Saudi Arabia and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) on Sunday in the fields of the circular carbon economy, carbon recycling, clean hydrogen and fuel ammonia. Watch this video to know more.

Japan, Saudi Arabia sign clean energy cooperation agreement

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<p>Like Western feminists of the early 20th century, in an era of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-over-200-arrested-over-public-indecency-harassment-271232" target="_blank">social change in Saudi Arabia</a>&nbsp;some women are embracing cigarettes, shisha pipes or vaping as a symbol of emancipation.</p>

<p>The sight of women smoking in public has become much more common in recent months, an unthinkable prospect before the introduction of sweeping reforms in the ultra-conservative kingdom.</p>

<p>The kingdom's ambitious de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has rolled out an array of economic and social innovations to project a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/saudi-kuwait-signed-an-agreement-to-resume-joint-oil-output-270025" target="_blank">moderate, business-friendly image</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Watch</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/saudi-arabia-arrests-200-people-for-violating-public-decency-271241" target="_blank">Saudi Arabia arrests 200 people for violating 'public decency'</a></p>

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<p>Women are now allowed to drive, attend public sporting events and concerts, or obtain passports without the approval of a male guardian. Rima, who started smoking two years ago, dismisses concerns about the harmful effects of tobacco but is worried her family will find out. She says she is prepared for a showdown.</p>

<p>"I won't tell them that this is about my liberty, because they won't understand that women are free to smoke like men," said Rima, dressed in a traditional black abaya with gold embroidery matching the hijab that covered her hair.</p>

<p>Najla, 26, who like Rima asked to use a pseudonym, said that despite the rapid social changes,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-no-dialogue-for-now-as-saudis-iranians-camp-on-positions-280904" target="_blank">double standards still existed</a>&nbsp;and that it was still considered a "scandal and disgrace" if women smoked. The only woman lighting up amid several tables of male smokers, she said she intended to "challenge society" and ignore the occasional dirty looks.</p>

<p>"My rights will be fully respected when my family accepts me as a smoker," she said, recalling that a friend was sent to an addiction clinic when her parents found out about her smoking. Najla started smoking while still a school student and, like her, up to 65 per cent of female Saudi high schoolers light up secretly, according to a 2015 study by the medical faculty at King Abdulaziz University cited by Arab News.</p>

<p><strong>Everything is allowed</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-diplomatic-efforts-go-in-vain-as-saudi-arabia-unwilling-to-back-oic-ministers-meeting-on-kashmir-279136" target="_blank">Despite the limitations</a>, in a country where until just a few years ago religious police would chase and hit women for infractions like wearing nail polish or allowing a strand of hair to escape from their hijab, the changes have been head-spinning.</p>

<p>"Most of our women clients order shisha. It was unimaginable just three months ago," a Lebanese waiter stated. Heba, a 36-year-old longtime smoker who sat at a table nearby, described growing up in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/saudi-arabia-planning-to-stop-funding-mosques-in-foreign-countries-report-276940" target="_blank">a closed country</a>&nbsp;where "everything was forbidden to women".</p>

<p>"Now, everything is allowed. Women venture out without hijab, without abaya and they even smoke publicly." But even as the kingdom has introduced reforms, it has attracted condemnation for a heavy-handed crackdown on dissidents including intellectuals, clerics and female activists.</p>

<p>In 2018, authorities arrested at least a dozen women activists just before the historic lifting of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/saudi-arabia-and-iran-no-place-for-persecuted-minorities-277376" target="_blank">decades-long ban</a>&nbsp;on female motorists. Many of the detained have accused interrogators of sexual harassment and torture. Saudi authorities reject the accusations.</p>

<p>"There is no doubt that at the persona level there is more freedom," said Walid al-Hathloul, whose sister Loujain is on trial over allegations of having contacts with foreign media and diplomats. "The arrest and demonisation of women activists is proof of this - it's designed so that the reforms will not be credited to the activists."</p>


Like Western feminists of the early 20th century, in an era of social change in Saudi Arabia some women are embracing cigarettes, shisha pipes or vaping as a symbol of emancipation.

