ve shortlisted a few of them, and are going to describe each of them. Hope this helps!
just chat, just how you do it during your office working hours. 5- Checking your phone and surfing social media is an appealing thought, but try not to indulge in it while working. You may chalk out your routine such that there are clearly defined breaks and you can utilise those breaks by having lunch or tea. Use your breaks to get away from your work desk. You may also take afternoon naps if your timings allow so. 1- Getting up early always helps. All you have to do is get up on time, and take a walk on your terrace. Exercising is very important in this lockdown period. Daily exercise can freshen you up and hence, improve your quality of life. 2- Take a fresh bath and Dress up in Formal clothes. Yes, you read it right. Formal clothes create a sense of responsibility and increases productivity. So next time you get ready for office work, do not pick your pajamas, instead, choose your formal shirt. Also, don't forget to Comb your hair nicely. 3- Have a nice breakfast, just like you would when going to office. After this, start with your work. Now while choosing your work place at home, keep in mind that it should not disturb you. Create boundaries
between your home and work. Let your family members know about your work timings and not to disturb you within those timings. Also, do not sit on your bed or couch while working. Choose a well-lit table and chair for working.
Start your work by jotting down your To-do list. By doing this, you will have a clear cut idea of your tasks. Do not forget to check your mails regularly and communicate your tasks to your boss
4- Start your work by jotting down your To-do list. By doing this, you will have a clear cut idea of your tasks. Do not forget to check your mails regularly and communicate your tasks to your boss. Also, having a conference once in a day with your team boosts your productivity. It might not be work related. You may also connect to
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6- Working from home is all about balance. The best thing about it is that you can work on your own timings. If you feel that you're more productive at nights than days, design your routine like that. But remember, this all is just to enhance your productivity and should not be a reason to crawl back to your comfy space.
7- Plan your timelines. Planning always helps. You should plan your upcoming tasks. You can also utilise this time to analyze your work and learning new skills to improve your results. Happy working!!!
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Tours and Travels
TRAVEL MEANT TO HAVE GLIMPSES OF
WEIRD FLOWERS By Ekansh Pandey
Our planet is stuffed with weird stuff, no denying the very fact. Sometimes its people, sometimes its insects, and sometimes they are often flowers too! It would be needless to say that an inquisitive traveler soul gets delighted with these rare things, because it can raise their experiences. There are a lot of weird flowers around the world that people often find during their trips far lands, regions and countries. Just to witness them altogether their glory. From Monkey Face Orchid that may only be found in Peru and Ecuador, and fervor Flower that's indigenous to India and Japan, to Hooker’s Lips Flower found in Panama, Republic of Costa Rica and Colombia, and strange-smelling corpse flower in Indonesia, there's plenty to work out and explore on Earth. Let’s have a glance at a number of the weirdest flowers blooming on the planet that people travel from time to time.
PASSION FLOWER (INDIA AND JAPAN)
A
lso referred to as Clock Flower, Passion Flower (Passiflora or Passion Vines) has quite 500 varieties available in India and Japan. These tendril-bearing vines have a tremendous smell to them and are accustomed produce a large range of products that are commercially sold across the world. You’ll find several things within the market made using Passion Flower like herbs and supplements among others. To witness these flowers, you’ll should trip India or Japan as these are the sole two destinations where the flower is found in abundance.
BRAHMAKAMAL (INDIA)
B
rahma Kamal is one rare flower native to the Himalayas (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) having immense mythological significance. Named after Hindu God Brahma, who is taken into account the ‘creator of the world’, this flower blooms just one occasion a year that too during the night, which is one amongst its important features. In India, it's believed that a home where this flower blooms is endowed good luck and prosperity. Besides, it also contains a lot of medicinal properties and is employed to provide medicines to cure urogenital disorders. However, one drawback of this beautiful flower is its awful smell, perhaps that’s the rationale it's not considered a home plant!
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Tours and Travels MONKEY FACE ORCHID (PERU AND ECUADOR)
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onkey Face Orchid (Dracula Simia) is indigenous to forests of Peru and southeastern parts of Ecuador and if you are taking an in depth examine the flower, it'll actually remind you of a monkey’s face with two little-dotted eyes, and fuzzy eyebrows reasonably drawings on the interiors of the flower. the most effective part about this rare orchid is that it's the ability of blooming all year round. And you're so visiting love the sweet nectar of this weird-looking flower, a bit like ripe oranges! So, if you're a flower lover, who wishes to work out Monkey Face Orchid, all you've got to try to to is pack your trekking bag and visit the forests of Peru or head to Ecuador.
