Week # 111, Dated 13-19 March 2010
TURKEY
Political Front: Turkish ruling party has finalized a draft package to bring amendments in the Constitution. The ruling party is seeking support from the opposition. Meanwhile a referendum is also being considered as a possible option to seek approval for the package.
As regards the issue of the coup plot; a Turkish top General has denied allegations against his soldiers being involved in planning a coup to topple the ruling regime. He also condemned police for blocking a military truck loaded with ammunition on the basis of some e-mail and for not keeping the army in the loop. All the while he claimed that military-civilian relations would never be severed.
Meanwhile the Council of Europe’s advisory body has recommended that Turkey introduce legislation making it possible for religious communities to acquire and maintain a legal personality.
Geo-strategic Front: Turkish PM has taken a harsh position against undocumented Armenian workers in Turkey, threatening to expel thousands amid tensions over allegations that Armenians were victims of “genocide” during the last days of the Ottoman Empire.
The Turkish PM stated that news about Iranian nuclear program should be considered a ‘rumor’.
European Union's commissioner for enlargement said that the visa procedures between EU and Turkey might be lifted "some day". Meanwhile President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has announced to hold meeting with Greek Cypriot leader to discuss various issues.
Turkish President has termed Africa an important strategic partner. Meanwhile the Turkish public has strongly condemned Israeli acts of aggression against Palestinians.
Economic Front: The partners in the planned Nabucco natural-gas pipeline to Europe are to conclude a production-sharing agreement in April.
Recent figures on industrial production index (IPI) in Turkey have indicated slow recovery in the country's macroeconomic outlook. Meanwhile Turkey and the IMF failed to reach an agreement on a loan stand-by deal because of projected distribution of extra income in case Turkey grows more than 3.5 percent in 2010. Besides that unemployment in Turkey has increased remarkably.
Turkish close economic ties with Britain, South Korea, Africa and Iraq remained important.
Social Front: 'Nevruz', an ancient festival marking the start of the Iranian New Year, has been warmly welcomed by thousands of Turkish people.
Turkey's Higher Education Board has overruled its earlier decision to grant Turkish students who study abroad the right to transfer to Turkish universities without taking the university entrance exam.
GCC
Political Front: Last week Yemeni air force launched strikes against Al-Qaeda hide outs for two consecutive days that reportedly resulted in certain Al Qaeda casualties. Meanwhile Yemen's northern rebels have freed 178 soldiers and civilians as part of a cease-fire agreement with the government.
A conservative lawmaker in Kuwait pledged to bring up in the parliament the issue of making the veil mandatory for elected and appointed officials, a move that threatens further divisions in the Kuwaiti parliament.
Bahrain’s business community has started thinking in terms of making a political society in order to enter the parliament and help promote its views and interests.
Geo-strategic Front: Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabian citizens would soon be able to travel between the two countries using their identity cards instead of passports.
Meanwhile a society dedicated to resisting the normalization of ties with Israel has urged the upper chamber of the bicameral parliament to endorse a draft law to criminalize contacts with Israelis.
Economic Front: Aggregate earnings of GCC companies showed a second consecutive year of decline. With 67 percent of companies declaring results so far, aggregate results show a decline of 5 percent for GCC as a whole for 2009 versus an 18 percent expansion in MSCI EM EPS, and a 9 percent contraction in S&P 500 EPS for the year.
Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has signed three Memorandums of Understanding with three different specialized companies to transfer technology of date palm tissue cultivation.
Social Front: Private recruitment offices in the Eastern Province have increased the waiting time for Indonesian housemaids from seven weeks to three months.
A Kuwaiti conservative parliamentary bloc has started putting pressure on the social affairs and labor minister to take stringent action against those who allowed a women's football team to take part in a regional tournament. Meanwhile a Bahraini lawmaker has urged the country's civil society, political societies, media, and upper chamber to support a drive by the lower chamber to ban alcohol in Bahrain.
