India

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said the ongoing process of modernisation with induction of Rafale, Apache and Chinook will transform the Indian Air Force into an even more formidable strategic force.

On the occasion of Air Force Day, he said the nation remains indebted to the contribution of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in securing our skies and assisting civil authorities in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Mumbai, Oct 7 (PTI) After spending 28 days in prison, actor Rhea Chakraborty, arrested in a drugs case related to her boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput's death, was released on bail on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Bombay High Court granted her bail but rejected her brother Showik Chkraborty's bail plea.

Rhea stepped out of the Byculla prison here around 5.30 pm amid heavy police deployment, an official said.

A police vehicle escorted her car as a large number of media persons had gathered outside the prison.

Udhampur (JK), Oct 7 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to recruit 1,700 doctors to strengthen the healthcare system, Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday.

"There is a shortage of paramedics and doctors in J-K. There are vacancies. We are going to start the recruitment of 1,700 doctors soon," Sinha told an event organised as part of the "Back-to-Village-3" campaign in Udhampur district's Kud area.

Aligarh, Oct 7 (PTI) A married woman was allegedly raped by four men on Wednesday when she had gone out to relieve herself in a field outside her village in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district, police said.

A family member of the woman said the accused, who have been identified, also recorded the act and threatened her that they would circulate the video if she approached the police.

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) The government believes in press freedom but showing "provocative news" for the sake of TRP is not journalism and it must stop, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event organised by RSS newsletter Panchajanya, he said after paid news and fake news, this is the era of "TRP journalism".

"There used to be paid news, fake news and now there is TRP journalism. The unnecessary burden of TRP must be stopped by the media. Someday they will have to improve themselves," the minister said.

Bengaluru, Oct 7 (PTI) Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and was under home quarantine.

"I have tested positive for #COVID19 .

As I am asymptomatic, as per doctor's advice I am in home quarantine," he tweeted.

Joshi, an MP from Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency, played a crucial role in the conduct of the recent Parliament session amid the pandemic in his capacity as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) The government on Wednesday appointed RBI's senior-most executive director M Rajeshwar Rao as the deputy governor of the central bank.

Rao was appointed to the post vacated by N S Vishwanathan, who stepped down three months ahead of his extended tenure on health grounds.

"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of M Rajeshwar Rao, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India to the post of Deputy Governor Reserve Bank of India," a notification by the Department of Personnel and Training said.

New Delhi/Shimla, Oct 7 (PTI) Former CBI director Ashwani Kumar allegedly committed suicide by hanging at his residence in Shimla on Wednesday, officials said.

The body of Kumar (69), a 1973-batch IPS officer, was found hanging at his residence in Brockhurst, near Chhota Shimla, in the evening, they added.

Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Kundu, Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohit Chawla and other senior police officials reached the spot.

A forensic team has also reached the spot.

Sheopur, Oct 8 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Sitaram Adivasi's daughter has filed a police complaint alleging dowry harassment and domestic violence by her husband and in- laws, a police official said on Thursday.

The legislator's daughter got married around five years back to Sonu Adivasi of Mayapur village under Karahal police station limits in Sheopur, he said.

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (PTI): In a first in the country, the Kerala government has decided to form a Welfare Fund Board for the uplift of farmers in the state.

The state cabineton Wednesday decided to set up the board to be known as 'Kerala Karshaka Kshemanidhi Board'.

The cabinet also decided that Dr P Rajendran would be appointed as the chairman of the Kerala Farmers Welfare Fund Board.

"This is the first time in the country that such a board has been set up for the welfare and uplift of farmers," an official press release said.