POLITICAL ISSUES
EGYPT
1. Krishna to undertake three-day visit to Egypt
New Delhi, Wednesday, 29 February 2012
A number of agreements are likely to be inked during the visit of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to Egypt beginning Friday, the first high-level Indian visit to the country after the popular uprising. Krishna will co-chair the Sixth Meeting of the Joint Commission with his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Kamel Amr on Sunday.
Source: IBNLive, New Delhi

IRAN
2. India to step up ties with Tehran; unfazed by US sanctions
New Delhi, Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Unfazed by US sanctions and Israel linking Tehran to the attack on an Israeli Embassy car here, India is set to ramp up its energy and business ties with Iran, with a commerce ministry team heading to Tehran to explore fresh business opportunities.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

3. New Delhi to go ahead with trade team visit to Iran
New Delhi, Friday, 17 February 2012
Not letting the recent bomb blast in front of the Israeli Embassy in Delhi hamper its relationship, India is firm on sending a high-level business and official delegation to Iran this month-end to explore trade and export potential after imposition of sanctions by the US and European Union.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

ISRAEL
4. India, Israel to step up fight against terror
Tel Aviv, Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Undeterred by the attack against its diplomat in New Delhi on 13 February, Israel vowed to step up ties with India to jointly fight against the menace of terrorism.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

5. India, Israel working in tandem to probe New Delhi blast
New Delhi, Wednesday, 15 February 2012
India is working closely with Israel "at all levels" to get to the bottom of Monday's explosion. However, India is yet to openly name Iran as the perpetrator of the attack.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

6. Terror Cells are Active in India: Israel Minister
Jerusalem, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Terror cells are "active" in India, a senior Israeli minister has said, underlining that the recent attack on a diplomat in New Delhi should spur the two nations to step up counter-terrorism cooperation.
Source: Outlook, New Delhi

7. Israel wants India to back UN resolution on ‘Iran attacks’
New Delhi, Friday, 17 February 2012
In what may put New Delhi in a spot, Israel has asked India to help sponsor a resolution against Iran in the United Nations Security Council condemning Monday’s attack on one of its diplomats in Delhi, as well as the incidents in Tblisi and Bangkok.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi

8. India joins US, Israel at UN to slam Delhi attack
New York, Saturday, 25 February 2012
India joined a diplomatic initiative by the US and Israel in the Security Council to issue a statement condemning the recent terror attack on an Israeli diplomat in New Delhi, after others came around to heed its insistence not to mention Iran.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

9. Embassy car bombing: India has 'considerable evidence' against Iran, says Israel
Jerusalem, Sunday, 26 February 2012
Indian intelligence agencies have "considerable evidence" of Iran's involvement in the February 13 attack on an Israeli diplomat but are not releasing it in a bid to avoid public confrontation with Tehran, a top Israeli security official has claimed.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

10. Army chief's visit to Israel cancelled
New Delhi, Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Army Chief General V K Singh's visit to Israel in March has been cancelled because of "instability" in West Asian region, particularly Syria, Government said.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

OMAN
11. Attestation by ministry is must, Indian expats told
Muscat, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
It is mandatory for all Indian expatriates currently residing in Oman or planning residence in the sultanate to get documents issued in India attested by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi or its designated authority in the states.
Source: Khaleej Times, Dubai

SAUDI ARABIA
12. Antony's visit: India, Saudi Arabia seek stronger ties
Riyadh, Wednesday, 15 February 2012
India and Saudi Arabia have looked at ways to enhance bilateral ties during the two-day visit of Indian defence minister A K Antony to Saudi Arabia.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

SYRIA
13. India voted on Syria resolution after getting draft amended
Washington, Monday, 6 February 2012
India and other like-minded countries in the UNSC decided to support a Western-backed draft resolution on Syria only after it was agreed to explicitly remove provisions of regime change, threat of sanctions and military intervention.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

14. India votes for Syria resolution in UN General Assembly
New York, Friday, 17 February 2012
The UN General Assembly has voted in favour of a resolution that condemned the violent crackdown in Syria and urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. India supported the Arab League-backed resolution, but made it clear that it was opposed to use of force.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

15. India to join 'Friends of Syria' in Tunisia
New Delhi, Friday, 24 February 2012
Indicating a change in Indian position vis-?-vis Syria, New Delhi has decided to send a senior diplomat to attend the ‘Friends of Syria’ conference scheduled to be held in Tunis.
Source: Zee News, New Delhi

ECONOMIC ISSUES
BAHRAIN
16. Bahrain's Batelco says India stake sale to lift 2012 profit
Dubai, Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Bahrain Telecommunications Co's (Batelco) sale of its stake in Indian affiliate S Tel will help it achieve double-digit profit growth in 2012, the former monopoly said on Wednesday.
Source: Moneycontrol, New Delhi

IRAN
17. Indian trade delegation to Iran may put Indo-US ties under strain
New Delhi, Saturday, 11 February 2012
India's announcement of sending a huge trade delegation to Iran may put the Indo-US ties under strain at a time when Washington is seeking international cooperation to put maximum economic pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear programme.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

18. India-Iran trade can touch $30 billion by 2015- Assocham
New Delhi, Wednesday, 15 February 2012
An influential Indian trade body on Wednesday said the recent attack on Israeli targets, blamed by Israel on Iran, will not affect India's growing trade and business ties with Iran, which can grow to US$ 30 billion by 2015.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

