Friday, May 1, 2020 | Vol. 39, No. 18
Indo American News
May 1, 2020
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COMMUNITY
May 1, 2020
Antibody Testing as Employees Return
Houston: As people get ready to return to work, some companies are starting to use antibody tests to see which employees may have been exposed to the coronavirus. For many companies, the pandemic has created a new working environment that relies heavily on telecommuting and remote participation. But for those companies with traditional, brick and mortar workplaces, they want to ensure the spaces are safe. So they’re testing employees to see if they’ve already had COVID-19 and are presumably resistant to it. “Even if just one person will be able to have that understanding that they have immunities to this disease it’s worth it to us,” said Brian DeSpain, President of Houston-based Global O-Ring & Seal. At the Principle Health Systems lab in Clear Lake, a drive-up antibody test costs $75, with results usually available in a day. “They’re sitting in their car until they’re called, they have their blood drawn, and they’re out,” said James Dieter, CEO of Principle Health Systems. But there are questions about what having antibodies really means. Some experts believe that if a person tests positive for antibodies, they’re immune to COVID-19 going forward. But some wonder whether they’re truly protected against reinfection. “We believe if you have antibody resistance, you are safer than somebody without antibody resistance,” Dieter said. Something else to keep in mind is the type of antibody test you get. The tests at Principle Health Systems, so-called IGG tests, are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. But there are more than a hundred other antibody tests on the market that don’t have that approval, so it’s best to do your research before you take it. The results are said to be about 95% accurate, so there is some margin for error. Drive-up service will be available at Principle Health Systems location at 16840 Buccaneer Lane in Houston during regular business hours. A lot of companies are now selling quick blood tests that let people know whether they’ve developed antibodies to the COVID-19 virus. However, there is a concern in the medical community some people will use results from these antibody tests to make big decisions in their life, without first understanding what the results mean. “There’s a lot of confusion,” said Dr. David Persse, EMS Chief and Houston Fire Department Medial Director. Persse, without giving specific names, said he’s become frustrated with how some companies are marketing their antibody tests. “The salespeople, I’ve been disappointed with and I have argued pretty loudly with them. They are advertising them as if they are a test, as if somebody has the illness, that is not true, that is a falsehood. That is inaccurate and they need to stop doing that,” said Persse. Persse explained an antibody test, which is a blood test, not a nasal or throat swab, will simply tell a person if they have developed antibodies to the COVID-19 virus. “Antibody tests come in many different flavors and it really depends on the type of question that you’re asking,” said Dr. Pedro Pie-
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Houston Baby with Coronavirus Recovers after Nine Days in ICU Houston:A Houston-area infant has recovered from coronavirus after spending nine days at a local hospital. The baby’s treatment represents one of the few confirmed COVID-19 cases dealing with children in critical condition. The doctors at The University of Texas Health Science Center administered life-saving treatment to the 3-week-old baby, according to an April 22 report in the New England Journal of Medicine. The baby boy, born four weeks premature, was experiencing nasal congestion and rapid breathing and was taken to a Houston emergency room. Doctors transferred the baby to a pediatric intensive care unit, where doctors discovered the baby had low blood pressure, a high pulse, and hypothermia. Through a nasal swab, doctors tested the baby for COVID-19. X-rays on the child’s lungs also showed “partial collapse of the right upper lobe,” according to the report. Tests confirmed that the baby
had COVID-19. “We thought the child was sicker than the normal child we see. On top of what appeared to be COVID-19, the child also tested positive for the virus that causes the common cold,” said Dr. Alvaro Coronado Munoz, assistant professor of pediatric critical care medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. The baby was put on a five-day treatment of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. After nine days, UTHealth doctors discharged the baby without supplemental oxygen. “Although children are less likely than adults to have severe COVID-19, this case illustrates that it can occur and can be successfully managed with standard PICU protocols,” the author of the study wrote. A member of the baby’s 8-person household had experienced coronavirus-like symptoms, but no one, other than the baby, was ever tested, according to the report. - Click2Houston
dra, professor of pediatrics, molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Piedra said an antibody test also cannot determine a person’s level of immunity because not enough research has been done to determine what levels of antibodies are needed for protection or for how long that protection will last. Piedra said individuals should discuss any antibody test results with their doctor. The Texas Department of State Health Services also weighed in: Chemical Co. in Baytown “We encourage providers to use Looking for tests with an FDA Emergency Use Authorization because they come Chemical Engineer with a track record of data on reliCandidates should have an engineering ability. At this point, there’s only degree and some chemical plant experience one serology, or antibody, test with an EUA. For tests without that kind Great pay w/ benefits. EOE/AAP of authorization, we don’t have a Send resume to apply@chemicalsinc.com clear picture yet of their reliability. An important point is that serology Room Available in West Houston tests are used to show that someFor responsible female student or young professional. one has been infected in the past. Beautiful, furnished room with own refrig. Access to kitchen, tv room, washer dryer, free wifi, own parking, They can’t be used to diagnose utilities included. Asking $500/mo. Immediate availability current infections and don’t show Call or text 713-962-5555 that someone is capable of spreading a disease.” Persse, Piedra oLife Insurance and state health oLong-Term Care Insurance officials said oVariable and Fixed Annuities** if someone is oDisability Insurance* considering a oHealth Insurance* COVID-19 anFor More Information Contact Me tibody test, to only use well- Divyendu Singh, Ph.D. Services: known, reputa•Life Insurance Planning Financial Services Professional and ble labs, ask ex- Licensed Agent •College funding actly what type CA Insurance License # 0M30399 •Retirement Planning of results the •Estate Planning test will provide New York Life Insurance Company •Planning for Business owners and to discuss 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 1900 Houston TX 77027 Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC those results (member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency. with a doctor.-- Cell: 812-272-2911 *Product available through one or more carriers not affiliated with New York Life Insurance Office: 712-499-7638 Company, dependent on carrier authorization and product availability in your state or locality. Click2Houston dsingh06@ft.newyorklife.com
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COMMUNITY
May 1, 2020
Sewa Houston Chapter Distributes 30,000 Face Masks to First Responders
India’s Consul General in Houston, Aseem Mahajan (second from right), and Councilwoman Martha CastexTatum (fourth from right), and Sewa International President Gitesh Desai (first from right) were present when protective gear was distributed to San Jacinto Sheriff officials.
