Mar. 16 – An estimated 100,000 Thai “Red Shirt” protestors gathered in the country’s capital of Bangkok on Sunday to demand that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva disband parliament by noon Monday. Failing to achieve their goal, the anti-government protestors are now lining up to donate blood with plans to splash, splatter, or spill it at the Government House on Tuesday evening.

“The government must listen to the demonstrators,” said Prime Minister Abhisit during a nationally televised address in an attempt to restore calm. “Although the demand can’t be met by noon, we are willing to hear what they say.” » Read rest of the article

Mar. 11 – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi today with an ambitious agenda scheduled for his two-day trip – expecting to authorize as many as 14 agreements worth more than US$10 billion.

The agreements will largely focus on defensive deals, including the completion of the Russian-made aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and 29 MiG-29 fighter jets. Russia and India have enjoyed a longstanding partnership as they rank among the world’s largest arms exporters and importers, respectively. » Read rest of the article

Op/Ed Commentary: Andy Scott

Mar. 8 – China’s national legislature, the National Party Congress, began its annual meeting last week, and voting on several measures, including changes to a state secrecy law that been under revision for 14 years. The legislative body passing laws, albeit largely by rubber-stamp, stands in stark contrast to the deadlock that can be found on the other side of the world, where U.S. politicians seem incapable of moving any sort of legislation through Congress.

In the United States, government has largely devolved into political and legislative stalemate where Republicans and Democrats find themselves apparently unable to agree on anything. The partnership has gotten so bad that even ordinary procedural votes are being stymied and slowed by round after round of infighting. Where ruling elite in China have a virtual lock on all votes, in America, it seems impossible to even hold a vote. The administration of President Barack Obama, beset by problems both foreign and domestic, has seemed slow and ineffectual at leading the Congress through this impasse. » Read rest of the article

Mar. 5 – Amid growing concerns that all may not be well with the Chinese economy, Beijing confidently predicted another year of rapid expansion while simultaneously vowing to take steps in preventing a bubble forming within one of the fastest growing global economies. If China hopes to tackle this problem, China will need to both calm inflation and curtail runaway loan growth.

In his annual address to open parliament in Beijing this week, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also pledged to help ensure that the benefits China’s growth are shared more equitably among the country’s 1.3 billion people, in a sign of concern over a widening wealth gap and its potential to spark unrest. » Read rest of the article

Mar. 5 – U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will head to New Delhi next month to meet with Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and launch the first U.S.–India Economic and Financial Partnership meeting.

The partnership “will serve as a platform for greater cooperation on economic issues of importance to both nations,” the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

“Both countries recognize the importance of expanding bilateral economic engagement, noting the rapid growth of U.S.–India economic ties and the increasing range of global macroeconomic and financial issues on which the United States and India cooperate,” the Treasury said. » Read rest of the article

Mar. 3 – North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is likely to visit China later this month, Japan’s Mainichi newspaper reported today.

According to the Japanese paper, Kim will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao to discuss aid issues and the North Korean nuclear program. Kim’s last trip abroad took place four years ago when he visited China in January of 2006.

China remains North Korea’s biggest ally and has helped buffer the regime form increasing pressure by the United States, Japan and South Korea to return to the negotiating table over nuclear disarmament talks. In 2008, China accounted for 73 percent of North Korea’s international commerce, according to figures from the Korea Trade- Investment Promotion Agency in Seoul. » Read rest of the article

Mar. 2 – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned to New Delhi yesterday after a historic and successful three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with King Abdullah and the host country’s quasi-government, the Shura Council.

Mr. Singh’s trip marked the first time an Indian leader visited the kingdom since 1982.

During the visit, the two countries discussed several topics including investment, culture, science and technology, and an extradition treaty, but Prime Minister Singh put particularly strong emphasis on his desire for peace and stability in the region – starting with India’s relationship with Pakistan. » Read rest of the article

Feb. 26 – India and Pakistan officials met in New Delhi for their first official talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks stalled diplomatic relations.

The meeting tackled contentious issues between the two from water resources to territorial disputes to terrorism concerns. In particular, India focused on terrorism with its foreign secretary Nirupama Rao presenting dossiers of Mumbai attack suspects to Pakistan’s foreign secretary Salman Bashir. » Read rest of the article

Feb. 25 – As a reflection of the country’s growing clout in global finance, China’s central bank governor was appointed to its highest-ever staff position in the International Monetary Fund.

The move indicates an organizational shift to give emerging nations a more active role in running the world economy. China’s central bank governor Zhu Min was appointed as special advisor to IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn yesterday. The position is the highest rank given to a Chinese citizen in the organization so far. » Read rest of the article

Feb. 24 – The Chinese Communist Party released a new code of ethics this week just before the start of its yearly annual National People’s Congress.

Three thousand delegates from all over the country will gather in Beijing for the annual meet.The new ethics code is part of government efforts to stamp out widespread corruption; warning party members of 52 unacceptable practices. » Read rest of the article