Stakeholders in 5 countries are now raising their voice against China. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how the demand to 'Make China pay' is gaining momentum.

Gravitas: Stakeholders in 5 countries say 'Make China Pay' | Coronavirus

With people reluctant to touch knobs and door handles in public places fearing to catch the novel coronavirus, hands-free door handles were being tested in a Finnish supermarket on Monday (April 20).

New hands-free door handles tested in Finnish supermarket

The coronavirus outbreak is the worst public health crisis in a century. However, misinformation and rumours can be more dangerous than this virus.&nbsp;

Believe it or not, they can be fatal. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-account-poses-as-omani-princess-tweets-anti-india-material-princess-clarifies-294086">disinformation campaign</a>,&nbsp;being run by&nbsp;Pakistan, is compromising the fight against the Wuhan virus.

There's a sudden spurt in anti-India posts on Twitter. However, these Twitter handles turned out to be fake which were being pushed by Islamabad.

Many of them switched their names and handles. Some even identified themselves as members of the Omani Royalty.

A Pakistani ID @pak_fauj changed its name to Omani Royalty Mona bint Fahd al Said @SayyidaMona to spread the propaganda.

Meanwhile, the Omani Princess Mona bint Fahd, who was impersonated, has issued a statement. In the statement, she said, "Friends, First of all, I thank you for your concern to verify the offensive post published through an account impersonating me, which you are sure that I have no connection with it."

Clearly, all these accounts are part of an organised campaign. They are posting fake threats, amplifying an anti-India agenda while&nbsp;posing as Arabs.

They are trying to unsettle Indians in West Asia at a time when the world is fighting the coronavirus pandemic. 
&nbsp;

The coronavirus outbreak is the worst public health crisis in a century. However, misinformation and rumours can be more dangerous than this virus. Believe it or not, they can be fatal.

The coronavirus outbreak is the worst public health crisis in a century. However, misinformation and rumours can be more dangerous than this virus. Believe it or not, they can be fatal. The disinformation campaign, being run by Pakistan, is compromising the fight against the Wuhan virus. There's a sudden spurt in anti-India posts on Twitter. However, these Twitter handles turned out to be fake which were being pushed by Islamabad. Many of them switched their names and handles. Some even identified themselves as members of the Omani Royalty. A Pakistani ID @pak_fauj changed its name to Omani Royalty Mona bint Fahd al Said @SayyidaMona to spread the propaganda. Meanwhile, the Omani Princess Mona bint Fahd, who was impersonated, has issued a statement. In the statement, she said, "Friends, First of all, I thank you for your concern to verify the offensive post published through an account impersonating me, which you are sure that I have no connection with it." Clearly, all these accounts are part of an organised campaign. They are posting fake threats, amplifying an anti-India agenda while posing as Arabs. They are trying to unsettle Indians in West Asia at a time when the world is fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Amid coronavirus crisis, Pakistan runs propaganda against India on social media

The two ducks resting on the plinth of a statue in front of Paris's Musee D'Orsay had struck out boldly from their usual habitat: to get there from the River Seine involves waddling across a four-lane highway.

What lockdown? Birds go out in Paris with humans in confinement

Singaporean Reverend Samuel Gift Stephen originally intended to donate just a lunch to thousands of migrant workers undergoing quarantine for Good Friday (April 10).

Coronavirus Outbreak: Singapore pastor battles food crisis for migrants

With a rapid increase in coronavirus cases in Iran, the officials have announced 94 new deaths due to COVID- 19. Since it's first case in February, Iran has struggled to flatten the curve. After these 94 new deaths were announced, the death toll increased to 5,391. The number of positive cases increased by 1,194, bringing the total number of cases to 85,996.

Iran reports over 1,194 COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours

Watch today in 'WION In Focus': Some Stories Related To Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

WION In Focus: Some Stories Related To Coronavirus Pandemic | COVID-19 | Coronavirus News

When pedicab operator Sarah Grant and French Quarter street violinist Anna Roznowska realized about five weeks ago their livelihoods and lifestyles were threatened by New Orleans stay-at-home orders caused by the novel coronavirus, they were initially at a loss.