located in Katy, TX. Sewa International operates one of its eight COVID-19 helplines from Houston and provides non-medical advice and information to the people to address COVID-19 related issues.
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Houston: Sewa International’s Houston Chapter donated 30,000 N95, KN95 and 3ply masks and 20,000 ounces of hand sanitizer on Saturday, April 25 to first responders such as healthcare workers, police officers, fire fighters, and hospital staff in an invitation-only drive-through event as part of its COVID-19 relief efforts. The PPE distribution drive was from 11 am but vehicles started lining up from 9 am itself, stretching for more than half-a-mile long in two lanes by the time distribution started at 11 am, indicating the dire need of PPE’s in the Houston area. Dr Randeep Suneja was one of the doctors who acknowledged this effort: “Thanks to Sewa International for providing free masks and sanitizers to physicians in the Houston area including our practice. Sewa is doing an incredible job! Keep up the good work!” Amity Home Health, a Houston area home health agency was there too, and expressed their thanks to Sewa: “We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sewa International USA for their much needed distribution of masks and sanitizers to healthcare professionals in the Houston area. Kudos to your humanitarian efforts and tireless volunteers who helped make this project a reality. Thank you!” “Not all angels have wings. Thank you Sewa International,”
posted Health Choice Clinic folks on social media. “It is our mission to support people on the frontline in our fight against COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with personal protection gear (PPE) to stay safe. Our physicians, nurses, healthcare workers, fire fighters and police officers are putting their lives on the line to protect our country against the pandemic and we thank them,” said Sewa International Houston Chapter President Gitesh Desai. Councilman Edward Pollard and Councilwoman Martha CastexTatum addressing the media at the distribution venue “We distributed the protective gear to about 100 agencies including county officials and the Sheriff’s Department from the Houston area and received a tremendous response to and appreciation of the drive. About 20 volunteers and a few key donors made this event possible. We plan to continue this drive every week until the situation improves,” said Mr. Desai. India’s Consul General in Houston Aseem Mahajan, Houston City Council Members, Councilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum from District K, and Councilman Edward Pollard from District J were present during the drive and helped distribute masks. In another event, Sewa volunteers also distributed meals to Harris County’s Public Health Department’s Katy Testing Center
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COMMUNITY
May 1, 2020
5
Arya Samaj of Houston Goes Online, Providing Food for Needy Families Houston: In a swift move, Arya Samaj Greater Houston became an online organization as soon as the government directive of Stay Home, Work Safe became effective. Its Sunday Satsang and DAV Sanskriti School became online and Sandhya Prayer, Havan & Pravachan are also uploaded on its own YouTube channel for future review. The same applied to its weekday/ weekend Vedic classes on Sanskrit, Geeta, Satyarth-Prakash (Light of Truth), Yoga,Meditation and Spiritual Aspects of Agnihotra. DAV Montessori and Elementary School is
now teaching all its classes online, throughout the week. As has been the hallmark of Arya Samaj, to serve the community in need, it has gone into action to provide vegetarian food and grocery to the needy community members, preferably the seniors and vulnerable ones who are advised not to venture out into crowded grocery stores. Also, it is catered for those financially affected adversely. Open to everyone, first come first served. Every Sunday afternoon 12:00-1:30 pm, 3rd May onward. Drop in the Arya Samaj campus and pick a pack of food and gro-
cery items for free. All the applicable protocols related to the current pandemic will be strictly adhered to. Needless to say, the driver will enter into the entrance gate and follow directions, open its trunk while remaining inside, and one volunteer will put the food stuff in the trunk and close the cover. Then the car can be driven away. Note that we will endeavor to add 2-4 masks for every family in the food-grocery pack. Arya Samaj Greater Houston has lent full help and support for all activities of the Sewa International, including monetary con-
tribution, particularly to help the students away from their homes in the current unstable circumstances. As we enter into the ‘new normal’ phase of the current pandemic, Arya Samaj stands committed on the side of the community and will include additional activities and ventures to serve the community. We solicit all the help in kind and service from all. Please email community@ aryasamajhouston.org, or call Sanjay Jain at 832-598-5246. To stay tuned, please visit www. aryasamajhouston.org or call 281.752.0100.
