SOUTH ASIA
Political Front:
Bengali PM Sheikh Haseena has asked the opposition parties to participate in Parliament by giving constructive feedback over potent national issues. In Nepal, the Unified CPN (Maoist) has decided to continue with their nationwide protest programmes until the House discusses the President's move on the army chief row. Meanwhile a 3-days Democracy Conference has recently begun in Bh
utan.
In India at the national front the BJP has finally conceded re evaluation of its personality based party politics in the wake of its elections debacle. All the while PM Man Mohan Singh has announced to delegate more powers to Punchayet System in rural India. In the meanwhile the Maoist threat continues to be a potent security concern.
Geo-strategic Front:
Bangladesh has decided to seek resolution of its maritime disputes with India and Myanmar in an international tribunal through arbitration. Meanwhile Bangladesh has also expressed keenness to include Nepal and Bhutan in establishing the transit with India. President of Maldives has recently paid a successful visit to UK.
India’s Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor, has begun a 3-day visit to military-ruled Burma in a bid to boost military cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation. India has also decided to enhance security along the Chinese border. In the meanwhile India has refused to start back door diplomacy to resume talks with Pakistan, while accusing the nation for recent Indian embassy attacks in Kabul. India has refused to accept OIC’s appointment of a special envoy for Kashmir.
Social Front:
Social activists have expressed serious concern regarding widespread use of physical punishment against children in Bangladesh where a survey conducted by the Children's Opinion Poll 2008 revealed 91% children in Bangladesh reportedly fall victims to corporal punishment in school while 74% at home. A low intensity earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale occurred in the Myanmar-India border region but no casualty or damage was reported.
Human trafficking from India to Middle Eastern countries has emerged as potent social issue. Meanwhile increasing number of cancer patients and the growing suicide rate among Indian Middle class is a major source of concern for the government. also the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been badly damaged by floods.
Economic Front:
The government of Bangladesh has opened the country's 17th land port in Feni district hoping to boost export to seven northeast Indian states. Colombo Stock Exchange in Sri Lanka is paving the way for economic growth. Myanmar has enhanced cooperation with neighboring Bangladesh for the establishment of direct banking system between the two countries in a bid to facilitate bilateral trade. Economists are optimistic that India would be successful in maintaining above 6% growth rate in year 2010. Meanwhile the 2009 Human Development Report (HDR) claims that migrations to the Gulf countries have improved the conditions of poor classes of India.
EAST ASIA
Political Front:
Controversial tycoon Aburizal Bakrie has been elected to lead Indonesia's Golkar party and has announced to back the ruling regime. While in Malaysia, popularity of PM Najeeb seems to be declining according to recent surveys. The Merdeka Centre research firm claimed that 56 % as opposed to 65% reported satisfaction at the premier’s performance. Meanwhile UMNO has started revising the party’s constitution. Moving towards Philippines; President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has grown more unpopular over the past three months and nearly two out of three people disapprove of her performance.
Geo-strategic Front:
Malaysia’s security forces have been placed on alert following a threat by an Indonesian nationalist group which claimed plans to launch a massive attack.
Social Front:
The National Family Planning Coordinating Board of Indonesia (BKKBN) has emphasized on the need to adopt proper mechanism to control chances of demographic imbalances caused by rapid population growth. In Vietnam, the death toll from Typhoon Ketsana has jumped to 162 with hundreds more injured. Also the United Nations has launched an appeal for 74 million U.S. dollars to help 1 million flood-stricken people in the
Philippines for the next six months.
Economic Front:
The Asian Development Bank has announced to lend US$500 million (S$699.4 million) to Indonesia in order to revive its sluggish economy. Meanwhile Indonesia has been making efforts to enhance trade with China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand following plans to set up Free Trade Area (FTA) pacts with these countries under the ASEAN agreement. Malaysia has made a plan to set up the ASEAN Security and Defence Industry Council (ASDIC) aiming at developing the region into a major producer and exporter of defence equipment. India and Thailand have made plan to further expand their FTA pact beyond goods to new areas of services and investments. Britain has agreed to increase its investment in Vietnam to $3 billion in the near future.
