Editor's Note
Welcome to the March-April edition of the magazine. The countdown for the Olympic Games in Beijing has started. It will be appropriate to scan through the imbroglio of human rights vs Olympics.   Read the Note.  
 

INDIA-AFRICA FORUM SUMMIT, New Delhi
India Engages Africa Decisively
The summit helped in crystallising partnership and opened new pathways of cooperation between the two sides. It stepped up the pace and spirit of India-Africa ties to greater momentum.   Read the Article.  
 

Cooperation with India Broadening: Daniel Smadja
In an exclusive interview with Diplomatist, H.E. Mrs. Daniel Smadja, Ambassador - Head of Delegation of European Commission to India, Nepal and Bhutan shares her thoughts on EU-India relations and the various programmes that EU has envisaged for South Asia.   Read an Interview. 
   

‘Europe is Upbeat on India’s Economy’  
“Today, Europe or the world as a whole considers India as a promising partner for economic development. India is blessed with both rich human and land resources” — Prof. Caldirola Read the Article.  
 

Human Rights Not Negotiable
he Olympics in Beijing, has perhaps become the most politicised games since the Moscow Olympics in 1980, boycotted by the US, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.  Read the Article.      
     

Olympics Sans Politics Better
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle” — Baron Pierre de Coubertin  Read the Article.  
 

DALAI LAMA: The Man and his Vision  
The Dalai Lama has been variously described as a self-exiled leader, the world’s most famous refugee, an itinerant monk, as one of the world’s most sought after speakers, a Nobel prize winner, a celebrity who can overshadow most celebrities – but seldom as a tragic figure presiding over a hopeless cause. Read the Article.
 

Pakistan After Benazir
Pakistan is routinely quoted in the American media as ‘the world’s most dangerous country.’ You can turn to Newsweek, USA Today, Business Week and other magazines and newspapers and it is always described in those dire terms. How it became that way is never explained. It just happened. It may be something in the genes of Pakistanis, that they are naturally inclined to be dangerous. But I think it’s important, at least from my perspective, to talk about the US involvement in Pakistan.   Read the Article.
   

BILATERAL NOTES
India-Madagascar MoU on Agricultural Cooperation
India Calls for SME Ties with Romania
India Talks to Venezuela on Energy Security
India-Finland Agreement on S&T
India-Japan in Currency Swap
India-Myanmar Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
India and Sweden to Widen Economic Cooperation
India-Tunisia in SME Cooperation
   Read the Notes.
  

India International Pet Trade Fair - 2008  
Hailed as a Success by Exhibitors and Buyers Alike.  Read the Article.   
               

India Confers Padma Shri on Canadian Food Scientist   
“We are very pleased to see such a prestigious award being conferred on a man whose illustrious career has been one devoted to mankind” — David Malone   Read the Article. 
    

A Call to Harness full Potential of BAMBOO  
A three-day international conference on bamboo production titled ‘Improvement of Bamboo Productivity & Marketing for Sustainable Livelihood’ was held in New Delhi between 15 and 17 April 2008, with a call to harness the potential of this extraordinary plant.  Read the Article. 
    

WOMEN in Combat in Canadian Forces
Brenda's Story  
A study conducted by the British Ministry of Defence in 2002 concluded that women are not suitable for combat duty. The stated reason was that women have a far lower capacity to develop muscle strength and aerobic fitness than men. The study found that only 1 percent of women can equal the performance of the average man, and that women have to work between 50 and 80 percent harder than men to achieve the same results. Read the Article.  
  

Nepal Polls 2008: Maoists in Command
Prachanda—Still Fierce!?
The Maoist leader’s real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal but he is vastly known as Prachanda the ‘Fierce One’, thanks to his revolutionary background. This 52-year-old rebel-turned political leader was born in Annapurna region of Nepal. A former agriculture student, he had been leading the decade-old Maoist movement against monarchy rule in Nepal.  Read the Article.  
  

Will Medvedev remain faithful to Putin's foreign policy stance?
The 7th of May 2008 saw the inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev as Russian president. A few days before the inauguration, RIA Novosti asked a number of well-known foreign political analysts for their views on whether or not Medvedev will continue to uphold Russia’s foreign interests with quite the same vigour as Vladimir Putin.  Read Interview.  
  

Kipling Country Kanha National Park for Wildlife Adventure  
We recommend Kanha National Park for a memorable weekend getaway in nature, and Kanha Jungle Lodge as the place to stay during a visit. Read the Article.
   

Bhutan Embraces Democracy
Unlike Nepal, monarchy takes the lead for ushering in democracy
Jigmi Thinley’s party, Druk Phuensum Tashogpa (DTP), won 44 of the 47 seats. The incumbent attributed the mandate as ‘Victory for His Majesty’.  Read the Article.  
 

Diplomatic News
Iran President Visits India; Talks Pipeline
New Envoys Present Credentials to President
India's Economic Expansion Rides on Challenges: ESCAP
13th EU Film Festival in India
Kosovo Declares Independence   
   Read the News.  
 

Bangladesh Looks Ahead with hope and optimism
The year 2007 has been an exceptionally difficult year for Bangladesh. To successive rounds of floods and a devastating cyclone afflicted Bangladesh during the year putting the economy of Bangladesh under severe strain.  Read the Article.  
 

New Impetus for Ties with India
On the eve of the 37th Independence Day anniversary of Bangladesh, its High Commissioner to India H.E. Mr. Liaquat Ali Choudhury speaks about the national priorities and the emerging areas of bilateral cooperation with India. Excerpts    Read Interview.  
 

1st Global Agro-Industries Forum
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 
Among the three basic human requirements—roti, kapada, aur makan (bread, cloth, and shelter)—it is food that gets top priority. The chimera of food security is under threat as steep hike in world food prices by 45 percent in the last nine months is any indication; the availability of food articles will be a big issue in the days to come.  Read the Article.  
 

India to Sign the Mine Ban Treaty if Alternate Technologies are Found
Eighty percent or 156 countries worldwide have signed the Mine Ban Treaty. However; fewer than forty countries remain outside the Treaty. Along with the US, Russia, China and Pakistan, India has yet to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. Read the Article.  
 

BUDGET 2008: Populist but Pragmatic
The Budget puts total spending at 7.51 trillion rupees (US$188.5 billion) for the fiscal year, which is up 6 percent, including a 10 percent increase in defence spending. Revenue is forecast to rise almost 15 percent.  Read the Article.  
 

Foreign Correspondent: Fifty Years of Reporting South Asia
In this volume, foreign correspondents cover subjects as diverse as tiger hunts, religious fanaticism and the Indian enthusiasm for P G Wodehouse. Peter Kann’s Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the fall of Dhaka in 1971 and Barbara Crossette’s eyewitness report of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination are two justly celebrated pieces, but all the contributions bring to life the subcontinent’s recent—and dramatic—histories.  Read the Article.