CORPSE FLOWER
(SUMATRA AND JAVA, INDONESIA)
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eird name, weird flower! Indigenous to Sumatra and Java islands in Indonesia, this particular flower can go as high as nine feet, which could be a record in itself. But that’s not the sole interesting thing about the Corpse Flower, also referred to as aroid Plant. The smell of this flower is totally horrible. If you go near it, you’ll smell rotting flesh, it’s that bad. So while trekking through the jungles of Indonesia, if you smell something fishy, then probably you're near corpse flower.
CORPSE LILY (INDONESIA) PITCHER PLANT
(MADAGASCAR, GEOGRAPHICAL REGION, INDONESIA AND AUSTRALIA)
C
ommonly referred to as Monkey Cups, pitcher plants appear as if some work of art. These are absolutely gorgeous and might be found in various parts of Madagascar, geographical region, and Australia but are quite common to Indonesia. These fancy pitcher-like flowers look so inviting that you’d want to travel right up to them and acquire a swig! But beware, don’t ever try this as these flowers are carnivorous and first attract and so trap insects and other living beings, weird right? These flowers have managed to astonish humans with their powerful presence since ages now!
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orpse Lily (Rafflesia Arnoldii) and corpse flower may be different in appearance, but they are doing share plenty of common characteristics. Both are gigantic, native to Sumatra and Java, and have same rotting flesh odour. aside from that, it weighs quite 200 pounds and might grow as tall as 12 feet! But still, Indonesians love this rare flower and treat it specially. In fact, they love Corpse Lily such a lot that it's been declared the national flower of the island nation!
HOOKER’S LIPS FLOWER
(PANAMA, REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA AND COLOMBIA)
The name does full justice to the flower! The Hooker’s Lips flower will remind you of red puffy lips of a girl. The dripping bright red colour of the flower looks quite kissable; within the parting of this flower’s lips, you’ll see tiny yellow and white flowers that look adorable and interestingly different. To witness these mesmerizing natural beauties, you’ll should trip Panama or Colombia. Bet you won’t be ready to resist yourself from kissing these cuties! So act, and do plan a visit to any of those destinations to work out these rare flowers bloom!
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FOOD
WANT TO BE
Healthy and
THESE RECIPES ARE JUST WHAT YOU NEED
1
GREEN VEGGIE KEBAB
Due to the changing lifestyle and all kinds of diseases and infections prevailing around us, there is nothing better than home-made food. In such a situation, pondering over daily recipes becomes a headache. To help you out, we are sharing with you 5 best healthy and tasty recipes. These will be beneficial for you as well as your family's health. It will be something different from your daily meal. Also your whole family will like it. So let's dive in:
(HARA BHARA KEBAB)
I
f you feel like eating something out of the box every day, then you can try cooking harabhara kebab with roti or paratha. Green stuffed kebabs are prepared with spinach and peas. Through this, you can also include nutrition in your diet. Yes, a vegetable kebab made of many vegetables and spices is as tasty as it is healthy.
RECIPE: The main ingredients of this dish are potato, spinach, peas and green chillies. Now take water in a pan, add salt, sugar, spinach and peas. Cook them well. After that, drain the vegetables and keep them aside for some time to cool down. After that put them in a jar and add garlic, ginger, parsley, coriander powder, roasted cumin and coriander and grind all the ingredients together. Mix all these things well and add lemon juice to it. Now make smalltikkis from the prepared paste. Take oil in a pan and when the oil is hot, fry these tikkis till they turn golden in color from both the sides. Now serve them with roti or paratha.
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SPINACH MALAIKOFTA (PALAKMALAIKOFTA)
T
his is an evergreen recipe for the vegetarian people. You can make it in any season or on any occasion. If you are thinking of making tasty and healthy food then you can try Spinach MalaiKofta. Spinach rich in iron, potassium, calcium is very beneficial for health. Experts say that 250 grams of spinach contains 5 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein and 60 calories. Regular consumption of spinach can increase immunity power.
RECIPE: The main ingredients of this dish are spinach, cottage cheese, ginger, garlic, curd, cream and onion. To make this dish, firstly boil the spinach and prepare its puree. Then take a bowl and grate the paneer, add red chili, grated ginger, roasted cumin and salt to taste and mix. Now knead dough from this mixture to make small balls. Heat oil in a pan and fry these balls till they turn golden brown and crispy. After this, put them on a tissue paper, so that the extra oil can be soaked. After that, heat oil in another pan, add 5 grams of fenugreek seeds after adding 50 grams of onion and garlic and fry it till it becomes golden brown. Now add cumin powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder and mix well. Add the spinach puree to the spices and mix. Then whisk in 20 ml curd, So that there are no lumps in it. Mix salt according to taste. After the puree is cooked, add fried balls and cook on low heat. After cooking, add garam masala from the top and remove it from the gas and serve with roti.