to request all his fans and wellwishers and friends of the family
to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way.” The actor was on ICU support for a week in Mumbai’s Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, before breathing his last on April 30. Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and had then traveled to New York for treatment. He stayed there with his wife, actor Neetu Kapoor for almost a year and returned to Mumbai in September 2019. Only 67 and jolly as ever, he had arrived at a seductively productive second act in recent decades which made
fans and critics look up to him in an altogether different light. The turning point in the new innings may have been Rauf Lala, the bearded Muslim gang lord from Agneepath (2012) who kills without compunction. The veteran star’s menacing badassery charmed the critics and enraged fans as much as it inspired but his good-boy image endured. Years later, he followed up Rauf Lala with advocate Murad Ali, totally on the opposite end of the ‘Good Muslim-Bad Muslim’ divide. -- Indian Express
INDIA
Mumbai: First Irrfan Khan. And now, Rishi Kapoor. People often use the phrase ‘end of an era’ loosely, but in the case of Kapoor, who passed away on April 30 at a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged battle with cancer, it was more appropriate than usual. Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor passed away in Mumbai on Thursday, following a long battle with cancer. He was 67. Randhir Kapoor confirmed the news of Rishi’s demise to indianexpress.com. Randhir said, “He passed away just now.” The Kapoor family in a statement said, “Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. 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. In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like
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Unintended Gains Due to Covid-19 Lockdown New Delhi: It’s been 37 days since the Centre put in place a stringent national lockdown as part of efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has affected all ways of life, forcing the biggest lockdown in history with billions of people advised to stay indoors. But an unintended consequence of the lockdown has been a fall in the number of deaths reported across India as a result of fewer crimes and a huge reduction in road fatalities. While country-wide data is not available, accounts of police officers and hospital emergency workers in certain states indicate the trend. In Kerala, a top police officer confirmed that there has been a significant fall in the number of murders, suicides, unnatural deaths and road accidents in the state between March 25 and April 14, the period of the first phase of lockdown, as opposed to the same
Birds rule the desered roads in much of India.
period last year. “We saw a 40% fall in murder cases in the period between March 25 and April 14 this year as opposed to the same period last year. Similarly, there has been a 70% fall in rape cases and a 100% fall in cases of violence against women and children. Naturally, since there are fewer vehicles on the road right now, accidents have
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come down too,” said Karunakaran, deputy superintendent at the state crime records bureau in Thiruvananthapuram. According to the police, there were eight murders in the state in the period this year as opposed to 13 last year. The number of missing cases in the same period this year is 132 compared to 851 last year.
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COMMUNITY
May 1, 2020
BAPS Charities, Volunteers Coordinate Global Response to Covid-19 Houston: Nearly one million people in the US have been diagnosedwith the COVID-19 disease and over 50,000 have lost their lives –and the numbers continue to grow. Although it is a tryingtime for society, stories of communities and individuals coming together continue to inspire all. A global pandemic requires a global effort, and BAPS Charities has mobilized is volunteers throughout the world including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, New Zealand, Australia, and India. Through grassroot efforts across each one of these countries, BAPS Charities and its affiliated organizations have endeavored to support local healthcare workers, hospitals, police and fire departments, seniors, children, as well as the most vulnerable individuals Key pillars of BAPS Charities’ efforts include donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical facilities, first responders and essential workers, ensuringfood availability for those affected or at-risk, providing assistance for essential equipment needed at hospitals, as well as assistance to organizations dealing with mental health and well-being. From the initial assessment of the pandemic,volunteers found that PPE, surgical masks in particular, have been in shortage. ImmediatelyBAPS Charities mobilized volunteers to provide for5,000 N95 respiratory masks to some of
the hardest hit hospital systems in the New York / New Jersey area. Joseph Chirichella, President and CEO of Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Burlington County, New Jersey, called the donation a “wonderful gift at a critical time.” I Across the nation, BAPS Charities volunteers additionally recognized the need for PPE and other supplies amongst first responders such as police officers. In Massachusetts, BAPS Charities donated surgical masks, N95 masks, and hand sanitizer across the police departments of three cities –Lowell, Tyngsborough, and Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In the greater Atlanta area, BAPS Charities, in collaboration with BAPS Shayona, delivered 1,000 care packages to many senior citizens andfamilies. In addition, over 900 pounds of canned food were donated to the Gwinnett County School system to help provide
necessary daily nutrition to many students who are dependent on school meals. In Chicago, Illinois, over 400 food packages were donated across various hospitals including, Central DuPage Hospital, St. Alexius Medical Center, and Alexian Brother Medical Center. At St. Alexius Medical Center, Michelle Johnston RN described what the donation would mean to hospital staff, saying, “The donations we get as a staff team truly keeps us going. With every meal provided to us from the community, we are reminded that there are so many people who care about us.” In Chicago, Illinois, over 400 food packages were donated across various hospitals including, Central DuPage Hospital, St. Alexius Medica Center, and Alexian Brother Medical Center. At St. Alexius Medical Center, Michelle Johnston RN described what the
donation would mean to hospital staff, saying, “The donations we get as a staff team truly keeps us going. With every meal provided to us from the community, we are reminded that there are so many people who care about us.”In Los Angeles, California, 7,500 hot meals, packaged snacks and beverages we servedto frontline workers. Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor, notes: “The employees at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina are the heroes of this moment. I thank BAPS Charities for providing meals to the hospital staff.” In Dallas County, Texas, BAPS Charities donated $10,000 to the Parkland Hospital Foundation. David Lopez, Chief Operating Officer at Parkland Hospital expressed his appreciation:“We here at Parkland appreciate BAPS Charities and their donation... Donations of this nature go a long way to really al-
low ustomeet community needs!” In addition, assisting organizations who serve the mental health and well-being of their communities was a key beneficiary of BAPS Charities financial assistance. In the greater Dallas, Texas area, BAPS Charities donated $7,500 across local community support organizations including Irving Cares, Brighter Tomorrows, and the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Texas. Kyle Tyler, Chief Executive Officer of Irving Cares, shared his gratitude:“This donation to Irving Cares will help Irving residents who are directly impacted by COVID-19. Your support for the community that you live in has changed the lives of residents here locally but has also made an impact globally. I want to thank BAPS Charities for helping to improve the lives of all peoples around the globe!” Neelkanth Patel, President of BAPS Charities expressed his views on the relief efforts: “We sincerely commend and thank all of the volunteers who have spent countless hours in providing relief and support to the true heroes –the first responders and healthcare professionals fighting to save lives affected by COVID-19.Our volunteers have exemplified the spirit of service by being able to support these frontline heroes as needed. This is a global pandemic. We need everyone to do their part, because ultimately we are stronger together.”