New Orleans violinist and pedicab operator take show on the road to lift spirits

Continuing its anti-India propaganda on social media platforms, a Pakistani Twitter account changed its handle name to pose as Omani princess and tweeted anti-India material. Interestingly, several old tweets have been dug out from the same account, which has been deleted now, and it clearly shows Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) is behind the account.

Pakistan foreign minister quotes fake account, Oman princess denies links to account

UK's chief medical officer said on April 22, Restrictions on everyday life in Britain to slow the spread of COVID-19 are likely to be needed for the "next calendar year" due to the time needed to develop and roll out vaccines or find a cure.

UK chief medic: Social distancing likely for next year

Maria Cecilia Osorio and Alfonso Ardila met just a month ago, in a shelter for people made homeless during Colombia's nationwide coronavirus lockdown. The pair now share space in a tent at the shelter and are looking ahead to the end of quarantine, scheduled for May 11.

The bridesmaids wore masks: Colombian couple meets, marries in coronavirus shelter

A sea lion performed its usual routine to empty crowds on Tuesday (April 21) in its pool at the Palmyre Zoo in western France, which has closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Seals, monkeys perform to empty crowds at French zoo amid virus crisis

A hospital in Chile has installed a thermal imaging system that automatically screens its employees' temperatures in order to identify those that are running a fever and potentially infected with the new coronavirus.

Chilean hospital installs thermal cameras to screen for fever amid coronavirus fears

Coronavirus is not just once in a lifetime event, it’s something that is bringing a stream of once in lifetime events. Oil prices turning negative for the first time is the latest example of it. It perfectly depicts how grave the ground reality of economic turmoil is. Since there was a lack of demand, and supply was very high the huge imbalance caused prices to go even negative for some time. Due to COVID-19 crisis, oil has shed the tears, but what’s the sentiment of global markets and economy? &nbsp;&nbsp;

World Health Organisation (WHO) expects that in the next 6 months, cases in Africa can reach up to 10 million. So it seems virus will continue to impact the global economy for quite some time directly and even for longer indirectly.&nbsp;&nbsp;

International Monetary Fund expects a developed economy to fall at a faster rate than emerging countries and global GDP is predicted to decline by 3 per cent in 2020. Developed countries are expected to decline by 6.1 per cent while emerging economies will fall by 1 per cent. IMF expects global GDP to revive next year and grown by 5.8 per cent where China and India are expected to lead the way. &nbsp;

Countries in Europe are opening up, so currently it seems that dawn is approaching.&nbsp;However, there is a risk of the second wave which experts expect to be even more dangerous. 
 
If we look at data, Chinese GDP fell by 9.8 per cent in the Jan-March quarter as compared to the previous quarter, retail sales industrial production across the globe are witnessing declines. Inflation is subdued, job losses are ramping up. So yes we know things are currently very bleak, but how would they emerge in future? Well, that all depends on sentiment. The sentiment of consumers, businesses, CEOs and also politicians. &nbsp;&nbsp;

As per the poll by Young Presidents' Organisation (YPO), 60 per cent of CEOs across the globe expect U-shape recovery. CEOs feel the rapid change has created a lot of uncertainty and some of them are fearful about the survival of their businesses. In Germany, the businesses are opening up but consumers are not coming in large numbers. In the UK, it's reported that footfall in shops started dropping even before lockdown by the government. So that means even after lockdown opens people will refrain from coming out in large numbers. IHS Markit’s Household finance index (It measure how households view their financial condition) fell sharply in April as compared to March. 
 
