COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Sri Lanka
[November 22-28]

• India’s EAM Krishna visited Sri Lanka; Pakistan’s President Zardari visited Sri Lanka; A MoU between Central Bank of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh signed; Japan provide assistance to Sri Lanka for the reconstruction of five bridges in the Eastern Province; One IDP Camp in Manik Farm is closed as all the IDPs there have been resettled; India’s PM Manmohan Singh felicitates President Rajapaksa on his assumption of office for the second term ; Mobile consular services for Sri Lankan refugees in Chennai; Belgian delegation visit Sri Lanka; Sri Lankan assistance to Palestine National Authority to strengthen the primary education

[November 29 - December 5]

• President Rajapaksa visited to United Kindom; Sri Lanka’s export earnings have gone up; Sri Lankan inflation rate rises; Sri Lanka to establish Exim Bank; Indian Cabinet approves ferry service between India and Sri Lanka; ADB provides $90 Million to Northern Province to restore water supply; Pilot projects to expedite housing project

Maldives
[November 22-28]

• Canadian High Commissioner met with President Nasheed; The Maldivian government and the British High Commission jointly organize a Counter Terrorism Workshop; Maldives releases ‘Carbon Audit’ report; Discussion on EU assistance for the Maldives’ climate adaptation projects held; Maldives Child Protection Database (MCPD) launched; President Nasheed figures among 100 top global thinkers

[November 29- December 5]

• President Nasheed visited United Kingdom; US Secretary of State Clinton welcomes cooperation between US and the Maldives on human rights; Vice President met Bangladeshi High Commissioner; ADB’s Technical Assistance to the Maldives; Policy at the World Technology Awards 2010 to President Mohamed Nasheed

East Asia

China
[November 22 - December 5]

• Ma Xiaotian visits three South Asian countries; Military leaders from Britain, Surinam, Uzbekistan, Sierra Leone visit China; Commander of the Royal Netherlands pays visit to China; Vietnamese army receives the PLAN’s guided-missile frigate Xiangfan; “Peace Angel 2010” concluded; PLA’s Conference on military logistics concluded; The Work Conference on the PLA history held; The PLA organizes a national seminar on defense education; The 12th Chinese peacekeeping contingent reaches Congo; The Peace Ark concludes an 88-day overseas humanitarian mission

Southeast Asia
[November 22-28]

• UN officials meet with Aang San Suu Kyi; Suu Kyi’s son granted visa to enter Burma; Economic growth slows down in Thailand and Malaysia; Vietnam, Russia to boost cooperation in scientific research; Indonesian Foreign Minister: ASEAN, ARF will stay away from Korean Conflict; ASEAN for peaceful end to Korean dispute; 7th ASEAN Ministerial meeting on social welfare and development being held in Brunei Darussalam

[November 29- December 5]

• Wikileaks reveals that Myanmar might be spying for Beijing; Indonesian, Malaysian police pledge to fight terrorism together; Indonesian terrorist suspect captured in Malaysia; Malaysia tops the list of importers from Pakistan in ASEAN region

Central Asia

[November 29 - December 5]

• TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline to be revived; Kazakhstan hosts OSCE Summit; Kazakhstan official calls summit an opportunity for Kazakhstan to contribute to the global security; OSCE Summit concludes with the “Astana Commemorative Declaration: Towards a Security Community”

Russia

(November 29 - December5]

• President Dmitry Medvedev delivered his third annual national address; Medvedev outlined Russia’s position and strategy for economic, political and social development; Medvedev calls for an agreement between Russia and the West on missile defence; Medvedev also calls for enhanced cooperation with the US and EU in the process of modernizing Russia's economy; Russia to host Football World Cup in 2018; Stock markets responded very positively to the news of Russia hosting the event as MICEX index reaches its highest level since July 2008

West Asia

[November 22-28]

Iran

• Iran’s law makers signed a petition to call Ahmadinejadn for question

Iraq

• Iraqi PM Al-Maliki: US troops to leave Iraq by the end of 2011

USA

• Secretary of State Clinton spoke about the virtues of an open society; WikiLeaks reveal that most of the 200 US tactical nuclear weapons based in Europe, are located in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Turkey; United States condemns WikiLeaks revelations

ENERGY REVIEW

[November 29 - December 5]

• Government of India to decide on granting approval to Cairn-Vedanta deal by the end of February; Coal India’s talks in advanced stage to buy 10 per cent stake with US-based Peabody Energy Corp's asset in Australia