Congress Party Loses State
Elections
(February 27, 2007)
Main coalition partner of
the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) governing
the federal government,
the Congress Party, lost
several key states
including economically
rich Punjab and militarily
rich Uttarakhand.<More>
Japan's New Spy Satellite
Network
(February 27, 2007)
With a successful launch
of the last of a fleet of
four reconnaissance
satellites, Japan has
finally managed to realize
a decade of hard work
aimed at creating a
network of spy satellites
that can focus, peer, and
poke any place in the
world.<More>
Populist Railways Budget
(February 27, 2007)
Railways Minister Lalu
Prasad Yadav presented a
populist budget that cut
prices across the board
with the claim that
increased traffic will
bring in more revenue but
critics have castigated
him on adopting policies
that will ruin Railways.<More>
Indo-EU Talks Focus on
Labor, Ecology
(February 27, 2007)
Reports indicate that the
European Union is keen to
introduce "sustainable
development" in its
investment agreement with
India and would like to
introduce labor and
environment targets
despite the fact that both
sides had agreed to
exclude these topics.<More>
Suicide Attempt on Cheney
(February 27, 2007)
A Taliban suicide bomber
failed in his attempt to
assassinate visiting U.S.
Vice President Dick Cheney
in Afghanistan after bad
weather forced him to stay
back in a military base
after he concluded
discussions on the threat
of al Qaeda and the
Taliban.<More>
MiG-21s to Stay Longer
(February 27, 2007)
Indian Air Force (IAF)
Chief-designate Air
Marshal F.H. Major said
that the MiG-21s will stay
longer through mid-life
up-gradation as new
aircraft are inducted over
the next eight to nine
years.<More>
China to Buy India Coffee
(February 27, 2007)
Specialty Coffee
Association of Hong Kong &
the People's Republic of
China Director Barry Yuen
said that China has an
estimated five million
coffee drinkers whose
needs are mostly met
through imports.<More>
PowerGrid to Raise Rs.
3800 Cr Debt
(February 27, 2007)
The Power Grid Corporation
of India Limited (PGCIL)
is planning to raise Rs.
3,800 crore (USD 863
million) through debt
instruments such as bonds
and loans during the
fiscal year 2007-2008.<More>
Cheney in Surprise Pak
Visit
(February 26, 2007)
In a surprise move, U.S.
Vice President Dick Cheney
visited Pakistan on his
way to Kabul carrying a
message from President
George Bush that Islamabad
will lose its financial
aid if it cannot manage
its border with
Afghanistan.<More>
Drug Control in Afghan
(February 26, 2007)
The Afghanistan Government
has launched a renewed
eradication campaign,
particularly in Halmand
Province which accounted
for 40 per cent of 2006's
opium yield of 6,725 tons,
to stem an estimated USD 3
billion economic
activity.<More>
Manipur Ambush, Army on
Hunt
(February 26, 2007)
After 40-50 heavily armed
terrorists ambushed and
killed 16 policemen in
Manipur, security forces
are combing the area to
catch the perpetrators and
have recovered a large
cache of weapons.<More>
Tens of Thousands of
Maoists in UN Camps
(February 26, 2007)
U.N. officials revealed
that 30,852 former Maoist
rebels in Nepal registered
themselves in relief camps
and submitted 3,428
weapons as part of a peace
process to end conflict in
the Himalayan state.<More>
EU Monitors Say 4000 Dead
in Lanka
(February 26, 2007)
European Union cease-fire
monitors project that
nearly 4,000 people have
been killed in the past 15
months in Sri Lanka and
called on the government
and rebels to adhere to
the cease-fire and avoid
unnecessary killing.<More>
Long-Range Pak Missile
Tested
(February 26, 2007)
Pakistan successfully
test-fired a new version
of its long-range
nuclear-capable missile
called Shaheen II that has
a range of 1,245 miles as
part of its "process of
validation and technical
improvement." <More>
India Bans Nuclear Exports
to Iran
(February 26, 2007)
Ahead of a tough message
expected from the
so-called permanent
members of the U.N.
