Although many people believe that their plastic waste is managed effectively and properly through recycling, a good amount of exported plastic waste ends up in countries that lack proper waste management facilities. Sometimes, plastics that are considered recyclable are burned in the open, emitting dangerous gases and particles into the atmosphere. Recycling of plastics, export of plastic waste, international recycling of plastics, pollution from plastics, open burning of plastics, threats to public health, air pollution, waste management and environmental pollution, especially due to global plastic waste, are increasingly interconnected in an emerging environmental crisis.

The hidden reality of exported plastic waste: where does it go?

For years, developed countries have been disposing of plastic waste in poor countries to process it. Its purpose is to process the waste and eventually put it back into circulation. However, most of these materials cannot be recycled properly due to contaminants and mixed materials.When recycling facilities are overwhelmed, plastic waste is often dumped, buried or burned. Researchers studying global waste management have identified open burning as one of the most overlooked forms of plastic pollution. Dr. Therese M. CarlsonDoctor of Philosophy, Science and Technical Advisor at the International Pollutant Elimination Network (IPEN), describes open burning of plastic waste as “highly prevalent around the world” and notes that the actual amount of plastic and plastic waste, and the actual amount of toxic chemicals present in the waste, being moved globally through plastics and trade is likely to be even higher. As plastic production increases, plastic waste will also skyrocket. Estimates show that we will generate 26 billion tons of plastic waste by 2050. We cannot sustainably manage this level of waste production, and without global policies to reduce plastic production, the unequal exchange of plastic waste from high-income countries to non-high-income countries will continue.The issue extends beyond garbage and landfill sites. Once plastic is burned, pollutants are released directly into the atmosphere, affecting both local communities and the wider ecosystem.

What effect does burning plastic have on public health?

The health consequences of burning plastic are becoming increasingly clear. Studies show that when plastic is burned, a complex composition of toxic substances such as dioxins, furans, heavy metals and fine particles are emitted into the air.In their study, “Open burning of plastic waste: an urgent global health issueScientists claim that the pollutants emitted when burning plastic may remain active even after all the smoke and odor has disappeared.These pollutants can affect not only the air but also the lungs, blood and surrounding environment. Exposure to these pollutants can cause respiratory infections, heart disease, developmental disorders, and many other diseases.Joseph Hoover, who holds a doctorate from the University of Arizona and is also part of the core faculty of the Center for Indigenous Resilience, speaking in an interview with Susan Cozier National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesIt also notes that burning plastic waste at home has a huge impact on air pollution and health, especially in areas where there is no waste collection system.It is estimated that approximately two billion people around the world have no access to garbage collection.

Why does open burning remain a global environmental challenge?

An additional reason why open burning of waste continues despite efforts to address the problem is that it can sometimes become an informal means of waste disposal due to inadequate infrastructure. If garbage collection services are either sporadic or non-existent altogether, communities may lack other options.The above study on waste management practices in India, Indonesia, Philippines and Zambia states that burning plastic is often considered a practical way to reduce waste volume despite insufficient awareness of its long-term effects on health.Open burning of plastic waste can pose serious risks to both businesses and the general population as contaminated smoke is inhaled by waste workers and nearby communities. Aerosols produced by burning plastic waste are more toxic than aerosols produced in most other combustion processes.

Improving Recycling and Reducing Plastic Pollution

According to experts, the solution to the problem is not just to motivate people for recycling. Domestic recycling processes, reduced plastic production, better waste management practices and increased transparency on the export of plastic waste should all be considered.Experts say the issue of open burning should be addressed in international plans related to plastic pollution, as this sector is currently ignored.The study results remind consumers that putting plastic in the recycling bin is just the first step. Further fate will depend on the management systems. Without proper recycling infrastructure and proper waste management regulations, plastics that were created for recycling may contribute to pollution anyway.

