Latest news with #HighCommission
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Jet legged? UK's F-35 fighter jet takes off from Kerala after month-long layover and jaw-dropping charges; sparks online buzz
NEW DELHI: The British F-35B fighter jet flew back on Tuesday after completing maintenance, more than a month after it made an emergency landing at the international airport here, and remained parked since then. The jet took off around 10 a.m. and is now en route to Darwin, Australia. "A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service," a British High Commission spokesperson said. In the same statement, the spokesperson expressed gratitude for India's cooperation: "The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India." On Monday, the jet was moved out of the hangar and stationed at the airport bay ahead of its departure. According to sources, a 14-member UK engineering team that carried out the repairs will fly back on Wednesday aboard a special aircraft, the Globemaster. The fighter jet had been housed in the Air India hangar throughout its stay. Airport sources confirmed that landing charges, daily rent, and parking fees, amounting to Rs 5–6 lakh had been paid. However, there was no confirmation on any payment made to Air India specifically. The British Royal Navy's F-35B Lightning is part of the UK's most advanced stealth fighter fleet. Worth over USD 110 million, it is considered one of the world's most sophisticated combat aircraft. The jet had been grounded at the airport since June 14, when it was forced to make an emergency landing after developing a technical snag. Having taken off from HMS Prince of Wales that day, it couldn't return due to poor weather conditions. Prioritizing safety, the aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, where it landed safely. However, it later developed an engineering issue on the ground, delaying its rejoining of the Carrier Strike Group. Engineers aboard HMS Prince of Wales assessed the situation and concluded that assistance from a UK-based team was necessary. India's offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport was accepted, and the transfer was carried out after the arrival of the specialist team with equipment, ensuring no disruption to airport operations. After nearly a week of work, the UK team repaired a hydraulic fault, successfully completed a trial flight, and cleared the jet for departure. The emergency landing, along with the parking charges, became the subject of countless internet memes and widespread online buzz. Another meme said "UK's F35 finally remembered it's a jet, not a tourist." It even inspired a witty marketing campaign by Kerala Tourism. (With agency inputs)
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
New Zealand Increases Postgraduate Scholarships for Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 Bernama) -- More Malaysians will now have the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies in New Zealand following an increase in the number of Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship offered to Malaysians. The New Zealand High Commission in Malaysia, in a statement o Tuesday, said the allocation for Malaysians has been increased from two to 39 per year for the next three years, as announced by New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, held here on July 10. The High Commission said the expanded offering also marks a strategic milestone in bilateral relations as both countries seek to strengthen ties in education and trade.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Meme-famous UK fighter jet stuck in India finally departs
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — A state-of-the-art British fighter jet that became a subject of jokes and memes after being stranded at an Indian airport for more than five weeks has finally left after repairs. The F-35B is now airborne and on its way to Darwin in Australia, an airport spokesman told the BBC. The jet first landed on 14 June at Thiruvananthapuram airport in the southern state of Kerala where it was diverted after it ran into bad weather during a sortie in the Indian Ocean. It then developed a technical snag. Its prolonged presence on Indian soil sparked curiosity and raised questions about how such a modern aircraft could remain stranded in a foreign country for so long. In a statement on Tuesday morning, the British High Commission confirmed the aircraft's departure. "A UK engineering team, deployed since 6 July completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service." The plane was part of the fleet of HMS Prince of Wales. Officials have not said why it was flying to Darwin, but it's most likely because the Royal Navy's flagship carrier is still in the region. For the past few days, HMS Prince of Wales has been posting updates and photos on X (formerly Twitter) from the joint exercises it has been conducting off the coast of Australia. After the plane was unable to return, engineers from the ship had visited it to fix it. But as they were unable to repair it, the UK ministry of defence said a fortnight back that they had deployed a team of 14 engineers "to Thiruvananthapuram airport to assess and repair the F-35B aircraft". There had been speculation that if the technicians failed to repair the aircraft, it would have to be partially dismantled and carried out in a bigger cargo plane such as a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capability. The case of the stranded $110m (£80m) jet was raised in the House of Commons. In India, images of the "lonely F-35B", parked on the tarmac and soaked by the Kerala monsoon rains, made it a subject of jokes and memes. One viral post joked that the jet had been put up for sale at an online site at a hugely competitive price of $4m. The listing claimed the jet included features like "automatic parking, brand-new tyres, a new battery and an automatic gun to destroy traffic violators". One user on X said the jet deserved Indian citizenship as it had been in the country long enough, while another suggested that India should start charging rent and that the Kohinoor diamond would be the most appropriate payment. Kerala government's tourism department also joined in the fun with a post on X that said "Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave." The post included an AI-generated photograph of an F-35B standing on the runway with coconut palm trees in the background. The text joked that, like many visitors to the state famously dubbed 'God's Own Country' in tourism brochures, the jet too seemed reluctant to leave its scenic surroundings. On Tuesday, after it took off, X users posted messages saying "adios" to the jet as it left "after enjoying more than one month of holidays at God's Own Country". — BBC
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
