Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and I still Grand Slam favourites: Federer

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January 16, 2019

Roger Federer has given cold comfort to the next generation of men’s players hoping for Grand Slam glory, saying he, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are still deserving favourites to claim the game’s biggest trophies.

The top three seeds at Melbourne Park raffled all four of the majors between them last year, with Federer winning his sixth Australian Open, Nadal claiming his 11th French Open and world number one Djokovic sweeping Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

The Swiss master is bidding for his 21st Grand Slam crown and a hat-trick of Melbourne titles this year, and he sailed into the third round on Wednesday with a straight sets win over British qualifier Dan Evans.

Before the tournament, top seed Djokovic declared the three should be favourites to win the Slams, and Federer agreed when asked after his Evans match.

“Yes, I guess so,” the third seed told reporters.

“I mean, look, I think we know how to win Slams, Novak, Rafael, myself. I mean, Rafael has to be the number one favourite, I don’t care how he feels, before the French.

“Novak is always a favourite on the hard courts, basically any court if he’s feeling 100 per cent, if he plays like last year.

“Maybe just because of my amount of titles I have at Wimbledon and other places, maybe also have to put me in the mix every time, as well.”

Youngsters focussing solely on shorter formats could have problems playing Test: Virat

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January 16, 2019

Virat Kohli has no peers when it comes to ODI cricket but he has priceless message for youngsters — sole focus on limited overs formats shouldn’t be used an “excuse” of not being able to cope with challenges that Test cricket presents.

World’s No. 1 batsman with 25 Test hundreds warned that youngsters will have mental problems if they don’t embrace the pristine form of five-day cricket.

“If we focus too much on shorter formats – yes, they’re important – but if we solely focus and look at them as an escape or an excuse to not be in the kind of situations that Test cricket presents to you, then I think there will start being a mental problem with the cricketers coming up,” Kohli was quoted as saying by Star Sports.

The Indian skipper, who has played a few defining knocks against world class bowlers like Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mitchell Starc during the past year spoke about the hardwork that goes into making of a quality Test player.

“As long as you’re willing to wake up every morning for five days and do the hard yards and go do the dirty work – if you’re willing to bat for two hours and not score a run for the team – I think that is what people should prepare (youngsters) (for).”

Kohli said that the current batch of Indian Test cricketers are trying to set an example for the younger generation.

“That (vision) will require the team to lay out a certain things that needs to be done and for the next lot to keep following. So (when) the next lot that comes in, they have to maintain that vision and then the people coming in will follow.”

Virat Kohli has reaffirmed his commitment towards Test cricket, saying he wants India to become a superpower in the game’s longest format.

Number-one ranked India recently won their maiden Test series in Australia under Kohli’s leadership.

Kohli was made India captain for the first time in the middle of the 2014-15 Test series in Australia with MS Dhoni announcing a shock retirement. He credited coach Ravi Shastri for making his job easier.

Nehwal, Srikanth make winning start to Malaysia Masters

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January 16, 2019

Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth made a winning start to their campaign at the ongoing Malaysia Masters on Wednesday.

While Nehwal defeated Deng Joy Xuan of Hong Kong 14-21, 21-18, 21-18 to move into the second round of the women’s singles event, Srikanth eases past Honk Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long 21-17, 21-11 to advance further in the men’s singles event of the tournament.

Nehwal looked tentative in the initial stage of the match but soon made a comeback with a resilient attitude. Having lost the opening margin of seven points, the shuttler gave an impressive performance in the consecutive games to move further in the competition.

For Srikanth, the battle was comparatively easy as he registered a dominating straight sets victory over his Hong Kong counterpart. Without showing any signs of weakness, the world number eight player maintained a firm grip on the match from start to end.

Another Indian shuttler Parupalli Kashyap also made it to the second round of the Malaysia Masters after defeating Rasmus Gemke of Denmark 19-21, 21-19, 21-10 in an exciting contest.

In mixed-doubles event, Indian pair of Pranaav Chopra and N. Sikki Reddy defeated Dutch duo of Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek 21-19, 21-17 to move into the second round of the competition.

Odisha Cong presidents resigns, ready to join BJD

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January 16, 2019

In a major setback for the opposition Congress in poll-bound Odisha, its working president and Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das has resigned from the primary membership of the party. However, he has not resigned from the membership of the Odisha assembly, election to which is slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls this year.