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Indo-American News • Friday, may 1, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
COMMUNITY
May 1, 2020
7
Trump’s Temp Ban on Immigration Amid Covid-19 Targets Green Cards, Not H-1B
Washington DC: : The new executive order temporarily banning immigration into the US as a means to save American jobs during the COVID19 crisis will apply to the issuance of new green cards for 60 days. He said, “The temporary suspension will be in effect for 60 days, after which the need for any extension or modification will be evaluated by me and a group of people, based on economic conditions then,” at the White House briefing on Tuesday. Trump’s sudden announcement about suspension of immigration was felt just like a bolt out of the blue. It pressed the panic button for laid-off H1B visa holders in the US and H1B professionals stuck in lockdown across India. Many of those who are breathlessly waiting for India’s lifting of COVID19 travel restrictions hit Google and social media forums trying to know whether they are eligible for repatriation flights from India to USA. Indian nationals on H1B visa, whom the impact of COVID19 on theAmerican economy left unemployed, started pleading with the Indian Embassy in USA and the Ministry of External Affairs India for evacuation from the US,
under the fear of accruing unlawful visa overstay. Much to the relief of the H1B community, the US President excluded temporary visa holders from the grip of the upcoming executive order banning immigration for 60 days or more. An official close to the Trump administration said (on condition of anonymity) that foreign nationals seeking employment based green cards and relatives of green card holders will be in the loop of the temporary ban on immigration. US citizens of foreign origin
planning to bring their immediate family members to the country are, most probably, exempted from the immigration suspension, according to the official. Alongside H1B visa, other temporary US visas including E2 for a category of investors, B1 for business visit, B2 for foreign tourists, and L1 visas for employees of foreign companies are also immune to President Trump’s temporary ban on immigration amid the COVID19 pandemic. However, immigration analysts opine that the ‘Trump’ card
However, 200K H-1Bs to Lose Legal Status by June New York: Manasi Vasavada has less than three weeks left before she loses her legal right to be in the country. The dental practice in Passaic County, New Jersey, where Vasavada, 31, has worked for almost two years closed its doors in mid-March due to Covid-19. She has been on an unpaid leave of absence ever since. Vasavada is in the country on an H-1B visa, a temporary visa program designed for people with specialized skills. H-1B recipients can only remain in the country legally for 60 days without being paid. Her husband Nandan Buch, also a dentist, is in the country on an H-1B visa that expires in June. They have been watching the days tick by with growing fear. There may soon come a point when the couple can’t stay and can’t go: India, their home country, has closed its borders indefinitely. They also have a combined $520,000 in student loans from the advanced dental degrees they completed at US universities, which would be nearly impossible to pay back on the salaries they would earn in India. The stress has caused Buch, also 31, to start losing his hair. Neither of them is sleeping well. “Everything is really confusing and dark right now,” said Vasavada. “We don’t know where we will end up.” As many as 2.5 lakh guest workers seeking a green card in the US -- about 2 lakh of them on H-1B visas -- could lose their legal status by the end of June, according to Jeremy Neufeld, an immigration policy analyst with the Washington DC-based think tank Niskanen Center. Thousands more who are not seeking resident status may
also be forced to return home, he said. About three-quarters of H-1B visas go to people working in the technology industry, though the exact levels vary year by year. Tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs in the last two months, but workers on visas are vulnerable in ways native-born workers aren’t. H-1B visas, for instance, are tied to a specific location and employer who commits to paying the recipient a minimum salary. Furloughing recipients, reducing their wages, and in some cases allowing them to work from home violates visa requirements. H-1B workers who are terminated have 60-days to find another job, transfer to a different visa or leave the country. Even if they don’t lose their jobs, workers can find themselves in a dilemma if they cases allowing them to work from home violates visa requirements. The administration has taken a consistently hard-line stance on immigration and foreign-born workers. The number of nonimmigrant visas issued in 2019 declined for the fourth consecutive year, to 8.7 million from 10.9 million in 2015, according to the State Department. Last month, the department closed embassies and consulate operations with little guidance to those who risk falling into illegal status. Inperson services at US Citizenship and Immigration Services, a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, have been suspended since March 18 and won’t resume until June 4 at the earliest, a 78-day gap in service.. The companies facing the hardest decisions, though, are those reduc-
ing staff in response to the pandemic. Some are choosing to furlough US-born workers and fire foreign employees whose visas require them to be paid. Others are choosing to keep H1B workers on staff to maintain their legal status, while firing US workers. There’s risk in either approach, because employers who treat workers differently based on their immigration status expose themselves to potential discrimination lawsuits, according to immigration and employment lawyer Rebecca Bernhard, partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. For some workers, a stable future in the US suddenly seems distant. Shawn Noronha, a 23-year-old Australian living in San Francisco, was let go from his job at a fintech startup, in January. He found a new position with an enterprise software startup willing to sponsor his visa. But before he could get to an Australian consulate to update his paperwork Covid-19 hit.