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Fit 3
VEGETABLE OATS
FOOD
?
O
4
nce you make this dish, believe me that you will like it so much that you will like to eat it again and again. Actually, porridge is considered as good for health as it tastes delicious. It contains plenty of nutrients which help in lowering the cholesterol level in our body. If you think that oatmeal is for sick, this recipe will change your mind.
B
hindi is the favorite of most people. Perhaps you will be surprised to know that it increases our immunity power. 250 grams okra contains about 80 calories and 5 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. If you are bored with normal ladyfinger, then you can try bharwa lady finger.
RECIPE: The main ingredients of this dish are oatmeal, onion, capsicum, peas, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, beans and tomatoes. To make Vegetable Oatmeal, first wash the oats with water and soak it for 5 to 10 minutes. During that time, peel or chop all the vegetables (onion, capsicum, carrots, peas, cabbage, potatoes, beans, tomatoes). Now put oil or ghee in the cooker and heat it. Add cumin and add all the vegetables and mix them well. Then add turmeric, coriander and salt and mix. Now add oatmeal to it and keep it on gas for 2 to 3 whistles of pressure cooker. Your vegetable oats are ready.
MASALA BHINDI
5
RECIPE: The main ingredients of this dish are okra, onion and garlic. First cut the ladyfingers lengthwise. Now put turmeric, coriander, red chilli, garam masala, mango powder and salt on it. Now mix these pieces well with these spices. Now heat oil in a pan and add asafoetida, cumin, garlic and onion and fry till it turns brown. Now add the ladyfinger pieces soaked in the spices and fry in the same pan. And serve with hot rotis.
DAL DHOKLI RECIPE:
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his recipe made from arhar dal is very tasty. Arhar dal isrich in iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B and minerals. The dal served with roti and rice is very beneficial not only in terms of taste but also in terms of health. One bowl of dal contains about 53 calories, 1.2 grams of fat, 8 grams of carbs and 2.8 grams of protein. If you are looking to make a tasty and healthy dish in a short time, you can make dal dhokli at home.
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The main ingredients of this dish are arhar dal, wheat flour, salt, dry red chilli and garlic. To make Dal Dhokli, first take the dal and wash it thoroughly. Now put the dal in water and soak it for some time. After some time put the dal in the cooker and add turmeric, salt as well as water to it and keep it for boiling. Now take atta in a vessel, add salt and knead the dough. After some time take the dough and with the help of chakla and rolling pin make a big round roti. Now make small dhokli of round shape with the help of glass. After 2 whistles, open the lid of the cooker and put the dhokli slowly in the dal. After cooking for a while, press the dhokli by hand and check, if it is cooked, and then turn off the gas. Now after this, apply tadka with garlic, black pepper, cumin and hing. After this, pour ghee in Dal Dhokli and serve everyone.
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Career
How to Boost
YOUR KID'S
Confidence in this
LOCKDOWN PERIOD
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Career
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et some tactics to uplift your kid's confidence and interest in extracurricular activities then go through the below scrutinized details which will help you in implementing this with a fruitful result as well. Everybody knows that kids always want to play but this is the parent's duty to look after their activities like they are productive or not? You just put all those tasks in your kid's time table which will boost up his/her confidence and helps them in grabbing more day to day knowledge. The universe is facing a big pandemic nowadays. COVID-19 is one of the big pandemics which is spreading in all countries through which all the people are getting lockdown in their houses. People are staying inside their houses for a long time and nobody is able to go outside. In this period, children are getting bored. So that's why parents are seeking for the best engagement activities to keep their kids busy. Even schools also started online classes program in which all children are getting busy nowadays but apart from this, if parents are looking for something else which is productive and fruitful then they start to prepare videos of their children in which they can give a speech on this pandemic or other measures.
But apart from this, one of the most important things is confidence. How you boost their confidence? How would they feel confident when they go to their schools after a long time? First of all, you just give them some topics and ask them to write a story or essay on those particular topics. Secondly, you have to ask them to read that 2 or 3 times. After this, you just ask them to learn it. At last but not least you have to make a video while they dictate their topics. This may increase their confidence and also increase their learning power. Somewhere it may Parents must lead their memory sharp. make their kids punctual and bound them in so many activities like painting, arts, and crafts, write essays, debates, hurdle games, washing their own toys, fold small clothes, clean their room, and many more
Do they just teach their kids like what is COVID-19? What are the measures? What types of precautions should everyone take during these diseases?