Since welcoming your first child Katrina Kaif last year, Vicky Kaushal Discovering a whole new side of life. The actor, who became father to son Vihaan Kaushal on November 7, 2025, recently talked about the lessons that fatherhood has taught him and how it has changed his approach towards parenting.Vicky reflected on the values ​​his parents instilled in him and admitted that becoming a father has given him a deeper appreciation for their efforts.Vicky said in an interview with The Nod Mag, “When I look back at my upbringing, I realize a lot of things he was right about. We weren’t growing up financially. So, there was pressure. But he was responsible for instilling the right values ​​in me.” The actor revealed that raising his son has made him realize the importance of leading by example rather than just giving advice. “It happens to me at the most random moments [instilling the right values] Now I have a responsibility towards my son,” he added, “He will learn by watching how his parents are thinking, talking and behaving. So, I realized that whatever you want to see reflected in him should come through your actions rather than words.”Vicky also opened up about the emotional challenges that come with becoming new parents. After taking a six-week break from work after Vihaan’s birth, the actor had to leave home for a four-day shoot around 230 kilometers away. He admitted that the separation was more difficult than he expected. He said, “My heart sank. It was hard.” This experience helped him understand the feelings that parents often talk about as their children grow up.“There are so many new emotions that come up almost on a daily basis, because being a parent is new to me. I understand now when other people say ‘Man, the baby is growing up so quickly’. And I’d think, ‘What are you talking about? Your baby is still a year old.’ Now I understand,” the actor mentioned.On the professional front, Vicky was last seen Laxman Utekar‘Chhaava’, with Rashmika Mandanna. He is currently busy shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s *Love & War*, which also stars Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor and marks their reunion with both the actors on screen.

Ukrainian drone attacks St. Petersburg oil terminal

Ukraine carried out one of its deepest drone strikes inside Russia overnight, targeting energy and military facilities in St. Petersburg as the city prepared to host President Vladimir Putin’s major economic forum.Meanwhile, Russian officials accused Ukraine of carrying out a separate drone attack on a passenger bus in the Russian-controlled part of the Donetsk region, killing 8 people and injuring several more.The strikes came hours after a deadly wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, reflecting an intensifying tit-for-tat campaign that has deepened the war in the two countries’ territory.Ukrainian long-range drones attacked an oil terminal and military facilities in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, causing a temporary airport closure and disrupting communications ahead of the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), according to news agency AP.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone flew more than 1,000 kilometers to attack the St. Petersburg oil terminal.Video shared by Ukrainian officials showed thick black smoke rising from the facility. According to news agency AFP, smoke was visible from the conference venue where the delegates had gathered.

Ukraine claims attack on naval base, warship

Zelensky said Ukrainian drones also targeted the Kronstadt naval base, home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet. The Ukrainian military later claimed that it had attacked the Boiki corvette, causing a massive fire on the warship.The commander of Ukraine’s drone forces posted footage he said showed an attack on a ship at a naval base.Russian officials confirmed that infrastructure in St. Petersburg was damaged, but did not provide details. Governor Alexander Beglov said no casualties were reported.The strike disrupted operations at St. Petersburg’s main airport, with flights suspended for several hours overnight. According to news agency AP, mobile internet services were also temporarily restricted.Zelensky described the attacks as part of Ukraine’s strategy of “long-range sanctions” aimed at Russian military and energy infrastructure.“Ukraine’s long-range sanctions plan is being implemented exactly as needed to bring peace closer,” he said.

SPIEF Forum opens in the shadow of war

These attacks coincided with the inauguration of SPIEF, often referred to as the “Davos of Russia”. The forum remains one of Moscow’s most important economic events despite most Western investors leaving following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Putin is expected to deliver a keynote speech on Friday. Nearly 20,000 participants from 130 countries are expected to attend this year’s gathering.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov vowed to respond to the Ukrainian attacks.“Our responses will be systemic in nature,” he told reporters.The Kremlin also said it was continuing to fight to prevent such drone attacks in Ukraine.

