Bush Wants WMD Deals Stopped (November 21, 2006)
Fearing further North Korean (NK) proliferation missiles and nuclear weapons, like the Nodong missile to Pakistan (now being paraded as Ghauri) in return for nuclear weapons technology, the US said that it considered these transfers “a grave threat.”<More>

The Last Big Push (November 20, 2006)
Accused of being “in a state of denial,” US President George Bush rejected calls for a phased withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and instead has come up with a plan that will give it one “last big push” recognizing “the conditions on the ground.”<More>

Huge US Senate Support for Nuke Deal (November 17, 2006)
Handing US President a major victory on a key foreign policy objective and in a major show of bipartisan support, the Senate overwhelmingly endorsed the Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Deal that will allow the US to ship civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India.<More>

Nuke Deal Listed Top Priority (November 15, 2006)
With President George Bush, Republican leaders, and prominent Democrats voicing the importance, the Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Deal may be taken up in a couple of days by the Senate even as supporters and opponents stepped up lobbying to suit their agenda.<More>

Lebanese Political Crisis and West Asia (November 14, 2006)
The resignation of 5 Shiite Ministers from the Lebanon Government increased regional tensions across sectarian and religious lines and the US Government (USG) applauded an Argentinean court branding the Hezbollah “global nexus of terrorism.”<More>

The Donkey’s Kick (November 10, 2006)
As Democrats routed the Republicans in the US mid-polls and seized both houses of the Congress after 12 years, there is a lot of fear in India that Indo-US relations, specifically the nuclear deal, assiduously built by the Bush Administration may be a casualty.<More>

Saudis Warn of Iraq Disintegration (November 07, 2006)
Saudi Arabia believes that Iraq is a “lost battle” that will disintegrate because of Iranian “interference,” Kurdish drive for quasi- independence, and there is no “endgame” to the US occupation that has “failed by every single measure.”<More>

Saddam to Hang (November 06, 2006)
An astounded Islamic world was shocked at the anticipated verdict of death by hanging for ousted Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein for the 1982 killing of 148 people coincidentally timed for the November US elections as observers remained divided.<More>

NK Returns to Talks (November 02, 2006)
In a surprising diplomatic breakthrough, China and the US said that North Korea (NK) has agreed to rejoin the 6-nation nuclear disarmament tasks 3 weeks after its first nuclear test and an exchange of bellicose statements exacerbated by confusing news reports.<More>

India, Japan to Boost Ties (October 27, 2006)
With 2007 being considered for designation as Japan-Indian Friendship Year, India and Japan are planning to boost their bilateral relations to realize its “full potential” by enhancing “strategic orientation” of their “global partnership.”<More>

Russia Accuses US for NK Tests (October 24, 2006)
Russia virtually accused the US of pushing North Korea (NK) into a corner and provoked their tests and called for more flexibility from the Bush Administration for the resumption of the 6-party talks.<More>

Sudan Expels UN Envoy over Blog (October 24, 2006)
Looking for an excuse to rid the UN of its soil to pursue its unholy war on innocent ethnic Africans, Sudan expelled UN envoy for authoring a blog that reported a serious Sudanese army reversal in fighting insurgents in Northern Darfur.<More>

China Surprises on NK (October 23, 2006)
In a sign of successful visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the US and China presented a united face by demanding that North Korea (NK) return unconditionally to the 6-party talks.<More>

Another Test by North Korea? (October 18, 2006)
Even as it saw its closest ally China building walls along the border and inspecting shipments, North Korea (NK) said that the UN sanctions amounted to declaration of war and Japan said another nuclear test is in the offing.<More>

India, Ethiopia Plan Agri Cooperation (October 17, 2006)
Following a request by the Ethiopian Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry , India is considering a proposal by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education to send a 4-member team to salinity and give technical advice to boost production.<More>

Darfur Refugees Live in Fear (October 16, 2006)
Belying expectations that African Union (AU) peacekeepers would bring peace to the ethnically torn Darfur region of Sudan , refugees in camps say that the peacekeeping mission is escalating the conflict and the resultant violence is driving away aid.<More>

7th Indo-EU Summit (October 14, 2006)
Inaugurating the 7th Indo-EU summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasized that the “Consolidation of strategic partnership and intensification of dialogue with the European Union” is a key foreign policy priority for India.<More>

India , Britain Share Terror Concerns (October 12, 2006)
Visiting Britain right after the North Korean (NK) nuclear test, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and British Prime Minister Tony Blair concluded their third annual summit and discussed terrorism, energy cooperation, and investment promotion.<More>

North Korea Blasts Nuclear Regime (October 10, 2006)
With a defiant nuclear explosion using Pakistan technology, North Korea (NK) blasted years of discriminatory nuclear regime sparking sharp reactions from regional and global players and possibly bringing in major changes to world strategic thought and orientation.<More>

South Africa to Back Nuke Deal (October 06, 2006)
Visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh elicited South Africa to support its civilian nuclear deal with the US and got a commitment from President Thabo Mbeko that his country will support the deal in the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG).<More>

