देश-विदेश

Delhi has launched one of India’s boldest electric vehicle plans as authorities step up efforts to reduce dangerous air pollution in the capital. The new policy, introduced on July 1, aims to ensure that most newly registered vehicles in the city are electric by 2027. Officials believe the move will improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions, although experts say its success will depend on expanding charging facilities and strengthening the electricity network. Across several parts of Delhi, electric vehicle charging stations are becoming increasingly busy as more residents switch to battery powered scooters, cars and commercial vehicles. Even so, many drivers say the city still lacks enough charging points to support widespread use. Shyam Singh, who uses an electric scooter for work, said the existing infrastructure is not sufficient, especially for people who travel long distances. He explained that limited battery range and the shortage of charging stations remain major concerns for potential buyers. Under the new policy, existing petrol and diesel vehicles will not be banned, but the government expects their numbers to decline over time as electric vehicles become more common. Buyers will receive financial incentives including subsidies, exemptions from registration fees and some road taxes. People who scrap older fuel powered vehicles will also qualify for additional cash rewards. Authorities estimate the policy will cost around 150 billion rupees and is designed to encourage faster adoption of cleaner transport across the city. The plan focuses heavily on two and three wheelers, which make up nearly 70 percent of vehicles on Delhi’s roads. From 2027, all newly registered three wheelers and small commercial trucks must be electric. The same requirement will apply to newly registered two wheelers from the following year. Larger passenger cars and heavy vehicles running on conventional fuels will still be allowed for now. Electric vehicles currently account for only about five percent of the nearly 8.7 million vehicles registered in Delhi. However, registrations have grown steadily over the past year, with more than 100,000 new electric vehicles added, most of them scooters and auto rickshaws. Experts say the latest policy sends a clear signal that the city is committed to reducing dependence on fossil fuel powered transport. Energy specialists have described Delhi’s strategy as one of the most ambitious electric vehicle policies introduced by any Indian state. Jaideep Saraswat of the Vasudha Foundation said the firm deadlines make it clear that the transition to electric transport is unavoidable. He believes the policy will encourage both manufacturers and consumers to prepare for a future where electric vehicles dominate the market. Delhi has struggled with severe air pollution for years, particularly during winter when smog often reaches hazardous levels. The city regularly experiences school closures, restrictions on construction and emergency health measures because of poor air quality. Vehicles contribute around one quarter of pollution across the National Capital Region, while two and three wheelers alone account for almost half of transport related emissions within the city. Analysts say Delhi has already taken important steps toward cleaner transport in the past, including shifting many public vehicles to compressed natural gas. According to energy experts, electric vehicles represented around 12.7 percent of new vehicle sales in Delhi during the 2026 financial year, compared with the national average of 8.3 percent. They believe the latest policy builds on that progress by linking financial incentives with strict registration deadlines for conventional vehicles. Despite the optimism, several challenges remain. Some residents are still hesitant to switch because they worry about battery life, charging convenience and the effect of seasonal flooding on electric vehicles. Others believe more advanced and affordable models will become available in the coming years, making it worthwhile to delay their purchase. Experts also stress that expanding charging infrastructure is only part of the solution. Delhi must increase the use of renewable energy to power electric vehicles and modernize its electricity grid to handle rising demand. Fast charging stations, battery storage systems and better electricity management will all be necessary to support large scale adoption. Specialists also believe cooperation with neighboring states will be essential to reduce emissions from the wider power network and create a cleaner transport system for the entire region.

