India extends IndiGo's Turkish Airlines lease by three months
NEW DELHI, May 30 (Reuters) - IndiGo's Turkish Airlines lease has been extended by three months, less than the six-month extension allowed under current rules, India's aviation regulator said on Friday, giving the Indian airline a temporary boost in its international expansion plans.
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Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside world's wackiest £15million mansion left abandoned on 400ft skyscraper – and why the owner never moved in
THE fate of an abandoned £15million mansion perched on a 400ft skyscraper hangs in balance after the tycoon owner fled to the UK. Details of what's inside the unbelievable White House replica have been revealed for the first time - but it remains unclear whether the sprawling home will have any residents. 9 Businessman Vijay Mallya commissioned to build Sky Mansion on the 34th and 35th Kingfisher Towers Credit: Supplied 9 The sky-high structure was modelled off the White House Credit: Supplied 9 The build has a helipad and infinity pool Credit: Supplied 9 Businessman Vijay Mallya, 69, who lives in the UK, commissioned the Sky Mansion on the 34th and 35th Kingfisher Towers in Bengaluru, India in 2010. But the tycoon could never live in his dream home after he fled the country in 2016 after defrauding at least 17 banks of nearly £1billion. Now sources familiar with the case say the future of the mansion remains uncertain as lenders and agencies probing the fraud are still trying to recover cash from Mallya. Sprawled over an unbelievable 40,000sqft on two levels, the wacky mansion sticks out like a sore thumb on the gargantuan tower. For its ultra-rich owner - if it ever gets one - there's a helipad, infinity pool and an open deck that offers a 360-degree viewing platform of the city. And despite the penthouse being part of the skyscraper, it's a private villa with two of its own elevators. The Kingfisher Towers were built on 4.5 acres of land where the father-in-law of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Narayan Murthy, reportedly bought a flat last year. The mansion was one of the first residential penthouses in the country built at such a height. Chairman of Prestige Group Irfan Razack previously said constructing the gargantuan mansion was a challenge as it was mounted on cantilever - a structure only supported at one end. He said to local media: "It's a complex structure. It was a challenge to construct the mansion on a huge cantilever at that height." Dubai hotel with world's largest waterpark It's unknown when the build was completed - but the exterior of the mansion appears to be fully finished. But it's not clear if the White House replica is finished on the inside. Interior firm Morph Design and Co, an arm of Prestige Group hired to work on the interiors of the mansion, revealed to The Sun that the 'interiors of the mansion were not done'. While the house is reportedly taken care of by the developers and regularly cleaned, the penthouse lies unoccupied due to legal tangles. Prestige Constructions didn't respond to a request from The Sun on its fate. Before the penthouse was finished, Mallya fled the country after facing legal action over money laundering and alleged fraud charges. He had taken a loan from a syndicate of banks for the operations of his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines - but he failed to make the payment. 9 Former Indian politician and billionaire businessman Vijay Mallya leaves after his extradition hearing, at Westminster Magistrates Court in 2017 Credit: AP:Associated Press 9 The wacky mansion sticks out like a sore thumb atop the gargantuan tower Credit: Supplied 9 The building sits higher than the rest of the city Credit: Supplied 9 The mansion was one of the first residential penthouses in the country built on such a height Credit: Supplied The tycoon later declared himself bankrupt in the UK. Indian banks have since been seeking to recover the outstanding loan amount through various legal mean - including the sale of his assets. Several of his properties have been seized by the Enforcement Directorate, otherwise known as the financial crimes police. And the mansion is likely part of the recovery procedure. SS Naganand, the counsel who appeared for one of the banks, told The Sun: "The tower was part of the entire recovery proceeding and all the assets belonging to him are part of the process, certainly that mansion. "The building was constructed long before the litigation started. 