The Indian Weekender, 07 May 2021

07 MAY2021 • VOL 13 ISSUE 08 

www.iwk.co.nz /indianweekender /indianweekender 

The biggest Indian community 

award night is back 2021 

For more information read inside 

Kiwi-Indian 

community rallies 

to send medical 

help to Covid 

ravaged India 

इधर-उधर जाने से 

बचना! 

कॉल करो- 

Why ordinary 

citizens 

cannot, while 

cricketers can, 

return on charter 

flight from India? 

Contact: Rachna Dave 

Financial Adviser 

0800RACHNA 

or 

02102290344 

rachna.dave@0800rachna.co.nz

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The Indian Weekender Friday, May 7, 2021 

NEW ZEALAND 3 

Govt calls an enquiry to relook at 

SANDEEP SINGH 

The government has asked the 

Productivity Commission to inquire 

into immigration settings and 

recommend what changes are required 

to meet the future needs of New Zealand 

economy and society. 

The office of the Productivity Commission 

confirmed this in a press release this morning. 

“The Government has requested the 

Productivity Commission Te Komihana What 

Hua o Aoteroa to inquire into what workingage 

immigration policy settings would best 

facilitate New Zealand’s long-term economic 

growth and promote the wellbeing of New 

Zealanders,” the press release said. 

Earlier Productivity Commission had 

received a term of reference on April 12 from 

Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Finance 

Grant Robertson providing a broad context 

and the guidelines of what to enquire and what 

to exclude from the enquiry around general 

immigration settings. 

“The disruption caused by COVID-19 has 

provided us a rare and unique opportunity 

to focus an inquiry on an area that makes a 

significant contribution to New Zealand’s 

labour market, culture and society – 

immigration settings. 

"This inquiry will enable New Zealand to 

strategically optimise its immigration settings 

by taking a system-wide view, including the 

impact of immigration on the labour market, 

housing and associated infrastructure, and the 

This inquiry will 

enable New Zealand 

to strategically optimise 

its immigration settings 

by taking a systemwide 

view, including the 

impact of immigration 

on the labour market, 

housing and associated 

infrastructure, and the 

natural environment, 

natural environment,” Robertson said. 

Acknowledging the government’s request, 

New Zealand’s immigration settings 

Productivity Commission’s Chair Ganesh Nana 

said, “We are excited to receive this challenging 

assignment and look forward to reviewing, 

assessing, and recommending migration 

settings for New Zealand.” 

The New Zealand Productivity Commission 

is an independent Crown entity established in 

April 2011 and completes in-depth inquiries 

on topics selected by the government, carries 

out productivity-related research, and promotes 

understanding of productivity issues. 

Among the range of issues that the government 

has asked the Productivity Commission to 

enquire, some of the key issues are the impact 

of migration on labour demand and wages in 

particular areas or sectors, the effect of access 

to migrant labour on firms’ incentives to make 

productivity-enhancing adjustments (e.g., 

adopting technological solutions or other forms 

of capital investment). 

Also on the perceptions that keep on emerging 

around immigration debate in the country that 

any “crowding out” of domestic workers by 

migrant workers will disproportionately affect 

New Zealanders who lack work experience and 

qualifications, and any large increases in net 

migration (and hence rapid population growth) 

impacts on housing markets and associated 

infrastructure, and on social cohesion. 

It is important to note that in the lead up to 

the 2017 elections, there was an intense public 

debate around the increasing numbers of net 

immigration, with the Labour Party calling 

for a radical purge of number of immigrants 

(20-30,000) – a promise that could not be 

implemented in the first term of the government 

largely because of the outcry of the employers 

and businesses about the shortage of skilled, 

and willing to work, workforce in the country. 

The global Coronavirus pandemic and 

the ensuing closed borders have given the 

government much-needed space and political 

capital to have a completely fresh look at the 

country’s immigration settings. 

The Commission has been requested to 

provide a final report to referring Ministers 

(Minister of Finance & Minister of Immigration) 

by April 30 2022. 

Dinesh Budhthoki is a highly qualified and 

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New Zealand. He is currently working for 

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the business,” he adds. 

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4 NEW ZEALAND 

Kiwi-Indian 

community 

rallies to 

send medical 

help to Covid 

ravaged India 

Friday, May 7, 2021 

The Indian Weekender 

SANDEEP SINGH 

New Zealand’s Indian community has 

rallied together to organise and send 

urgent medical relief in the form of 

much required Oxygen Concentrator to India. 

In a rare display of quick thinking and swift 

action, more than 15 diaspora organisations 

have come together under the leadership of 

the Indian High Commissioner to NZ Muktesh 

Pardeshi and the able guidance on the ground of 

Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon 

to generate $150,000 and despatch the first 

container of 72 Oxygen Concentrator to India. 

The relief consignment was despatched from 

Auckland airport on Tuesday, May 4, and had 

reached New Delhi on Thursday, May 6, where 

it would be handed over to India’s Red Cross 

Society, which would deploy it further as per 

medical emergency. 

India is facing an unprecedented second wave 

of Covid-19, which has witnessed a dramatic 

rise in the rate of Covid infection, overhauling 

the country’s entire health system with record 

deaths due to acute shortage of Oxygen supply. 

Acknowledging the tremendous support of 

the Kiwi-Indian community Mr Pardeshi said, 

“As we are struggling with an unprecedented 

health situation in India, it is very heartening 

that the Indian community in NZ has come 

forward to donate 72 oxygen concentrators. 

This is very much needed there. 

The consignment which has been sent to 

Indian Red Cross will be utilised as per priority 

requirements in the country. I am grateful to 

all community leaders for this noble gesture. 

I believe efforts are underway to put together 

another shipment soon.” 

A detailed list of all diaspora organisations 

who have demonstrated tremendous agility 

and generosity to act expeditiously and arrange 

oxygen concentrators would be released later. 

It is also important to acknowledge the 

generous efforts of members of the Kiwi-Indian 

community who have been trying to send help 

to India during this unprecedented medical 

crisis through other channels and avenues. 

“Learning English gave me 

confidence to make friends.” 

Your family member might have pre-paid for English lessons 

when they applied for their visa to New Zealand. 

Learning English will help your family member build confidence for their daily life. 

They will be able to understand what happening in New Zealand and how it affects 

them. 

Ask the Tertiary Education Commission to check if your family member has money 

to use, and how to enrol for English lessons. 

Call 0800 601 301 or visit tec.govt.nz/pre-paid-English-lessons


NEW ZEALAND 5 

RAGAS OF DEVI: A domestic 

violence survivor’s tribute to Shakti NZ 

A 

former survivor of domestic 

violence is taking recourse to 

her passion for Indian classical 

music to give back and support Shakti 

NZ – the leading non-profit organisation - 

serving women in the migrant and refugee 

communities. 

The musical fundraising event titled 

Ragas of Devi is scheduled to be held 

on Saturday, May 29, at Mt. Eden War 

Memorial Hall (from 6 pm to 9.pm). 

Devi Sobhana is excited to bring 

together this event along with a group of 

other classical Indian music artists, and 

in the process, highlight the exemplary 

work done by Shakti NZ in ensuring 

that migrant women experiencing 

distress in their personal lives could once 

again live a life of dignity, free from 

|fear and violence. 

Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Devi 

said, “Shakti has helped me immensely in 

picking up the shattered pieces of my life 

and starting all over again with self-respect 

and dignity.” 

“Shakti deserves much more recognition 

than what it gets now, and I am really 

proud to be able to put together this event 

and showcase the world the great work 

they do in supporting women in distress in 

our migrant communities,” Devi said. 

Ragas of Devi aims to portray 

four important emotional stages in 

every woman’s life through music, 

art and dance. 

The emotions are carefree, love and 

affection, determination and struggles, and 

hope, Devi told the Indian Weekender. 

With the backdrop of a live band, the 

event is going to have singers covering 

Hindustani classical, Carnatic, Sufi 

(Persian form), Qawwali (Persian as well), 

Punjabi, Western Classical, Western pop 

and Bollywood. 

Along with the music, there will also 

be several dance performances to take 

viewers on a vivid journey of emotions. 

The tickets are priced at $20 and 

available at Eventbrite and all proceeds 

from the event will go towards supporting 

Shakti NZ. 

Shakti is an organisation that stands 

strongly for supporting vulnerable women 

and children who were victims of domestic 

violence/ abuse. 

About Devi and why she 

wanted to do this event 

Devi is an established professional 

singer with roots in Carnatic (south 

Indian form) music, who was cut off for 

several years from her passion when going 

through an incredibly difficult phase in her 

personal life. 

Though she was raised in a very 

progressive family, she had to call Shakti 

for help at one point in her life and had 

to temporarily move to one of their safe 

houses with her son. 

It was during her short stay in that 

safe house when she realised two 

important things. 

First, there were often women in 

migrant communities who were in a far 

less fortunate situation than hers (she had 

a job and was confident to be able to pick 

up her life quickly) with no job or financial 

backup. 

She realised that there were many 

women in the community who just do not 

reach out for help when they are going 

through abuse in their personal lives. 

Many of them stop chasing their dreams 

just because they think that that is no more 

a priority in life. 

Devi wanted to be an inspiration to all 

of them and encourage them to chase their 

dreams. 

The other thing that Devi had first 

handily witnessed was the impact of 

reassuring support of organisations like 

Shakti in the lives of migrant women 

enduring domestic violence and abuse. 

Even with the limited resources, the Shakti 

safe house has provided her with peace and 

a feeling of safety. 

She had made a promise to herself 

that very day that she would be doing 

something meaningful in her own way to 

pay tribute to Shakti NZ. 

The tickets for the event can be bought 

online at https://www.eventbrite. 

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6 NEW ZEALAND 

Marathi 

community 

celebrates 

Maharashtra 

Day with gusto Young 

performers present a dance. 



DEV NADKARNI 

The Auckland Marathi Association 

(AMAI), the city’s Marathi-speaking 

diaspora, celebrated Maharashtra Din, 

the 61st foundation day of the western Indian 

state of Maharashtra on May 1. 

Maharashtra Din commemorates the day 

in 1960 when the two neighbouring states of 

Maharashtra and Gujarat came into being, 

carved out of the pre-Indian independence 

realm of Bombay Presidency. 

On a more sombre note, the day also 

commemorates the martyrdom of 106 

revolutionaries who had to lay their lives for 

the formation of Maharashtra state along with 

Mumbai under the Samyukt Maharashtra 

Movement which took place between 

1956-1960. 

Some 250 enthusiastic Maharashtrians 

congregated at the Freemans Bay Community 

Centre to celebrate the day with a string of 

excellent cultural performances followed by a 

Maharashtrian repast of Misal pav, jilebi and 

endless cups of hot chai. 

