COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Six US soldiers killed in a roadside bomb blast in Eastern Afghanistan; Gunmen attack police HQ in Kandahar

Pakistan

• Pakistan calls for a comprehensive conventional arms trade treaty that strikes a correct balance between motivations for production and acquisition of such arms; According to top US Senators, Pakistan should get $1.1 billion in US funds that have been held up for months now; PM Ashraf to visit Kabul; US-Pakistan to sign a new deal on NATO supply route

Bangladesh

• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: Government will build the Padma bridge with its own funds; Netherland to provide cooperation and assistance to Bangladesh on priority basis; Exports fell about 3 percent to $2.31 billion in June, 2012; US Secretary of the Navy visits Bangladesh; BAPEX hit a natural gas reservoir at Srikail in Comilla

Sri Lanka

• Pro-LTTE Tamil groups in Tamil Nadu staged protests against the presence of two senior Sri Lankan defence officers in the state; India launches the next phase of the Indian Housing Project for constructing 43,000 housing units; India's Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh visits Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 21.6 percent in June, 2012

Maldives

• High Commission of India expresses concern for the recent escalation of tensions in the Maldives; EXIM Bank of China offers the Maldives a US$57 million loan; Economic Development Minister Ahmed Mohamed: Value of the US Dollar against the Maldivian Rufiyaa is not expected to fall

East Asia

China
(July 02-15)

• China, Indonesia conduct anti-terrorism drill; China Daily Report: US intervention in Asia-Pacific not conducive for the region; Beijing participates in 19th ARF meeting; Beijing wants to improve relations with ASEAN; Beijing-Tokyo ships get involved in spat near Diaoyu Islands; Diaoyu Islands spark protests; Beijing refuses to acknowledge Japanese representation over Diaoyu Islands; CPC celebrates 91st founding anniversary

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Tajikistan to censor websites; Tajikistan may demand close to US$ 250 million from Russia for the sue of its military bases; Iran to invest $10B in Kyrgyzstan; EU looking for higher levels of security and cooperation with Central Asia; Russia and Kazakhstan plan joint air defence system; Ukraine and Kazakh defence chiefs strengthen military ties; Tajikistan and Azerbaijan signs a number of mutual cooperation agreements; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to provide US$ 197 million for building the Kazakh link of Europe-Central Asia highway; Turkmenistan to increase gas output 449 bcm by 2016; Four Central Asian states listed on Global Innovation Index

Russia

• Kofi Annan to visit Moscow to discuss the Syrian crisis; Russia will not support sanctions against Syria; Russia is ready for easing visa formalities with the European Union; Kyrgyzstan to raise lease fees for Russia’s military bases in 2014; Russia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the protocol on accession to WTO is lawful; Warships of three Russian fleets are headed for the Mediterranean for drill combat and training missions; Duma has ratified the protocol on Russia’s WTO accession; An anti-defamation law passed by the State Duma; Bill on foreign funded NGO’s passed by the Duma; Russia and Ukraine sign agreements for mutual cooperation; Russia-Israel trade turnover grows to $960 million in Jan-April 2012; OSCE Parliamentary Assembly passes Magnitsky resolution; Russia urges Armenia to join CIS free trade zone agreements

West Asia

Iran

• Chinese firms are investing in Iran’s oil fields; South Korea may resume oil imports from Iran; Iran slams US objection to Iran as deputy of Arms Trade Treaty Summit; India begins rupee payments for Iranian oil imports

Syria

• Syrian ambassador to Iraq defects; Syrian opposition figure rules out dialogue with Al-Assad following another massacre; UN mission head says contributing to facilitating dialogue in Syria

Israel/Palestine

• Israel seeking new missiles, vessels; Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says he will resume attempts for UN recognition if talks not relaunched

Yemen

• Yemen’s President Abdrabu Mansour Hadi orders formation of Dialogue Preparatory Committee

UAE

• UAE starts up pipeline to bypass Strait of Hormuz

Africa

• India and South Africa to work on enhancing small business base; South Africa suspends Yusuf Saloojee over MTN bribery case; Egypt and Saudi Arabia discuss regional stability; Second African Women Economic Summit insists on women empowerment; African leaders discuss regional issues at the AU Summit; US discusses post-election security issues with Libya; US held consultations with Egyptian leaders over democratic transition

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Indigenously built nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-I missile successfully test fired; SFC can independently fire the 700-km range nuclear capable Agni-1 missile

International

• Pentagon’s 2013 budget proposal underestimates budget spending by 4.7 Percent; Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki calls for the U.S. to speed up the transfer of weapons to Iraq

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• UN Secretary-General: UN Mission in Syria could play a valuable role; Ban Ki-moon asks Security Council to respond immediately to the crisis; UNSC welcomes elections in Libya; India sends aid to Yemen on UN’s request; India reassures that it will meet the MDGs by 2015; UN Report: India, third most favoured investment destination