VIF Information Alerts - 26th November 2018

US announces USD 5 million reward for information on 26/11 perpetrators

Published: The Asian Age
26 Nov 2018

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday urged Pakistan to take action against those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington offered a new reward of USD 5 million for helping secure their capture. The announcement came on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the assault, which left 166 people dead and hundreds injured after terrorists from Pakistan unleashed a wave of violence across India's financial capital lasting three days.Click here to read... [2]

EU approves Brexit divorce pact with UK

Published: The Tribune
26 Nov 2018

European Union leaders on Sunday approved a landmark Brexit deal, the basis of Britain’s divorce from the 28-member economic bloc, hours after UK Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to campaign with “heart and soul” to get the agreement approved by Parliament amid stiff opposition.

European Council President Donald Tusk, after a special summit in Brussels this weekend, tweeted: “EU27 has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future EU-UK relations”.Click here to read... [3]

Ukraine, After Naval Clash With Russia, Considers Martial Law

Published: The New York Times
25 Nov 2018

A dispute between Ukraine and Russia in which each accuses the other of violating laws of the sea escalated sharply on Sunday when the Ukrainian Navy said the Russian military opened fire on several of its ships, wounding six sailors and seizing the vessels.

The incident in and around the Kerch Strait, a narrow body of water separating the Black and Azov Seas, marked a pivot in the undeclared war, now nearly five years old, between the former members of the Soviet Union.Click here to read... [4]

Chinese Businesses Face Resentment, Terror Attacks in Pakistan

Published: Bloomberg
26 Nov 2018

An attack on a diplomatic mission in Karachi last week shows the risks Chinese businesses face as they expand across Pakistan in the face of growing resentment over Beijing’s influence in the economy.

As Pakistan becomes more indebted to China and an economic crisis worsens, anger is brewing among locals. Pakistani businesses say they are being sidelined in state projects and complain that Chinese firms get preferential treatment from a government desperate for foreign money.Click here to read... [5]

Maldives minister hopes to get $250 million from India

Published: The Asian Age
26 Nov 2018

Visiting Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has reportedly told an Indian news website that his country needs $250 million to $350 million immediately in order to tide over a budgetary crisis and that he is hoping for financial assistance from the Indian Government. Mr Shahid will hold talks with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday and said he would convey this to her. He also said the information was shared with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited the Maldives a few days ago to attende the swearing-in ceremony of new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.Click here to read... [6]