A poignant moment from the dance drama based on Mahabharat. 

The proceedings began by observing a twominute 

silence in the memory of all those who 

have lost their lives in the ongoing second wave 

of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. 

This was followed by the auspicious lighting 

of the ceremonial lamp by Uday Gogtay and 

Sandhya Gogtay, the founding members of this 

organisation who were also the chief guests for 

the evening. 

The performances ranged from classical 

Kathak and Bharatnatyam to fusion Bollywood 

and folk dance, all performed by the member 

of all ages from tiny tots to professionally 

trained accomplished artistes of the Marathi 

community. 

Stand out performances included the Kathak 

and Bharatnatyam dances and the exceptional 

dance drama choreographed and performed by 

the talented Swarali Pande that encapsulated 

poignant scenes from the timeless Mahabharat. 

Winners of the Sports Day organized by 

AMAI in April 2021 were awarded their 

trophies and prizes by the chief guests. 

AMAI President Vishal Patil, informed the 

attendees about various initiatives taken by the 

association like the Covid Relief Fund for India 

An impromptu dance where everyone participated 

and the Ronald MacDonald Charities food 

serving to be taken up by the volunteers of the 

association in the upcoming month of June. 

The evening ended with a famous 

Maharashtrian delicacy “Misal Paav” 

being served to all the people present at the 

celebration. 

Several of the attendees participated in 

an impromptu street dance with great gusto, 

having missed on the opportunity at similar 

events in 2020 because of the pandemic ravaged 

year that saw no community events because of 

successive lockdowns. 

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NEW ZEALAND 7 

‘Mehndi Moko’ to mark silver jubilee 

celebrations of Hindu Council of NZ 

IWK BUREAU 

Hindu Council of New Zealand Inc. is planning to host 

several programs around the country to mark the 

completion of 25 years of service to the community in 

New Zealand. 

To acknowledge the contribution of volunteers who had 

pioneered and helped to grow the organisation, Hindu Council 

has chosen some selected programs from the previous years. 

These programs not only showcase the achievements but will 

also bring good memories and volunteers together. 

Mehndi Moko – a unique fusion of two art forms Mehndi and Ta 

Moko – will be one of the key attractions at such 

celebratory events. 

Notably, the first Mehndi Moko workshop was organised 

in 2010 at Te Papaiouru Marae, Ohinemutu Village, during 

Rotorua Holi Festival. That was possibly the very first time 

in New Zealand that art forms (Mehndi and Ta 

Moko) of two cultures were brought together 

and given birth to a new phrase – 

Mehndi Moko. 

Speaking to the Indian Weekender, 

Vinod Kumar, President of Hindu 

Council of New Zealand, said, “We 

are very excited in celebrating the 

Silver Jubilee and showcasing our 

work to the New Zealand public.” 

“This year’s events will bring together 

the volunteers who have worked over the last 

25 years”, he added. 

“If you have 

never stayed at a 

Marae, or would like to 

come and stay again, now is a 

perfect time! And not to worry, 

all accommodation, food, and 

resources needed for the 

workshops will be taken 

care of." 

Some selected programmes include Rangoli at the Marae, 

Hindu Māori Hui, Spirituality & Mental Health, Tree Planting, 

Health for Humanity Yogathon, Raksha Bandhan – Festival 

of Universal Fellowship & Veneration of Womanhood, Hindu 

Media workshop, to name a few. 

“The selected programmes are unique to Aotearoa New 

Zealand, and we are happy to repeat them due to popular 

demand”, said Dr Guna Magesan, General Secretary of Hindu 

Council of New Zealand and overall coordinator of Silver 

Jubilee celebrations. 

All these programs will be coordinated by different office 

bearers of the Hindu Council of New Zealand. 

The inaugural event will take place in the Apumoana Marae, 

Rotorua, on Saturday, May 15, in the form of a workshop 

on Rangoli (Ancient Indian Arts) and Mehndi Moko. 

Unique Marae Stay to Bring Hindu 

and Māori Communities Together 

Hindu Youth New Zealand (HYNZ) and New Zealand Hindu 

Students Forum (NZHSF) will be organising a unique 

Marae Stay at Apumoana Marae, Rotorua. 

The Marae Stay will commence from the evening of Friday, 

May 14 till midday Sunday, May 26, 2021, located near the 

Redwood forest in Rotorua. 

Since the early 2000’s, the Hindu Council of New Zealand 

used to annually host these Marae Stays with the welcome 

of the Māori community and the blessings of Kaumatua 

and Hindu elders. 

These Marae stays served as an opportunity for the 

Hindu community in New Zealand to connect with Tangata 

Whenua (people of the land), experience staying at a traditional 

marae and learn about the numerous similarities between 

the Hindu and Māori communities, be it socially, culturally, 

or spiritually. 

This year the youth divisions of the Hindu Council of New 

Zealand will be organising the Marae Stay to facilitate the 

meeting of like-minded individuals/families and give an 

opportunity for participants to witness the coming together of 

Hindu and Māori culture. 

The family-friendly Marae Stay will be packed with interactive 

and hands-on sessions, visits to local tourist/nature sites, and fun 

activities suitable for all age groups. 

“If you have never stayed at a Marae, or would like to come 

and stay again, now is a perfect time! And not to worry, all 

accommodation, food, and resources needed for the workshops 

will be taken care of. 

Come with your friends and family and enjoy an awesome 

weekend away,” Murali Krishna Magesan, President, Hindu 

Youth New Zealand, said.

8 NEW ZEALAND 

Why ordinary 

citizens cannot, 

while cricketers 

can, return on 

charter flight 

from India? 



SANDEEP SINGH 

The government once again exhibits an 

elitist approach on border management 

and immigration by allowing charter 

flights bringing Kiwi-cricketers whereas sitting 

quiet on similar request for charter flights to 

bring ordinary Kiwi citizens back home. 

In recent past the government has taken 

many such decisions where super rich people 

with deep pockets have been prioritised to enter 

New Zealand over ordinary citizens, residents 

and temporary visa holders. 

The government’s decision to allow private 

charter flight for cricketers playing in India’s 

cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) for 

returning home whereas not allowing such 

privately operated charter flights to bring 

ordinary Kiwi citizens exhibits government’s 

overall elitist approach on border management 

and immigration. 

A spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has told the Indian 

Weekender that the government was not 

arranging the charter flight bringing Kiwi 

cricketers back home. 

The spokesperson was responding to the 

Indian Weekender’s query following the 

announcement of such charter flight this 

morning to bring Kiwi cricketers. 

“We acknowledge how difficult the situation 

in India is right now, and the unfolding health 

crisis they are dealing with. 

“We understand that a number of New 

Zealand cricket players who are in India have 

arranged a private charter flight out of India and 

have secured spaces in MIQ for their arrival in 

New Zealand using the usual processes. This 

charter flight is not being arranged by the New 

Zealand government. Any questions about 

the cricketers’ travel arrangements are best 

answered by New Zealand Cricket. 

“They are following the standard 

requirements of anyone entering New Zealand 

from overseas. They have not requested or 

received assistance from the New Zealand 

Government,” the spokesperson said. 

“How can cricketers get MIQ space available 

just in one day while ordinary citizens not only 

stranded in Covid-ravaged India, but anywhere 

else in the world cannot afford to find place for 

months,” asks an exasperated husband who was 

on a mission to “fetch his partner” speaking on 

the condition of anonymity. 

Similarly Kiwi-Indian citizens who are 

currently stranded in India and desperately 

trying to return home are finding it appalling 

that the government could allow charter flights 

for cricketers who were not on national service 

and playing for personal gains in India’s cash 

rich IPL while denying them their fundamental 

right to return home. 

Govt “has not arranged,” but 

has approved charter flights 

for cricketers asks many 

exasperated stranded citizens. 

The government not arranged but certainly 

approved the request for a private charter flight, 

when simultaneously not approving similar 

such requests by New Zealand based private 

travel & tour operator to run such charter flight 

to bring home ordinary Kiwi citizens 

currently stranded in India. 

One such travel operator 

Sehion Travels who have 

previously operated two such 

repatriation charter flights in 

a safe and Covid appropriate 

manner had his request for 

running a charter flight pending 

with the government since the end 

of February. 

“We have been trying to get approval from 

the government to operate a direct charter flight 

right from the month of January to when the 

flight ban was announced on April 28,” Sijo 

Abraham of Sehion Travels said. 

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get 

approval from the government despite a proven 

track record of bringing travellers home in a 

Covid safe manner,” Sijo said. 

“Currently we are in close touch with around 

150 Kiwis stranded in India who are desperate 

to travel back home. Many of them have health 

"Currently 

we are in close 

touch with around 150 

Kiwis stranded in India 

who are desperate to travel 

back home. Many of them 

have health conditions and 

they need certainty to 

return home" 

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conditions and they need certainty 

to return home,” Sijo said. 

The Indian Weekender had sent 

enquiries to the office of Minister of 

Transport (under which department of 

Civil Aviation operates) about more information 

on charter flights from India, one organised by 

cricketers and which is approved, and the one 

requested by private travel operators to bring 

ordinary citizens home and had yet not been 

approved. 

A response was awaited at the time of 

publishing of this story. 

For now there is despondency within 

ordinary Kiwis stranded in India from the 

government’s selected decision on allowing 

charter flights for cricketers, and denying them 

the right to return home. 

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NEW ZEALAND 9 

Workplace issues? 

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To help protect workers, New Zealand 

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So now if you have a workplace issue, there’s 

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To get in touch with the Early Resolution 

team, visit employment.govt.nz/earlyresolution 

Employment New Zealand is part of the 

Ministry of Business, Innovation and 

Employment (MBIE). 

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2021 

Wednesday, June 16, 2021 

Friday, August 14, 2020 

Friday, 

CORDIS, 

August 

Auckland 

CORDIS, Auckland 14, 2020 

CORDIS, Auckland 

Friday, August 14, 2020 

CORDIS, Auckland 

Supported by 

Supported by 

Supported by

Editorial 

2020 lockdown 

revealed India’s 

creative and 

altruistic side 

Over half of all Indians surveyed in a recent poll in India say that they have become 

conscious of the environment -- including growing plants, become more prudent 

on purchases, and conserving energy -- as a direct result of the pandemic and the 

subsequent lockdown. 

‘The Little Things We Do’, the latest research from Godrej Group, analysed the daily 

routines, habits and gestures adopted by citizens during the 10 months of lockdown last 

year to make their life more tolerable. 

When the country is reeling under the mutated virus and lockdown in many states, the 

research is a reminder of the duties of responsible citizens and organisations to support 

the country, even though the second-wave lockdown doesn’t seem as exciting to many. It 

revealed 44 per cent have participated in community activities such as volunteering and 

helping the less privileged, during the same period. 

