Bengaluru malls continue to record low footfall despite precautions & concessions

Bengaluru malls continue to record low footfall despite precautions & concessions 1

By Ritika Srivatsan Although it is over three months since the government allowed the malls to reopen, they still lie deserted and silent, despite taking adequate precautions and offering concessions, such as a lower parking fee. Disinfection tunnels, clockwise walking paths and cheaper parking Malls and specifically, stores and restaurants inside them, are great places … Read more

COVID-19 and beyond: One frontline warrior reveals all about medicare

Dr Oliver Rodrigues

By Zahid H Javali Dr Oliver E Rodrigues is a frontline warrior for the underprivileged in Bangalore. After graduating in medicine (MBBS) from St John’s Medical College, Bangalore, he completed his post graduation in family medicine from CMC, Vellore. He has been in rural private practice since 2006. Besides, he takes care of patients in … Read more

E-learning: How Some Bengaluru Teachers Are Grinning and Bearing it!

e-learning

By Ritika Srivatsan E-learning has impacted not only students as we have reported earlier but also teachers who are adapting to the learning curve. In March, many thought of online learning as temporary. However, after nearly seven months of remote lessons, e-learning is here to stay, and so are its implications. Teachers feel this year … Read more

Beware of the WhatsApp chain link scam

whatsapp scams

By Zahid H Javali Beware of the WhatsApp chain link scam. It appears to be a helpful message of how you can win money, gifts, and rewards for just clicking on a link. However, when you do that, what really happens is a game of data harvesting, and generating traffic to a website that does … Read more

Lockdown adoptions: Hamsters spin the wheel!

hamster

By Qamar ZJ During COVID-19, pet owners have risen in number. And hamsters are proving to be particularly popular as they are low-maintenance and can take care of themselves in their all-purpose cage with a spinning wheel for company. This particular video of a hamster on his own treadmill of sorts will win many hearts. … Read more

How to preserve car battery and prevent starting trouble during COVID-19

preserving car battery

By Zahid H Javali Lockdowns, road and footpath works in residential areas, and long relocations and vacations can drain your car’s battery. The problem can be to such an extent that you cannot start your car the next day. What do you do to prevent draining your vehicle’s battery? The short answer is in this … Read more

E-learning: How some students are finding it tough in Bengaluru!

E-learning

By Ritika Srivatsan Online classes are wreaking havoc on the lives of some students, impacting mental health, grades and future options. Many fear this year will significantly affect the rest of their lives and continue to haunt them long after the pandemic is over. The United States was one of the first countries to reopen … Read more

SPOT CHECK: A Metro Ride After Reopening

Bangalore Metro

Stations taking great precaution, but negligible footfall By Ritika Srivatsan Namma Metro has now begun operating both Purple (Baiyyappanahalli-Mysore Road) and Green lines after a five-month hiatus. The Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli (Green line) stretch became functional yesterday; joining its counterpart which began working three days ago. Increased security, handsfree thermal screening and smartcards Security staff donning personal … Read more

MedPlus in the dock: Package shows with respirator; mask delivered without valve

MedPlus in the dock: Package shows with respirator; mask delivered without valve 4

By Zahid H Javali MedPlus is at it again. After we broke the story about how fake N95 masks are being sold by the Hyderabad-based online pharmacy chain, there is some visible change. Now, instead of a non-branded packaging of masks in an open and transparent plastic cover, they are sending the masks in a … Read more

COVID-19: Experts recommend alternative medicine to boost your immunity

alternative medicine

By Ritika Srivatsan Since there is no vaccine available yet to prevent COVID-19, experts have stressed on the importance of acquiring better immunity. Therefore, alternative and natural immunity-boosting therapies, such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Reiki, are becoming increasingly popular. Alternative practitioners advocate that drinking herbal concoctions elevate a person’s immunity. They add that fumigating homes … Read more

COVID-19: Bengaluru’s air pollution is rising steadily, post-lockdown

peenya air pollution

By Qamar ZJ The pollution loads, be it Particulate Matter 2.5 or PM 10, are steadily rising in August and September compared to the relatively healthier readings in April and May. This result is uniform across all the areas where the air pollution is being monitored in the city. While some areas suffer from PM10, … Read more

Amazon sellers are bribing users for ‘five star’ reviews

amazon fake reviews

By Zahid H Javali Amazon sellers are giving discounts, and extended warranties to buy ‘five star’ reviews on the ecommerce site. Therefore, not all products which have hundreds and thousands of ‘five star’ reviews could be genuine. The customers are advised to go through the comments, ask their friend circles, and do some due diligence … Read more