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Foreign Affairs |
According to foreign trade
and location marketing of
German state of Bavaria Thies Claussen, India may
soon assume the second
largest foreign investor
in the state known for
technology and industry.<More>
India Rises on "Positive
Influence"
(March 06, 2007)
A survey by BBC World
Service radio of 28,000
people in 27 countries
found Japan, France, the
European Union and Canada
to have the most positive
influence while India was
the only nation to have
vastly improved its global
stature last year.<More>
Sunni-Shia Consensus?
(March 05, 2007)
Iranian hard-line
President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad and Saudi King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
have reportedly agreed to
stem increasing rift
between Sunni and Shia
Muslims that is dragging
West Asia into crisis.<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>
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>
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>
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>
First India-Russia-China
Structured Meeting
(January 30 , 2007)
India, Russia, and China will
hold their first structured
foreign ministerial meeting in
New Delhi seen as an effort to
coordinate response and
efforts in international
affairs, although the foreign
ministers have met thrice over
the last 2 years .<More>
Lebanon Aid Pledge Mired in
Internal Strife
(January 29, 2007)
Saudi Arabia and United States
got 30 other nations to pledge
USD 7.6 billion to shore up a
shaky Lebanese government led
by Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora under siege by
Hezbollah-led Shiite
population.<More>
Chavez Armed With Decree
Powers
(January 23, 2007)
Empowering President Hugo
Chavez with sweeping powers to
enforce economic, social, and
political change via,
Venezuelan lawmakers called
such measures a “historic
necessity” to initiate an
“unstoppable” process.<More>
Mexican War on Drugs
(January 22, 2007)
Mexico said that it has
deployed 7,600 soldiers in the
Pacific coast state of
Guerrero to neutralize drug
gangs who have committed
atrocities such as beheadings
and perpetrated violence in
resort haven Acapulco.<More>
Halted Support for US Iraq
Strategy
(January 22, 2007)
Even as US allies in West Asia
expressed support for the US’s
new Iraq strategy, Riyadh
haltingly expressed support
but also doubted the
even-handedness of the
government in Baghdad to deal
with the Sunni population or
its capacity to stop sectarian
violence.<More>
Hamas Wants Internal
Peace
(January 16, 2007)
Hamas leader and
Palestinian Prime
Minister Ismail Haniyeh
urged Palestinians to
“halt internal clashes”
and renewed his call for
a “national unity
government” but
President Mahmoud
Abbas’s Fattah party
quickly rejected the
call as “vague.” <More>
Indo-Portugal Ties Takes
Off
(January 16, 2007)
Portugal President
Professor Anibal Cavaco
Silva, a politically
representative
parliamentary
delegation, and large
business delegation
visited India and signed
4 significant
agreements.<More>
Saudi Cabinet Changes Possible
(January 10, 2007)
Saudi Arabian King Abdullah is
reportedly considering his
first Cabinet reshuffle and
could include changes to
important positions as foreign
minister and oil minister in
order to induce new talent
into his regime.<More>
Ortega Assumes Power in
Nicaragua
(January 10, 2007)
Ringing warning bells in
Washington, former
revolutionary Daniel Ortega
assumed office in a ceremony
attended by a dozen
anti-American world leaders
and left ideologues even as he
promised to balance economic
and ideological considerations.<More>
New Goal-Oriented Iraq Strategy
(January 08, 2007)
As US Generals gave a sobering view of
progress made by their troops in Iraq, a
recent report suggested that President
George Bush may introduce a new policy in
Iraq that includes a set of goals that the
government must meet.<
Abbas Shows Street Muscle
(January 08, 2007)
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas’s supporters
showed their strength through a massive
congregation at a stadium in Gaza City and
encouraged Fattah party strongman Mohammed
Dahlan threaten hard-line party Hamas of
reprisals.<More>
Indo-Japan Ties Need Boost
(January 04, 2007)
Given regional and global developments
arising out of globalization and nuclear
weapons program of North Korea, industry
leaders are asking for a more active
political engagement of Japan which they say
will be more active this century.<More>
Saddam Hanged, West Asia
Crisis Intensifies
(January 02, 2007)
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein convicted by a court
of questionable credentials
following controversial
judicial process was hanged
heightening the growing divide
in the Islamic world that
threatens to envelop the
region and indirectly the
world.<More>
Islamists Driven Out of
Mogadishu
(January 02, 2007)
Islamists controlling Somali
capital Mogadishu the last 6
months and enforcing medieval
laws were driven out by
Western-supported Somali
government troops and backed
by Ethiopian tanks and MIG
fighter jets.<More>
Ethiopia Declares War
against Islamists
(December 27, 2006)
Ethiopia formally declared war
on Islamists in neighboring
Somalia claiming that such
dramatic step was necessary to
protect its sovereignty and
its warplanes bombed two
Islamist-held airfields in
Somalia including the one in
capital Mogadishu.<More>
Israel Proposes Prisoner Exchange
(December 26, 2006)
In an act of good faith, Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert suggested that his
