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Amidst India’s ruling and opposition parties’ constant blame games on the topic of the <keyword id="1558702" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="VVIP-chopper-scam">VVIP chopper scam</keyword>, some interesting details have surfaced, regarding a scam of Rs 330 crore by <keyword id="1559132" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Christian-Michel">Christian Michel</keyword>, a British businessman. 
 Even though Michel was paid 44 million euros at that time by <keyword id="252971" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="AgustaWestland">AgustaWestland</keyword>, a large portion of this money is "completely disproportionate" to the work he did for the company, at least this is how Italy’s Milan Court of Appeals has described Mithcel, who is sought by Indian investigators for his involvement in the case, so much so that it was on India's request that Interpol had issued a red corner notice against Michel in December 2015. 
 Italian prosecutors have put ahead an argument that Michel, along with <keyword id="3339722" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Guido-Hashke">Guido Hashke</keyword>, a Swiss-Italian national, influenced Indian officials to pick Agusta's choppers. They have also alleged him to be a key player in the VVIP chopper deal. 
 
As per the Milan court, Michel was paid over 44 million euros by AgustaWestland for various contracts, including a deal to supply spare parts for Indian naval helicopters and a post-contract service deal for the VVIP chopper contract. 
 
In the judgement, the court said that the description of his work for the contracts was "completely disproportionate to the large amount of fees paid to him". 
 
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efy6oDPQuR8/USB6-Qh1ilI/AAAAAAAAAwc/22mJsrFapaM/s1600/Agusta+Westland+Chopper+SCAM03.jpg">Image source</a>

The Italian court wants to know why Christian Michel was paid 44 million Euros in the VVIP chopper scam

The CBI arrested former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi over alleged irregularities in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal worth 3,700 crores. 
 
He was arrested along with his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan after hours of questioning. 
 
Tyagi, who retired in 2007, was questioned by the CBI extensively in the past in this case. 
 
All the 3 have been arrested on the allegations of accepting illegal gratification for exercising influence through corrupt and or illegal means, the CBI said. 
 
The former air chief has been accused of abusing his official position by corrupt means. 
 
This is the first high-profile arrest made by acting CBI chief Rakesh Asthana, who is in the headlines because of a row between the government and the opposition over his appointment a week ago. 
 
Asthana was given charge of the chopper deal investigation earlier this year. 
 
On January 1, 2014, India had scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal. 
 
The CBI in the initial investigations into the AgustaWestland scam had found that former IAF chief SP Tyagi was indeed bribed by middlemen+ around the same time - 2004-2005 - that his cousins were given money, highly placed sources said. 
 
The CBI was looking into former IAF chief's investments in property and banks, especially after 2004-05, to ascertain the money trail in the VVIP helicopter scam. 
 
It had got Letters Rogatory (judicial requests) issued to multiple countries to gather more leads and evidences in this case. 
 
Sources said the agency had identified the alleged 'briber giver' (AgustaWestland), bribe takers (cousins of S P Tyagi), middlemen (Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa), bribe amount and to some extent the bribe route. It is now looking to establish where the money went after reaching Tyagi's cousins (Julie, Docsa and Sandeep). 
 
The Enforcement Directorate had in April this year summoned Tyagi in connection with its money-laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore .

