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Around Town

Class changes how we see food. Dry fish, rice beer celebrated in restaurants, not at home

Food of economically disadvantaged groups is often ostracised. 'I’ve seen street vendors selling dried fish or fermented soybeans that are treated as though they’re dirty'.

Climate activists diss profit-driven COP29, say socialist action can bring change

‘Climate change is treated as a business opportunity rather than an urgent crisis,’ said environment secretary Leena Nandan at IIC, implicating the richer nations.

Strategic thinkers ignored India’s foreign relations pre-1947. Dhruva Jaishankar fills the gap

Rather than an all-encompassing treatise, Dhruva Jaishankar considers his book, ‘Vishwa Shastra’, a jump-off point for those interested in India’s strategic thinking.

Nawabs to temples & vada curry—Chennai walk traces hidden histories of Saidapet

Saidapet is usually off Chennai’s tourist map, but a 2-hour walk by Madras Inherited uncovers its temples, mosques, and traditional weavers' homes.

Bihar floods in Eklavya Prasad’s photos—a legacy of neglect, man-made barriers wreaking havoc

For nearly two decades, Eklavya Prasad has wielded his camera like a storyteller’s pen, capturing untold tales of resilience and despair from the flood-ravaged lands of North Bihar.

How queer are universities? Architect imagines DU north campus as a non-binary lesbian

The state and private real estate shape campus spaces to mirror the surveillance and scrutiny faced by LGBTQIA+ students, argued architect Chan Arun-Pina at a Bengaluru lecture.

Yuval Noah Harari discusses dangers of AI. Microsoft’s Copilot defends itself

In his latest book, Nexus, Yuval Noah Harari raises the basic question – If humans are so smart, why are we so stupid?

How filmmaker and accidental conservationist Mike Pandey spoke chimpanzee with Jane Goodall

Pandey started his career with Bollywood films like ‘Razia Sultan’ and ‘Jaan Hatheli Pe’. But he wanted his filmography to mean something, and wildlife conservation was the answer.

Sitaram Yechury saw music as resistance. ‘Kuch Toh Log Kahenge’ was always on his lips

Friends, professors, comrades and students came together Friday to celebrate the life and legacy of Yechury. Three books by the late CPI(M) leader were also launched at the event.

Carbon, chaos, communalism—book launch asks if cities can survive their own growth

At the launch of Cities Rethought: A New Urban Disposition, urban researcher Gautam Bhan warned that cities face a tough choice—grow or save the planet—while climate policies favour the powerful.

On Camera

Swraj Paul was the original NRI powerbroker. Helped Indira’s return, shaped India Inc

When he was asked why he was so loud in his criticisms of Indian industry when his purpose could be better served by a shrewder approach, he said, “Because I am a Punjabi, not a Marwari”.

New insolvency frameworks to shorter timelines, how 2025 amendment bill proposes to transform IBC

New bill aims to fix key issues with IBC 2016, including delays & patchy implementation, and protect creditors, with window for genuine promoters to retain control of their companies.

India and France to jointly develop and manufacture 120 kN engine for homegrown AMCA

The new engine, set to be developed over the next 10 years, will power the second tranche of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. First set will be equipped with GE 414 engines.

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?