Good morning, Bengaluru!
đ¤ď¸ Todayâs weather: Hazy sunshine and sunny temperatures.
đ§ Did you know? Bangalore Open Air (BOA) is the countryâs sole Heavy Metal outdoor music festival. It is organised annually and is scheduled for April 1 this year.
đď¸ HAL to improve airforce training
HAL introduces a state-of-the-art avionics-equipped fighter training model for the airforce.
Story so far: The Hindustan Lead In Fighter Trainer (HLFT)-42 model by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) drew a large crowd as Aero India kicked off in Bengaluru. Its cutting-edge avionics, like Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite, and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) with Fly By Wire control (FBW) system, will make the HLFT-42 crucial in modern combat aircraft training.
- FBW is an avionic system that substitutes an electronic interface in place of conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft. IRST is a method to detect and track objects that emit infrared radiation.
- HLFT-42 comprises a sophisticated and advanced training suite to train all fighter pilots in safe and efficient ways. HAL expects to complete wind tunnel testing and assembling of the aircraft within two years.
Why it matters? The HLFT-42 was conceived in 2017 and designed entirely by HAL. The presence of a âNext Gen Supersonic Trainerâ will help train fighter pilots in fifth-generation aircraft. Presently, advanced trainers prepare on AJT or the Hawk-i aircraft that do not have sensors or radar.
- HLFT-42 will bridge the gap in advanced training by meeting the requirements of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft like single-seater LCA Mk II and AMCA.
đĽ New flavours in February
Itâs a culinary feast coup in the city.
Story so far: Itâs a great time to be a foodie in this city and treat your taste buds to new and exciting flavours. Several eateries have recently either revamped their menus or introduced new ones.
- Tiamo, a poolside restaurant, recently unveiled a new menu that features classic Italian and Mediterranean flavours made with contemporary techniques and locally produced ingredients. It includes everything from delectable small bites to braised duck risotto.
- Mamagoto, a popular Pan Asian cafe, has announced a selection of flavourful bao buns, soft tacos, dim sums, and sushi, supposedly inspired by street food. Watch out for new sushi flavours like salmon katsu uramaki, packed with crispy salmon, cucumber, and wasabi mayo.
Anything desi? International cuisines are fun but not for everyoneâs taste. Street Storyss boasts of a quirky and delicious gourmet reconstruction of vegetarian street food. Its new summer flavours are dahi khakkra chaat, pineapple mousse chaat, jackfruit nihari with zaatar kulcha, pumpkin ghee podi, and blue cheese with scallion chilli paratha.
- Watsonâs does not discriminate and offers both international and local flavours. New dishes include money bags, rava fried prawns, lotus stem with honey chilli sauce, podi grilled fish, paneer karepak vepudu, and mutton malvani.
đ RCB ropes in cricket champ
T-20 Womenâs Premier League auctions make history as Mandhana signs with RCB for a record sum.
Story so far: Smriti Mandhana, a left-handed opener in the Indian cricket team, was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the player auction for T20 Womenâs Premier League (WPL). Mandhana topped the auction by receiving the highest winning bid of âš3.4 crore. The dynamic opener has expressed excitement at the prospect of playing for RCB.
- 1,525 players registered for the maiden WPL auction, while the final list included 409 players. WPL will be held in Mumbai from March 4 to 26 across two venues.
- Mandhana had a bid at her base price âš50 lakh after which ensued an epic tussle between RCB and Mumbai Indians to secure her.
Why it matters? The WPL auction represented cricketâs growing lucrativeness and viability as a profession for women. It was a day when top women cricketers turned millionaires overnight and signalled sunshine days ahead for those women who are still at the fringes.
- Mandhana professes that while men cricketersâ auctions have been common for a decade, the recent WPL auction made history for womenâs cricket. The player expressed delight at the achievement of women on the playing field.
đš Roses in full bloom
Flower farmers who suffered during COVID-19 were the happiest on Valentineâs Day.
Story so far: Farmers and vendors in the city are happy as rose exports on Valentineâs Day swelled up by 20% due to all COVID-19 restrictions being expunged. While 515 tonnes of roses were exported via Kempegowda airport in 2022, 2021 saw exports of only 273 tonnes.
- Karnataka is one of the largest producers of rose varieties in India. Its domestic market includes Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati and Chandigarh, while the roses are also exported to London, Singapore, and Dubai.
- The increased demand for roses across the year has driven up their prices. In wholesale markets, rose bunches are being sold for âš370 to âš400. Aware of the significance of 14th February, farmers have been prioritising maximising their produce for a while.
Why it matters? COVID-19 had adverse ramifications for rose farmers in the state. Many farmers shifted to other crops to deal with demand shortages, accruing expenses, and persistent losses. In 2021, despite the government announcing a âš25,000 monetary relief for flower farmers, several could not benefit from it. However, after restrictions eased, some farmers have returned to rose cultivation and are optimistic about its market demand.
đ Today’s Poll
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Can you fly a kite?
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- No, I donât know how to fly a kite.
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đď¸ In other newsâŚ
- Mobility experts moot integrated infrastructure and paid parking to streamline traffic.
- The cavalier behaviour of nurses at care homes for the mentally ill exposes defects in healthcare systems.
- The frontline staff in tiger reserves across Karnataka will receive their salaries soon.
- AstroVest is ready to be tested by the Indian Air Force for its pilots in the next few months.
- The Archdiocese of Bangalore fears the deletion of minority names and seeks revised rolls.
đď¸ Local Lounge
Yesterdayâs Poll:
- I enjoy it when comedians get political: 50.0% đ
- I donât enjoy it when comedians get political: 50.0% đ
Thatâs it for today. Have a great day!