Das, a two time legislator, has sent his resignation letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to visit the state on January 25. Das said that he will join the ruling BJD to take forward the developmental activities in his Jharsuguda assembly constituency.

A copy of the resignation letter was also sent to Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Odisha, Jitender Singh.

Das stated that he has resigned from the Congress following requests by voters of Jharsuguda who want the area to be developed. I do not have any complain against Niranjan Patnaik, president, PCC, Odisha. I have a very cordial relationship with him. I apologize for this resignation as done so for the motto i.e. development first. So I should join hands with Naveen Patnaik, he indicated that he would join the BJD on January 24.

Two days ago, when Das indicated that he would quit the Congress, Niranjan Patnaik had said it will not affect the poll prospects of the party. Das is a popular leader in Jharsuguda district. He had defeated BJD candidates in 2009 and 2014 assembly elections. He is also credited with ensuring Congress victory during the 2017 zilla parishad elections in Jharsuguda. Of the nine zilla parishad seats in Jharsuguda district, Das had ensured victory of Congress candidates in eight.

Niranjan Patnaik wrote on Twitter, “As I had clarified to media, news like this does pain me. But, in hindsight, I think this is good for us. People who are not committed to the ideology & treat politics as commercial activity are doing great service to us by quitting.

49 people injured on day one of Jallikattu festival in TN

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January 16, 2019

Forty-nine people were injured on the first day of the traditional Jallikattu festival in Tamil Nadu that has attracted the ire of animal activists, officials said on Wednesday.

Nearly 500 bulls and a similar number of “tamers” were involved on the opening day of the festival in Madurai, said S Natarajan, district collector of the city.

The Supreme Court outlawed Jallikattu in 2016 after a plea by animal rights groups but Tamil Nadu insisted Jallikattu was a crucial part of its culture and identity.

Growing tensions in the state capital Chennai, and other cities, led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue an executive order that the centuries-old festival a go ahead.

During the festival in Tamil Nadu bulls festooned with marigolds are released from pens and men try to grab their horns to win prizes such as scooters and whitegoods.

Critics say the bulls are fed alcohol and chilli powder is thrown in their faces to agitate them before the clash. Organisers insist the animals are not mistreated.

Bodies of young man and woman found in well in Rajasthan

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January 16, 2019

The bodies of a 28 years old man and a 19 years old woman were found on Wednesday in a well in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, police said.

The man was identified as Rajesh and the woman was his neighbour, Guda police Station House Officer Ashok Chaudhary said.

He said that both of them apparently had an affair. The duo had been missing since Tuesday night and their bodies were found in the well in Sigror village on Wednesday.

No suicide note was recovered and a case was registered under CrPc section 174 (unnatural death). The bodies were handed over to the family members after post-mortem, the SHO added.

CBI vs CBI row: PM-headed panel likely to meet on Jan 24 to appoint new Director

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January 16, 2019

The high-powered Selection Committee is likely to meet on January 24 to appoint the new CBI Director, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads the committee, in which the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge are the other members.

The sources said that the government had proposed the meeting on January 21 earlier while Kharge wanted the meeting on January 24 or 25.

After mutual consultations, the government has finalised January 24 as the date for the meeting to select the new CBI Director, a post which is lying vacant ever since the government removed Alok Verma and appointed him as Director General Fire Service.

IPS officer M Nageswara Rao was named the interim director of the CBI. The Congress has been attacking the prime minister for not appointing a regular CBI Director.

Kharge had also written to the Prime Minister demanding early holding of the meeting of the high powered committee to appoint a regular CBI Director.

Elevation of junior judges ignoring seniority left me surprised: Former CJI Lodha

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January 16, 2019

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) RM Lodha on Wednesday said that he was surprised to know that a junior judge was recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court, superseding senior judges.

“What I always feel is that the Collegium should act in a transparent manner, and reasons must be forthcoming why the decision was an upturn. There must be transparency. I have always believed that the Collegium works as an institution. It is an institutional body; it is not an individual’s decision. If the consultation or communication between the Collegium was lacking, that could have been done. A junior judge was superseded to the Supreme Court, it surprises me,” former CJI Lodha said in an exclusive interview to agencies.

