COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh parliament passes an amendment empowering the war crimes tribunals to hold trial of any organisation for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War; Bangladesh-Japan sign deals including for metro rail system.

Sri Lanka

• President of India Pranab Mukherjee mentions Tamil minorities in Sri Lanka in his address to the Indian Parliament; India signs agreements with Sri Lanka to revive the first industrial zone at Atchchuvely; Myanmar has not responded to the Sri Lankan government's communication regarding the 32 Myanmar nationals who were recently rescued by Sri Lanka Navy; Manmohan Singh stresses that there would be no compromise on Colombo’s promise to implement the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution; India dismisses reports on leak in critical equipment of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant; US to introduce resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva; EU to support the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka; Sri Lankan Government rubbishes photographs displayed by Channel 4; Britain denies media reports that it sold more than £2m worth of small arms weaponry to Sri Lanka

Maldives

• Indian delegation visits Maldives; US has been in very close touch with India throughout the whole crisis; China comments on situation in Maldives; SDAA of the USAID visits Maldives; Maldives welcomes the preliminary observations of UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers; A delegation of Sri Lanka Customs made official visit to the Maldives

East Asia

Southeast Asia

• Myanmar government holds peace talks with ethnic groups; The US eases sanctions on Myanmar banks; Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appointed Selangor BN Chief; Head of Yudhoyono’s part resigns; Five soldiers and two civilians killed in Indonesia firing.

China

• Chinese army announces regulating the expenditure; China continues the patrolling of waters around the Diaoyu islands; Hu Jintao’s visit to Russia and South Africa to boost cooperation, Xi calls for development of SCO; United States hacking allegations criticized by China; Chinese army counters claims of supporting cyber hacking; China calls for calm over the North Korean issue; Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo visits Macao; Xi asserts need for judicial independence and freedom.

Central Asia

Central Asia

• Japan and Kazakhstan to work on building nuclear power plants; UK negotiating with Tajikistan on Afghan withdrawal; US will not use Tajikistan’s territory for Afghan troop withdrawal; CSTO chief describes the Afghan situation as being ‘extremely negative’; Uzbekistan’s energy supplies increased by 81 per cent in 2012; Tajikistan’s petroleum imports fallen by 20 per cent in January 2013; Lukoil announces plans to modernize Uzbekistan’s Dengizkul field.

Russia

• Russia and Cuba have sign an initial agreement on settlement of Cuba’s debt to Russia; Rosneft plans to increase oil supplies to China; Ukraine refuses to pay a US$ 7 billion fine to Gazprom; Russia’s Duma urges the US to adopt measures to protect adopted Russian children; Russia and Brazil sign documents on cooperation; Russia is against measures which might hinder normal trade with North Korea; Russia to press for legal guarantees that the US missile defence system in Europe is not aimed against it.

West Asia

Syria

• Syrian opposition to set up government in rebel-held areas

Jordan

• Jordan finalises pipeline deal with Iraq.

Israel/Palestine

• Israel demands that Palestinian Authority quell West Bank protests

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• DRDO Chief V K Saraswat: DRDO has capability to manufacture any advanced system; Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to supply 20 multirole Cheetal choppers to Indian Army.

International

• Southeast Asia to be the stepping stone for South Korean arms exports; Engine problems lead to grounding of entire F-35 Fleet.

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• State security commission to be set up in Jammu & Kashmir; Civil militia to be legalized by Jammu & Kashmir Government; Sarpanch shot dead in Baramulla.

North East India

• Home Minister of Nagaland resigns; Illegal trade of SIM cards emerges as a new threat; Maoist movements to be checked jointly by the North-East states; Meghalaya and Nagaland go to polls; Hard-line ULFA chief Paresh Baruah claims surrender will not affect the outfit.

Ministry of Home Affairs

• Justice Usha Mehra Commission submitted its report on Nirbhaya rape case.

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• Countries of the Great Lakes region sign deal on DR Congo; UNSC extends mandate of UN office in Guinea-Bissau; UN Chief condemns attacks in Damascus, Hyderabad and Quetta.