VIF Information Alerts - 16 Jan 2018

Prodded by China, Qantas amends website references to Taiwan, other regions
Published – The Indian Express
16 Jan 2018

Australia’s Qantas Airways said on Tuesday it had amended its website to no longer refer to Taiwan and Hong Kong as countries, rather than Chinese territories, after China issued a warning to foreign airlines last week. China has stepped up efforts to police how foreign businesses refer to parts of China, or territories claimed by Beijing, including Taiwan and Hong Kong – even if only in pull-down menus on websites. Click here to read... [2]

Xi Jinping’s debt clampdown has left a trail of dead projects
Published – The Economics Times
16 Jan 2018

A pile of rusty pipes and materials are all that remain of Lanzhou New Area's tram project. Only a year ago it was a flagship public-private partnership for the planned city in Central China, before it fell victim to President Xi Jinping's debt clampdown. Click here to read... [3]

How Australia should respond to China’s growing role in the Pacific
Published – South China Morning Post
16 Jan 2018

In a blow to already tense relations, an Australian government minister attacked China over its Pacific aid programmes. The accusations reflect what Australia has thought but feared to become vocal about: China is trying to take control of the Pacific.

International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells last week labelled the aid “roads to nowhere” and “useless buildings”. Although Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop tried to temper the situation, the damage has been done. Click here to read... [4]

Rocket lands inside the premises of Indian embassy in Kabul, all employees safe
Published – The Times of India
15 Jan 2018

A rocket landed in the Indian Embassy premises in Kabul, causing minor damage to a structure, but all the mission staff were safe, external affairs ministry said tonight.

According to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, the rocket clipped the top of the ITBP barracks located inside the premises of the embassy. Click here to read... [5]

In Some Countries, Facebook’s Fiddling Has Magnified Fake News
Published – The New York Times
14 Jan 2018

As Facebook updates and tweaks its service in order to keep users glued to their screens, countries like Bolivia are ideal testing grounds thanks to their growing, internet-savvy populations. But these changes can have significant consequences, like limiting the audience for nongovernmental news sources and — surprisingly — amplifying the impact of fabricated and sensational stories. Click here to read... [6]

India, UK ink pacts on illegal migrants' return, intelligence sharing
Published – The Times of India
14 Jan 2018

India and the UK have signed two agreements on return of Indians, who are living in Britain as illegal migrants, and sharing criminal records and intelligence.

The development comes close on heels of India seeking UK's help in early extradition of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya from Britain to face the law at home in connection with cases of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crores. Click here to read... [7]