Tribute To Trevor
Ms. Linda Brady-Hawke and William Hawke, publisher and managing editor respectively of Diplomatist Magazine wish to thank members of the diplomatic community and their staffers for their condolences messages and offers of support after the loss of their son Trevor Brady in a tragic car accident on 01 November.   Read the Note. 
  

India’s Incremental Gains
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh wrapped up his four-day State visit to the US – the first official state visit of a foreign leader under the Obama Administration. The two countries decided to transform their ties into “one of the defining” partnerships of the 21st century. The visit from 23-26 November 2009 earned the assurance from the US President on India’s “rightful place as a global leader”. President Barack Obama described the relationship between the two countries as one of the “defining partnerships of the 21st century”.   Read the Article.  
 

Rahul Gandhi: Envisioning a New India  
Rahul Gandhi’s vision of ‘Internal Democracy’ in the Congress party’s Youth and the Students’ wings has resulted in reforms and transformations never seen before. From open memberships to internal elections under impartial observers, the young Gandhi aims to infuse transparency and the concept of talent management and performance measurement in the organisation, a huge effort to herald a positive change in one of India’s oldest political parties, soon going to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Here we have tried to capture a macro perspective of the undergoing changes in an organisation with a legacy and a nationwide spread, and how it is being brought to fruition.   Read the Article. 
   

Xth EU-India Summit in New Delhi: Trade, Climate, Energy top the Agenda    
The Summit underlined the commitment to achieve progress in the negotiations on a bilateral trade and investment agreement. The Summit witnessed the signing of a research agreement in the field of fusion energy between India and Euratom.   Read the Article.  
 

VISIT OF CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: Cooperation in Energy, Education to Intensify   
The Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, visited India from 15-18 November, 2009. During his official discussionS with India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the visiting leader reviewed bilateral relations and discussed issues of shared interest. They noted the depth and dynamism of the relationship between the two countries that are marked by common values and shared traditions of democracy, the rule of law and pluralism. Read the Article.
  

20th Anniversary of the Fall of Berlin Wall: Big Event of Nostalgia and Freedom
The main ceremony of the 20th anniversary of the Fall of Berlin Wall took place in the 1,800-seat Friedrichstadt Palast, a Berlin theatre, hosted by Bernhard Vogel, president of Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation.  Read the Article.      
     

Viewpoint
The EU is strongly committed to step up the cooperation with India on the journey towards a low carbon and sustainable economy and to contribute to the successful implementation of India’s National Action Plan for Climate Change.  Read the Article.  
 

INDIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT (WEF) 2009: India Growth Story Replayed 
PM promises more financial sector reforms  
India Economic Summit, jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) was held in New Delhi from 8-10 November 2009. The theme was India’s next generation of growth. Its underlying agenda was to ensure India’s emergence as one of the world’s four largest economies by 2020 in terms of skill development and financial empowerment of the poor and female gender.   Read the Article.
  

COPENHAGEN SUMMIT: A Problem of Perspectives
Credible emission-reduction commitments by India and China really matter
There is tremendous excitement about Copenhagen Summit and the big question bothering everyone is – whether the summit will come out with an international agreement on greenhouse gas emissions? The suspense remains on the stand to be taken by China and India – two significant emitters and their readiness to undertake hard commitments to reduce emissions under clear targets and timeframe.  Read the Article.  
     

Maldives President Nasheed Urges India to Lead
“This is not a Maldives issue. The Maldives simply is in the front line. From the front line we’re trying to tell the others that if this is happening to the Maldives today it’s going to happen to you tomorrow.” – Mohamed Nasheed    Read the Article.  
   

ASEAN Summit in Thailand: Human Rights Initiative Evokes Interest
This ASEAN Connectivity is only the first step. It needs to be linked with a larger East Asian connectivity where ASEAN will be connected to the rest of the Asia-Pacific region, bringing progress and prosperity to all” — Abhisit Vejjajiva    Read the Article.  
   

EAST ASIA SUMMIT: Call to Broad Base Cooperation 
The East Asian Summit was started in 2005 under Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammed Mohathir. At the Summit, two competing conceptions of an Asian regional community were discussed by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Australian Prime Minister Paul Rudd respectively.   Read the Article.  
 

Business Concerns: Stamp Out Climate Goals  
APEC was launched 20 years ago to promote trade and strengthen economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, which now accounts for more than half the world’s economic activity and 40 percent of its population.  Read the Article.
 

AUSTRLIAN PM’S VISIT: Rudd Opens a New Chapter in Relations
Says No to Uranium sale until India signs NPT
“As Prime Minister of Australia, I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by attacks of violence against any foreign students studying in our country as our guests,” — Kevin Rudd  Read the Article.
 

BILATERAL NOTES
Commonwealth Bats for Climate Change Accord
Iran Foreign Minister Visits India
India-South Africa to Step up Trade 
India, US to jointly develop new energy technology
Rajiv Shah to Head USAID
India, Columbia sign Investment Agreement
Spanish Prince Visits India
India, China, Russia Foreign Minister’s Meet in Bangalore
Thomas Matussek is Germany’s new Ambassador to India 
   Read the Notes
   

INDIAN ART: Thinking Beyond Commercial Gains
India’s art market is worth Rs 1,500 crore (US$323.36 mn). To improve appreciation of art more awareness is needed beyond what’s available in auctions at Christy’s and Sotheby’s.  Read the Article.