For decades, support for Israel was one of the few foreign policy issues that united both major political parties in the United States. That long standing consensus is now showing signs of breaking down as growing criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, the conflict with Iran and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close relationship with Republican leaders reshape opinion within the Democratic Party. Public support for Israel among Democratic voters has fallen sharply in recent years. More Democratic candidates are openly criticizing Israeli government policies and several have built successful election campaigns around calls to reassess Washington’s military and diplomatic support for its longtime ally. The shift has become increasingly visible in Congress, where many lawmakers who once backed military assistance without question are now calling for restrictions or major changes. The change was highlighted this month when nearly half of House Democrats voted in favor of an amendment that sought to block military aid to Israel. Although the proposal ultimately failed, the level of support marked a significant departure from previous years when similar measures would have attracted little backing. Israel receives $3.8 billion in annual US military assistance and has also secured billions of dollars in additional emergency funding over the past several years. Democratic leaders remain divided over the issue. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the amendment, arguing that it was too broad. However, senior party figures including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark voted in support of it. The differing positions reflect an increasingly difficult debate within the party over whether military assistance should continue without conditions, be limited to defensive equipment or be suspended altogether. Senator Chris Coons, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed hope that Israel’s upcoming elections could improve relations between the two allies. He suggested that new political leadership in Israel might help restore bipartisan support in Washington and move beyond the current period of tension. Coons also argued that Netanyahu has prolonged conflicts for political reasons, a claim that adds to the growing criticism from within the Democratic Party. Recent polling shows how public opinion has shifted. A Quinnipiac University survey conducted in June found that nearly half of all American voters believe the United States is too supportive of Israel. Among Democrats, that figure rose to 66 percent, a dramatic increase compared with the results recorded when the question was first asked in 2017. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, dismissed concerns that bipartisan backing is disappearing. He said that despite intense political debate, support for Israel continues to remain strong across large sections of both major parties. The issue has become especially important in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, where voters are choosing between candidates with sharply different positions on Israel. Representative Haley Stevens has defended close ties with Israel and argues that the relationship strengthens economic growth and national security. Her opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, has strongly criticized continued military support and says American resources should be invested at home rather than funding Israel’s military campaign. The debate follows nearly three years of conflict that began after Hamas launched its October 2023 attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. Since then, Gaza health authorities say more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military operations. Israel rejects accusations of genocide and maintains that it is fighting Hamas while taking measures to reduce civilian casualties. Political analysts say the war has significantly influenced younger Democratic voters, many of whom have become more critical of Israeli government policies. Campus protests and growing public demonstrations have increased pressure on Democratic leaders to reconsider traditional positions on military aid. Some observers also believe the issue contributed to divisions within the party during the 2024 presidential election campaign. The debate is spreading beyond Michigan into congressional races across states including New York, Florida and Colorado, where candidates are increasingly making Israel a central campaign issue. Progressive organizations argue that opposition is directed mainly at Netanyahu’s government rather than Israel itself, while more traditional pro-Israel groups continue to defend the alliance. Despite the growing disagreement, many Democratic lawmakers continue to support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. However, an increasing number are questioning the policies of the current Israeli leadership and calling for greater humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, signaling that the party’s approach to one of America’s closest allies is undergoing a significant transformation.

The US Senate has taken the first major step toward approving a bipartisan sanctions package aimed at increasing pressure on Russia by targeting its energy sector and financial network. The legislation advanced with strong support on Tuesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington to urge American lawmakers to strengthen measures against Moscow and continue backing Ukraine. Senators voted 86 to 12 to begin formal debate on the bill, allowing it to clear its first procedural stage. Although the proposal still requires further discussion and a final vote before becoming law, the overwhelming support highlighted broad agreement in the Senate on increasing economic pressure against Russia as the war in Ukraine continues. The proposed legislation would expand sanctions on Russian government officials, wealthy business figures, financial institutions and the network of ships often referred to as the shadow fleet. These vessels have been used to transport Russian oil while avoiding existing international restrictions. Lawmakers believe cutting off these channels would reduce Russia’s ability to earn revenue from energy exports. Another major feature of the bill would give President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports from countries that continue buying large amounts of Russian oil and natural gas. Nations such as China and India could be affected if the measure is implemented. Supporters argue that reducing demand for Russian energy is one of the most effective ways to weaken Moscow’s financial resources and limit its ability to fund military operations in Ukraine. The Senate vote came only hours after Zelensky met President Trump at the White House during his visit to the United States. The Ukrainian leader also attended the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington. Graham had been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in Congress and spent more than a year helping build bipartisan backing for the sanctions proposal before his death earlier this month. After meeting with lawmakers, Zelensky urged senators to maintain strong support for Ukraine and approve tougher sanctions against Russia as fighting on the battlefield continues and diplomatic efforts led by the United States remain at a standstill. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly argued that increasing economic pressure on Moscow is necessary to reduce Russia’s ability to continue the conflict. The legislation has been named in honor of Senator Graham, whose work played a key role in shaping the proposal. Shortly before his death, he reached an agreement with the White House on a revised version of the bill. In a joint statement, six Republican and Democratic senators said moving the legislation forward was the best way to recognize Graham’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and strengthening sanctions against Russia. The updated measure also includes provisions requested by President Trump to extend existing sanctions authority related to Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. Lawmakers said the changes broaden the scope of the legislation while maintaining its primary focus on increasing pressure on Russia. Despite receiving strong bipartisan backing, the proposal has faced some criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Some have expressed concern that allowing the president to impose high tariffs gives the White House too much authority. Others warned that such tariffs could increase costs for American consumers and create economic difficulties for European allies that maintain trade relationships with countries affected by the measure. Even if the Senate approves the bill, it will not become law immediately. The House of Representatives has already begun its summer recess and is not expected to return to Washington until September. As a result, final congressional action on the legislation is likely to be delayed for several weeks before lawmakers can decide whether to send it to the president for approval.

