The friend of the medical student who was raped near a private medical college in West Bengal’s Durgapur has been arrested by the police, taking the total arrests in the case to six.

Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor will not contest the upcoming Bihar assembly polls, stating the decision was made for the “greater good” of his Jan Suraaj party. He believes his absence will allow him to focus on organizational work, and remains confident of a significant electoral outcome, either a landslide victory or a substantial defeat.

Experts warn that air quality is likely to deteriorate further as winter deepens, driven largely by transport emissions and seasonal factors.