TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee hints at solo run in the 2026 West Bengal polls, emphasizing the party’s successful history of contesting independently. Mamata Banerjee reiterates no alliance with Congress in state elections, while BJP remains confident of victory amid allegations of corruption against TMC.

The US defence secretary has said that President Donald Trump’s efforts to seek an end to the Ukraine war were “certainly not a betrayal” of Kyiv. Ukraine’s European allies accused the US president of making concessions to Russia after he agreed to launch peace talks during a phone call with Putin. It is Europe’s responsibility to stop the Russian “war machine,” Pete Hegseth said before meeting NATO ministers in Brussels. NATO chief Mark Rutte said that it was crucial Kyiv is “closely involved” in any talks about what is happening in Ukraine. Germany’s defence minister said it “regrettable” that Washington had made “concessions” to Russia before peace talks had even started. Britain’s defence secretary echoed that message, warning “there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine.” n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION2:28 NATO, EUROPE PUSH BACK AGAINST TRUMP’S PEACE PUSH6:18 CHINA REACTS

Several members of a parliamentary committee on Thursday raised the issue of social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s crass comments, calling for strict action and strengthening measures to curb such incidents.