According to the data, confinement and other restrictions have also liberated India’s 

creative side: more than one-in-five Indians (22.9 per cent) are now more likely to cook, 

paint, sketch, or pursue other creative hobbies to keep themselves happy. Nearly a quarter 

(23.2 per cent) found solace reading or listening to music during periods of lockdown. 

These findings correspond to another research, by SEMrush that highlighted between 

February and March in 2020 searches such as “how to bake a cake”, rose by a staggering 

238.5 per cent. 

In April, the percentage increase in the number of times these keywords were searched 

grew by 81 per cent and a further 190 per cent the following month. 

Other insights revealed through the research include: 

More than half donated ‘little things’ such as sanitisers, food packets, old clothes, 

blankets, medical devices, etc. to those in need; 40 per cent made financial donations to 

the underprivileged. 

Men and women seemed to have different priorities when it came to making decision 

on ‘little things’, as almost 31 per cent of male respondents preferred to spend time with 

their family to keep themselves content during the lockdown as compared to almost 19 

per female respondents. 

At the same time, 32.8 per cent women saw cooking as a source of comfort and happiness 

compared to just 12 per cent of men. More men switched on the TV for comfort. 

Social media also revealed itself as a source of happiness during lockdown period, as 

many remained connected with friends and family through social media; watched funny 

memes and videos, and attended Instagram Live concerts; explored their creative side 

by making content for social media; and learnt new skills such as cooking, painting, etc. 

through DIY videos created by influencers. 

Confinement also made happen other benefits to Indian households. 36 per cent per cent 

of respondents claimed to now spend more time with their families because of the absence 

of long commutes, while almost 3 in 10 now take regular breaks throughout the day to 

de-stress and maintain work-life balance. 

Nineteen per cent claim that they are more efficient at work -- completing tasks within 

allotted working hours -- because of the absence of distractions. 

Also, 16 per cent believe that working from home has helped to improve their time 

management skills. 

Tanya Dubash, Executive Director and Chief Brand Officer, Godrej Group, described 

the research as a unique insight into resilience, altruism and capacity of our citizens to 

adapt to, in many instances, extremely challenging circumstances. 

“Our research reveals the little things and daily routines that can make a huge difference 

to people’s well-being. 

The situation of the pandemic has really highlighted the often-overlooked role which 

rituals play in our overall health and well-being,” she said. 

It also reveals the positive side of such trying circumstances, with long-standing routines 

being reassessed - 36.2 per cent of respondents claim to have quit unhealthy habits, while 

a staggering 58.2 per cent are now engaged in activities which support their mental and 

physical fitness such as yoga, walking or meditation. 

Thought of the week 

“If you are working on something exciting that 

you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. 

The vision pulls you.” —Steve Jobs 

Indian Weekender : Volume 13 Issue 08 

Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited 

Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz 

Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz 

Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz 

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Editor at Large: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz 

Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher 

is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication 

Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent 

the views of the team at the Indian Weekender 

Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland. 

Printed at Horton Media, Auckland 

7 May – 13 May 2021 

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu 

On-and-off 

rain and 

drizzle 

22° 

15° 

On-and-off 

rain and 

drizzle 

19° 

13° 

Clouds 

and 

sun 

19° 

14° 

Clouds 

and 

sun 

20° 

14° 

Clouds 

and 

showers 

This week in New Zealand’s history 

7 May 1846 

Devastating landslide at Lake Taupō 

A 

20° 

14° 

Copyright 2020. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. 

A few 

morning 

showers 

21° 

15° 

A few 

morning 

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26° 

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devastating landslide obliterated the Ngāti Tūwharetoa village of Te Rapa on the south-west 

shore of Lake Taupō. Sixty people were killed, including the paramount chief Mananui Te 

Heuheu Tūkino II. This remains New Zealand’s highest death toll from a landslide. 


Henry Sewell becomes the country’s first premier 

Henry Sewell took office as colonial secretary - as early premiers were called - on 7 May 

1856. He had been asked by Governor Thomas Gore Browne to form the country’s first 

official ‘responsible’ government. Sewell held the position for just 14 days before being replaced 

by his provincialist rival William Fox, whose ministry lasted just over a week. 


New Zealand Railways Magazine launched 

The New Zealand Railways Magazine was published monthly for 14 years, with the final 

issue appearing in June 1940. Based on British and American railway company magazines, 

it was launched as a journal for the Railways Department’s major customers and 18,000 staff. 

9 May 1907 

First School Journal published 

New Zealand pupils were for the first time able to read a schoolbook published in their own 

country. 


New Zealand celebrates Victory in Europe 

Germany formally surrendered on 7 May, New Zealand time, but acting Prime Minister 

Walter Nash insisted that celebrations wait until after British Prime Minister Winston 

Churchill officially announced peace at 1 a.m. on 9 May, New Zealand time. 


NZ's first woman barrister and solicitor appointed 

Born into a prominent Dunedin Jewish family, Ethel Benjamin excelled at Otago Girls’ High 

School, where she passed the university junior scholarship examination in 1892. 


All-white All Blacks leave for South Africa 

Despite protests, the controversial rugby tour went ahead. The issue of sporting ties with 

South Africa would eventually split the country in 1981.

The Indian Weekender Friday, May 7, 2021 FIJI 13 

Covid-19: Fiji extends flight cancellations as 

it braces for case surge in second outbreak 

Fiji’s government has 

extended cancellations of all 

repatriation flights for another week as 

the country prepares for a surge in Covid-19 

cases following a second outbreak of the highly 

infectious Indian variant. 

All repatriation flights to Fiji on Fiji Airways, 

including those from New Zealand, were 

cancelled on April 26. They were set to resume 

on May 2, but that date has been pushed back to 

May 9. As of Sunday, Fiji has 49 active cases, of 

which 16 are border cases, 31 locally transmitted 

and two cases still under investigation. Fiji’s 

permanent secretary for health, Dr James Fong, 

announced no confirmed cases on Sunday – the 

first time since the second outbreak began on 

April 17. 

He said that was no reason to celebrate and 

said Fijians should prepare for a surge in cases. 

“We are certain that there will be more 

cases that will develop. Worryingly that an 

unconfirmed case of the virus has already 

developed into a highly contagious disease,” 

Fong said in his daily press briefing. 

“Our biggest fear right now is that someone 

with symptoms has not reported to the screening 

clinic or called 158. This virus arrives in waves, 

a lull can signal a surge so let’s not get one day 

of no cases fool anyone to thinking that this 

Transmission chain more widespread: Dr Fong 

The chain of transmission 

of the second wave of 

COVID-19 in Fiji is more 

widespread and the variant is more 

transmissible. 

Permanent Secretary for Health, 

Dr James Fong, stresses that the risks 

are greater, and the health ministry’s 

response must be more decisive. 

Dr Fong says many think this 

containment effort will play out on a 

relatively similar timeline at that of 

last year, however, he adds that Fiji 

is not up against an identical enemy 

this time around. 

“My teams are ready for a 

containment strategy that lasts 

months, at a minimum. Every Fijian 

must be ready as well. Good habits 

— such as mask-wearing, covering 

coughs and sneezes, staying home 

when sick, proper handwashing, 

physical distancing, keeping careFIJI 

on, and limiting movement — 

are not temporary or emergency 

measures. They will be with us for 

the foreseeable future. Learn them 

storm is over.” 

Fijian authorities have identified the virus 

as the double mutant India variant, which the 

World Health Organisation has designated a 

“variant of interest” because it could be more 

transmissible and evade vaccine immunity. 

Fijian national Jone Seru, who came to New 

Zealand for a medical procedure, was supposed 

to return home just days before the first cases – 

a soldier and a hotel worker – were identified at 

a managed quarantine facility on April 17 and 

18. Fiji's authorities went into high alert and put 

Nadi and Lautoka in lockdown first. A 56-hour 

lockdown in Suva and Nausori areas followed 

on the weekend, as more cases were confirmed 

outside the quarantine facility. 

A funeral, sevens rugby tournament and 

well, and practice them all. The rest 

of the world has embraced a new way 

of doing things, a new and safer way 

of living — so must Fiji.” 

Dr Fong says Fijians should use 

this time to COVID-proof their 

lives, places of work, and public 

spaces as much as possible as this 

will save lives today, and it will keep 

people safe. 

a clothes factory have all been identified as 

super-spreader events and locations that may 

increase Covid-19 numbers in the country. 

Seru said he was looking forward to 

going back home but understood why flight 

cancellations were necessary. 

“The situation in Fiji is pretty dire right now, 

no-one could have predicted a second wave,” 

he said. 

“I want to go home, but I feel safer in New 

Zealand to be honest, the numbers are getting 

out of hand with the cases popping up.” 

Seru said he’d been tracking the situation in 

Fiji through social media and his family. 

He was saddened by the laxity of Fijians in 

adhering to lockdown restrictions and also the 

government’s decision to put Suva-Nausori 

She says we are fighting the 

virus, not the people 

The couple who returned to 

Fiji from India on 10th April and had 

tested positive for COVID-19 are 

still in isolation. 

This has been confirmed by 

Health Ministry's Head of Health 

Protection Doctor Aalisha Sahukhan 

who says that so far the only people 

that have been released are the three 

in a hard lockdown, with no shops open and 

government emergency food packs activated. 

“No supermarkets or food shops were open, 

and the announcement of the lockdown came 

30 minutes before it came into place. I don’t 

believe that’s fair on anyone, Covid or not 

people still have to eat. 

“Like everyone else, I would really like to see 

Fiji beat the virus again, but it takes everyone’s 

effort in following lockdown rules to do it, just 

like New Zealand.” 

The Fiji Airways website stated the status 

of future flights would be determined later, in 

line with Fiji government updates. Dedicated 

international freight flights will still continue. 

Fiji’s second wave of Covid-19 began on 

April 17 after two Fijian nationals returning 

from India came into contact with a soldier at a 

managed quarantine facility. Lautoka and Nadi 

in the western division were immediately put 

into a 14-day lockdown. 

The central division, including the capital 

Suva, went into a two-week lockdown on 

April 26 as cases were found in Cunningham 

and Makoi. Containment areas have been 

established in Lami, Suva and Nausori zones 

in central, and Nadi and Lautoka in the west, 

with free movement between zones strictly 

prohibited. 

Seven patients recover from COVID-19 

Seven of our active COVID-19 

cases have recovered. 

Head of Health Protection, 

Dr Aalisha Sahukhan, says they 

now have 44 active cases currently 

admitted at isolation units. Dr 

Sahukhan says she will reveal more 

details today. 