FERTILE CRESCENT
Political Front: Several Egyptian opposition groups have asked for political reforms and more freedom. The groups further demanded an end to the concentration of power in the president's hands. They also called for peaceful protests ahead of parliamentary polls due in October. Meanwhile the National Democratic Party (NDP) has denied accusations of a secret deal struck with certain opposition parties to divide the Muslim Brotherhood’s current parliamentary seats amongst them.
With nearly 80 percent of the votes counted from Iraq's March 7 parliamentary electi
ons, the main winners appear to be Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and challenger Iyad Allawi. But the two front-runners are neck and neck. The vote count so far shows Allawi's Al-Iraqiyah coalition narrowly ahead of Maliki's State of Law alliance by less than 9,000 votes. The Iraqi National Alliance, a coalition of Shi'ite religious groups, looks set to come in third, followed by the Kurdistan Alliance, composed of the two main factions in the autonomous Kurdish region. Parties have got engaged in coalition talks even before completion of vote count. Meanwhile Iran congratulated Iraq for successfully holding elections.
Geo-strategic Front: Arab countries have reportedly started loosing faith in American role as arbitrator to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue on account of its ‘biased’ attitude in favor of Israel.
Economic Front: As an anti-crisis measure, the government of Egypt has aimed stimulus money at large infrastructure development projects, including water treatment plants, railways, highways and housing. Around LE 23 billion (€3.1 billion) has been issued since October 2008 to stimulate the economy and more money is expected to be added to it.
Social Front: The one-day conference has been organized by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which groups 57 members to form the world's largest Islamic assembly, is to be co-chaired by host Egypt and Turkey.
Employees of the Islam Online (IOL) website continued their sit-in for the third day running at their Sixth of October offices, demanding settlement packages after the majority of them submitted their resignation. These were spurred by warnings of mass lay-offs and employee investigations by the website’s Qatari owner.
Meanwhile Egypt has been listed as an “enemy of the internet” by Reporters without Borders as a US State Department 2009 report on human rights highlighted Egypt’s ill-treatment of bloggers and internet activists in 2009.
CENTRAL ASIA
Political Front: A jailed Azerbaijan opposition journalist has been pardoned.
Opposition forces in Kyrgyzstan outlined the requirements for the Kyrgyz government to be performed until March 24, 2010.
Meanwhile Tajik President has rejected criticism of last month's parliamentary elections, describing them as democratic and transparent.
Geo-strategic Front: Last week Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan agreed on the main issues of the draft Agreement on joint activities at the level of border and customs services and internal affairs bodies to ensure security in the Caspian Sea.
High officials of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan held a meeting to discuss perspective of cooperation. Meanwhile Kazakhstan and Norway have signed agreements to enhance cooperation in various fields.
Tajik President discussed Afghan issue with his Turkmen counterpart during his visit to Tajikistan. Meanwhile Kazakh President paid an official visit to Uzbekistan and discussed areas of cooperation.
Russia has emphasized greatly on close ties with Turkmenistan.
Economic Front: Kazakh oil and gas exports have increased by 16.7% in January as compared to the same period last year.
Japan has given US$1.5 million to WHO for improving healthcare on Tajik-Afghan border.
Social Front: The U.S. Helsinki Commission has criticized a Baku court's rejection of appeals by two Azerbaijani bloggers against their prison sentences.
Over 2,000 people have been evacuated from several villages in eastern Kazakhstan due to severe flooding caused by melting snow.
The director of the OzenMunaiGaz energy company has been fired amid a strike by thousands of oil workers in southwestern Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile RSF has strongly condemned Kyrgyz government over the issue of harassment of opposition media persons.
EAST ASIA
Political Front: Thai PM has again invoked the internal security Act in order to contain Red-Shirt protestors; who have announced to launch a rally asking government to hold elections. Meanwhile police commanders have assured to let protestors hold peaceful demonstrations.
Malaysian cabinet has agreed to have the ISA amended, among others on the detention period, rights and treatment of ISA detainees, the powers of the Home Minister, detention without trial and on the issue of perception that it was being abused for political interests.
UN General Assembly President Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki has called for the implementation of the 1996 Tripoli Agreement, a two decade old peace act between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF).