Security Council and
responding to Tehran's
continue rejection of UNSC
demands, India banned
export of nuclear
material, equipment, and
technology to Iran.<More>
Myanmar Arrests Protestors
(February 26, 2007)
Protestors demanding
better health care,
education, and economic
conditions were arrested
on the outskirts of Yangon
and state-run media warned
that other protests that
break the law will trigger
a crackdown.<More>
Trilateral Conference
Concludes in Delhi
(February 19, 2007)
The first structured and
sixth trilateral
conference between India,
Russia, and China ended in
New Delhi with an emphasis
on cooperation rather than
confrontation should
govern approaches to
regional and global
affairs."<More>
U.S. Says Natanz Plan has
Khan Links
(February 19, 2007)
The U.S. Ambassador to the
International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) says
that the Iranian nuclear
facility at Natanz has
"unexplained ties" with
the disgraced Pakistani
scientist A.Q. Khan's
proliferation network.<More>
India, Saudi Youth
Initiatives
(February 19, 2007)
Taking forward the
cooperation agreement
between India and Saudi
Arabia signed during the
visit of King Abdullah to
India in January 2006, the
two nations have agreed to
hold bilateral exchange
programs involving
students, youth, and
sportspersons.<More>
UN Peacekeepers for Chad
(February 19, 2007)
Oxfam and Human Rights
Watch called on urgent
action by the United
Nations to consider
dispatching peacekeepers
to Chad to prevent a
spillover of Darfur crisis
and furthering the
humanitarian tragedy.<More>
Italian Training for
Indian Archeologists
(February 19, 2007)
In a recent interview with
The Times of India, Deputy
Prime Minister and
Minister for Culture and
Tourism Francesco Rutelli
said that Italy will be
"training Indian
archaeologists in the
field of preservation and
restoration."<More>
Renovated Nalanda
Memorial, Students at VIT
(February 19, 2007)
Estranged nations India
and China trying to
rebuild past friendship
and trust coalesced to
renovate Xuanzang (Hieun
Tsang) Memorial Hall in
Nalanda in hopes that the
friendship they shared for
centuries may also be
rebuilt.<More>
Pak Interested to Close
Siachen
(February 19, 2007)
Pakistan Minister of State
for Information and
Broadcasting acknowledged
the futility of fighting
in "one of the highest
battlefields" where
neither side "has gained
anything" and indicated
willingness to find
closure to stalled talks
.<More>
Nobel Laureate Yunus in
Politics
(February 19, 2007)
Nobel Laureate Mohammed
Yunus, founder of the
Grameen Bank of Bangladesh
and champion of poverty
allieviation and
sustainable development,
announced plans to enter
politics in Bangladesh to
help the nation overcome
the "terrible political
leadership."<More>
Indo-French Air Exercise
(February 19, 2007)
India and France kicked
off the third air combat
exercise with India field
Sukhoi-30s, Mirage-2000s
and MiG-27s and France its
Mirage-2000D and
Mirage-2000V for mutual
exposure to "fighter
tactics" and "build
interoperability."<More>
Vodafone Headsets in India
(February 19, 2007)
China's leading telecom
gear maker the
$7.3-billion ZTE Corp has
reportedly met with
Vodafone Group to set up a
world-class GSM handset
manufacturing hub in India
to meet low-cost handset
requirements for Indian,
Brazil, and Russian
markets.<More>
Swiss Triumph to Expand
5000
(February 19, 2007)
Switzerland headquartered
innerwear brand Triumph
International revealed
plans to employ 5000
workers at its new
manufacturing facility
near Chennai to produce
15-20 million lingerie
units.<More>
Low-Cost US Motels to
India
(February 19, 2007)
US-based Patel Motels
along with others such as
Super8 Motels, Country
Hearth, Best Inns, and
Best Value Inn are to
enter India through the
franchisee route and
develop at least 20
Greenfield properties in
metros and secondary
cities.<More>
Tariff Cut Plans to ASEAN
Levels
(February 19, 2007)
The government is
reportedly planning to cut
peak customs tariff from
the present 12.5% to a
possible 10% in the
upcoming budget but senior
functionaries are
reportedly interested to
drop the tariff to ASEAN
levels of 6-7%.<More>
Italian Haute Couture Line
in India
(February 19, 2007)
