India gets Air Power: Rajnath Singh inducts first Rafale in Indian Air Force
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday officially received the first Rafale fighter jet made for India by the French company Dassault. The minister, who is on a three-day visit to France, attended the handover ceremony along with his French counterpart Florence Parly at aircraft maker Dassault Aviation facility in Merignac, southwestern France.
Rajnath Singh performed a Shastra Puja on the new aircraft as he emblazoned it with an 'Om' tilak and laid flowers and coconut, just before he was to take off in it for a sortie in the newly-acquired two-seater jet.
India had ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016.
While the formal handover ceremony takes place this week, the first batch of four Rafale jets will fly to their home base in India by May 2020. All 36 jets are expected to arrive in India by September 2022, for which the IAF has been reportedly undertaking preparations, including readying required infrastructure and training of pilots.
Christine Wolf wins the Hero Women’s Indian Open
Christine Wolf, who grew up in an Austrian mountain area of Tirol, stood atop the peak as she rid herself of the nightmare of 2018, when she stumbled with the Hero Women’s Indian Open (HWIO) Trophy almost in her grasp.
A year after finishing tied for second in the HWIO, Wolf finished ahead of the pack by turning in a bogey-free final round to claim her first Ladies European Tour title. The 30-year-old Austrian, who saw her chances wrecked by a quadruple bogey on 18th on the third day and by a double on the same hole on final day, made no mistakes this time and took care of unfinished business.
China Open: Naomi Osaka beats world number one Ashleigh Barty in final
The Japanese world number four came through 3-6 6-3 6-2 to win her second title in a row, having also triumphed at the Pan Pacific Open in September.
She has won 10 straight matches since losing in the last 16 of the US Open.
"In this tournament I was not calm as I normally am. I threw my racquet at least once every match," said Osaka. "I felt like I had something to prove."
This title ranks as one of the biggest of 21-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka's career, because it is only her second premier WTA title - the top level of tournaments on the women's tour after the majors.
Novak Djokovic wins Japan Open on return from injury
The 31-year-old won 6-3 6-2 in the final in Tokyo to claim a fourth title of the year and a 76th of his career.
It was the Serb's first tournament since he withdrew from the US Open in September with a shoulder injury.
Djokovic needed just 70 minutes to see off 30-year-old Australian world number 80 Millman and did not drop a set throughout the tournament.
"I didn't drop a set, so I played a fantastic tournament," said Djokovic, who now travels to China for the Shanghai Masters, which starts on Monday.
"Everything is positive in my experience on and off the court, the way I feel and motivated for Shanghai.
FM to inaugurate NeAC for better taxpayer service
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) for better taxpayer service and promotion of ease of doing business in New Delhi today. Income Tax Department's NeAC, will avoid face-to-face interaction between taxpayers and tax officials. The finance ministry said in a statement that setting up of NeAC is a step to reduce taxpayer grievances in line with the prime minister's vision of 'Digital India'.
It said that the new initiative shall impart greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in the assessment process. Under the new system, taxpayers have received notices on their registered e-mails as well as on registered accounts on the web portal <www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in>> with real-time by way of SMS. The notice specifies the issues for which their cases have been selected for scrutiny. Replies to the notices can be prepared at ease by tax payers and sent by email to the NeAC by uploading the same on the designated web portal.
Surender Singh creates three world records at World Powerlifting C’ ship
Surender Singh of India created three world records at the ongoing World Powerlifting Championship in Berlin, Germany. Surender bagged gold medal in 110 kg category, Classic Raw and the Best Lifter Award in Classic Raw and Single Ply. Three-time World Champion Mukesh Singh went on to add another feather to his cap by winning yet another gold only to be known as 4-time World Champion.
On the first day of the championship yesterday, Indian contingent bagged a total of 4 gold and 1 silver medal.
India’s first e-waste clinic to be set up in Bhopal
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have joined hands to set up the country’s first e-waste clinic here, that would enable segregation, processing and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units.
After inspecting the garbage and plastic recovery centres in Bhanpur here, CPCB officials discussed the clinic with BMC officials. A three-month pilot project, the clinic, if successful, would be replicated elsewhere in the country.
“Electronic waste will be collected door-to-door or could be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for a fee. The CPCB will provide technical support at the unit,” BMC Additional Commissioner Rajesh Rathore told The Hindu.
President Kovind appoints Chief Justices to seven high courts
President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday appointed Chief Justices to seven high courts.
Justice A Mani Kumar, a judge of the Madras High Court, has been elevated as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. Justice J K Maheshwari, a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra HC.
Karnataka High Court judge Justice L N Swamy has been elevated as Chief Justice of the the Himachal Pradesh HC.Acting chief justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Justice Ravi Shankar Jha has been appointed as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Similarly, Allahabad HC judge Ajai Lamba has been elevated as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
Jagan to launch ‘YSR Vahana Mitra’ in Eluru today
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will launch the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme in Eluru on Friday.
He will distribute ₹10,000 financial assistance to auto, taxi and maxi driver-cum-owners.
Mr. Reddy, during his padayatra in Eluru on May 14, 2018, had promised self-employed auto-rickshaw drivers financial assistance for maintenance upon coming to power.
The annual allowance would be given to them to meet the insurance premium, licence fee and other recurring expenses.
Vijay Patil, son of DY Patil, elected Mumbai Cricket Association president
Education baron Vijay Patil and Sanjay Naik were on Friday elected unopposed as president and secretary respectively of the Mumbai Cricket Association here. The president, vice-president and secretary were elected unopposed while polls were held for the posts of treasurer, joint secretary and nine members of the Apex Council. Amol Kale was elected as the vice-president.
Vijay Patil is the son of former Governor and Congress politician Dr DY Patil. Shahalam Shaikh was chosen as joint secretary, defeating Sangam Lad by 196 to 121 votes, while Jagdish Achrekar was elected as the treasurer in the contest against Mayank Khanwala as the results were announced by MCA electoral officer D N Choudhary.