CBI arrests ex-Air Force Chief SP Tyagi in VVIP Chopper Scam

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> stayed an order by the <keyword id="6355014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi-high-court">Delhi High Court</keyword> that prevented the Income Tax (IT) Department from trying <keyword id="1561203" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Khaitan">Gautam Khaitan</keyword> - the main accused in the Agusta Westland chopper scam - under the Black Money Act of 2016. </li><li>The central government had asked the Delhi HC to allow the 2016 law to be applied to Khaitan’s case, which was filed in July 2015. </li><li>The 2016 law is much more stringent when it comes to dealing with previously undisclosed income and assets held abroad. </li><li>The punishment for conviction under this law for wilful evasion is enhanced, and tax authorities have more power when it comes to inspection and issue of summons. </li></ul>The Supreme Court today stayed an order by the Delhi High Court that prevented the Income Tax (IT) Department from trying Gautam Khaitan - the main accused in the Agusta Westland chopper scam - under the Black Money Act of 2016. The Delhi HC’s order, which was handed out on May 16, prohibited the IT Dept. from taking action against Khaitan - retroactively - under the law. Khaitan filed a petition against the government for trying to invoke the law, which came into effect in April 2016. The central government had asked the Delhi HC to allow the 2016 law to be applied to Khaitan’s case, which was filed in July 2015. The 2016 law is much <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/10-things-to-know-about-blackmoney-bill/article7194290.ece">more stringent</a> when it comes to dealing with previously undisclosed income and assets held abroad. The punishment for conviction under this law for wilful evasion is enhanced, and tax authorities have more power when it comes to inspection and issue of summons. As things stand, the Supreme Court’s decision requires Khaitan, a lawyer by profession, to submit a formal response to the central government’s allegations against him, within six weeks. Khaitan had been investigated by a slew of regulators, including the <keyword id="6357808" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="enforcement-directorate">Enforcement Directorate</keyword> (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his role in the ₹36 billion scam. The Agusta Westland scam came to light in 2013, and pertains to the UPA government’s purchase of 12 helicopters to transport top officials. The deal was cancelled in 2014 following allegations that Bruno Spagnolini, CEO of <keyword id="252971" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AgustaWestland">AgustaWestland</keyword>, along with other executives had bribed officials from the <keyword id="15141" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> to make the deal go through. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/miscellaneous/10-landmark-judgements-indias-supreme-court-passed-in-2018/slidelist/67254190.cms">10 landmark judgements India’s Supreme Court passed in 2018</a>

Agusta Westland case: India’s apex court allows taxman to try accused under new black money law

An Italian court has found out that the UPA government concealed some critical issues in the <keyword id="1560103" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="VVIP-chopper-scandal">VVIP chopper scandal</keyword>, hiding several documents with investigators. The court has also found out that the main accused, the then Italian Prime Minister <keyword id="826514" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mario-Monti">Mario Monti</keyword>, had tried to reach out to his Indian counterpart <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>. 
 In the 225-page order, which was accessed by ET, the <keyword id="3336940" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Court-of-Appeals-of-Milan">Court of Appeals of Milan</keyword> has given in depth details of its grounds for conviction. About the UPA government hiding important details, it observed: "This showing (of) a substantial disregard to arrive at a full explanation of facts (was) effectively demonstrated by the procedural behaviour of the Indian Ministry of Defence." 
 
The Italian court, which is equivalent to the High Courts of India, further speculated if all this was connected to a handwritten note that was recovered in March 2013 from former Finmeccanica head Giuseppe Orsi's prison cell. 
 
The note said, "Call Monti or amb. Teracciano in my name to ask him to call the PM Singh." Monti was the then Italian PM and Teracciano was his diplomatic advisor. 
 
The court then said that while it's not in a "position to determine what was the message that Orsi, during his detention, intended to send to the head of Government of India but the same can be guessed if we think about the outcome of requests for judicial assistance sent to Indian authorities." 
 
A footnote said that in April 2013, Italy had requested full documents related to the case from Indian government, but only three documents were provided and that too by as late as March 2014. The judgement, which also questioned the involvement of British middleman Christian Michel, makes extensive referrals to CAG’s report about the matter. 
 
In its ruling in the case, the Italian court had stated that the 2010 deal to purchase 12 VVIP helicopters by India from AgustaWestland involved corruption at international levels, which is why it had ordered a four-and-a-half-years jail term to the former head of the company, Giuseppe Orsi. 
 
It was in 2013 that the UPA government had cancelled the deal, saying that the integrity pact was violated. After that, most of the money paid to the Italian company has been recovered, while three VVIP choppers that were delivered to India are lying dormant. 
 
<a href="http://files.foreignaffairs.com/legacy/images/Singh2.jpg">Image source</a>

UPA government hid vital facts about VVIP helicopter scam, an Italian court reveals

