NEW DELHI — India’s Maoist rebels aim to overthrow the Indian state by 2050, a top government official was quoted Saturday as saying, warning security forces faced a “long, bloody war” to defeat the rebels.

The Maoists are taking a gradual approach to building their forces for a “final and lethal assault, aiming to overthrow the government by 2050 or 2060,” said India’s home secretary G.K. Pillai, citing documents seized in raids.

Read more ….

‘India has lost big chunk to Maoists’ — Daily Times
‘Maoists looking at armed overthrow of state by 2050′ — Times Of India
Maoists planning to throw away Indian system b y 2050: Pillai — One India
Plan to overthrow govt before 2050: Maoists – IBN Live
Maoists aim to topple India — News 24
Indian writer Arundhati Roy ready for Maoist talks role — BBC
India Rebuffs Maoist Overture — Wall Street Journal
India cautious on Maoist talks offer — AFP
India cops arrest Maoist leader – Straits Time

China has announced plans to boost its military budget by 7.5 percent this year – the smallest increase in more than two decades. The figures were unveiled at a news conference, Thursday, to preview the annual session of China’s legislature, which begins Friday.

Li Zhaoxing, spokesman of the National People’s Congress, says China’s new military budget for 2010 will be nearly $78 billion, or 7.5 percent more than the year before.

Read more ….

China announces 7.5 pct jump in defense spending — AP
China’s defence budget to rise 7.5 percent in 2010 — AFP
China Says It Is Slowing Down Military Spending — New York Times
China slows rise in military spending – BBC
China slows rise in military spending – The Telegraph
China posts unexpectedly low defence budget rise — Times Online
China’s military spending slows, on paper — Christian Science Monitor
China to cool rising defence spending – Financial Times
China Plans Lowest Defense Budget Raise in 10 Years — Business Week/Bloomberg
FACTBOX – Facts about China’s military forces — Reuters

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Photo from Times Online

Downing Street has rejected an offer from the US to help the UK and Argentina resolve their latest dispute over the Falkland Islands.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the offer after renewed tensions were triggered by a UK decision to drill for oil near the islands.

A spokesman for Gordon Brown said he welcomed her comments but did not think her direct involvement was necessary.

Read more ….

US ignores Argentine call for Falklands mediation — Yahoo News/AFP
Falklands Row: UK Refuses US Help Offer — Sky News
Clinton sidesteps mediation role in Falklands dispute — Yahoo News/AFP
Clinton meeting with Kirchner adds to British unease over Falklands — Times Online
Hillary Clinton offers to help solve Falklands dispute — The Telegraph
Clinton Urges Talks on the Falkland Islands — New York Times
Clinton: US will help resolve Falklands oil row — The Guardian
US offers to mediate in Falkland oil dispute — Financial Times
US ignores Argentine call for Falklands mediation — AFP
Argentina tightens Falklands security grip — UPI
Hillary Clinton slaps Britain in the face over the Falklands — The Telegraph

My Comment: The British have made it very clear …. they want no US involvement in what they consider as a purely internal affair.

U.N. Official: Niger’s Post-Coup Junta Wants Return To Democracy — CNN

(CNN) — The junta leading Niger following last week’s coup and suspension of the constitution is working to return the country to democratic rule, a United Nations official said Sunday.

“The political party is very keen to return power to civilians and transition to an all-inclusive democracy,” U.N.