India and World
India & China Move To Maritime Cooperation
India & China had decided to open a new bilateral cooperation by agreeing to undertake joint operation against pirated and sharing technological know how on sea bed research. The maritime cooperation proposals were made by visiting Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi. This proposal was shared after Beijing was permitted by the international seabed Authority to explore in South-west Indian ocean.
India For Science Ties With Africa
India is making stronger scientific ties with Africa as science ministers  from 31 African countries had gathered in New Delhi on 1 March 2012. Minister of science & Technology, Vilas Rao Deshmukh had Inaugurated the first ever India & Africa Science & Technology conference and stressed the need to build bridges between  the two scientific communities and also enhance human resources in research and development.
India To Host Trade Show In Jakarta
The Union Commerce minister, Mr. Anand Sharma and Indonesia’s trade minister, Mr. Gita Iranwan Wirjawan, will inaugurate the high profile Indian show being held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 6-8 March 2012. Over 75 domestic corporates would participate in a fair as the two countries aim to achieve a bilateral trade target of $25 billion by 2015 from the current $ 16.6billion.
India, Iran To Step Up Ties In Renewable Energy
India and Iran had agreed to improve co-operation in the field of renewable energy. Both the countries were called for stepping up bilateral ties and economic cooperation in tourism, cultural exchanges and people to people contacts
BRICS Summit Set Pact For Trade
This important move could facilitate trade between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in local currency. Two agreements had been linked at the Delhi summit level meeting of its leaders. The agreements are non-binding and the leaders of these countries are to meet for the BRICS summit scheduled to be held on 29 March 2012.
India & Colombia Signed Exchange Programme For The Years 2012-16
India & Colombia on 12 March 2012 signed a cultural exchange programme in New Delhi for the years 2012-16. The CEP was signed in comformity with the provisions established Government of India and the Government of Colombia, CEP was signed in Bogota, capital of Colombia. The CEP includes areas such as cultural heritage, museum’s, Archives, exhibitions, science Arts, Visual Arts, cinematography, Radio and Television, Music, Libraries, Book and Literature, Creative Industrial and Editorial Industry for Cooperation. Both the nations have agreed to set up a joint working group to look after the implementation of their programme.
Turkey Seeks More Flights From Indian Cities
Turkey plans to not only to set up a consulate or appoint honorary consul in Hyderabad but it is also seeking direct air connectivity between Hyderabad and Istanbul. Turkish ambassador said that they had applied to the Indian authorities for direct air link. Turkey  had also sought direct connectivity with Chennai, Amritsar, Bangalore and Kolkata. The envoy was in town to pitch Turkey as an Investment destination and woo Hyderabad based businessmen, from infrastructure and realty sectors.
World’s Most Ethical Firms; Tata & Wipro
The Ethisphere Institute’s Annual World’s Most Ethical Companies (WME)llist revealed that 145 companies in countries including the US, Great Britain , Japan, Partugal and India. Ethisphere evaluated about 5,000 global companies, including those in Standard & Poor’s 500 index on reputation. India stood out for setting high standards of emplyee behaviour and conduct. Tata Steel and Wipro had been named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies by an American Ethical Institute recently.
India, World’s Largest Arms Importer
India was the World’s largest arms importer between 2007 to 2011, according to latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institution (SIPRI) India accounted for 10% of the global arms imports in 2007-11. SIPRI said on 19 March 2012 that the four next largest recipients of arms in the same period were South Korea with 6%of arms tranfers, Pakistan 5%, China 5% and Singapore 4%.
India to Vote Against Sri Lanka In UNHRC
P.M.Manmohan singh on 19 March said that India was inclined to vote in favour of a US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council(UNHRC) in Geneva. As regards the issue of a draft resolution initiated by the United States at the on-going 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva . The resolution, currently being drafted , has two main components first, it asks the Srilankan Government to implement the report of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) ,accept some kind of UN minitoring and report to the UNHRC. secondly, UN monitoring efforts are on to watering down the resolution but the Western countries are opposed to it.
Indo- Israel FTA Likely To Be Concluded This Year
An Indo- Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be concluded this year, paving the way for further expansion in bilateral trade between the two countries, Mr,Muneer Akbaria Consul-General, Consulate General of Israel said that the two countries on the FTA were at an advanced level. At present the bilateral trade between both countries is $5billion, and is expected to rise by 60% in next two years. The new areas identified for engagement included water technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and life science. This trade meeting between both the countries  was held in Hyderabad on 19 March 2012.
India To Face Sanctions By America
Along with India and other countries importing oil from Iran, could face sanctions by July, If it did not significantly reduce such imports, the US State Department warned in a conference call, that if such countries may have other kinds of sanctionable activities. The remarks raised brows, as sanctions against countries such as India , China and South Korea appeared more imminent and push for upping the ante against Iran  through its 2012 National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA).
India Offers LNG Gas To Pakistan
After fuel, India is going to offer LNG natural gas to Pakistan to help the neighbouring country tide over its gas crisis. State owned GAIL’s just commissioned natural gas pipeline from West coast to Bhatinda in Punjab is barely 25km away from Pakistan border and the gas utility is proposing that the line can be extended to Lahore in no time .
Iran To Import Major Farm Commodities From India
Iran is going to import four major farm commodities wheat,rice, sugar and tea from India. an export body,the President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) said, that Iran had signed import contracts with India. and  for  also 1.25lakh tonnes of Soyameal, used as animal feedstock. The shipment would be delivered in two months. Besides agricultural commodities Mr. Ahmad said that the west Asian nation is also interested in purchasing of Pharmaceuticals and auto components from India .
India, S.Korea to Have Defence Ties
There had been bilateral ties between the India and South Korea to boost up their economic ties in conference held in Seoul. Both the nations had decided to step up cooperation in the defence sector, which would include naval ship, aircraft’s and ship building
Indian American In US State Legislature
An prominent Indian American politician and Deputy Speaker of New Jersey State Assembly, Upendra Chivukula is all set to run for the house of Representative in the elections in November. Mr. Upendra holds the proud distinction of being the first Indian American elected to the New Jersey Legislature and only the fourth Indian -American to be elected to a state legislature.
Indian Exploration In Vietnam Oil Blocks  Normal
Asserting that China’s opposition to India  undertaking oil exploration in Vietnam blocks was not in accordance with UN norms. Vietnam said the blocks are well within its sovereign territory.maintaining the vietnam will only explore in areas accepted by international community and that the oil blocks that India has been exploring is within the territory.