Russia on Feb. 28 named career diplomat Alexander Darchiev as its new ambassador to the US following talks in Istanbul. “The American side handed over an official note of agreement on (Darchiev’s) appointment,” the Russian foreign ministry said. Darchiev has worked in various Russian diplomatic roles since 1992, most recently as director of the Russian foreign ministry’s North American department. “His departure for his place of service in Washington is expected in the near future,” the ministry added. Moscow has not had an envoy in the US since the last ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, left his post in October.Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have thwarted a Ukrainian plot to kill a senior bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church with close links to President Putin. The plot to assassinate Tikhon Shevkunov was hatched by Ukraine’s military intelligence service, Russia FSB security service said on Feb. 18. The FSB said that it had arrested a Ukrainian and a Russian man in Moscow on suspicion of planning the attack.The Russian security service added that men had been “recruited by Ukraine’s GUR intelligence service through Telegram.” n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION2:18 WHO IS TIKHON SHEVKUNOV?3:12 UKRAINE SAYS RUSSIAN FORCES STORMING BORDER FROM KURSK4:20 RUSSIAN MILITARY CHIEF VISITS TROOPS ON FRONTLINE5:02 US-RUSSIA TALKS IN ISTANBUL WERE MEANINGFUL: MOSCOW7:15 RUSSIAN NAMES NEW US ENVOY

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is under opposition fire over the recent cabinet expansion. Critics argue that Nitish Kumar’s dominance in Bihar’s politics is waning as BJP takes a firmer grip, evident from the fact that all new ministers were from the BJP. Opposition leaders claim the BJP is using Nitish as a mask, while the JD(U) and BJP firmly rebut these allegations.

The meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and all Kerala MPs. But the focus and all eyes were on Shashi Tharoor who was seated between Ramesh Chennithala and K Suresh.