‘Indian Ocean can’t be India’s backyard’

Beijing: China recognises India's special role in stabilising the strategic Indian Ocean region but the perception that it is India’s “backyard” may result in clashes, Chinese military officials and experts have cautioned. "The word backyard is not very appropriate to use for an open sea and international areas of sea," Senior Captain Zhao Yi, Associate Professor of the Institute of Strategy in China's National Defence University, said. PTI

‘Hillary was advised to act against Pak army leaders’
Washington: Hillary Clinton was advised to quietly take action against Pakistani military leaders who gave support to Al-Qaida and its affiliates, an email sent to her when she was Secretary of State shows. The advice was given by Samuel Richard “Sandy” Berger, who served as the National Security Advisor for President Bill Clinton from March 14, 1997, until January 20, 2001, as per the email dated October 3, 2009, declassified by the State Department. PTI

Russia angers Baltic states with independence review
MOSCOW/VILNIUS: A move in Russia to review the legality of a 1991 decision formally granting Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia independence from the Soviet Union has alarmed the Baltic States and stoked tensions in ties with Moscow. The Baltic states declared independence in 1990 and 1991, and activists in Lithuania and Latvia were killed in attempts by Soviet forces to quell rebellion. Reuters

Cuba eliminates HIV transmission from mother to baby
Washington: Cuba has become the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to baby, the WHO said, hailing the success as “one of the greatest public health achievements possible.” “This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation,” said Dr Margaret Chan, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General. PTi