Bihar saw its highest-ever voter turnout – 68.76% – in the second and final phase of Assembly polls, breaking records set since 1951. The overall turnout across both phases stood at 66.92%, with women (71.6%) outvoting men (62.8%). As counting awaits on November 14, exit polls have predicted a comfortable win for the NDA, giving it well above the majority mark of 122 in the 243-member House, while the Opposition Mahagathbandhan trails at around 100 and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj remains in the single digits. Poll officials credited the record participation to the SIR and “its various logistical improvements”. On that note, let’s get to the rest of the editionBehind the Red Fort blastUS to cut tariffs on IndiaBihar’s cycle effect Big StoryThe car blast outside the Red Fort metro station, which killed 13, is now believed to be the work of the same “transnational and interstate” module busted by the J-K police. The man suspected to have been behind the wheel of the i20, Umar Nabi, a Pulwama native employed at Faridabad’s Al-Falah Medical College. Two of his colleagues, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai and Dr Adeel Majeed Rather, were arrested late last month, with police seizing over 350 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, remotes, timers, and weapons from a rented room in Faridabad. A fourth suspect, Dr Shaheen Shahid Ansari from Lucknow, has also been detained for questioning. Investigators believe the group – dubbed the “white-collar module” – was planning a far bigger attack before their network began to unravel.Questioned: In Pulwama’s Koil village, the family of Dr Umar Nabi Bhat waited for his return the night the police came knocking. His brothers were detained, mother taken for DNA sampling. Nabi, who told his sister-in-law he would be home in three days, has been missing since his colleagues in Faridabad were arrested. Find out more about the man at the wheel of the blast. Trail to Faridabad: At the heart of the probe is a network of doctors from Faridabad’s Al-Falah Medical College. Among them is Dr Muzammil Ganai, a junior resident in the emergency wing, arrested after explosives were found at his rented flat. The institute which began as a dispensary in 1997 and later introduced BTech and other degree courses, started its MBBS programme in 2019 and PG medical courses two years ago. Story continues below this adAll it takes: Syed Ata Hasnain (a former corps commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps and member of NDMA) writes how after 14 years of calm, one night of fear has rekindled security concerns in our Opinion section today. Read⚡Only in ExpressThe cycle effect: The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar launched Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana in 2006. Under this, girls in Class 9 were given Rs 2,000 to buy bicycles. The scheme was a runaway success, emulated by other states, and even nations, as a tool for increasing enrollment in schools and empowering women. Now, nearly two decades later, with Bihar in the midst of a crucial state election, the impact of the scheme is visible far beyond these numbers. Uma Vishnu brings to us stories of freedom, confidence, and hope from these girls-turned-women. From the Front PageNo more penalty: US President Donald Trump has said the US will cut down tariffs on India, and that Washington is “pretty close” to reaching a “fair trade deal” with New Delhi. India currently faces 50 per cent tariffs – the highest of that imposed on any country globally – including the ‘penalty’ duty of 25 per cent for Russian oil purchase. Must ReadA ‘guiding hand’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bhutan to attend the 70th birthday celebrations of the fourth king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Popularly known as K4, Wangchuck, in his tenure of over 30 years, interacted with 12 Indian Prime Ministers, from Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi to Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Dr Manmohan Singh, till he abdicated the throne in 2006 for his son. Here’s a look at his life and legacy as India’s old friend.Story continues below this ad‘Proof above all’: Observing that “courts cannot prefer expediency over legality,” the Supreme Court set aside the conviction of Surendra Koli in a case of rape and murder of a teenage girl, one of many cases of the Nithari serial killing cases. The bench noted that Koli had already been acquitted in 12 similar cases, finding no credible chain of custody or expert testimony linking him to the crime. “Criminal law does not permit conviction on conjecture or hunch,” it said, calling the investigation “negligent and corroded by delay”.AI in schools: Next academic year onwards, CBSE students, as young as those studying in Class 3, will likely find computational-thinking skills integrated in all subjects as the Board prepares to implement an AI-focused curriculum. A draft, developed by the CBSE, for classes 3 to 12 also focuses on introducing foundational concepts of AI in the lower classes, along with advanced computational thinking and AI as compulsory subjects in classes 9 and 10, official sources said.⏳ And Finally…While the FIDE World Cup has grandmasters sweating bullets, Levon Aronian has been busy soaking up the Goan sun. The Armenia-born American GM, who turned up a week early to explore what Goa has to offer, says he has no ambitions at the World Cup, he’s in Goa just to play chess and enjoy himself. “Regular ideas just lead to a draw,” he says after pulling off a win with a surprise opening move. Between walks on the beach and selfies with cows, Aronian has also been busy expanding his shirt collection, the more flamboyant the better. Before you go, tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode, where we discuss the Red Fort blasts, the railway ticketing scam, and the Nithari case acquittal. That’s all for today! Until tomorrow,Malavika Jayadeep and Anamni Gupta