POLITICAL ISSUES
BAHRAIN
1. President of India's message on the eve of National Day of Bahrain
New Delhi, Monday, 15 December 2014
President Pranab Mukherjee extended his greetings and felicitations to the King and people of Bahrain on their National Day.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

LIBYA
2. Thirty-four Indian nurses being evacuated from Libya
New Delhi, Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Nearly 34 Indian nurses were evacuated from strife-torn Libya.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

PALESTINE
3. Government says no to resolution condemning Israeli attacks on Gaza
New Delhi, Tuesday, 16 December 2014
The government refused to pass a resolution that condemned Israel's attack on Gaza but assured the House that it would take cognizance of the members' concern.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

4. India may lend support to Palestine at U.N.
New Delhi, Monday, 22 December 2014
Sources within the government indicated that that India was looking altering its supporting vote for the Palestinian cause at the UN to one of abstention.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

5. Cong., CPI (M) denounce ‘shift’ in Palestine policy
New Delhi, Tuesday, 23 December 2014
As the government remained tight-lipped on a possible shift in its Palestine policy, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “We would like the government to inform Parliament and tell us outside if there has been a shifting of the goalpost on Palestine.”
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

6. No change in India’s support to Palestine cause, Government says
New Delhi, Saturday, 27 December 2014
The government reiterated that there was no change in its policy of extending "traditional support'' for the Palestinian cause even while maintaining good relations with Israel.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

QATAR
7. Treaty on transfer of sentenced persons between India and Qatar
New Delhi, Tuesday, 2 December 2014
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the signing of the treaty on transfer of sentenced persons between India and Qatar which would facilitate Indian prisoners in Qatar or vice-versa to be near their families while serving their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

8. PM greets the citizens of Qatar on their National Day
New Delhi, Thursday, 18 December 2014
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the citizens of Qatar on their National Day.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

UAE
9. President of India's message on the eve of National Day of UAE
New Delhi, Monday, 1 December 2014
President Pranab Mukherjee extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the UAE on the eve of their National Day.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

10. Indians asked to register with diplomatic missions in UAE
Dubai, Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Indian expats in the UAE have been asked to register with the Indian missions in the country to make a proper database of Indians living there.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

ECONOMIC ISSUES
BAHRAIN
11. Godrej Locking to double its market share in Bahrain
Dubai, Tuesday, 2 December 2014
India's leading player in locking and security solutions Godrej plans to double its market share of 2.9 per cent in Bahrain in next three years.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

IRAN
12. JNPT to take 60 per cent equity in Iran port project
New Delhi, Monday, 15 December 2014
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT, at Navi Mumbai) would take 60 per cent equity in the Indian company to be formed for developing the Chabahar port in south-eastern Iran. Kandla Port Trust (KPT) would hold the remaining equity.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

13. India plans to set up reverse SEZs in Iran
New Delhi, Wednesday, 17 December 2014
India plans to set up reverse Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Iran, mainly in the fertilizer and petrochemical sector as stated by Union Minister Ananth Kumar. Under the reverse SEZ scheme, Indian chemical and petrochemical companies would set up plants in other countries where raw material is in abundance and available at cheaper rates, while the final product would be imported back.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

14. Setting up of Urea Plant by Government of India with Gas Feed in Chabahar Region in Iran
New Delhi, Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Iranian Ambassador Gholamreza Ansari met the Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar and spoke about the proposed Urea-Ammonia plant by Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd. (RCF) & Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals (GNFC) in Joint Venture (JV) in Iran and said that Iran was keen in furthering cooperation particularly in the field of petrochemicals.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

15. Iran’s Ambassador Calls on Union Steel & Mines Minister for Strengthening Trade Ties Between the two Countries in the Area of Steel & Mines
New Delhi, Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Iranian Ambassador Gholamreza Ansari called on Minister of Steel and Mines Narendra Singh Tomar and conveyed keen interest of Iran in strengthening the bilateral trade. According to Ansari a beginning has been made in the steel and mines and all efforts would be made to take it forward in a concrete manner.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

OMAN
16. L&T bags contracts worth Rs 2,521 crore in December
Mumbai, Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Larsen & Toubro overseas subsidiary L&T Oman has secured an order for the construction of a new passenger terminal at Duqm Airport in Oman.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

QATAR
17. Qatar prince ready to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in 10 smart cities
New Delhi, Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Prince Hamad Bin Nasser Al-Thani is looking to invest one lakh crore rupees in at least 10 smart cities. He has already formed a joint venture with a Delhi businessperson and held meeting with Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

TURKEY
18. BHEL receives Euro 16.96 million order from Turkey
New Delhi, Monday, 22 December 2014
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) received Euro 16.96 million contract in Turkey for rehabilitation of three units of Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) for the 430 MW Tuncbilek Thermal Power Project in Turkey on EPC (engineering, procurement & construction) basis.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

19. Makemytrip to start chartered flights connecting Ahmadabad with Turkey
Ahmadabad, Thursday, 25 December 2014
Online travel firm Makemytrip.com has come up with the idea to start chartered flights between Ahmadabad and Turkey for the upcoming season during April to June and would facilitated at least 2,000 tourists this season.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

DEFENCE ISSUES
BAHRAIN
20. India, Bahrain to enhance maritime co-operation
Manama, Thursday, 25 December 2014
India and Bahrain plan to enhance their maritime co-operation. Indian Coast Guard will assist their Bahraini counterparts to upgrade their skills in containing oil spills and conducting search and rescue operations.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

ISRAEL
21. Defence Purchase from Israel
New Delhi, Friday, 5 December 2014
Two contracts have been concluded with Israeli vendors during the current financial year in respect of capital procurement of defence equipment.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi   

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EGYPT
22. India, Egypt to cooperate in science and technology sector
Cairo, Tuesday, 23 December 2014
India and Egypt signed a cooperation agreement in the field of science and technology especially in the vital sectors of biotechnology and nano-technology.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

UAE
23. UAE delegation to attend major IT event in India
Dubai, Thursday, 25 December 2014
UAE plans to send a large IT delegation to India to attend an international exhibition to boost trade in information technology sector between the two nations. INDIASOFT-2015 would be held during 12-13 February in New Delhi.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

CULTURAL ISSUES
BAHRAIN
24. Bahrain seeks India's cooperation to develop its media
Manama, Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Bahrain is keen to seek India's help in media, public communications, and cinema industry, to boost development in these sectors.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

EGYPT
25. Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’ to release in Egypt on 31 December
New Delhi, Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan’s movie Happy New Year was released in Egypt on 31 December.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
OMAN
26. Fake Indian currency notes recovered from Royal Oman Navy officer
Chennai, Friday, 26 December 2014
The Chennai police recovered fake Indian currency notes to the tune of Rs 91,600 from a Royal Oman Navy officer, who came to the city for his mother's treatment.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi


NOTE:  One lakh=100,000; one crore=10 million.

COMPILED BY MANJARI SINGH

Manjari Singh is a doctoral candidate in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. 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