Delhi’s Air Quality Takes a Deep Dive on Deepavali
On Deepavali afternoon, Delhi experienced a drastic drop in air quality. Monitoring stations across the city reported alarmingly high pollution levels, with 31 out of 38 stations registering ‘very poor’ air quality. Three locations – Anand Vihar (402), Wazirpur (423), and Ashok Vihar (414) – even hit the ‘severe’ category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s SAMEER app showed an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 334 by noon. Authorities predict further worsening of air quality, potentially leading to widespread ‘severe’ conditions in the days following Deepavali.
Trump Issues Tariff Warning to India Over Russian Oil Purchases
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that India would face “massive tariffs” if it continues to purchase oil from Russia. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Trump reiterated that he had previously received assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about New Delhi halting its Russian oil imports. He emphasized that India “doesn’t want to do that” (continue buying Russian oil), implying the serious financial repercussions if they proceed.
RJD Unveils 143 Candidates for Bihar Assembly Polls, Including 24 Women
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) publicly announced its full list of 143 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Notably, 24 women and 16 Muslim candidates are featured on the list. This announcement, made just hours before the nomination deadline for the second phase, addressed speculation about potential conflicts within the INDIA bloc, particularly concerning the Kutumba seat, currently held by state Congress president Rajesh Kumar Ram.
All 23 Indian Crew Members Rescued from Burning LPG Tanker Near Yemen
Following a dramatic explosion and fire, all 23 Indian crew members aboard the MV Falcon, an LPG tanker, have been successfully rescued off the coast of Yemen. The Cameroon-flagged vessel, fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas, caught fire and was left adrift after the incident. The rescued crew has since been safely transferred to the Djiboutian Coast Guard.
Global Outage at Amazon Web Services Disrupts Major Websites and Apps
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing giant, experienced a significant global outage. This disruption led to widespread connectivity issues for numerous companies and impacted popular online services, including gaming platform Fortnite and social media app Snapchat, leaving many users unable to access their favorite sites and applications.
Congress Announces Six More Candidates for Bihar Elections, Total Reaches 60
The Congress party revealed an additional list of six candidates for the Bihar Assembly polls, bringing their total announced candidates to 60. This late-night announcement comes amidst persistent challenges in finalizing a formal seat-sharing agreement with its Mahagathbandhan allies, particularly the RJD, highlighting ongoing tensions within the alliance.
JMM Pulls Out of Bihar Assembly Elections, Citing ‘Political Conspiracy’ by Allies
Jharkhand’s ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The party stated that this decision was a direct result of a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by its Mahagathbandhan allies, the RJD and Congress, which allegedly denied JMM its rightful share of seats.
French Government Condemns ‘Deplorable’ Louvre Heist
A daring jewelry heist at Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum has drawn strong condemnation from the French government, with Justice Minister Gerard Darmanin stating it has cast the nation in a “deplorable” light. The robbery, which occurred, saw thieves use a crane to breach an upstairs window, making off with invaluable items from the section housing the French crown jewels before fleeing on motorbikes. Opposition figures have labeled the incident a “national humiliation.”
Zelenskyy Open to Joining Proposed Putin-Trump Summit in Budapest
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his readiness to participate in a potential summit in Hungary with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, provided he receives an invitation. The proposed meeting between Trump and Putin in the Hungarian capital, possibly within weeks, aims to broker a peace deal to end the three-and-a-half-year conflict that began with Russia’s 2022 invasion.