Roger Federer has revealed that he wants to join forces in doubles with arch rival Rafael Nadal at the inaugural Laver Cup this year.

The Swiss tennis great made the confession on Monday at the unveiling of the new tournament scheduled for Prague in September which will pit a Bjorn Borg-captained European team against John McEnroe's rest of the world.

Federer, who beat Nadal in an epic five-set Australian Open final in January, admitted on Monday: "I've always wanted to play with Rafa… just because our rivalry has been so special.

"I've seen his wicked forehand go past me too often!" 

The new addition to the tennis calendar is named after Rod Laver, the last man to achieve the calendar Grand Slam in 1969.

"Rod Laver wants us to represent our part of the world with pride and play our best and win for our teammates. We will play to our best possibilities," Federer, 35, told the media launch in Prague.

Federer, the world number nine, is due to figure with sixth-ranked Nadal at the September 22-24 event.

The Laver Cup will be held every year except in an Olympic season, with four matches each day — three in singles, one in doubles.

Each team comprises six players — four based on the ATP singles rankings after Wimbledon and two picks by the captains, Borg and McEnroe.

Federer refused to see Team Europe as a clear winner, although it currently has 17 players in the top 20 of the ATP rankings.

"I think Team Europe are going to be big favourites but because of the setup of the Laver Cup I think the margins are always going to be very slim," said Federer.

Before talking to journalists, the Swiss star played the Czech Republic's number one Tomas Berdych on a boat on the Vltava river in Prague's historic centre on a chilly Monday morning.

Berdych, ranked 14th in the world, said their game under the picturesque Charles Bridge was "a very nice opportunity to show Roger a little bit of the town." 

"We were joking we should do this every day," said Federer.

"I thought it was very particular, very unique — it was definitely a privilege," he beamed before confessing: "It was a bit windy though."

Roger Federer has revealed that he wants to join forces in doubles with arch rival Rafael Nadal at the inaugural Laver Cup this year.

The Swiss tennis great made the confession on Monday at the unveiling of the new tournament scheduled for Prague in September which will pit a Bjorn Borg-captained European team against John McEnroe's rest of the world.

Federer, who beat Nadal in an epic five-set Australian Open final in January, admitted on Monday: "I've always wanted to play with Rafa… just because our rivalry has been so special.

"I've seen his wicked forehand go past me too often!" 

The new addition to the tennis calendar is named after Rod Laver, the last man to achieve the calendar Grand Slam in 1969.

"Rod Laver wants us to represent our part of the world with pride and play our best and win for our teammates. We will play to our best possibilities," Federer, 35, told the media launch in Prague.

Federer, the world number nine, is due to figure with sixth-ranked Nadal at the September 22-24 event.

The Laver Cup will be held every year except in an Olympic season, with four matches each day — three in singles, one in doubles.

Each team comprises six players — four based on the ATP singles rankings after Wimbledon and two picks by the captains, Borg and McEnroe.

Federer refused to see Team Europe as a clear winner, although it currently has 17 players in the top 20 of the ATP rankings.

"I think Team Europe are going to be big favourites but because of the setup of the Laver Cup I think the margins are always going to be very slim," said Federer.

Before talking to journalists, the Swiss star played the Czech Republic's number one Tomas Berdych on a boat on the Vltava river in Prague's historic centre on a chilly Monday morning.

Berdych, ranked 14th in the world, said their game under the picturesque Charles Bridge was "a very nice opportunity to show Roger a little bit of the town." 

"We were joking we should do this every day," said Federer.

"I thought it was very particular, very unique — it was definitely a privilege," he beamed before confessing: "It was a bit windy though."

Under-fire Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has the total support of his players, influential central defender Gerard Pique has insisted.

Pique was keen to rally fans to the cause after they had booed the team during a 2-1 league win over lowly Leganes on Sunday, as the fallout from a 4-0 Champions League first-leg last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week turned ugly.

"All the players are completely behind the coach," Pique said of Enrique, who bore the brunt of criticism after the PSG thrashing and who had a good share of the boos on Sunday.

"When the fans come here to the stadium we want their support," Pique said.

"Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes not. But this is the same coach that led us to the treble," Pique said, reminding fans of the 2015 feat Enrique managed in his debut season, winning the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.

The current coach took over after Pep Guardiola's reign was followed by more modest success from Tito Villanova, who won a league title and Gerardo Martino, who won nothing.