Talking about the Collegium, he said: “The Collegium is a matured body, comprising of the CJI and four senior-most judges. It is a very strong, powerful, matured and intellectual body and every decision taken by the Collegium must reflect its maturity.”

“The question is after Justice Nandrajog, there are two more judges, Justice Gita Mittal, the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court and Justice S Ravinder Bhatt. The Karnataka High Court Judge, who is from Rajasthan, was superseded six weeks ago, was not found to be, as per reports, deserving for being elevated to the Supreme Court,” he added.

“Look, it is little disturbing,” he said while replying to a question as to how unfortunate it is for the judiciary that junior judges are being recommended for elevation to the SC prior to their seniors.

Reportedly, Supreme Court judge Justice SK Kaul wrote a letter to CJI Ranjan Gogoi against the elevation of Justice Sanjeev Khanna, ignoring the seniority of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, the CJ of Rajasthan High Court.

As per reports, Kaul said that while he had nothing against Justice Khanna but he could wait for his turn to be elevated.

Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the elevation of Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a judge of Delhi High Court, as judges of the apex court.

The top court is presently functioning with 26 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 31, leaving five clear vacancies.

While recommending the names of Justice Maheshwari and Justice Khanna, the Collegium took into consideration the combined seniority on an all-India basis of Chief Justices and senior puisne judges of High Courts, apart from their merit and integrity.

India needs to be careful about Aadhaar info misuse: MK Narayanan

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January 16, 2019

With Aadhaar cards becoming ubiquitous, the country needs to marshal its defensive and offensive capabilities, former national security adviser M K Narayanan said on January 16.

At a seminar on cyber security organized by BCCI and CENERS-K, he said India is listed among top five nations affected by cyber attacks.

“The country is on the threshold of a digital age. And the use of Aadhaar cards is becoming more ubiquitous every day.

“It is also getting increasingly easier to mask an identity online. Once a code used in a malware comes into the open market, it could be bought and repurposed by hackers and nations across the world,” the former West Bengal governor asserted.

Narayanan also said that growing inter-connectivity has effectively demolished the traditional perimeters.

Cyber attackers, he noted, have made inroads into the entire spectrum of critical infrastructure like banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), energy, shipping, power and other utilities.

“Businesses in India are among the largest victims of targeted attacks, and with the Internet of Things (IoT) coming into play, the problems would multiply,” he added.

Amid ‘poaching fears’, Cong calls legislature party meeting on Jan 18

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January 16, 2019

As the allegations and counter-allegations of poaching have cast their shadow on the state government led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, the Congress has called a meeting of its legislators on January 18 to take stock of the prevailing political situation.

The decision to hold the meeting of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) was taken after the party leaders alleged that three of their MLAs were taken to Mumbai by the BJP in an attempt to lure them to their fold.

However, the BJP has dismissed the Congress allegations, claiming that the ruling party was making attempts to poach their MLAs. BJP has parked its 104 party MLAs at a hotel in Gurugram in Haryana.

Talking to media persons on Wednesday, Congress MP KH Muniyappa has assured the three party MLAs of addressing their grievances. “I urge them to come back. They don’t need to worry at all.”

“The second generation Congressmen who won election must not feel insecure. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal are aware of your grievances. Your concerns will be given a serious thought in the next Cabinet expansion,” added Muniyappa.

Meanwhile, Cabinet minister in Chief Minister Kumaraswamy led Congress-JDS government, Zameer Ahmed Khan said: “Who is scared today? Had we been scared, then we too would’ve been sitting with our MLAs in a resort.”

“It is the BJP which has parked its MLAs in a hotel. Yes, two to three MLAs of the Congress party are in Mumbai. All of them are coming back. They will return by Thursday,” said Khan.

On Tuesday, two independent MLAs in Karnataka Assembly-R Shankar and H Nagesh–withdrew their support to the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in the state.

These two MLAs had gone incommunicado two days ago before announcing their decision at a press conference in Mumbai.

In the 224-member Assembly, JDS has 37 MLAs and the Congress 80. The Congress-JDS alliance has the support of some Independents in the House where the majority figure is 113 stay in power.