Varanasi Floods: PM Reviews Relief Operations as Ganga Water Crosses Warning Mark

A world-class Olympic sports city is set to be established in Chennai to promote sports and sports tourism across Tamil Nadu. The project aims to develop modern infrastructure, including international standard racing tracks capable of hosting competitions such as Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, and Formula 4. The integrated sports complex will feature high-performance training centres, sports science and medicine facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and residential accommodations for athletes and coaches. Designed to groom athletes to secure medals at the Olympics and other international tournaments, the initiative also seeks to expand opportunities for youth and establish the state as a major sports hub.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed key legislative moves with a resolution urging the Union Government and the President to recognise Tamil as a principal language in Madras High Court proceedings. The resolution calls for procedures allowing petitions, documents, and arguments in Tamil, along with providing court judgements and decrees in the language. Citing constitutional provisions under Article 348(2) and Section 7 of the Official Languages Act 1963, the Assembly pushed for necessary measures to enable justice delivery in the regional language. In addition, an announcement was made regarding a mega project to construct a new Secretariat building complex in Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore. Spanning an extensive area, the planned facility aims to resolve space and parking constraints at Fort St. George, while incorporating modern infrastructure and fire safety systems to meet administrative needs for the next hundred years.

Catastrophic flash floods in Nepal have left more than 1,200 people dead, over 4,200 missing, and nearly 12,000 rescued. Addressing Parliament, the Prime Minister stated that Nepal never refused international assistance and thanked India and China for stepping up with rescue and relief operations. Search teams continue operations inside hydropower tunnels as recovery efforts begin. Ground reports reveal complete devastation in Betrawati, the largest town at the foothills of Rasuwa, which was swept away after a glacial collapse. The Trishuli river expanded from a 30-metre stream to over 600 metres, washing away houses, schools, temples, and bridges. Meanwhile, visuals from Dhunge Bazaar show certain structures surviving despite being submerged in 12 to 15 feet of mud, while surrounding areas were destroyed.

A controversy erupted in Kerala following regressive remarks by cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker regarding women, prompting strong political objections. Representatives of the Samastha faction held a meeting to register their protest and dissatisfaction over the political response. While the leadership asserted that individuals have the right to support or oppose remarks, they expressed concern over the misinterpretation of Islamic history. The political response cited prominent figures from Islamic history, such as Khadija being an entrepreneur and Aisha participating in battle, to argue that women should participate in the mainstream rather than remain confined to homes. The cleric had stated that women must remain indoors, asserting that modesty maintains dignity. Samastha leaders conveyed that political leaders should avoid claiming religious scholars misunderstand their faith.