Fort Worth (Texas), January 16
As the deadline for India’s biggest ever defence deal for the purchase of 126 new fighter planes nears, US aviation giant Lockheed Martin today unveiled a new upgraded version of its F-16 fighter planes with super cruise capability and active electronic scanned array (AESA) radars.

So far, the super cruise capability is only seen in 5th generation fighters F-22 Raptors and its just unrolling F-35 joint strike fighters.

This capability would impart the fighter with extended range, as it can zoom from take-off to breaking the sound barrier without the use of fuel guzzling after-burners.

The export version of the fighters, for the first time, has also been equipped with AESA radars, as reportedly specified in the Indian Air Force’s $10-billion tender for the acquisition of 126 fighters.

Top company official Chuck Artymovich told a group of Indian newsmen that the AESA radar, which gives the capability to simultaneously track and destroy ground and air threats, has been cleared by the US government for installation in 80 F-16s ordered by the UAE.

“We are confident that similar green signal would be given for the installation of such radars in the case of export to India also,” he said.

Speaking while unveiling an India-specific Fighting Falcons (F-16 IN), the Lockheed Martin executive said the proposed fighter planes would also be armed with infrared search and track pods as well as counter-electronic warfare pods.

“The F-16 IN is a complete new aircraft and totally caters to India’s requirements and there could be no comparison with Block 50 and 60 fighters, being made for other countries,” he said.

The US company officials said there were fair chances of India increasing its fighter intake by 50 more planes.

Artymovich’s comment assumes significance as the international tenders for the deal are expected to be opened on March 2.

Besides the F-16, other major contenders for the contract include Boeing’s F-18, Eurofighter, Gripen of Sweden, Rafale of France and Russia’s MIG 35.

At the ceremony, Lockheed Martin executives said they had met all requirements proposed in the Indian request for proposals without giving out any details of the contents, citing confidentiality. — PTI

New York, January 16
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s ‘Eklavya, The Royal Guard’, India’s controversy-marred entry to the Oscars, has failed to make it to the nine top movies in contention for the prestigious award in foreign-language film category.

The Amitabh Bachchan-starrer was among 63 entries from various countries but could not make it to the first shortlist.

In the running for the five final nominations are Austria’s ‘The Counterfeiters’, Canada’s ‘Days of Darkness’, Israel’s ‘Beaufort’, Italy’s ‘The Unknown Woman’, Kazakhstan’s ‘Mongol’, Poland’s ‘Katyn’, Russia’s ‘12’, Brazil’s ‘The Year My Parents Went on Vacation’, and Serbia’s ‘The Trap’.

Melbourne, January 16
Clearing the decks for Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef’s return, the Australian government has today decided not to appeal against the reinstatement of his visa by the Federal Court.

Immigration and citizenship minister Chris Evans said he would not proceed with an appeal to the High Court in light of advice from the solicitor-general in the case of the 27-year-old Bangalore medico, who was wrongly accused of links to the failed UK terror plot, six months ago and forced to leave the country.

“However, I have sought advice from my department on the ramifications of the Full Federal Court decision for the operation of the character provisions of the Migration Act,” Senator Evans was quoted saying in latest media reports here.

“Upon receipt of that advice, I will consider the need for any legislative amendment,” Evans said in a statement.

The Federal Court had restored Haneef’s work visa on December 21 after he was exonerated of the terror charges.

The opposition leadership has rejected interior ministry's security advisory, describing it as an attempt to curtail election campaign in favour of the pro-Musharraf PML-Q.

"It is the prime responsibility of the government to provide security to all citizens and not just politicians," PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said, adding that the advisory is an admission of failure that the state cannot protect its citizens.

Interior ministry, in its advisory on Tuesday, said political leaders face a looming threat of attack and must get serious about their security and avoid unnecessary exposure. It asked political parties to hold corner meetings instead of organising big gatherings. The politicians were told not to meet unknown people.

Babar said a similar advisory was earlier issued by the Election Commission, which was rejected by all political parties. It is another form of rigging elections by bringing opposition leaders down to the level of the PML-Q, which has no face to go to the people in public rallies.

PML-N chairman Raja Zafrul Haq said public rallies and meetings were inseparable parts of the political process. It is impossible for politicians to carry out their political activities without maintaining contact with the people and mobilising them for support through rallies and meetings.

"There is no such practice in any democratic country. Nobody issues security advisories for political leaders," he added. Haq said Benazir's assassination was due to serious security lapses. The government, however, is using it as an excuse to confine political leadership in their homes.

ANP spokesman Zahid Khan said the advisory is meant to create conditions for pro-government parties to manipulate polls while sitting at home. The government incompetence has created a dire situation in the country where no citizen, much less political leaders, feels safe, he said.

Meanwhile, interior minister Lt-Gen Hamid Nawaz Khan told reporters here that Nawaz Sharif and Fazlur Rehman are among the prime targets of terrorists ahead of the February 18 elections.

Khan said Ejazul Haq, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Amir Muqam could also be hit. The minister, who inaugurated a police station in Tarnol near Islamabad, said the government has provided adequate security to Nawaz Sharif who is also using his bullet proof car.

Washington, January 16
A federal judge in Washington has ordered Libya and six of its officials to pay more than $6 billion in damages to families of seven Americans killed in the 1989 bombing of a French airliner, lawyers for the families said in a statement.

The case stems from the suitcase bombing of a French UTA flight over the West African country of Niger, which killed 170 persons on a flight from N’djamena to Paris. The attack was blamed on Tripoli and France convicted six Libyans in absentia.

Paris, January 16
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s popularity has fallen sharply for a second successive month, a survey released on Tuesday showed, with French voters apparently unhappy about his economic policies and flamboyant lifestyle.

The BVA-Orange-Express opinion poll for January said only 45 per cent of those questioned had a positive opinion of Sarkozy, down 6 points from the December poll, while 48 per cent had a negative opinion. It was the first time the negative views had overtaken the positive since Sarkozy took office last May.

This shows the French are increasingly disenchanted with their hyperactive President. — Reuters