COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Dr. Abdullah withdraws from the runoff elections, accuses the authorities of bias in favour of Karzai; Six UN staff killed in an attack by Taliban at a guest house in Kabul; Ban Ki Moon calls for realistically assessing the situation in Afghanistan; 14 American soldiers killed in helicopter crashes

East Asia

China

• CMC Vice-Chairman Xu Caihou meets Robert Gates; Chinese defence technology university unveils the country’s fastest super computer; Chinese flotilla reaches the Gulf of Aden; PLA concludes information warfare exercise ‘West China 2009’; PLA organizes the 3rd China International Army Cadets Week: Students from private universities will be allowed to directly apply for PLA recruitment; PLA departments release document on maintaining psychological well-being of Troops

Japan

• Govt. submits a proposal to allow Coast Guard examine North Korean shipments; UNGA adopts a resolution introduced by Japan calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons; PM Hatoyama: US-Japan alliance is “the cornerstone of Japan's foreign policy”; Hatoyama states that developing economic and political relations with Russia a priority; China expresses "strong dissatisfaction" over a visit to Japan by exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer

West Asia

Iran

• Iran want some changes in draft nuclear enrichment deal; US warns of tougher actions Iran if deal fails; Ahmadinejad describes IAEA proposal as a move from "confrontation to cooperation" by western powers

Iraq

• Iraq’s Foreign Minister requests for international assistance to combat wave of suicide bombings; Sunni-Shiite alliances ahead of January elections bring hope for reconciliation

DEFENCE AND SPACE REVIEW

National Defence Issue

• MoD amends Defence Procurement Policy

Space

• NASA and MIT reports call for involving China and India in space exploration projects

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

• ONGC to invest $174m in Myanmar
• Saudis drop WTI oil contract
• China considers new law to protect pipelines
• CNOOC discovers new find in Bohai Bay