VIF Information Alerts - 03 July 2019

US tells London court Dawood is in Pakistan
Published: The Economic Times

03 Jul 2019

While Pakistan has always denied, it, the US government has confirmed in a London court that India’s most wanted terrorist, Dawood Ibrahim, and D-Company, his international crime syndicate, are based in Karachi, Pakistan.

On the first day of the extradition trial of Jabir Moti— who is accused of being Dawood’s top henchman — at Westminster magistrates’ court on Monday, John Hardy QC, representing the US government, said: “The FBI in New York is investigating D-Company which is based in Pakistan, India and the UAE.”Click here to read... [2]

China’s ‘disturbing’ missile tests contradict vow not to militarise South China Sea, says US
Published: South China Morning Post

03 Jul 2019

The Pentagon said on Tuesday a recent Chinese missile launch in the disputed South China Sea was “disturbing” and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarise the disputed waterway. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said China tested multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles over the weekend.Click here to read... [3]

14 crew killed in fire on Russian submarine
Published: Deccan Herald

03 Jul 2019

Fourteen Russian seamen have died in a fire on a deep-water research submersible, Russia's defence ministry said Tuesday, amid local media reports that the vessel was a secretive nuclear-powered mini-submarine. Russian officials have offered little information about the vessel or the circumstances of the accident, but the presence of many senior ranking officers on board could suggest it was not on an ordinary assignment. Click here to read... [4]

Iran can 'protect' India's energy security: Envoy
Published: Deccan Herald

03 Jul 2019

Amid US sanctions, Iran on Tuesday said it believes India will act in its national interest on the issue of oil imports and Tehran can act as a "protector" of India's energy security. Iran's Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni also asserted that his country can provide "affordability, accessibility and security" of energy to India. The Iranian envoy also alluded to the possibility of using barter, rupee and European mechanisms for trade in oil with India and other countries to circumvent the US sanctions.Click here to read... [5]

Sri Lanka bombings: police and defence chiefs held on negligence charge
Published: The Guardian

02 Jul 2019

Sri Lanka’s police chief and its former defence minister have been arrested for alleged negligence leading to the Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people at churches and hotels.

The former defence secretary, Hemasiri Fernando, and the country’s police chief, Pujith Jayasundara, who was on compulsory leave, were arrested at hospitals on Tuesday. They remain in the hospitals under police custody, according to the police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara.Click here to read... [6]

Assam deportations to be data-driven
Published: The Hindu

02 Jul 2019

The government is enabling a platform to digitise records of all persons who will be declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam after the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) is published later this month. The E-Foreigners Tribunals (e-FTs) will store biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scans of such persons, and help the External Affairs Ministry expedite deportation in appropriate cases by reducing paperwork.Click here to read... [7]