COUNTRY REVIEW

China

• First session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference begins; China and the US sign agreement to set up military hotline communication link

Japan

• Chief Cabinet Secretary hopes to work with Medvedev to solve territorial dispute; South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak calls for closer ties with Japan

South Asia

Pakistan

• Official election results notified; PPP undecided on Fahim’s candidature

Nepal

• Government and United Democratic Madhesi Front sign eight-point agreement; UMDF withdraws sixteen days long strike

Sri Lanka

• LTTE is at its lowest ebb, says Jane’s Intelligence Review

NUCLEAR REVIEW

india

• India tests nuclear-capable missile from underwater platform; The clock on the nuclear deal is ticking, says US Secretary of Defence Gates; India must take a ‘courageous decision’ to endorse the deal, says Nicholas Burns

North Korea

• Christopher Hill meets Wu Dawei to discuss ideas to jump start the North Korean denuclearisation process; Condoleezza Rice discusses North Korean issue with Chinese President Hu Jintao

Iran

• Russia to support UN Security Council resolution unless Iran suspends uranium enrichment; Vote on sanctions resolution delayed by couple of days to achieve unanimity

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

Exploration and Production

• ONGC announces four new oil and gas discoveries

CHINA-IRAN DEAL DELAYED

• China-Iran deal on gas field development delayed

Brazil-Argentina Gas Crisis

• Brazil-Argentina gas crisis widened

RUSSIA-SERBIA AGREEMENT ON SOUTH STREAM PIPELINE

• Russia-Serbia sign agreement to develop the South Stream pipeline

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

North East Insurgency

• Manipur: RPF rejects talks offer; No talks with ULFA on sovereignty, says Madhukar Gupta

Maoist Insurgency

• As many as eight Maoists killed in Maharashtra

Other Development

• Terrorism un-Islamic, and against the Islamic principle of peace, says Muslim groups; People’s March magazine banned in Kerala’s Ernakulam district