Covid-19

On this Special Report, the focus is on the intensifying political confrontation between the BJP and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. Union Minister L. Murugan has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, accusing them of promoting separatist sentiments. Murugan stated, 'In Tamil Nadu, the Udai Nidhi Stalin and the Stalin family always talk about the separate nation, separate country, separate state, and language.' He further contrasted this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to promote Tamil culture through initiatives like the Kasi Tamil Sangamam. The transcript also highlights Udhayanidhi Stalin’s counter-allegations against the Centre, where he accused the Modi government of 'grave mismanagement' during the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized the alleged imposition of Hindi in the state. This report explores the escalating 'Aryan vs Dravidian' narrative and the sharp ideological divide ahead of the upcoming polls.

On this Special Report, India Today’s Sneha Mordani examines the United States' decision to exit the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that threatens to reshape global public health. The decision follows years of allegations regarding political interference and the WHO's handling of the pandemic origins. Donald Trump stated, 'I'm instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.' The report highlights that the US, as the largest funder, contributes between 400 million and 500 million dollars annually compared to China's 40 million dollars. The administration has cited a failure to act quickly during crises, lack of transparency, and bureaucratic inefficiency as primary reasons for the withdrawal. While the WHO denies these accusations, asserting it operates based on science and international cooperation, the exit marks a significant shift in international power politics and health governance.

On this special report, US President Donald Trump discusses the resilience of the American economy and the challenges posed by unexpected global events. Reflecting on his previous term, Trump stated, 'We are poised to have an economy like no other, not only in this country, but anywhere.' He detailed the sudden impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he claimed originated in Wuhan, and defended his administration's response through Operation Warp Speed, describing it as a phenomenal military and logistical feat. Trump emphasized that while some economic shocks are unavoidable, wars can be prevented through intelligent leadership. He also referenced discussions with Scott Bessent regarding current economic projections, suggesting that the United States is positioned for unprecedented growth. The President concluded by highlighting that the stock market's recovery during his tenure was a significant achievement despite the global suffering caused by the pandemic.

In the fifth and the final episode of India Today@50 detailing events from 2015 to 2025, Raj Chengappa, Group Editorial Director (Publishing), provides a comprehensive analysis of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership from 2014.

In this explainer, the focus is on the delimitation exercise scheduled for 2026 and the concerns it has raised among southern states. The Unidentified speaker details how the process, which fixes the number of Lok Sabha and assembly seats based on population, was frozen after the 1971 census to encourage population control. With the freeze ending and the census delayed due to Covid-19, projections mentioned in the report suggest southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala could lose significant representation, while northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar could gain seats. The segment notes that Chief Ministers like MK Stalin have sought unity to oppose this, while Home Minister Amit Shah has issued clarifications.

In this news bulletin, an Unidentified speaker reports on a severe health crisis unfolding in the United Kingdom ahead of the Christmas season. A sharp surge in influenza cases, driven by the H3N2 'super flu' strain, is placing unprecedented pressure on hospitals. Health authorities have reported more than 3,100 flu-related hospital admissions daily, a level not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak is linked to the fast spread of a specific H3N2 sub-clade, which has arrived earlier and stronger than in typical seasons. Officials are urging vaccination and caution as healthcare services struggle to cope with the rising demand.

In a special report on India's air pollution crisis, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh stated in Parliament that a direct link between air quality and lung diseases has not been firmly established. Countering this, Dr. Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Institute of Chest Surgery at Medanta, presents alarming evidence of "black deposits" on the lungs of teenagers and non-smokers. Dr. Kumar cites a study of 4,000 children in Delhi NCR, revealing that 60% reported respiratory symptoms and one-third had spirometry-proven asthma. He warns that lung cancer, once a smoker's disease, is now prevalent among non-smokers and women, urging a national health emergency response similar to COVID-19.

Former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor and social activist Kiran Bedi addresses the severe air pollution crisis gripping the NCR, questioning the central government's silence. In this special report, Bedi asks, 'What stops the Honourable Prime Minister to address the nation? Because the pollution and health is a national issue.' She criticises the 'deficiency of work culture in governance' and proposes a holistic solution called 'EOCM', a four-member team in each area comprising an elected representative, an appointed officer, a cop, and the media to ensure accountability through surprise checks. Bedi also calls for the Union Environment Minister to convene regular meetings with the chief ministers of the five NCR states, stressing that this is a national health emergency that requires leadership on the scale of the COVID-19 response.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the Supreme Court's hearing regarding the severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The top court has questioned the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on its action plan, noting that previous measures have failed to make an impact on the ground. Addressing the blame often placed on farmers, the court stated that the 'issue of stubble burning cannot and should not become a political issue or a question of ego.' The bench observed that stubble burning occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic as well, yet the skies were blue, suggesting other factors like transportation are significant contributors. The court emphasized the need to sensitize farmers and provide them with machines to manage crop residue rather than merely assigning blame.

