COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bangladesh
(April 9-15)

• Dipu Moni: Bangladesh will never allow US military base in Bangladesh; US seeks Bangladesh’s approval for its nominee for the World Bank Presidency; Qatar Ambassador in Dhaka called on PM Sheikh Hasina; PM on three days official visit to Turkey; New Bangladesh Consulate General inaugurated in Istanbul; IMF approves $987 million loan to Bangladesh

(April 16-22)

• NHRC Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman: Bangladesh will have to submit a report on human rights situation in the country; Khaleda Zia assures good relations with India; Sheikh Hasina nominated to lead the global Scaling Up Nutrition (Sun) movement; US-Bangladesh Dialogue on Security Issues; PM Sheikh Hasina visits Qatar; Brazil will contribute 7,000 metric tonnes of rice to Bangladesh

Srilanka
(April 9-15)

• Malaysian Government targets US $ 1 billion bi-lateral trade with Sri Lanka

(April 16-22)

• President Rajapaksa visits South Korea; Sri Lanka Coast Guard took part in a sea exercise; The first ever bilateral consultations between the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel held; India takes action to initiate a programme to rehabilitate war widows in the Eastern Province; Sri Lanka Army strongly denies that unexploded cluster munitions have been found in North; 2012 Change Readiness Index ranks Sri Lanka at the 22nd place among 60 developing and emerging world economies and first among South Asian countries

Maldives
(April 9-15)

• President Waheed meets with the Vice President of China Machinery and Engineering Corporation; Presidents attends the 4th meeting of SAARC Health Ministers; Secretary General of SAARC paid a courtesy call on President; Honorary Consul of Maldives to Germany meets President

(April 16-22)

• President of the State of Palestine Dr Mahmoud Abbas visits Maldives; President Dr Mohamed Waheed sent a message of sympathy to Pakistan President

East Asia

China
(April 9-15)

• Chinese Foreign Minister hold talks with US, ROK counterparts; China demands calm after DPRK's satellite launch; China eyes bigger investment in South Korea; Chinese fishing boats leave Huangyan Island; Xi meets Vietnamese army chief; Chinese army assists Pakistan avalanche victim search; Premier Wen to visit European nations; China to provide $19.3m of aid to Egypt; China, Turkey pledge to advance ties; Bo gets suspended from key party post

Southeast Asia
(April 9-15)

• British Prime Minister visits Myanmar; PM Cameron, Suu Kyi back suspension of sanctions; Thaksin in Cambodia, addresses supporters in a rally; US and the Philippine hold war games; China, Philippines discussion ended in stalemate; East Timor prepares for the April 16 polls

(April 16-22)

• Indian business delegation to visit Indonesia; China warns against US- Philippines military exercise; Japan to write off US $ 3.7 billion debt on Myanmar; Japan pledges US $ 7.4 billion to Mekong region; Aung San Suu Kyi boycotts Parliament opening over oath dispute; 19th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brunei Darussalam; Singapore to lend US $ 5 billion to IMF

Central Asia

Central Asia
(April 9-15)

• Kyrgyzstan is unlikely to enter customs union in 2012; Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan business leaders have discussed ways to improve bilateral trade and investment; Uzbekistan announces new tax breaks to lure foreign investors; Turkmenistan to supply natural gas to Afghanistan for 30 years; ADB expects Central Asian economy to continue with its economic growth in 2013

Russia
(April 9-15)

• Russia urges the Syrian leadership to more actively implement Kofi Annan's plan; Duma to have parliamentary hearings on direct gubernatorial polls; Putin expresses his willingness to discuss the President’s term restrictions; Nicaragua expresses its gratitude for Russia’s wheat supplies; Russia plans to organize the G8 summit in Skolkovo in 2014; Pensions to be raise by 30% by 2014; Russia calls for international cooperation for manned Mars mission; Russia opposes new sanctions against North Korea; New shelf projects to attract US$ 500 billion for Russia over the next 30 years

West Asia

Iran
(April 9-15)

• EU foreign policy spokesman Michael Mann: Positive atmosphere prevailed in Iran-5+1 talks

Iraq
(April 9-15)

• Iraqi Parliament passed independent human rights commission; Five people killed in recent violence in Iraq

DEFENCE REVIEW

National
(April 9-15)

• Indian Air Force facing critical deficiency; Agni V all set for launch

(April 16-22)

• Indigenous long-range missile Agni-V test fired successfully; Admiral Gorshkov to be commissioned in the Indian Navy on December 4, 2012

International
(April 9-15)

• North Korea’s long-range rocket test failed; The Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty (DTCT) between US and UK enters into force;

(April 16-22)

• Philippine raises pitch against Chinese aggressiveness in the South China Sea; China and Russia launch their first joint naval exercises in the Yellow Sea

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir
(April 9-15)

• Youths in large numbers return to the valley from Pak; Home Minister P. Chidambaram visit to Jammu and Kashmir grounds AFSPA revocation move; Shutdown observed in Kargil; Youths arrested in Pampore, South Kashmir for alleged involvement in stone pelting

(April 16-22)

• Assistant Sub-Inspector shot dead in old city; Police arrested Bijbehara car blast mastermind

North East India
(April 9-15)

• Missing SULFA man’s body found; Positive progress claimed by Centre in ULFA talks; Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) given one week to surrender; Tension occurs in Arunachal-Assam border; Grenade blast in Assam-Arunachal border

(April 16-22)

• Anti-talk ULFA faction stepping up extortion drive; Police to be ruthless against Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA); NSCN (IM) leader’s release demanded; Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT) ultras killed in Karbi Anglong; Level of violence coming down in North-East; NSCN-Assam Rifles stand off continues

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

(April 9-15)

• UNSC sends military observes to Syria; Council alarmed at Sudan-South Sudan conflict; Military coup in Guinea-Bissau condemned; India reiterates the immediate need for UNSC expansion; India, Russia and China voice regret over N Korea’s rocket launch

(April 16-22)

• UN Security Council authorizes observer mission to Syria, India reiterates impartiality; India makes a case for membership to nuclear export control regimes; UNSC demands restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau; UNSC condemns attempted satellite launch by North Korea