TURKEY
Political Front: Turkish PM held meeting with most prominent Turkish writers seeking their opinion regarding the amendments package. Meanwhile NGOs have extended their support for the package.
Dervis Eroglu has won the elections in Turkish Cyprus by getting 50 % votes.
Geo-strategic front: A recent survey has indicated that 79% of Turkish population has unfavorable opinion of the US.
Armenia has stopped the ratification Process of the Protocols which were held between Armenia and Turkey to normalize their relations. Meanwhile the Turkish Foreign Minister has paid visit to Iraq in order to assess post election situation there.
Serbia, Spain and Turkey held a meeting in Belgrade last week in which they shared the common vision to integrate the Western Balkans States into the European Union. Israel has decided to cut off arms sale to Turkey amidst their strained ties. Turkey has signed MoU with China meanwhile has also discussed areas of economic cooperation with Russia.
Economic Front: Despite the fact that Turkey has successfully come out of the impact of global economic crisis, high unemployment rate and inflation continue to plague the nation. Meanwhile Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has invested 4 billion USD for oil exploration in Black Sea.
GCC
Geo-strategic Front: GCC Secretary General held a meeting with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister during his visit to Moscow and discussed various areas of cooperation. He further discussed the Iranian
nuclear issue reiterating his opposition to the military option.
Meanwhile Saudi King paid a visit to Bahrain and emphasized greatly the need to enhance bilateral ties.
Iran has called on the United Arab Emirates to resolve the "misunderstanding" over the three Gulf islands through dialogue. Foreign Minister of UAE however claimed that "an occupation of an Arab land is an occupation and not a misunderstanding and there is no difference between Israel's occupation of the Golan (Heights), south Lebanon, West Bank or Gaza and the Iranian occupation of the UAE islands."
Oman and Iran have expressed keenness to further boost their deep-rooted historical ties. Meanwhile Bahraini Deputy PM also held a meeting with Iranian Vice President.
France and Kuwait have opened the way for joint nuclear energy projects in the Gulf country.
Economic Front: The combined economy of the oil-rich GCC states grew 5.5% last year. According to the annual report of the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consultancy (GOIC) the collective gross domestic product (GDP) of the region crossed the barrier of a trillion dollars in 2008, and reached $ 1,086bn at the close of last year.
Qatar stood second in 2009 in the entire GCC region in terms of the size of investment in industrial projects, accounting for 11.5 % in total.
IRAN
Geo-strategic Front: Iranian authorities have deported some 15 illegal Pakistani immigrants and handed them over to the Taftan administration.
The US has expressed satisfaction over significant progress in negotiations on new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. All the while Iranian envoy to IAEA has claimed that his country would allow the International Agency to inspect its new enrichment site in Natanz in central Iran.
The massive war games conducted by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Persian Gulf showed that any enemy threats against the country will be reciprocated by Iran's powerful response.
An Israeli Deputy Minister has claimed that an Iranian nuclear scientist has asked for asylum in Israel.
Meanwhile the White House has expressed deep concern about the well-being of three American hikers who have been detained in Iran for nearly nine months.
Economic Front: Iran’s self sufficiency in oil exploration has enabled the nation to bear sanctions.
Iran has granted a $ 105 million loan to Sri Lanka for a rural electrification project. Meanwhile Iran and Uganda have signed three cooperation deals during President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad’s visit to the country.
Social Front: Iran has granted immunity from prosecution to more than one hundred members of the Jundallah terrorist group.
AFGHANISTAN
Political Front: At least 29 militants, including two commanders, were killed in four days of intense fighting aimed at protecting supply routes through northern Afghanistan.
NATO forces shot dead four Afghan school students, claiming they were Taliban militants. Later an apology was issued for killing unarmed Afghanis. Three Italian aid workers who were detained on suspicion of plotting to kill a provincial governor have been freed.
Taliban have started regular targeting of U.S. government contractors in southern Afghanistan. New data from the US government indicates that the number of American contractors killed in Afghanistan has increased by more than 100%.
Meanwhile Afghanistan has started registering thousands of candidates for the country's parliamentary elections set to be held on September 18.
Geo-strategic Front: The Pentagon is making efforts to halt fertilizer shipments from Pakistan that are used to make bombs.
In a recent poll a majority of UK citizens support withdrawal of military troops from Afghanistan.
Economic Front: A newly-constructed textile factory, funded by the US, was inaugurated in Jalalabad. Meanwhile the Afghan business community has expressed high hopes regarding government’s anti-corruption measures, foreign investments and marble industry.
Social front: Heavy rains and flood destroyed hundreds of houses in Northern Afghanistan. Meanwhile a moderate earthquake in Central and northern Afghanistan caused death of at least 7 people.
19 development schemes, benefiting thousands of residents, have been executed in northern Jawzjan province. While US funded schools and wards continue to work in Afghanistan.
