POLITICAL ISSUES
IRAQ
1. India to import oil from Iraq to fill strategic reserves: Source
New Delhi, Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Taking advantage of cheap prices, India is set to import eight million barrels of Iraqi oil to fill its first Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

ISRAEL
2. It’s now ok to speak of India-Israel defence ties…We’re not shy, ashamed: Daniel Carmon
New Delhi, Sunday, 15 March 2015
Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon spoke about improving India-Israel defence ties in an interview and reflected, “We are not shy or ashamed of it.” He also underlined the ‘threat’ posed by Iran, including to New Delhi.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai; See also: The Financial Express, New Delhi

QATAR
3. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim to visit India with hopes of new deal for LNG exports
New Delhi, Tuesday, 24 March 2015
As Qatari RasGas and India’s Petronet together have entered their 25 years of 7.5 million tons per year sale, the Qatari Emir hoped for a new deal for LNG exports in India.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

4. India, Qatar ink six pacts to boost trade and investment
New Delhi, Wednesday, 25 March 2015
India and Qatar signed six agreements as the two countries sought to inject a fresh momentum in their bilateral ties.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

5. Qatar has big investment plans for India: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Doha, Wednesday, 25 March 2015
In his first-ever interview to any publication in the world, the Emir of Qatar, said that his energy-rich country wanted to invest big in India.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

6. Emir of Qatar calls on the President
New Delhi, Thursday, 26 March 2015
President Pranab Mukherjee received Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim in New Delhi.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

7. 'Opportune time' to invest in India, President Mukherjee tells Qatar Emir
New Delhi, Thursday, 26 March 2015
As India moves to the "path of high growth", President Pranab Mukherjee sought more investment from Qatar in key areas of defence, insurance and railways, saying it was an ""opportune time" for doing so.
Source: DNA, Mumbai

8. India, Qatar sign prisoner exchange deal
New Delhi, Thursday, 26 March 2015
India and Qatar signed an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons, allowing Indian convicts in Qatar to complete their remaining sentence in India and vice versa.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai

9. India seeks Qatar’s help in rescuing hostages
New Delhi, Thursday, 26 March 2015
India sought for Qatar’s help in rescuing 39 Indians held hostage by Islamic State (ISIS) as the two countries discussed enhanced cooperation in key areas of defence, security, and trade.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai

10. Emir wraps up India visit with praise for Qatar’s foreign workers
Doha, Friday, 27 March 2015
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad paid tribute to the thousands of Indian expatriates living in Qatar as he wrapped up his state visit in New Delhi.
Source: Doha News, Doha

TURKEY
11. Sushma meets Turkish counterpart, talks about 39 Indian hostages in Iraq
New Delhi, Thursday, 19 March 2015
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held comprehensive talks with her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu about the 39 Indian hostages in war-torn Iraq and the increasing threat of Islamic militant outfit ISIS in the region.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai

YEMEN
12. Government considering airlifting of Indians stranded in Yemen
Thiruvanathpuram, Saturday, 28 March 2015
The Union government is considering possible airlifting stranded Indians including Keralites from strife-torn Yemen, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai; See also: The Indian Express, Mumbai

13. India and the civil war in Yemen
New Delhi, Saturday, 28 March 2015
India is scrambling to evacuate its citizens from the war zone in Yemen as war between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi-supported government has escalated in the last few days.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai

14. Air India sends its flight, to bring home stranded Indians from a strife-torn Yemen
New Delhi, Monday, 30 March 2015
Air India flew its first flight to airlift hundreds of Indians stranded in the strife-torn Yemen.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai

15. Yemen battle: India sends ships to evacuate expats, PM seeks Saudi help
Thiruvanathpuram/New Delhi, Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested Saudi King Salman to help India to evacuate its nationals from Yemen as New Delhi decided to take sea route to rescue around 400 expatriates stranded in Aden.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai

16. India Intensifies Pull-Out of Nationals from Yemen; Naval Ship Reaches Aden
New Delhi, Tuesday, 31 March 2015
India intensified efforts to evacuate its around 4,000 nationals from Yemen, deploying aircrafts and five ships as the Saudi-led airstrikes against the Shia Houthi rebels entered the sixth day.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai

ECONOMIC ISSUES
EGYPT
17. India to Take Part in Egypt Economic Conference
Cairo, Monday, 9 March 2015
A business delegation from India participated in Egypt's economic conference to explore opportunities.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai

IRAN
18. Iran, India to form joint group to facilitate bilateral trade
Tehran, Sunday, 1 March 2015
To boost export of Indian products to Iran, a joint working group of experts will be formed to facilitate bilateral trade.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi

QATAR
19. Logistics firm launches Qatar-India direct service
Dubai, Monday, 23 March 2015
A Qatar-based logistics firm has launched the first-ever direct container service between Qatar and India to further facilitate bilateral trade.
Source: The Hindu Businessline, Chennai

20. India looking at lowering LNG imports from Qatar
New Delhi, Sunday, 29 March 2015
India is weighing the option of cutting natural gas import volumes by about 10 per cent from Qatar under its long-term contract.
Source: The Hindu Businessline, Chennai

TURKEY
22. Turkey holds golden delights for India
New Delhi, Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Turkey’s policymakers designed an innovative policy, the reserve option mechanism (ROM), which allows commercial banks to maintain part of their statutory reserves requirement in gold or foreign currency. It will enable India to put in place the required infrastructure such as refineries, assaying centres and safe storage which could be utilized for other gold monetization schemes.
Source: The Hindu Businessline, Chennai

23. Middle East fashion retail major Splash to add 35 stores in India over 4 years
Chennai, Saturday, 28 March 2015
One of the largest fashion retailers of the Middle East called as Splash, is planning to set up around 35 stores in India in the next three to four years.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi

CULTURAL ISSUES
EGYPT
24. Hindi Flicks Brought India, Egypt Closer: Amitabh
Cairo, Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan said Hindi movies have, over the years, brought the historic cultures of India and Egypt closer.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
25. India votes against gay rights for UN employees
New Delhi, Thursday, 26 March 2015
India supported a Russian-drafted resolution that opposed benefits for same-sex partners of UN staff, but the resolution failed to pass in the General Assembly committee. India, joined Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE and voted in favour of the draft resolution.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai

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