In Japan business confidence is reported to plunge at decade low and for the next few months, it may fall even further. While in Australia, the central bank (Reserve Bank of Australia) expects economic activity in the country can remain subdued till September. In India, lockdown is going on but the financial condition of small and medium business has taken a serious hit, Since a large amount of Indian workforce belongs to the unorganised sector, so fall in business and consumer sentiment can be expected. In the US, Michigan consumer sentiment index (Survey about consumer sentiment by the University of Michigan) declined sharply and the same trend is forecasted for conference board’s consumer confidence index. So all this shows that even sentiment of business and consumer suggest tough road ahead. &nbsp;

Even geopolitical tensions are persistent. Brexit negotiations involve a lot&nbsp;of stress. In the European Commission, member states are not agreeing on issuing corona bonds as there are underlying tensions between countries like Germany, Netherland on one side, and southern countries like Italy, France and Spain on the other. In Middle-East, the US and Iranian ships came quite close to each other recently and now US President Donald Trump has instructed the United States Navy to shoot down Iranian gunboats if they harass US ships. Even in North China sea, the US sent its warships as it believes that China is bullying in disputed waters. Recently China also arrested various prominent activists in Hong Kong which again irked the US. Not to forget political backlash against China in the whole world regarding coronavirus.&nbsp;

In fact, countries across Asia and Europe are tightening their FDI rules to prevent a hostile takeover of their domestic companies by foreign firms. The feeling of protectionist has increased. Although all this won’t lead to deglobalisation all these geopolitical tensions will pose an additional hurdle to economic recovery. &nbsp;

For financial markets, Oil gave a reality check to the broader market as investors realised that economic damage is quite&nbsp;deep. Still, equity markets seemed to be higher as compared to economic reality. Why? &nbsp;

Well, the market is so broad that there is always some segment where the money is flowing. Investors may feel refrain for some time due to uncertainty but then their investing brain (also impulse) starts churning up and they look for new attractive pursuits. Currently pharma and tech stocks like Netflix, Snapchat are enjoying the attraction. Given the interconnected system, other companies that are part of their ecosystem also enjoy some benefit&nbsp;

Since there is always some sector or company that gains due to a&nbsp;particular situation, the money keeps flowing there and that even drives the whole market up. &nbsp;

Now, there is massive liquidity and lack of attraction broad range of asset class like real estate, physical investment by consumers (Propensity to save during tough times increased) and businesses (No positive future expectations), commodities (Low or no demand) and even bonds (very low or negative yields). So due to lack of attraction in other asset class, the money is flowing in the equity market. This may be why the market has rebounded to some extent.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Coronavirus is not just once in a lifetime event, it’s something that is bringing a stream of once in lifetime events. Oil prices turning negative for the first time is the latest example of it.