Russia blames Ukraine for deadly bus attack

According to Reuters, Russia-based Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin said a Ukrainian drone attacked the bus as it stopped to pick up passengers in Yenakiyev.Pushilin said eight civilians were killed and 11 were injured.Kiev did not immediately comment on the allegation. Like Russia, Ukraine also denies deliberately targeting civilians.Russian investigators opened a criminal case over what they described as a “terrorist attack”.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of waging a “campaign” against civilians, while Special Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik alleged that Kiev was attempting to intimidate residents in Russian-controlled areas.

growing drone war

The latest attacks come amid a sharp increase in long-range attacks by both sides.According to the AP, Russia launched 198 drones into Ukraine overnight, while Russian officials said their air defenses intercepted 354 Ukrainian drones in several areas.The exchange came after a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine on Tuesday, which killed at least 23 people and injured more than 130.Fighting continued even on the front lines. Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes killed civilians in the Kherson, Sumy and Kharkiv regions, while Russian-established officials reported casualties in occupied eastern Ukraine.With battlefield lines largely static and drone warfare increasingly shaping the conflict, both Moscow and Kiev are relying more on long-range strikes aimed at military infrastructure, energy facilities and logistics networks far from the front.

New Delhi: Internal rebellion Trinamool Congress The dispute between the (TMC) has deepened since last week, with rebel MLAs supporting expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of leader of the opposition and it being compared to the Shiv Sena split in Maharashtra.But a closer look reveals that the rebellion may be less challenging Mamata Banerjeeand much more about questioning the leadership of and the growing authority of his nephew and political successor, Abhishek Banerjee.At first glance, this development appears to be a direct challenge to the TMC leadership. A group of rebel MLAs have questioned the validity of the party’s decision-making process, accusing the leadership of preparing a proposal on the appointment of the leader of the opposition and openly flouting the official line.Yet the rebels have been careful about one thing: they have avoided attacking Mamata Banerjee herself.Even after his expulsion, Ritabrata Banerjee has not presented himself as a rival to the TMC supremo. Instead, their fight focuses on how decisions are being taken within the party and who is exercising authority in the name of Mamata Banerjee.The letter submitted by the rebel camp to Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose reportedly recognizes Mamata Banerjee as its leader, even as it challenges the party’s official position on the opposition leadership.The immediate trigger of the crisis explains this clearly.A controversy erupted over the appointment of the opposition leader after TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee informed the Speaker about the party’s decision. Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha challenged that process, alleging that no such resolution was passed in the legislature party meeting and that many signatures were fake.Therefore, the controversy is not about Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. This is on the authority exercised by Abhishek Banerjee and the functioning of the organization under him.

Notably, even TMC’s defense on the appointment of Leader of Opposition focuses on the communication made by Abhishek Banerjee to the Speaker. Party leaders have repeatedly argued that his letter is the only valid document before the Assembly, putting Abhishek at the center of the confrontation.This is why the latest developments may be seen by many as a proxy fight over succession.For years, Abhishek Banerjee has been widely seen as the political successor to Mamata Banerjee. He has emerged as the key strategist, chief campaigner and organizational face of the party after Mamata. As his influence grew, concerns grew among sections of the older leaders who felt that they were increasingly sidelined.The current rebellion appears to have brought those tensions out into the open.After the party expelled Ritabrata Banerjee, he pointed out the sharp difference between Mamata and Abhishek. “The party has expelled me, but I believe I am still with TMC…Abhishek Banerjee is a nobody in the 18th West Bengal State Legislative Assembly,” he told reporters.However, when he was asked about Mamata Banerjee, his tone was completely different.“Mamata Banerjee is a big leader. I may have been expelled from the party, but I have not lost respect for her.” She’s still my leader,” he said.Ritabrata also made fun of Abhishek’s political troubles after his election defeat and the subsequent signature controversy. Referring to the protests against the TMC leader, he quipped to reporters: “At least people are not shouting ‘thief, thief’ at me.”However, his criticism of Abhishek was not triggered by the current crisis.In recent months, Ritabrata has emerged as one of Abhishek Banerjee’s most vocal internal critics. He questioned the increasing role of advisors and strategists in party affairs and criticized excessive centralization of decision making.Following the party’s electoral setback, he publicly expressed concern over whether a handful of advisers had become more influential than grassroots leaders. Although Abhishek was not always named directly, the criticism was widely interpreted as targeting the leadership structure associated with him.This helps explain why the rebels’ confrontation is centered on decisions conveyed by Abhishek Banerjee rather than Mamata Banerjee herself.The political mathematics may also seem obvious.Mamata Banerjee remains the party’s biggest mass leader and most recognizable face. Challenging him directly risks alienating a large section of TMC workers and supporters.For dissident leaders, challenging Abhishek allows them to present their revolt not as a revolt against the party founder, but as a fight against a leadership style, an organizational model and, ultimately, a succession process that has intensified after the assembly election defeat.This is what makes the current crisis important.Regional parties across the country have often struggled during succession changes. Bal Thackeray and the NCP’s internal fight over succession ultimately led to the Shiv Sena’s split, with Sharad Pawar showing how questions of inheritance can quickly become questions of power.It appears that TMC is now facing its own version of that dilemma.Now the question before the party is not whether Mamata Banerjee remains its undisputed leader. There seems to be very little disagreement on that issue.The more important question is whether Abhishek Banerjee can achieve the same level of acceptance across the organisation.The answer will determine whether the current rebellion remains an isolated act of dissent or becomes a broader challenge to the party’s organizational structure and succession planning.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi (ANI photo)

