Passage 1
Vietnam has been pushing the administration of a country to quickly change its “non-market economy” classification to “market economy”, in a bid to avoid high taxes imposed by the country on the goods imported from the Southeastern country.
Although Vietnam has emerged as one of the top trading partners of the country and helped thwart China’s expanding influence in the region, it has continued to be on its list of non-market economies for more than two decades. In total, the list includes non-market economies such as Russia, China, and some countries which used to be a part of the erstwhile Soviet Union.
Source: Why Vietnam wants US to change its ‘non-market economy’ status | Explained News – The Indian Express
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Passage 2
The Army is all set to begin receiving another set of Igla-S defence systems (VSHORAD) by the end of May or early next month, filling a critical void in the its air defence requirements which has been repeatedly delayed. In another development, multiple sources confirmed that the payments that has held up critical payments for defence deals as well as payments has been resolved.
The Army is also set to receive the first of two Hermes-900 Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) assembled by ADSTL in Hyderabad next month.
The Igla-S systems were contracted last year under the fourth tranche of Emergency Procurements (EP) and are being assembled by (ADSTL) in India under technology transfer from Rosoboronexport, multiple official sources confirmed. Under this, the Army contracted 48 Igla-S launchers, 100 missiles, 48 night sights and one missile testing station under a ₹260 crore contract and deliveries are set to begin by end-May 2024, an official source said. The order was placed to ADSTL, officials stated.
Source- Army set to receive Igla-S air defence systems partly assembled in India – The Hindu