Cutting and chopping require a lot of time and energy while cooking. A product that quickly chops with less amount of energy is what makes your cooking experience easy. With an easy to pull and chop mechanism, a <keyword id="12832464" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="string-chopper" source="Orion">string chopper</keyword> is efficient and effective. Manually operated, it helps to save electricity. The compact size of the chopper makes it easy to carry, clean and maintain. <bulletContentEmbed name="B01LWYDEQ7" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B01LWYDEQ7_head"><div type="image" title="Durable String" msid="88563808" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B01LWYDEQ7</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B01LWYDEQ7_body"><bulletContentRow name="B01LWYDEQ7_5520534545991684"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Pigeon Plastic Mini Handy and Compact Chopper</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Made from premium quality food-grade material, this handy chopper from Pigeon effortlessly chops vegetables and fruits. The durable polyester rope makes it easy to pull and chop. To keep you safe, it comes with an anti-skid base and a locking lid. The premium 3-blade design ensures hassle-free chopping. Also, it is easy to clean, maintain and disassemble.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B01LWYDEQ7_6794947718063187"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The food-grade material makes it safe to use.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07G7FYKDC" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07G7FYKDC_head"> <div type="image" title="Easy Chopping" msid="88551942" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07G7FYKDC</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07G7FYKDC_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07G7FYKDC_8256026110377213"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Ganesh Plastic <keyword id="8255740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vegetable-chopper" source="Orion">Vegetable Chopper</keyword> Cutter</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This chopper from Ganesh comes with high-quality stainless steel blades to ensure easy cutting and chopping. With no consumption of electricity, it can be carried along. It comes with a handle that makes it easy to pull and use. It is easy to clean and safe to use. Also, it comes with an anti-skid base.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07G7FYKDC_8707031171689944"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It chops quickly and helps to save time.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B085F2HVF9" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B085F2HVF9_head"> <div type="image" title="Eco-Friendly Design" msid="88551956" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B085F2HVF9</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B085F2HVF9_body"><bulletContentRow name="B085F2HVF9_9664062913896040"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Butterfly Premium Vegetable Chopper</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This compactly designed vegetable chopper from Butterfly is an efficient and affordable product. Made from ABS plastic, it is to use and ensure durability. The unique string function makes it convenient to chop vegetables and fruits. It has a sturdy 3-blade and eco-friendly design.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B085F2HVF9_5587654535824417"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It has a compact and sturdy build.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07L8VRLFN" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07L8VRLFN_head"> <div type="image" title="Silicone Base" msid="88551980" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07L8VRLFN</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07L8VRLFN_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07L8VRLFN_0015150114409404"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Wonderchef Classic String Vegetable Chopper</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Ergonomically designed, this string vegetable chopper from Wonderchef comes with a 3-blade design to ensure easy chopping. 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Also, it has a transparent jar.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07L8VRLFN_0490369917123413"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The transparent jar allows you to keep an eye while chopping.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08DBXBN3S" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08DBXBN3S_head"> <div type="image" title="Manual Operation" msid="88551995" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08DBXBN3S</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08DBXBN3S_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08DBXBN3S_2460985296091149"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Prestige Plastic Cutter</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This cutter from Prestige features an anti-skid base to form grip while using and prevent spillage. Made from stainless steel, it comes with a 3-blade design to ensure easy chopping. The string pull mechanism should make it easy to chop. Also, it comes with a jumbo size bowl.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08DBXBN3S_0728794143954701"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It has a manual operation design.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07TTHTZF3" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07TTHTZF3_head"> <div type="image" title="Lightweight Design" msid="88552017" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07TTHTZF3</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07TTHTZF3_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07TTHTZF3_6441602448275180"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">AGARO Plastic Hand Mini Chopper</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">With a 5-blade design, this mini chopper from AGARO should make cutting and chopping faster. 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A high-school graduate running an engineering workshop has built a working chopper in the backyard of his <keyword id="6385572" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kottayam">Kottayam</keyword> home. 
 
D Sadasivan (54) was requested by his daughter’s school principal to make a model of a chopper to be displayed in front of kids at the school. However, he decided to go one step ahead and build a fully-operational one. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/finally-indias-first-heliport-is-opening-on-feb-28-in-delhi/articleshow/57268080.cms">Finally, India's first heliport is opening on Feb 28 in Delhi</a> 
 
In the chopper, Sadasivan used the engine of a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/No-car-company-produces-as-many-cars-as-this-Indian-company-does/articleshow/47248716.cms">Maruti 800</a>, glass of an autorickshaw as the windscreen, and a reduction gear box used for industrial purpose, while making rest of the parts at his workshop in Kanjirappally. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/planning-to-travel-on-a-shoe-string-budget-here-are-the-best-international-destinations-for-you/articleshow/57877187.cms">Planning to travel on a shoe-string budget? Here are the best international destinations for you</a> 
 
"The chopper's interior is made of iron and the exterior of aluminium," he added. 
 
