Ø The possibility of establishing a US Consulate
at Vijayawada would be
considered, a delegation from US State Department assured Chief Minister N.
Chandrababu Naidu.
Ø Indian and France agreed to overcome
differences and fast-track ongoing negotiations for the purchase of 126 Rafale
fighter jets from France. The decision came during discussions between
visiting French Defence Minister Yves Le Drian and his Indian counterpart,
Manohar Parrikar. Both sides also decided to expand strategic cooperation.
Negotiations have been going on since 2012 when India selected Dassault
Rafale from
among competing medium multi-role combat aircraft. Differences cropped up
between the two sides on delivery guarantees and price. The tender
stipulates that the first 18 jets should come in “fly-away” condition from
France, while the remaining 108 will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics
Ltd. (HAL) in India over seven years with Transfer of Technology (ToT). Dassault
has refused to give delivery guarantees for HAL-made aircraft, which the Air
Force is insisting on. With the ToT, the cost too escalated from the initial
estimate of $10 billion to almost $30 billion.
 |
| Anil Sinha |
Ø Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Appointments Committee
of Cabinet approved the appointment of Anil Sinha as the new Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) chief, hours after Ranjit Sinha relinquished office on superannuation.
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