Bandar Review: Anurag Kashyap’s Kafkaesque Nightmare
With Bandar, Anurag Kashyap has created his most cynical and pessimistic film yet. It is a Kafkaesque nightmare dressed up as a prison drama.
India crush Afghanistan by an innings and 300 Runs
India produced a record-breaking performance in the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Mullanpur, securing a massive victory by an innings and 300 runs inside three days. The emphatic triumph surpassed India’s previous biggest Test win by an innings margin and highlighted the team’s dominance in all departments throughout the contest. After winning the toss and opting to bat, India piled up a commanding 564 for 8 declared. The hosts’ batters laid the foundation for a huge first-innings lead, with several top-order players making significant contributions and ensuring Afghanistan were immediately placed under pressure. Afghanistan struggled to respond against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar emerged as the star of the match, claiming a sensational six-wicket haul in the first innings. His spell helped bowl Afghanistan out for 152 and forced the visitors to follow on. Suthar continued to impress in the second innings as India’s bowlers maintained complete control. Afghanistan once again found scoring difficult and failed to erase the enormous deficit, eventually succumbing to a crushing innings defeat. The performance marked one of the most memorable Test debuts by an Indian bowler in recent decades. The victory was particularly significant for India as it came during the early stages of a new era under captain Shubman Gill. The hosts dominated with both bat and ball, while Suthar’s breakthrough performance provided a major positive for India’s future plans in red-ball cricket. For Afghanistan, the defeat served as a reminder of the challenges of competing against one of the world’s strongest Test sides away from home. Despite moments of resistance, the visitors were unable to match India’s intensity and experience over the course of the match. With the innings-and-300-run triumph, India not only sealed the one-off Test in emphatic fashion but also etched their name into the record books with the biggest victory in their Test cricket history.
“Took inspiration from Hitler for HYDRAA”: Revanth Reddy
A major political controversy has erupted in Telangana after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reportedly stated that the name of the state’s anti-encroachment agency, HYDRAA, was inspired by Adolf Hitler. The remark sparked strong reactions from political leaders, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which condemned the statement and accused the Chief Minister of making an inappropriate reference to one of history’s most infamous dictators. BJP leaders argued that any positive association with Hitler was unacceptable and demanded an unconditional apology from Revanth Reddy. According to reports, the Chief Minister said that the inspiration for the name HYDRAA came from Hitler. The statement quickly drew criticism and triggered a fresh political row in the state. BJP leaders expressed outrage, saying public figures should exercise greater caution when referring to controversial historical figures. The BJP also questioned the rationale behind linking a government agency to Hitler, even symbolically, and sought clarification from the Telangana government regarding the Chief Minister’s comments. Party leaders alleged that the remark reflected poor judgment and warranted a formal explanation. Meanwhile, the Telangana government has not indicated any plans to rename the agency. Supporters of the Chief Minister have defended him, claiming that his comments were being taken out of context. They argued that he was referring only to the process behind naming the agency and was not endorsing Hitler’s ideology or actions. The controversy has intensified political tensions in Telangana, with opposition parties continuing to target the Congress-led government over the remarks. HYDRAA, which is responsible for tackling encroachments and unauthorized constructions, has played a prominent role in demolition and enforcement drives across the Hyderabad region. However, the recent political storm has shifted public attention away from the agency’s operations and toward the Chief Minister’s remarks.
Why is the 7th of June important?