Geo-strategic Front: Indonesians seem quite excited about upcoming visit of the US President Obama that has been delayed right now due to his domestic commitments.
Economic Front: Positive hopes about US-Indonesian economic ties prevail in Indonesia.
Vietnam has long be
en the largest producer of coffee and has now become the world's second biggest exporter.
Social Front: The largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah, has declared that smoking is haram, or forbidden under Islamic law. As a response the Religious Affairs Minister has condemned the organization for its anti-tobacco edict, saying it should not cause “restlessness” among public.
Cambodia has temporarily barred its citizens from marrying South Korean men after two dozen women were sold into marriage by matchmakers.
Sourcing contracts between Nestlé and Indonesian palm oil producer Sinar Mas have been terminated following criticism from environmental pressure groups. The move by the world's largest food group came after Greenpeace released a report this week which looked into its sourcing practices. The environmentalist group identified the oil producers as guilty of mass deforestation in its production of palm oil.
Seventeen of 18 volcanoes in Indonesia are on alert status and emitting toxic gas.
SOUTH ASIA
Political Front: Amidst political crisis in Nepal, UN decision to send its special mission to ensure peace has raised people’s hopes. The Government of Nepal however has to approve the UN proposal.
Meanwhile opposition Maoists have stepped up consultations with smaller parties, apparently in a bid to secure their support for launching a no-trust motion against the coalition government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has warned his former military commander, General Sarath Fonseka, against entering into politics. Meanwhile Sri Lankan Election Commissioner has ruled out the possibility of having foreign observers at the counting centers of upcoming parliamentary polls.
Geo-strategic Front: Bangladeshi PM has paid an official visit to China in a bid to boost existing ties.
At least 18 villagers were injured during a two-hour firefight between Indian and Bangladeshi troops across the troubled border. The shoot-out occurred when indigenous Indian tribal people entered Bangladeshi territory to fish. Meanwhile high officials from India and Bangladesh held talks to resolve the water dispute. Also Indian border security force has agreed to remove their newly set up border post inside Bangladeshi territory.
Philippines has banned import of poultry products from Bhutan amidst outbreak of bird flu. Meanwhile Nepal and Bhutan held talks to boost bilateral trade ties.
Economic Front: Bangladesh's foreign direct investment (FDI) halved to $297 million during the first half of the fiscal year to end June 2010 because of global recession and crippling shortages in local power supply.
Meanwhile the European Union (EU) has signed grant contracts worth US$20.21 million (BDT 1.40 billion) to help the people of Bangladesh deal with a drastic increase in food prices.
Social Front: Water transport workers began an indefinite strike on all river routes across Bangladesh demanding better pay and working conditions.
UNESCO goodwill ambassador and the founder of South Asia foundation (SAF), has committed to donate USD 1 million to help start a centre for South Asia forestry studies in Bhutan.
Maldives has decided to introduce complete ban on Shark-fishing. Keeping environmental concerns in mind; the government has announced to take-forward the country’s pledge to become carbon neutral by 2020.
About two dozen Tibetans jailed in Nepal for protesting the Chinese occupation of their homeland have gone on a hunger strike in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile the United Kingdom (UK) has expressed its concern over intimidation and violence against journalists and human rights defenders in Nepal.
INDIA
Political Front: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) along with other regional parties including the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) has recorded their opposition to the women reservation bill in the Lok Sabha. At the same time Deobandi and Barelvi sects have also opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill which has already created unrest among Islamic scholars and bodies.
Meanwhile BJP and Leftist Parties have strongly criticized government’s decision to introduce a Bill in the Lok Sabha regarding the limiting compensation in case of a nuclear accident. The passage of the Bill seems to be crucial to make the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear agreement operational and allow the entry of private U.S. companies which have already been assigned land for a nuclear park. The Bill would also benefit France and Russia who have been informed of land being earmarked for their companies.
Geo-strategic Front: India and Russia have signed several agreements in the defense and strategic spheres, besides taking steps to extend their partnership in new areas such as energy and fertilizers during the visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
In spite of rene
wed tensions in recent months, Indian and Chinese officials struck a positive note on Sino-Indian ties, saying the long-running border dispute had become increasingly less relevant to bilateral relations.
