Iyer  

While the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, the slowdown in human activity is having some unexpected, but positive impact on our planet. To combat the rapidly spreading virus countries have put a lockdown resulting in limited travel and industrial activity. Limiting travel has led to a reduction in vehicle emissions and cutting the amount of industrial activity has led to a drop in the number of harmful particles put in the air. Watch this video to learn more.

As coronavirus cases surge globally, there’s one consumer product critical to the pandemic - The humble, cheap and effective SOAP. Respiratory viruses — like the novel coronavirus— can be spread via our hands. That’s why our hands are the front lines in the war against Covid-19. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands with soap and water. Although it states that using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help, CDC prioritizes soap. Watch this video to learn more.

The deadly Spanish Flu, which slipped in through a ship of returning soldiers that docked in Bombay in June 1918 destroyed India. Close to 18 million Indians were killed by the deadly influenza, which is more than all the casualties in World War One. According to reports, India lost 6% of its people – more women than men. The 1918 pandemic is said to have claimed anywhere between 50 to 100 million lives world over. Although medical realities are vastly different now, the fact remains that there is still no cure for coronavirus. One must remember that the 1918 flu happened in the pre-antibiotic era and there was not enough medical care for the critically ill. Back then in India, western medicines were not widely accepted and people relied on home remedies.However, separated by a century, there are some striking similarities between the two pandemics and some key lessons India can learn from the 1918 flu. Watch this video to learn more.

Researchers in China have found that people with Type A blood are likely to catch Coronavirus than those with Type O. The study in Wuhan also found those with Type A blood are more likely to die from COVID-19. Watch this video to learn more about what this study from China has to say.

The European Taskforce formed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to conduct research on developing a vaccine for Coronavirus has a Karnataka connection. Dr Mahadesh Prasad, a young scientist from Arkalgud, Hassan, is part 10 research teams formed to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Watch this video to find out more about this Karnataka scientist.

 

In April 2015 following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates, had predicted that the world would struggle to cope with a highly infectious virus and also warned about its dangers. Unfortunately, it appears that nobody listened to him then, as the world continues to battle with the coronavirus pandemic. It all happened when Bill Gates participated in a 2015 Ted Talks and revealed his fears of a potential global epidemic. Gates, who has donated 50 million dollars to speed up the development of a coronavirus treatment, had also made an appeal for becoming better prepared to tackle the same. So what did Bill Gates really say in his Ted Talks titled – The Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready. Watch this video y Sunita Iyer to know more.

Holi, the festival of colours is all about good food and celebrations. It is that time of the year when friends and family gather to prepare delicious snacks and sweets throughout the week, as preparations for Holi begin well in advance. Here's a list of 10 traditional Holi dishes you must enjoy this year.

In a rare move, capital-starved Yes Bank was on March 5 placed under a moratorium with the RBI capping deposit withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account for a month & superseding its board. Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment. RBI has assured Yes Bank depositors that their interest will be fully protected and that there is no need to panic. The regulatory actions came after SBI was directed to bail out the troubled lender. For the next month, Yes Bank will led by Prashant Kumar, an ex-chief financial officer of SBI. If you're a Yes Bank account holder, here's all you need to know.

As coronavirus cases continue to spread around the world, a decade old medicine has reportedly emerged as hope for COVID-19 victims. Some patients infected with the novel coronavirus can develop uncontrolled immune response, leading to potentially life-threatening damage to lung tissue. After seeing promising results in clinical practice, Chinese authorities now recommend Swiss drug maker Roche’s arthritis drug named Actemra to tackle that rampage. Watch this video for more.

Even as the coronavirus outbreak spreads at an alarming rate across the globe, many people seem to think wearing a face mask will keep them safe. But is it true? Do you really need to get one for yourself? Let’s sift fact from fiction. According to the World Health Organization, healthy people don't need to wear masks unless they're caring for someone who may have Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. On the other hand, people with fever, cough and breathing difficulties should wear masks and go see a doctor. Watch this video for more. ALSO WATCH - Precautions to take to keep Coronavirus at bay: https://youtu.be/q7JA_OvR7Z8

Even as authorities world over scramble to contain the coronavirus outbreak, let’s take a quick look at what precautions you can take to keep COVID-19 at bay. The World Health Organization, which has declared the outbreak as a global emergency, have come out with a list of preventive measures one can take to stay away from COVID-19 infection. Watch this video to find out more.

India opener Shafali Verma achieved another high on Wednesday (March 4) after she grabbed the top spot in the T20 International Rankings for women in the latest list released by the International Cricket Council. 16-year-old Shafali is the youngest Indian ever - in men's and women's cricket - to be ranked No. 1 in any ICC Player Rankings table. She jumped 19 places and surpassed former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates to grab the top spot with 761 points. Watch this video to find out more.

In 2008, psychic Sylvia Browne warned the world of a pneumonia outbreak in 2020? Was she talking about Coronavirus Outbreak? 

Also watch: Biggest conspiracy theory around #coronavirus: https://bit.ly/2xa8SgS

On February 29, 2020, at Melbourne, crafty Indian left-arm spinner Radha Yadav spun a web around Sri Lanka, claiming 4 wickets for 23 runs in the final league game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. As a result, Sri Lanka was bundled out for 113/9 and Indian eves registered a 7-wicket win - topping their group by virtue of this victory. This lethal spell has brought to fore the story of this Mumbai vegetable seller’s daughter. Watch this video to know more.

The 'Yakshagana' stage in Karnataka is witnessing a curious spectacle with a Muslim woman artiste creating waves with her performances. Arshiya, the artiste from Vittal in Dakshina Kannada district, is the first woman from the Muslim community to venture into the popular traditional theatre art form. At one time, women were barred from Yakshagana stages. A Muslim woman exponent on stage has attracted the attention of Yakshagana lovers in Karnataka. Let’s find out more about this artist in this episode of Culture ‘Shauk’ with Sunita Iyer.