COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• President Karzai’s NATO pullout plan praised by the US; Taliban abducts group of future Afghan police recruits

Pakistan

• Pakistan PM Gilani solicits talk way forward in India-Pakistan relations; World Bank approves $400 million for development of education in Pakistan

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh celebrated its 41st Independence Day and National Day; Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck is on five days visit to Bangladesh to attend the 41st Independence and National Day; IMF presents its report on Bangladesh economy; Bangladesh urged restraint in the implementation of the UNSC action on Libya; UNICEF Report: Reduction in maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh; Governor of Tripura meets Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; Japan to develop fishery in rural Bangladesh; Director General level talks held between drug control nodal agencies of Bangladesh and India; Reports: Bangladesh’s overall FDI inflow rose by 66.79 per cent during the January-June period of 2010

Sri Lanka

• Meeting between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan fishermen ends inconclusively; Sri Lankan Government did not approve air strikes on Libya since they cause suffering to the people of that country; Sri Lankan Embassy in Libya shifted to Cairo; Sri Lanka pledges US$ 1 million to Japan in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami; Radiation checks at the Port of Colombo; Japan provides a concessionary loan of Rs 44 bn to Sri Lanka; The ICRC has closes its office in Vavuniya; Norochcholai Coal Power Plant commissioned; Erik Solheim has met representatives of the Tamil diaspora in Oslo

Maldives

• Maldives welcomes International Coalition's enforcement of UNSC Resolution 1973; High Commissioner of Singapore to the Maldives meets with Nasheed; Maritime security coordinating committee formed to formulate Maldives maritime security policy; President attended the reception hosted by High Commissioner of Pakistan to the Maldives to mark the 71st anniversary of Pakistan’s National Day; The Maldivian Foreign Ministry denies to have received any report of a Maldivian arrested in a terrorist activity during the ICC World Cup 2011

East Asia

China

• Chen Bingde holds extensive talks with Nepalese leadership; Senior Israeli military official visits China; Ma Xiaotian attends the 4th Defense and Security Consultation with Indonesia; Xiaotian also attends 1st Jakarta International Defense Dialogue; PLA’s medical team participates in an ARF disaster relief exercise; China publishes Global Nuclear Posture Review; Construction of modern barracks stressed

Southeast Asia

• Singapore- Indian receives Padma Shri; China becomes second largest trade partner of Thailand; Vietnam trade deficit with China rises; India-Singapore armies hold joint defence exercise; Brunei to host ASEAN energy meeting in September 2011; Indonesia agrees to refer to Taiwan as ‘Chinese Taipei; The Philippines steps up presence in South China Sea

Japan

• Japan asks people within 30 km of nuke plant to voluntarily leave; Japanese firms pool resources to aid quake victims; Japan urges Gaddafi to stop violence and consider resignation; South Korea's quake donation campaign to Japan exceeds $52 million; China, Japan and South Korea agree on disaster management

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Russia, United States to combat Central Asian drug trafficking; SCO to hold anti-terror drills in China; Kazakhstan to set up independent monitoring bodies to prevent torture; Kazakhstan legalizes the concept of ‘nationalization’; Kazakh-Japan to supply rare earth metals; OSCE criticizes Kazakh election process; Russia hikes taxes on energy exports to Tajikistan; Pakistani PM Gilani visits in Uzbekistan

Russia

• Russia and the United States to begin data exchange under New START Treaty; President Medvedev calls PM Putin’s remarks on Libya “unacceptable”; Russia says NATO not doing enough to intercept Afghan drugs trade; Prime Minister Putin discusses the South Stream project in Slovenia; Putin signs agreements on tourism, transportation and science in during his second visit to Serbia; Reports: Russia to invest US 100 billion in defence industry till 2020; Russia to double the production of all ballistic missile systems; Russia-US talks on tactical nuclear arms cuts will take time; Reports: Russia-China oil price dispute valued at US$ 100 million; Russia sets forward the clocks for the last time; Alarming drop in Russian population since 2002; Duma ratifies Norwegian boundary treaty

West Asia

Iran

• Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei: Iran’s support to Bahrain is not related with Shia-Sunni; Ahmadinejad condemns western countries for military actions in Libya; Two Security personnel killed in terrorist attacks in Iran

Syria, Libya, Yemen

• Protesters set fire buildings, dozens killed in clash with the security forces in Syria; Al Qaeda terrorists and security personnel killed in separate clashes in Yemen; NATO to take over operations in Libya

USA

• Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton justify US military action in Libya

DEFENCE REVIEW

National Defence

• Indian Defence Ministry's Annual Report: “India is conscious and watchful of the implication of China's evolving military profile”; Agni ballistic missile to be test-fired later this year

International Defence

• Reports: Pakistan embraces China as new arms partner

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Radha Kumar: Particular solution not suggested; PSA censured repeal demanded; Attack by militants in Sopore; Chief of Army visit in valley

Northeast India

• General Secretary of NSCN (IM) Th. Muivah: Rights of Naga people no longer ignored; Tirap Leader of NSCN-K killed; Tensed situation in Roing; Tripura alerts terror strikes ahead of World Cup