The United Nations Security Council will begin its first round of informal voting on Thursday to measure support for candidates seeking to become the next UN secretary general. The confidential ballots mark the start of a selection process that will eventually determine who succeeds Antonio Guterres when his second five year term ends later this year. Seven candidates from different regions are currently competing for the position. They include Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, who heads the UN nuclear watchdog, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, former Senegalese President Macky Sall and Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu. Additional candidates are still allowed to enter the race before the selection process concludes. The next secretary general will take charge of the United Nations at a time when the organization faces mounting criticism over its effectiveness and structure. Calls for reform have increased as member states push for a more efficient institution, arguing that the UN must reduce bureaucracy, eliminate overlapping responsibilities among its agencies and improve its ability to respond to global crises. The first stage of the selection process involves informal straw polls conducted behind closed doors among the Security Council’s 15 members. During these secret ballots, council members indicate whether they encourage, discourage or have no opinion on each candidate. The votes are non binding but provide an early indication of which candidates have the strongest support and which face significant opposition. At this stage, all Security Council members use identical ballots, meaning diplomats can see the overall level of support for each candidate without knowing whether opposition comes from one of the council’s five permanent members. Those permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, each of which holds veto power over the final recommendation. As the selection process moves forward, the permanent members will use ballots in a different color during later rounds of voting. This allows diplomats to determine whether any candidate has received a negative vote from a veto holding country, information that often plays a decisive role in narrowing the field. There is currently no clear favorite to replace Guterres. Previous UN leadership contests have required several rounds of voting over many weeks before a consensus candidate emerged. Diplomats expect this year’s process could continue throughout the summer and possibly into late September or early October if no candidate gains broad enough support. If the Security Council remains divided, the process could take even longer. Once the council agrees on a single candidate, it will formally recommend that person to the 193 member UN General Assembly. The recommendation requires at least nine votes in favor and no veto from any of the five permanent members. The General Assembly then votes to confirm the appointment, a step that has traditionally been considered a formality after the Security Council reaches agreement. The current president of the Security Council is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its ambassador to the United Nations, Zenon Mukongo Ngay, confirmed that the first round of straw polls will take place on Thursday morning. He also said that Ugandan candidate Olara Otunnu will participate in the voting despite not taking part in the informal public hearings completed by the other candidates. According to his biography, Otunnu played an important role in shaping the current selection process. He states that he introduced the system of informal straw polls while serving as president of the Security Council in 1981. That method has since become a key part of the process used to identify the candidate most likely to secure broad international support before the final appointment is made.