Pique, a World Cup and European Championship winner, admitted Barcelona had been below par of late.

"We've been unrecognisable, unable to hold possession, but trust me we're the ones hurting most.

"We are alive in all three competitions however and stranger things have happened in football, even if it looks highly compromised for us in the Champions League.

"I swear we will do everything to turn that around," he promised.

Baca have a Cup final with Alaves and after the Leganes win are a single point behind eternal rivals Real Madrid in La Liga, albeit having played two games more.

Barca face a stiff test next weekend when they travel to Atletico Madrid, before hosting PSG on March 8.

Under-fire Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has the total support of his players, influential central defender Gerard Pique has insisted.

Pique was keen to rally fans to the cause after they had booed the team during a 2-1 league win over lowly Leganes on Sunday, as the fallout from a 4-0 Champions League first-leg last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week turned ugly.

"All the players are completely behind the coach," Pique said of Enrique, who bore the brunt of criticism after the PSG thrashing and who had a good share of the boos on Sunday.

"When the fans come here to the stadium we want their support," Pique said.

"Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes not. But this is the same coach that led us to the treble," Pique said, reminding fans of the 2015 feat Enrique managed in his debut season, winning the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.

The current coach took over after Pep Guardiola's reign was followed by more modest success from Tito Villanova, who won a league title and Gerardo Martino, who won nothing.

Pique, a World Cup and European Championship winner, admitted Barcelona had been below par of late.

"We've been unrecognisable, unable to hold possession, but trust me we're the ones hurting most.

"We are alive in all three competitions however and stranger things have happened in football, even if it looks highly compromised for us in the Champions League.

"I swear we will do everything to turn that around," he promised.

Baca have a Cup final with Alaves and after the Leganes win are a single point behind eternal rivals Real Madrid in La Liga, albeit having played two games more.

Barca face a stiff test next weekend when they travel to Atletico Madrid, before hosting PSG on March 8.

Delhi Police has arrested one person in connection with the alleged rape of a 24-year-old northeast woman in Hauz Khas Village here.

The accused, a resident of Chandra Vihar, was identified last night, police said today.

Further details are awaited.

Police teams had been working on different leads based on CCTV footage and local intelligence and by questioning parking attendants, private security guards of the Deer Park and other shopkeepers in the locality.

The incident happened on the night of February 18 when the woman was returning from a party in Hauz Khas village along with her friends and cousins.

The woman told police that around 11:30 pm she was offered a drop home by an unknown person.

He apparently told her that his vehicle was parked at some distance near the park. The accused, thereafter, on the pretext of guiding the woman, led her to an isolated stretch in the adjoining park area and allegedly raped her.

Delhi Police has arrested one person in connection with the alleged rape of a 24-year-old northeast woman in Hauz Khas Village here.

The accused, a resident of Chandra Vihar, was identified last night, police said today.

Further details are awaited.

Police teams had been working on different leads based on CCTV footage and local intelligence and by questioning parking attendants, private security guards of the Deer Park and other shopkeepers in the locality.

The incident happened on the night of February 18 when the woman was returning from a party in Hauz Khas village along with her friends and cousins.

The woman told police that around 11:30 pm she was offered a drop home by an unknown person.

He apparently told her that his vehicle was parked at some distance near the park. The accused, thereafter, on the pretext of guiding the woman, led her to an isolated stretch in the adjoining park area and allegedly raped her.

Extending gains for fourth straight session, Indian equity markets started Tuesday’s trading session on a higher note with Midcap and Smallcap indices outperforming the front liners. At 9.50 am, the Sensex at the BSE was trading 10 points up at 28,671 and the Nifty at the NSE was trading six points higher at 8,884.

In the broader markets, BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices jumped around 0.5 per cent each.

Among the BSE sectoral, Metal index jumped the most, up 1.1 per cent, while Telecom index became the top loser, down 1.3 per cent.

On Monday, the Sensex had closed 193 points up at 28,662 and the Nifty had closed 58 points higher at 8,879.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Tata Steel (up 1.4 per cent), Tata Motors (up 1.3 per cent), Axis Bank (up 0.9 per cent), Asian Paints (up 0.8 per cent) and Adani Ports (up 0.8 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: Bharti Airtel (down 1.8 per cent), ITC (down 1.8 per cent), Coal India (down 0.7 per cent), Power Grid (down 0.7 per cent), and M&M (down 0.6 per cent)

Extending gains for fourth straight session, Indian equity markets started Tuesday’s trading session on a higher note with Midcap and Smallcap indices outperforming the front liners. At 9.50 am, the Sensex at the BSE was trading 10 points up at 28,671 and the Nifty at the NSE was trading six points higher at 8,884.

