UAE evinces interest in 'Make in India' LCA Tejas fighter jet

Agencies
October 17, 2018

New Delhi, Oct 16:  In what could be called as taking Defence cooperation between the two nations to a new level, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shown keen interest in acquiring India's indigenously built fighter jet Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi Al Falacy, who is on an official visit to India, met Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and discussed a range of Defence cooperation issues.

As per the sources in the government, 'The visiting minister has shown interest in purchasing LCA Tejas. In this regard, he will be visiting Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Wednesday.”

Earlier, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Qatar, Singapore and Egypt had also evinced interest in the fighter jet. Besides LCA, the UAE is also interested in other 'Make in India' products.

Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen flew Tejas in November last year and had said that his maiden sortie was "excellent and impressive".

Mr Hen was the first civilian foreigner to have flown the indigenous aircraft.

The Ministers also undertook a review of bilateral defence cooperation and deliberated upon measures to further enhance bilateral exchanges.

'They recognised that deeper bilateral defence cooperation has been emphasised by the leadership of both countries as a central element in the expanded India and UAE Strategic Partnership,' the Ministry of Defence said in a statement here.

In the meeting, they also deliberated to extend the joint military exercise of armies in desert areas, sources said. The air forces and navies of both the countries jointly conduct exercises.

After HAL, the UAE Minister will also visit the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).

The LCA programme was initiated in 1983, to replace the ageing MiG-21s planes in IAF's combat fleet, but has missed several deadlines due to various reasons.

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News Network
June 11,2020

New Delhi, Jun 11: Petrol and diesel prices on Thursday were hiked by 60 paise per litre each - the fifth straight daily increase in rates since oil PSUs ended an 82-day hiatus in rate revision.

Petrol price in Delhi was hiked to Rs 74 per litre from Rs 73.40 while diesel rates were increased to Rs 72.22 a litre from Rs 71.62, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT.

This is the fifth daily increase in rates in a row since oil companies on Sunday restarted revising prices in line with costs, after ending an 82-day hiatus.

In five hikes, petrol price has gone up by Rs 2.74 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.83.

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News Network
August 8,2020

Kozhikode, Aug 8: Minister of State (Mos) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Saturday reached Kozhikode where Air India Express flight (IX-1344) crash-landed yesterday. 

He is likely to meet those injured in the crash and their family members.

At least 17 people including two pilots have lost their lives in the incident. However, the four-cabin crew members are safe, said the Air India Express in a statement. 

The injured are admitted to hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode, as per the state government officials.

Informing about his visit to Kozhikode, Muraleedharan tweeted: "Taking off to #Calicut by @airindiain
special flight. Hope to visit the crash site at the Calicut Airport and also meet those injured in the crash and their family members."

Muraleedharan on Friday expressed grief after an Air India Express plane carrying 190 passengers including 10 infants skidded while landing at Karipur Airport in Kozhikode.

"Deeply anguished to hear about the mishap in Calicut airport involving the flight from Dubai to Calicut. Was informed that the plane overshot the runway and seemingly nosedived," the Minister tweeted.

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News Network
July 27,2020

Chengdu, China, Jul 27: The American flag was lowered at the United States consulate in Chengdu on Monday, days after Beijing ordered it to close in retaliation for the shuttering of the Chinese consulate in Houston.

Footage on state broadcaster CCTV from outside the consulate showed the flag being slowly lowered early Monday morning, after diplomatic tensions soared between the two powers with both alleging the other had endangered national security.

Relations deteriorated in recent weeks in a Cold War-style standoff, with the Chengdu mission Friday ordered to shut in retaliation for the forced closure of Beijing's consulate in Houston, Texas.

The deadline for the Americans to exit Chengdu has been unclear, but the Chinese consulate in Houston was given 72 hours to close after the original order was made.

On Saturday news agency reporters saw workers removing the US insignia from the front of the consulate.

Over the weekend, removals trucks entered the US consulate and cleaners were seen carting large black rubbish bags from the building.

Beijing says closing the Chengdu consulate was a "legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable measures by the United States", and has alleged that staff at the diplomatic mission endangered China's security and interests.

Washington officials, meanwhile, said there had been unacceptable efforts by the Chinese consulate in Houston to steal US corporate secrets.

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