India-UK FTA to boost trade by €25.5 billion annually: UK official
ANI New Delhi Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia at the British High Commission, Anna Shotbolt has said that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement is projected to increase bilateral trade between the two countries by Euro 25.5 billion every year. She highlighted that under this FTA, there are provisions for tariff reductions on 90 per cent of traded goods between the two countries. 'However, it is not only about tariffs, which are indeed a crucial aspect that will benefit many industries. Creative companies will also benefit through stronger copyright protections, and the services sector will see gains as well. The Double Taxation Avoidance Convention will also help workers on both sides, creating more transparency and certainty,' she said at an event organised by industry body PHDCCI in the national captial. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed and finalised on May 6 after nearly three years of negotiations, is one of the most comprehensive free trade agreements ever entered into by India. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General, PHDCCI, emphasised the importance of the social security clause that supports Indian professionals going to the UK and said that we must take advantage of this FTA. As PHDCCI celebrates 120 years of its legacy, we plan to mount a business delegation to the UK this September, as we are keen to explore the opportunities this agreement presents, added Mehta. 'India's vision of net zero by 2070 also requires businesses, especially MSMEs to be sustainable and technologically equipped. Whether in services or products, India should collaborate more with the UK, which presents a large market for Indian MSMEs,' he said. TS Vishwanath, Founder & Executive Chairman, VeK Policy Advisory & Resource Firm, said, 'FTA is not just about trade but about building bilateral expertise. 'We should seriously explore how both countries can invest in each other through a strong EODB environment. We must engage directly with industries to identify challenges and build robust relationships.' Prof Rakesh Mohan JoshI, Vice Chancellor, IIFT said that the retail market size in India is USD 1 trillion, while that of Britain is at around USD 386.3 billion presenting vast potential for both economies. He further added that the inclusion of the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention is also a commendable step. Kishore Jayaraman, OBE, Global Board Director & Chairman India, UK India Business Council, stated that this is beginning of a new era, the FTA enables both nations to leverage their capacities and capabilities. 'Beyond trade, we must also explore sectoral synergies, as India has the potential to significantly contribute to the economy of both nations,' he added. Ajay Aggarwal, President, Toy Association of India, pointed out major areas where Indian businesses can benefit in the UK market. Elaborating about the Toy industry which is growing rapidly and has shifted from being import-dependent to now producing around 80 per cent domestically, he emphasised that there is enormous scope for collaboration. For eg, skilled products such as leather toys, an area where the UK can benefit. India has an access to competitive products with better market offerings, and with tariff reductions, it will allow us to enhance our presence in UK, he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India-UK FTA set to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually: British High Commission official
Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia at the British High Commission , Anna Shotbolt has said that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement is projected to increase bilateral trade between the two countries by £25.5 billion annually. She highlighted that under this FTA, there are provisions for tariff reductions on 90 per cent of traded goods between the two countries. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare Finance Design Thinking Degree Leadership Management MCA Project Management Artificial Intelligence Data Science Public Policy Digital Marketing Operations Management Data Analytics PGDM others Product Management Others Data Science healthcare Cybersecurity MBA CXO Technology Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details "However, it is not only about tariffs , which are indeed a crucial aspect that will benefit many industries. Creative companies will also benefit through stronger copyright protections, and the services sector will see gains as well. The Double Contributions Convention (DCC) will also help workers on both sides, creating more transparency and certainty," she said at an event organised by industry body PHDCCI in the national capital recently, as was quoted in a PHDCCI statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), was announced on May 6 after nearly three years of negotiations, is one of the most comprehensive free trade agreements ever entered into by India. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General, PHDCCI, emphasised the importance of the social security clause that supports Indian professionals going to the UK and said that India must take advantage of this FTA. Live Events As PHDCCI celebrates 120 years of its legacy, Mehta said they plan to mount a business delegation to the UK this September, as "we are keen to explore the opportunities this agreement presents", added Mehta. "India's vision of net zero by 2070 also requires businesses, especially MSMEs to be sustainable and technologically equipped. Whether in services or products, India should collaborate more with the UK, which presents a large market for Indian MSMEs," he said. TS Vishwanath, Founder and Executive Chairman, VeK Policy Advisory and Resource Firm, said that the FTA is not just about trade but about building bilateral expertise. "We should seriously explore how both countries can invest in each other through a strong EODB environment. We must engage directly with industries to identify challenges and build robust relationships." Kishore Jayaraman, OBE, Global Board Director and Chairman India, UK India Business Council, stated that this is beginning of a new era, the FTA enables both nations to leverage their capacities and capabilities. "Beyond trade, we must also explore sectoral synergies, as India has the potential to significantly contribute to the economy of both nations," he added. Ajay Aggarwal, President, Toy Association of India, pointed out major areas where Indian businesses can benefit in the UK market. Elaborating about the Toy industry which is growing rapidly and has shifted from being import-dependent to now producing around 80 per cent domestically, he emphasised that there is enormous scope for collaboration. (ANI)