IRAQ
19. Diversify trade basket to increase commerce: Iraq to India
New Delhi, Monday, 27 February 2012
War-torn Iraq invited Indian investments and sought diversification of the trade basket to enhance economic cooperation between the countries.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
20. Etisalat India mobile phone joint venture to shut down operations
Dubai, Wednesday, 22 February 2012
United Arab Emirates telecom operator Etisalat on Wednesday said it would shut down the operations of its Indian joint venture, three weeks after an Indian court cancelled the affiliate's licence amid a corruption probe.
Source: Reuters

21. UAE's Etisalat sues Indian joint venture partners for fraud
Dubai, Thursday, 23 February 2012
UAE telecoms operator Etisalat on Thursday said it had launched legal proceedings against its Indian joint venture partners alleging fraud in an attempt to recover some of the losses arising from its scandal-hit investment in the country.
Source: Reuters

22. UAE to set up centres in India to train unskilled workers
Dubai, Wednesday, 22 February 2012
The UAE will set up training centres in India with an aim to control the flow of unskilled workers into the country's construction industry and bypass private recruitment agencies.
Source: Business Standard, Mumbai

ENERGY ISSUES
IRAN
23. India largest importer of Iran oil for a month
New Delhi, Thursday, 16 February 2012
India imported an estimated 2.2 million metric tonnes in January, a jump from the roughly 1.4 metric tonnes it imported on average per month last year.
Source: Hindustan Times, New Delhi

24. Iran offers extra oil, India not keen – sources
New Delhi, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
India is pushing refiners to reduce oil imports from Iran by at least 10 percent for 2012/13, sources at two of the companies said, as tighter Western sanctions impact Iran's trade.
Source: Reuters India

ISRAEL
25. Israeli Minister in India to discuss energy tie-up
New Delhi, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Minister for National Infrastructure Uzi Landau, who also holds the Energy & Water Resources portfolio, will take forward the interest expressed by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in the energy sector during his visit to Israel last month.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

QATAR
26. Oil Minister orders probe into Petronet LNG's Qatar contract
New Delhi, Monday, 20 February 2012
Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy has ordered a probe into changes made in a multi-billion dollar contract for import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, following allegations of foul play.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

SAUDI ARABIA
27. Saudi Arabia offers more crude supplies to India
New Delhi, Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has offered additional crude supplies to India, a move that could help Indian refiners replace supplies from sanctions-hit Iran.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

28. BPCL plans shift from Iran to Saudi oil, say sources
New Delhi, Wednesday, 22 February 2012
India's Bharat Petroleum has turned to Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, for higher supplies in 2012/13, fearing global sanctions may jeopardise trade with Iran, industry sources said.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

29. India seeks extra oil, LPG from Saudi Arabia
New Delhi, Friday, 24 February 2012
The government has sought to increase crude oil inflow from Saudi Arabia by five million tonnes from 27.33 million tonnes, as supplies from Iran is set to decline following US sanctions.
Source: Business Standard, Mumbai

MULTILATERAL
30. Russia, China kill India-backed resolution on Syria
United Nations, Sunday, 5 February 2012
As a UNSC draft resolution to pressure Syria failed after China and Russia voted against it, India said it backed the motion as it favoured resolving the crisis through a Syrian-led inclusive political process.
Source: The Economic Times, Mumbai

31. India drags Turkey, Egypt to WTO for import duties on Cotton yarn
New Delhi, Friday, 24 February 2012
Striking against rising global protectionism, India has dragged both Turkey and Egypt to the World Trade Organisation for imposing special import duties on Indian cotton yarn, lowering competitiveness in these markets.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

MISCELLANEOUS
BAHRAIN
32. Indian school in Bahrain to get 600 Aakash tablets
Dubai, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Students of an Indian school in Bahrain will soon get the world's cheapest tablet computer 'Aakash', developed by India's Human Resources Development Ministry.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

33. Bahrain Air opens daily flights to Thiruvananthapuram
Manama, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Bahrain Air said Monday it has finally won the rights to operate daily direct flights from Bahrain to Thiruvananthapuram in south India. These flights, which will have ideal connection from Saudi Arabia, will commence from March 15.
Source: Arab News, Jeddah

EGYPT
34. Egypt aims for 1 million Indian tourists every year
New Delhi, Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Last year Egypt was rocked by demonstrations. And this year too, protests have taken place in Cairo's famous Tahrir Square. Nonetheless, Khaled El Bakly, ambassador of Egypt to India, is confident of getting one million Indian tourists in recent future.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

KUWAIT
35. Annual fest of Indian doctors held in Kuwait
Kuwait City, Friday, 17 February 2012
Under the auspices of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the state of Kuwait, the Indian Doctors Forum held their annual event 'Mausam 2012' at the Regency Hotel.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

SAUDI ARABIA
36. Indian's body flies home one year after death
Dubai, Monday, 27 February 2012
The body of an Indian, who died in an accident in Saudi Arabia, is finally being flown back to his family in Kerala after a year of relentless efforts to overcome legal and bureaucratic hurdles.
Source: Hindustan Times, New Delhi

SYRIA
37. Syria makes earnest bid to attract Indian travellers
New Delhi, Wednesday, 29 February 2012
In India to participate in the Outbound Travel Market 2012 that was over the weekend, Syria's tourism officials are "exploring" the market and have been surprised at the unexpected response. Despite queries on safety among walk-in visitors, Syria's tourism marketing and promotion director Bassam Barsik is upbeat.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

Compiled by Saumya Sharma

Saumya Sharma is an Intern at MEI@ND. Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy