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Consider this - the WHO says that "no threshold [of small particulate concentration] has been identified below which no damage to health is observed" and so, they've instead stated a guideline that aims to achieve the lowest possible PM concentration - this is 10 micrograms per cubic metre for PM 2.5. Delhi's is 15 times that much!

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You can control your anger, but what will you do? You will suppress it. And what happens when you suppress a certain thing? The direction of its movement changes: it was going out, and if you suppress it, it starts going in -- just its direction changes. And for anger to go out was good, because the poison needs to be thrown out.

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Language, culture and history provide a pillar of psychological support to us and give us pride in our country. Not being exposed to the above could be one of the reasons why so many of the youngsters I meet are not proud of their country nor have an attachment to it. I, therefore, sometimes think that there is a merit to the present BJP government's policy of introducing Indian classics in schools.

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Today, there is a virtual war going on between hundreds and thousands of e-commerce stores that are fighting to attract more customers, sales and subsequently profits. However, many of these businesses fail to build their most important weapon - customer satisfaction and loyalty.

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You can do the same with your irritating and demanding relatives: Take no notice of the negative but just reply with a positive. It's fun to see what happens! Here are some other ways we can help ourselves.

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From time to time I review my "naughty" list to make sure I haven't fallen back to old habits. We have all heard the saying "out with the old, in with the new." Truthfully, we can't enjoy the new if we don't make a conscious effort to get rid of the old.

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Both cash and prepaid cards ride on the convenience quotient only. However, the "secured" element of the transaction also needs to be given equal consideration -- the Paris attack and the Delhi heist should serve as a wakeup call to all stakeholders. Both avenues will have a 9/11 moment soon and legislation is bound to come in to control their usage. The Finance Ministry has already issued a paper talking about tax incentives for merchants accepting digital payments.

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Having worked in the education sector for the past three years, I've come up against many issues that need urgent fixing. However, I've encountered many promising stories of change as well. My experiences have taught me that if children deeply understand social issues and decide to take charge, they can not only influence their own lives but also create a tremendous positive impact within their communities.

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My divorce case was initiated about 10 years ago and my spouse was (and is) a member of Khar Gymkhana Club. He was a primary member and as his wife I became a secondary member. When things started souring between us I started going more often to the club to use the gym and library. While this was going on, my spouse sent a letter to the club asking them to bar me from using the facilities.

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Anuvab & Kunaal discuss the high pollution levels in Delhi and the government's recent odd-even formula. Merit aside, it is the logistics they are worried about - what if a traffic cop can't read the last digit on a number plate because of all the smog?

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As a doctor, I'm going to tell you to stop stressing. Not only do most of those deprivation-fueled tips not work (who writes those things anyway?), staying healthy without obsessing is much easier than you think. That's mainly because there are likely things that you already enjoy -- and don't realize how good they are for you. Emphasize these four things and you won't have to choose between celebrating and health after all:

The holidays are here, and you're wondering what kind of wine you should have on hand. Never fear, here is a top selection of wine for hostess gifts, impromptu get-togethers, family holiday parties, and quiet nights sitting by the fire.

For some, a cup of red wine (or tomato sauce or gravy) is not a refreshing party prop -- it's an embarrassing stain waiting to happen. Here's the best method for handling a stain before it turns catastrophic.

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During question hour in Parliament this month, the government was asked in the Rajya Sabha what decision it had taken on the implementation of the Jeevan Reddy Committee's recommendations. The government replied that no decision had been taken, saying it needed to "evaluate the situation on the ground" first. This is only one of many times a question related to the AFSPA, and the possibility of its repeal, has been raised in Parliament, and has met with a vague and unsatisfactory response.

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The price of insecure tenure is proving to be much too high and is being borne not only by the slum inhabitants, but also the broader society and economy. It is time to stop viewing slum households as the problem, and start recognising the untapped potential. For example, a simplistic calculation implies there is potential for at least Rs 3,000 crore of tax revenues for municipal governments if the tenure rights of the slum households can be formally recognised.

Rita Banerji

For Calcutta, Christmas is an event where the city celebrates its centuries-old history and its multitudes of immigrant communities, cultures and religions in a manner that they retain their uniqueness, even as they blend, seamlessly, into one big celebration. It's an experience I've not witnessed with any other religious festival in India or anywhere else. It is this joy I share here with a set of pictures I took as I went around the city yesterday, enjoying its pre-Christmas celebration.

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Terrorism isn't caused by an act of war or a fundamentalist speech -- it is caused by the inequalities that countries have faced in the past as well as the ones they are facing today. Inequalities that only get exaggerated by problems like climate change. Religion isn't at the root of terrorism, it is scarcity of resources and a lack of empathy. Nothing illustrates this as well as the story of Syria.