“I will have more details for you 

about how many border quarantine 

cases and locally transmitted cases 

are in isolation now. So far Fiji 

has had 121 cases in total with 75 

recoveries and two deaths since 

our first case detected on March 

19th 2020.” 

Dr Sahukhan says so far 

56,266 COVID-19 tests have 

been conducted. 

Meanwhile, the Ra cases are still 

under investigation to determine the 

source of transmission. 

Couple who returned to Fiji from India 

and had tested positive for COVID-19 

still in isolation: Dr Sahukhan 

recovered cases but the couple is still 

not discharged. The soldier who was 

case 73 had contracted the virus from 

this couple. Doctor Sahukhan says 

they will not be revealing any other 

information about the recovered 

patients as the last thing they want is 

for the communities to wait for them 

and victimise them even further. 

She stressed that we are fighting 

the virus and not the people. 

Intensive Care Unit cases, like the one we now have at Lautoka 

Hospital, may be a red flag for widespread transmission: Dr Fong 

Lautoka Hospital is now a 

tightly contained COVID care 

facility, with more than 400 

patients, doctors, nurses, and other 

staff effectively quarantined within 

the hospital until the Health Ministry 

can determine who else may or may 

not have had contact with the 53-year 

patient who had tested for COVID. 

Doctor Fong says from a statistical 

standpoint, Intensive Care Unit 

cases, like the one we now have at 

Lautoka Hospital, maybe a red flag 

for widespread transmission. 

He also says that it tells us that 

there are likely many more cases of 

the virus out there. 

Doctor Fong says they have 

dreaded a worst-case scenario such 

as this since the day of our first case 

M 

y teams are ready for a containment strategy 

that lasts months, at a minimum. Every Fijian 

must be ready as well. Good habits — such as maskwearing, 

covering coughs and sneezes, staying 

home when sick, proper handwashing, physical 

distancing, keeping careFIJI on, and limiting 

movement — are not temporary or emergency 

measures 

in March of last year. He says those 

months of planning have informed 

an immediate whole-of-government 

course of action. 

He says to prevent the hospital 

from becoming ground-zero for a 

wider outbreak, the members of 

the disciplined forces have locked 

down Lautoka Hospital in a matter 

of hours. 

Some staff who have left the 

hospital have been called back in. 

RFMF personnel and members of 

the Police have ring-fenced the entire 

hospital and will strictly manage who 

is allowed onto the premises. 

The Lautoka Hospital will be 

closed to the public, all medical 

services will be re-routed to a 

network of back-up hospitals in 

Nadi, Ba, and Sigatoka, as well as the 

Punjas and Kamikami health centres 

in Lautoka. 

He says the borders of the 

containment areas are open to those 

travelling for medical emergencies, 

so this can already be facilitated. 

Doctor Fong says given they 

expect more cases, and more severe 

cases, sections within the Lautoka 

Hospital are being converted into 

intensive care units which will house 

additional beds and ventilators. 

The staff of Lautoka Hospital will 

be accommodated and work within 

the hospital while contact tracing 

continues. 

The staffing capacity in Lautoka 

Hospital was already stretched due to 

the quarantine of the close contacts 

of the two doctors. 

He says those who are working 

will operate on high-alert, fullyequipped 

in the proper personal 

protective equipment. 

They will be screened regularly 

and tested often. 

Doctor Fong says they are going 

to provide the staff with any and all 

support that they need. 

He says they will provide food, 

supplies, bedding, and whatever 

they require. 

The Permanent Secretary also 

says there is going to be a lot more 

swabbing around Lautoka.

14 

INDIA 

Friday, May 7, 2021 The Indian Weekender 

What is the India Covid 

variant and will vaccines work? 

A coronavirus variant identified in India is being 

investigated by scientists across the world. However, it 

is not yet known how far it has spread or whether it is 

driving the deadly second wave of Covid in India itself. 

What is the India variant? 

Viruses mutate all the time, producing different versions or variants 

of themselves. Most of these mutations are insignificant - and 

some may even make the virus less dangerous - but others can 

make it more contagious and harder to vaccinate against. This variant 

- officially known as B.1.617 - was first detected in India in October. 

How far has it spread? 

Sample testing is not widespread enough across India to determine how far 

or quickly the variant is spreading. It was detected in 220 out of 361 Covid 

samples collected between January and March in the western Indian state of 

Maharashtra. 

Meanwhile, it has been spotted in at least 21 countries, according to the 

GISAID global database. International travel appears to have brought the 

variant to the UK, where 103 cases have been identified since 22 February. 

Most travellers from India have now been banned from coming to the UK. 

And Public Health England has listed the India variant as one of several 

"variants under investigation" but does not so far consider it serious enough to 

be classified as a "variant of concern". 

What are the Brazil, South Africa and UK variants? 

Is it more infectious or dangerous? 

Scientists do not yet know whether this variant is more infectious or resistant 

to vaccines. Dr Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University, 

says one of its mutations is similar to those seen in variants identified in South 

Africa and Brazil. 

And this mutation may help the virus evade antibodies in the immune 

system that can fight coronavirus based on experience from prior infection or 

a vaccine. But what appears to be more worrying at the moment is a variant 

identified in the UK, which is dominant in Britain and has spread to more than 

50 countries. 

"I doubt whether the Indian variant is more infectious than 

the UK variant - and we must not panic," Dr Kamil says. 

Why is so little known about it? 

Much of the data around the India variant is incomplete, scientists say, 

with very few samples being shared - 298 in India and 656 worldwide, 

compared with more than 384,000 sequences of the UK variant. 

And after the first recorded cases in India, fewer than 400 cases 

of the variant have been detected worldwide, Dr Kamil says. 

Is it driving the second wave in India? 

India has been reporting about 200,000 Covid cases daily since 

15 April - well beyond its peak of 93,000 cases a day last year. 

Deaths too have been rising. 

India's high population and density is a perfect incubator for this virus to 

experiment with mutations," says Ravi Gupta, a professor of clinical 

microbiology at the University of Cambridge. However, the wave of cases 

in India could have been caused by large gatherings, and lack of preventive 

measures such as mask-wearing or social distancing. 

• Why second Covid wave is devastating India 

Dr Jeffrey Barrett, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, says it is possible 

there could also be a cause-and-effect relationship with the new variant, but 

there is still a lack of evidence. 

He points out that the India variant has been around since late last year: "If it 

is driving the wave in India it has taken several months to get to this point which 

would suggest it's probably less transmissible than the Kent B117 variant." 

Will vaccines still work? 

Scientists believe existing vaccines will help control the variant when it 

comes to preventing severe disease. Some variants will inevitably escape 

the current vaccines, according to a paper published in Nature by Prof Gupta 

and his fellow researchers. 

As a result, changes to vaccine design will be needed to make them more 

effective. However, the vaccinations now available are still likely to slow 

down the spread of the disease. 

"For most people, these vaccines can mean the difference between little to 

no disease and ending up in the hospital with a risk of dying," says Dr Kamil. 

"Please take the first vaccine you are offered. Do not make the mistake of 

hesitating and waiting for an ideal vaccine." 

INDIA COVID: 

Opposition calls for 

full national lockdown 

India's main opposition party 

has called for a full national 

lockdown, shortly after the 

country passed more than 20 million 

Covid-19 infections. 

There has been a "virtual collapse 

of health services" and a lockdown 

is needed to "break the chain", a 

spokesman for the Congress party 

said. The prime minister is resisting 

the move due to the economic impact. 

India added more than 355,000 

cases, down from more than 400,000 

daily infections on 30 April. 

Cases are "slowing down", the 

government said, but testing numbers 

have also dipped meaning the true 

caseload could be far higher. 

"We are now forced - there is no 

option - [we] will have to resort to 

a national lockdown to break the 

chain, to restore some order in the 

health services," Pawan Khera, 

a spokesman for the opposition 

Congress party said. 

Rahul Gandhi, a senior Congress 

leader, said there was no other way 

to stop the spread of the virus. 

Calls for a second national 

lockdown have also come from 

business leaders, international health 

experts and other senior politicians. 

Members of India's Covid-19 

taskforce, which advises the central 

government, are "pushing hard" for 

a two-week lockdown, The Indian 

Express reported. 

We are now forced - 

there is no option - 

[we] will have to resort 

to a national lockdown 

to break the chain, to 

restore some order in 

the health services 

Dr Anthony Fauci, America's 

top public health expert, described 

the situation as "extremely 

serious" and said a nationwide 

lockdown was needed alongside a 

massive vaccination drive and the 

construction of makeshift hospitals. 

The decision to impose restrictions 

in India is made by individual 

state authorities rather than the 

central government. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 

said that states should only consider 

restrictions as "a last option". 

But many states have 

still introduced restrictions. 

The northern state of Bihar is the 

latest to have announced a full 

lockdown while the 

capital, Delhi, and 

the financial hub, 

Mumbai, are 

also under 

restrictions. 

Prime 

Minister 

M o d i 

was heavily 

criticised 

last year 

for imposing 

a nationwide lockdown with less 

than four hours' notice. It caused 

a humanitarian crisis as tens of 

thousands of migrant workers were 

left without work and forced to 

walk hundreds of kilometres to their 

home villages. 

The lockdown also saw India's 

economic output fall by a record 

24% between April and June 2020 

compared to the same period a 

year earlier, and the government 

has said another national lockdown 

would have dire consequences for 

the economy. 

India's second wave has been 

fuelled by lax safety protocols 

and massive public festivals and 

election rallies. 

It has overwhelmed its hospitals 

and delays in testing, diagnosis and 

treatment - as well as a shortage of 

critical care beds and crucial drugs - 

have resulted in a spike in deaths. 

The country has so far reported 

more than 222,000 deaths due to the 

virus. But experts say India's Covid 

death toll is vastly under-reported. 

There have been very long lines 

at crematoriums, mass funeral pyres 

and cities running out of space to 

bury or cremate the dead. 

Are infections actually 

slowing down? 

India's cases have 

risen over the past 

week, but 

at a slower 

rate than 

in previous 

weeks. 

And daily 

cases have 

fallen in Delhi, 

Uttar Pradesh 

and Maharashtra which are all 

hotspots of the crisis. Erratic testing, 

however, makes it hard to gauge the 

significance of these numbers. 

Insufficient testing has 

proved to be another 

issue. 

Health officials said there was 

"cautious hope" of some respite from 

the second wave. 

But Lav Agarwal, joint secretary 

of the health ministry, said 

progress needed to be sustained by 

"containment measures at district 

and state level". 

Experts have also said other 

hotspots are likely to emerge in 

the coming weeks as the pandemic 

moves through the country. 