may flip over in the current volatile situation. Trump’s supporters of stringent immigration policies said that President could have taken this opportunity to cut the number of foreign workers on H2B visa for seasonal jobs in the US. They called the temporary suspension of immigration ineffective and insubstantial, as all visa processing services have been suspended for weeks. Besides, the temporary ban on issuance of green cards will only increase the wait time for green card applicants by 60 days or more. The US Tech Workers, an antiimmigration body advocating for Americans’ rights to dignified employment, described Trump’s temporary ban on immigration as a do-nothing immigration moratorium.
They interpreted it in other words, “Feel free to come into America & take these American jobs so long as you will work for cheaper & remain loyal to the employer. Don’t worry about the 60 days temporary green card suspension. That’ll be lifted in no time & won’t affect you.” According to New York Times, Trump softened his call for temporary suspension of immigration for guest visa programs under the pressure exerted by business groups from different industries where H1B and H2B workers are employed. Notably, there are Indian American CEOs and business honchos in Trump’s Great American Economy Revival Industry Groups that he recently formed to make the US economy overcome the COVID19 impact.. -- Indian Eagle
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8
ENTERTAINMENT
May 1, 2020
‘Hundred’ Review: Lara Dutta and Rinku Rajguru Hit it Out of the Park By Shubhra Gupta Cast: Lara Dutta, Rinku Rajguru, Parmeet Sethi, Sudhanshu Pandey, Karan Wahi, Rajeev Siddhartha, Makrand Deshpande Directors: Ruchi Narain, Ashutosh Shah, Tahir Shabbir Rating: 2.5 stars Sam aka Saumya (Dutta) is a female cop. The kind who is struggling with an us-guys-know-best workspace, an insecure spouse (also a cop), and a benignly patriarchal boss determined never to let her do what she clearly wants to do: be out there, smash the bad guys, and save the good guys. Nethra (Rajguru) is your average young woman. The kind who, like a million others, is struggling to survive, but with a buoyancy of spirit that makes you want to root for her. None of the men in her life—jobless father, useless boyfriend, a frail grandpa and a little brother—spark any joy. And then she gets to know she has only three months and a bit to live.
No spoilers here: the title gives us the number of days Nethra has left on this earth, and takes us through eight episodes of What Nethra Did. Hold on, though, she’s not alone. A chance encounter with Sam, who sees in this desperate young woman a chance to pull herself up the ladder, changes everything. And it becomes What Sam And Nethra Do. The Sam-Nethra combination is your odd couple trope (two men,
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a man and a woman, two women) twinning in unexpected, interesting ways. We’ve seen this happen in the movies since forever. But in the nascent Indian web series space, it’s still unexplored. On this score, the makers of Hundred have hit a home run: there really is nothing in common between Sam and Nethra; they inhabit vastly different worlds; they speak different lingos, but together they make a winning team. On the can-you-believe-whatyou’re-seeing score, though, Hundred is mostly a series of eye-rolls. With the support of what seems like a sole teammate who is on her side, Sam glides through such a range of bad guys—from Columbian envoys who turn out to be smugglers, to organ traders, to corrupt politicians, drug busts, to narcotic rings, to hawala cases and cricket setting and Dubai-based dons, and so on—that you wonder
if she ever catches a break. But at every step, she is up against Anshuman-the-insufferable-boss and Pravin-the-unhelpful-husband and inimical colleagues. These portions are plain tedious and repetitive: you’ve told us once, we’ve got it. There are also parts which appear to be unintentionally funny. At one point, there’s mention of a ‘miaow miaow’ (slang for a popular drug) case, which is solved in a jiffy: are we meant to take Nethra’s cop station and her colleagues, especially her husband who keeps hankering after a case which will make him a media darling, seriously? Or is the whole thing a giant joke? Not really, right, because crooked doctors harvesting human bodies for healthy organs cannot be a matter of jest. That’s where the show falters when it doesn’t quite know just how to do what it set out to do: to write complex female (and male) characters with grit, and cunning and empathy, and characters and situations which are believable. Also, the aspect is mostly flat, except one or two scenes in which Sam is to be seen standing in front of a glass window, and you can see the buildings beyond, in the distance. Where does the third dimension go in these shows? It’s nice to see Parmeet Sethi in a full-fledged role, even if it needs to be much more rounded: why is he so dismissive of Sam? Do they have history? Is he a serial misog-
ynist? It may help if Sam were to have a female colleague, but she is the lone woman in this boys-only zone. Sudhanshu Pandey gets a nice edge to his fragile-ego-greeneyed husband. Karan Wahi’s Haryanvi rapster Maddy is a hoot, even if it’s hard to buy his psst-psst intimate connection with Sam. Rajeev Siddhartha is a dodgy fellow and has more of a good thing going with his senior partner, the twinkly-eyed money changer played by Makrand Deshpande (who is clearly having a blast), than in the awkward romantic liaison with Nethra, who never does what she is expected to. With the clock ticking off her precious hundred days, can you blame her? And good to see Dutta make a meal of her Sam, who changes from ‘not knowing how to game the system straight cop’, to keeping a useful string on the side (good-looking male informers are to be put to use), lying to her spouse, and not being nice—being actively awful, actually—to Nethra. There’s enough here, all-round, for the second season. Can we have a little more of Rohini Hattangadi, who plays a modernma-in-law, dancer of Zumba, and carefree driver of cars? And more credible, less eye-roll situations? Strong women dealing with bad stuff can make for good stories: bring on season two -- Indian Express
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EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Finding the Cure ... Collaboratively
May 1, 2020
Why is New York Times Biased vs. India? By Bhamy V Shenoy