Italian USD 833 million
Sixty Group revealed plans
to enter the Indian market
through exclusive
nine-year franchising and
trading partnership with
Delhi-based Indus Clothing.<More>
Apollo Hospitals in Yemen
(February 19, 2007)
The Apollo group of
hospitals has signed an
agreement with Hayel Saeed
Anam group (HSA) to
jointly run a USD 25
million super-specialty
hospital at Taiz in Yemen
by September this year.<More>
AP- Ras Al Khaimah Ceramic
Tile Project
(February 19, 2007)
The Ras Al Khaimah (RAK)
has signed an agreement
with the Government of
Andhra Pradesh (AP) to
invest Rs. 9,000 crore (USD
2 billion) to set up an
alumina plant and aluminum
smelter unit to be used to
produce ceramic tiles.<More>
Toyota's Small Car Plant
(February 19, 2007)
Japanese car major Toyota
Motor Corporation is
reportedly planning an
investment of USD 330-420
million to set up a small
car plant near its
existing facility near
Bangalore with an initial
capacity to manufacture
100,000 cars a year.<More>
Norwegian Orkla Buys MTR
(February 19, 2007)
The USD 8.8 billion
branded consumer goods,
speciality materials and
financial investments
Norwegian company Orkla
has reportedly bought out
MTR Foods at a price of
USD 100 million.<More>
ONGC-ENI Energy Swap Deal
(February 19, 2007)
The Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation (ONGC) and
Iralian ENI SpA signed an
energy swap deal where
ONGC will take a 20-25 per
cent stake in a Congo
block that ENI owns in
return for a 30-35 per
cent stake in Mahanadi
basin block.<More>
Disappointing Cauvery
Verdict
(February 14, 2007)
After 17 years of
deliberation and
unimplemented awards,
the Cauvery Water
Disputes Tribunal passed
a disappointing verdict
where not only were the
four states unhappy but
also disappointing those
who were looking for a
broader direction.<More>
Pakistan Terrorist
Attacks
(February 14, 2007)
As the assailant failed
to explode a bomb inside
the Islamabad airport
another succeeded
earlier to explode one
at the Marriot Hotel
often used by foreigners
and diplomats for
meetings has once again
brought focus into the
issue of terrorism from
Pakistan.<More>
BSF Wants No Habitation
on Bangla Border
(February 09, 2007)
The Border Security
Force (BSF) has proposed
a "no-habitation zone"
of 150 yards along the
long Indo-Bangla border
in West Bengal,
Meghalaya, and Tripura
so it can effectively
manage it and stop
illegal infiltration.<More>
Disinvestment Has
Morphed, Restarted
(February 09, 2007)
In a bid to restart
disinvestment policy
stalled by allies of the
government, Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram
said that the cabinet
has approved the offload
of a small part of its
holding in three public
sector power companies.<More>
40 More Sukhoi Jets, 126
MRCA Plan is On
(February 09, 2007)
The Indian Air Force (IAF)
clarified that it plans
to get 40 more
Sukhoi-30MKIs from
Russia as well as faster
indigenous production of
140 of these fighters in
addition to the 126
multi-role combat
aircraft (MRCA).<More>
ONGC Gets 24 of 52 NELP
VI Blocks
(February 09, 2007)
India approved 52 oil
and gas blocks and and
the Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation (ONGC)
bagged 24 of them.<More>
India to Joins Madrid
Trade Mark System
(February 09, 2007)
The Federal cabinet
approved Indian's
accession to the Madrid
Protocol on
International
Registration of Marks to
provide better and
extensive protection
abroad for Indian marks
owners.<More>
BrahMos on Naval
Aircraft
(February 09, 2007)
The Navy is in the
process of fitting its
long-range maritime
reconnaissance aircraft
such as IL-38, IL-76 and
TU-142 with supersonic
BrahMos missiles
enhancing their
capability to include
striking power at
identified targets.<More>
Achieving a Sustainable
Economic Growth Rate
(February 08, 2007)
In yesterday's piece "Is
the Economic Growth
Sustainable?" we showed
that the Indian economy
has excellent
fundamentals but is also
riddled with risk. In
this article, we will
list various fixes that
are necessary to ensure
that the growth rate
continues.<More>
China's African Safari,
US Plans Military Center
(February 08, 2007)
Abandoned by European
colonists, used as pawns
by the US and Soviet
Union during the Cold