'Prestige Group put up the structure and kept a portion of it, the rest of which came to [his] company and Mallya had built something for him on the top and belonged to him personally. "From my understanding there were proceedings relating to that both in Indian courts and the UK courts." Mallya's former lawyer EC Agrawala said that the fate of the property can only be decided by the Indian government. He said: "The mansion was under construction. "The last three to four years, I have not followed it. It was seized by the Enforcement Directorate but not fully confiscated. "It is still lying unoccupied and unsold as the government is yet to decide its fate." Who is Vijay Mallya? By Annabel Bate, Foreign News Reporter VIJAY Mallya, 69, is a former businessman and politician who is the subject of an extradition effort by the Indian Government to return him from the UK. Officials want him to face charges of financial crimes in India. Mallya was the founder and former owner of defunct Kingfisher Airlines, as well as former co-owner of the Force India Formula One team - but it went into administration. The tycoon fled India in 2016 after defrauding at least 17 banks of nearly £1billion. Mallya he also faced legal action over money laundering alongside alleged fraud charges. He had taken a loan from a syndicate of banks for the operations of his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines - but he failed to make the payment. The tycoon later declared himself bankrupt in the UK. Indian banks have since been seeking to recover the outstanding loan amount through various legal mean - including the sale of his assets. Several of his properties have been seized by the Enforcement Directorate, otherwise known as the financial crimes police.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Trump reveals marriage advice he offered Macron after discussing disturbing Brigitte slap with French president
DONALD Trump has given Emmanuel Macron marriage advice following viral footage of the French President being shoved in the face by his wife. The unbelievable video was captured as the pair landed in Vietnam for the start of a tour of Southeast Asia last week. 5 Donald Trump revealed his advice to Macron following his humiliating smack Credit: Getty 5 The French President was recorded being hit in the face by his wife Credit: Reuters 5 The pair put on a united front following the viral clip Credit: EPA It showed the embarrassing moment he was smacked in the face by his former teacher and wife Brigitte, just before they were about to get off the presidential aircraft. Fox News correspondent Deter Doocy questioned the Don about the bizarre clip. He asked "Do you have any world leader-to-world leader marital advice?" The President responded: "Make sure the door remains closed." His advice was met with laughter in the Oval Office where he was holding a good-bye press conference for departed DOGE head Elon Musk. Trump, who has been married three times, also joked about Macron: "That was not good. "I spoke to him." He said: "He's fine. They're fine. They're two really good people. "I know him very well, and I don't know what that was all about." Trump added: "But I know him very well, and they're fine." Bizarre moment Emmanuel Macron is SLAPPED by his wife Brigitte while 'bickering' as they got off plane in Vietnam His comments prompted an interjection from Musk, who said: "I know a little shiner here." The world's richest man quipped about is clearly visible black eye. He later revealed the source of his injury, saying: "I was just horsing around with Little X. "I said go ahead, punch me in the face." "And he did. Turns out even a five year old punching you in the face," Musk explained. In the jaw-dropping footage of Macron being slapped by his wife last Sunday evening, he is seen facing Brigitte with a stern look. Within seconds, Brigitte's arms pop into view, with both of them raised to Macron's face in what appears to be a small blow and shove. Appearing shocked, the French leader immediately notices the doors open and quickly turns to wave at the sea of cameras at the bottom of the plane steps. 5 French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the media in Singapore on May 30 during his Asia tour Credit: AP 5 Trump and Elon Musk in a farewell press conference in the Oval Office Credit: Reuters The couple then emerge together from the aircraft and walk down the staircase, with Macron extending his arm to his wife. But she takes hold of the handrail of the walkway for support instead, potentially due to an explosive argument they could have had inside. The clip of the fighting couple rapidly went viral, with media trying to decipher the interaction that cameras spotted through the just-opened door of the plane. But Macron slammed claims that the pair were in a heated argument and instead said they were joking around. He then appeared to laugh off the viral incident by creeping his hand round the corner of his jet's entrance for a brief, mocking wave as he prepared to be welcomed to Indonesia. What does the body language say? Our body language expert Judi James takes a look at the shocking moment Macron appears to be slapped by his wife. Judi said: "I find it shocking that they've attempted to explain it by saying that it was just play, just