Meanwhile, an oxygen shortage 

has shown no signs of abating and 

people in several hotspot cities, 

including Delhi, are struggling for 

treatment. 

Is India's vaccination 

drive helping? 

A sluggish vaccination campaign 

has compounded the crisis. 

Since January, India has 

administered more than 157 million 

vaccine doses which ranks third in 

the world after China and the United 

States. But just over 10% of India's 

1.4 billion people have had one dose 

and only about 2% have received 

both doses. 

Despite being the world's biggest 

producer of vaccines, India is 

facing a shortage of supplies. And 

vaccination rates are down. 

The chief executive of India's 

Serum Institute, the world's biggest 

vaccine manufacturer, has warned 

shortages will last for months.


WORLD 15 

COVID VACCINE: 

Biden unveils plan to 

vaccinate young Americans 

US President Joe Biden has announced new vaccine 

targets, including a plan to jab young teenagers once a 

Covid-19 vaccine is approved for children. 

It comes as US drug officials consider approving the Pfizer- 

BioNTech vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, which could 

happen as early as next week. 

A new study shows that US children account for 22% of new 

daily Covid cases, up from 3% last year. 

The announcement could ease fears for parents about schools 

reopening. The president's new plan also targets vaccine-hesitant 

groups with incentives and by making the jab more accessible. 

Around half of Americans have gotten their first jab and one 

third are fully vaccinated, but vaccination rates have slowed in 

recent weeks. 

What's the plan for teens? 

The US Food and Drug Administration is weighing whether 

to approve the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 12. 

Pfizer's vaccine is currently approved in the US for people as 

young as 16. Mr Biden said he would not interfere with the FDA 

process, but "if that announcement comes, we are ready to move 

immediately," he pledged. 

In a speech at the White House, Mr Biden said that shipments 

of vaccine will be sent directly to paediatricians allowing children 

to get their first dose from their medical provider. 

"Easy, fast and free," Mr Biden said, adding that 15,000 

pharmacies will also be made available to teenagers to get their 

jab. And if teens are on the move this summer they can get their 

first shot in one place and get their second shot elsewhere," 

he added. If approved, the vaccine will immediately become 

available to approximately 17 million teenagers ages 12 to 15. 

Experts, such as top US researcher Dr Anthony Fauci, say it 

is necessary to vaccinate children in order for life to return to 

normal. With 75% of American seniors now fully vaccinated, 

rates of infections have increased in unvaccinated children. 

What incentives are being offered? 

Mr Biden also announced that he was speaking to US businesses 

to announce shopping discounts for vaccinated Americans. 

"We're working with major sports leagues to launch special 

promotions for their fans. Things like ticket giveaways, instadium 

vaccinations, discounts on merchandise and other 

creative ways to make it easier and more fun to get vaccinated," 

he said. Mr Biden also pleaded with Americans who are sceptical 

The Pentagon has said it is tracking a large Chinese 

rocket that is out of control and set to reenter Earth's 

atmosphere this weekend, raising concerns about where 

its debris may make impact. 

The Chinese Long March 5B rocket is expected to enter 

Earth's atmosphere "around May 8," according to a statement 

from Defense Department spokesperson Mike Howard, who said 

the US Space Command is tracking the rocket's trajectory. 

The rocket's "exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere" 

can't be pinpointed until within hours of reentry, Howard said, 

but the 18th Space Control Squadron will provide daily updates 

on the rocket's location through the Space Track website. The 

rocket was used by the Chinese to launch part of their space 

station last week. While most space debris objects burn up in 

the atmosphere, the rocket's size -- 22 tons -- has prompted 

concern that large parts could reenter and cause damage if they 

hit inhabited areas. 

But Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics 

Center at Harvard University, told CNN that the situation is "not 

the end of days." 

"I don't think people should take precautions. The risk that 

there will be some damage or that it would hit someone is pretty 

small -- not negligible, it could happen -- but the risk that it will 

hit you is incredibly tiny. And so I would not lose one second of 

sleep over this on a personal threat basis," he said. 

"There are much bigger things to worry about." 

McDowell explained that pinpointing where debris could be 

headed is almost impossible at this point because of the speed the 

rocket is traveling -- with even slight changes in circumstance 

drastically change the trajectory. 

of the vaccine to get it anyway, for the sake of their community. 

Biden lays out plan to vaccinate young US 

teens 

"Even if your chance of getting seriously ill [from Covid] is 

low, why take the risk when you have a safe, free and convenient 

way to prevent it?" he asked. Several US companies have already 

offered rewards for the vaccinated. 

Doughnut company Krispy Kreme is offering a free sweet for 

the rest of the year to anyone who can prove their vaccination. 

A cinema in Ohio is offering free popcorn to those who get the 

vaccine, and some cannabis dispensaries around the country are 

offering deals to anyone with a vaccination card. 

What are Biden's new targets? 

The president set a goal of 4 July - American independence 

day - of getting a first jab to 70% of adult Americans. He also set 

an aim of having 160m Americans fully vaccinated by that date. 

"In two months let's celebrate independence as a nation and 

our independence from this virus. We can do this and we will do 

this," he said. Mr Biden has previously set the goal for life to be 

"back to normal" by that date. 

"After a long, hard year, that will make this Independence Day 

truly special - where we not only mark our independence as a 

nation but we begin to mark our independence from this virus," 

he said in March. 

Mr Biden also announced a new website, vaccines.gov, that 

Americans can use to more easily find vaccination sites after 

widespread complaints that the sign up process was too difficult 

for some. 

Pentagon tracking out-of-control Chinese 

rocket that could re-enter Earth's atmosphere 

"We expect it to reenter sometime between the eighth and 10th 

of May. And in that two day period, it goes around the world 30 

times. The thing is traveling at like 18,000 miles an hour. And 

so if you're an hour out at guessing when it comes down, you're 

18,000 miles out in saying where." 

"And so you should not believe anyone who tells you, 'Oh 

yeah, I've heard it's coming down in this particular place,' " 

McDowell added. "Don't believe them at least a few hours before 

the reentry because we're just not going to know in advance." 

Still, the ocean remains the safest bet for where the debris will 

land, he said, just because it takes up most of the Earth's surface. 

"If you want to bet on where on Earth something's going to 

land, you bet on the Pacific, because Pacific is most of the Earth. 

It's that simple," McDowell said. 

Concern over the space debris comes after China launched the 

first module of its planned space station last Thursday morning 

from the Wenchang launch site in the southern island of Hainan, 

according to the China National Space Administration. 

China's space station won't launch all at once; it will be 

assembled from several modules launching at different times. 

Chinese state media reports that the country's space station will 

be fully operational by the end of 2022. 

NEWS in BRIEF 

Climate change: World's glaciers melting 

at a faster pace 

The 

world's 

glaciers are 

melting at an 

accelerating rate, 

according to a 

comprehensive new 

study. A French-led team assessed the behaviour of nearly all 

documented ice streams on the planet. The researchers found 

them to have lost almost 270 billion tonnes of ice a year over 

the opening two decades of the 21st Century. 

The meltwater produced now accounts for about a fifth of 

global sea-level rise, the scientists tell Nature journal. 

The numbers involved are quite hard to imagine, so team 

member Robert McNabb, from the universities of Ulster and 

Oslo, uses an analogy. 

"Over the last 20 years, we've seen that glaciers have 

lost about 267 gigatonnes (Gt) per year. So, if we take that 

amount of water and we divide it up across the island of 

Ireland, that's enough to cover all of Ireland in 3m of water 

each year," he says. 

Biden hopes to meet Putin during Europe 

trip in June 

US 

President 

Joe Biden said 

on Tuesday that 

he expects to 

hold a meeting 

with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to 

Europe in June. "That is my hope and expectation. We are 

working on it," Biden told reporters when asked if he plans 

to meet Putin during his upcoming trip to Europe, the first 

overseas visit since he took office in January. 

Biden will attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in 

Cornwall, Britain from June 11 to 13, and hold bilateral 

meetings with leaders of G7 members. He will then travel 

to Brussels, Belgium to participate in the NATO Summit on 

June 14, the Xinhua news agency reported. 

Biden had proposed a summit with Putin in Europe this 

summer to address a range of bilateral issues. US media 

reported earlier that the White House is hammering out the 

details of the summit. 

Africa's Covid cases close to 4.58m 

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa has 

reached 4,578,902 as of Tuesday, the Africa Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. 

The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the 

African Union, said the death toll from the pandemic stood 

at 122,589, while 4,125,114 patients across the continent had 

recovered from the disease. 

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Egypt are 

among the countries with the most cases in the continent, the 

Xinhua news agency reported. 

In terms of the number of cases, southern Africa is the 

most affected region, followed by northern Africa and 

eastern Africa regions, while central Africa is the least 

affected region in the continent, according to the African 

health agency. 

Aus state launches scheme to boost 

Aboriginal tourism 

The state of 

W e s t e r n 

Australia (WA) 

launched a scheme to 

promote Aboriginal 

cultural tourism. 

The 'Tjina: 

Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan', includes 

a fund valued at A$20 million to support Aboriginal people 

wanting to work in that sector and to bolster the untapped 

tourism potential of the scenically spectacular areas of the 

state such as the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberly region, 

reports Xinhua news agency. The plan was developed by 

Tourism Western Australia and other government agencies 

with the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators 

Council (WAITOC) and the Aboriginal tourism industry. 

"There is incredible demand for Aboriginal experiences - 

the Tjina Plan will make sure people will get to have that 

experience they are looking for while they are travelling 

around WA," said the state's Tourism Minister David 

Templeman in launching the plan.

16 ENTERTAINMENT 

Friday, May 7, 2021 The Indian Weekender 

SHILPA SHETTY'S note to 

encourage fans: Believe it 

will get better from here 

Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra took to Instagram 

to share a motivating message for her fans. She 

posted a picture that shows her meditating in the 

mountains, with the text: "Overthinking will destroy your 

happiness and your mood. It'll make everything worse 

than it actually is. Take a deep breath, exhale and have 

faith. What's meant to be, will be." 

In the caption, she wrote about how we must try to help 

those who we can. She also spoke about the importance of 

believing that the situation will get better with time. 

"We're all reading about the actual situation around us 

and it is absolutely devastating. 

" 

Overthinking will destroy your 

happiness and your mood. It'll 

make everything worse than it 

actually is. Take a deep breath, 

exhale and have faith. What's meant 

to be, will be." 

"This news plays on the mind all the time and leads 

the mind to very dark places. But then, there are posts 

and news about complete strangers helping people 

desperately in need of help. People who are cooking 

meals for COVID patients living alone, volunteers driving 

down to people needing medical assistance, and doctors 

providing information and guidance via online sessions. 