War, and ignored for the
last decade and a half,
Africa nations are back
in favor for engagement
because of Chinese
involvement in that
continent.<More>
No Accord over Palestine
Control
(February 08, 2007)
Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas
Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh continued their
discussions in the
Islamic holy city of
Mecca to make peace and
reach understanding over
disagreement on Israel
and averting a civil war.<More>
NK May Back Off Nuclear
Brink
(February 08, 2007)
After months of
insisting that it is a
nuclear weapons state
and would not give up
its new status,
Pyongyang seems to walk
away from the brink in
return for financial
aid, energy benefits,
and security guarantees.<More>
U.S. Aid to Nepal to
Continue
(February 08, 2007)
The U.S. will continue
to provide financial aid
to the interim Nepali
government even though
it has accommodated the
terrorists Maoists in
the administration.<More>
Indians 3rd Largest
Immigrants to Australia
(February 08, 2007)
Indians have overtaken
Chinese population in
Australia to become the
third largest settlers
in that continent after
Britain (23,320) and New
Zealand (20,250).<More>
Treaty to Ban Weapons in
Space
(February 08, 2007)
Responding to criticism
on its recent test to
destroy satellites in
space, Beijing said that
it was ready to work on
an agreement to prevent
an arms race in space.<More>
Pakistan, Turkey
Initiative on W Asia
(February 08, 2007)
Visiting Pakistan
President Pervez
Musharraf and Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Necdet
Sezer reveled plans to
work together to bring
peace to the West Asia
"and the Muslim world."<More>
Is the Economic Growth
Sustainable?
(February 07, 2007)
If economic reforms keep
pace, in the next
several years, the
Indian economy is
expected to pass Italy,
France, and the UK and
become the fifth largest
in the world spurred by
more efficient
industries competing
with the global system.<More>
Manipur Terror Law
Questioned
(February 07, 2007)
Latest killing of a
Manipuri youth by Army
personnel has brought
into focus the Armed
Forces (Special Powers)
Act (AFSPA) being
questioned by human
rights groups and put to
test by voters later
this week to elect a new
Assembly.<More>
Large Fighter Jet Order
by Mid-2007
(February 07, 2007)
A senior defense
official said that India
would release a tender
seeking to buy 126
fighter planes valued at
USD nine billion by
mid-2007 and coveted by
many giants of military
fighter manufacturers.<More>
India, Bhutan Sign
Revised Friendship
Treaty
(February 07, 2007)
India and Bhutan will
sign an updated version
of the 57-year old
friendship treaty when
King Jigme Khesar
Namgyal Wangchuk visits
India on a six-day visit
that will grant Thimpu
more freedom in foreign
policy and military
procurement.<More>
Singapore Distraught
About SEZ Freeze
(February 07, 2007)
The Singapore government
has demanded explanation
from the government on
the recent policy to
freeze the Special
Economic Zone (SEZ)
approvals and
notifications.<More>
Indo-Maldives
Cooperation on "Good
Terms"
(February 07, 2007)
Visiting Deputy
Education Minister Abdul
Mugsin Mohammed praised
India's co-operation at
"good terms" with his
country.<More>
First Indo-Pak Meet on
Anti Terror Mechanism
(February 07, 2007)
India and Pakistan are
to meet to "identify and
implement
counter-terrorism
initiatives and
investigations."<More>
19 Bangla Politicians
Jailed
(February 07, 2007)
The interim Bangladesh
government arrested
nineteen politicians and
sent them to jail for a
month on charges of
corruption and
anti-state activities.<More>
New Environmental Body
(February 06, 2007)
France has proposed a
new environmental body
that could police,
monitor, and hold
responsible nations that
over-use resources in
the name of development
and received support of
several nations but not
the US, China, India,
and Russia.<More>
India, China Set up Hotline
(February 06, 2007)
When Chinese Foreign Minister
Li Zhaoxing visits India next
week, India and China have
decided to set up a hotline
between their foreign
ministers as part of a roadmap
to implement the 10-point
action plan to boost strategic
cooperation.<More>
Bhutto to Return?