a couple letting off steam. "Her hand comes out and presses against his face, and if anybody wants to try this on themselves, you'll feel how vulnerable it makes you feel. "Macron looks rather shocked. We can see later on, if we look at a close up of his hand, we can see that it's bored into a fist. The knuckles look white - so clearly a lot of pent up tension. "These are veterans of being on the world stage. "They know that when the plane lands, if they did want to have a little bit of fun and laughter, they would do it before they got to the plane door. "When we see them emerging, there's this attempt to sort of do a glow up, to pretend that nothing happened. "That's not normal body language behaviour in any relationship. I find it very worrying, as well as disturbing." After a brief moment, he walked out into full view at the top of the plane's stairs. But this time, he locked arms with his wife Brigitte as they headed out to greet officials. Macron gave the cameras a thumbs up as the couple began to descend the stairs. Although French officials have dismissed negative speculation, the eyebrow-raising incident is just the latest in a relationship that has been plagued with scandal and controversy. The French president was just 15 years old (which is the age of consent in France) when he met the woman who he would go on to make his First Lady. At the time she was 39 years old and married with three children - and his drama teacher in school. Body language expert Judi James said that Brigette, 25 years Macron's senior, seemingly attacked her husband in a non-playful manner.
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
US warns China attack on Taiwan is ‘real and imminent' as Beijing warplanes and boats cross into island territory
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHINA is "credibly preparing" for a military invasion of Taiwan and the attack is "real and imminent", the US Defence Secretary has warned. Pete Hegeseth said that Communist Beijing was "rehearsing for the real deal" and described the looming threat as a "wake-up call" for the world. 13 China's aircraft carrier Liaoning takes part in a military drill Credit: Reuters 13 China's Nanchang Q-5 'Fantans' fighter jets Credit: Alamy 13 Two Chinese H-6 bombers on an South China Sea island Credit: Reuters 13 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers his speech during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore Credit: AP 13 Speaking at the annual Singapore defence forum Shangri-la Dialogue, Hegeseth said China was preparing to use military force to upend the balance of power. The Pentagon boss also accused Beijing of carrying out cyber attacks, harassing its neighbours, and "illegally seizing and militarising lands" in the South China Sea. His warning comes after China deployed two hulking H-6 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons on a strategic island in the South China Sea. Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan and held multiple large-scale exercises around the island, often described as preparations for a blockade or invasion. Hegseth said: "[Beijing is] credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. "The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent." China claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea - through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes. This is despite an international ruling that Beijing's assertion has no merit. In recent months, the Chinese navy has also repeatedly clashed with the Philippines in the strategic waters. Hegseth warned the Chinese military was building the capabilities to invade Taiwan and "rehearsing for the real deal". Total blockade, mega-barges & 2 million troops… How Taiwan invasion would unfold as island warns of all-out war by 2027 He called on Asian countries to boost military spending to increase deterrence against China. Reassuring US allies, Hegseth said the Indo-Pacific was "America's priority theatre". Hegseth said: "[US] is reorienting toward deterring aggression by communist China. "Asian allies should look to countries in Europe for a newfound example," Hegseth said, citing pledges by Nato members to move toward Trump's spending target of five per cent of GDP toward defence. As Hegseth spoke in Singapore, China's military announced that its navy and air force were carrying out routine "combat readiness patrols" around the Scarborough Shoal. It is a chain of reefs and rocks that Beijing disputes with the Philippines. Meanwhile, aerial photos showed two hulking H-6 bombers on an airfield on Woody Island in the South China Sea, taken on May 19. The long-range aircraft date back to the 1950s and were modelled on Soviet-era warplanes. 