The International Air Transport Association (IATA) yesterday suspended cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines from its Clearing House for non-payment of taxes. “IATA has suspended Kingfisher Airlines’ participation in the IATA Clearing House (ICH). This is because the airline did not settle their ICH account within the stipulated deadline,” IATA spokesman Albert Tjoeng says. The India-based airline “will be reinstated after it fulfills the ICH requirements,” Tjoeng adds.

NEW DELHI — A Mirage 2000 fighter crashed in India’s western state of Rajasthan on March 5, prompting the Indian air force to ground the entire fleet. It was the IAF’s third aircraft accident in less than two months. The accident occurred at 12:30 p.m. local time, soon after the twin-seater trainer version of the aircraft took off on a routine sortie from Gwalior air base in Madhya Pradesh in central India. It crashed near Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, according to a defense ministry official.

ARMY BRASS: India has named Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh as its next army chief, a government official says. The 59-year old Singh will take charge of the service on May 31 when the incumbent Gen. V.K. Singh retires from service. Bikram Singh joined the 1.3-million force after the 1971 war with Pakistan.