COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bangaldesh

• 7th Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) held between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Sri Lanka

• Director General of the Indian Coast Guard discusses issues related to fishing with the Commander, North Central Naval Command of Sri Lanka; TNA delegates visit India; Indian Coast Guard intensifies patrol in the IMBL; Prof. G.L. Peiris visits Slovenia; The Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Force meets Sri Lankan President; Sri Lanka urged Germany to ‘keep a close watch on the several LTTE front organisations in Germany; Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa: The United States’ establishment of a base in the Maldives could change the complexion of the sub-continent region; Sri Lanka ranks at 110th place in Global Peace Index.

Maldives

• Indian Coast Guard rescued twenty two crew members of a sinking Maldivian Cargo Vessel; India proposes to train judicial officers in the Maldives.

East Asia

Japan

• Japan and US insist on continuing Japan-China dialogue over the Senkaku islands; Japan to provide supplies to Syrian rebels; Japanese SDF and US military start joint exercises to ‘recapture’ remote island.

North Korea

• North Korea cancels inter-Korean talks at the last minute; Pyongyang proposes high-level bilateral dialogue with Washington.

Russia

• Report: Russia has the world's largest shale oil reserves; Rosneft buys a 20 per cent stake in the Norwegian Continental Shelf Project; Rosneft and Exxon Mobil sign an agreement for joint research and development of the Arctic; President Putin backs the extension of arms procurement programme; President Putin calls for an overhaul of the IMF and a bigger role for the BRICS; Finland accuses Russia of airspace violation; Russia to send a 250 member servicemen for Indra 2013 drills in India; President Putin warns the US against ‘imperialism’; Putin accuses the US of backing Russia’s opposition; Georgia accepts Putin’s offer for Olympic security role; Putin warns against any kind of foreign military intervention in Syria; World bank estimates that Russia’s GDP will grow by 2.3 per cent in 2013; President Putin: Iran does observe all nuclear programme related commitments; Russia has serious doubts about the allegations of use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government; President Putin elected as the leader of the People’s Front Movement

West Asia

Kuwait

• Kuwaiti parliament dissolved.

Oman

• Oman Foreign Minister: Oman is not ready for Gulf Union

Iran

• President-elect Hassan Rohani receives guidelines from the Supreme Leader of Iran; Rohani, Larijani holds discussion on major issues

Iraq

• Six people killed in recent bombing in Iraq

United States of America (USA)

• US Secretary of State John Kerry: United States is ready to engage with new Iranian regime; Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Robert D. Hormats: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has become a key component of our economic policy in the Asia-Pacific region; United States launches criminal investigations into leaks; United States’ NSA chief Gen. Keith B. Alexander: Surveillance programs stopped 'dozens' of attacks; India takes up snooping issue with the United States

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Prime Minister’s visit to Kashmir stands postponed; Lashkar-e-Taiba militant killed in a gunfight in Pulwama; Union Home Minister: Decision on AFSPA to be taken after discussion; South Kashmir emerges as hotbed of militants; Chief Justice of India to visit Kashmir.

North East India

• Protests across Manipur for demand of Inner Line Permit (ILP); Report: Chinese ties with ULFA may boost Maoist presence in Assam; NSCN (IM) cadres arrested in Arunachal Pradesh; Arms and ammunition recovered in Guwahati

UNITED NATIONS REVIEW

June 3-9

• UN Security Council concerned about fighting in Golan Heights; UNSC urges Syrian authorities to protect civilians; Mandate of expert panel on sanctions against Iran extended; India adds items to prohibited trade list with North Korea

June 10-16

• Antigua and Barbuda UN representative next UNGA president; India to support investigation into use of chemical weapons by Syrian government; UN report: India to become most populous nation by 2028; UN peacekeeper killed in Abyei; India to approach UN panel against EU’s emission norms