(February 06, 2007)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister
Benazir Bhutto in a self-exile
in the United Kingdom is
reportedly planning to return
to Pakistan in October or
November of this year to
challenge the army's rule.<More>
India on EU Project to Study
Universe
(February 06, 2007)
India will join one of the
largest physics project,
championed by the EU, to study
the evolution of the Universe
seconds after the Big Bang
during the India-EU
Ministerial Science Conference
this week.<More>
Over 1000 BrahMos from Russia
(February 06, 2007)
India's Russian partner NPO
Mashinostroyenie revealed that
it would soon ship over 1,000
supersonic BrahMos missiles to
defense forces within the next
few years bringing to fruition
the 1999 project.<More>
NK Accuses US of Preemptive
Attack Plans
(February 06, 2007)
A senior North Korean official
accused the US of planning a
pre-emptive strike to
neutralize the nuclear
facilities after reports
emerged of a large deployment
of stealth fighters by the US
in South Korea ostensibly for
"training" purposes.<More>
SLG Invites, TNA Declines
(February 06, 2007)
The Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapakse invited the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) and later the
Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
for talks on power sharing;
but his peppered invitation
was spurned by the TNA asking
it to deal with the LTTE
directly.<More>
Govt to Buy SBI, NABARD off
RBI
(February 06, 2007)
In a surprising move, the
government has decided to buy
India's largest bank State
Bank of India (SBI) and
National Bank for Agriculture
and Rural Development (NABARD)
from the current holders
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).<More>
RBI Squeezes Money Supply
(February 06, 2007)
The Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) hiked the Repo Rate to
control money supply making
loans more expensive and also
limiting risky credit exposure
in sensitive areas-this key
rate is the rate at which
banks lend against government
bonds.<More>
Iran's Herbal Remedy against
AIDS
(February 06, 2007)
Iran announced that its
scientists have produced a
herbal medicine that boosts
the immune system but "not
medication to kill the virus"
and is intended to be used as
an alternative to
"anti-retroviral drugs."<More>
Russia Supports Natural
Gas Cartel Idea
(February 05, 2007)
Russia has proposed a
gas producing cartel
idea from Iran along the
lines of the oil
producing cartel so
natural has exporters
can come under a banner
to control output to
keep prices at higher
levels.<More>
Fake Encounters for
Personal Gain
(February 05, 2007)
Elements of the Indian
army and paramilitary
cooperated with rogue
police officers to
perpetrate several
cold-blooded murders of
innocent civilians in
Kashmir and faking them
as counter-insurgency
encounters for personal
recognition and awards.<More>
Farmers to Co-Own SEZs
(February 05, 2007)
With increased
opposition from farmers
over arbitrary
allocation of farm land
for Special Economic
Zone (SEZ)
industrialization, the
federal government seems
to have evolved a
formula where the
dispossessed farmers may
co-own SEZs.<More>
HIV Drug Trial Stopped
(February 05, 2007)
Joint trials of a
microbicide to prevent
HIV infections during
sex conducted in India
and Africa were aborted
after safety reasons
cited by an independent
scientific committee
concluded that there was
increased risk of HIV
infection for women.<More>
New Copter-UAV for Navy
(February 05, 2007)
India is trying to
create an unmanned
aerial vehicle
helicopter capable of
slipping into "danger
zones" below the radar.<More>
Massive Naval War-Game
(February 05, 2007)
The Navy has amassed a
large number of ships,
submarines, aircraft
carrier, and helicopters
in the Arabian Sea to
conduct a "theatre
readiness operational
exercise" called "Tropex."<More>
Pak Mulls Emergency
Option
(February 05, 2007)
Pakistan President
Pervez Musharraf is
considering an option to
postpone elections by
declaring emergency.<More>
GDP Growth Projected at
9%, RBI Hikes Rate
(February 02, 2007)
