Beyond Layoff

India recorded its highest single-day total of new coronavirus cases Sunday with 78,761 new cases. The new total gives the country more than 3.5 million new cases. India, which has reported more than 75,000 new infectious four days in a row, has the fastest-growing daily caseload of any country, according to The Associated Preess . The surge raised India’s tally to over 3.5 million, and came as the government announced the reopening of the subway in New Delhi, the capital. It also will move ahead with limited sports and religious events next month. A country of 1.4 billion people, India now has the fastest-growing daily coronavirus caseload of any country in the world, reporting more than 75,000 new cases for four straight days. In the meantime, however, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pushed for normal life to resume in the nation. India’s central government announced the New Delhi subway will begin the reopening process Sept. 7, although schools, universities and movie theaters will...

A recent news story highlighted how passengers clapped as an ‘Airline Karen’ was kicked off flight for refusing to wear face mask Now comes news that another woman was caught on camera becoming irate at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Wednesday after she refused to wear a mask while on a flight. According to American Airlines, 47-year-old Yolanda Yarbrough was on Flight 2027 from Los Angeles to Phoenix, but she wouldn't wear a mask while in the air, which is a mandatory policy for the airliner. After landing in Phoenix, an Airline employee told her that she couldn't get onto her connecting flight to Las Vegas because she wouldn't wear a mask.  Police said Yarbrough got furious and struck the employee in the face with her hand. The worker was not hurt. Officers arrived and arrested Yarbrough, who was then booked into jail on an assault charge. Yarbrough was banned from flying on American "pending further investigation," the  American Airlines said. Ot...

The recent COVID headlines have brought a slew of Karen stories and memes like this recent one  Video of ‘Costco Karen’ Goes Viral after she throws a temper Tantrum when asked to Wear Face Mask    A recent New York Times feature, "A Brief History of ‘Karen’  examines the recent phinomina of a moniker that has morphed into a symbol of racism and white privilege. The features explains that in 1965, it was the third-most-popular baby name in the United States. In 2018, it was the 635th — and today it’s even less popular. How did Karens fall so far? The NYT writer muses  Karen” now roams restaurants and stores, often without a mask during this coronavirus era, spewing venom and calling the authorities to tattle, usually on people of color and often putting them in dangerous situations. And while this archetype had previously been called “Permit Patty” or “BBQ Becky,” “Karen” has stuck.   In another NYT feature, Philip Galanes muses "I try not to ...

Amid surge in Covid-19 cases, Health Minister of the Indian state of Karnataka, B Sriramulu, on Wednesday expressed helplessness saying "only a God can save us."   Speaking to reporters in hi-tech capital Bengaluru (Bangalore), the minister was quoted saying, "The Covid-19 cases are proliferating rapidly. The situation is getting out of hand. Only God can save us." Responding to the allegations by the opposition party, Congress, about  financial anomalies in procuring medical equipment and safety gears, the Health minister said, "The virus is spreading fast. In such situation the Congress is indulging in cheap politics. The government is ready to face the consequences of its actions. But the Congress must stop making wild and baseless allegations"  Sriramulu said the Ayush and MBBS doctors should not strike work in crisis situation, "The government is ready to discuss their demands. A few private hospitals are bringing a bad repute to a...

All of us are closely watching for the unfolding events as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to impact businesses, lives and careers around the world. We are all grappling with a barrage of news while trying to make sense of it. Corporate leaders, educationists, aspiring students and their parents are trying to make sense of two recent announcements coming from ICE and Harvard University that are likely to have far reaching consequences. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Monday that students on visas must leave US if their schools and universities go online-only. The announcement (link) highlights “Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States. The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these stude...