Coronavirus is not just once in a lifetime event, it’s something that is bringing a stream of once in lifetime events. Oil prices turning negative for the first time is the latest example of it. It perfectly depicts how grave the ground reality of economic turmoil is. Since there was a lack of demand, and supply was very high the huge imbalance caused prices to go even negative for some time. Due to COVID-19 crisis, oil has shed the tears, but what’s the sentiment of global markets and economy? World Health Organisation (WHO) expects that in the next 6 months, cases in Africa can reach up to 10 million. So it seems virus will continue to impact the global economy for quite some time directly and even for longer indirectly. International Monetary Fund expects a developed economy to fall at a faster rate than emerging countries and global GDP is predicted to decline by 3 per cent in 2020. Developed countries are expected to decline by 6.1 per cent while emerging economies will fall by 1 per cent. IMF expects global GDP to revive next year and grown by 5.8 per cent where China and India are expected to lead the way. Countries in Europe are opening up, so currently it seems that dawn is approaching. However, there is a risk of the second wave which experts expect to be even more dangerous. If we look at data, Chinese GDP fell by 9.8 per cent in the Jan-March quarter as compared to the previous quarter, retail sales industrial production across the globe are witnessing declines. Inflation is subdued, job losses are ramping up. So yes we know things are currently very bleak, but how would they emerge in future? Well, that all depends on sentiment. The sentiment of consumers, businesses, CEOs and also politicians. As per the poll by Young Presidents' Organisation (YPO), 60 per cent of CEOs across the globe expect U-shape recovery. CEOs feel the rapid change has created a lot of uncertainty and some of them are fearful about the survival of their businesses. In Germany, the businesses are opening up but consumers are not coming in large numbers. In the UK, it's reported that footfall in shops started dropping even before lockdown by the government. So that means even after lockdown opens people will refrain from coming out in large numbers. IHS Markit’s Household finance index (It measure how households view their financial condition) fell sharply in April as compared to March. In Japan business confidence is reported to plunge at decade low and for the next few months, it may fall even further. While in Australia, the central bank (Reserve Bank of Australia) expects economic activity in the country can remain subdued till September. In India, lockdown is going on but the financial condition of small and medium business has taken a serious hit, Since a large amount of Indian workforce belongs to the unorganised sector, so fall in business and consumer sentiment can be expected. In the US, Michigan consumer sentiment index (Survey about consumer sentiment by the University of Michigan) declined sharply and the same trend is forecasted for conference board’s consumer confidence index. So all this shows that even sentiment of business and consumer suggest tough road ahead. Even geopolitical tensions are persistent. Brexit negotiations involve a lot of stress. In the European Commission, member states are not agreeing on issuing corona bonds as there are underlying tensions between countries like Germany, Netherland on one side, and southern countries like Italy, France and Spain on the other. In Middle-East, the US and Iranian ships came quite close to each other recently and now US President Donald Trump has instructed the United States Navy to shoot down Iranian gunboats if they harass US ships. Even in North China sea, the US sent its warships as it believes that China is bullying in disputed waters. Recently China also arrested various prominent activists in Hong Kong which again irked the US. Not to forget political backlash against China in the whole world regarding coronavirus. In fact, countries across Asia and Europe are tightening their FDI rules to prevent a hostile takeover of their domestic companies by foreign firms. The feeling of protectionist has increased. Although all this won’t lead to deglobalisation all these geopolitical tensions will pose an additional hurdle to economic recovery. For financial markets, Oil gave a reality check to the broader market as investors realised that economic damage is quite deep. Still, equity markets seemed to be higher as compared to economic reality. Why? Well, the market is so broad that there is always some segment where the money is flowing. Investors may feel refrain for some time due to uncertainty but then their investing brain (also impulse) starts churning up and they look for new attractive pursuits. Currently pharma and tech stocks like Netflix, Snapchat are enjoying the attraction. Given the interconnected system, other companies that are part of their ecosystem also enjoy some benefit Since there is always some sector or company that gains due to a particular situation, the money keeps flowing there and that even drives the whole market up. Now, there is massive liquidity and lack of attraction broad range of asset class like real estate, physical investment by consumers (Propensity to save during tough times increased) and businesses (No positive future expectations), commodities (Low or no demand) and even bonds (very low or negative yields). So due to lack of attraction in other asset class, the money is flowing in the equity market. This may be why the market has rebounded to some extent. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Historic fall in oil prices exposes the deep economic damage caused by coronavirus pandemic

During coronavirus lockdown in France, Bordeaux town hall has reinforced its meal delivery service for isolated senior citizens, assuring 1,100 to 1,200 meals daily compared to 600 before the COVID-19 crisis.

Doorstep meal delivery in France cheer up isolated senior citizens

The coronavirus, COVID-19, which originated in China and is responsible for the global pandemic, has a unique structural feature that none of its closest viral relatives yet identified have, a furin polybasic cleavage site.

Cleavage sites similar to that found in COVID-19 are present in some naturally-occurring coronaviruses, but in completely separate evolutionary pathways from COVID-19.

It has also been demonstrated that such coronavirus cleavage sites can be modified by genetic engineering to alter viral pathogenicity, sometimes increasing it.

For example, in a 2011 study, using site-directed mutagenesis, a non-infective influenza virus was<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1743-422X-8-64"> transformed </a>into a pathogenic one by the replacement of two native amino acids in its cleavage site with two new basic amino acids.

Scientists in China <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/11/10/972">have used site-directed mutagenesis </a>to alter the cleavage site of an infectious bronchitis virus by introducing basic amino acids, thereby increasing its pathogenicity and resulting in a “gain of function” such that the new virus was capable of infecting the brain producing “severe encephalitis.”

