COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bangladesh

• Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma pays a a two-day visit to Bangladesh; Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa pays first official visit to Bangladesh; India seeks access to the territory of Bangladesh and its sea ports for the North-Eastern regions of India; Bangladesh and Vietnam sign an MoU on food security; Director General of International Organisation for Migration pays a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Sri Lanka

• Bangladesh and Sri Lanka sign five deals during President Rajapaksa’s first official visit to Bangladesh; Kenya to use Sri Lankan housing model; Qatar will increase its quota for ‘skilled workers’ from Sri Lanka; Two Japanese ships are on goodwill visit to Sri Lanka; Two Brunei naval patrol vessels arrives at the Port of Colombo for a logistic halt

Maldives

• The Indian Government announces export of 32,094 tonnes of wheat flour to Maldives during 2011-2012; Advisor and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Cambodia pays a courtesy call on President Nasheed; President Nasheed sends a message of sympathy to US President Barack Obama following the violent storms that caused havoc in the Southern United States

East Asia

Japan

• Japanese PM expresses regrets for recent nuclear crisis and pledges to “bolster nuclear safety and international trust”; Australian PM pays visit to tsunami-hit area during her visit to Japan; Canberra insists on continuing anti-whale programme against Japan; “Operation Soul Train” between Japanese SDF and the US army launched; TEPCO to postpone start of other nuclear reactors within Japan

South Korea

• Australian Prime Minister visits Seoul, emphasizes the need for a bilateral FTA; Seoul hopes to strengthen its defence ties with Beijing through military exchange programme; South Korea’s aid to Japan’s quake victims reaches $52 mln

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Military Chiefs of SCO nations meet in Beijing; Turkey, Kazakhstan to start joint venture in defense-related items; Kazakhstan hopes to settle Karachaganak dispute by June this year; Russia accidently fires decoy rocket into Kazakhstan; Kyrgyz opposition to join Customs Union; IMF on a fact-finding mission in Kyrgyzstan; Tajik President Rahmon: Tajikistan to be energy independent in three years; Russia, Tajikistan military exercise held; Saudi Energy Minister visits Turkmenistan; Iranian Foreign Minister visits Ashgabat; Uzbek President Karimov visits China; Uzbek, China sign gas deal

Russia

• Russia negotiates ceasefire with Libyan PM; Libya seeks Moscow’s role in peaceful settlement of the conflict; UN Secretary General and Russian leaders discuss Libya; Russia calls on Libya to comply with UN resolution; Putin initiates annual process of reporting the country’s economic performance to the Parliament; Russia’s Foreign Minister to sign agreements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia; Russia pushes ahead the proposal of constructing floating nuclear reactors; Medvedev to discuss implementation of the Skolkovo project; Indonesian navy successfully tests Russian anti-ship missile; Russia to deliver more S-300 air defence systems to Belarus

West Asia

Iran

• Iran, Egypt sign first agreement since stepping down of President Mubarak; Iran-China to establish a “joint oil and gas committee” to accelerate the execution of energy projects between the two countries

Iraq

• Iraqi Prime Minister holds discussion with Admiral Mike Mullen on withdrawal of US troops

Jordan

• Jordan King and Qatar Emir discuss bilateral ties and regional issues; Jordan renews support for Libyans

Syria

• Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade and Damascus Chamber of Commerce discuss new cooperation and partnership mechanisms; Minister of Economy and Trade and Damascus Chamber of Commerce discuss new cooperation and partnership mechanisms; Lebanese President and Syrian Ambassador discuss enhancing bilateral ties

Libya

• Rebels claim victory as Libyan troops retreat in Misrata; Gaddafi threatens reprisals to drone attacks; Kuwait recognises Transitional National Council (TNC) and donates money to Libyan rebels

Egypt

• Hosni Mubarak detained for further fifteen days; HSBC predicts Egypt economy to surpass Saudi Arabia by 2050; France pledges to help Egypt's transition; Official fact finding mission on Egypt’s revolution released

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) draws road map for departure of Ali Ahmed Saleh in Yemen

USA

• Classified documents shed light on treatment of prisoners in Guantánamo Bay prison

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• South West Air Command soon to have a Su-30MKI squadron; Indian Navy begins INS Vikramaditya induction process

International

• Japan to have stronger military ties with the United States; Drone strikes in Libya

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Three accused socio-religious organizations deny their involvement in the killing of involved in the killing of Jamiet Ahl-e-Hadith Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah; Clashes broke out in old Srinagar in protest of killing of Ahmad Shah; IED blast near LoC in Poonch leaves two BSF personnel injured; Militants killed in Kishtwar encounter; Militants killed in Ramban; Clashes broke out in old Srinagar in protest of killing of Ahmad Shah

Northeast India

• AGP leader targeted; Trucks stranded at Manipur-Nagaland border; 17 dead in a Pawan Hans Helicopter crash at Tawang; Government grants compensation to ULFA for daily expenses; North East insurgents still use Garo Hills as transit route; Six UG Cadres arrested in Manipur

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• UN Security Council extends mandate of the committee monitoring UNSC Resolution 1540; Security Council calls for dialogue to resolve differences between Northern and Southern Sudan; Counter-Terrorism Committee meets to discuss fight against terrorism; UNSC calls for political dialogue in Yemen