1. Avani Chaturvedi Becomes 1st Indian Woman To Fly Fighter Aircraft Solo.
Growing up in a small town named Deolond near Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, Avani Chaturvedi never in her wildest dreams imagined she would one day become the first-ever Indian woman to break the sound barrier with resounding sonic booms in a supersonic fighter all alone.
But Avani, who likes to play the violin and paint, has done precisely that to create history. Among the first three women fighter pilots being trained by the IAF, shattering the deep-rooted combat-exclusion policy for their gender in the Indian armed forces, Avani flew a 30-minute solo sortie in a MiG-21 at the Jamnagar airbase on Monday afternoon.
“My heartiest congratulations to Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi for successfully clearing her first solo sortie on a MiG-21 `Bison’ fighter. The IAF has always taken a lead in providing an equal platform to women officers. It’s a red letter day for the country,” said Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, speaking to TOI on Wednesday.
Avani, whose father is an executive engineer in the MP government, however, is too busy with her gruelling fighting training regime. But she had earlier said, “Any air force is defined by its fighters. My dream is to become a good fighter pilot, on whom my seniors can rely when it comes to flying live operations. I want to fly the best fighter aircraft and learn more and more each day.”
2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds delegation-level talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.
Justin Trudeau and Narendra Modi signed various new agreements today when they met in Delhi today. India and Canada signed six agreements in areas of higher education, atomic energy, energy and sports partnerships among other. Earlier today, PM Modi met with his Canadian counterpart who is on a week-long visit to India.
PM Modi, who has earlier broken protocol to receive world leaders on several occasions, had not extended the same courtesy to Mr Trudeau, in what was seen as a snub over Mr Trudeau`s alleged soft stance over Khalistan supporters. In a further diplomatic embarrassment to Mr Trudeau, Jaspal Atwal, a convicted Khalistani terrorist attended a function in Mumbai, where he posed for photographs with Mr Trudeau`s wife Sophie and a Canadian minister. Atwal was invited to another function in Delhi as well, but after details of his invite emerged, his invite was cancelled.
Mr Trudeau, who also met Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, is also expected to meet President Ram Nath Kovind later today.
3. Goa CM Parrikar presents Budget 2018 Reserves majorly focusing education, health, energy and tourism.
The chief minister was being treated for a pancreatic ailment in Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital from February 15.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was discharged from hospital on Thursday and is likely to table the state’s Budget in the Assembly later in the day, IANS reported. He arrived in Goa at 11.40 am and headed to his home, Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo told reporters.
Parrikar was being treated for a pancreatic ailment in Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital from February 15. On Monday, the Budget Session of the Goa Assembly was shortened to four days because of his ill health. While in hospital, the chief minister replied to some queries in the Assembly through written responses.
Parrikar is expected to read parts of the Budget in the Assembly at 2.30 pm, some reports said.
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party minister Sudin Dhavalikar had earlier said that Parrikar had asked him to table the Budget. Dhavalikar was tasked with taking on the chief minister’s responsibilities in the House in his absence.
Parrikar holds the finance portfolio in the state Cabinet. On Sunday, authorities at Lilavati Hospital said he was “responding well to treatment”.