The government raised
the country's gross
national product (GDP)
growth to nine percent
up from 8.4 percent
because of higher than
expected agriculture
output this fiscal year
but the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) hiked
short-term rates to
check inflation.<More>
US Warning over
India-Iran Relations
(February 02, 2007)
As pointed out in
previous editions, the
US has politely reminded
India about a decade old
legislation that could
impose punitive
sanctions against any
country entering
substantial business
ties with Iran.<More>
Optimism on Kashmir
(February 02, 2007)
Returning from a
nine-day trip to
Pakistan, Hurriyat
Conference Chairman
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said
that an "honourable
solution to the Kashmir
problem" was achievable
shortly and "would be in
line with the
aspirations of the
people."<More>
Indian Women Keeping
Peace
(February 02, 2007)
The first women-only
peacekeeping contingent
of 100 Indian
policewomen arrived in
Liberia as part of the
UN peacekeeping force
and participates in the
15,000 UN force already
on the ground.<More>
NK Warns Second Nuclear
Test
(February 02, 2007)
As US Treasury officials
resumed dialogue with
Pyongyang in Beijing,
North Korea (NK) sounded
impatient when it warned
that it will test
another nuclear device
if Washington does not
quickly resolve its
financial dispute.<More>
Nepal Protests Continue
(February 02, 2007)
Disregarding an
emotional appeal by
Nepali Prime Minister
Girija Prasad Koirala,
Madhesis of the Terai
region continued their
peaceful protests until
they actually see reform
that will gain them
proportional
representation and
electoral reform.<More>
Scientists Fear
Antarctica Damage
(February 02, 2007)
A United Nations climate
report claiming the loss
of 1000 square miles due
to global warming has
evoked a massive
controversy among
scientists with many
saying that the report
has not gone far enough
while others discounting
the impact projections
as conjecture.<More>
Nepal Invites Madhesis,
Promises Federalism
(February 01 , 2007)
The Nepali Prime
Minister Girija Prasad
Koirala has invited
agitating Madhesi
groups, Nepalis of
Indian origin, to eschew
violence and negotiate
with his government to
maintain “peace and
harmony.”<More>
SC Asks for OBC Quota
Justification
(February 01 , 2007)
Accepting a public
interest litigation (PIL)
questioning the
rationale for the quota
for Other Backward
Classes (OBC), the
Supreme Court (SC) has
asked the federal
government to provide
justification for the
legislation.<More>
Indian exports to Saudi
up by 28%
(February 01, 2007)
Since the visit of Saudi
Arabia King Abdullah to
India last January,
Indian exports to that
nations has jumped 28
per cent valued at USD
3.44 billon with
packaged food items
being the largest
exported but experts say
that this is vastly
below potential.<More>
India-ASEAN Relations at
“High Point”
(February 01, 2007)
The Association of South
East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Secretary
General Ong Keng Yong
said that his
organization has “gone
beyond” characterizing
“China as the best
economy and India as a
secondary economy” and
has now accepted India
“as a strong economy.”<More>
Elections Postponed,
Media Curbs in
Bangladesh
(February 01, 2007)
A court forced the
postponement of
elections in Bangladesh
by three months or till
electoral rolls are
revamped and the
government has banned
political and trade
union activities and
restricted "provocative
news.”<More>
LCA Prototype-5
Validation by August
(February 01, 2007)
The fifth prototype of
the two-seater Light
Combat Aircraft (LCA) is
projected to fly by
August in line with
expectation that the
Initial Operational
Clearance (IOC) will be
completed by 2008-09 for
induction into the Air
Force by 2009-10.<More>
Medical Code of Ethics
Not Enforced
(February 01, 2007)
Health Minister Anbumani
Ramdoss admitted that
the Medical Council of
India (MCI) “Code of
Ethics is not being
enforced” and said that
“It is unethical to
advertise for cures that
have not been tested and
scientifically
validated.”<More>