Last week, at a video conference convened by the WHO, leaders from the Americas, West Asia, Europe, and Africa agreed to “speed up the development of safe and effective drugs to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19”. India, the US, Russia, and China stayed away from the meet. Even so, the conference on April 24 showcased rare global solidarity in the four-monthlong fight against the coronavirus. Hearteningly, there was also consensus that a vaccine against the virus should be seen as “a global public good” and should be “distributed in all parts of the world”. In the second week of January, Chinese scientists developed and shared a full genetic sequence of the coronavirus. This has spurred more than 100 vaccine development projects in different parts of the world, including India. Last week, clinical trials were approved in the UK, China, and Germany. These are remarkable developments, given that the virus was unknown in most parts of the world four months ago. However, vaccines require several rounds of clinical trials and regulatory scrutiny before they are made available to the public. They have to be first tested in laboratories, then on animals, before being tested on a small group of people. Safety protocols in most parts of the world demand the number of people exposed to the vaccine in clinical trials is gradually increased before a vaccine is approved. But the virulence of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to calls for expediting timelines, even deviations from protocols. For example, a paper published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases on March 31 suggested “a human challenge study with fewer participants than a conventional trial”. It recommended injecting volunteers with a potential vaccine and then exposing them to the virus. The paper’s authors, prominent bioethicists, acknowledged the ethical questions such trials would raise. However, they argued that “with proper trial design and processes, the net risk for participants can remain low”. The US Food and Drugs Administration has said that “it will be flexible about regulatory procedures”. There need to be more conversations amongst scientists, physicians, bioethicists and regulators before an accelerated paradigm to approve an anti-COVID-19 vaccine is put in place. There are also concerns about how much the vaccine will cost, and whether pharma companies will put humanitarian concerns before profits. During the HINI pandemic in 2009, there was criticism that the wealthier countries had cornered the lion’s share of the vaccines. It is reassuring, therefore, that the leaders attending last week’s video conference made a commitment to “ensure equal access to vaccines”. -- Indian Express
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Soon after the lockdown in Kashmir in August 2019, the New York Times published an article, “Kashmir in Cage” by Mohammed Haniff, a Pakistani novelist. On April 21, NYT published an article, “In India, a Pandemic of Prejudice and Repression”, by India’s much celebrated journalist Siddhartha Varadarajan in the background of the Covid-19 related lockdown. Both were critical of India and I had no problem with either of the articles. In fact, I applaud NYT for publishing such critical articles. For over 50 years, I have been an admirer of NYT and consider it to be a great asset to the US. In the early 70s, when NYT was not readily available, I used to drive 20 miles to get Sunday copies of NYT. However when NYT shows consistent bias, ardent readers should not keep quiet. I sent my feedbacks promptly to NYT. In the case of the former I requested NYT to give another side of the abrogation of article 370. In the case of the latter I expressed my appreciation for publishing a critical article by Varadarajan. However, I questioned the objectivity of NYT in publishing only select articles which are usually critical of India. NYT should be complimented for publishing an article which highlights the assault on democracy and secular values in India under the current BJP rule. It is through such bold writing that the rulers, to whichever party they may belong to, can be forced to uphold democratic values. Varadarajan has correctly pointed out that there are fundamentalists in all religions. In India’s case, he was referring mostly to Hindus and Muslims. The media should expose superstitions and wrong practices by both. In the case of India’s current lockdown, it is difficult to argue which pandemic is worse- coronavirus or the religious prejudice pandemic? It is unfortunate that when the government has been reasonably successful in implementing a total lockdown to contain the coronavi-
rus pandemic in a country of 1.3 billion, priests and mullahs of both these religious leaders have been violating them. The most blatant violation has been by the Muslim members of Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi. According to a report (published on April 18), 4,291 of the 14,378 coronavirus cases in the country were found to be linked to the religious event. This has undoubtedly received the maximum publicity and some with misinformation. However, there have been several such violations, though of lesser magnitude by Hindu religious organizations and one even by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adithyanath. It is to the credit of the Indian media that when Hindu leaders have violated social distancing they have carried that news also. Still there is a feeling that the media should have been equally or more critical (after all Hindus are the majority and as such should not be overly critical of minorities) of such violations by some authors like Varadarajan. In a democracy one should welcome such different opinions. Unfortunately when criticism is usually one sided (more critical of Hindu fundamentalists than Muslim fundamentalists), and those vocal journalists and columnists fail to take an objective view, it ends up in dividing the society. Unfortunately in India today, media houses and journalists are perceived as either for or against Modi. It is this huge credibility deficit that has failed the country. India does not have an Indian Walter Cronkite. Of course there are exceptions like Former Supreme Court Justice Katju who is critical of any one and every one who in his thinking