Royal Challengers Bangalore may have retained the IPL trophy, but according to former England captain and Gujarat Titans wicketkeeper-batsman jos buttlerOne teen eclipsed every other story in the tournament. Speaking on the YouTube podcast For the Love of Cricket, Buttler reflected on the recently concluded IPL 2026 season and had special praise for 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose remarkable campaign captured the imagination of cricket fans around the world. Discussing RCB’s successful title defense and their defeat to Gujarat Titans in the final, Buttler made it clear that Suryavanshi’s performance stands above everything else. “RCB won the trophy and they are the story of the IPL. But Vaibhav is almost the IPL this year. He is the story of the tournament. MVP, 700-plus runs and a faster strike rate than everyone else. It was amazing to watch,” he said. Although Rajasthan Royals were not involved in the title match, Suryavanshi was present at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the final on Sunday. The teenage sensation watched the match with ICC President Jay Shah before receiving five major individual awards for a season which saw several records. Their numbers reflect the scale of their dominance. Suryavanshi scored 776 runs at a whopping strike rate of 237.3 during the season and cleared the ropes 72 times. His performances earned him the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player Award, Emerging Player Award, Super Striker Award and the distinction of finishing as the leading six-hitter of the tournament. Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad believes that the influence of this young player has extended far beyond the IPL. Broad suggested that Suryavanshi could be the first cricketer to achieve worldwide fame before earning an international cap. “I said in my last podcast that I have never seen a player become an international star without playing international cricket. In England, people are talking about him. They may not even be IPL fans, but they are saying, ‘Oh my God, have you seen Sooryavanshi? He is incredible.’ He has become a world star. “Not like Kohli or anything, but he is probably the first player to become a world star without playing international cricket,” Broad said. Butler also told how tremendous the popularity of Suryavanshi has become in India. Recalling the Rajasthan Royals match in Kolkata, he said it was impossible for the young player to ignore the crowd’s support. “His influence in India is huge. He is the guy everyone is talking about. I was talking to Manoj Badale, the former owner of Rajasthan Royals, who told me that in Kolkata, half the stadium had turned up to see Vaibhav and they were all wearing his RR jersey. “Imagine the pressure as a 15-year-old when you get off the bus and look, but he has soaked it all up. And when he bats, I don’t know whether Rajasthan Royals have done it or in the tournament, but there is a song for him, this Suryavanshi song, which plays when he is attacking you.” The former England captain then admitted that he would be keen to see the teenager join India’s squad for the five-match T20 series in England next month, even if England’s bowlers may not welcome that prospect. “I hope to see him in England. Well, maybe not for our bowlers. But it will be worthwhile because you can see it among the players and the support staff. Everyone is keen and I want to see this guy.” Whether that opportunity will come remains uncertain. Suryavanshi is set to feature in the upcoming India A ODI tri-series, a competition selectors are reportedly looking at as a key assessment before discussing a possible T20I debut during the England tour.