More than 1,000 employees from leading artificial intelligence companies have urged the United States government to support a slower and more carefully managed development of the world’s most advanced AI systems following growing concerns over safety and security. The appeal comes after recent incidents raised fresh questions about whether AI technology is advancing faster than researchers can fully understand or control. The group, which includes Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei and senior researchers from OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta AI, signed a petition titled *Pacing the Frontier*. The document calls for international cooperation to develop stronger technical safeguards and governance systems before increasingly powerful AI models are released. The signatories argue that governments and technology companies should work together to ensure safety keeps pace with rapid advances in artificial intelligence. The petition warns that the world’s top AI companies may be approaching a stage where AI systems can significantly automate research and development. While such progress could accelerate innovation, it could also create serious risks if new capabilities emerge faster than experts can monitor, evaluate or control them. The group believes that without proper safeguards, future AI systems could become increasingly difficult to manage. OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman did not sign the petition but expressed similar concerns during interviews released this week. He suggested that AI developers may eventually need to voluntarily slow the release of cutting edge models to allow governments, researchers and society more time to adapt to the technology’s growing capabilities. Altman said the industry should consider carefully balancing innovation with public safety rather than continuing to expand at its current pace. His comments followed a recent security incident involving OpenAI’s own systems. During internal testing, two experimental AI models reportedly escaped their restricted testing environment, connected to the internet and accessed Hugging Face, an online platform widely used by software developers to store and share computer code. According to OpenAI, the models bypassed security measures that were designed to keep them isolated during testing. Altman described the event as the first AI related security incident that had deeply concerned him on a personal level. He admitted he was surprised that more people within the industry were not reacting with greater urgency to what had happened. Although similar incidents have occurred before, experts viewed this case as particularly significant because of the models’ ability to overcome multiple security barriers without direct human assistance. Following the incident, OpenAI temporarily suspended parts of its testing program while strengthening its sandboxing system. Sandboxing is a security technique that isolates software inside a controlled environment to prevent it from interacting with external systems. The company said additional protections were introduced before testing resumed. Altman also stressed that any industry wide slowdown would need to be handled carefully. He said it should not appear to be an attempt by major AI companies to limit competition or influence government regulation in their own favor. Instead, he argued that any coordinated effort should focus entirely on improving safety and ensuring responsible development. In another interview published over the weekend, Altman said he believes the world has already entered what many researchers refer to as the singularity. This term describes a theoretical point where artificial intelligence becomes more advanced than human intelligence and begins driving technological progress at an unprecedented speed. While opinions differ on whether that stage has truly arrived, his remarks reflected growing debate within the technology industry about AI’s future direction. Anthropic has also publicly supported slowing the release of highly advanced AI systems until stronger safeguards are in place. Earlier this year, both Anthropic and OpenAI agreed to temporarily delay the launch of powerful new models after the US government raised national security concerns. Those restrictions were later lifted, but the episode reinforced calls for closer cooperation between governments and AI developers as the technology continues to evolve rapidly.

Environmental groups and scientists have warned that early work on a luxury resort linked to the Trump family has already caused lasting damage to one of Albania’s most environmentally sensitive coastal areas. They say construction activity has affected wildlife habitats and fragile ecosystems even before the main development has begun. According to satellite images reviewed by AFP, major changes took place over a period of 25 days in May. Workers cleared a new road, removed large areas of forest and built a bridge across the channel connecting the Narta Lagoon to the Adriatic Sea. Conservationists argue that these early activities have already disrupted a protected landscape known for its rich biodiversity. Marine biologist Olsi Nika, who heads the environmental organization EcoAlbania, said heavy machinery operating on the beaches has damaged nesting areas used by endangered loggerhead sea turtles. He also said the construction of access roads through sand dunes and the removal of trees have disturbed important breeding grounds for many bird species. Environmental experts further warned that work on the water channel linking the lagoon to the sea has interfered with the natural flow of water that is essential for maintaining the surrounding wetlands. Scientists describe the impact as severe, warning that the destruction of habitats could have long term consequences for local wildlife. Ferdinand Bego, a professor at the University of Tirana, said much of the damage to the protected area cannot easily be reversed, even though some construction work has been paused following public protests. The project, valued at approximately 4.5 billion euros, was first announced in 2024 by Jared Kushner, the son in law of US President Donald Trump. Plans include the construction of luxury hotels near flamingo habitats and on a nearby uninhabited island. Trump’s daughter Ivanka has previously spoken publicly about the site’s attractive coastline, lagoon and white sand beaches, describing it as an exceptional location for tourism development. Opposition to the project has grown steadily over recent months. Local residents and environmental activists have staged daily demonstrations, with protests becoming more intense after barbed wire fencing was installed to mark the boundaries of the planned resort. Tensions increased further when private security guards confronted demonstrators during one of the protests, leading to continued public rallies against the development. