VIF Information Alerts - 22 April 2019

Easter Sunday carnage claims over 200 lives, nearly 500 wounded
Published: The Island

21 Apr 2019

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday, promised to inform the public, after consulting the police, whether any organised group was behind yesterday’s attacks that claimed 207 lives and injured over 450 people. Wickremesinghe said so, responding to a question posed by a journalist when he made a statement, at Temple Trees, on the incidents. Wickremesinghe’s statement comes in the wake of attacks, at churches, hotels, a reception hall and at a residence in Dematagoda.Click here to read... [2]

ISIS, after laying groundwork, gains toehold in Congo
Published: The Indian Express

21 Apr 2019

On Thursday, the Islamic State’s news agency claimed the group’s first attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo, stating that its soldiers had assaulted a military barracks in the area of Beni, killing eight people. The attack took place in a region beset by violence in a part of the world long outside government control, the kind of terrain that has proved to be fertile ground for ISIS. If the group succeeds in planting its flag here, it would not only expand its reach into a new part of the continent but it would also do so far outside the grasp of international forces.Click here to read... [3]

Indian warships arrive in China for naval parade
Published: The Tribune

21 Apr 2019

Two Indian battle ships, including the biggest indigenously built stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, have arrived at the port city of Qingdao to take part in the Chinese Navy’s fleet review while the Pakistan naval ships will be conspicuous by their absence at the event.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is celebrating its 70th founding anniversary on April 23 with a grand fleet review. Ten countries, including India, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam, will deploy 20 vessels to join a naval parade.Click here to read... [4]

India asks China to be sensitive to its concerns as crucial bilateral talks begin
Published: Hindustan Times

22 Apr 2019

India and China need to be sensitive to each other’s concerns, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale has told Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, Wang Yi, at the beginning of crucial bilateral talks in Beijing on Monday. The talks are taking place at a time when prickly differences have emerged in bilateral ties despite the bonhomie generated during the informal summit between Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the central Chinese city of Wuhan a year ago.Click here to read... [5]

India’s absence at BRI should not hurt ties: Wang Yi
Published: The Statesman

19 Apr 2019

China on Friday said India’s likely absence at the second Belt and Road forum next week should not mar their ties and their differences should not turn into a dispute. Addressing a press conference ahead of the event to be held from April 25 to April 27, China’s top diplomat and Foreign Minister Wang said New Delhi and Beijing were readying to hold a Wuhan-like summit between the top leaders of the country.Click here to read... [6]