Breaking News Today Live Updates: Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu, union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assess Vijayawada flood damage

Writer-activist Taslima Nasreen said on Thursday that "Islamic radicals" are trying to make Bangladesh another Afghanistan with their "anti-India, anit-Hindu and pro-Pakistan" propaganda in the country that witnessed violent protests recently.

"When you brainwash youths like this, they would become a generation who are against Hindus, against India, against women and are pro-Pakistan, pro-jihad, pro fanatics," she said.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India is a "peace-loving nation" but the Armed Forces need to be "prepared for war in order to preserve peace".

Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas conflicts and the current unstable situation in Bangladesh, the minister exhorted the commanders to analyse these episodes, predict the problems that the country may face in the future, and stay prepared to deal with the "unexpected".

Michel Barnier, the former Brexit negotiator for the European Union, has been appointed as the new prime minister of France by President Emmanuel Macron. The decision comes after weeks of prolonged discussions following an indecisive snap election.

Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha leader of opposition was speaking at an event in Sangli that witnessed the inauguration of Pantangrao Kadam's life-size statue. Kadam was a senior party leader and had served as minister.

"I give you a guarantee that Kadam ji's statue installed will be here even after 50-70 years....Shivaji Maharaj's statue was installed but only a few days later the statue fell.This is an insult to Shivaji Maharaj. The PM should apologise not just to Shivaji Maharaj but also to every person of Maharashtra," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing the rally.

According to the news agency AFP, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed Russia's willingness to engage in peace talks with Ukraine, while reiterating that the country's primary objective remains the capture of Ukraine’s Donbas region.

The Donbas area, a key strategic region, has been at the centre of ongoing conflict since the war began.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal minority government now faces instability after the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, withdrew its support.

Although this move does not trigger an immediate election but complicates Trudeau’s ability to govern, as he will now need to secure backing from other opposition members to pass key legislation, including budgets and confidence votes in the House of Commons.

An Air India flight from Delhi to Birmingham was unexpectedly diverted to Moscow after encountering a technical problem mid-flight.

The Boeing 787 remained grounded in Moscow for five hours for necessary repairs before resuming its journey, ultimately arriving seven hours behind schedule.

This marks the third time in just over a year that an Air India flight has been diverted, with two previous incidents occurring on the Delhi-San Francisco route. Passengers on board were provided assistance while the airline worked to rectify the issue.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced a significant pledge of over $50 billion in financing for African nations in the coming three years.

The funding aims to support infrastructure development, economic growth, and social projects across the continent. This move reflects China’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Africa.

The financial assistance also signals China’s long-term interest in enhancing trade and diplomatic ties with African countries, as part of its broader Belt and Road Initiative.

The Sindhudurg Police have detained sculptor Jaydeep Apte following the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra.

Apte was taken into custody from Thane and transported to Sindhudurg, where he will be presented in court later today.

The arrest comes as part of an investigation into the incident, which has drawn significant public attention. Authorities are looking into potential negligence or structural flaws that may have contributed to the statue’s collapse.