SEVERAL international organisations are now engaged in the business of measuring what they call “poverty”. The World Bank has been in it for some time, but now we have a new measure of “Multidimensional Poverty” brought out by the UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). Neither of these measures however actually measures poverty; they typically end up “prettifying” neo-liberal capitalism. In fact according to the World Bank’s estimate, the proportion...
ON October 7, US scientists Victor Ambros of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Gary Ruvkun of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of microRNAs, or miRNAs, as key regulators of gene expression, which is a novel physiological mechanism. So far no confirmed applications have emerged from this discovery, despite considerable...
THE climate crisis that the humanity faces has been addressed by bourgeoisie theorists as a non-class issue to be resolved either by restraining consumption or by internalising climate costs in prices that disfavours polluters. The presumption for such theories is that individual consumption patterns involve increasing use of energy and particularly fossil fuel and to restrict carbon emissions climate action calls for restricting consumption.
ANY insurgent group, even one with a secessionist agenda, cannot be completely defeated through military means alone; a peace agreement between the state and the leadership of the insurgent outfit is essential. In this regard, the tripartite Peace Accord signed on September 4, 2024, between the ministry of home affairs, the government of Tripura, and the leaders of the NLFT-ATTF is a significant step...
ON October 8, 2024, a public meeting at Shivaji Mandir Hall in Dadar, Mumbai was organised by parties of the India bloc and various social organisations to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and denounce the Israeli genocide of children, women, medical personnel, journalists, activists and citizens in Gaza. This programme was part of the nationwide call by the Left parties, marking one year since the beginning...
AS public outrage intensifies over the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital, Bengal is grappling with a disturbing rise in rape cases, revealing a troubling culture that has developed under the TMC rule. These incidents reveal a stark reality: women of all ages are increasingly at risk, reflecting a concerning trend of lawlessness and violence...
THE activities of anti-India Khalistani elements operating in Canada have been a matter of serious concern and has a direct impact on national security. The Government of India is duty-bound to protect the national interest for which it has the support across political parties in India. The allegations levied by various official authorities of the Canadian government against India have been rejected by the Government of India.
IN February 2024, two years into the war in Ukraine and five months into the Israeli genocide in Palestine, the European Union released data on the mood of the European public. In terms of Ukraine, large majorities continued to support the provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to welcome Ukrainian refugees. But increasingly, there was growing scepticism about the enormous tranches of funds going toward the Ukrainian armed...
LAUNCHING year-long programmes including struggles on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) demanded institutionalisation of the ICDS, law for ensuring Right to ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) with anganwadi centres as nodal agencies and regularisation of workers and helpers with minimum wages and pension...
IN South Mumbai, BEST (electricity distribution company) has postponed the work of installing smart electricity meters. This company has 10.8 lakh residential and commercial consumers and it has already installed 3 lakh smart meters. All the houses and shops where these meters have been installed complain that they are getting double or triple electricity bills than before. The opposition of consumers is...