government would be willing to release
Palestinian prisoners even though the
captured Israeli soldiers remain in Gaza but
also proposed a formal agreement with the
Palestinian Authority.<More>
Somalia in “State of War”
with Ethiopia
(December 25, 2006)
Somali Islamic leader Sheik
Hassan ahir Aweys claimed that
the nation is in a “state of
war…against Ethiopia”
contradicting his earlier
pledge to return to peace
talks with the government and
is now asking “All Somalis” to
“take part in struggle.”<More>
Iran Sanctions, Shaky Azeri
Relations
(December 25, 2006)
After inviting UNSC sanctions
and losing civic level
elections, Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought to
upgrade his souring domestic
popularity by escalating
tirades against the West and
called President Bush "the
most hated person" in the
world.<More>
ICG Says Iraq Close to Collapse
(December 20, 2006)
As the Pentagon reported an all-time high
violence levels, an International Crisis
Group (ICG) report warned that Iraq is on
the brink of total disintegration and drag
the entire West Asian region into a regional
war.<More>
Chavez Single Party System
(December 20, 2006)
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez initiated
steps to consolidate his landslide
re-election to move his nation towards a
single party system through consolidation of
loosely allied parties and concentrate more
powers to himself.<More>
Elections in Palestine
(December 19, 2006)
Within a year of elections
that returned hard-line Hamas
into power resulting in the
abortion of the
Israeli-Palestinian peace
process and internal discord
and civil-war conditions,
Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas announced plans that he
is pushing ahead with early
elections.<More>
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No Sanctions Says NK
(December 19, 2006)
A defiant Pyongyang declaring
itself a nuclear power and
threatening to increase its
arsenal unless UN sanctions
imposed on it since its
October 9 nuclear test and
remove financial restrictions
that prompted the bankrupt
nation to break-off the 6
nation dialogue 13 months ago.<More>
Manmohan’s Japan Visit
(December 18, 2006)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Japan
where he invited greater investment from
Japan under a Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and also
requested Tokyo’s support for the Indo-US
civilian nuclear deal in the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG).<More>
Hamas Takes Over Gaza Border
(December 15, 2006)
After weeks of politically motivated
assassinations and murder of children, Hamas
gunmen fought fiercely with Fatah-allied
border guards to seize control of the Gaza
Strip’s EU-monitored border crossing with
Egypt.<More>
Iran Wants US Out of Iraq
(December 11, 2006)
Even as Iran said it will help when the US
pulls out of the region, the Iraqi President
rejected recommendations by the Iraq Study
Group because it contained “dangerous
articles” undermining “the sovereignty of
Iraq ” and was an “insult to the Iraqi
people.”<More>
Hezbollah Show of Force
(December 11, 2006)
Heightening the political deadlock, the
pro-Syrian Hezbollah led massive
demonstrations outside government offices
demanding the government’s dissolution
accusing it of “corrupt” leadership but
Lebanon ’s west-backed cabinet vowed not to
give in.”<More>
Mauritius Offers 2 Islands
(December 08, 2006)
During negotiations for a
bilateral trade pact,
Mauritius offered two islands
over 1000 kilometers from its
borders measuring 70 square
kilometers to India to develop
for tourism, trade, or
strategic purposes.<More>
Chávez Wins a Polarized Nation
(December 07, 2006)
In yet another irritant for globalization
enthusiasts, Venezuelan President Hugo
Chávez won the presidential election by a
landslide for the 3rd time based on a strong
economy and blatant anti-Americanism and
global economy he calls “socialist
revolution.”<More>
Jordan King Visit
(December 05, 2006)
King Abdullah II visited India on a three
day state visit and both nations used the
visit to boost ties by signing four
agreements to promote and protect
investments, cooperate in agriculture,
conduct exchange programs, and increase
tourism.<More>
No Role for Iran in Iraq
(December 01, 2006)
US President George Bush met Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki to review the Iraqi
situation and assured him of giving him the
“the tools,” “capacity to respond,” and that
the US was not looking for a “graceful exit”
promising to stay “until the job is
complete.”<More>
Left Win in Ecuador
(November 30, 2006)
Adding to the string of
leftist victories in South
America, a Leftist economist,
an ally of Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez, with
radical views such as cutting
off relations with
international lenders, won the
Presidency of poor and
politically unstable Ecuador.<More>
Israel’s Peace Plan
(November 30, 2006)
Israel unveiled several steps
that, if met, could lead to
serious peace negotiation with
Palestinians leading to
prisoner exchange, withdrawal
of Israeli forces from many
parts of West Bank, ease of
transit checkpoints, and
lifting of financial
sanctions.<More>
Good Voter turnout in Bahrain
(November 27, 2006)
Despite high tension between the Government and Shia
political groups based on allegations of planned
rigging, voter turnout in Bahrain parliamentary
elections was high surrounded by controversy over grant
of citizenship to non-Shia groups.<More>
Indo-Mozambique Agriculture
Plan
(November 22, 2006)
India and Republic of
