Author: Nakula Barvadekar

Clothes tumble out of skyscrapers, pile up in stairwells, and clog pavements and streets. A voice instructs viewers to “visualise 190,000 garments produced each minute”. The cityscape drowning in textiles is just one of the dystopian scenes generated in Netflix’s new documentary Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, which critiques contemporary retailers for their buy more (waste more) business models. Most of us know that contemporary consumption patterns are unsustainable. In Scotland – where we authors live – it is estimated that 80% of our carbon emissions come from “things we make, buy, use and ultimately throw away”. And we are throwing away more…

After floods caused by Cyclone Fengal led to devastation, the US Department of State has urged American citizens in India to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program (STEP) to stay informed during emergencies such as the recent floods in Tamil Nadu. The US Department of State has urged American citizens in India to register in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program (STEP) to stay informed during emergencies such as during the recent floods in Tamil Nadu. Speaking exclusively to India Today TV, Carlton Benson, Chief of American Citizen Services, explained the importance of STEP. “STEP is a free digital service…

The man said there has been no sense of accountability or introspection forthcoming from the woman. An Indian-American family subjected to racial harassment last month plans to press charges against the woman who hurled abuses at them, emphasising the need for accountability and speaking out against hate. The incident took place in November when renowned photographer Pervez Taufiq, 50, was travelling with his wife and three kids from Mexico to Los Angeles in a bus. A fellow female passenger went on a racist diatribe against the family while it was onboard the United Airlines shuttle bus. Taufiq posted a video…

Washington 9 November (30). Whatever feelings about Trump, and you’re not alone in your view that he’s been a polarizing figure. Whether people support or oppose him, there’s no denying that he’s left a lasting imprint on American politics, often evoking comparisons to historical figures like Hitler but more like Mussolini, sometimes for his strongman persona and authoritarian rhetoric, rather than direct parallels to Hitler. This is a leftist narrative. From a policy standpoint, many critics, argue that Trump’s approach has often seemed shallow or reactionary, with an emphasis on rhetoric over substantive, long-term solutions. His style, which can be…

Several districts of Kyiv and other regions across Ukraine were struck by an hours-long heavy Russian drone attack overnight, Ukraine said, with local AFP reporters saying new explosions had been heard in the afternoon. The attacks caused “damage and casualties”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.  Ukraine said on Saturday Kyiv had come under heavy drone attack overnight, as fresh explosions were heard in the capital and other regions were struck. “Unfortunately, the attack by Russian drones caused damage and casualties in various districts of Kyiv,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He said that the “constant terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities prove that the pressure on Russia…

Washington 6 Nov (20). Donald J. Trump is back. Hate him or love him but we got four years more with the same narcissistic copy of Mussolini. Not Hitler, but Mussolini. Trump has managed to polarize everyone. On the policy side Trump is as shallow as the old guard. Trump brings back the babes of pretty in heels and tight dresses. But that’s all. Now a disclaimer. Harris and Biden are to blame for the Democratic defeat. So were Pelosi, Schumer, and Schiff but Harris and Biden topped it. And who wants a family crushing social climber who stepped over…

Pro-EU president Maia Sandu faces Alexandr Stoianoglo in polls marred by accusations of Kremlin vote-buying Moldovans are going to the polls for a second-round vote to choose between the incumbent pro-EU president, Maia Sandu, and a Russia-friendly challenger. Despite securing 42% of the vote in the first round, Sandu faces a tough challenge in Sunday’s runoff against an opposition bloc led by Alexandr Stoianoglo of the Socialist party, which aligns with Moscow. The election in this small nation of under 3 million people in south-eastern Europe follows a referendum in which a slim majority voted in favour of pursuing membership of the…

Chinese tourists huddle together against the brisk autumn breeze on a 12-storey building, vying for the best spot to photograph the point where their country meets Russia and North Korea. The three national flags overlap on a map on the wall, which explains that Fangchuan in China’s north-east corner is a unique place for that reason. “I feel very proud to be standing here… with Russia on my left and North Korea on my right,” declares one woman on a trip with her co-workers. “There are no borders among the people.” That might be overly optimistic. Like the sliver of…

North Korean soldiers have been filmed receiving uniforms and equipment at a training ground in Russia’s far east, appearing to confirm reports from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) that 1,500 soldiers have been shipped over for military training to be deployed in Ukraine. The North Korean troops are thought to be receiving training before being sent to the front line in Ukraine, in what is thought to be a clear sign of the ever-warming relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. In a video shared with CNN by Ukrainian government organization the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security, a long line of…

Paris/Jakarta (24/7 – 28.57). “Coffee is the common man’s gold, and like gold, it brings to every person the feeling of luxury and nobility.” – Sheik-Abd-al-Kadir A friend recently opened a coffee shop is called after its owner, Muteeya. Though modest, it embodies the burgeoning coffee culture found in Paris, London, the US, and now Jakarta. The coffee is steaming hot, and soft tunes fill the air. Outside, rain pounds against the window, streaking down and forming small puddles on the street. As I gaze through the glass blurred by water, I take a sip of my warm coffee,…