The Mahagathbandhan has named 36-year-old Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial face for the Bihar elections, aiming to consolidate its M-Y base and present a youth-driven alternative. This move contrasts with the NDA’s aging leadership and indecision, but risks alienating other OBC groups and faces the ‘Jungle Raj’ narrative.

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, pledged Friday to further embrace his Muslim identity in response to growing attacks by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his surrogates that he characterized as “racist and baseless.”

In a significant shift, the US has imposed stringent sanctions on Russia’s top oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil, targeting the financial backbone of its war in Ukraine. This move, aimed at crippling Moscow’s revenue streams, has already impacted global oil markets and prompted major buyers like China and India to reassess their purchases.