VIF Information Alerts - 5th December 2018

China confident of agreeing US trade deal despite Trump's combative stance

Published: The Guardian
05 Dec 2018

China has said that Beijing and Washington will push forward with trade negotiations in the next 90 days and it is confident that an agreement can be reached but doubts remain over whether the two sides can resolve their deep differences. The commerce ministry, in a brief statement on its website, also said China would work to implement specific issues already agreed upon as quickly as possible.Click here to read.. [2]

Taliban being used as hedge against India: US commander

Published: The Indian Express
05 Dec 2018

Days after US President Donald Trump sought Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s help in the Afghan peace process, a top American commander has told lawmakers that Islamabad’s policy seems to be unchanged and it continues to use the Taliban as a hedge against India. “Pakistan is an essential element in long-term stability in Afghanistan,” Marine Corps Lt Gen Kenneth McKenzie Jr told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday during his confirmation hearing for commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM).Click here to read.. [3]

Canadian panel raps RCMP for ignoring Atwal as security threat

Published: The Tribune
05 Dec 2018

Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians has rapped the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for not sharing the information about the plans of Canadian of Indian origin Jaspal Atwal to join an official event of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Indian visit in February with his security network. The high-level committee comprising Canadian senators and MPs has also held the RCMP responsible for not sharing the criminal record of Atwal which could have been a potent security risk to the Prime Minister, his family and his delegation.Click here to read.. [4]

India, UAE sign currency swap deal; seek to forge partnership in new areas

Published: The Financial Express
04 Dec 2018

India and the UAE on Tuesday signed two agreements, including one on currency swap, as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held exhaustive discussions with her counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to step up cooperation in areas like trade, security and defence. Swaraj, who arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit, was received by the Foreign Minister of the UAE ahead of the UAE-India Joint Commission Meeting.Click here to read.. [5]

Chinese Submarine Tracked in the Indian Ocean in October - Indian Navy Chief

Published: Sputnik International
03 Dec 2018

In October, the Indian Navy tracked a Chinese submarine that ventured into the Indian Ocean for a month, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Monday. Admiral Lanba further added that there are about six to eight Chinese PLA Navy ships in the Indian Ocean at any given time. Chinese authorities haven't responded to the Indian Navy Chief's statement.Click here to read.. [6]