VIF Information Alerts - 29 January 2020

Chinese trawlers sighted in Indian Ocean: Official
Published: Hindustan Times

29 Jan 2020

The Indian Navy sighted large Chinese fishing trawlers, escorted by People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships, in the western Indian Ocean in early January, two senior officials said on Tuesday asking not to be named. The Chinese distant water fishing fleet was not in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and was believed to be sailing towards Morocco on the western coast of Africa, said the first official cited above.Click here to read... [2]

UK gives Huawei limited role in 5G
Published: The Telegraph

29 Jan 2020

Prime Minister Boris Johnson granted Huawei a limited role in Britain’s 5G mobile network on Tuesday, frustrating a global attempt by the US to exclude the Chinese telecoms giant from the West’s next generation communications.
Defying Britain’s closest ally in favour of China on the eve of Brexit, Johnson ruled that “high-risk vendors” such as Huawei would be allowed into the non-sensitive parts of the 5G network.Click here to read... [3]

US bombing of Afghanistan hits 10-year high
Published: millenniumpost

28 Jan 2020

American warplanes dropped more bombs on Afghanistan in 2019 than at any other time in at least a decade, according to the US Air Force, as Washington intensified attacks in the country amid withdrawal talks with the Taliban. In 2019 alone, the US dropped 7,423 separate munitions on targets in Afghanistan, where the US has been enmeshed in fighting several militant groups since it invaded the country following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The figure -- published online by US Air Forces Central Command -- represents a dramatic surge in bombings in Afghanistan compared to the peak of President Barack Obama's "surge" in 2009, when 4,147 bombs were dropped.Click here to read... [4]

Trump unveils Middle East peace plan with no Palestinian support
Published: The Guardian

28 Jan 2020

Donald Trump has unveiled his vision for Middle East peace in a White House launch that gifted Israel a wishlist of its long-held demands while promising Palestinians a potential “state”, but with severe restrictions.
Standing next to the smiling Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced details of the 181-page plan to cheers and applause. Palestinian leaders were absent from the launch, having pre-emptively rejected his proposal, citing flagrant bias.Click here to read... [5]

Amid Coronavirus outbreak concerns, WHO warns countries against evacuating nationals from China: Report
Published: DNA

28 Jan 2020

Amid scares of Novel Coronavirus outbreak across the world, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reportedly warned countries against evacuating their nationals from the epicenter of the outbreak in China's Wuhan city. Chinese state media Xinhua reported on Tuesday that evacuating foreign nationals from Ground Zero is unnecessary.Click here to read... [6]