Quick Reads
News Dabba 14 September: Five stories across the web for a balanced news diet
Here are the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites.
Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from Goa Congress MLAs joining BJP, EU tackling Europe's energy crisis, to roadblocks in Rafale sale investigation.
Eight Goa Congress MLAs join BJP, reports the Hindu
Eight out of 11 MLAs of Congress have joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unconditionally, the Hindu reports quoting Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference with State BJP chief Sadanant Shet Tanavade, Sawant said that BJP’s strength in the 40-member Assembly has gone up to 28 with the eight new entrants, the report adds. Former chief minister Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes have joined Congress. Read the full report on the Hindu.
BBC reports EU chief sets out plans to tackle energy crisis
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has called for cuts to electricity use across the bloc and windfall taxes on energy firms to tackle high prices, BBC reports. She told the European Parliament that gas and electricity prices had hit all-time highs after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She called also for electricity consumption to be cut at peak hours by at least five percent. But, the report adds, plans for a cap on the price of natural gas, a key Russian export to the EU, were put on hold. Read the full report on BBC.
Al Jazeera: Armenia reports new clashes with Azerbaijan
New clashes have erupted between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Armenian defence ministry says, as per the Al Jazeera report. The clashes come a day after nearly 100 soldiers were killed in the deadliest fighting between the two neighbours since 2020. Azerbaijan used artillery, mortar and small arms in its attack on Wednesday morning, the report adds the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Azerbaijan accused Armenia, which is in a military alliance with Moscow, of firing mortars and artillery against its military units. Read the full report on Al Jazeera.
NDTV report on Air India Express Plane catching fire at Muscat Airport
An Air India Express flight bound for Kochi was evacuated at Muscat airport in Oman today after a fire was detected in one of the engines just before take-off. An NDTV report stated that all crew and the 145 passengers on board, four of them infants, were evacuated from the aircraft and shifted to the terminal building. No injuries have been reported. Directorate General of Civil Aviation's statement has assured a relief flight arrangement for the passengers. The report also adds that two months ago, an Air India Express aircraft operating from Calicut to Dubai had to be diverted to Muscat after a burning smell was observed. Read the full report on NDTV.
Military secrecy gets in the way of French Judges' Rafale sale probe: The Wire
The two French judges who have been investigating France’s sale of 36 Rafale fighter jets to India have come across the road block of military secrecy, a report by the Wire states. It says that according to a report by French platform Mediapart, a discreet search of Dassault Aviation (makers of Rafale) offices was carried out in February this year. However, since then, the judicial investigation has been unable to get much further. Judges Virginie Tilmont and Pascal Gastineau have been investigating the sale for the last one year, focusing on suspicions of “corruption”, “influence peddling” and “favouritism” in the 7.8 billion euro sale, the report adds. Read the full report on the Wire.
