COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Pakistan

• Zardari hopes for a change in US policy under new administration; NATO trucks hijacked by militants near Afghan border; Investigations into the dollar scam continues

Nepal

• Constituent Assembly (CA) formally enters into the process of drafting the new constitution; Debate over the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants continues; Calls made for UNMIN’s extension;

Bangladesh

• EC extends deadline for filing nominations; Mayors not eligible to contest polls; Hasina and Zia agree to cooperate in resolving crises facing the country; Maritime delimitation talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar begin

East and SouthEast Asia

China

• Hu calls for reform of international financial system; Beijing objects to EAM’s statement over Arunachal Pradesh; Beijing expresses reservations over Dalai Lama’s upcoming meeting with Sarkozy; Tibetan conclave at Macleodganj on November 17

Myanmar

• Myanmar and North Korea sign visa agreement; 14 dissident activists given 65-year sentences for their part in the August 2007 uprising; New economic sanctions imposed on drug traffickers by US Treasury Department; Bush to appoint Special Envoy to Myanmar

West Asia

Iran

• Conservatives back Ahmadinejad in June 2009 presidential election; Majlis representatives congratulate Ahmadinejad on his letter to Obama; Iran test-fires a new generation long range missile; ElBaradei welcomes direct talks between Iran and the US

Iraq

• 28 killed in three bomb blasts in Baghdad; Iraqi soldier kills two US security forces personnel; UN: Iraq stabilizing, but caution still required

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Congress party promises Regional Councils and devolution of power

Maoist Insurgency

• 55 per cent turnout of voters in Chhattisgarh

NorthEast Development

• Assam government names NDFB and ULFA for October 30 serial blasts; Special decision-making powers to security forces

Other Development

• Tribunal confirms ban on LTTE

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

CHINA AND RUSSIA SUSPEND PIPELINE TALKS

• Russia blames China’s ‘absurd conditions’ for loan package

RUSSIAN TALKS WITH EU OVER PIPELINE ENTER ROUGH WATER

• Putin threatens to scrap a planned pipeline that would carry gas under Baltic Sea to Germany

MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH BATTLE FOR HYDROCARBONS

• Myanmar’s activities spurred by Dhaka’s similar actions