Pakistan seems determined to bring water issue on table along with the Kashmir dispute, in its talks with India. Meanwhile India has expressed serious concerns regarding the current Pak-Afghan situation.
Economic Front: Foreign fund inflows into India’s stock market climbed to a record 834.2 billion rupees in 2009, beating the previous high set two years earlier in local currency terms, as the biggest rally in 18 years lured foreign investors. In the meantime the Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensitive Index gained 218.19, or 1.3 percent, to 17,383.18, the highest level since Jan. 20.
Social Front: India's cabinet approved a proposal to allow foreign universities to set up branches, potentially opening a huge market to international educational institutions.
Regional Front: At least 12 people were injured in a bomb explosion in a jeep near Lakshmipur in Bihar.
The Gujarat government rejected the Congress demand for the resignation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the wake of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) summoning him for questioning in connection with the 2002 Gulberg Society massacre.
Meanwhile, in a suspected case of child sacrifice, five children of a family were killed in a village in Hingoli district and four persons, including three women, have been arrested in this connection.
Lastly, the School Education department of West Bengal has decided to appoint 35,000 primary teachers within the next two months.
CHINA
Political Front: The amendment to the Electoral Law, that grants equal representation in legislative bodies to rural and urban people, adopted by the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, has marked an important step to improve the people's congress system and advance socialist democracy.
China's anti-corruption chief has urged cadres of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to refrain from abusing their authority for illicit gain and to win public trust through clean governance.
Chinese PM has expressed serious concern regarding mounting domestic and external pressures being faced by China. Meanwhile Chinese top political advisors have emphasized greatly on the need to enhance ties with Taiwan.
Geo-strategic Front: A Communist Party-backed Chinese newspaper has quickly refuted a top Indian scientist’s claims that India’s ballistic missile defense technology is superior to that of China. It further declared Indian to be 10-15 years far from China in terms of technology.
China has reiterated its call for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, urging all parties to move toward a negotiated solution to the long-standing issue.
Meanwhile China has been putting enormous effort to boost ties with Britain, Poland, African countries, North Korea, Bangladesh, Russia, and Australia. China has also called upon the nations of the world to collect more aid and funds for Afghanistan.
China and the US have engaged in talks to sort out irritant factors between the two countries. In the meantime chances of Google’s closure in China have further increased.
Economic Front: Chinese fiscal revenues have increased almost 33% in first two months of the year. Meanwhile China has promised to make institutional arrangements to give national treatment to foreign investors. The Chinese PM has also expressed serious concern regarding instability of the US dollar and its likely impact on Chinese assets.
China has emerged as Iran's top economic partner, investing heavily in the energy sector and filling the gaps left by Western firms forced out by international sanctions. Many economists think that China's efforts of switching economic growth pattern would help to make an overall more stable world economy.
A record 51 percent of Chinese depositors have regarded prices of consumer goods as "unacceptably high. All the while China has voiced its support for the liberalization of global trade and opposition to trade protectionism as a means to economic recovery in the world at large. The threat of inflation to China's economy has been regarded as less worrisome compared with asset bubble by Chinese economists.
Social Front: Almost all of the 25,100 tonnes of defective milk powder seized in the 2008 toxic baby food probe had been incinerated.
China's current severe drought could aggravate inflation, driving commodity prices even higher. Meanwhile a Chinese scholar has warned that radical urbanization might harm farmers' welfare and create "urban slums."
All the while representatives of 46 cities that boast the best sceneries in China gathered to launch an alliance to boost exchanges and cooperate more on promotion and marketing.
At the regional front, Maritime police authorities in Shanghai and the eastern China provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang have launched a joint anti-terror exercise in the run-up to the Shanghai World Expo.
Hong Kong & Macau: Hong Kong seems to be heading towards democracy and economic growth. At economic front decline in Hong Kong’s stock exchange, drop in jobless rate and improvement in its exports has been observed.
