Fighter jets of the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on combat training exercises in August. AP
Fighter jets of the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on combat training exercises in August. AP
Fighter jets of the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on combat training exercises in August. AP
Fighter jets of the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on combat training exercises in August. AP

Chinese jet 'came within 6 metres' of US military aircraft, Washington says


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A Chinese military plane came within 6 metres of a US Air Force aircraft and forced it to take evasive manoeuvres to avoid a collision in international airspace over the South China Sea last week, the US military said on Thursday.

The close encounter followed what the US has called a recent trend of increasingly dangerous behaviour by Chinese military aircraft.

The incident, which involved a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet and a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft, took place on December 21, the US military said in a statement.

“The US Indo-Pacific Joint Force is dedicated to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and will continue to fly, sail and operate at sea and in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law.”

In a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in November, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin raised the need to improve crisis communications, and also noted what he called dangerous behaviour by Chinese military planes.

Australia's defence department said in June that a Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May.

Australia said that the Chinese jet flew very close in front of the aircraft and released a “bundle of chaff” containing small pieces of aluminium that were ingested into the Australian aircraft's engine.

The years Ramadan fell in May

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1954

1921

1888

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Uefa Nations League: How it Works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

if you go

The flights

Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.

The tour

Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.

Chelsea 2 Burnley 3
Chelsea
 Morata (69'), Luiz (88')
Burnley Vokes (24', 43'), Ward (39')
Red cards Cahill, Fabregas (Chelsea)

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Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Updated: December 29, 2022, 7:12 PM