CENTRAL ASIA
Political Front:
Nomination of candidates for Azerbaijan's municipal elections began with the announcement of a finalized timetable for municipal elections scheduled for 23rd Dec. Meanwhile six people including two Lebanese; have been found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to long jail terms in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital. In the meanwhile the Kyrgyz president is planning large-scale state reforms in the near future. Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament has unanimously passed a new law removing Russian as the official language. Turkmen president reprimanded the vice Prime Minister for unsatisfactory performance of duties. In the meanwhile the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has denied the death of their leader, Tahir Uldashevas, as a result of missile strike reported on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan on August 27.
Geo-strategic Front:
Talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region have entered a final phase. Besides this, Azerbaijan has been making efforts to enhance military and political ties with Kazakhstan and Pakistan. Meanwhile Azerbaijan has declared Russian and US readiness to discuss joint use of Gabala radar station, to be a positive move. The Kazakhstan government has agreed to allow French military personnel and equipment to transit through the state to Afghanistan. Both countries have also agreed to launch joint satellites. Meanwhile thousands of troops from Russia and four other ex-Soviet nations began military exercises in southern Kazakhstan. Spanish and French governments have urged Kyrgyzstan to prolong air force deals allowing them to use the Manas airbase for transit of troops and supplies to Afghanistan. Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs left his country for a working visit to the US. All the while Kyrgyz President and Russian Presidential Chief-of-Staff have started discussion on possible opening of a second Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan. Also Turkmenistan and Spain seem interested in boosting bilateral relations.
Social Front:
Growing number of AIDS’ Patients in Southern Azerbaijan is a serious concern for the government. According to the 2009 UN Human Development Report, Kyrgyzstan’s level of living has been ranked 120th in the world. Turkmenistan has barred Students from traveling to the U.S.-Linked schools. The Uzbek human rights activists have announced to launch a rally protesting child labor in cotton fields.
Economic/Energy Front:
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on joint development of feasibility study on Trans-Caspian project. All the while U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy has recently paid a visit to Azerbaijan in order to discuss successful development of energy cooperation. Azerbaijan has expressed its intention to increase its gas output to 40-45 billion cubic meters per year in the next ten years. French President Nicolas Sarkozy clinched oil, gas, and nuclear deals worth more than $6 billion with Kazakhstan, establishing France as a key investor in the resource-rich state. Eight months after Kazakhstan’s law on Islamic finance and banking was adopted, a handful of local and international Islamic institutions have been established in the country. Besides this Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have recently signed a water-energy deal. In the meantime Russia has granted Kyrgyzstan a large credit at the request of the United States.
GCC
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL
Political Front:
Five Islamist legislators in Kuwait have recently introduced a bill calling for a total ban on dealing with Israel and proposing up to 10 years in jail for violators. Kuwaiti law already bans dealing with what it calls the "enemy" but does not make a specific reference to any state.
Geo-strategic Front:
The US Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has assured GCC a
nd other Arab countries in the region that their political and security concerns would never be ignored as a consequence of ongoing US-Iran talks. In the meantime Secretary General of GCC has strongly condemned Israeli violations against the Al-Aqsa mosque. In this regard an Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi has called on the Muslim world to stage peaceful marches on Friday. Saudi Arabian ambassador to Pakistan has termed bilateral relations of the nations as exceptional. In the meantime recent visit of Saudi King to Syria depicted a new direction for the two nations. All the while Foreign Minister of UAE has recently paid visit to Cuba seeking ways to boost ties.
Social Front:
Saudi King Abdullah has removed a top holy man who demanded that religious scholars should examine the curriculum at a new flagship mixed-gender university. 2009 UN Human Developing Index has placed Kuwait at top among Arab countries in terms of Human mobility and development.
Nuclear Energy Front:
The United Arab Emirates has expressed its ambition to have a nuclear reactor; in commercial operation in 2017 as part of a $ 40 billion atomic energy programme.
