QUICK NEWS

India’s quest for acquiring 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for its naval aircraft carriers has moved a step closer, as the French government has submitted its formal response to India’s tender, sources in the Defence Ministry said. The response includes the terms-conditions and pricing of the deal, which is estimated to be around Rs 50,000 crore, news agency IANS quoting defence sources said. The French bid was delivered in New Delhi by a team of French government officials who deal with military sales to other countries. The Indian Navy needs the Rafale Marine jets to operate on its two aircraft carriers – INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant – which currently use the MiG-29s.

After Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar's 'Hindi Aana Chahiye' remark on Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TR Baalu during INDIA Bloc meeting, spiritual leader and founder of Isha Foundation Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on Wednesday reacted on it.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sadhguru wrote, "Respected Shri Nitish Kumar ji, Hindustan means the land that lies between the Himalayas and Indu Sagara or the land of Hindus not the land of Hindi language. Linguistic division of states was done with the wisdom that all languages in the country will have same status even though there may be big differences in the populations that speak them. Respectfully request you to avoid such banal statements as there are many states with their own language, literature and culture associated with it."

For the third day this week, the rescue and relief efforts continued in the flood-hit southern districts (Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi) of Tamil Nadu, in the aftermath of unprecedented rains and the resultant deluge.

The Indian tri-services (Army, Navy, Air Force), Indian Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are working across the flooded regions and carrying out rescue and relief operations by air, boat, on foot, and via heavy vehicles. The efforts by the central forces are based on the request of the Tamil Nadu Government.

A bridge collapsed near Anthony Puram on the Thoothukudi-Madurai highway in the Thoothukudi district as rain-ravaged Tamil Nadu continues to suffer incessant rainfall that has wreaked havoc not witnessed since 1871, particularly in the southern districts.

The record rainfall in the last two days has severely affected nearly 40 lakh people living in the Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts.

The situation remains alarming in Srivaikuntam and Tuticorin towns due to large flooding in the river Thamirabarani and the adjoining areas. CM MK Stalin-led state government has termed the rainfall 'unprecedented', even as four IAF helicopters, two Navy helicopters and two Coast Guard choppers are hovering over the affected region to rescue stranded people and drop food items for those stranded.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday asked Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to probe the recent security lapse in Parliament and also sought his intervention into the suspension of MPs.

"I would request you to kindly address this matter in the interest of upholding the integrity of the parliamentary processes and precedents and the democratic values," said Pawar in a letter to Dhankhar.