So reassuring! If we can do something for someone, we 

definitely must! But if not, don't panic excessively. 

Actor Vardhan Puri, who is late actor Amrish Puri's 

grandson, said his struggle has been no different from 

any other actor's because his grandfather was no more 

when he forayed into cinema. 

"It's very difficult to make a mark in the industry. People 

actually do not assume I had it easy as my grandfather passed 

away when I was very young and he wasn't around to make calls 

for me or take me to filmmakers' offices," he said. 

The actor, who made his debut with the film "Yeh Saali 

Aashiqui" in 2019, recalled his best memories with his 

grandfather. 

"Everyone is very curious to know what dadu was like. The 

best memories I have are those when we used to watch films 

Tune out for a little while, inhale deeply, and believe 

that it will get better from here. Live in the NOW. 

Together, we WILL overcome this. We will walk through 

this time towards a better tomorrow. Faith and hope are 

what we need right now," she wrote. 

GUL PANAG: Each woman who is 

part of our ecosystem is a role model 

together. I long for those times to come back. I miss watching 

Chaplin films with him while we munched on lip-smacking 

snacks and chatted with the family during the breaks," he said. 

Vardhan turned a year older today, and he recalled 

his grandfather used to be a big part of his 

birthday celebrations. 

The actor plans to help people who have 

been affected by Covid, this year. 

"This birthday I am coming together 

with an NGO to offer medical services to 

patients suffering from Covid. Apart from 

that, post dinner I plan on spending time 

with my parents, my sister Sachi, her husband 

BIKRAMJEET KANWARPAL 

dies due to Covid complications, 

Bollywood mourns loss 

Bollywood took to social 

media to mourn the demise of 

actor Bikramjeet Kanwarpal 

due to Covid-related complications. 

He was 52. 

After retiring from the Indian 

Army, Bikramjeet entered showbiz 

in 2003. He has been part of films 

such as "Rocket Singh: Salesman Of 

The Year", "Aarakshan", "Murder 2", 

"2 States" and "The Ghazi Attack". 

He has also been TV shows such as 

"Diya Aur Baati Hum", "Yeh Hai 

Chahatein", "Dil Hi Toh Hai" and 

"24". He was also seen in the web 

series " Special Ops." 

"Extremely sad news . I've known 

Major Bikramjeet for so many years. 

He and I have worked on so many 

films together. The last being Bypass 

Road. Such a fantastic, encouraging 

and energetic human being he was 

and will always be remembered as. 

#RIP My dear friend will miss you," 

while Vishal Dadlani wrote: "A man 

who lent dignity to everything he 

did, #BikramjeetKanwarpal carried 

the Fauji stamp. Jai Hind, Sir," wrote 

Nishant, and my assistants who 

live with me. After that, I will 

get on a zoom call with close 

friends and family and maybe 

play some games. I want 

to keep it low-key this 

time as I'm in no mood 

for celebration with 

everything that's going 

on," he said. 

The actor will next 

be seen in the film "The 

Last Show". 

Neil Nitin Mukesh, mourning the 

death of Bikramjeet, who passed 

away on Friday. 

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, 

who has worked with the actor, 

also expressed his grief. He wrote: 

"Saddened to hear demise of Maj. 

Bikramjeet Kanwarpal a talented 

actor who had acted in my films 

Heroine, Page3, Corporate & Indu 

Sarkar. Will miss our conversations 

on Indian Army and his dream project 

film on Siachen. My Condolences for 

his family and friends. #OmShanti 

Folded hands." 

Neetu on Rishi Kapoor: He was 

an extension of our existence 

On the first death anniversary 

of Rishi Kapoor on Friday, 

the late actor's wife, actress 

Neetu Kapoor, penned an emotional 

note saying he was an extension of 

her existence. 

Along with her note, Neetu 

posted a black and white picture on 

Instagram featuring the couple in 

their younger days. 

"All of last year has been of grief 

and sadness around the world for us 

maybe more as we lost him .. Not 

Gul Panag dons many hats, 

that path we make it easier for 

from being an actor to an 

somebody else to go through it. I 

avid rider, a certified pilot, a 

think the responsibility of being a 

mother and a wife. 

role model and walking the path 

She has had a stint in politics, 

less trodden stay on one's shoulders, 

too, and is a serial half-marathon 

to make it easier for someone 

runner. Although she is famous, 

else to follow." 

she underplays the tag of being a 

role model. 

"Each woman who is part 

"It is important to take your role 

of our ecosystem, they a day has gone by when we 

as a role model seriously. When 

are all role models for have not discussed "All 

I say role model it is not just me 

because I am a public figure. I would 

women who don't even or reminisced him of last year go on ...#rishikapoor," she 

say each one of us is a role model 

have the opportunity to 

as he was an has been of grief and added. 

extension of our sadness around the world Neetu and 

because, given the inequity in India 

decide what they would 

existence," she for us maybe more as we lost Rishi Kapoor had 

with regards to access to opportunity 

want to do in the next wrote. 

him .. Not a day has gone by tied the knot on 

for women, just the ability to 

minute. So, we all carry "Sometimes when we have not discussed January 22, 1980. 

choose what you do in your day is would want to do in the next minute. 

something women don't have access So, we all carry on our shoulders 

on our shoulders the his wise advice:: or reminisced him as he The couple are 

to," Gul said. 

the incredible responsibility," added incredible responsibility 

his wise cracks : was an extension of our parents to Bollywood 

his anecdotes !! We existence." actor Ranbir Kapoor and 

She labels each woman a role Gul, who has voiced National 

have celebrated him all 

jewellery designer Riddhima 

model. 

Geographic's specials titled "Tiger It's not easy to be a pioneer at 

year with a smile on the lips 

Kapoor Sahni. 

"Each woman who is part of our Queen Of Taru" and "On The Brink". something, she stressed. "Being a 

as he will stay in our hearts forever Rishi Kapoor passed away in 

ecosystem, they are all role models She continued: "Sometimes, pioneer is a big responsibility and 

we have accepted life will never be Mumbai on April 30 last year after a 

for women who don't even have walking a difficult path is an option one must take the plunge if they have 

the same without him !!! But life will two-year battle with leukemia. 

the opportunity to decide what they we must exercise because in walking the opportunity," Gul concluded. 

AMRISH PURI'S GRANDSON VARDHAN PURI: 

My grandpa wasn't around to make calls for me


FEATURES 17 

SNACKS FOR LUNCH BOX 

QUINOA POHA 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1/2cup - quinoa, white 

• 1tbsp - oil 

• 3tbsp - peanuts 


• 1tsp - mustard seeds 

• 6 - curry leaves 

• 1 - onion, large 

• 2 - green chillies 

• 1 - potato, medium and boiled 

• 1/2tsp - red chilli powder 

• 1/4tsp - sugar 

• 1/2tsp - salt or according to taste 

• 3/4tsp - turmeric powder 

• 1/2tsp - coriander powder 

• 1 - lemon 

• 2tbsp - fresh coriander, chopped 

METHOD: 

• Rinse the quinoa in a mesh sieve 

until the water runs clear; it 

removes the bitter coating on the 

quinoa beads and set aside. 

• Cook quinoa according to the 

instructions on the packet and set 

aside for later use. 

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy 

GREEN CHUTNEY 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2cups - coriander leaves 

• 1cup - mint leaves 

• 4-6 - green chilies 

• 1tsp - cumin seeds 

• 3 - garlic cloves 

• 1inch - ginger 

• 2 - lemons 

• 1tsp - salt or according to taste 

base frypan over medium flame. 

• Add peanuts and fry until golden 

in colour; transfer them onto a 

plate and set aside. 

• In the same frypan add 1 

tablespoon of oil over medium 

flame. 

• Add mustard seeds and curry 

leaves; let them splatter. 

• Add peeled, washed and chopped 

onions and sauté until translucent. 

• Add washed and chopped green 

chillies and sauté for a minute. 

• Add diced potato followed by red 

chilli powder, sugar, salt, turmeric 

powder and coriander powder, 

mix everything together until well 

combined. 

• Add quinoa and peanuts followed 

by 1 tablespoon of water and give 

a good mix. 

• Cover and leave it on low flame 

for 2 minutes, stirring in between. 

• Squeeze lemon and mix well. 

• Sprinkle chopped fresh coriander 

on top. 

• Serve - 2 

METHOD: 

• Blend washed coriander and mint 

leaves in a blender. 

• Add washed green chillies, cumin 

seeds, garlic cloves and ginger. 

• Squeeze lemon; add salt and 

water; blend everything together 

into a fine paste. 

• Transfer into a bowl, cover and 

set aside for later use. 

POHA 

INGREDIENTS: 

11/2cups - poha, thick ( flattened 

rice ) 


• 4tbsp - peanuts 


• 1pinch - asafoetida 

• 8 - curry leaves 

• 3/4tsp - mustard seeds 

• 1tsp - cumin seeds 

• 1 - onion, large 

• 2-3 - green chillies 

• 1 - potato, medium and boiled 

• ¼tsp - turmeric powder 

• 1/2tsp - sugar 

• 1tsp - salt or according to taste 

• 1 - lemon 

• 1/2cup - fresh coriander leaves 

METHOD: 

• Place poha in a strainer; rinse 

it under runny water while 

spreading it with the fork and 

quickly remove ( while rinsing it 

spread poha using your hand or 

fork, drain it properly; make sure 

you don’t keep it under water for 

too long otherwise it will become 

mushy ) and let it drain. 

Besan Ka 

Cheela 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1cup - gram flour ( besan ) 

• 1 - onion, small 

• 1-2 - green chillies 

• 1tsp - red chilli powder 

• 1tsp - caram seeds ( ajwain ) 

• 11/2tsp - salt or according to taste 

• 2tbsp coriander chopped 

• 1cup - water 

• 2tbsp - oil for frying 

METHOD: 

• Place gram flour into a medium 

size bowl. 

• Peel, wash and chop onion and 

green chillies; add them to the 

gram flour. 

• Add red chilli powder, caram 

seeds, salt and chopped coriander, 

TIP: Mint chutney can be kept for a 

week in the fridge and for 1 month in 

the freezer. 

• Run your fingers through poha 

to break the lumps and press few 

between your thumb and finger 

to check if they are soft; if they 

are still not soft them rinse them 

under running water again. 

• Drain properly and keep aside. 

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a 

heavy base frypan over medium 

flame. 

• Add peanuts and fry until golden 

in colour; transfer them onto a 

plate and set aside. 

• In the same frypan add another 1 

tablespoon of oil. 

• Add asafoetida, curry leaves, 

mustard seeds and cumin seeds; 

mix well with the fork. 

