Smart shopping Sir — Thrift shopping — buying used items at reduced prices — has gained popularity in the West, especially when it comes to clothes and accessories. India, too, has...

Loyal companions Sir — A first information report has been filed against a Noida resident who took his pet dog to the Kedarnath shrine. The irony of this happening at Kedarnath is that dogs are...

Useless expense   Sir — There was a time when longevity and complete protection from the rain were the selling points for umbrellas. Not so anymore. The luxury brands, Gucci and Adidas, h...

Dangerous standards Sir — Regressive beauty standards have taken many lives. A 21-year-old Kannada television actress, Chethana Raj, recently passed away owing to alleged complications after sh...

Complete care Sir — The environment ministry has notified Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. This area is considered by conservationists as critical to the tigers’ m...

Lost meaning Sir — In the short story, “The Gift of the Magi”, by O. Henry, an impoverished couple sacrifices their most prized possessions to give each other Christmas presents. Gi...

Eyes wide shut Sir — Politicians are often blind to the harsh realities faced by the people they represent. This was evident in a recent remark by the British Conservative leader, Lee Anderson,...

Safe swig Sir — Inebriation and alertness do not go hand in hand. This is dangerous for women, who find it difficult to enjoy their drink without worrying about predators who might take advanta...

Pour it out   Sir — There has been a rise in the popularity of low and non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverages in the urban Indian market. However, before commercially-produced packaged d...

Parental trap   Sir — Parents do not always see eye to eye with their children. But an elderly couple from Uttarakhand has taken their discontent a step too far. They have sued their son ...