Globally, an estimated 600 million people fall ill annually from contaminated food, affecting nearly one in ten people. This leads to 420,000 deaths and the loss of 33 million healthy life years. Children under five bear a disproportionate burden, accounting for 40% of food borne disease cases and 125,000 deaths annually. The direct human consequences of consuming contaminated food vary depending on the type of bacteria, virus, parasite or chemical involved. Key health impacts include: * Acute gastrointestinal illnesses:Food poisoning often causes severe vomiting diarrhoea stomach cramps and dehydration. * Long-term diseases: Contaminants like inorganic arsenic or lead can lead to chronic illnesses such as heart disease and certain cancers. * Malnutrition and stunting: Repeated food borne illnesses in young children can impair nutrient absorption resulting in physical stunting and cognitive developmental delays. Harmful bacteria viruses parasites and chemical substances in food can cause over 200 different diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancers. This poses a significant threat to human health and economies particularly impacting vulnerable and marginalised groups like women children conflict-affected populations and migrants. The poor and young are most affected. Major challenges related to food safety in India Lack of infrastructure and resources: Insufficient infrastructure and resources present significant challenges in ensuring food safety across the country. Limited laboratory facilities and testing capabilities lead to inadequate monitoring and detection of contaminants. Poor storage and transportation facilities further exacerbate the problem by allowing improper food handling and increasing contamination risks. food contamination and adulteration:India faces significant challenges with food contamination and adulteration. Pathogens, chemicals and toxins contaminate food, while substandard ingredients and harmful substances adulterate food products. This compromises food safety and public health. The unregulated use of pesticides and chemical additives in agriculture and food production also contributes to food contamination. Poor hygiene and sanitation practices: Poor hygiene and sanitation practicesare another major concern. Lack of proper handwashing, sanitation facilities and clean water sources in food handling and processing establishments increases the risk of microbial contamination.Hygienic conditions in food markets, street food vendors and restaurants further spread food borne illnesses. The weak regulatory framework and enforcement: The weak regulatory framework and enforcement system exacerbate these issues.Inconsistencies in standards and regulations across different states and regions hinder uniform food safety practices. Limited resources and manpower for inspection and enforcement result in inadequate monitoring and control of food safety standards. Food safety relies on how food is produced stored handled and consumed. Governments international organisations scientists the private sector and civil society collaborate to ensure food safety through various measures. These include complying with global food standards establishing effective regulatory systems providing access to clean water promoting good agricultural practices and strengthening food safety management systems for food businesses. Food Safety Awareness To raise awareness about food safety issues, demonstrate prevention methods and discuss collaborative approaches to improved food safety across sectors, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) first celebrated World Food Safety Day on June 7, 2019. This event was organised in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organisations. Rapid urbanisation and changing food habits present additional challenges to ensuring food safety. The increasing demand for processed and ready-to-eat foods, as well as street foods, requires robust monitoring and regulation to address safety concerns. Under the slogan “Food safety, everyone’s business”, this action-oriented campaign aims to raise global food safety awareness. It encourages countries, decision-makers, the private sector, civil society, UN organisations and the general public to take action. Food safety is a shared responsibility involving governments producers and consumers. Everyone has a role from farm to table to ensure our food is safe and doesn’t harm our health. The World Food Safety Day 2026 campaign has launched with this year’s theme: “From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere”. Led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the campaign focuses on highlighting the burden of food borne diseases and the science-based solutions to prevent them. Activities hosted for promoting Food Safety Top, actionable activities for celebrating and promoting food safety include: Host Webinars and Workshops: Participate in or organise expert-led sessions, such as the official FAO Codex Alimentarius Webinars that focus on food standards and risk-based inspection programs. School and Youth Education: Set up “farm to fork” experiences or interactive hygiene poster-making and quizzes to instill lifelong safe food habits in children. Workplace or Community Demonstrations:Organise demonstrations that highlight safe temperature control, avoiding cross-contamination, and proper handwashing techniques. Awareness Campaigns: Engage your local community or use social media to share food safety tips and personal stories centered on evidence-based practices. Food Safety in India India has significantly strengthened its food safety framework through scientific regulation, institutional reforms and consumer awareness initiatives, though important challenges remain. Food Safety and Standards Act 2006: India replaced multiple food related laws with a unified framework under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, creating a modern science based regulatory system. Role of FSSAI:The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates food standards, licensing, testing, labelling, hygiene norms, consumer awareness and enforcement across the country. Adoption of Global Standards: India has increasingly aligned its regulations with Codex Alimentarius standards, helping harmonize food safety requirements with internationally accepted scientific principles. Scientific Standardisation: Regulatory measures include defined limits for Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), food additives, contaminants and other food safety parameters. Consumer Awareness Initiatives: Campaigns such as Eat Right India promote healthy eating habits, food hygiene awareness and greater public participation in maintaining food safety standards. Core Objective of Food Safety Efforts: The ultimate goal is to ensure safe and nutritious food for all citizens while reducing foodborne diseases, strengthening public trust and supporting sustainable food systems. Each Year’s theme The United Nations and World Health Organisation (WHO) establish a specific focal theme each year: 2019: Food safety is everyone’s business (Inaugural year) 2020: Food safety, everyone’s business 2021: Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow 2022: Safer food, better health 2023: Food standards save lives 2024 & 2025: Food safety: prepare