• Add water in tablespoons and 

keep mixing while adding the 

water ( the batter should not be 

very thin, it should be of thick 

pouring consistency ). 

when the seeds start to splatter. 

• Add peeled, washed and chopped 

onions and sauté until translucent. 

• Add washed and chopped green 

chillies and sauté for a minute. 

• Lower the flame and add diced 

potato and peanuts, mix well. 

• Sprinkle turmeric powder, sugar 

and salt, mix well again. 

• Add poha, mix everything until 

well combined. 

• Cover and let simmer for 1-2 

minutes on low flame for 

everything to get infused. 

• Squeeze lemon on top. 

• Spread fresh chopped coriander. 

• Serve - 2 

• Cover and leave it to rest for 15- 

20 minutes. 

• Heat a tbsp or so of oil in a heavy 

base frying pan over medium 

flame. 

• Keeping the flame high pour 

some batter in the centre of the 

frying pan, spreading it out a little 

like a pan cake. 

• Lower the flame and let cook till 

the edges are little brown and can 

be lifted easily. 

• Dribble a little oil around it, 

turning the pan so the oil goes 

under the pan cake ( cheela ). 

• Flip it over to cook slightly on the 

other side. 

• Serve hot with a green chutney. 

• FOR LUNCH BOX; spread 

chutney all over the cheela; roll it, 

then wrap it in the foil. 

• TIP: you can prepare cheela a 

night before and refrigerate. 

• Serves - 2 

TIP OF THE WEEK 

Left over roti from the night before can also be used again for the lunch 

box. Spread 1 teaspoon of oil on the hot tawa. 

Break an egg on the tawa; spread it with the fork then place the roti on top 

of the egg and press slightly with the flat spatula for the egg to stick to the 

roti. Then flip it over and cook the other side of the roti for few seconds and 

remove it from the tawa. Place roti with the egg side on the top in the plate. 

Spread anything leftover from the night before; roll it and pack it for the 

lunch box. Or just spread the chutney and roll it. 

Three Home remedies to deal with dry cough while home quarantining with COVID 19 

Dry cough causing discomfort? Here are 

3 effective home remedies you should 

try to soothe the sore throat. 

One of the early symptoms of the Covid-19 

virus is a dry cough. For the unversed, dry 

cough a kind of cough that does not produce 

mucus or phlegm. It is when the throat feels 

dry, scratchy, sore and rough. One could even 

experience a tickling sensation in the throat 

which makes gulping or swallowing extremely 

difficult. Finding relief with a dry cough 

can be difficult. There are various different 

medical reasons that could be the cause behind 

the dry cough including Covid-19. Medication 

prescribed by a health professional need to 

be taken, there are a few home remedies that 

could help soothe it. 

Honey 

Honey is filled with anti-bacterial and antifungal 

properties that help soothe the dry and 

sore throat. It is filled with antioxidants that 

aid healing. Mixing 2 tablespoons of honey 

with hot water can help relax the sore throat. 

Make sure to drink this concoction twice a day 

for improved results. 

Ginger 

In Ayurveda, ginger is considered as a great 

remedy to a lot of medical conditions including 

dry cough. Its medicinal properties help reduce 

inflammation and its anti-bacterial properties 

help protect the body against different kinds of 

viruses, Drinking hot ginger and clove tea can 

help soothe the roughness and helps soothe the 

irritated throat. 

Saltwater gargles 

Salt helps with killing the bacteria and 

loosening the mucus caught in the throat. 

Gargling with warm salt water will not provide 

immediate relief but will help kill the bacteria 

in the long run. 

It is an old-age therapy that still seems 

to work just fine. Add one tablespoon of 

salt in one cup of hot water and gargle for 

20 seconds 3 times a day and you’ll see the 

difference yourself!

18 

TIME OUT 

Friday, April 30, 2020 The Indian Weekender 

CROSSWORD FreeDailyCrosswords.com 

NO: 67 

ACROSS------------, 

I) Large school of fish 39) Impel 

6) Emulate a picador 40) Throw, as a coin 

10) Pastrami source 

41) In other words, in Ovid's 

14) Bay of Naples isle 

words 

15) Account of incidents or 42) It gets hot in a bag 

events 

43) Quick gait 

16) Very big birds 

44) Historical leader? 

17) It comes monthly 45) Word of respect to a woman 

20) "No" in France 

46) Bacterium 

21) Coin introduced on 1/1/99 50) Backward, upon the waters 

22) Baby's diversion 

53) Cash in Cancun 

23) Makes certain 

54) Snapshot, in slang 

25) Continuity problems 55) Change you shouldn't take 

26) Smidge 

if offered 

27) Man who hit 660 homeruns 58) Forget to include 

28) Common title word 59) Pastoral woodwind 

31) To remain in abeyance 60) Machete kin 

34) Tourist's entry permit 61) They have kids 

35) Relative of 16-Across 62) Plant parasite 

36) They know their cues? 63) Ream unit 

WHATS HIS NAME? 

14 

17 

2 3 4 5 

18 

6 7 

15 

8 9 

19 

B Carl Cranb 

10 11 12 13 

16 

May 1st 

DOWN 

I) Vista 

2) Fire extinguishing gas 

3) Begins the bidding 

4) Compass line 

5) Book review types 

6) Agitates 

7) Cinco de Mayo snack 

8) "Sting like a bee" athlete 

9) Breach of trust 

10) Financial burdens 

11) Put off 

12) Calm in a storm 

13) Lighthouse locale 

18) Kicked oneself for 

19) Sharp barks 

24) Affording benefit 

25) Struggles for air 

27) In the_ of (among) 

28) "God shed His grace on_" 

29) Term on terrycloth 

30) Division for Orioles 

31) Touch borders with 

32) Covert transmitting device 

33) Pond organism 

34) Sound of acceleration 

35) Actress Winona 

37) Haphazardly 

38) Anny branch until July 1947 

43) Truck weight without fuel or load 

44) Galileo's birthplace 

45) Track & field get-togethers 

46) Donnybrook 

4 7) Editorialize 

48) Place for stagnant water 

49) Showy success 

50) Physicist's study 

51) Foolish oaf (Variant spelling) 

52) Barbershop request 

53) Conspiracy 

56) Kimono belt 

57) Ebenezer's exclamation 

ANSWERS CROSSWORD NO: 67 

FreeDailyCrosswords.com 

ACROSS------------, 

May 1st 

DOWN 

I) Large school of fish 39) Impel 

I) Vista 

6) Emulate a picador 40) Throw, as a coin 

2) Fire extinguishing gas 

10) Pastrami source 

41) In other words, in Ovid's 3) Begins the bidding 

14) Bay of Naples isle 

words 

4) Compass line 

15) Account of incidents or 42) It gets hot in a bag 

5) Book review types 

events 

43) Quick gait 

6) Agitates 

16) Very big birds 

44) Historical leader? 

7) Cinco de Mayo snack 

17) It comes monthly 45) Word of respect to a woman 8) "Sting like a bee" athlete 

20) "No" in France 

46) Bacterium 

9) Breach of trust 

21) Coin introduced on 1/1/99 50) Backward, upon the waters 10) Financial burdens 

22) Baby's diversion 

53) Cash in Cancun 

11) Put off 

23) Makes certain 

54) Snapshot, in slang 

12) Calm in a storm 

25) Continuity problems 55) Change you shouldn't take 13) Lighthouse locale 

26) Smidge 

if offered 

18) Kicked oneself for 

27) Man who hit 660 homeruns 58) Forget to include 

19) Sharp barks 

28) Common title word 59) Pastoral woodwind 

24) Affording benefit 

31) To remain in abeyance 60) Machete kin 

25) Struggles for air 

34) Tourist's entry permit 61) They have kids 

27) In the_ of (among) 

35) Relative of 16-Across 62) Plant parasite 

28) "God shed His grace on_" 

36) They know their cues? 63) Ream unit 

29) Term on terrycloth 

30) Division for Orioles 

31) Touch borders with 

32) Covert transmitting device 

33) Pond organism 

WHATS HIS NAME? 

B Carl Cranb 34) Sound of acceleration 

1 2 s H 3 S 0 4A L 6 S1 1 1 1 s 7T A 9B b E l 31 35) Actress Winona 

37) Haphazardly 

1 1 1 

c A p R I 

;- 

A L E 38) Anny branch until July 1947 

M u s 

1 

1 1 43) Truck weight without fuel or load 

L E C T k I C I T v B I L L 44) Galileo's birthplace 

2 45) Track & field get-togethers 

0 E u A T L E 46) Donnybrook 

47) Editorialize 

48) Place for stagnant water 

AV 

49) Showy success 

50) Physicist's study 

ISA 3R EA 51) Foolish oaf (Variant spelling) 

52) Barbershop request 

-------- DPL3hYERS 53) Conspiracy 

s D 

56) Kimono belt 

57) Ebenezer's exclamation 

5 AAM I 

5 5 TERN 5t> s 

---+-----,l---+-- 

5 

THREE D tl LL AR 1i I LL 

bMI T 5 

bBOE 1>ANGA 

6nilOMS 6f.111 TE 6 sHEE T 

HITORI NO: 67 

Eliminate numbers until there are no duplicates in any row or 

column. Eliminate numbers by marking them in Black. You are 

not allowed to have two Black squares touching horizontally or 

vertically (diagonally is ok). Any White square can be reached 

from any other (i.e. they are connected). 

SUDOKU SOLUSIONS AND ANSWERS NO: 67 

50 51 52 

55 

56 

57 

58 

60 

61 

63 

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

1. What country has the longest coastline in the world? 

2. What is the capital of Malta? 

3. What country is the newest in the world to be recognised 

by the UN? 

4. In which UK city would you find the river Clyde? 

5. What is the oldest recorded town in the UK? 

6. If you travelled to the city of Volgograd, which country 

would be in? 

7. What is the name of the largest river to flow through 

Paris? 

8. What did Ceylon change its name to in 1972? 

9. What is the most populous city in the US state of 

Illinois? 

10. What is the highest mountain in Britain? 

11. The world’s first national park was established in 1872 

in which country? A bonus point for the name of the 

park… 

12. What is the capital of Peru? 

13. Mount Vesuvius casts a shadow over which modern 

Italian city? 

14. There are three US states with just four letters in their 

name: can you name them? 

15. What is the currency of Sweden? 

16. To what country to the Canary Islands belong? 

17. What is the capital of Canada? 

18. How many states are there in Australia? 

19. What African country has the largest population? 

20. Constantinople and Byzantium are former names of 

which major city? 

