From the Editor-in-Chief
Egypt is the core issue for the entire global media. It is our cover story for this edition. The aspirations of change manifested in Egypt are making history. Starting with Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, unpopular rulers are being given a run for (their money) by the youth who are seeking more accountability and answers from the ruling elite.   Read the Note.  
  

INDIA-LDC MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE, NEW DELHI
Explaining the rationale of the Delhi Conference on LDCs, A.R. Ghanashyam, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, said, ‘the Delhi conference will provide the participants an opportunity to brainstorm on the issue how South-South Cooperation could contribute to the development of LDCs. The conference will identify key initiatives and provide policy recommendations on how to harness the resources of the South and leverage their contribution to the development of LDC in the coming years. This will be an important input to the Istanbul conference in May 2011”. Read the Article.  
     

LATIN AMERICA BECKONING
The Latin American industry—particularly the mining and the oil and gas sectors are now in the process of investing in new projects by way of expansion and modernisation, thanks to the economic growth. This offers scope for Indian companies to increase exports of equipments and machinery and other industrial inputs such as bulk drugs and fabrics. The focus on new and renewable energy sources by the governments in the region should be taken advantage of by Indian companies to supply equipments for solar and wind energy.   Read the Article.  
  

CHINA-US TIES: OVERCOMING STALEMATE
China’s President Hu Jintao’s visit to the United States in January is a turning point not only in their bilateral relations but also of global significance. Overshadowed by the unveiling of J-20 stealth fighter test, an aircraft refurbishment project, development of antiship ballistic missile and an assertive China in 2010 on territorial issues with India, Japan and Southeast Asian countries, Hu’s visit was aimed at positioning China at a vantage point in global affairs, despite the US reservations.   Subscribe to Read.  
  

LESSONS FROM EGYPT  
Along with the lack of freedom, free press, rubberstamp Parliament and tame judiciary and all the authoritarian structures which did not give them freedom, justice and democracy, growing unemployment and under employment, stagnant salaries for govt. employees, closure of industries due to global recession, and high rate of inflation had broken the back of most Egyptians for whom life had become unending struggle for survival. Egypt has limited revenues from Suez Canal, tourism, remittances, oil and gas and exports.   Subscribe to Read. 
   

HUNGARY’S EU COUNCIL PRESIDENCY    
Acknowledging the presidency as a “huge challenge” for his government, Hungary’s Foreign Minister János Martonyi insisted that it would be marked by continuity with the Belgian presidency that demitted office. In a news conference in Brussels Martonyi unveiled his country’s priorities for the next six months. “The team is young, and it’s the very first time they enter in the arena. I hope we will not be the bull. We would like to be, with all due respect and very humbly, the torero.”   Subscribe to Read.  
 

DAVOS WEF 2011
The World Economic Forum’s annual Davos conference is a one stop arrangement that addresses many issues under one roof - While the media fraternity looks at the forum as an ideal opportunity to take stock of reactions emerging from global business and policy elites. Entrepreneurs are on a constant vigil to broker deals and to announce publicly-minded initiatives amidst an attentive audience. For policy leaders, the Davos summit is a place of rendezvous with international peers to discuss priority topics for the year ahead, and also to meet with private sector shapers of the global economic agenda.  Subscribe to Read.      
     

Bilateral Notes 
India-US Bilateral Trade Increases 30 percent
Renewed India-Sri Lanka Cargo Shipping Service to Boost Trade
An Indian Touch to Arab Music
ASEAN Attracting High FDI
South Africa Announces Multi Billion Plan to Boost Employment
US and Canada Mull Regulatory Cooperation
EU Warns of Tough Rules on Bankers’ Bonus
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SUDAN REFERENDUM: BIRTH OF A NATION  
On 7 February 2011, the much awaited results of the Sudan referendum came out. The results showed that 98.83 percent voting was in favour of independence. After a six-year transitional period following two decades of brutal civil war, close to four million southern Sudanese went to the polls from 9-15 January 2011 to cast their vote for unity or secession. With the majority of all voters choosing independence, South Sudan will officially be able to declare independence on 9 July.   Subscribe to Read.
  

Legendary Belgian Beers in India
The legendary Belgian beers of Duvel and Liefmans were launched in India at a gala ‘Uncorking’ ceremony hosted by the Ambassador of Belgium to India, HE Jean-Marie Deboutte and his wife Madame Regy Evenepoel Deboutte on 27 January 2011. Subscribe to Read.  
   

VIBRANT GUJARAT 2011: INDIAN ORIGIN, GLOBAL REACH
It would require nothing more than a cursory glance at the members of the audience at the inaugural function of Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, 2011 to comprehend the true import of the Chief Minister’s emphatic words. Joining the iconic Chief Minister on the dais were esteemed world leaders including Brazilian Minister, Jefferson De Castro; Kamunto Aferaim, Uganda’s Minister for Planning; Moto Mori Moto, Managing Director of Hitachi Human Life Solutions India, Patrick Brown Canadian Member of Parliament and Rwanda’s Infrastructure Minister Ruhamya Koletha. The number of foreign participants in the event witnessed a marked increase from 600 in 2009, to 1,400 in 2011, while countries like Canada, Australia, Rwanda and Mozambique conducted separate to woo potential investors.   Subscribe to Read.  
   

ART IN GUJARAT: AMAZING MIX OF TALENT AND TRADITION   
Gujarat has successfully preserved its rich tradition of song, dance and drama. Most of the art traditions trace back their origin to the ancient period of Lord Krishna. The most popular amongst these are the Ras and Garba. Other popular forms of folk dances in Gujarat are Tippani Nritya, Siddi dance, Padhar Nritya, Dangi Nritya and other local tribal dances. Folk drama in Gujarat is known as Bhavai. Subscribe to Read.
  

IMMIGRANTS’ HEALTHCARE ISSUES 
Immigration seems to be making headlines in recent years as not so long ago David Cameron stressed on improved language skills –English of the immigrants for better integration. Immigrants generally leave their homeland for developed countries primarily for economic reasons and provide positive benefits to host economies.   Subscribe to Read.