VIF Information Alerts - 14 November 2019

PM Modi, Xi discuss RCEP, agree on early trade talks
Published: Deccan Herald

13 Nov 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement during a meeting in Brasilia early on Thursday – just 10 days after New Delhi opted out of the proposed free trade agreement.
Modi and Xi had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 11th annual summit of the BRICS – a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – in Brasilia. They had last met on October 11 and 12 when Prime Minister had hosted Chinese President at a seaside resort near Chennai for the second “informal summit”.Click here to read... [2]

Rafale verdict: No grounds to order inquiry, says SC, dismisses review petitions
Published: The Indian Express

14 Nov 2019

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the review petitions challenging its December 2018 verdict in the Rafale case, saying that they ‘lack merit’. The bench comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph observed that there was no need for registration of an FIR or an inquiry in connection with the Rafale deal.Click here to read... [3]

Plan B: Pakistan anti-government protesters leave capital to block roads countrywide
Published: India Today

14 Nov 2019

Anti-government protesters in Pakistan called off a two-week sit-in on the capital's main highway on Wednesday, but began what they called a "Plan B" aimed at crippling the country's roads and ousting Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protests, led by Fazl-ur-Rehman, head of the conservative Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) party, began with the "Azadi" (freedom) March on Oct. 27 from the southern city of Karachi.Click here to read... [4]

Jadhav case: Pakistan denies reports of amendment to Army Act
Published: The Hindu

13 Nov 2019

Pakistan is considering various legal options for the review of death-row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case, the army said on Wednesday amid reports that the government was preparing to amend the Army Act to implement the ICJ’s verdict.
Spokesperson for Pakistan Armed Forces Major General Asif Ghafoor, however, termed as ‘speculation’ the reports that the government was planning to amend the Army Act to allow Mr. Jadhav the right to file an appeal against his conviction in a civilian court.Click here to read... [5]

India, US begin first tri-services exercise
Published: The Economic Times

13 Nov 2019

In reflection of growing congruence in bilateral defence ties, armed forces of India and the US on Wednesday began their first tri-services exercise on the Eastern seaboard. The nine-day humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise code-named 'Tiger Triumph' is aimed at developing inter-operability between the militaries of the two countries in HADR operations, officials said.Click here to read... [6]