Russia-US Relations Set to Worsen (September 27, 2006)
A Russian Parliamentary report alerted policy makers that the US will continue to pursue a hostile policy towards Moscow regardless of political affiliations or incumbent in the White House as they struggle for influence over world energy, power, and politics.<More>

Hezbollah Refuses to Disarm  (September 26, 2006)
In his first public appearance Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed before a massive 500,000-rally that his cadre will not disarm and claimed a “divine, historic and strategic victory” even as Israeli troops withdrew and UN peacekeepers deployment was on track.<More>

UN Treaty Seeks to Curb Arms Trade (September 20, 2006)
A draft resolution for an international arms trade treaty is being floated by Britain, Finland, Japan, Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, and Kenya in the UN seeking to reduce human rights, limit the spread of terrorism, and reduce unintended suffering of millions.<More>

Satyam Looking for Japanese Acquisitions (September 20, 2006)
Satyam Computers Services Limited revealed that it was actively seeking to acquire many Japanese companies and that it has already short-listed four to five companies and will close the deals soon.<More>

India Disagrees with IMF Quotas  (September 19, 2006)
India, Brazil, Argentina, and Egypt vociferously objected to International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) “quota calculation formula” as it “is opaque and flawed” and “reforms are possible only if” the “final outcome” is defined “followed by genuine consultations.”.<More>

IBSA Sets Goals (September 19, 2006)
With the end of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) first summit in Brazil , the world’s largest democracies in developing countries set common goals in the world’s political, economic, and social forums and promised better calibration of policy making..<More>

Women CRPF for Liberian Peacekeeping (September 18, 2006)
An all women Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent with 125 officers are being deployed as part of the UN Formed Police Unit (FPU) to train Liberian National Police, participate in joint patrolling, and perform riot control duties. This is the first time, an all woman continent is being sent as part of a UN mission.<More>

India , Brazil Take “Gigantic Step” (September 13, 2006)
Visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a set of agreements on trade, technology, and agriculture and agreed to develop their bilateral relations into a strategic partnership.<More>

Syria Promises Embargo on Hezbollah (September 08, 2006)
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that Syria has promised to adhere to the UNSC Resolution 1701 demanding an arms embargo on the Hezbollah but objected “to the presence of foreign forces along the Syrian-Lebanese border.”<More>

Indo-French Missile Pact Stalled (September, 07 2006)
The much hyped Indo-French pact to allow India to produce French cruise missiles under transfer of technology from European Missile Consortium MBDA to Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) appeared to have stalled.<More>

Confusion on Iran as Deadline Passes (September, 05 2006)
EU Foreign Ministers have cautioned against hasty decisions, including sanctions, on Iran even as the US said military action against Tehran “is not off the table” and some say that India ’s relations with Iran may arrest the development of Indo-US relations.<More>

EU Not Considering Hamas Dialogue (September, 05 2006)
Backtracking from earlier reports that the EU may consider direct contact with Hamas, a Foreign Ministers’ meeting distanced the 25 nation body from Hamas and labeled it a terror organization removing all possibilities of interaction.<More>

Iranian Official Visits India (August 30, 2006)
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Asia, Oceania and Commonwealth, Dr Mehdi Safari is visiting India to appraise India of its position over the nuclear stand-off with the West reiterating that it is open to negotiations and diplomatic solution. <More>

Israel & Lebanon Welcome EU Plan (August 29, 2006)
Israel & Lebanon welcomed the EU plan to dispatch 7000 peacekeeping troops, to be led initially by France and later by Italy, in Southern Lebanon that is capable of maintaining a buffer between the two nations with stronger defensive capabilities. <More>

Iran Expands Heavy Water Project (August 29, 2006)
A defiant yet indulgent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a new phase in the Arak heavy-water reactor project dismissing global concerns of its controversial program but asserting that “Iran is not a threat to anybody." <More>

First Indo-Russian Joint Study Group on Trade (August 28, 2006)
Indian and Russian trade experts are meeting this week to explore and discuss options that will remove bilateral trade blocks to achieve a USD 10 billion trade and lead to a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). <More>

Israeli Commando Operation Tests Ceasefire (August 21, 2006)
Even as thousands of Lebanese troops and French engineers started to occupy areas vacated by Israeli Army to strengthen the ceasefire that promises a stop to rocket attacks by Hezbollah, reports emerge of a clandestine Israeli action deep inside Lebanon. <More>

Pressured Iran Threatens NPT Withdrawal (August 14, 2006)
In an interview to national English newspaper The Hindu, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserted that he still believes in dialogue but did not like the continued pressure and insistence on taking away the rights that his country has. <More>

LTTE to Stay Banned, No Lanka Intervention (August 10, 2006)
The National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said that India has no plans to lift the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and for “direct intervention” in peace initiatives in Sri Lanka where hostilities has escalated rapidly to civil war proportions.  <More>

Japan Keen to Expand Ties (August 09, 2006)
The Japanese Ambassador to India Yasukuni Enoki said that his country wants to expand co-operation in manufacturing technology, civil aviation, and people to people exchange and conclude the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. <More>