Meanwhile Macao has enhanced ties with Taiwan. §
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Political Front: Turkish ruling party has finalized a draft package to bring amendments in the Constitution. The ruling party is seeking support from the opposition. Meanwhile a referendum is also being considered as a possible option to seek approval for the package.
As regards the issue of the coup plot; a Turkish top General has denied allegations against his soldiers being involved in planning a coup to topple the ruling regime. He also condemned police for blocking a military truck loaded with ammunition on the basis of some e-mail and for not keeping the army in the loop. All the while he claimed that military-civilian relations would never be severed.
Meanwhile the Council of Europe’s advisory body has recommended that Turkey introduce legislation making it possible for religious communities to acquire and maintain a legal personality.
Geo-strategic Front: Turkish PM has taken a harsh position against undocumented Armenian workers in Turkey, threatening to expel thousands amid tensions over allegations that Armenians were victims of “genocide” during the last days of the Ottoman Empire.
The Turkish PM stated that news about Iranian nuclear program should be considered a ‘rumor’.
European Union's commissioner for enlargement said that the visa procedures between EU and Turkey might be lifted "some day". Meanwhile President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has announced to hold meeting with Greek Cypriot leader to discuss various issues.
Turkish President has termed Africa an important strategic partner. Meanwhile the Turkish public has strongly condemned Israeli acts of aggression against Palestinians.
Economic Front: The partners in the planned Nabucco natural-gas pipeline to Europe are to conclude a production-sharing agreement in April.
Recent figures on industrial production index (IPI) in Turkey have indicated slow recovery in the country's macroeconomic outlook. Meanwhile Turkey and the IMF failed to reach an agreement on a loan stand-by deal because of projected distribution of extra income in case Turkey grows more than 3.5 percent in 2010. Besides that unemployment in Turkey has increased remarkably.
Turkish close economic ties with Britain, South Korea, Africa and Iraq remained important.
Social Front: 'Nevruz', an ancient festival marking the start of the Iranian New Year, has been warmly welcomed by thousands of Turkish people.
Turkey's Higher Education Board has overruled its earlier decision to grant Turkish students who study abroad the right to transfer to Turkish universities without taking the university entrance exam.
GCC
Political Front: Last week Yemeni air force launched strikes against Al-Qaeda hide outs for two consecutive days that reportedly resulted in certain Al Qaeda casualties. Meanwhile Yemen's northern rebels have freed 178 soldiers and civilians as part of a cease-fire agreement with the government.
A conservative lawmaker in Kuwait pledged to bring up in the parliament the issue of making the veil mandatory for elected and appointed officials, a move that threatens further divisions in the Kuwaiti parliament.
Bahrain’s business community has started thinking in terms of making a political society in order to enter the parliament and help promote its views and interests.
Geo-strategic Front: Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabian citizens would soon be able to travel between the two countries using their identity cards instead of passports.
Meanwhile a society dedicated to resisting the normalization of ties with Israel has urged the upper chamber of the bicameral parliament to endorse a draft law to criminalize contacts with Israelis.
Economic Front: Aggregate earnings of GCC companies showed a second consecutive year of decline. With 67 percent of companies declaring results so far, aggregate results show a decline of 5 percent for GCC as a whole for 2009 versus an 18 percent expansion in MSCI EM EPS, and a 9 percent contraction in S&P 500 EPS for the year.
Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has signed three Memorandums of Understanding with three different specialized companies to transfer technology of date palm tissue cultivation.
Social Front: Private recruitment offices in the Eastern Province have increased the waiting time for Indonesian housemaids from seven weeks to three months.
A Kuwaiti conservative parliamentary bloc has started putting pressure on the social affairs and labor minister to take stringent action against those who allowed a women's football team to take part in a regional tournament. Meanwhile a Bahraini lawmaker has urged the country's civil society, political societies, media, and upper chamber to support a drive by the lower chamber to ban alcohol in Bahrain.