An alternative method for introducing a polybasic cleavage site and producing a pathogenic virus from a naturally-occurring non-pathogenic one is by a technique called <a href="https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.031591-0">“reassortment”</a> or mixing two or more viruses in a host animal or cell culture system from which a new virus emerges through a natural recombination process.

The scientific “conventional wisdom” claims that COVID-19 is a naturally-occurring bat beta-coronavirus that “jumped” from animals to humans presumably in the Wuhan Seafood Market, an assertion with which the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organisation wholeheartedly agree.

There is also general, if unproven, agreement within the scientific community that <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0820-9">the closest relative</a> to COVID-19, and perhaps the strain from which it evolved, is another bat beta-coronavirus named RaTG13.

But RaTG13 does not have COVID-19’s furin polybasic cleavage site nor do any of the other close relatives that have been so far identified.

One of the main reasons we do not yet know the origin of COVID-19 is because China has not opened its research files and databases for inspection, sources containing information about the vast number of coronaviruses they have isolated and the experiments conducted on them.

One example is RaBtCoV/4991 (GenBank KP876546), which is one of the many bat coronaviruses isolated from an <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26920708">abandoned mineshaft</a> in Yunnan Province, often mentioned as a potential starting point for a human disease outbreak.

Although isolated in 2013, RaBtCoV/4991 has never been fully sequenced or practically studied at all, even though,<a href="https://www.virology.ws/2020/02/20/pangolins-and-the-origin-of-sars-cov-2-coronavirus/"> according to one source</a>, &nbsp;the RaBtCoV/4991 short sequence is a 100 per cent match for RaTG13 and SNU01, the viral isolate from the first COVID-19 patient in South Korea.

Applying the bioengineering techniques of recombination, site-directed mutagenesis and reassortment, CoVid-19 could have been created through the introduction of a furin polybasic cleavage site onto an appropriate coronavirus “backbone” from the catalogue of isolated strains in Chinese laboratories. &nbsp;

China also has <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aalas/cm/2007/00000057/00000005/art00003">animal models</a> to test the ability of such new viruses to infect humans.

It is only the lack of candour by the Chinese government that prevents the world from knowing the true origin of COVID-19.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

The coronavirus, COVID-19, which originated in China and is responsible for the global pandemic, has a unique structural feature that none of its closest viral relatives yet identified have, a furin polybasic cleavage site.

The coronavirus, COVID-19, which originated in China and is responsible for the global pandemic, has a unique structural feature that none of its closest viral relatives yet identified have, a furin polybasic cleavage site. Cleavage sites similar to that found in COVID-19 are present in some naturally-occurring coronaviruses, but in completely separate evolutionary pathways from COVID-19. It has also been demonstrated that such coronavirus cleavage sites can be modified by genetic engineering to alter viral pathogenicity, sometimes increasing it. For example, in a 2011 study, using site-directed mutagenesis, a non-infective influenza virus was transformed into a pathogenic one by the replacement of two native amino acids in its cleavage site with two new basic amino acids. Scientists in China have used site-directed mutagenesis to alter the cleavage site of an infectious bronchitis virus by introducing basic amino acids, thereby increasing its pathogenicity and resulting in a “gain of function” such that the new virus was capable of infecting the brain producing “severe encephalitis.” An alternative method for introducing a polybasic cleavage site and producing a pathogenic virus from a naturally-occurring non-pathogenic one is by a technique called “reassortment” or mixing two or more viruses in a host animal or cell culture system from which a new virus emerges through a natural recombination process. The scientific “conventional wisdom” claims that COVID-19 is a naturally-occurring bat beta-coronavirus that “jumped” from animals to humans presumably in the Wuhan Seafood Market, an assertion with which the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organisation wholeheartedly agree. There is also general, if unproven, agreement within the scientific community that the closest relative to COVID-19, and perhaps the strain from which it evolved, is another bat beta-coronavirus named RaTG13. But RaTG13 does not have COVID-19’s furin polybasic cleavage site nor do any of the other close relatives that have been so far identified. One of the main reasons we do not yet know the origin of COVID-19 is because China has not opened its research files and databases for inspection, sources containing information about the vast number of coronaviruses they have isolated and the experiments conducted on them. One example is RaBtCoV/4991 (GenBank KP876546), which is one of the many bat coronaviruses isolated from an abandoned mineshaft in Yunnan Province, often mentioned as a potential starting point for a human disease outbreak. Although isolated in 2013, RaBtCoV/4991 has never been fully sequenced or practically studied at all, even though, according to one source, the RaBtCoV/4991 short sequence is a 100 per cent match for RaTG13 and SNU01, the viral isolate from the first COVID-19 patient in South Korea. Applying the bioengineering techniques of recombination, site-directed mutagenesis and reassortment, CoVid-19 could have been created through the introduction of a furin polybasic cleavage site onto an appropriate coronavirus “backbone” from the catalogue of isolated strains in Chinese laboratories. China also has animal models to test the ability of such new viruses to infect humans. It is only the lack of candour by the Chinese government that prevents the world from knowing the true origin of COVID-19. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How China could have made COVID-19 while hiding its origin