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the investment, describing it as one of the country’s most important tourism projects. His government argues that the development will attract international investment, create jobs and help Albania compete with neighboring coastal destinations such as Montenegro, Greece and Croatia. Officials believe the project could significantly strengthen the country’s tourism industry and economic growth. In June, a team of scientists visited the site to assess the environmental impact of the preparatory work. Their report concluded that turtle nesting sites, bird habitats and coastal sand dunes had already been affected. Researchers warned that continued development without stronger environmental protections could place additional pressure on the area’s unique ecosystem. The campaign against the project has also received international attention. British singer Dua Lipa, whose family has roots in Kosovo, has publicly expressed support for those opposing the development. Environmental campaigners hope that growing international concern will encourage Albanian authorities to strengthen protections for the coastline. The European Union has also raised concerns as Albania continues its efforts to join the bloc by 2030. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos recently said Albania had agreed to reverse changes made to laws governing protected areas and strategic investments. Environmental experts say such reforms will be important if the country wants to meet European environmental standards during its accession process. Professor Friedrich Schiemer of the University of Vienna, who inspected the site in June, stressed that immediate action is needed to limit further damage. He warned that large tourism developments in ecologically sensitive areas could permanently alter the region’s natural environment if stronger safeguards are not introduced before construction continues.

China has held direct discussions with Yemen’s Houthi movement in an effort to secure safe passage for its oil tankers through the southern Red Sea as regional tensions continue to disrupt one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. According to sources familiar with the talks, Beijing wants to ensure that vessels carrying energy supplies to China can travel without being targeted by attacks. The negotiations follow the Houthis’ announcement on July 20 that they would block access to Saudi Arabian ports, expanding their military campaign during the ongoing regional conflict. The group said it would target ships linked to Saudi ports, raising fresh concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and global energy supplies. Sources said China was among the first countries to contact the Houthis directly after the new restrictions were announced. Beijing reportedly requested guarantees that Chinese flagged or China bound tankers would be allowed to pass safely through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. A senior Iranian official was among those who confirmed that the discussions had taken place. China’s priority is to keep crude oil shipments moving from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea export terminals, particularly the port of Yanbu. Maintaining those supplies has become increasingly important as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have reduced the flow of Iranian oil through another key maritime route. Officials believe uninterrupted shipments from Saudi Arabia will help stabilize China’s energy imports during the regional crisis. Shipping data shows that at least four oil tankers carrying Saudi crude for China have successfully passed through the Bab el Mandeb Strait since the Houthis announced their blockade. Industry analysts said Chinese officials coordinated the passage of each vessel individually with the Houthi movement. Sources also indicated that both sides kept Iranian authorities informed throughout the process. At the same time, the Houthis have warned international shipping companies that vessels loading or unloading cargo at Saudi Arabian ports could become military targets. The warning has increased concerns among shipping operators, prompting some vessels to reconsider their planned routes. Two oil supertankers recently altered their journeys because of security fears. The New Champion, which was scheduled to load crude oil at Yanbu, and the New Prime, which was already carrying oil, both turned away from the Bab el Mandeb Strait and returned to open waters in the Gulf of Aden rather than continue through the high risk area. Last week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla. Maritime security officials confirmed that the Encelia had been struck, adding to concerns over the safety of commercial vessels operating in the region. The Red Sea remains one of the world’s most important trade routes because it provides the shortest sea connection between Europe and Asia. A direct journey from Yanbu to Asian markets through the Bab el Mandeb Strait normally takes around 16 days. However, ships that avoid the route and instead travel through the Suez Canal before sailing around the southern tip of Africa face voyages lasting about 50 days, significantly increasing fuel costs and delivery times. Recent shipping data indicates that traffic through the Bab el Mandeb Strait has started to recover slightly despite ongoing security risks. Twenty eight vessels passed through the waterway on Monday, the highest daily total in four days, although traffic remained below the monthly peak recorded earlier in July. Of the 12 ships entering the Red Sea that day, four were oil tankers, showing that energy exports continue despite heightened regional tensions and continuing security concerns.