FERTILE CRESCENT
Political Front: Several Egyptian opposition groups have asked for political reforms and more freedom. The groups further demanded an end to the concentration of power in the president's hands. They also called for peaceful protests ahead of parliamentary polls due in October. Meanwhile the National Democratic Party (NDP) has denied accusations of a secret deal struck with certain opposition parties to divide the Muslim Brotherhood’s current parliamentary seats amongst them.
With nearly 80 percent of the votes counted from Iraq's March 7 parliamentary electi
ons, the main winners appear to be Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and challenger Iyad Allawi. But the two front-runners are neck and neck. The vote count so far shows Allawi's Al-Iraqiyah coalition narrowly ahead of Maliki's State of Law alliance by less than 9,000 votes. The Iraqi National Alliance, a coalition of Shi'ite religious groups, looks set to come in third, followed by the Kurdistan Alliance, composed of the two main factions in the autonomous Kurdish region. Parties have got engaged in coalition talks even before completion of vote count. Meanwhile Iran congratulated Iraq for successfully holding elections.Geo-strategic Front: Arab countries have reportedly started loosing faith in American role as arbitrator to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue on account of its ‘biased’ attitude in favor of Israel.
Economic Front: As an anti-crisis measure, the government of Egypt has aimed stimulus money at large infrastructure development projects, including water treatment plants, railways, highways and housing. Around LE 23 billion (€3.1 billion) has been issued since October 2008 to stimulate the economy and more money is expected to be added to it.
Social Front: The one-day conference has been organized by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which groups 57 members to form the world's largest Islamic assembly, is to be co-chaired by host Egypt and Turkey.
Employees of the Islam Online (IOL) website continued their sit-in for the third day running at their Sixth of October offices, demanding settlement packages after the majority of them submitted their resignation. These were spurred by warnings of mass lay-offs and employee investigations by the website’s Qatari owner.
Meanwhile Egypt has been listed as an “enemy of the internet” by Reporters without Borders as a US State Department 2009 report on human rights highlighted Egypt’s ill-treatment of bloggers and internet activists in 2009.
CENTRAL ASIA
Political Front: A jailed Azerbaijan opposition journalist has been pardoned.
Opposition forces in Kyrgyzstan outlined the requirements for the Kyrgyz government to be performed until March 24, 2010.
Meanwhile Tajik President has rejected criticism of last month's parliamentary elections, describing them as democratic and transparent.
Geo-strategic Front: Last week Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan agreed on the main issues of the draft Agreement on joint activities at the level of border and customs services and internal affairs bodies to ensure security in the Caspian Sea.
High officials of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan held a meeting to discuss perspective of cooperation. Meanwhile Kazakhstan and Norway have signed agreements to enhance cooperation in various fields.
Tajik President discussed Afghan issue with his Turkmen counterpart during his visit to Tajikistan. Meanwhile Kazakh President paid an official visit to Uzbekistan and discussed areas of cooperation.
Russia has emphasized greatly on close ties with Turkmenistan.
Economic Front: Kazakh oil and gas exports have increased by 16.7% in January as compared to the same period last year.
Japan has given US$1.5 million to WHO for improving healthcare on Tajik-Afghan border.
Social Front: The U.S. Helsinki Commission has criticized a Baku court's rejection of appeals by two Azerbaijani bloggers against their prison sentences.
Over 2,000 people have been evacuated from several villages in eastern Kazakhstan due to severe flooding caused by melting snow.
The director of the OzenMunaiGaz energy company has been fired amid a strike by thousands of oil workers in southwestern Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile RSF has strongly condemned Kyrgyz government over the issue of harassment of opposition media persons.
EAST ASIA
Political Front: Thai PM has again invoked the internal security Act in order to contain Red-Shirt protestors; who have announced to launch a rally asking government to hold elections. Meanwhile police commanders have assured to let protestors hold peaceful demonstrations.
Malaysian cabinet has agreed to have the ISA amended, among others on the detention period, rights and treatment of ISA detainees, the powers of the Home Minister, detention without trial and on the issue of perception that it was being abused for political interests.
UN General Assembly President Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki has called for the implementation of the 1996 Tripoli Agreement, a two decade old peace act between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF).