In the broader markets, BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices jumped around 0.5 per cent each.

Among the BSE sectoral, Metal index jumped the most, up 1.1 per cent, while Telecom index became the top loser, down 1.3 per cent.

On Monday, the Sensex had closed 193 points up at 28,662 and the Nifty had closed 58 points higher at 8,879.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Tata Steel (up 1.4 per cent), Tata Motors (up 1.3 per cent), Axis Bank (up 0.9 per cent), Asian Paints (up 0.8 per cent) and Adani Ports (up 0.8 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: Bharti Airtel (down 1.8 per cent), ITC (down 1.8 per cent), Coal India (down 0.7 per cent), Power Grid (down 0.7 per cent), and M&M (down 0.6 per cent)

 The Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the second consecutive day Tuesday stranding scores of vehicles and passengers on the over 300 km long road, an official said.

No traffic would be allowed on the highway, the senior traffic department official said.

The highway was likely to be cleared of the debris by the afternoon, he said, adding that a decision on allowing traffic would be taken only after no further threat of accidents were perceived.

Heavy rains triggered multiple landslides and shooting stones incidents on the stretch in the Ramban district.

"The weather has improved today (Tuesday) and clearance operations are in full swing," he added.

All stranded vehicles were parked safely, he said, adding that every precaution was taken to keep the passengers away from the landslide prone zones.

Scores of trucks carrying supplies to the valley were stuck on the highway between Jammu and Ramban.

 The Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the second consecutive day Tuesday stranding scores of vehicles and passengers on the over 300 km long road, an official said.

No traffic would be allowed on the highway, the senior traffic department official said.

The highway was likely to be cleared of the debris by the afternoon, he said, adding that a decision on allowing traffic would be taken only after no further threat of accidents were perceived.

Heavy rains triggered multiple landslides and shooting stones incidents on the stretch in the Ramban district.

"The weather has improved today (Tuesday) and clearance operations are in full swing," he added.

All stranded vehicles were parked safely, he said, adding that every precaution was taken to keep the passengers away from the landslide prone zones.

Scores of trucks carrying supplies to the valley were stuck on the highway between Jammu and Ramban.

Majority of Chinese families that have a second child are happier, according to a survey.

The survey, jointly conducted by Radio Guangdong News Channel and a number of fertility websites, interviewed nearly 10,000 two-child families, with 63 per cent reporting feeling happier after the birth of the second child, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

The major reason for the rise in happiness was seeing two children grow up together.

After decades of the one-child policy, many parents are believed to be concerned as to whether their first child could accept a younger sibling.

However, the survey found that 44 per cent of children were fine with a younger sibling, and only 1.5 per cent could not accept a sibling at all.

"Though having a second child is often described as tiring, it is not a burden but a happiness to see two children beginning to get along well and keeping each other company," said Zhu Yuzi, who worked for the survey team and is a mother of two.

Starting in the late 1970s, China's one-child policy ended on January 1, 2016, when the government allowed all married couples to have two children.

In 2016, there were 18.67 million newborns in China, 11 per cent more than in 2015, and about 45 per cent of them were not the first child, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

According to the survey, though 47 per cent of parents have husbands that help more with the child-raising after a second child, 57 per cent of wives said they had to quit their jobs to take care of the children.

Majority of Chinese families that have a second child are happier, according to a survey.

The survey, jointly conducted by Radio Guangdong News Channel and a number of fertility websites, interviewed nearly 10,000 two-child families, with 63 per cent reporting feeling happier after the birth of the second child, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

The major reason for the rise in happiness was seeing two children grow up together.

After decades of the one-child policy, many parents are believed to be concerned as to whether their first child could accept a younger sibling.

However, the survey found that 44 per cent of children were fine with a younger sibling, and only 1.5 per cent could not accept a sibling at all.

"Though having a second child is often described as tiring, it is not a burden but a happiness to see two children beginning to get along well and keeping each other company," said Zhu Yuzi, who worked for the survey team and is a mother of two.

Starting in the late 1970s, China's one-child policy ended on January 1, 2016, when the government allowed all married couples to have two children.

