The 2021 version of naval exercise between India and the UK could be the most complex and sophisticated one yet, British High Commissioner Sir Dominic Asquith said on Friday, highlighting deepening bilateral defence ties.
He also said a liaison officer of the UK will be posted in Indian Navy''s information fusion centre in Gurgaon as part of efforts to boost maritime cooperation.
The high commissioner said the UK''s civil service head of the Ministry of Defence and a Homeland Security Trade Mission led by Director of the UK Defence and Security Organisation will visit India this month.
The British diplomat told reporters that UK-India talks at the defence equipment sub-group will also take place next month.
"The 2021 version of our bilateral Navy exercise (Konkan 21) could be the most complex and sophisticated yet," he said.
The high commissioner also highlighted growing cooperation between the two countries over a range of areas including trade and investment, education, climate change and health.
"The UK and India have been top five investors in each other''s economies since 2010, and India invests more in the UK then the rest of the EU combined," he said.
Asquith said the two countries are also expanding cooperation in the field of climate change and environment protection.
"The UK is nominated to host the COP26, in partnership with Italy, in Glasgow in 2020 and is the first major economy to make legal commitment to net zero emissions by 2050," he said.
The annual conference of parties (COP) of the United Nations has been the key platform to formulate policies to deal with issues relating to climate change.
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)