Geo-strategic Front: Indonesians seem quite excited about upcoming visit of the US President Obama that has been delayed right now due to his domestic commitments.
Economic Front: Positive hopes about US-Indonesian economic ties prevail in Indonesia.
Vietnam has long be
en the largest producer of coffee and has now become the world's second biggest exporter.Social Front: The largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah, has declared that smoking is haram, or forbidden under Islamic law. As a response the Religious Affairs Minister has condemned the organization for its anti-tobacco edict, saying it should not cause “restlessness” among public.
Cambodia has temporarily barred its citizens from marrying South Korean men after two dozen women were sold into marriage by matchmakers.
Sourcing contracts between Nestlé and Indonesian palm oil producer Sinar Mas have been terminated following criticism from environmental pressure groups. The move by the world's largest food group came after Greenpeace released a report this week which looked into its sourcing practices. The environmentalist group identified the oil producers as guilty of mass deforestation in its production of palm oil.
Seventeen of 18 volcanoes in Indonesia are on alert status and emitting toxic gas.
SOUTH ASIA
Political Front: Amidst political crisis in Nepal, UN decision to send its special mission to ensure peace has raised people’s hopes. The Government of Nepal however has to approve the UN proposal.
Meanwhile opposition Maoists have stepped up consultations with smaller parties, apparently in a bid to secure their support for launching a no-trust motion against the coalition government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has warned his former military commander, General Sarath Fonseka, against entering into politics. Meanwhile Sri Lankan Election Commissioner has ruled out the possibility of having foreign observers at the counting centers of upcoming parliamentary polls.
Geo-strategic Front: Bangladeshi PM has paid an official visit to China in a bid to boost existing ties.
At least 18 villagers were injured during a two-hour firefight between Indian and Bangladeshi troops across the troubled border. The shoot-out occurred when indigenous Indian tribal people entered Bangladeshi territory to fish. Meanwhile high officials from India and Bangladesh held talks to resolve the water dispute. Also Indian border security force has agreed to remove their newly set up border post inside Bangladeshi territory.
Philippines has banned import of poultry products from Bhutan amidst outbreak of bird flu. Meanwhile Nepal and Bhutan held talks to boost bilateral trade ties.
Economic Front: Bangladesh's foreign direct investment (FDI) halved to $297 million during the first half of the fiscal year to end June 2010 because of global recession and crippling shortages in local power supply.
Meanwhile the European Union (EU) has signed grant contracts worth US$20.21 million (BDT 1.40 billion) to help the people of Bangladesh deal with a drastic increase in food prices.
Social Front: Water transport workers began an indefinite strike on all river routes across Bangladesh demanding better pay and working conditions.
UNESCO goodwill ambassador and the founder of South Asia foundation (SAF), has committed to donate USD 1 million to help start a centre for South Asia forestry studies in Bhutan.
Maldives has decided to introduce complete ban on Shark-fishing. Keeping environmental concerns in mind; the government has announced to take-forward the country’s pledge to become carbon neutral by 2020.
About two dozen Tibetans jailed in Nepal for protesting the Chinese occupation of their homeland have gone on a hunger strike in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile the United Kingdom (UK) has expressed its concern over intimidation and violence against journalists and human rights defenders in Nepal.
INDIA
Political Front: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) along with other regional parties including the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) has recorded their opposition to the women reservation bill in the Lok Sabha. At the same time Deobandi and Barelvi sects have also opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill which has already created unrest among Islamic scholars and bodies.
Meanwhile BJP and Leftist Parties have strongly criticized government’s decision to introduce a Bill in the Lok Sabha regarding the limiting compensation in case of a nuclear accident. The passage of the Bill seems to be crucial to make the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear agreement operational and allow the entry of private U.S. companies which have already been assigned land for a nuclear park. The Bill would also benefit France and Russia who have been informed of land being earmarked for their companies.
