COUNTRY REVIEW

Iraq

• Accountability and Justice Law passed by Iraqi Parliament on January 12; US launches renewed raids against Sunni insurgents; WHO: Over 150,000 Iraqi deaths till June 2006

China

• Dr. Singh’s visit to Beijing, Both sides agree on a ‘Shared Vision for the 21st Century’

Myanmar

• Aung San Suu Kyi meets the junta’s liaison officer, Aung Kyi

South Asia

Afghanistan

• 3,000 additional US Marines for southern Afghanistan likely; Japanese government approves resumption of refueling mission

Pakistan

• Suicide bomb attack hits Lahore High Court; Peace deal initiated in North Waziristan; Scotland Yard delivers preliminary findings on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination; US intervention concerns Pakistan

Bangladesh

• Four advisers of the caretaker government resign, five new advisers sworn in; EC announces plan to redraw parliamentary constituencies

Nepal

• Army Chief warns against ideological orientation of Maoist cadres who could possibly join the armed forces; Incidents of violence in Terai continuing; UN allocates more than $100 million in aid for post-conflict reconstruction

Sri Lanka

• Rajapakse: Government faced with the dual challenges of eradicating poverty and terrorism; FBI: LTTE one of the “most dangerous and deadly extremist outfits in the world”;

NUCLEAR REVIEW

Pakistan

• ElBaradei expresses concern over security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal; Pakistan expresses unhappiness over the comments; IAEA says Director General’s comments quoted out of context

India

• EAM says that government would not proceed with deal if Left parties withdraw support from the government; India-IAEA talks enter fifth round of negotiations

North Korea

• Chris Hill says North Korea might be delaying declaration due to concerns about further scrutiny, expresses satisfaction over progress on disablement; South Korean President-elect says he would be ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il

Iran

• Iran, IAEA wrap up latest round of talks; Iran provides ElBaradei with new information of Iran’s new generation centrifuges

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

North East Insurgency

• Tarun Gogoi suspects a ‘third force’ behind the Adivasi unrest in state

Maoist Insurgency

• 55 Maoists surrender in Maharashtra

AP POLICE: IED’S IN MECCA MASJID AND AJMER BLASTS FROM HYDERABAD

• Explosives smuggled from Bangladesh by an LeT operative

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

IRAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA GAS PIPELINE

• Pak Cabinet approves GSPA; Iran keen on Indian participation in IPI

Exploration and Production

• Chevron to bid under NELP-VII