Mass panic and mask shortage — the coronavirus scare that we were not prepared for has led to a mask shortage across the world for the medical staff who actually need it more than the rest of us and that's putting them at risk. As the number of COVID-19 cases rise worldwide, the pressure is ultimately on our healthcare systems, our doctors, and our nurses. At the time of the recording of this podcast, India had recorded a total of 169 cases and three deaths. At 45, The highest number of cases were reported from Maharashtra. We have read reports of on infected patients, about quarantine facilities, but how are doctors handling this unprecedented crisis? Tune in to The Big Story! Producer and Host: Shorbori Purkayastha Editor: Shelly Walia References: With Little Children At Home, Pathanamthitta’s COVID-19 Isolation Ward Staff Battle It Out (https://www.indiaspend.com/with-little-children-at-home-pathanamthittas-covid-19-isolation-ward-staff-battle-it-out/) Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide (https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/03-03-2020-shortage-of-personal-protective-equipment-endangering-health-workers-worldwide) Just 1 doctor to treat 11,000 patients: The scary truth of India’s govt healthcare (https://theprint.in/india/governance/just-1-doctor-to-treat-11000-patients-govt-report-details-indias-health-crisis/74013/) The World Needs Masks. China Makes Them — But Has Been Hoarding Them. (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/business/masks-china-coronavirus.html) Music: Big Bang Fuzz Listen to The Big Story podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fapple.co%2F2AYdLIl&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2oix78C&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2ntMV7S&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fspoti.fi%2F2IyLAUQ&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2Vrf5Ng&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Castbox: http://bit.ly/2VqZ9ur (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2VqZ9ur&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description)

The Big Story

403: Mass Panic & Mask Shortage: How Are Docs Handling Covid-19 Crisis?

"Reputation is the only thing a judge has," that's what former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had said in 2018 and it's this very reputation that is being questioned now, as he recently accepted a Rajya Sabha nomination only four months after his retirement. Gogoi said he will speak to the media about why he accepted this nomination after he takes his oath and we'll wait for his side of the story but why are former judges, supreme court advocates, and political leaders now questioning Gogoi on compromising the integrity of post of the Chief Justice of India? How does accepting a Rajya Sabha nomination endanger the integrity of the house of law? What message does this post-retirement job send to the people? Tune in to The Big Story! Producer and Host: Shorbori Purkayastha Editor: Shelly Walia Guest: Vakasha Sachdev, Legal Editor, The Quint Music: Big Bang Fuzz Listen to The Big Story podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fapple.co%2F2AYdLIl&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2oix78C&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2ntMV7S&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fspoti.fi%2F2IyLAUQ&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2Vrf5Ng&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Castbox: http://bit.ly/2VqZ9ur (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2VqZ9ur&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description)

402: What is Controversial About Ex CJI Gogoi’s Rajya Sabha Nomination?

Another battle against patriarchy won by Indian women! On 17 March judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that denying women who serve the nation a permanent commission in the Indian Navy would be a grave case of injustice. "They can sail with same efficiency as male officers," the top court said while cancelling the policy barring women officers inducted before 2008 from being granted permanent commission in the navy. That’s two victories in the space of a month because exactly a month back on 17 February, the top Court had ordered permanent commission for women officers in the army as well and said there will not be any bar on giving them command postings. So what doors does it open for women in the Indian armed forces and what do they have to say about this landmark judgement? Tune in to The Big Story for more! Producer and Host: Shorbori Purkayastha Editor: Shelly Walia References: India's soldiers 'not ready for women in combat' (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51385224) I Wanted to Join Army But Was Deterred by Disdain Towards Women (https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/gul-panag-on-supreme-court-indian-army-women) Is Govt & Army’s Argument Against Women Commanders ‘Appropriate’? (https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/indian-armed-forces-gender-parity-women-officers-commanding-positions-male-officers) Music: Big Bang Fuzz Listen to The Big Story podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fapple.co%2F2AYdLIl&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2oix78C&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2ntMV7S&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fspoti.fi%2F2IyLAUQ&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2Vrf5Ng&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description) Castbox: http://bit.ly/2VqZ9ur (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2VqZ9ur&redir_token=G9sQMbbppKv-LEFD29gDyTmPMzt8MTU3MTM4MDU5NkAxNTcxMjk0MTk2&v=xkpX1V6aUFo&event=video_description)