Sometimes you may go for trending topics. Like now COVID-19 is such a trending topic about which your child must have an awareness or knowledge. So it's the best time to utilize and convert it into fruitful outcomes by making your children busy in learning new things. Through which, their confidence also boosts up and they can learn new every day. This may increases their knowledge also and they can perform better in every field.
Apart from this, you guys plan some hurdle games or physical activities , or exercises for your kids who h they can perform in the morning and stay healthy. It's very important to have a strong immune system in this period of COVID-19. It's a very difficult time which all people are going through. So just have patience and stay strong.
There are so many things which everyone should keep in mind to save themselves from this. But amid all these things, here we are going to discuss like how would we boost our kid's confidence in this lockdown period? It's very important to do something productive and utilize this free time either kids or parents. Everyone should use this time in the right way. So that nobody will feel a disconnect from their respective chores after this lockdown period. Parents or elder ones always take things seriously. They are doing their office works from home. They are busy with so many activities. But kid's don't know how to do? What to do? So parents have to make their time table in which they can give time to their studies, games, or sleeping. Parents must plan a productive schedule for their kids. Due to which kids get connected with their curriculum and interests. Parents must make their kids punctual and bound them in so many activities like painting, arts, and crafts, write essays, debates, hurdle games, washing their own toys, fold small clothes, clean their room, and many more.
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Career
Writing notes also helps in remembering things easily. These handwritten notes help in proper revision which leads to recollecting the crucial topics and it becomes easy to retain them for a long time.
Solve Previous Year Papers:
UGC NET PREPARATION TIPS TO CRACK EXAM IN FIRST ATTEMPT
U
UGC NET 2020 exam will be conducted in two sessions (Paper 1 & 2). PAPER 1- General Paper will contain questions on Teaching and Research Aptitude and this paper will common and mandatory for all aspirants. PAPER 2- This paper needs to be chosen by the candidate according to his/her postgraduation or a related subject.
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Time Management: Time management is the key to success in each aspect of any entrance exam.
Giving mock tests regularly helps in increasing time management and confidence building.
UGC NET exam is a gateway for entrance in the teaching profession. It determines the eligibility for the post of Assistant Professor or JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) in colleges or Indian Universities.
Know your Syllabus:
If you find any difficulty in solving questions do seek help from teachers or seniors.
Aspirants need to manage their time efficiently to solve all exam questions in the allotted time period. I will suggest that you should raise your question-solving speed to solve all the questions correctly from the exam.
GC NET Exam is a gateway for entrance in the teaching profession. Every year lakhs of students appear for the UGC NET Exam. So aspirants need to prepare hard to crack the exam in first attempt. Here are some important tips that need to follow to assure success in the UGC NET Exam.
Like every year this year also a number of students will appear for UGC NET 2020 exam. In this post we will be discussing some important UGC NET preparation tips on how to approach the exam in 2020, so all the aspirants of UGC NET 2020 must go through this article. It would help them to understand the approach they should follow while preparing for the UGC NET 2020 Exam.
Going through previous year papers will help in understanding the exam pattern better and also builds confidence. Along with this, solving previous year papers regularly will keep aspirants target-oriented and focused. But before going to attempt previous year papers go through each topic , prepare and understand every topic from the syllabus.
Prepare on Time:
Candidates are required to understand UGC NET Syllabus 2020 thoroughly and prepare each topic accordingly.
Refer Good Books:
If you are targeting to crack exam this year then you must start your UGC NET preparation well before time. Give enough time for preparation so that no syllabus is left unprepared. Start your preparation as much as Parents must possible at least you should make their kids give 3 to 6 months before the punctual and examination. bound them in so many activities like painting, arts, and crafts, write essays, debates, hurdle games, washing their own toys, fold small clothes, clean their room, and many more
One of the important steps in UGC NET preparation is identifying the best resources. Student often gets confused in selecting study material. I would suggest to the aspirants that refer to good books which are recommended by the experts. Plus go for the books specified by UGC that may help you clear your basics and logic.
Prepare Notes: Make a habit of taking out notes from the important topic during the preparation time.
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Stay Updated: Candidates should have complete knowledge about the subject they have chosen as their concerned paper II in UGC NET Exam. Keep updated yourself with recent news and notifications regarding the UGC NET exam.
Join Best Online Coaching: Self-study alongside UGC NET online coaching will work better for the UGC NET preparation because online coaching gives an advantage of networking with an enormous group of students to discuss doubts.