Geo-strategic Front: India and Russia have signed several agreements in the defense and strategic spheres, besides taking steps to extend their partnership in new areas such as energy and fertilizers during the visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
In spite of rene
wed tensions in recent months, Indian and Chinese officials struck a positive note on Sino-Indian ties, saying the long-running border dispute had become increasingly less relevant to bilateral relations.Pakistan seems determined to bring water issue on table along with the Kashmir dispute, in its talks with India. Meanwhile India has expressed serious concerns regarding the current Pak-Afghan situation.
Economic Front: Foreign fund inflows into India’s stock market climbed to a record 834.2 billion rupees in 2009, beating the previous high set two years earlier in local currency terms, as the biggest rally in 18 years lured foreign investors. In the meantime the Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensitive Index gained 218.19, or 1.3 percent, to 17,383.18, the highest level since Jan. 20.
Social Front: India's cabinet approved a proposal to allow foreign universities to set up branches, potentially opening a huge market to international educational institutions.
Regional Front: At least 12 people were injured in a bomb explosion in a jeep near Lakshmipur in Bihar.
The Gujarat government rejected the Congress demand for the resignation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the wake of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) summoning him for questioning in connection with the 2002 Gulberg Society massacre.
Meanwhile, in a suspected case of child sacrifice, five children of a family were killed in a village in Hingoli district and four persons, including three women, have been arrested in this connection.
Lastly, the School Education department of West Bengal has decided to appoint 35,000 primary teachers within the next two months.
CHINA
Political Front: The amendment to the Electoral Law, that grants equal representation in legislative bodies to rural and urban people, adopted by the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, has marked an important step to improve the people's congress system and advance socialist democracy.
China's anti-corruption chief has urged cadres of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to refrain from abusing their authority for illicit gain and to win public trust through clean governance.
Chinese PM has expressed serious concern regarding mounting domestic and external pressures being faced by China. Meanwhile Chinese top political advisors have emphasized greatly on the need to enhance ties with Taiwan.
Geo-strategic Front: A Communist Party-backed Chinese newspaper has quickly refuted a top Indian scientist’s claims that India’s ballistic missile defense technology is superior to that of China. It further declared Indian to be 10-15 years far from China in terms of technology.
China has reiterated its call for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, urging all parties to move toward a negotiated solution to the long-standing issue.
Meanwhile China has been putting enormous effort to boost ties with Britain, Poland, African countries, North Korea, Bangladesh, Russia, and Australia. China has also called upon the nations of the world to collect more aid and funds for Afghanistan.
China and the US have engaged in talks to sort out irritant factors between the two countries. In the meantime chances of Google’s closure in China have further increased.
Economic Front: Chinese fiscal revenues have increased almost 33% in first two months of the year. Meanwhile China has promised to make institutional arrangements to give national treatment to foreign investors. The Chinese PM has also expressed serious concern regarding instability of the US dollar and its likely impact on Chinese assets.
China has emerged as Iran's top economic partner, investing heavily in the energy sector and filling the gaps left by Western firms forced out by international sanctions. Many economists think that China's efforts of switching economic growth pattern would help to make an overall more stable world economy.
A record 51 percent of Chinese depositors have regarded prices of consumer goods as "unacceptably high. All the while China has voiced its support for the liberalization of global trade and opposition to trade protectionism as a means to economic recovery in the world at large. The threat of inflation to China's economy has been regarded as less worrisome compared with asset bubble by Chinese economists.
Social Front: Almost all of the 25,100 tonnes of defective milk powder seized in the 2008 toxic baby food probe had been incinerated.
China's current severe drought could aggravate inflation, driving commodity prices even higher. Meanwhile a Chinese scholar has warned that radical urbanization might harm farmers' welfare and create "urban slums."
All the while representatives of 46 cities that boast the best sceneries in China gathered to launch an alliance to boost exchanges and cooperate more on promotion and marketing.
At the regional front, Maritime police authorities in Shanghai and the eastern China provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang have launched a joint anti-terror exercise in the run-up to the Shanghai World Expo.
Hong Kong & Macau: Hong Kong seems to be heading towards democracy and economic growth. At economic front decline in Hong Kong’s stock exchange, drop in jobless rate and improvement in its exports has been observed.
Meanwhile Macao has enhanced ties with Taiwan. §
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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.
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