New Delhi: Delhi Minister Atishi Marlena is set to become the new chief minister following Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation after his meeting with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena this afternoon.

The decision was finalized during an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders' meeting held today.

During the meeting, party leader Dilip Pandey suggested that Mr Kejriwal choose his successor. When Mr. Kejriwal proposed Atishi's name, all AAP MLAs unanimously supported the decision, and she was elected as the leader of the legislature party, according to sources.

Currently serving in key roles in the Delhi government, including education and public works, Atishi is a prominent figure in AAP’s education reform initiatives. She is an Oxford University alumnus and Rhodes scholar with extensive experience in transforming Delhi's schools.

The 43-year-old MLA from Kalkaji assumed ministerial duties after Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with a corruption case related to Delhi's former liquor policy. During the period when Kejriwal and Sisodia were in custody, Atishi effectively represented the party’s stance.

On August 15, Kejriwal had selected her to hoist the national flag at the Delhi government's Independence Day event. Although the plan was ultimately blocked by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, it underscored the trust AAP leadership has in Atishi.

New York (AFP): A Pakistani man with alleged ties to Iran pleaded not guilty Monday to plotting to assassinate a US official in retaliation for the American military killing of Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Asif Raza Merchant, 46, allegedly sought to hire a hitman to assassinate a politician or a government official in the United States, the Justice Department and prosecutors said in a statement.

A court document showed that Merchant pleaded not guilty to all counts, with a next hearing scheduled for November 6, 2024.

Soleimani, the head of Iran's foreign military operations, was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. Iranian officials have repeatedly vowed to avenge his killing.

"As these terrorism and murder for hire charges against Asif Merchant demonstrate, we will continue to hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran's lethal plotting against Americans," US Attorney General Merrick Garland said previously.

The intended victim was not identified but the Garland has previously said no evidence has emerged to link Merchant with the July 13 assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has said the Pakistani national had "close ties to Iran" and that the alleged murder-for-hire plot was "straight out of the Iranian playbook."

Another FBI official said the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were in fact undercover FBI agents.

"After spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme to kill a politician or government official," the Justice Department said in a statement.

"That person reported Merchant's conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source."

Merchant was arrested on July 12 as he planned to leave the country.

Iran's mission to the United Nations said in August it had "not received any report on this from the American government."

"But it is clear that this method is contrary to the Iranian government's policy of pursuing Soleimani's killer," the mission said in a statement carried by Iran's official IRNA news agency.

Dubai (Reuters): Next month's Women's T20 World Cup will offer a record total of $7.96 million in prize money, organising body the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Tuesday.

The winners of the tournament will receive $2.34 million, more than double the $1 million awarded to Australia for winning the previous edition of the tournament in 2023.

India received $2.45 million earlier this year for winning the men's T20 World Cup, which handed out a total of $11.25 million.

"This move is in line with the ICC's strategy to prioritise the women's game and accelerate its growth by 2032," the ICC said in a statement.

"Teams will now receive equal prize money for the equivalent finishing position at comparable events as well as the same amount for winning a match at those events.

"The men's T20 World Cup 2024 event prize money is only higher on account of 10 additional teams participating and 32 more matches played."

The losing finalists will walk away with $1.17 million, while each of the 10 participating teams are assured of $112,500.

The Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled for Oct. 3 to 20, was moved to the United Arab Emirates from Bangladesh, which has been rocked by political turmoil and violence in recent months.