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are violators of laws. Recently he published an article (A Nazi method is being used to vilify Tablighi Jamaat, others) critical of those who are spreading lies against Tablighi Jamaat. Varadarajan’s passionate appeal not to pander to religious prejudices would have been more helpful if only he had pointed out why moderate Muslim leaders do not criticize the extreme fundamentalism on the part of Muslims. Muslim leaders like Taslim Nasrin are exceptions. In 2009 in the background of the Bali massacre, Mumbai carnage, London bombings, I wrote an article, “Moderate Islam Needs to Condemn Jihadism Unequivocally” urging the followers of moderate Islam to condemn jihadism in no uncertain terms. I felt that any criticism by non-Muslim like myself will have no impact. Most Indian Muslims are moderates and they do not like the practices of their fundamentalist leaders. The Muslim community also has highly educated opinion makers. Why are such moderate Muslim leaders not raising their objection to a group like Tablighi Jamaat just like Hindu seculars against Hindu fundamentalists? Hindu seculars file public interest litigation against Hindu fundamentalists. If Indian journalists and opinion makers direct their criticism towards the fundamentalist leaders of both the religious groups, there could be a new beginning for better understanding between these two communities. It would be an effective anti-dote to the pandemic of religious prejudice. In fact, the New York Times has also been committing the same mistake as Varadarajan. How many articles have been published in NY Times by Muslim leaders from India who are critical of their mullahs? But NYT has been prompt in publishing articles critical of Hindu leaders by Hindu Journalists. It is time for NYT to do serious introspection. We need a paper like NYT to continue to increase its credibility in this age of ever increasing fake news.
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ENTERTAINMENT/BUSINESS
May 1, 2020
Google Pays Tribute to Actor Irrfan Khan for ‘Karwaan of Magical Performances’
Bollywood lost one of its most iconic actors today as Irrfan Khan breathed his last. Having battled cancer since the last few years, the actor was admitted yesterday to a hospital in Mumbai for colon infection. Remembering the acting stalwart, Google India paid a remarkable tribute on Twitter, “A karwaan of magical performances left behind. To the man whose range made us feel a range of emotions all at once.” Irrfan Khan was laid to rest at Versova kabrastan with his family and close friends in attendance. “Irrfan was buried at the Versova kabrastan in Mumbai at 3pm this
afternoon soon after the news of his passing away was announced. In presence were his family, close relatives and friends. Everyone paid their final respects and mourned the loss of his passing away. We pray for his peace and we hope he’s in a better place today. He was strong in his fight, and we all have to be strong too in this loss,” his family shared in an official statement. Vishal Bharadwaj, who has previously worked with the actor, was one of the first to arrive to pay his last respects. Kapil Sharma and Mika Singh were also snapped by the paparazzi. Irrfan Khan is survived by his wife Sutapa and sons
Babil and Ayan. His ‘Piku’ co-star Deepika took to her Instagram handle to remember the actor. She shared a black screen and captioned it with a broken heart emoji. ‘Piku’ also featured Amitabh Bachchan in a pivotal role. Amitabh too tweeted about the news. He wrote, ‘’T 3516 - .. 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.” -- Times of India
New York Life & Cigna Launch $100 MM ‘Brave of Heart Fund’ for Healthcare Workers New York: New York Life today announced that it has partnered with Cigna to launch, through their foundations, the Brave of Heart Fund. The Fund will provide financial and emotional support to the families of healthcare workers and volunteers nationwide – including doctors, nurses, technicians, orderlies, cafeteria workers, custodians, and others – who lose their lives to COVID-19. The Fund is launching with initial contributions of $25 million each from the New York Life Foundation and Cigna Foundation. To further support the Fund, the New York Life Foundation will also provide a dollar-for-dollar match on the first $25 million in individual donations received, and Cigna has committed to provide behavioral and emotional health support to the families to help them cope with grief. The Fund has the potential to grow well beyond $100 million through additional individual and corporate donations committed in the coming days and weeks. Please read a letter about the Fund from the CEOs of New York Life and Cigna [here]. “In tough times, true heroes are revealed. The heroes today are not only the courageous and selfless frontline healthcare workers and volunteers who, without hesitation and without question, have put themselves in harm’s way to help those who desperately need it, but also their families who are living with the anxiety and fear of what
may happen to their loved ones in the days ahead,” said Ted Mathas, Chairman and CEO of New York Life Insurance Company. “The Brave of Heart Fund is our way to honor these heroes by doing what New York Life and Cigna do best – supporting these individuals and their families with financial and emotional support, and being there when we are needed most.” “As we’ve seen in the past, trying times bring out the best in us, as individuals and communities. Our nation’s healthcare workers and volunteers are embodying this every day, as they answer the call
of duty with bravery and selflessness,” said David M. Cordani, Cigna President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to partner with New York Life to support the families of these American heroes who give so much while treating others. Through the Brave of Heart Fund, we will bring greater peace of mind to these families, by helping to relieve the emotional and financial burdens they will face in the aftermath of this health crisis.” The Fund is being created on an accelerated basis with charitable partner E4E Relief and will
be ready to issue its first grants in May 2020 due to the urgency of this evolving crisis. The Fund will provide eligible families with initial charitable grants of $15,000 that seek to provide peace of mind by covering their immediate expenses and getting health and wellness services to them quickly. Eligible families of fallen healthcare workers will also be able to receive up to an additional $60,000 to aid their recovery. Grants will be made subject to a determination of need at the discretion of E4E Relief.