Donald Trump wants Harvard University to pay back money it received as a government grant. Harvard authorities want to keep the money to help its students. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you a report on Trump's latest fight.

Gravitas: Harvard University: Donald Trump's new enemy

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan is awaiting his test results for the Coronavirus. But he threw all caution the wind and attended a public event in Islamabad with a mask in his hand. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you a report.

Gravitas: Imran Khan skips self isolation, As Pak awaits test results

Oxford University's Coronavirus vaccine will enter human trials on Thursday. Meanwhile the United States is preparing for a second wave of cases for the winter. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you the big global developments for Wednesday.

Gravitas: The top global developments for April 22 | Wuhan Coronavirus

After the United States, Australia and Germany have now voiced demand for an international enquiry against China on coronavirus pandemic. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged transparency from China over virus.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel urges transparency from China over coronavirus

Another silent killer influenza may collide with COVID-19, thus intensifying the crisis. Watch our report to know more.

US: COVID-19 second wave to collide with influenza

Authorities in Manaus began digging mass graves on Tuesday to bury the increasing number of victims of Covid-19 in the city. According to a City Hall statement, the number of burials has more than doubled in the Nossa Senhora Aparecida public cemetery over the past few days.

Mass graves being dug in Brazil amid COVID-19 pandemic

Recently, discharged from hospital after being treated from the coronavirus, British PM Boris Johnson returned to work on April 21. He spoke with US President Donald Trump over a phone call. Both the leaders discussed the need to reopen economies.

UK PM Boris Johnson speaks to Donald Trump

When you grow up, the only thing you want to avoid is a routine. I avoided routine for 20 years as a reporter. Now I’m caught in a newsroom and find myself as a prisoner of routine. Though routine is not a bad word per se. It creates a sense of orderliness which is fundamental to a normal life. Young, on the contrary, appreciates a life which breaks this very routine.&nbsp;

Every generation does it. I chose journalism because I never wanted to do a 5-10 job. Journalism gave me the opportunity to travel and break the routine. Gradually, I made a shift to the newsroom where the job was to run the show. Enticing first, but later I found myself becoming a prisoner of routine defined by the compulsion of prime time.

It became more pronounced as I started to shoulder the output responsibility. It is not to say that the job is not enjoyable, but you definitely know deep down that you are not the king of your own time. Earlier, I was only a prisoner of breaking news or exclusive content, but now my life is held together by a timetable of bulletins and news which needs to be processed and produced.

Lockdown has added another layer to it. It has made newsroom less noisy. There are a few people. There is a limit to the work which can be assigned. It is not possible to pressurise the teams as channel needs to survive the pandemic with the staff in pink of health and mood. So, what was casual for me has become important as I need more work to utilise&nbsp;my time. Earlier, I would not feel the pinch for being confined to a newsroom and the chair.

Now it has become more pronounced. Streets continue to be empty and I cannot escape them. I only meet three courageous walkers in my society. I go to the same shop in Khan Market and meet the same people. I have not met my friends and I barely get to see my family.

In order to kill the sense of routine, I have started to keep a diary, filling it with mundane tasks to create a sense of importance in my life.

