New Delhi, Oct. 25 -- From the capital's worsening post-Diwali air quality and cautious optimism on consumption after GST cuts, to signs of an India-US trade breakthrough and tighter links between executive pay and performance-here's this week's news in numbers.

As the Diwali festive season concludes, pollution levels in Indian cities have dominated headlines again. This annual crisis is particularly severe in Delhi and surrounding regions, where festive fireworks, along with stubble burning from northern states, create hazardous air quality.

Immediately after the celebrations, AQI spiked seven-fold in the National Capital Region between 12-2 am, with Gurugram PM2.5 (µg/m³) reading reaching 877, followed by Noida at 760 and De...