COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• EAM Krishna visits Afghanistan; EAM firmly states that India would not pull out of Afghanistan in the face of security threats and will continue its work in the country; At least 16 civilians killed in Afghan blast; Afghan envoys head to Pakistan for peace talks

Pakistan

• Punjab Governor Salman Taseer assassinated; Reports: US to offer more military, economic support to Pakistan; Pakistan PM Gilani: India must resume composite dialogue with Pakistan; Reports: Pakistan ready for meaningful dialogue with India

East Asia

China

• On New Year, many new technological achievements for the PLA reported; The PLA stresses on improving logistics; The PLA hold the first nationwide emergency militia backbone training class; The POL Institute under the GLD uses new technologies in research and development

Japan
[DECEMBER 27, 2010- JANUARY 9, 2011]

• DPJ to consider a legislation allowing for a permanent law to dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) overseas; Japan, Reports: Prime Minister Naoto Kan, could suffer the same fate as his predecessors; India and the United States to start a trilateral strategic dialogue in 2011; U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and others warships deployed in waters around Japan

Southeast Asia

• China plan to setup trade centre in Thailand worth $ 1.5 billion; Indonesia announces the ASEAN Summit dates; Indonesia directs attention on human rights as new ASEAN head; Reports: Thailand retains its position as world's top rice exporter in 2010 as well; India-Indonesia to sign extradition treaty; Malaysian- Indians ask India to terminate its trade relations with Malaysia; Shanghai replaces Singapore as world’s busiest port

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Kazakh, Korean companies expected to sign a deal to develop an Iraqi gas field; First stations for satellite navigation system will be launched in Kazakhstan this year; Kazakh President turns down referendum; Kyrgyzstan, Russia nearing a deal to the establish a new Russian military facility in Kyrgyzstan; Kyrgyzstan Parliament to pass law to name a mountain after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin; Kyrgyzstan Deputy PM Visits Azerbaijan; EIU report: Uzbekistan’s economy will grow by 7.9 percent in 2011; Uzbekistan launches a project on good governance for parliamentarians; Tajikistan reaches at a gas import agreement with Uzbekistan; Turkmen President applauds increased cooperation with Iran; European Commission President to visit Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan

[DECEMBER 27, 2010- JANUARY 9, 2011]
Russia

• Russia ratifies uranium deal with Mongolia; Russia and Spain expel two diplomats each on spying charges; Russian Tycoon Khodorkovsky gets six more years of jail term; West criticizes the extension of Khodorkovsky’s jail term

West Asia

Iran

• Iran invites Russia and China but not the West to its nuclear sites; Ahmadinejad once again fired his 14 top advisers

Iraq

• Suicide bomber and gunman kill 5 including 2 US soldiers

Yeman

• Al Qaeda kills 10 security personnel and a civilian in Yemen; Al Qaeda claims responsibility for several attacks in Yemen

USA

• Defence Secretary Gates announces $78 billion in cuts to military programmes over the next five years

ENERGY REVIEW

• India’s Coal Minister visits South Africa and Mozambique; India seeks to acquire coal assets in South Africa; Jindal subsidiaries awarded coal blocks in Mozambique for exploration