COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bhutan

• Exiled refugee leaders of Bhutan form a joint front; Revised tariff structure to be operationalised by 2011

East Asia

• China describes the reports about its military presence in POK as baseless; China assures about its commitment for sustainable growth of the Oceans; Chinese Defence Minister visits Latin America; The DPRK looks for even more enhanced defence cooperation with China; China and New Zealand willing to further improve their defence ties; The PLA contingent left for South Kazakhstan to participate in the joint exercise; Law on Military Officers of Reserve Service revised; Continuous uplifting of the quality and level of military transportation stressed

Taiwan

• Pentagon report: China is intensifying its military build up against Taiwan; Taiwan plans to deploy indigenous cruse missiles; another report suggests that it is acquiring patriot III missiles at the cost of US$ 12.6bn as part of the development of missile defence shield

Southeast Asia

• Singapore and Malaysia ratify sea boundary treaty demarcating the territorial seas in the western party of the Strait of Singapore; Malaysia welcomes end of US forces’ combat role in Iraq; Indonesia-Malaysia maritime border dispute continues

West Asia

Iran

• Basij Commander: Israel will receive firm response if it launches an attack against Iran

Iraq

• Suicide bomber killed 12 in Baghdad, US troops called in to help

Israel, Palestine

• Israel, Palestine resume peace talks in Washington

USA

• US Coast Guard rescues 7 boaters in South Carolina

DEFENCE REVIEW

• India, South Korea sign two defence MoUs; BrahMos test-fired at supersonic speed

ENERGY REVIEW

• Reliance Industries Ltd. buys 3 mn barrels of spot Brazilian crude; India urges Ghana to ensure gas supply for its 1.15 million tonne per annum ammonia-urea fertiliser plant