India, Russia Desire Iran Issue Solved Through Talks(18, November 2006)
India and Russia agreed that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved through negotiations, before the United Nations Security Council

• In a joint press interaction in Delhi, with the visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Iran had the right to pursue its nuclear programme for peaceful, civilian use. As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Tehran must fulfill its obligations and ensure that its nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes.
• According to Mr. Lavrov, the Security Council's job must be to help and not replace the International Atomic Energy Agency when it came to dealing with Iran.

APEC Summit: Bush Arrives In Vietnam (17, Nov 2006)

US President George W. Bush arrived in Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. APEC's 21 member countries and territories were to meet in Hanoi, Vietnam, where North Korea's nuclear dispute and world trade were expected to dominate discussions.

• US-pushed regional free-trade proposal will be the top agenda item for Bush. Bush is the fourth US president to visit Vietnam
• All are partners with the United States in talks aimed at persuading a defiant North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons.
• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is about to join the summit by the week end.

Bangladesh Elections Likely By Jan 25

Bangladesh Parliamentary elections may take place by January 25. The poll schedule is likely to be announced by the end of November 2006.

• The elections must be conducted during the 90-day tenure of the caretaker government under President Iajuddin Ahmed that took office on October 30.
• There are to be no prior consultations with political parties.

Pak test-fired Ghauri V missile(16, Nov 2006)

Pakistan test-fired its 1,300 km range nuclear-capable ballistic missile Hatf V which is also known as Ghauri, is capable of targeting several Indian cities, a day after it reached an agreement with India on nuclear risk reduction.

• The launch of the medium-range missile was carried out by troops of the Army Strategic Forces Command, ASFC at the culmination phase of a training exercise held to test the operation readiness of a Strategic Missile Group equipped with Ghauri missile.
• The test came a day after the two countries instigated the agreement in New Delhi on reducing the risk from accidents relating to nuclear weapons.

Blair warns over Iran threat to West Asia(15, Nov 2006)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed US panel that any solution in Iraq must be part of a broader West Asia strategy, while warning that Iran poses a "strategic threat to the region".

• Blair mentioned that the Israel-Palestine conflict was the top priority in the region, because extremists were exploiting it to radicalise moderate Muslims.
• The British leader called for a change of strategy and pressed Iran to support Western efforts to quell the relentless bloodshed.

December: Current Affairs.