India
Delhi air quality worsens ahead of Diwali as firework restrictions enter force
Delhi is once again battling worsening air pollution as the onset of winter brings a familiar deterioration in air quality to India's capital. The city's air quality index (AQI) - which measures PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can clog lungs - has crossed 300, entering the very poor category and raising health concerns for millions of residents. Breathing such polluted air over prolonged periods can cause respiratory problems and worsen existing illnesses, with children and older people particularly vulnerable. Authorities have responded by invoking Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), introducing measures to curb dust, vehicle emissions and other sources of pollution. GRAP is a set of emergency measures that become progressively stricter as pollution levels rise.
The Humans Are Coming for A.I.'s Jobs in "We Were Here"
The Humans Are Coming for A.I.'s Jobs in "We Were Here" In India, a group of uncles plan to subvert the A.I. that is replacing them, in a mockumentary that celebrates the weirdness of regular intelligence. The message is ubiquitous: A.I. is here, and it's probably going to take your job. Pranav Bhasin's comic mockumentary--which was executive-produced by the actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Andrew Scott, and which won the Audience Award for Short Narrative at this year's SXSW festival--flips the script with its vision of tech backlash. The film, set in an Indian town, follows the exploits of three retirees named Bagchi, Pimple, and Ganguli, who are fighting back and taking the jobs of machines. Bagchi, decked out in silver body paint, has declared himself a dish antenna; his friends are "working" as a vehicle's reverse camera and a microwave.
Robots in Society, Business and Culture: September 2026
More than five million industrial robots are now operating in factories worldwide, according to the International Federation of Robotics' newly released World Robotics 2026 report . Factories installed more than 600,000 industrial robots during 2025, an increase of 11% on the previous year. The global operational stock grew by 9%. China continued to pull away from the rest of the world. Its factories installed 354,000 robots, accounting for 59% of the global total.
The Fight Over Who Counts in India
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Who owns India's textile traditions in age of AI-enabled mass production?
Who owns India's textile traditions in age of AI-enabled mass production? Share Who owns India's textile traditions in age of AI-enabled mass production? on social media Bitupan Deka was out shopping for a "gamusa" (traditional scarf) with his mother in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya when he noticed something unusual. "Every shop selling the scarf had the same handful of patterns repeated over and over," he told Al Jazeera over the telephone from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. Cutting down the number of designs they produce was a cost-saving practice followed by the manufacturers." This discovery prompted Deka, an assistant professor of computer technology at Shillong's MIT University, to create a system that can produce infinite new designs for such fabrics. "My work isn't meant to replace the traditional designers.
Rory McIlroy fires back at Kevin Kisner after 'dogs---' comment about growing the game
Human vs. ChatGPT NFL Week 6 betting picks: AI goes all-in on totals after another weekly win College football chaos: Historic upsets, Arch Manning's fiasco, clock controversy and CFP ramifications arise Hostile Valkyries fans verbally attacked women's sports activists at WNBA Finals Game 1 in San Francisco Could injured Giants star Jaxson Dart return for the playoffs? Joel Embiid rejects idea 76ers stars must'take a back seat' as NBA regular season looms Steve Sarkisian vows to'evaluate everything,' won't rule out benching Arch Manning amid Texas' two-game skid Freshman Tommy Carr's second-half magic leads Michigan to must-have win over Penn State Ole Miss defense takes charge, shuts down Missouri's high-powered rushing attack in 31-3 win Ohio State shatters Indiana's 22-game winning streak, but questions linger about Julian Sayin's health Ex-wrestler Pac's sudden death cause revealed by Cook County Medical Examiner's Office Russia launches 300 drones following Ukraine's strike on oil refinery France riots are'a warning for the United States,' former diplomat warns Sen Kaine calls Iran conflict a'war of choice,' says American families are'suffering' Trump defends Iran strikes amid gas price concerns: 'I don't view things politically' Pro-Palestinian, communist mobs in France are making an'anarchic effort,' expert warns Kaylee McGhee White: Voting for Democrats is voting for a'progressive grievance hamster wheel' Kaylee McGhee White: Dems don't even know what they're supposed to be mad about Lara Trump: With super intelligence, there's information everywhere you turn Benjamin Netanyahu: What genocidal country sends food to its enemy? Benjamin Netanyahu: The Iranian people have been taken captive by'ideological thugs' Netanyahu: Let's forge a different future for the Middle East Rep Andy Barr: If it taxes like a socialist, it's a socialist McIlroy said'two things can be true at the same time' after finishing T-42 at the DP World India Championship Four-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Kisner accused Rory McIlroy of not exactly being genuine about growing the game of golf while teeing it up in India on the DP World Tour. Now, McIlroy has issued a rebuttal to Kisner's harsh accusations. In the lead-up to the DP World India Championship, McIlroy appeared at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi and, among the many topics he touched on, explained that he hoped his decision to play in the event would help promote and grow the game in India.
AI tool helps stranded protesters find their way home in the Indian capital
The young woman, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of further reprisals from the authorities, said she was detained on Sunday as thousands of people congregated in central New Delhi. They were demanding the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, which saw the removal of 133 million people from the voter lists. With no cash and her phone battery drained, the woman spent nearly an hour wandering along a dark road, trying to figure out what to do next. A car pulled up and the driver asked if she needed any help. "I was frightened and completely lost. When those volunteers finally helped me get back safely, it felt like a miracle. I had never imagined that someone I had never met would come forward to help me like that," she told Al Jazeera.