The chopper took four years to be built, and would be ready to fly in a month's time. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Made-in-India-Light-Utility-Helicopter-ready-for-its-first-flight/articleshow/53975529.cms">Made-in-India ‘Light Utility Helicopter’ ready for its first flight</a> 
 
"I need to get clearance from various agencies for permission to fly. However, before that I can fly the chopper within the limits of the property I own," he said. 
 
(Image source: South China Morning Post, for representation purpose only)

High school graduate builds real chopper when asked for a model

If the talks go through, <keyword id="2852683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="russian-helicopters">Russian Helicopters</keyword> may make around 140 choppers in India. 
 In a major breakthrough to <keyword id="2257489" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Narendra-Modi">PM Narendra Modi</keyword>’s ‘<keyword id="6354869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="make-in-India">Make in India</keyword>’ initiative, Russian Helicopters is in talks with Indian counterparts for a contract for 200 choppers, out of which over 140 will be made in India. 
 
"We are now discussing terms and conditions for the contract and copter configuration," said Igor Chechikov, deputy CEO of Russian Helicopters (RH). 
 
The remaining 60 will be supplied from RH's existing manufacturing facilities in Russia. 
 
The work on 140 choppers will be planned out with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and other partners. 
 
The helicopters will be made in India under a pact signed by Modi during his visit to Moscow in December. 
 
The choppers will be supplied in collaboration with Rosoboronexport, a state export agency. 
 
The ongoing discussions include the scope of setting up a helicopter plant in India which will be in partnership with a number of Indian entities including HAL. 
 
"We expect to produce more helicopters from India, given the country's demand for a wide range of defence and security related equipment," Chechikov said, pointing to the potential of growing the joint venture business as well as technology and knowhow between the two countries. 
 
India has a fleet of over 450 Russian helicopters operating all of which were supplied over the last three decades in various phases. 
 
He also stressed on supporting the Russian hardware by establishing an after sales maintenance hub in India in the coming years. 
 
"India is a very strategic market with a huge demand for helicopters," he said at the Singapore Airshow 2016. 
 
Russian helicopters are widely used by the Indian air force, navy and border security force. 
 
RH is showcasing a wide range of its technology-savvy helicopters and aircraft at the air show for the South East Asian markets.

Russian Helicopters may make choppers in India soon!

The <keyword id="6355100" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indian-Navy">Indian Navy</keyword> is in the process of selecting private and public vendors from the country to procure new utility helicopters at the estimated cost of over Rs 20,000 crore, reported the Economic Times. The Navy has sent a proposal to the <keyword id="6369097" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Defence">Ministry of Defence</keyword> which specifies that it needs 110 naval utility helicopters, out of which 94 are to be made in India in partnership with a foreign partner. 

	Moreover, the valuation of the contract makes it the largest 'Make in India' chopper deal till date, exceeding the Army light utility chopper deal that was given to Russia's Kamov in May and will cost over Rs 5,000 crore. 
 

	According to sources, the Navy has also proposed to purchase torpedoes and depth charges for choppers and that weapon trials would be held in India and abroad.
 As it was reported, 11 Indian companies, including <keyword id="45224" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mahindra">Mahindra</keyword>, Tata, L&amp;T and <keyword id="10926" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Reliance">Reliance</keyword>, have shown interest to the proposal that was issued by the Navy earlier this year. All offered helicopters to be ‘Made in India’ in collaboration with a foreign firm. Mahindra and <keyword id="6356166" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Airbus">Airbus</keyword> have even announced discussions on the formation of a joint venture (JV). The companies aim to form a JV firm in the coming months for ‘Make in India’ chopper contracts in what is speculated to be an exclusive contract for Airbus. While 11 Indian entities have expressed interest, there are only a handful of foreign companies with a helicopter that meets Indian requirements. These include Airbus, Bell and banned Italian entity <keyword id="252971" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="AgustaWestland">AgustaWestland</keyword>. 

	To make the selection more competitive, the Navy has decided that more than one Indian company can offer the same helicopter. This would mean that a foreign company could tie up with two more Indian entities. As the cutting factor is pricing, an intense competition is expected in the private sector to tie up JVs and MoUs. 
	 