401: A Battle Won: How Permanent Commission Helps Women in Army & Navy

From its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in early February, India has now recorded over 110 infections, in the past 45 days, and the country’s first two deaths, making COVID-19 a crisis that’s growing with each passing day.   Last week India rushed to take contingency measures to try and limit the spread of the virus – It locked down its borders, stopped issuing new visas, and implemented mandatory 2-week quarantines for anyone arriving in India from a country with high rates of coronavirus infections.   But despite India’s best efforts, infections have only risen since and the question has now gone from can India limit the spread of the virus, to is India prepared to fight the novel coronavirus?   How did this number grow so rapidly? How are those infected being treated? And is India’s healthcare system equipped to handle a pandemic like COVID-19?   Let’s find out Guests: Dr. Sumit Ray, Chairperson Critical Care Medicine and Chief of Medical Services Dr. AP Joshi, Chief Medical Officer of ITBP Devina Buckshee, Health Correspondent, The Quint Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

400: Is India’s Healthcare System Equipped To Fight COVID-19?

The C-word continues to keep us on edge as India recorded its first coronavirus-related death while the worldwide death toll exceeded 4,500, sending governments into a tizzy, resulting in travel ban, cancellation and deferment of events and summits – and triggering a bloodbath in stock markets. The rupee hit a record low of 74.5 against the US dollar, and is set to go even lower, past 75, a market crash on Thursday, 12 March. wiped off Rs 11.28 lakh crore of investors’ money from the Bombay Stock Exchange, and share markets the world over witnessed heavy losses. The Indian stock market has been pummelled by coronavirus restrictions, the YES bank crisis, and falling oil prices. So why has India’s stock market been hit so bad? How can you and I approach investments right now? And is this a good time to invest and make money? Guest: Ritham Desai, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley India Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Riniki Sanyal

399: COVID-19 Hits Stocks: Rupee At Record Low, Rs 11.3 Trillion Gone In One Day

All within 24 hours, India barred the entry of foreigners for a little more than a month... It put on hold the visa-free facility granted to Overseas Citizen of India cardholders... It closed its border with neighboring Myanmar and advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel. And all this came just as the WHO officially declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. Besides tightening travel restrictions, India has put in place mandatory screening for all travellers and compulsory 14-day quarantines if you’re from the worst hit countries, including Iran, Italy, China, South Korea, among others. As many sectors grapple with the cascading effect of coronavirus, there's one sector that's hit in the most obvious manner - tourism, and as a result, aviation and hospitality sectors.. Foreign tourist arrivals have fallen by 67% from January to March. Domestic travels have also fallen by about 40%. Remember, India’s tourism industry contributes to nearly 10% of our GDP, and this chunk will take a hit. Guests: Shoba Mohan, Founder/Partner, RARE India Anand Menon, Vice President, Brand Leader, Leisure Outbound, Flight Centre Travel Group Aunindyo Chakravarty, Former Journalist, NDTV Profit Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