Economic Front:
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) has claimed that Saudi Arabia would experience growth, albeit slowly, with the government’s “massive investment expenditure” serving as the “key driver” in 2009. Despite lack of political determination for (economic) diversification, Kuwait still leads its Gulf peers in posting the largest surplus in the region.
TURKEY
Political Front:
Turkey's Second biggest opposition party, MHP has accused ruling AKP of using psychological warfare in the Kurdish issue. Despite government’s efforts to settle Kurdish issue, fierce rivalry between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) for Kurdish votes in southeastern Anatolia has hampered progress. Turkish ruling party has made serious efforts to bring a solution to the Kurdish issue by granting full citizenship rights to Turkey's Kurdish citizens. However it has not ruled out a military option to discourage PKK from militancy and terrorism. A referendum to bring about constitutional change, in case of the parliaments failure is also being considered. a recent survey by a national think tank revealed an overwhelming majority of Kurds being against division in Turk.
In the meanwhile thousands protesting in Istanbul's Taksim square against the ongoing Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) clashed with police.
Geo-strategic Front:
Turkish Foreign Minister has strongly condemned Israeli attacks against Palestinians worshipping in Masjid-e-Al-Aqsa. Also Turkish President has urged Armenia to end occupation of Azerbaijani Territory. The Turkish President has pointed out the possibility of Turkish refusal to join EU after the completion of negotiations, while declaring Turkey to be an asset for the European countries. Also President Gul has greatly appreciated Iran's decision to allow new controls on its nuclear energy program.
Social Front:
An elderly woman in Turkish city of Eskisehir has been allegedly refused medical examination by a doctor for wearing headscarf. Besides this, swine flu has emerged as potent social issue being faced by Turkish government today.
Economic Front:
Foreign exchange reserves of the Turkish Central Bank have decreased to $70 billion yet experts seem to be quite hopeful for the improvement in the overall economic structure.
Political Front:
Bengali PM Sheikh Haseena has asked the opposition parties to participate in Parliament by giving constructive feedback over potent national issues. In Nepal, the Unified CPN (Maoist) has decided to continue with their nationwide protest programmes until the House discusses the President's move on the army chief row. Meanwhile a 3-days Democracy Conference has recently begun in Bh
utan.In India at the national front the BJP has finally conceded re evaluation of its personality based party politics in the wake of its elections debacle. All the while PM Man Mohan Singh has announced to delegate more powers to Punchayet System in rural India. In the meanwhile the Maoist threat continues to be a potent security concern.
Geo-strategic Front:
Bangladesh has decided to seek resolution of its maritime disputes with India and Myanmar in an international tribunal through arbitration. Meanwhile Bangladesh has also expressed keenness to include Nepal and Bhutan in establishing the transit with India. President of Maldives has recently paid a successful visit to UK.
India’s Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor, has begun a 3-day visit to military-ruled Burma in a bid to boost military cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation. India has also decided to enhance security along the Chinese border. In the meanwhile India has refused to start back door diplomacy to resume talks with Pakistan, while accusing the nation for recent Indian embassy attacks in Kabul. India has refused to accept OIC’s appointment of a special envoy for Kashmir.
Social Front:
Social activists have expressed serious concern regarding widespread use of physical punishment against children in Bangladesh where a survey conducted by the Children's Opinion Poll 2008 revealed 91% children in Bangladesh reportedly fall victims to corporal punishment in school while 74% at home. A low intensity earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale occurred in the Myanmar-India border region but no casualty or damage was reported.
Human trafficking from India to Middle Eastern countries has emerged as potent social issue. Meanwhile increasing number of cancer patients and the growing suicide rate among Indian Middle class is a major source of concern for the government. also the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been badly damaged by floods.
