VIF Information Alerts - 22nd November 2018

As Beijing and Manila shake hands on South China Sea energy deal, backlash from Filipino critics begins

Published: South China Morning Post
21 Nov 2018

After a red-carpet welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Malacañang Palace in Manila on Tuesday, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding for joint oil and gas development in the contentious waters, in another sign of Manila’s warming ties with Beijing under President Rodrigo Duterte.Click here to read... [2]

Mattis says U.S. must balance rights concerns with ‘strategic’ Saudi ties

Published: Washington Post
21 Nov 2018

The United States must balance its concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record with the need to maintain a “strategic relationship” with the Saudis, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday.

In his first extended comments on last month’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul, Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon that “there has to be accountability for anyone involved in the murder. Yes, I’m calling it murder.”Click here to read... [3]

WTO to set up panels to rule on Trump’s tariff disputes

Published: livemint
21 Nov 2018

The United States and opponents of President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs both confirmed their wish to litigate on Wednesday, triggering the procedure for World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute hearings, a Geneva trade official said. China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, Norway, and Russia all confirmed they would escalate their disputes by starting adjudication proceedings, while the United States confirmed its wish for dispute panels against Canada, China and the EU.Click here to read... [4]

Pakistan lost $1.66 billion in Trump’s 2018 aid freeze

Published: Hindustan Times
21 Nov 2018

The department of defense put a dollar figure on the administration’s growing dissatisfaction with Pakistan Tuesday with Pentagon informing reporters that “$1.66 billion of security assistance to Pakistan is suspended.” No details were offered, triggering speculation in some quarters that this was an add-on suspension, of new funds, in view of recent criticism of Pakistan by the US president over Osama bin Laden.Click here to read... [5]

Amritsar grenade attack: One held; Capt says act of terror

Published: The Tribune
22 Nov 2018

Claiming to crack the Amritsar Nirankari Bhavan grenade attack case within 72 hours, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said one person has been arrested while the hunt is on for another.

Pakistan's ISI very active to cause trouble in Punjab, Amarinder Singh said, adding, "The grenades were dumped from across the fence by Pakistan's ISI. These were made by Pakistan ordnance factory."Click here to read... [6]