398: New Travel Restrictions Amid Coronavirus Bring India's Tourism to Its Knees

The Global Economy is bleeding, fast and heavy.   With the novel coronavirus now well beyond China’s borders, the impact on the world economy has been worrying, to say the least. According to think tank OECD or the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, global GDP growth could plummet to as little as 1.5% in 2020 if the outbreak continues to worsen... That's almost half the 2.9% rate it forecast before the outbreak, with several countries at the risk of recession.  In this backdrop of the world reeling from the pandemic spread of the coronavirus came the news on Friday, 6 March when Saudi Arabia launched an oil price war against its biggest rival producer – Russia – and announced its decision to raise crude production and cut prices... resulting in oil prices crashing as much as 30%, driving crude to its lowest level in four years. What started this price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia? What does it mean for the US – the third largest oil producer? And what do these new developments mean for India, at a time when the world is reeling under the grip of COVID-19? Guest: Aunindyo Chakravarty, Former Journalist/Founder, 'Desi Democracy' Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

397: Coronavirus & Falling Oil Prices Driving Us Into A Global Recession?

The MP Congress government is in a crisis. As of this podcast’s recording, MP Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia had tendered his resignation from the party after a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Almost simultaneously, news came out about Sonia Gandhi expelling Scindia from the Congress for anti-party activities. After this, at least 22 Congress MLAs tendered their resignations as well, including six MP cabinet ministers. The Congress has alleged that the BJP is poaching its MLAs and attempting a repeat of Operation Lotus, which the party carried out in Karnataka. The BJP has denied all allegations of poaching. What happens now in the MP government? Guest: Aditya Menon, Political Editor Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Jaskirat Singh Bawa

396: Will the Congress MP Government Collapse? What Now For The State?

Delhi currently has two relief camps for the people affected by the violence in northeast Delhi that took place between 23 and 26 February. Thousands have been displaced from their homes, forced to leave the capital or find shelter in these temporary relief camps set up in parts of Delhi. What is life in these relief camps like? What next for the survivors? And how has the government provided to take care of the worst affected? At least 53 people have been killed, 2400 arrested and nearly 700 cases filed in the violence that shook northeast Delhi from 23 February till 26 February when violent mobs carried out arson and targeted attacks. The ones who survived the attacks were forced to abandon their homes and flee, fearing for their lives. Guest: Asmita Nandy, Correspondent, The Quint Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Jaskirat Singh Bawa

395: After The Riots: What Is Life In a Relief Camp Like?

Depositors in Yes Bank received a rude shock on the evening of 5 March. The RBI placed a withdrawal limit on depositors, that they could only withdraw Rs 50,000 from their accounts in the next one month. The Reserve Bank of India also announced that it had superseded Yes Bank’s board of directors, for the next one month, and that this situation would be resolved soon. But barely eight months ago, the government did the same thing with PMC bank, imposing a withdrawal limit on depositors because of the bank’s failure, which led to panic and thousands of citizens losing access to their savings. So is Yes Bank in the same boat? What can you do if you have an account in Yes Bank? And how did we end up here? Guests: Hemant Hazari, Banking Analyst Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Jaskirat Singh Bawa

394: What Next For Yes Bank? How Can Its Customers Recover Their Money?

For the fourth time on Thursday, 5 March, Delhi's Patiala House Court issued a fresh death warrant for the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case. As it stands now, the convicts will be executed on 20 march, at 5:30 am. Remember, this is the fourth time....they were earlier slated for execution on three different dates- 22 jan, 1 feb and 3 march...and each time, their execution was deferred, or put on hold...but now the four convicts have exhausted all their legal remedies including a plea for mercy from the president. Will the four convicts finally hang? Or will they escape the gallows again? Guests: Vakasha Sachdev, Legal Editor, The Quint Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

393: Will The Nirbhaya Rape Convicts Finally Be Hanged on 20 March?

At least 28 cases of the Coronavirus have been confirmed in India as of 4 March 2020.  As of this podcast’s recording, the health ministry confirmed that there was 1 case in Delhi, 6 in Agra, 16 Italian tourists and their Indian driver who are now in quarantine in Manesar, 1 in Telangana and 3 in Kerala. More suspected cases are spilling forward with each passing moment. India is now scrambling to screen, identify and isolate any cases of the virus that have gone undetected. Meanwhile, globally, the Novel Coronavirus or the disease it causes - COVID-19 - has caused at least 3,131 deaths, and infected over 92,300 people. So is India prepared for COVID-19? How can you know what to believe and what not to believe about the Coronavirus? And what steps can you take to keep you and your families safe? Guests: Professor Ramanan Laxminarayan, Director, Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy Vaishali Sood, Health Editor, Quint Fit Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

392: Over 28 Coronavirus Cases in India: What Precautions To Take?