Economic Front:
The government of Bangladesh has opened the country's 17th land port in Feni district hoping to boost export to seven northeast Indian states. Colombo Stock Exchange in Sri Lanka is paving the way for economic growth. Myanmar has enhanced cooperation with neighboring Bangladesh for the establishment of direct banking system between the two countries in a bid to facilitate bilateral trade. Economists are optimistic that India would be successful in maintaining above 6% growth rate in year 2010. Meanwhile the 2009 Human Development Report (HDR) claims that migrations to the Gulf countries have improved the conditions of poor classes of India.
EAST ASIA
Political Front:
Controversial tycoon Aburizal Bakrie has been elected to lead Indonesia's Golkar party and has announced to back the ruling regime. While in Malaysia, popularity of PM Najeeb seems to be declining according to recent surveys. The Merdeka Centre research firm claimed that 56 % as opposed to 65% reported satisfaction at the premier’s performance. Meanwhile UMNO has started revising the party’s constitution. Moving towards Philippines; President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has grown more unpopular over the past three months and nearly two out of three people disapprove of her performance.
Geo-strategic Front:
Malaysia’s security forces have been placed on alert following a threat by an Indonesian nationalist group which claimed plans to launch a massive attack.
Social Front:
The National Family Planning Coordinating Board of Indonesia (BKKBN) has emphasized on the need to adopt proper mechanism to control chances of demographic imbalances caused by rapid population growth. In Vietnam, the death toll from Typhoon Ketsana has jumped to 162 with hundreds more injured. Also the United Nations has launched an appeal for 74 million U.S. dollars to help 1 million flood-stricken people in the
Philippines for the next six months.Economic Front:
The Asian Development Bank has announced to lend US$500 million (S$699.4 million) to Indonesia in order to revive its sluggish economy. Meanwhile Indonesia has been making efforts to enhance trade with China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand following plans to set up Free Trade Area (FTA) pacts with these countries under the ASEAN agreement. Malaysia has made a plan to set up the ASEAN Security and Defence Industry Council (ASDIC) aiming at developing the region into a major producer and exporter of defence equipment. India and Thailand have made plan to further expand their FTA pact beyond goods to new areas of services and investments. Britain has agreed to increase its investment in Vietnam to $3 billion in the near future.
CENTRAL ASIA
Political Front:
Nomination of candidates for Azerbaijan's municipal elections began with the announcement of a finalized timetable for municipal elections scheduled for 23rd Dec. Meanwhile six people including two Lebanese; have been found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to long jail terms in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital. In the meanwhile the Kyrgyz president is planning large-scale state reforms in the near future. Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament has unanimously passed a new law removing Russian as the official language. Turkmen president reprimanded the vice Prime Minister for unsatisfactory performance of duties. In the meanwhile the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has denied the death of their leader, Tahir Uldashevas, as a result of missile strike reported on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan on August 27.
Geo-strategic Front:
Talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region have entered a final phase. Besides this, Azerbaijan has been making efforts to enhance military and political ties with Kazakhstan and Pakistan. Meanwhile Azerbaijan has declared Russian and US readiness to discuss joint use of Gabala radar station, to be a positive move. The Kazakhstan government has agreed to allow French military personnel and equipment to transit through the state to Afghanistan. Both countries have also agreed to launch joint satellites. Meanwhile thousands of troops from Russia and four other ex-Soviet nations began military exercises in southern Kazakhstan. Spanish and French governments have urged Kyrgyzstan to prolong air force deals allowing them to use the Manas airbase for transit of troops and supplies to Afghanistan. Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs left his country for a working visit to the US. All the while Kyrgyz President and Russian Presidential Chief-of-Staff have started discussion on possible opening of a second Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan. Also Turkmenistan and Spain seem interested in boosting bilateral relations.
Social Front:
Growing number of AIDS’ Patients in Southern Azerbaijan is a serious concern for the government. According to the 2009 UN Human Development Report, Kyrgyzstan’s level of living has been ranked 120th in the world. Turkmenistan has barred Students from traveling to the U.S.-Linked schools. The Uzbek human rights activists have announced to launch a rally protesting child labor in cotton fields.