It allows me to escape the harsh reality of pandemic. The little diary allows me to escape the death count which has become the terrible reality of my routine. I have to face death count every day and I cannot escape that routine. It is like going to a mortuary and counting the number of dead. Here, the physical dimension of the body is absent as all you see are bodies in bags and numbers which need to be put on screen.

The routine has become more pronounced under the lockdown as it has robbed sense&nbsp;of touch.&nbsp;There is no hug or handshake.

Lockdown has created physical boundaries and only certain activities are allowed. You cannot stop your car and go for a walk in Lodhi Garden, impromptu. It would be tantamount to breaking rules. The only solace is that I do not work from home.

Before, the dawn of the modern industrial civilization, life was, primarily, work from the home scenario for 80 per cent of the people. The medieval towns were divided on the basis of profession practised by the people. Work creates an escape from forced isolation, but the lack of social activity makes you feel living the same day again, like the famous Hollywood film, 'The Groundhog Day'. I hope it ends soon for everyone, but the next normal will be a new normal and all of us will need to be ready for it.

&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

When you grow up, the only thing you want to avoid is a routine. I avoided routine for 20 years as a reporter. Now I’m caught in a newsroom and find myself as a prisoner of routine.

When you grow up, the only thing you want to avoid is a routine. I avoided routine for 20 years as a reporter. Now I’m caught in a newsroom and find myself as a prisoner of routine. Though routine is not a bad word per se. It creates a sense of orderliness which is fundamental to a normal life. Young, on the contrary, appreciates a life which breaks this very routine. Every generation does it. I chose journalism because I never wanted to do a 5-10 job. Journalism gave me the opportunity to travel and break the routine. Gradually, I made a shift to the newsroom where the job was to run the show. Enticing first, but later I found myself becoming a prisoner of routine defined by the compulsion of prime time. It became more pronounced as I started to shoulder the output responsibility. It is not to say that the job is not enjoyable, but you definitely know deep down that you are not the king of your own time. Earlier, I was only a prisoner of breaking news or exclusive content, but now my life is held together by a timetable of bulletins and news which needs to be processed and produced. Lockdown has added another layer to it. It has made newsroom less noisy. There are a few people. There is a limit to the work which can be assigned. It is not possible to pressurise the teams as channel needs to survive the pandemic with the staff in pink of health and mood. So, what was casual for me has become important as I need more work to utilise my time. Earlier, I would not feel the pinch for being confined to a newsroom and the chair. Now it has become more pronounced. Streets continue to be empty and I cannot escape them. I only meet three courageous walkers in my society. I go to the same shop in Khan Market and meet the same people. I have not met my friends and I barely get to see my family. In order to kill the sense of routine, I have started to keep a diary, filling it with mundane tasks to create a sense of importance in my life. It allows me to escape the harsh reality of pandemic. The little diary allows me to escape the death count which has become the terrible reality of my routine. I have to face death count every day and I cannot escape that routine. It is like going to a mortuary and counting the number of dead. Here, the physical dimension of the body is absent as all you see are bodies in bags and numbers which need to be put on screen. The routine has become more pronounced under the lockdown as it has robbed sense of touch. There is no hug or handshake. Lockdown has created physical boundaries and only certain activities are allowed. You cannot stop your car and go for a walk in Lodhi Garden, impromptu. It would be tantamount to breaking rules. The only solace is that I do not work from home. Before, the dawn of the modern industrial civilization, life was, primarily, work from the home scenario for 80 per cent of the people. The medieval towns were divided on the basis of profession practised by the people. Work creates an escape from forced isolation, but the lack of social activity makes you feel living the same day again, like the famous Hollywood film, 'The Groundhog Day'. I hope it ends soon for everyone, but the next normal will be a new normal and all of us will need to be ready for it. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: Surviving the routine during coronavirus lockdown

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was today seen attending a public event that too without wearing a mask. The containment norms dictates that any suspected case should be going to self-quarantine for 14 days, this is day after Pakistan PM met a well-known philanthropist who has been detected positive for the COVID-19 infection.