47 people were killed, over 200 injured, and dozens of homes looted and ransacked in the capital between 23 and 26 February.  Tensions in the capital have hardly been higher, with many muslims being the subjects of targeted attacks. Now in the midst of all this….imagine you see an image pop up on your social media feed. A photo of a man serving Biryani with a caption that reads:   'Biryani is cooked in separate vessels for Muslims and Hindus. The Biryani for Hindus is laced with tablets that makes one impotent. Restaurant in Coimbatore called Masha Allah of Rehman Bismillah was caught selling such Biryani. Beware! They’re getting at you in every possible way.'   Or another – a video of a murder victim from West Bengal with a caption that claims it was a result of communal violence in Delhi…   How would you react?   Well, these were just two stories from a barrage of fake news that’s been doing the rounds before, during and after the violence in Delhi.    In all this fake news, a lot of real news also gets lost or called fake. So today, we’re joined by the head of The Quint’s WebQoof Initiative, Kritika Goel. Guest: Kritika Goel, Head, WebQoof Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia In case you missed our previous episodes on busting fake news, WebQoof (https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof) is The Quint’s fact-checking initiative. Check out our previous episode busting fake news about the Novel Coronavirus (https://audioboom.com/posts/7496640) .

391: How Did Fake News Affect The Violence in Northeast Delhi?

The Afghan government has thrown a wrench in the United States' plan to negotiate peace with the Taliban. The US signed an agreement with the Taliban on 29 Feb, which hopes to end the US-Taliban war in Afghanistan that’s gone on for nearly 20 years now.    But the peace agreement, which the US and Taliban entered on 29 Feb, has already hit a roadblock, from none other than the Afghan government.   According to the deal, the US would remove its troops from Afghanistan and The Taliban was supposed to cut ties with Al-Qaeda and other terror outfits, which have terrorised Afghanistan and other countries for nearly two decades.    The Afghan government, which wasn’t a part of this deal, was also SUPPOSED to release 5,000 taliban prisoners in exchange for around a 1,000 prisoners held by the militant outfit….   But barely 24 hours after the deal was signed with the world watching…..Afghanistan said it WOULDN’T release the prisoners as per the deal. In response, the Taliban said they will resume ops against Afghan forces.   So what happens now? Will the US-Taliban agreement work? And what is the history of the conflict in Afghanistan over the past forty years?   Let’s find out. Voices:  Donald Trump, US President Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister  Ashok Sajjanhar, Former Indian Ambassador Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

390: Has US-Taliban 'Peace Deal' Failed Before It Could Even Kick Off?

“Remember, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And a good thing never dies.” Why am I quoting Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption? Delhi has witnessed targeted violence, arson and mob lynchings in the past week. As of this podcast’s recording at least 42 people have been killed, and over 200 left injured. At least 4 mosques have reportedly been burned down or defaced, homes, shops and vehicles, many belonging to Muslims, targeted and attacked, by mobs chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’, all of it documented on video. So where does hope fit into this picture? In the midst of the communal violence, a few stories have stood out, of Hindus protecting muslims, muslims saving hindus, communities coming together to protect one another in the midst of the hate and divisiveness. As Delhi picks up its pieces in the face of one of the worst sectarian clashes, let’s listen to some of these stories, and remember once more that hope is a good thing. And a good thing, never dies. Guests: Poonam Agarwal, Head of Investigations, The Quint Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

389: Stories of Hope & Unity From The Violence In Northeast Delhi

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