After days of negotiations, the Mahagathbandhan finally revealed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its Bihar CM pick.
Additionally, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani was declared the grand alliance’s deputy chief minister face. Importantly, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said they could consider other names too as Deputy CMs after the polls.
Delhi AQI ‘very poor’ for 4th straight day
Shifting focus, Delhi’s air quality remained ‘very poor’ for the fourth consecutive day with a thick smog engulfing the nation’s capital early on Thursday morning.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an AQI of 323 at 10 am on October 23, just a couple of days after the city celebrated a cracker-filled Diwali. Earlier on Wednesday, the CPCB recorded the city’s highest AQI so far this season at 353.
Haryana formally requests CBI’s intervention in murder case
In other news, the Haryana government formally urged the Centre to hand over the investigation into the alleged murder of Aqil Akhtar, son of former Punjab DGP Mohammad Mustafa, to the CBI.
According to the Hindustan Times, this can only happen once the Centre accepts its request to extend the powers and jurisdiction of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act for this particular case.
Trump sanctions 2 of Russia’s largest oil cos
Moving on, the Trump administration sanctioned two of Russia’s largest oil companies - Rosneft and Lukoil, accusing them of funding the Kremlin’s war machine.
Importantly, the US Treasury Department’s move came as Moscow conducted a major training exercise involving nuclear arms. Furthermore, the new sanctions were unveiled just a day after plans for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin fell apart.
Rubio warns Israel over annexation of the West Bank
Staying with the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that moves by Israel’s parliament toward the annexation of the West Bank could threaten Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.
Rubio spoke to reporters on his way to Israel, his third visit since September, with the deal signed between Israel and Hamas has, so far, yielded a shaky ceasefire.
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