Pakistan PM chooses to attend public event instead of self-quarantine

Earth Day was first marked 50 years ago with a purpose to raise awareness about our roles in protecting the planet.&nbsp;

50 years of inaction later, nature seems to have taken the matter into its own hands. Our planet today looks nothing like it used to two-three months ago.

This pandemic has come as a blessing in disguise for the environment as it has spared the planet the daily ordeal of human activity. 
&nbsp; 
As a result, lions were spotted napping on a road in South Africa. In Cape Town, penguins were seen strolling through an empty street.

In Paris, birds have turned into explorers. The decline in human movement and noise pollution have rolled out the red carpet for birds that would otherwise be too scared or coy to come out.

Furthermore, a record 1.5 lakh flamingoes made their way to Mumbai's wetlands this year. In the UK too, nature is breathing a sigh of relief. Birds finally have their wings unclipped and deer are roaming freely at a London suburb. The number of leatherback sea turtle nests touched a 20-year-high in Thailand.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a magical effect on the earth. It has hit the much-needed pause button on human activity&nbsp;and nature is having a blast without us.

However, it may be snipped in the bud as soon as lockdown restrictions are eased, and hence, it's important to learn to co-exist. Protecting the planet is everyone's duty.

The pandemic has shown us that we still have time to heal the world. So, as we mark the 50th Earth Day - let's imagine a different future. A greener one, one defined by co-habitation, one that seemed impossible 2-3 months ago.

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Earth Day was first marked 50 years ago with a purpose to raise awareness about our roles in protecting the planet. 50 years of inaction later, nature seems to have taken the matter into its own hands.

Earth Day was first marked 50 years ago with a purpose to raise awareness about our roles in protecting the planet. 50 years of inaction later, nature seems to have taken the matter into its own hands. Our planet today looks nothing like it used to two-three months ago. This pandemic has come as a blessing in disguise for the environment as it has spared the planet the daily ordeal of human activity. As a result, lions were spotted napping on a road in South Africa. In Cape Town, penguins were seen strolling through an empty street. In Paris, birds have turned into explorers. The decline in human movement and noise pollution have rolled out the red carpet for birds that would otherwise be too scared or coy to come out. Furthermore, a record 1.5 lakh flamingoes made their way to Mumbai's wetlands this year. In the UK too, nature is breathing a sigh of relief. Birds finally have their wings unclipped and deer are roaming freely at a London suburb. The number of leatherback sea turtle nests touched a 20-year-high in Thailand. The coronavirus pandemic has had a magical effect on the earth. It has hit the much-needed pause button on human activity and nature is having a blast without us. However, it may be snipped in the bud as soon as lockdown restrictions are eased, and hence, it's important to learn to co-exist. Protecting the planet is everyone's duty. The pandemic has shown us that we still have time to heal the world. So, as we mark the 50th Earth Day - let's imagine a different future. A greener one, one defined by co-habitation, one that seemed impossible 2-3 months ago.

Earth Day: Coronavirus has helped the planet heal itself

A Haitian clothing manufacturer has switched from making pants for export to face masks and medical gear for local use in order to help the country battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Haitian clothing maker churns out face masks full time to battle coronavirus

Looking after an orphaned baby rhino is hard work: you feed them bottled milk at all hours, comfort them through constant fear and bereavement and endure long nights of screaming for the absent mother they witnessed being shot dead by poachers.

South Africans volunteer to keep rhino orphanage going during lockdown

Over 100,000 tulips were chopped at a Japanese park in Chiba prefecture to avoid visitors congregating at the park amid the coronavirus state of emergency declared by the government.

Japanese park cuts 100,000 tulips to avoid people gathering amid coronavirus crisis

Hydroxychloroquine is proving to be a dangerous medicine for treating the new coronavirus patients. Study showed that there were more deaths in those who were given hydroxychloroquine. Watch this video to know more.

Study: Hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs of patients

Georgia's National Ballet, the former Soviet country's famous folk dance ensemble, started giving lessons online after the group's popular dance schools closed their doors due to the coronavirus.

Dance at home: Georgian national ballet moves lessons online

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