COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Pakistan
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Osama Bin Laden killed in US operation; Osama killing fans doubts about Pakistan; Kayani reassures Pakistan’s commitment to war on terror; Osama’s wife and children still in Pakistan’s custody

Bangladesh
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari visits Dhaka; Trade fair organised by the India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) with the support of Indian High Commission in Dhaka; IBCCI for Special Economic Zone in Sylhet for Indian investors; Australian grant to Bangladesh to tackle the challenges caused by climate change, Bangladesh PM visits Turkey to attend the fourth UN conference on LDCs; Bangladesh to lease land in African countries; World Bank estimates Bangladesh's GDP growth to be at 6.2 % for fiscal year 2010-11

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Bangladesh nominated as co-chair of Green Climate Fund; Khaleda Zia is on a two-week visit to the UK and the US; The World Bank launches the Bangladesh enterprise survey 2011; Australia’s ODA to Bangladesh in 2011-12 increases by $22 million; Bangladesh contributes US$ 2 million for the reconstruction of Japan wrecked by recent earthquake and tsunami

Sri Lanka
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Sri Lanka celebrates 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore; Sri Lankan opposition leader visits Bhutan; US Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O’ Blake visits Sri Lanka

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• India’s National Security Advisor, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary visit Sri Lanka; Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Employment, Promotion and Welfare visited Qatar; Tuticorin -- Sri Lanka ferry service postponed; A team of fifteen officials from the disaster management ministry had left for Japan to help in relief operations in the areas affected by the recent earthquake and the tsunami; Sri Lanka lodges an official bid with the Commonwealth Games Federation in Kuala Lumpur to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Maldives
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake called on President Nasheed; President met the UNICEF Resident Representative to the Maldives; Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity holds dialogue with President Nasheed; New Ambassador of South Korea accredited to the Maldives presents his Letter of Credence to President Nasheed

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• IMF mission to review the IMF Programme in the Maldives under its stand-by arrangement met President Nasheed; Maldivian group “Friends of Palestine” launched several activities to mark the third Palestinian Intifada in the Maldives

East Asia

China
[MAY 2-15, 2011]

• Senior Chinese military official visits US; Belgium-China rail connection opens; EU president seeks closer ties with China; Chinese, Kazakh FMs pledge to cement ties; China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan stage joint anti-terror drill; China satisfied about China-US dialogue outcomes; Nepal-China meeting on Tibet trade begins in Nepal

Japan
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Japanese government considers decommissioning of the Fukushima No.2; Japanese Prime Minister urges Chubu Electric Power Co. to suspend its Hamaoka power plant; Japan is not to abandon its nuclear power plants altogether despite the recent nuclear crisis, states Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku; Beijing continues to prohibit Japanese food products from entering the Chinese market

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• UN Chief’s remark on neutrality issue in the UN peacekeeping missions could influence Japan; Japan, China and South Korea are to strengthen information sharing system during nuclear crisis

South Korea
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Return of slave South Korean forced labourers continues to strain South Korea-Japan relation; South Korean marines stages drills under the observance of the US Marine officials; US nuke carrier makes a port call in South Korea; FTA between South Korea and EU ratified by the South Korean National Assembly

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asian
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• CIS holds anti-terror exercise; CARs on Operation Geronimo; Kazakhstan ratifies air space agreement for US mission; Russia is negotiating to deploy border troops to boost security in Tajikistan; Caspian Sea division into national zones opposed by Russia; Nabucco Pipeline Company is ready to break ground in Turkey; Turkmen, Uzbek leaders hold talks; International IV Astana Economic Forum held; Indian steel baron to buy 35% stake of Kazakh hydrocarbon company

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• NATO’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia: NATO will remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014; Uzbekistan’s Birlik opposition party demands fair treatment for Uzbek minorities in Kyrgyzstan; Uzbek dictator Islam Karimov blames West for funding Arab revolts; Kazakhstan pulls out of Iraqi gas project; Tajikistan’s central bank shore up the weakening national currency

Russia
[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Russia refuses to bail out crisis stricken economy of Belarus; Russian President has criticised the defence industry on the ground that it has failed to deliver on its promises; Russia faces one last hurdle in its effort to join the WTO; Russia marks victory day with big parade; Russia and Pakistan pledge to increase cooperation; Japan has protested the visit of Russian government delegation to Kuril islands; Russia-Slovenia Presidents to hold talks in Moscow; Russian President has declared the missile defence shield should take into consideration Russia’s concerns; Russia calls for talks on Libya; Amnesty International: Russia has made some progress in human rights protection

