COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Sri Lanka

• Karunanidhi: Stop genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils; V. Muralitharan: War brought misery to Easterners

Bangladesh

• Chief Adviser: Emergency to stay until elections

• BNP-led four-party alliance put forward a five-point demand

Bhutan

• Japan to reconstruct six bridges in Bhutan; Bhutan and Bangladesh set to sign a Free Trade Agreement

Maldives

• Presidential election in Maldives

EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

China

• Chinese peacekeepers in Darfur honored by UNAMID; Zhang Yesui is new Ambassador to the UN

• China to launch FY-4 weather satellite around 2013

Japan

• Japan's opposition leader pledges tax cuts as election looms

Myanmar

• UN outlines steps to improve Myanmar’s human rights

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh: Too early to consider Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act withdrawal, PM commissions the 450 MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Project; PM flags off first train in Kashmir valley

• People not interested in power, train; only self-determination: Geelani Musavirr Wani

• Zardari calls J&K militants terrorists

North East States

• NDBF denies role in Bodoland clashes; CM smells NDFB’s hand

Maoist Insurgency

• Existence of Salwa Judum necessary, rules NHRC