COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Pakistan

• Marc Grossman to be new special US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan; Senetor John Kerry visits Islamabad amid Davis row; Top US lawmakers reject Pakistan aid cuts over Davis issue; Pakistan hopes to reschedule US, Afghan talks

Bangladesh

• Bangladeshi delegation meets Indian Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna

Sri Lanka

• Intelligence reports: Threat to Indian VVIPs from the LTTE; Pakistan delegation met with President Rajapaksa; India-Sri Lanka handed over arrested fishermen; Relief assistance to the flood victims continues to come; Chinese credit facility for Uva Udanaya project; India’s OVL to get three hydrocarbon blocks in Northern offshore area of Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka tourism UK office wins CIM marketing excellence award 2010 ; IMF estimates: 6.75 percent budget deficit in 2011 for Sri Lanka; NTPC to revisit its thermal power projects in Sri Lanka; Japanese assistance to three livelihood projects in Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka welcomes peaceful transition of power in Egypt

Maldives

• President Nasheed inaugurates Maldives National University; President Nasheed meets Secretary General of SAARC, Former British MP and New British high Commissioner and Vietnamese Ambassador accredited to the Maldives; UNICEF Maldives country programme 2011-2015 allocates US$ 1.72 million to promote children’ rights in the Maldives

East Asia

Japan

• Pakistani President Zardari seeks Japanese nuclear cooperation ahead of visit to Japan; Japan- Indonesia agree to boost strategic partnership; Russia wants peace treaty with Japan to mark new level of cooperation; Russia, Japan crisis talks end in failure; Russia may deploy rockets on disputed islands; Declassified reports: United States demanded Japan pay $650 million in Okinawa reversion costs

Southeast Asia

• 19 injured in bomb explosion in Thailand; Vietnam officials visit Chennai port to meet stranded sailors; Vice President of Philippines visits China; Thai PM believes ASEAN will not intervene in Thailand-Cambodia border talks; India, Malaysia sign trade pact; Indonesia, China to step up defence cooperation; China, Myanmar sign new accord

Central Asia and Russia

Central Asia

• Sixteen contenders for Kazakh presidency so far including three women; Kazakh industrialization not to damage environment; Small Chinese firms buying up Kazakh, Caspian assets; Russia, Kyrgyzstan create joint venture to provide fuel to Manas; Kyrgyzstan to host CSTO rapid reaction force meeting; Tajikistan, Russia holds talks on Tajik-Afghan border; Qatar Expresses eagerness to partner in Kazakh-Turkmen-Iran Railway; Turkmenistan, India disagree over TAPI prices; Uzbekistan and India boost economic ties

Russia

• Russian Foreign Minister visits London to seek a strategically stable tie with United Kingdom; Russian President on an official visit to Italy; Ukraine to pay more for Russian natural gas; Russia plans food fund to combat rising inflation and regulate prices; Russia’s GAZ and Volkswagen to ink 300,000 cars per year joint venture; Russia warns West against encouraging Middle East protests; Russia has opposes long term US military bases in Afghanistan

West Asia

Iran

• Two people killed in latest uprising in Iran; Rare meeting held between German Foreign Minister and Iranian President

Iraq

• One protester killed in Iraq for demanding better services

Bahrain & Yemen

• Protests continue in Bahrain despite offer for dialogue by Government; Protests continue in Yemen, Yemeni President offers for talks with opposition

USA

• Reports: US expresses concern as West Asian crisis persists