Answers: 1.Canada, 2.Valetta, 3.South Sudan (2011), 4.Glasgow, 

5.Colchester, 6.Russia, 7.The Seine, 8.Sri Lanka, 9.Chicago, 10.Ben Nevis, 

11. USA, Yellowstone, 12.Lima, 13.Naples, 14.Utah, Iowa, Ohio, 

15.Swedish Krona, 16.Spain, 17.Ottawa, 18.Six – New South Wales, 

Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, 

19.Nigeria (190 million), 20.Istanbul 

7 May to 13 May 2021 | By Manisha Koushik 

ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20) 

You will manage to overcome the hiccups faced 

in organising something important. Attending 

a celebrity do or a prestigious event is on the 

cards for some. A surprise on the romantic front 

is all set to delight you. Travelling with family 

and friends is indicated and will prove lots of 

fun. Your professional competence may get 

you amongst the top few in your organisation. 

Financially, you are likely to go from strength to strength. Buying 

new property is possible. Lucky colour: 4 / Lucky number: Dark 

Red 

TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20) 

Your participation will be much appreciated, 

so go all out. At work, you may try to get your 

way, but someone may not allow you to do so. 

A family member, splurging your hard earned 

money, needs to be controlled, but it may not 

be as easy as it sounds. Those incommunicado 

with spouse need to work on a compromise. You 

may feel envious of someone gaining popularity 

on the social front. Health needs care. Lucky 

number:8/Lucky colour: Navy Blue 

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21) 

You may need assistance in completing 

something, so don’t feel reluctant to ask. A 

loss making venture can put your financial 

front in doldrums, so review it. Soft pedaling 

an important issue can get you into trouble 

at work, so accord it the priority it deserves 

and act accordingly. Unwanted advice given 

to youngsters runs the risk of being rejected 

outright. Getting back into shape is the need of 

the hour. You get your way on the social front. Lucky colour:3 / 

Lucky number: Lemon 

CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20) 

Providing an opportunity to someone you can 

easily overshadow at work will be in order. You 

may need to take some bold initiatives in the 

events unfolding on the social front. Lover may 

perplex you by remaining a bit reserved on the 

romantic front. You will manage to tie up all the 

loose ends in organising something important. A 

give-and-take relationship will work best on the 

academic front, so go for it. Health remains satisfactory. Lucky 

No.:15 / Lucky Colour: Red 

Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and 

fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is 

available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha.com or contact 

at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +91-9716145644 • www.askmanisha.com 

LEO (JUL21-AUG 20) 

You will be in for a pleasant surprise. Lover’s 

proximity may get you into a romantic mood, so 

enjoy! Some delay may be caused in an ongoing 

project on the professional front, but you will be 

able to complete it in time. You may need to be a 

bit assertive in having your way on the social front, 

as someone is out to sideline you. Financially, you will remain in a 

comfortable situation, as money flows in. Lucky colour: 5 / Lucky 

number: Bluish Green 

VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23) 

If you are quick enough, you will manage to 

salvage a situation being faced by you. This week, 

you may find yourself in the company of your 

near and dear ones and make some exciting plans! 

Your nature may seem irresistible to someone 

from the opposite camp, so get ready to usher in 

romance! Networking will help in getting good placement on the 

academic front. Complete the given task quickly, if you don’t want 

to face the music. Lucky number:7 / Lucky colour: Baby Pink 

LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23) 

This is a great time to renew old contacts. 

You will get the opportunity to exercise your 

initiative at work and impress people who matter. 

Your excellent performance on the academic 

front will be a shot in the arm. Networking may 

come in handy in getting out of a tight corner. 

You will get all the help you need for organising 

something on the social front. Lover is likely to meet your romantic 

aspirations, so rejoice! Lucky number:7 / Lucky colour: Light Red 

SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22) 

Tie things up properly at work, if you are 

taking a break. You are likely to take on more 

than you can handle on the professional front 

and become hard pressed for time. A dip in 

performance is foreseen, as you risk becoming 

increasingly error-prone. A showdown with 

spouse cannot be ruled out. A disappointing 

performance on the academic front may lower 

your morale. Love life is badly in need of resurrection, so don’t 

neglect it anymore. Lucky number: 3 / Lucky colour: Rust 

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21) 

Some more time may be required for you to get 

into the groove, so don’t lose patience. A job well 

done is likely to bring you into the notice of those 

who matter on the professional front. Money 

invested in a lucrative scheme may start giving 

good returns. A hectic schedule is in store for you 

on the social front. Keep travel plans open, as 

some change is visualised. You will buy an item that you wanted for 

long. Lucky number:4 / Lucky colour: Maroon 

CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21) 

Keep some spare time up your sleeve, as you 

You are likely to put your best foot forward 

on the social front. A challenging situation on 

the financial front is likely to arise, but will be 

handled competently. Good networking will be 

of help on the professional front, so get down 

to refreshing old contacts. Getting an expected 

outcome on the academic front will seem like 

a godsend and boost your morale. Be upfront with lover about 

your past, before catches up with you! Lucky number:15 / Lucky 

colour: Purple 

AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19) 

Some more effort is desirable, if you want no 

comebacks. This is the week to complete the 

work you had been postponing for long. An 

evening out with lover is foreseen, so don’t 

forget to dress your best! Clubbing leisure 

with business will help lighten the load. Good 

planning will see you complete a task at work 

in record time. Money may come to you from 

unexpected sources. A surprise gift from someone is likely to warm 

your heart. Lucky Number: 2 / Lucky colour: Cream 

PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20) 

Cooperation is the key, especially on the social 

front. Your worst fears are likely to be realised 

on the professional front. A family youngster’s 

performance on the academic front may 

disappoint you. Don’t be hasty in investing in 

whatever scheme is on offer, as you can end up 

losing money. You may eat something that does 

not agree with your system and suffer. Love life remains satisfactory. 

Cater to the weather, if undertaking a journey. Lucky number: 1 / 

Lucky colour: Light Yellow


FEATURES 19 

TRAVEL TO INDIA DURING COVID-19: 

What you need to know before you go 

If you’re planning to travel to India, here’s 

what you’ll need to know and expect if 

you want to visit during the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

The basics 

India is currently the global center of a 

devastating new wave of the pandemic, with 

the country’s health system close to collapse. 

The country swiftly closed its borders at the 

start of the pandemic, banning all scheduled 

international flights in March 2020. 

Tourists are still banned, though those 

traveling on other visas from the continents 

of Europe, Africa and South America are 

now allowed, along with travelers from other 

destinations who meet strict criteria. 

Current flight bans 

Due to the second wave of infections, many 

places are massively reducing, indefinitely 

suspending or banning travel to and from India. 

At present, those destinations include Australia, 

Canada, China (including Hong Kong), 

Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, 

the UAE, the United Kingdom (which added 

India to its “red list”) and the United States. 

The U.S. State Department alert reads in part, 

“If you must travel to India, get fully vaccinated 

before travel. All travelers should wear a mask, 

stay six feet from others, avoid crowds, and 

wash their hands.” 

A planned travel bubble with Sri 

Lanka has been postponed. 

What’s on offer 

The question is: What isn’t on offer in India? 

This vast country has an astonishing range of 

landscapes, architecture, cultures and religions. 

Most first-timers stick to the “golden triangle” 

of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, but other big hitters 

for newbies include the Kerala waterways, 

beaches of Goa and Mumbai, one of the world’s 

most thrilling cities. 

Who can go 

Tourists are not yet permitted. Only Indian 

nationals, those moving to the country as 

residents, and those from certain countries who 

qualify for visas other than tourist visas may 

go. From the United States, United Kingdom 

and Canada, things are more restricted -- only 

diplomats and those listed in a government 

memorandum may travel. However other visa 

holders from the European Union, Africa and 

South America may travel -- as long as it is not 

on a tourist visa. 

What are the restrictions? 

All arrivals are screened. Anyone showing 

symptoms will be taken to a medical facility. 

Land borders are closed, other than for 

returning India nationals. As of February 22, all 

travellers must upload a self-declaration form 

on the Air Suvidha Portal, as well as a negative 

PCR test taken within 72 hours of the journey. 

They must also declare via the portal that they 

will quarantine at home for 14 days on arrival. 

Travellers arriving from the UK or Middle 

East must fill in the same form, declaring their 

travel history of the past 14 days, and any 

connecting flights on arrival in India, as well 

as provide a negative PCR test. They will be 

segregated in-flight or while disembarking and 

must undergo a further PCR test on arrival at 

their own expense. They must stay at the airport 

until they get their results. Transit passengers 

coming from these countries who test negative 

can catch their connecting flights, but must 

quarantine at home for seven days, and take a 

test at the end of the quarantine period. 

What’s the Covid situation? 

India has seen over 18.3 million cases and 

nearly 205,000 deaths as of April 29, overtaking 

Brazil as the country with the world’s second 

highest case numbers, after the United States. 

Health services are close to collapse. 

The outbreak has pushed the country’s 

healthcare system to near breaking point. With 

no space left in hospitals, patients are being 

left to die at home, in ambulances and outside 

clinics. Even those who are given a bed remain 

in danger, with hospitals running out of oxygen 

and asking patients’ families to bring their own. 

On the first anniversary of its initial 

lockdown, India recorded 50,000 new cases -- a 

record since November. India reported 295,041 

cases of coronavirus and 2,023 deaths on April 

21, its highest rise in cases and highest death 

increase recorded in a single day since the 

beginning of the pandemic, according to a the 

Indian Ministry of Health. 

By April 28, that figure was 379,308 new 

cases, and 3,645 deaths -- another record. India 

is now registering over a million new cases 

every three days. It follows what experts say 

was a relaxing of behavior in early March, after 

the federal health minister declared that India 

was “in the endgame” of the pandemic. 

What can visitors expect? 

India imposed one of the world’s strictest 

lockdowns in March 2020, though restrictions 

have been eased as the months have gone on. 

Weddings and religious events are now allowed 

to take place, and domestic travel is allowed. 

However, different states are imposing different 

regulations. Maharashtra -- where Mumbai is 

located -- imposed an evening curfew on 28 

March. Non-essential shops are now closed in 

Maharashtra, and grocery stores are only open 

from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Gatherings of more than 

five people are banned. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has 

been holding political rallies across the 

country, addressed the nation on April 20. He 

appealed to states to “use a lockdown as their 

last option,” even as the capital New Delhi 

entered its first full day lockdown. 

The Kumbh Mela, an important Hindu festival 

and one of the biggest pilgrimages on Earth, 

has gone ahead throughout April. Millions of 

Indians have traveled from across the country 

to Haridwar, an ancient city in Uttarakhand 

state, to attend ceremonies and prayers and 

take sacred dips in the Ganges River. Visitors 

must register online and test negative before 

bathing, but experts have warned it “could go 

down as one of the largest mass super spreading 

events ever.”

The Indian Weekender, 07 May 2021

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