CENTRAL ASIA
Political Front: An Azerbaijani opposition party having been denied permission to stage a protest in the city on April 25 is now set to hold a mass rally on May 15. Another party has demanded amendments to the election code, official observance of the right to free assembly, and transparency in ongoing talks on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Interim authorities in Kyrgyzstan have declared legitimacy and hoped for the end of conflict following the resignation and departure from the country of former President Bakiev. Kyrgyzstan's interim gove
rnment has so far uncovered more than $20 million in cash and gold belonging of ousted President Bakiev and members of his family in Kyrgyz banks. Meanwhile the interim government has announced to hold elections in October, after a referendum aimed at reducing the powers of the president.
The ousted President has claimed that he would not like to be the country’s President any more but would offer his services for the stability of Kyrgyzstan. On the other hand the newly appointed chairwoman of Kyrgyzstan's Central Election Commission has stepped down after just one day on the job amidst strong protests by common people.
Geo-strategic Front: The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has canceled military computer exercises with U.S. forces that were scheduled for May.
Meanwhile the Azerbaijan-Russia group working on delimitation of the state borders has reached an agreement during recently held talks.
Pakistan has supported Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity and denied Armenian position. The Kazakh Interior Ministry has tightened regulations for visitors from countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Turkmen President has received Special Representative of the UK on international trade and investment.
Authorities in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijon have imposed stringent security measures on residents in the aftermath of last week's uprising that ousted Kyrgyz President Bakiev.
Economic Front: Israel has doubled its trade with Azerbaijan unlike other Central Asian Republics.
The largest outdoor market in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, was closed last week due to disorder in the city's outskirts.
Meanwhile Uzbekistan’s GDP has grown 7.6% in First Quarter of 2010.
Social Front: The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has asked Azeri authorities to release detained Journalist. Kazakhstan's population has exceeded 16 million people. Human Rights Watch has urged the interim authorities in Kyrgyzstan to open a probe into this month's violence that led to the ouster of President Bakiev. The Food Security Monitoring System of the World Food Program (WFP) has reported that overall food insecurity has slightly worsened in the first quarter of 2010, leaving over one-third of the rural population in Tajikistan food-insecure. The Ministry of Economy and Development and the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan have been instructed to create a unified system to introduce information and communication technologies into public administration.
EAST ASIA
Political Front: Regular elections in Indonesia have led many scholars to call it a model democracy in East Asia. Malaysian government has built high expectations with bi-elections in Hulu Selangor as the election result would be a referendum about Prime Minister’s economic policies. MILF has promised to avoid violence in Southern part of Philippines during upcoming elections. Anti-regime protests continued for fifth week putting enormous pressure on the PM of Thailand.
Geo-strategic Front: Indonesia has offered to assist Thailand in resolving ongoing political turmoil there. Military ties between the US and Vietnam have grown remarkably during post Cold War period. Cambodian troops have withdrawn from disputed border of Thailand after exchange of fire between troops of both sides.
Economic Front: Indonesian government has started thinking to limit the inflow of foreign capital as it might cause a domestic stock bubble in a market dominated by overseas buyers. Political crisis in Thailand has not created an adverse impact on its economic ties with Malaysia. Meanwhile Malaysian economists have predicted high economic growth this year. Despite political issues Thai exports have grown remarkably. Cambodia has observed 4% growth in agriculture due to favorable rain. Vietnam has started making various products in order to avoid reliance on other countries. Extensive tourism in Laos has caused 5% growth in country’s GDP.
Social Front: A security think tank has asked Indonesian government to remain vigilant against extreme militants. Thailand has expressed serious concern regarding Muslims’ uprising in Southern region. Malaria has been regarded as key health issue in Cambodia however people of Laos feel insecure because of increasing number of road accidents in the country.
SOUTH ASIA
Political Front: Nine members of Bangladesh's main opposition party have died and 30 others were injured when their speeding bus collided head-on with a truck on the way to a political rally. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been cleared of another graft case filed during the past BNP regime. Political parties have failed to build consensus over a constitution to run Nepal. Veteran politician Dissanayake Mudiyansalage Jayaratne took the oath of office as Sri Lanka's 20th prime minister on 21st April after the ruling party won a large parliamentary majority.
Geo-strategic Front: The ambassador of United States has urged India and Bangladesh to build close ties. The Bangladesh High Commission (HC) in Islamabad on Sunday celebrated the Bangla New Year – 1417.
Economic Front: Indian restrictions on cotton exports would probably affect Bangladeshi textile industry. Inflation has further increased in Bangladesh mainly due to increase in prices of food items. Improvement in Maldives’ economy has been observed.
Social Front: Eighty-two tourists from Europe have so far cancelled their trip to Bhutan after Iceland’s volcano eruption disrupting air traffic and forcing thousands of airlines to cancel their flights. Maldivian President has won a top environmental prize from the United Nations. §
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nuclear issue reiterating his opposition to the military option.
rnment has so far uncovered more than $20 million in cash and gold belonging of ousted President Bakiev and members of his family in Kyrgyz banks. Meanwhile the interim government has announced to hold elections in October, after a referendum aimed at reducing the powers of the president. 
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