Delhi's worsening air pollution has triggered a debate over whether stubble burning is being unfairly singled out while year-round sources of pollution continue to contribute to the crisis. Environmental expert Chandra Bhushan says satellite data shows crop residue fires are not limited to Punjab, with Madhya Pradesh also recording significant incidents. He argues that finding economic uses for stubble, including power generation, paper production and composting, offers a more sustainable solution than temporary bans. Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha and CSE Executive Director Anumita Roychowdhury point to official source apportionment data showing that local sources, particularly transport and vehicular emissions, contribute significantly to Delhi's pollution. They call for regional airshed management, sustained infrastructure funding and political commitment rather than repeated emergency restrictions.
Meanwhile, the US carried out limited airstrikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz hours before voting began in the 2026 US midterm elections. The strikes reportedly targeted Iranian surface-to-air missile facilities. President Donald Trump also hinted at a possible strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, claiming the US could carry out such an operation quickly. Tehran warned of retaliation, with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying the country remained prepared for battle while urging Washington to avoid further escalation. The conflict has emerged as a key issue in the US midterms, with rising living costs and the economic fallout of the war posing challenges for Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress.
