Salman Khurshid: 'Non-Alignment Gives You Freedom'

A special report analyses Delhi's persistent air quality crisis by comparing it with international clean air transformations in London, Los Angeles, Paris, and Beijing. While London tackled coal emissions through landmark legislation, Los Angeles tightened vehicular and industrial norms, Paris reshaped urban mobility, and Beijing enforced strict industrial mandates, Delhi faces a distinct, multi-source challenge. Factors including vehicular emissions, regional stubble burning, year-round construction dust, and geographic trapping complicate the capital's crisis. Unlike temporary interventions such as the odd-even scheme or seasonal Graded Response Action Plan measures, experts emphasise the need for permanent, year-round infrastructure and solutions designed specifically for Delhi's unique environmental and socioeconomic landscape.

In an exclusive interview with India Today on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the United States and Israel over ongoing regional military actions, stating, "They are the real terrorists in the world." Pezeshkian accused Washington of committing state terrorism, attempting to topple Iran's government, and inciting division among Middle Eastern nations to exploit energy resources and sell weapons. Addressing speculation regarding Iran's leadership, Pezeshkian dismissed rumors concerning Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, confirming that "he is alive" and actively carrying out his constitutional responsibilities. He further noted that the United States disseminates misinformation because it cannot locate the Supreme Leader's precise whereabouts. Concluding on governance and diplomatic talks, Pezeshkian reaffirmed that the Supreme Leader remains the ultimate authority who retains the final decision-making power in Iran.

During discussions on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, bilateral relations between Iran and India were highlighted as strengthening based on historic and cultural links. Talks focused on expanding trade partnerships and facilitating further Indian investment in the Chabahar port project, with Tehran expressing readiness for broader economic cooperation. The role of the BRICS grouping was framed around countering global unilateralism, resisting unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States, and building independent trade frameworks among member nations including India, China, and Russia. The dialogue underscored ongoing high-level engagement to develop structural cooperation across multiple sectors and foster regional economic connectivity.

A political dispute has erupted between the Congress and the BJP over the menu served at the BRICS Summit gala dinner hosted by the Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi questioned the decision to serve an entirely vegetarian spread, stating that eighty percent of Indians eat non-vegetarian food and arguing that the menu did not reflect the dietary diversity of India. In response, the BJP criticised the Congress for focusing on the food rather than the growing influence and success of India at the summit. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition of politicising the menu, adding that visiting global leaders relished the traditional Indian vegetarian dishes served across regional cuisines.