In 2016, there were 18.67 million newborns in China, 11 per cent more than in 2015, and about 45 per cent of them were not the first child, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

According to the survey, though 47 per cent of parents have husbands that help more with the child-raising after a second child, 57 per cent of wives said they had to quit their jobs to take care of the children.

Theo Walcott scored his 100th goal in an Arsenal shirt as the Gunners overcame a potential banana skin on Monday night, beating non-league side Sutton United 2-0 in their FA Cup fifth round tie.

Playing on Sutton’s 3-G pitch was always going to be a challenge for Arsenal, but they recovered from their midweek Champions League mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich fairly well.

An unfamiliar front-three of Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Lucas Perez started as Wenger chose to rest some of his stars, sending out a team of fringe players and youth prospects. 19-year-old Jeff Reine-Adelaide was in midfield and young centre-back Rob Holding partnered Shkodran Mustafi in the defence while Arsene Wenger continued his trend of picking David Ospina for cup ties.

Lucas Perez opened the scoring in slightly fortuitous fashion for the away side, as the Gunners launched a rapid counter attack which left Sutton reeling. He cut in from the right onto his favoured left foot and sent in a low cross-shot into the far corner, which somehow evaded Walcott’s boot and Sutton goalkeeper Ross Worner’s palms. 
With just three minutes remaining before the half-hour mark, Arsenal had a crucial lead.

Despite having a stranglehold on possession, the Gunners were unable to fashion too many meaningful chances, as they tried to get to grips with Sutton’s artificial turf pitch.

And just a minute before half time, disaster almost struck for the visitors when Ospina made a hash of his clearance, gifting Adam May the ball on the edge of the box. The midfielder, however, could not finish from his weaker left foot, as Wenger breathed a huge sigh of relief on the sidelines.

Post the interval, Sutton admirably pressed for an equaliser and went close when Bedsente Gomis dispossessed Nacho Monreal in the box, but was unable to pull the trigger and the chance fizzled out.

And within minutes of almost conceding, Arsenal doubled their lead with an excellent team move with Walcott applying the finishing touches to bring up a century of goals since his move to the North London side in 2006.

Granit Xhaka passed to Perez who laid it off for Iwobi, who in turn released Monreal on the wing and the fullback’s cross took a slight deflection before reaching Walcott, who finished with his weaker foot to put the result beyond doubt.

The travelling Gunners support broke into chants of  “Theo, Theo” as their captain on the night celebrated with his teammates on a landmark goal for the club.

Arsenal’s reward for beating Sutton is a home fixture against non-league Lincoln City, who upset Burnley on Saturday. Their quarterfinal is scheduled for the 11th of March at the Etihad Stadium and Wenger knows they have an ‘easy’ path to the last four, compared to the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, who face each other on the same day.

 The state opposition government in Australia's New South Wales on Tuesday said it will push for medical cannabis to be legal for patients suffering from terminal and other long term illnesses.

The legislation would allow those who are afflicted with diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV, to have on their person 15 grams of the currently illicit substance, for their own personal use in treating their condition.

State opposition leader Luke Foley is adamant that the bill would allow those who are currently suffering to treat their diseases, and ease their pain, without being viewed as criminals by the authorities, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This is about restoring dignity to those seeking temporary relief from the pain and suffering of their affliction," Foley said.

"Seeking respite from relentless and unwavering illness should not be a criminal offence."

The last time similar legislation was presented before state parliament was during the reign of Barry O'Farrell in 2013, when it was denied.

A Spanish court on Monday ordered that Football Club Barcelona and its star Neymar must appear in court to face fraud and corruption charges over the signing of the Brazil forward.

The National Court confirmed that Barcelona, Neymar and two of the club's presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell should face trial for alleged unlawful dealings in 2011 between individuals over Neymar's acquisition from Brazilian club Santos, reports Efe news agency.

Barcelona had previously appealed the case and requested it be dropped as it considered the investigation that led to the charges "does not prove the existence of a criminal act", a claim the court rebutted.

The court also ratified that proceedings against Nadine Gonçalves, the player's mother, and the family company N & N, would go ahead after rejecting appeals brought by their defences.

In November, National Court Judge José de la Mata issued a writ of prosecution following his acceptance of a complaint presented by DIS, an entity which owns 40 percent of the federative rights to the 25-year-old footballer.

These rights entitled DIS to 40 percent of Neymar's transfer fee, but it contested that it received a lesser payment because part of the transfer fee had been deliberately concealed.