	(Image: Indiatimes)

Push to 'Make in India'! Navy to screen private and public vendors for Rs 20K-crore deal

<ul class="summary-list"><li>TikToker Alix Earle and her friends became stranded in Italy after booking scam.</li><li>Her complaint video received over 6 million views in just days, and Airbnb stepped in to help.</li></ul>When TikToker Alix Earle and her friends were left stranded after booking an Italian villa that turned out not to exist, she said Airbnb stepped in to save the day.On Tuesday, Earle posted a video informing her over five million followers that she and her friends had fallen prey to a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alixearle/video/7236167748819406126?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7198971465685861934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scam after booking a fake villa in Positano, Italy</a>. One day and 5.5 million views later, the group of about 10 women are spending their European vacation in a villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea thanks to Airbnb. "babes we got you. our people are calling you now," the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alixearle/video/7236130291381996846?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7198971465685861934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airbnb TikTok account commented</a> under Earle's video.Despite the scam occurring on another booking platform — Booking.com, per Earle's Instagram story — Airbnb more than delivered on accommodations with a Positano villa decked out with a massage table, steam room, and a terrace overlooking vast blue waters.The group of travelers were packed into a hotel room at the last minute after realizing that the villa they'd booked didn't actually exist. It's unclear how much the group spent on the fake rental, but Booking.com commented on one of <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alixearle/video/7236399098008571182?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7198971465685861934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earle's videos apologizing for the mishap</a>."Hi Alix, we're sorry to hear about your experience. Please reach out to us via Twitter, FB or Instagram, so our support team can look into this," the comment read.A Booking.com representative told Insider the company's investigation into the matter determined the scam didn't occur on its site."Upon investigation, we can now confirm that this fake villa listing was not booked via Booking.com, but instead found on a fake copycat website," the statement read. "Since confirming this was not a legitimate Booking.com URL we have subsequently been successful in requesting the website to be taken down."Airbnb didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comments. It's unclear how much the Positano rental is listed for on Airbnb, but a villa with similar amenities and views <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=03c8dcab71d50d055ad4547802f1c8c178b9e2f771f6cc0b582ad5e22f0837d2&amp;postID=646fa1bae82d406f82795b0c&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F21797902%3Fadults%3D10%26check_in%3D2023-07-11%26check_out%3D2023-07-15%26federated_search_id%3D6cc018ab-f962-4e6e-9bea-878f627fdcb9%26source_impression_id%3Dp3_1685113460_3IbaBygCfKp0V5%252Fe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">goes for just shy of $2,500 per night.</a>Social media users are praising Airbnb for the move as a "marketing" strategy of rescuing one of TikTok's most recognizable faces. "Airbnb is our wealthy man," Earle captioned a video of her and fellow travelers wearing matching robes. "Airbnb marketing for the year = complete," one commenter wrote under the video. Social media commentator Jack Appleby wrote in a tweet that the video of Earle thanking Airbnb <a href="https://twitter.com/jappleby/status/1661476402267578369?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">garnered close to two million views in four hours.</a>Others, however, commented that they weren't as lucky when they were left stranded from an Airbnb scam. "where was this attitude when my airbnb host canceled on me day of, for no apparent reason last year," one TikToker wrote in response to the company's offer to help."customer service shouldn't be determined by follower count," another said.

'Airbnb is our wealthy man': A booking scam left a TikTok star stranded in Italy until Airbnb intervened to put her group up in a luxurious Mediterranean villa

Moving an inch forward in ‘<keyword id="6354869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="make-in-India">Make in India</keyword>’ initiative in defence production, Gurgaon-based <keyword id="340571" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sun-Group">Sun Group</keyword> may partner with Russia to make light helicopters. 
 
If everything goes as planned, 200 Kamov Ka 226 light helicopters may replace the ageing Cheetah fleet, which services one of the world’s highest military deployments on the Siachen glacier. 
 
Economic Times reported that work on the Russian deal, by nomination, had begun after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit last year in December and assurances were exchanged at the highest levels to look into this project. 
 The facility may come up in Goa as a feasibility study was conducted to set up a chopper line in the coastal soon after <keyword id="6363133" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Manohar-Parrikar">Manohar Parrikar</keyword>, former Goa CM, took over as defence minister. 
 
If the deal works out, it would be the second major defence project for the state. Parrikar had already announced that the Goa Shipyard was nominated to construct 12 minesweepers for the Indian Navy in a contract that is expected to cost over $1 billion. 
 The financial daily stated that while <keyword id="2852683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="russian-helicopters">Russian Helicopters</keyword> (RH) is in talks with a handful of possible Indian partners, the lead contender happens to be the Gurgaon-based Sun Group. 
 
