COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Karzai vows to have more control over foreign troops if reelected; Holbrooke asserts that voting in August elections will also be held in the country’s most dangerous areas; Mullen: Pak’s ISI fomenting “chaotic activity” in Afghanistan and India

Pakistan

• Sufi Muhammad arrested on charges of encouraging violence and terrorism; Holbrooke announces aid worth $165 million for Swat refugees; UNICEF: 1 million people will remain displaced till year-end

Sri Lanka

• Rajapakse appeals to all Sri Lankans to join hands in national building; Sri Lankan FM briefs EAM Krishna on rehabilitation of displaced people; Troops discover LTTE submarine; Sri Lanka urges to constructively engage post-LTTE Sri Lanka

East and SouthEast Asia

China

• Serbia reiterates its support for ‘One-China’ policy; Sino-Vietnamese military delegations meet, reiterate scope for enhanced cooperation; ‘Peace Mission 2009’ joint exercises between China and Russia begin

Japan

• Tokyo announces new sanctions targeting North Korean individuals and companies; FM Nakasone meets with Clinton at Phuket, urges closer cooperation in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue; PM Aso dissolves Lower House on July 20

Korean Peninsula

• DPRK threatens to inflict " unimaginably deadly blows to the US imperialists and the South Korean puppets”; UN adds more North Korean entities and individuals to sanctions list; Clinton: Major powers will not reward any North Korean “half-measures”

SouthEast Asia

• Yudhoyono re-elected as president of Indonesia; Thailand hosts 42nd ASEAN Ministerial meeting and 16th ARF; Clinton urges US and ASEAN countries to work together to solve common problems

West Asia

Iran

• Murli Deora: India will not bow to any pressure on IPI pipeline; Iran’s Vice President removed from office on account of his supposed pro-Israeli views; Ahmadinejad removes 4 ministers ahead of cabinet formation

Iraq

• Emergency declared in Ramadi after two successive bomb attacks; al-Maliki expresses unhappiness over alleged meeting of US officials with Iraqi insurgent groups in Istanbul in March 2008; Ruling party leads in Kurdish election

MISSILES, SPACE, NUCLEAR AND DEFENCE REVIEW

Missiles and Space

• TSA signed during Clinton’s visit

Nuclear Review

• PM launches INS Arihant in Visakhapatnam

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• P. Chidambaram: Govt. will be alert against the menace of terrorism

NorthEast Development

• Reports: Maoists have trained ULFA insurgents; Security forces seize explosives from ULFA hideout; Manipur CM: More than 30 militant groups operating in state