Former President Jacques Chirac, a political chameleon who dominated French politics for decades and strived to make France's voice heard in Europe and beyond, died on Thursday at the age of 86.

Chirac was president from 1995 to 2007. He shaped his style in the mould of post-war leader Charles de Gaulle, seeking to strengthen France's status as a player on the world stage.

The National Assembly interrupted a sitting to hold a minute's silence. President Emmanuel Macron cancelled a public engagement and scheduled a televised address later on Thursday. Chirac passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones, his son-in-law Frederic Salat-Baroux told Reuters.

Indian Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat will take over as the new Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee on Friday, succeeding Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, who retires from service on September 30.

Rawat, the first Army Chief to hold the post since Gen Bikram Singh (2013-14), could possibly be the last in the post as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that his government will go ahead and appoint a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who will replace the present tri-service committee.

The Army chief is also slated to retire at the end of 2019.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the leaders of the Caribbean Community and Common Market during the first-ever India-Caricom leaders' summit in New York last night. The meet focused on fighting climate change and increasing India's participation with the grouping.

A statement released by External Affairs Ministry said that Mr Modi announced a 14 million US dollar grant for community development projects in the Caricom and another 150 million line of credit for solar, renewable energy and climate change related projects. Leaders and representatives including from Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana,  Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago attended the meeting. Mr Modi invited them to join the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

Bulgaria's Kristalina Georgieva has been selected as the new head of the International Monetary Fund(IMF). She is the first person from an emerging market economy to lead the IMF. The economist succeeds Christine Lagarde for a five-year term from October.
 
In a statement, she said, it is a huge responsibility to be at the helm of the IMF at a time when challenges to global economic growth and trade tensions persist. Georgieva said, her immediate priority is to help countries minimize the risk of crises and be ready to cope with downturns. 

Popular Telugu actor Venu Madhav, 39, breathed his last on Wednesday at a private hospital in Secunderabad, Hyderabad. He has been suffering from kidney-related ailments for a while now.

Telugu film PRO Vamsi Kaka took to Twitter to share news of Venu’s demise.

He wrote, “Actor Venu Madhav Passed away today at 12.20 pm. Both the family members and doctors confirmed it. May his Soul Rest in Peace. #RIPVenuMadhav”

Defending champion Manipur have clinched the title of the 25th Senior Women's National Football Championship for the 20th time.

In the final at CHF Ground in Pasighat today, Manipur defeated Railways 1-0 in a thrilling contest. The first half witnessed no goals from either side.

Though both the teams got good opportunities but failed to convert them.

In the 67th minute, Bala Devi gave the breakthrough for Manipur. Railways fought back and created opportunities till the last second, but had to settle with the runner’s up.  

Nation pays homage to Pandit Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay on his birth anniversary today. Various functions have been organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion. In Uttar Pradesh, senior BJP leaders and party workers will participate in several public welfare initiatives including Swachhta campaign, plastic free India campaign and environmental protection initiatives to celebrate the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay.

AIR correspondent reports that Ministers, MPs, MLAs, BJP  office bearers and party workers are taking part in birthday celebration across the state. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, party state president Swatantra Dev Singh and party national spokesperson Shahnwaz Husain will pay homage to the great soul by garlanding his statue at Charbag Smritika at nine this morning.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the "Global Goalkeeper" award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by his government. Mr Modi dedicated the award to those Indians who transformed the Swachh Bharat campaign into a "people's movement" and accorded topmost priority to cleanliness in their day-to-day lives.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said, when 130 crore people take a pledge, any challenge can be overcome. Mr Modi said, over 11 crore toilets were built in the country in the last five years, which is a record. Prime Minister said, the poor people and the women of India were benefitted the most by it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his thoughts on Mahatma Gandhi at a programme hosted by India in New York this morning. Mr Modi along with others world leaders also inaugurated the Gandhi Solar Park at the UN headquarters and released a commemorative stamp issued by the UN on the occasion of Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.  

Mr Modi said, the platform is a living example that Mahatma Gandhi was from India but did not belong only to India. He said, even those who had never met Gandhiji were deeply influenced by his life. The prime minister said, Gandhiji had stressed on the real strength of democracy. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and a number of heads of state were present on the occasion.

A powerful 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck northeast Pakistan on Tuesday, badly damaging scores of homes and shops and killing at least 22 people and injuring over 700, officials said.

The quake badly damaged a key road leading to the town of Mirpur in the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and adjoining villages, where most of the damage was located.

Mushtaf Minhas, information minister in Pakistan-held Kashmir, said 22 people, including women and children, were killed in the quake, mostly due to collapsing roofs and walls.

"We are supplying tents, food and other essential items to earthquake-affected people. We are facing a tragedy but we will try our best to ensure the rehabilitation of affected people as soon as possible," he told The Associated Press.