As per insiders, the group may get a significant share of the deal, which might cross a whooping amount of $700 million. RH is likely to produce at least 200 choppers in India. 
 However, the company is also planning to involve <keyword id="86569" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hindustan-Aeronautics-Limited">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited</keyword> (HAL), and partnerships with other private firms are not ruled out. 
 
Vice-Chairman and founder of Sun Group Shiv Vikram Khemka has been a non-executive director on the board of RH since 2011 and has already set up a helicopter division. He is likely to be involved in the ‘Make in India’ project. 
 
While the Sun Group did not respond to a detailed questionnaire sent by ET, company officials said things were at a preliminary stage and it was too early to comment. 
 
But according to sources, Sun Group was also an offset partner for RH in a previous competition to supply light choppers to the army, a process which was cancelled by the government last year. 
 
Defence ministry officials, on the condition of anonymity, told ET that the RH deal had effectively killed any other light helicopter project for the armed forces, including a process that was initiated earlier this year for an Indian-led JV to manufacture a new range of choppers. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

Now Russia will ‘Make in India’ 200 military helicopters

<keyword id="2836827" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-Advanced-Systems-Limited">Tata Advanced Systems Limited</keyword> (TASL) is going to enter a partnership with US-based <keyword id="211842" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bell-Helicopter">Bell Helicopter</keyword> to emerge as a leader in the Indian defence aviation sector and race past its rival Mahindra-Airbus for a $2-billion naval chopper manufacturing contract. 
 
The contract for 100 utility helicopters will be awarded under 'Make in India'. 
 
The Indian companies will take it from the front to procure the helicopters with a foreign company as a partner. 
 
TASL will be the lead company in partnership with Bell Helicopter, based in Fort Worth, Texas. 
 "The TASL tie-up with Bell Helicopter is likely to be announced formally soon. It will make the competition more or less a direct fight between <keyword id="45224" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahindra">Mahindra</keyword> and Tata," people involved in the developments told ET. 
 The number of choppers to be procured can also go up as the <keyword id="6355100" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Navy">Indian Navy</keyword> is looking to increase its fleet. 
 
In India, TASL is the leading military aviation player.

Tata just partnered with Bell Helicopter in a bid to bag $2 bn chopper deal

After a long delay, finally India is unveiling its first <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=heliport&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">heliport</a> in Rohini area of New Delhi. 
 
The dedicated heliport, owned by<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=pawan+hans&amp;sortorder=effectivedate"> Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd</a> (PHHL), will carry passengers from Delhi to nearby areas. The heliport is a 100-crore project and will be integrated one with a chopper maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit. 
 
Aviation secretary R N Choubey said the Rs 100-crore project will be inaugurated on February 28 and will be an integrated one with a chopper maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit part of the complex at Rohini. 
 
The heliport will have parking bays, AC passenger terminal building and car parking area for the flyers. 
 
"Being a busy airport,<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=igi+airport&amp;sortorder=effectivedate"> IGI airport</a> does not have much space for helicopter movement. The Rohini one will be a dedicated heliport and will make chopper movement much easier," said Choubey. 
 
"To promote regional air connectivity, Pawan Hans has also prepared a roadmap to connect all the major destinations from this heliport such as Delhi to Shimla, Haridwar, Dehradun, Mathura, Agra, Meerut and industrial hubs such as Manesar, Bahadurgarh etc," Pawan Hans had stated.

Finally, India's first heliport is opening on Feb 28 in Delhi

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><a href="http://blog.uber.com/UberCHOPPER-MUM">Uber</a></div></div></div>Looking for a unique gift this Father's Day?
Uber will offer helicopter tours in Mumbai, India <a href="http://blog.uber.com/UberCHOPPER-MUM">beginning June 15</a>. The service includes a complimentary private driver to pick you up and take you to and from the helicopter pad.
The aerial package is meant for at least two people and will set you back 4,999 Indian Rupee, or around $85 in U.S. dollars, for two people.
Uber has offered similar chopper services before in the U.S. Last summer, for the July 4th weekend, UberCHOPPER offered helicopter rides for five from Manhattan to the Hamptons for $3,000.

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