COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bangladesh
(January 30- February 05)

• Agreement signed between Bangladesh’s Power Development Board (PDB) and India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to build a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power plant; PM Sheikh Hasina: Concerted action by the member states of SAARC is required to deal with the problems that arose due to the global financial turmoil; Nepal proposes for joint venture with Bangladesh for setting up a 3,000-megawatt power plant; Passenger train between Khulna and Kolkata; National flag of Bangladesh at Antarctica

Sri Lanka
(January 30- February 05)

• Sri Lanka’s 64th Independence Day celebrated; Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs Prof. Peiris visits Cameroon and Congo; Inflation declines to 3.8% in January, 2012; 1.5 lakh Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2011

Maldives
(January 30- February 05)

• Maldives will soon nominate new candidate as the SAARC Secretary General

East Asia

China

• China urges talks on Iran nuclear issue; Hu calls for expansion of China-Germany links; Premier Wen meets 11th Panchen Lama; Wen stresses upon reform, rural democracy; Xi to visit US, Ireland, Turkey; China opposes sanctions on Iran; UK's criticism on China 'irresponsible'

Central Asia

(January 30- February 05)

• India plans to increase FDI in Kyrgyzstan; Central Asians comprise of one third of migrants to Russia; NATO aids Dushanbe to secure civil war munitions; Kabul promises security to Pakistan for TAPI pipeline; Astana retains its position as global leader in uranium production

(February 06-12)

• Germany and Kazakhstan sign cooperation deal; Kazakhstan to inaugurate a nuclear fuel bank in late 2013; Gazprom to acquire controlling stake in Kyrgyz Gas Company; Pakistan to provide Tajikistan market access through Gwadar; Kyrgyzstan: Kumtor industrial dispute ends in stalemate; Uzbek route proves to be expensive to exit French troops

Russia

• French President Sarkozy urges Russia to support the League of Arab states plan on Syria; Ukraine pays Gazprom US$800 million for the January supplies; Russia and South Korea to discuss North Korea’s nuclear programme in Moscow; Russia to buy underwater drones from Iceland; China supports Russia’s attempt in reaching a political settlement on Syria; Russian Navy’s ambitious 30 year development plan to be ready by June this year; A new missile warning radar to be commissioned in Leningrad

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmier
(January 30- February 05)

• Government of India unclear on interlocutors report; Chief Minister Omar Abdullah: Youth in favour of political solution to Kashmir; Washington to have specialist on Kashmir; Militants killed in Pulwama

North East India
(January 30- February 05)

• Chief Electoral Officer: Re-polling may be ordered in 33 booths of Manipur; ULFA, GNLA building ties causing concern

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

(January 30- February 05)

• UNSC calls for an inclusive approach to address problems of Sahel region; India opposes high-level panel recommendations on global sustainability; India to vote against Syria

(February 06-12)

• India votes against Syria in UNSC; UN Secretary-General expresses discontent