Indo-American News • Friday, may 1, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
All contributions made to the Fund will go to providing monetary grants to the loved ones of eligible healthcare workers and volunteers who lose their lives battling COVID-19, including spouses, domestic partners, children and parents. The Fund expects to begin taking grant applications in May. New York Life invites any individuals and institutions who would like to join the effort to visit www. braveofheartfund.com to learn more and make a donation. The Fund will be administered through E4E Relief, a subsidiary of the public charity Foundation For The Carolinas, working in partnership with New York Life and Cigna. E4E Relief has nearly 20 years of experience in helping compassionate companies respond to large and small crises, such as natural disasters and family emergencies, allowing employers to quickly care for their most important resources – their people. In the past five years, E4E Relief has received more than $200 million in donations and awarded more than $90 million in charitable grants, supporting relief efforts for 4 million people worldwide. The New York Life Foundation has already pledged more than $5 million to support local and national nonprofits in coronavirus-related efforts, including the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund, CDC Foundation, First Book, and Business Roundtable’s Project HOPE
SUDOKU/RECIPE Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
Send us the correct answer before May 6, 2020. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036. Please send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published
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Sharmila Moharir
May 1, 2020
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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Besan da Halwa
(GRAM FLOUR PUDDING) Besan da halwa (gram flour pudding) is as Punjabi as you can get as this is one of the favorite sweets eaten during the cold winter months and especially during the festivals. The aroma of chickpea flour roasting in ghee fills the whole house and this is an important indication that the chef knows what he or she are doing: if the besan is left undercooked, it will give a raw, gritty taste. Besan (roasted gram flour or garbanzo flour or chickpea flour) is a flour that is commonly used all over India to make pakoras or fried fritters, a common Indian comfort food. Besan is also used to make kadhi, boondi (besan fried drops), laddus (sweet balls), besan ki barfi (sweetened flat cake) or poode (salty pancakes). After wheat, besan is the second most often used flour in Indian cuisine, though it is used only in a few dishes which are made sweet. Besan is high in carbohydrates and somewhat high in protein and has no gluten, which makes it not suitable for those trying to lose weight (especially when it is fried). Besan is rich in folate, iron, magnesium and phosphorous as well as thiamin and vitamin B6. Besides these attributes, besan also makes an excellent scrub and mask for skin care and can also help in fighting seasonal allergies during the cold months. Both besan and sooji (semolina) need a lot more water than atta (wheat flour) when being prepared as the grains soak it up. This is why, if you prefer a thinner halwa, just increase the water by one cup. Ingredients: • 1 cup besan (coarse gram flour) • 1 cup peessi hui chinni (powdered sugar) • 1 cup tael (vegetable oil) or ghee (clarified butter) • 3 cup pani (water) • ½ tsp illachi (cardamom) powder • Mewah (dried fruit) to taste: 1 cup badam (almond) and piste (pistachios) pieces or blanched Directions: 1. To make the chasni (syrup), bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Pour in the sugar and illachi powder, stirring till they are completely dissolved. Keep the mixture to the side for later use.
split almonds
2. Pour the oil or ghee in a wok or kadai and warm for a few minutes over low heat. 3. Pour the besan in and stir continuously for about 10 minutes over medium heat so that it does not start to burn. 4. Add the almonds and pistachios, mix well and continue to stir over low heat to roast the mixture and it is turns slightly brown. 5. Slowly pour in the syrup into the besan, stirring continuously as you don’t want to have the besan to get too brown as it may give a burnt smell. Don’t brown over high heat as the besan. 6. When the oil or ghee starts to
percolate up along the edges and to the top then turn the heat off. 7. When the halwa cools down it will thicken. If you want it thinner, Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India (since renamed Faisalabad) before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her earlynineties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share her delectable Punjabi recipes for future genera-
MAMA’S TIP O F THE
WEEK TO CALM YOUR N E RVES, TRY SOME HOT SU ANF (FENNEL) C Dried saunf (fenn HAI el seeds)
are often used as mouth freshener a digestive and Indian sweet dishafter a meal but are also often used es in cooking w he n m ix ed in th Fennel seeds ha many benefits raengdough of some puddings. gestion and stomve ing from lieving conpowerful phytonutach gas to asthma and diabetes.reTh ri ey contain en ts and antioxidants In addition, fennel especial a hot drink instead seeds have a calming effect wly anethole. hen take of te a or coffee which co which can stimul ntain lots of caffeninas at e yo ur bo e dy your kidneys wor and, as a diuretic , can make let the mixture sitk. Simply boil some fennel seeds in to add sugar or m for a few minutes before drinking water, then ilk. it. No need
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May 1, 2020
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