Neymar's transfer to Barcelona was marred by controversy almost from the get go.

Barcelona paid a fine of €5.5 million ($6.1 million) in June to settle another case instigated by Spain's tax authority.

Barcelona had agreed it made an error in what it called the fiscal planning for the former Brazil captain's transfer.

A light aircraft exploded on Tuesday in a "massive fireball" with police saying none of the five people aboard survived as it smashed into a shopping centre near the Australian city of Melbourne.

The Beechcraft plane veered just after take-off into the shopping centre, that was still closed, next to Essendon Fields airport.

"Five on the aircraft and looks like no-one has survived the crash," said Victoria police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane.

Victoria premier Daniel Andrews described it as the state's worst air accident in three decades.

The private charter from Essendon, north of Melbourne, to King Island, 55 minutes to the south, came down just short of a major motorway packed with the heavy traffic of early morning commuters.

Live television footage showed burned out wreckage, flames and major damage at the shopping centre and adjacent buildings.

A column of thick black smoke rose into the air as witnesses spoke of an explosion.

"It appears a light plane, which is a charter flight, has impacted the DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) at Essendon Fields," police minister Lisa Neville said.

The centre was not due to open for another hour and the authorities confirmed no one inside was hurt.

"There's also debris that's been left on the freeway," she added.

A taxi driver called ABC radio and told of the "massive fireball".

"I saw this plane … when it hit the building there was a massive fireball," said the man called Jason.

"I could feel the heat through the window of the taxi, and then a wheel — it looked like a plane wheel — bounced on the road and hit the front of the taxi as we were driving along." 

Victoria police superintendent Mick Frewen said investigations centred on a "catastrophic engine failure".

The flight made a May-Day call before crashing, he added.

A DFO shop worker identified as Ash told Sky News he saw "the fireball go up into the air", adding it "felt like a bomb had gone off".

"The fire was just so hot we could not get anywhere near it," he said. "We could see the wreckage, or what was left of it.

Plumber Michael Howard, 29, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he saw a "blue flash".

"I was … just looking out the window … and then all of a sudden I just saw a blue flash come down and then all of a sudden there was a massive fireball." 

"It was like something from a movie," Howard said.

Melbourne fire brigade chief Paul Stacchino tweeted that "more than 60 firefighters have worked hard to bring the fire … under control. Crews to remain on scene for some time".

The Australian Safety Transport Bureau said it had sent investigators to the scene.

The role of research in an institution is significant for its sustainability and development. It is imperative to have knowledge driven growth based on innovation. The quality work directly translates to teaching and learning in the classroom, and thereby benefiting the society as a whole. The promotion of research in a populous country like India will help the nation surely to arise as a knowledge reservoir in the international arena.

Indian education system faces a number of constraints and challenges as quality research is one among them. Barring a very few prestigious institutes, most of the others lag behind in achieving their planned objectives and display dismal picture in terms of quality and quantity research. Not many institutes have mandatory research goals for individual faculty. Most of these institutions do not have adequate systems or infrastructure.

Lack of encouraging academic environment, ill-equipped libraries, inadequate infrastructure, lack of research labs and equipments, lack of funds, faculty crunch, etc are some of the major factors contributing to the dismal picture of research in the academic institutions. It is very well accepted that it has contributed enormously to find solutions faced by industries. There are many instances in the past when it turned to academics for finding solutions to vital issues. The need for sharing knowledge between research institutions and industry has become increasingly evident in recent past. The emerging importance of inter-disciplinary fields has given rise to institutional collaborations that allow knowledge to be pooled together. Often it is the industry which is the beneficiary of several research efforts.

This provides basic inputs that can be used for planning and policy decision making. Knowledge generated through this constitutes the basis for sustainable development. Many of the research activities undertaken are used to support the government and influence public policy. Market research facilitates companies to make projections and formulate strategies for their business success and growth. Needless to say that academic research is an integral part of global development.

At this juncture, as our nation is spearheading for innovation and skill development, the academic research forum has a significant role to support the potentials and endeavors of the country.

In view of the fact that India possesses globally acclaimed brain-power, the need of the hour is to create an encouraging environment in all centers. All this leads us to have the right policy which is missing as of now-to be able to develop an appropriate research mechanism for finding solutions to multifarious issues facing our society.

The writer is director, Fore School of Management, New Delhi.