Mozambique signed a work plan
to cooperate in agriculture
includes training programs for
Mozambique experts in India,
and technical assistance in
agriculture, horticulture,
animal husbandry, and
fisheries.<More>
India Offers ICT to Brunei
(November 22, 2006)
India told a visiting
delegation from Burnei
Darussalam that it is prepared
to shared its expertise
Information Communication
Technology (ICT) to further
that nation’s plans in
e-governance, IT education, IT
parks, and cyber security to
protect critical
infrastructure.<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>
Iran Flexes Missile Muscle Again
(November 17, 2006)
In a surprise and unscheduled military exercise
displaying its conventional weapons strength and leaving
Israel very worried, Iran fired a battery and range of
land and ship-borne missiles and maneuvers along with
anti-tank and anti-helicopter weapons.<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>
India 3rd Largest Investor in
Belgium
(November 08, 2006)
Making a strong pitch for Indian
investments in Belgium, visiting
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said
that his country has fought red tape
and liberalized tax and labor laws
and is becoming a “magnet” for
investments making India is the 3rd
largest investor.<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>
Honorable Citation for Army in
Lebanon
(October 31, 2006)
The 4 Sikh Regiment, that
participated in the United
Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL), received the
Force Commander’s Unit
Citation for commendable
service during the war in
South Lebanon.<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>
Russia-EU Energy Disagreement
(October 23, 2006)
Depending on over 25% of energy from
Russia, the 25 EU nations are
unable to agree on how to demand
“predictability” in energy supply
while balancing values and economic
interests.<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>
Softened North Korean Sanctions
(October 16, 2006)
Facing severe opposition from China, the UN
Security Council led by the US whittle down the
sanctions targeted at North Korea (NK) as
punishment for its nuclear test even as NK and
Iran rejected the sanctions as discriminatory
and “gangster-like.”<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-Mozambique to Co-Operate on
Mining
(October 11, 2006)
A Republic of Mozambique delegation
led by its Minister for Mineral
Resources Esperanca Laurinda Bias,
Mozambique is visiting India to
discuss bilateral cooperation in the
mining sector, related technologies,
and expertise sharing.<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>
Military Coup in Thailand
(September 22, 2006)
The Thai Army took over administration from to break
deadlock and stop “rampant corruption” in the 74 year
old democracy but promised to return “power to the
people” as soon as possible but after cleaning the
political system.<More>
Energy Usage Patterns and Social
Progress
(September 14, 2006)
India estimates that it will consume
70% more energy by 2030 and although
it seeks to generate energy through
other sources such as nuclear, coal,
and renewable sources, about 60% of
this will be from oil and natural
gas.<More>
India Ups CFTC Contribution
(September 14, 2006)
Pledging support to “develop
institutional capacity among the
developing member countries” of the
Commonwealth, India promised to
increase its contribution to the
Commonwealth Fund for Technical
Cooperation by £50,000 to £850,000.<More>
US-Russia Civilian N-Deal
(July 10, 2006)
US President George Bush is
reportedly wanting to
reverse decades of nuclear
policy isolating Russia to
permit extensive civilian
nuclear cooperation with
that country which could
result in large monetary
gains for Moscow but may
face opposition in the
Congress. <More>
Putin Criticizes US
(July 04, 2006)
Ahead of the Russia-US
summit next month, Russian
President Vladimir Putin
trashed American and EU
accusations of Russia’s
“neo-imperial ambitions” and
“energy blackmail” and
warned of American diktat in
international relations. <More>
Uzbekistan Rejoins Russian-led Defense Pact
(June 28, 2006)
Uzbekistan rejoined a Russia-led Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) allowing the organization to
extend its reach beyond the borders of the former Soviet
Union.<More>
Russia Plans to Mine Rare Metals on Moon
(June 14, 2006)
Russia announced plans to start experiments to try
mining rare earth metals and minerals from the moon that
could be used in the electronics and medical equipment.<More>
Tenuous Russia-US Relations
(June 07, 2006)
Russian President Vladimir Putin
acknowledged that his country is
“strengthening” its “cooperation” with
the US “in the international arena” and
cited the positive interaction to
provide a renewed deal to Iran.<More>
No Russia-China Accord on Pipeline
(March 22, 2006)
Visiting Russian President and his Chinese counterpart
Hu Jintao signed three pacts but failed to agree on a
pipeline to carry Natural Gas from Siberia to China.<More>
Russia, US Compete for Lunar Helium-3
(January 30, 2006)
Russia & the US are in a new race to built permanent
bases on the moon to begin an industrial-scale
delivery of the rare isotope Helium-3 by 2020. <More>
EU’s one-China policy
(July 14, 2006)
Seeking to generate goodwill,
visiting European Parliament
President Josep Borrell Fontelles
reiterated the European Union (EU)
one-China policy and appreciated
China's rapid growth and
increasingly important role in
international affairs. <More>
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