13 13 A KJ-500 early warning plane and Y-20 transport aircraft parked on the tarmac on Woody Island Credit: Reuters 13 Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army Navy patrol on Woody Island Credit: Reuters 13 A nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Credit: Reuters But they've been souped up to unleash modern weapons, including hypersonic and nuclear missiles. They are considered China's most advanced bombers, and this is the first time they've been spotted on the outpost in five years. The photos also show two Y-20 transport aircraft and a KJ-500 early warning plane around Woody Island on the same day. The KJ-500 is thought vital to China's expansion of its air and sea campaign, as it tackles increasingly complex operations. Woody is part of the Paracel Islands, which are roughly halfway between China and Vietnam and the object of an ownership dispute between the two nations. China built a city called Sansha on Woody Island in 2012, which Beijing uses to lord over the rest of the Paracels and the Spratly Islands. Hegseth's comments came after Trump stoked new trade tensions with China, arguing that Beijing had "violated" a deal to de-escalate tariffs as the two sides appeared deadlocked in negotiations. Three ways China could seize Taiwan in 'unstoppable' attack By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter WITH an overwhelming military force, advanced warfare techniques and a fragmenting West, Xi Jinping will likely feel more confident than ever to seize Taiwan, experts warn. And if China does decide to attack, it's feared it will go in with "full force" using three major military strategies that would wreak havoc on the island. Military experts have long believed China is planning to use sea blockades to cut off the island - forcing them to surrender when military supplies dwindle. Currently, China has a whopping 2.1 million active soldiers and a further, 1.17 million reserve personnel in its army. It is a stark contrast to Taiwan's forces, which just has a little over 160,000 soldiers. Others believe Beijing will pour its forces onto Taiwan's "red beaches" and attack on land. Experts told The Sun that China would likely combine blitzing aerial strikes to disable Taiwan's defences with naval forces encircling the island. Defence experts say it's the "perfect moment" for Xi's long-standing ambition to reunify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland - and it could launch an attack as soon as 2027. The unpredictability of US foreign policy under Donald Trump has created fears that Chinese President Xi would use the opportunity to invade Taiwan. Experts say the dictator is happy with a fragmenting West and the US saying it's not interested in being the kind of security ally it was. Read the full story here... Meanwhile, a report by the US Defence Intelligence warned that China could begin seizing Taiwan's smaller outlying islands as a precursor to a full-blown invasion. The vast majority of Taiwan's population lives on the main island, but Taipei also controls a smattering of smaller island chains. These include the Kinmen and Matsu islands close to the Chinese mainland, the Pratas and Taiping in the South China Sea, and the Penghu archipelago nearer to Taiwan. Storming these islands is one of the options on the table for China's military generals - who continue to brandish threats of a full-scale invasion of Taiwan. 13 China could storm Taiwan's smaller islands ahead of a full invasion, US intelligence warned Credit: Getty 13 China's President Xi Jinping could be preparing a potential invasion of Taiwan, the US defence chief warned 13 Taiwan fears a 'surprise attack' from China is inevitable Credit: AP 13 Taiwan has been gearing up for a destructive war against their Chinese aggressors Credit: Getty Experts also told The Sun how China will look to exploit a fragmented West while it waits for the "perfect moment" to launch an attack on Taiwan. Fears are that the weakening of Western alliances and the unpredictability of US foreign policy under Donald Trump could create the perfect atmosphere for Beijing to trigger an invasion. And if China does decide to attack, it's feared it will go in with "full force" using three major military strategies that would wreak havoc on the island. Defence experts say it's the "perfect moment" for Xi's long-standing ambition to reunify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland - and it could launch an attack as soon as 2027. And that the West will not be able to stop it. A top US admiral warned that China will soon be able to defeat the US in a war over Taiwan. Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, raised the alarm at the McCain Institute's annual Sedona Forum in Arizona on Friday. The admiral said that while the US would defeat China in a war over Taiwan now, it may soon lose its advantage, as reported by the Financial Times. Paparo said: 'The United States will prevail in the conflict as it stands now, with the force that we have right now.' But he added: 'Our trajectory on . . . really every force element that is salient is a bad trajectory.'