Economic/Energy Front:
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on joint development of feasibility study on Trans-Caspian project. All the while U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy has recently paid a visit to Azerbaijan in order to discuss successful development of energy cooperation. Azerbaijan has expressed its intention to increase its gas output to 40-45 billion cubic meters per year in the next ten years. French President Nicolas Sarkozy clinched oil, gas, and nuclear deals worth more than $6 billion with Kazakhstan, establishing France as a key investor in the resource-rich state. Eight months after Kazakhstan’s law on Islamic finance and banking was adopted, a handful of local and international Islamic institutions have been established in the country. Besides this Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have recently signed a water-energy deal. In the meantime Russia has granted Kyrgyzstan a large credit at the request of the United States.
GCC
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL
Political Front:
Five Islamist legislators in Kuwait have recently introduced a bill calling for a total ban on dealing with Israel and proposing up to 10 years in jail for violators. Kuwaiti law already bans dealing with what it calls the "enemy" but does not make a specific reference to any state.
Geo-strategic Front:
The US Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has assured GCC a
nd other Arab countries in the region that their political and security concerns would never be ignored as a consequence of ongoing US-Iran talks. In the meantime Secretary General of GCC has strongly condemned Israeli violations against the Al-Aqsa mosque. In this regard an Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi has called on the Muslim world to stage peaceful marches on Friday. Saudi Arabian ambassador to Pakistan has termed bilateral relations of the nations as exceptional. In the meantime recent visit of Saudi King to Syria depicted a new direction for the two nations. All the while Foreign Minister of UAE has recently paid visit to Cuba seeking ways to boost ties.Social Front:
Saudi King Abdullah has removed a top holy man who demanded that religious scholars should examine the curriculum at a new flagship mixed-gender university. 2009 UN Human Developing Index has placed Kuwait at top among Arab countries in terms of Human mobility and development.
Nuclear Energy Front:
The United Arab Emirates has expressed its ambition to have a nuclear reactor; in commercial operation in 2017 as part of a $ 40 billion atomic energy programme.
Economic Front:
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) has claimed that Saudi Arabia would experience growth, albeit slowly, with the government’s “massive investment expenditure” serving as the “key driver” in 2009. Despite lack of political determination for (economic) diversification, Kuwait still leads its Gulf peers in posting the largest surplus in the region.
TURKEY
Political Front:
Turkey's Second biggest opposition party, MHP has accused ruling AKP of using psychological warfare in the Kurdish issue. Despite government’s efforts to settle Kurdish issue, fierce rivalry between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) for Kurdish votes in southeastern Anatolia has hampered progress. Turkish ruling party has made serious efforts to bring a solution to the Kurdish issue by granting full citizenship rights to Turkey's Kurdish citizens. However it has not ruled out a military option to discourage PKK from militancy and terrorism. A referendum to bring about constitutional change, in case of the parliaments failure is also being considered. a recent survey by a national think tank revealed an overwhelming majority of Kurds being against division in Turk.
In the meanwhile thousands protesting in Istanbul's Taksim square against the ongoing Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) clashed with police.
Geo-strategic Front:
Turkish Foreign Minister has strongly condemned Israeli attacks against Palestinians worshipping in Masjid-e-Al-Aqsa. Also Turkish President has urged Armenia to end occupation of Azerbaijani Territory. The Turkish President has pointed out the possibility of Turkish refusal to join EU after the completion of negotiations, while declaring Turkey to be an asset for the European countries. Also President Gul has greatly appreciated Iran's decision to allow new controls on its nuclear energy program.
Social Front:
An elderly woman in Turkish city of Eskisehir has been allegedly refused medical examination by a doctor for wearing headscarf. Besides this, swine flu has emerged as potent social issue being faced by Turkish government today.
Economic Front:
Foreign exchange reserves of the Turkish Central Bank have decreased to $70 billion yet experts seem to be quite hopeful for the improvement in the overall economic structure.
_____________________________________________________
Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and developed jointly by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and developed jointly by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
No comments:
Post a Comment