West Asia

Iran
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Iran’s non-oil exports grown over four times: Iranian President; US Congressional Panel Report: Iran’s Al Quds force offers support to Al Qaeda

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Iran reveals second and third generation of nuclear centrifuges; Ahmadinejad ignores parliament approval regarding merger of ministers

Iraq
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Deadly car bomb killed 24 and wounded 72 in Hilla, South of Baghdad; Gunmen also killed six people in Baquba

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Iraqi Al-Qaeda extends its support to Al-Zawahri for Osama successor; Iraqi Prime Minister willing to continue US troops for next year

Syria
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Bahrain conveys full support to Syria; Syrians protest against French government’s stance regarding events in Syria; Syria and Lebanon discuss ways to boost agriculture cooperation; European Council on International Relations, and International Relations and Economic Cooperation Institute express support to Syria

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Ex-offender Rami Mwaffaq Radwan confesses guilt ; Security forces confront with armed criminal elements in Telkalakh; Syrians express rejection of foreign intervention in Syrian affairs; Syrian PM and FAO discuss joint cooperation

Libya
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• France expels 14 Libyan diplomats loyal to Gaddafi; Meeting of tribal leaders called for ending armed uprising in Libya

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Libya bombards residential area outside Misrata; UK Military Chief: NATO must intensify military campaign in Libya

Egypt
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Clashes erupt in Egypt after rumour about religious conversion; Iran and Egypt discuss bilateral ties and the Palestinian issue

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Egypt confirmed as the Arab League’s Next Chief

Israel
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Ban Ki-moon calls on Israel to give Palestinian deal a chance; EU stresses Israel must resolve Palestinian tax row

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Clashes between Israeli occupation army and civilian demonstrators left many killed and several injured; The incident receives wide criticism

Palestine
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Hamas edges towards tacit acceptance of Israel

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Arab Parliament, General Authority of Palestinian Arab Refugees sought support for Palestinians in their right to return

Jordan
[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Jordan preparing to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); Jordan and Bahrain discuss relations with Gulf; Jordan King visits Washington to discuss latest developments in the Middle East

Yemen
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Yemen: Ten persons killed by Al-Qaeda to avenge Bin laden’s killing by USA in Pakistan

USA

[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• US Pakistan relations under stress after Osama killing

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• US – Pakistan Relations tensed as many questions remains unanswered regarding Osama’s killing

DEFENCE REVIEW

National
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Indian Navy comes to the rescue of Chinese vessel and crew; Indian Army broadens the Srinagar-Leh national highway to facilitate T-72 tank movement

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• DRDO Interceptor Missile with 5,000 Km range to be ready by 2016; Biggest Indo-US Defence Deal in the offing

International
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• No Downsizing of Chinese Military; Pakistan Army Chief talks tough over unapproved raids

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Russian anti-aircraft missile system S-400 Triumph on combat duty; China Military Chief to visit US

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Two more arrested in Moulana Showkat Shah’s killing; Encounters occured in Poonch; Ceasefire violated by Pakistan troops; Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants held by Police; Poonch operations end but five militants escape

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• An open fire by the force personnel left a student hurt; Gunfight left soldier dead; Army waiting for Omar’s response on AFSPA; One BSF personnel shot dead; Bomb blast near Northern Command Headquarters; Panchayat candidate shot; Police held 5 Hizb militants

Northeast India
[MAY 2-8, 2011]

• Arunachal CM Dorjee Khandu dead; Arunachal’s new CM Gamlin takes over; NDFB militants arrested; Stone crushers targeted by Manipur militants; ULFA (anti-talks) hits out at Mrinal Hazarika; Peace accord implemented in Tripura

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• Formal talks with ULFA likely to begin in June; Bru refugees return; Chidambaram to visit Mizoram; Former KNLF cadre alleged KNO/KNA of sheltering non SoO outfits; Delhi police nabs top KCP (MC leader from Bangalor

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

[MAY 9-15, 2011]

• India ratifies conventions on transnational crimes and corruption; India takes up issues on terrorism in UNSC; UN Security Council members express concern about situation in Abyei; Council members concerned over instability in Somalia