COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bhutan

• Bangladesh to hold talks with Bhutan and Nepal regarding the use of Mongla and Chittagong ports; King of Bhutan describes India as not only a world leader but also an emerging economic power; 36,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled under third country settlement programme

Maldives

• Delegation from Mauritius met President Nasheed; President Nasheed pays visit to Singapore; Workshop organised to draft National Security Framework with United States military assistance

East Asia

China

[OCTOBER 11-24, 2010]

• China and the United States hold annual consultations on maritime security; Need for a peaceful resolution for disputes over the South China Sea emphasized; Several Foreign dignitaries visited China; “Mission Action 2010” and “Strike 2010” concluded; China and Thailand will carry out “Blue Assault”, Chinese peacekeeping police squad left for Sudan; Winter conscription kicked off in China; Guangzhou Garrison braces for Asian Games

West Asia

• Parliamentary Election results announced in Bahrain

USA

• Surge in Republican Party’s campaign donations as mid-term Congressional election race intensifies

ENERGY REVIEW

• ONGC unlikely to exercise pre-emption rights on Cairn- Vedanta deal