Former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr. Kiran Bedi speaks on Delhi's severe air pollution crisis, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead a coordinated response similar to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Explaining her changed stance on the need for the Prime Minister's intervention, Bedi states, 'I had to be a sufferer, a victim, to get the pinch'. She suggests the formation of a group of ministers, including the Union Home Minister, to ensure enforcement that the current Commission for Air Quality Management lacks. Bedi calls the current crisis a 'desperate situation' and notes her personal experience as a Delhi resident for the past two and a half years prompted her to speak out, contrasting it with her time in Pondicherry in 2017 when she did not feel the direct impact of the pollution.

This special report features Sonia Dhaiya, a former biotechnology professor from Sonipat, Haryana, who successfully transitioned to agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now known as the 'Mushroom Lady', she has built a mushroom farm with an annual turnover of approximately 1.2 crore rupees, earning her several honours, including one from Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. Discussing her business model, Sonia Dhaiya states, 'In turnover, there is a margin of 15-20% per year'. Her journey from academia to a celebrated agri-preneur showcases a unique blend of scientific knowledge and agricultural innovation, inspiring many in the region.

In this special interview, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, discusses why air pollution is not treated as an urgent health emergency in India despite its severe impacts. She explains that because the threat is often invisible and its health consequences develop slowly over years, it fails to create the immediate panic associated with pandemics like COVID-19, and that responsibility for action is diluted across many sectors. Dr. Swaminathan states, 'That 95% of the country does not have air quality according to our own national standards, which is 40 micrograms per cubic meter, let alone the WHO standards, which is that it should be less than, PM 2.5 should be less than five microgram per meter cube'.

Former AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria has issued a severe health warning as Delhi’s air quality remains in the ‘very poor’ range, urging people with weak lungs to leave the city. He warned that toxic smog is now deadlier than COVID-19, causing heart attacks, strokes, dementia, and infertility. Children face the highest risk, with Delhi’s AQI staying between 300–400, a crisis now spreading across North India.

This special report focuses on a severe public health warning for Delhi issued by former AIIMS Director, Dr. Randeep Guleria, as the city's air quality remains in the 'very poor' category. Dr. Guleria issued a stark warning stating, 'if you have poor lungs, please leave Delhi'. He further cautioned that the toxic smog is now responsible for more deaths than COVID-19, with fine particulate matter leading to a heightened risk of heart attacks, strokes, dementia, and even infertility. The report highlights that children's lungs are the most vulnerable and that Delhi's air quality index (AQI) has consistently been between 300 and 400, a level considered very poor to severe. The problem is described not just as a Delhi-NCR phenomenon, but as a crisis affecting all of North India.

This special report details a major boost in India-China ties with the resumption of direct flights after a five-year suspension that began with the COVID-19 pandemic and continued due to border tensions. The report states, 'Direct flights between India-China after five long years.' The first service, operated by IndiGo, launched on October 26 from Kolkata to Guangzhou. This will be followed by a China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai to New Delhi, scheduled to resume on November 9. The move follows high-level diplomatic discussions, including at the recent SCO Summit in Tianjin, and is seen as a significant step toward normalising trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between the two Asian giants.

This special report focuses on 18-year-old artist Seerat Tariq from Bandipora, Kashmir, who has gained international recognition for her work, including winning a gold medal at the Influencer Book of World Records in Jaipur for promoting Kashmiri tribal art. 'When I first started, a lot of people told me that I wouldn't be able to make a career out of this,' Seerat recalls, highlighting the initial skepticism she faced. Despite the discouragement and being told there was no future in art, her family's unwavering support helped her persevere. The report covers her journey from honing her skills during the COVID-19 lockdown to setting records, such as creating 104 paintings in two days for the India Book of Records, and her ambition to be featured in the Guinness World Records. Seerat now uses her platform to inspire youth and create art that raises awareness on social issues.

Kerala faces a renewed Nipah virus scare as a 57-year-old man from Palakkad becomes the second fatality this month. Health authorities have identified 46 close contacts and are using CCTV footage and mobile data for contact tracing. The government has issued a health advisory urging people to avoid unnecessary hospital visits. Six districts are on high alert, with masks made compulsory in containment zones. The virus has appeared in new districts like Palakkad, raising concerns. The outbreak has occurred consistently in the last three years, with a high fatality rate compared to COVID-19.

The chief of Jayadeva Hospital has stated that reports submitted to the government show no correlation between COVID-19 vaccines and the recent cardiac deaths in Hassan district, Karnataka. This contradicts claims made by the Karnataka Chief Minister linking heart attacks to vaccines. The hospital chief clarified that while COVID-19 infection itself may have caused an increase in heart attacks and strokes in the early stages due to blood clot formation, vaccines are not responsible for the current incidents. The statement comes amidst an ongoing debate between the Karnataka government and health experts, with institutions like Serum Institute of India, AIIMS, and ICMR refuting any link between vaccines and cardiac deaths.

The 'Only in India' segment explores the digital transformation of traditional Hindu rituals. Ceremonies like griha pravesh, naam karan, mundan, and pitra paksha are now being conducted via video calls, allowing devotees from Delhi to Dubai to Dallas to participate.

Medical experts from AIIMS and other institutions have declared COVID-19 vaccines safe, dismissing claims linking them to heart attacks. They emphasised there is no scientific evidence connecting the vaccines to sudden cardiac arrests.