VIF Information Alerts - 31 July 2019

China to firmly uphold multilateralism: new UN ambassador
Published: Xinhua

31 Jul 2019

On the first day of taking post as China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun pledged on Tuesday that China, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, will firmly uphold multilateralism and support the United Nations in playing an important role.
"We will firmly uphold multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and support the United Nations in playing an important role," the ambassador told Chinese reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.Click here to read... [2]

Choking terror funding one step closer
Published: The Express Tribune

31 Jul 2019

ISLAMABAD: A National Assembly panel on Tuesday approved amendments in money laundering and foreign exchange regulations laws, helping the government to step closer to meet a requirement of Financial Action Task Force ahead of final showdown in September.
If finally approved by the Parliament, the State Bank of Pakistan’s permission will be mandatory for inland movement of foreign exchange valuing more than $10,000 by an individual, according to the bill passed by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance.Click here to read... [3]

Al-Qaeda remains ‘resilient’, works closely with LeT, says UN report
Published: Hindustan Times

30 Jul 2019

Terror group Al-Qaeda remains “resilient”, continues to consider Afghanistan a safe sanctuary for its leaders and works closely with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Haqqani network despite being overtaken by the Islamic State, a UN counter-terrorism watchdog set up by the Security Council has said in a new report.
The Islamic State itself which has diminished with the loss of its so-called “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq, has evolved into a “mainly covert network” and its leadership is focusing on establishing “establish sleeper cells at the local level in preparation for eventual resurgence”, according to the 24th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team that was submitted to the UN Security Council Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee this month.Click here to read... [4]

UK calls meeting with US and France to discuss Hormuz plan
Published: The Guardian

30 Jul 2019

The UK has invited military representatives of the US, France and other European countries to a meeting in Bahrain on Wednesday in an attempt to create an international mission to safeguard shipping through the strait of Hormuz. Britain hopes it can act as bridge between the US – which has the largest military presence of a western nation in the region – and countries such as Germany, which is reluctant to getting involved in any mission led by Washington.Click here to read... [5]

Taking it to next level, India readies submarine for Myanmar
Published: The Economic Times

30 Jul 2019

India is set to hand over Myanmar its first ever submarine, with a Kilo class boat likely to be sent across this year after being refitted indigenously. The INS Sindhuvir will be used by the Myanmar Navy — which is looking at acquiring its own submarine fleet in the coming years — for training purposes.Click here to read... [6]