Like Western feminists of the early 20th century, in an era of social change in Saudi Arabia some women are embracing cigarettes, shisha pipes or vaping as a symbol of emancipation. The sight of women smoking in public has become much more common in recent months, an unthinkable prospect before the introduction of sweeping reforms in the ultra-conservative kingdom. The kingdom's ambitious de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has rolled out an array of economic and social innovations to project a moderate, business-friendly image. Watch: Saudi Arabia arrests 200 people for violating 'public decency' Women are now allowed to drive, attend public sporting events and concerts, or obtain passports without the approval of a male guardian. Rima, who started smoking two years ago, dismisses concerns about the harmful effects of tobacco but is worried her family will find out. She says she is prepared for a showdown. "I won't tell them that this is about my liberty, because they won't understand that women are free to smoke like men," said Rima, dressed in a traditional black abaya with gold embroidery matching the hijab that covered her hair. Najla, 26, who like Rima asked to use a pseudonym, said that despite the rapid social changes, double standards still existed and that it was still considered a "scandal and disgrace" if women smoked. The only woman lighting up amid several tables of male smokers, she said she intended to "challenge society" and ignore the occasional dirty looks. "My rights will be fully respected when my family accepts me as a smoker," she said, recalling that a friend was sent to an addiction clinic when her parents found out about her smoking. Najla started smoking while still a school student and, like her, up to 65 per cent of female Saudi high schoolers light up secretly, according to a 2015 study by the medical faculty at King Abdulaziz University cited by Arab News. Everything is allowed Despite the limitations, in a country where until just a few years ago religious police would chase and hit women for infractions like wearing nail polish or allowing a strand of hair to escape from their hijab, the changes have been head-spinning. "Most of our women clients order shisha. It was unimaginable just three months ago," a Lebanese waiter stated. Heba, a 36-year-old longtime smoker who sat at a table nearby, described growing up in a closed country where "everything was forbidden to women". "Now, everything is allowed. Women venture out without hijab, without abaya and they even smoke publicly." But even as the kingdom has introduced reforms, it has attracted condemnation for a heavy-handed crackdown on dissidents including intellectuals, clerics and female activists. In 2018, authorities arrested at least a dozen women activists just before the historic lifting of the decades-long ban on female motorists. Many of the detained have accused interrogators of sexual harassment and torture. Saudi authorities reject the accusations. "There is no doubt that at the persona level there is more freedom," said Walid al-Hathloul, whose sister Loujain is on trial over allegations of having contacts with foreign media and diplomats. "The arrest and demonisation of women activists is proof of this - it's designed so that the reforms will not be credited to the activists."

'Happy I can choose': New era sees Saudi women light up in public

<p>Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told India on Wednesday that his country would "cooperate on all fronts" with India against terror.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Extremism and terrorism are our common concerns," Salman said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We would like to tell our friend India that we'll cooperate on all fronts, be it intelligence sharing. We'll work with everyone to ensure a brighter future for our upcoming generations," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Salman made his comments in a joint statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after delegation-level talks between them.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Extremism &amp; terrorism are our common concerns.We would like to tell our friend India that we'll cooperate on all fronts, be it intelligence sharing. We'll work with everyone to ensure a brighter future for our upcoming generations. <a href="https://t.co/io5oIvFzTX">pic.twitter.com/io5oIvFzTX</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1098139150442610688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">PM Modi: Pulwama mein hua barbar hamla duniya par chhai khatre ki nishani hai, hum is baat par sahmat hain ki atankwaad ko samarthan dene waale deshon pe sambhav dabav banane ki avyashkata hai <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaSaudiArabia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaSaudiArabia</a> <a href="https://t.co/MmSprEgg1J">pic.twitter.com/MmSprEgg1J</a></p>
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<p>"We agreed that there is a need to increase pressure on the countries which support terrorism," Modi said, adding that the two had also discussed greater defence cooperation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that the attacks in Pulwama cast their shadow not only on India but also on the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi also said that Saudi Arabia is one of India's "most valuable strategic partners".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that "our relations have grown stronger" and that he welcomed "Saudi investment in Indian infrastructure".&nbsp;</p>


Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told India on Wednesday that his country would "cooperate on all fronts" with India against terror. "Extremism and terrorism are our common concerns," Salman said.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told India on Wednesday that his country would "cooperate on all fronts" with India against terror. "Extremism and terrorism are our common concerns," Salman said. "We would like to tell our friend India that we'll cooperate on all fronts, be it intelligence sharing. We'll work with everyone to ensure a brighter future for our upcoming generations," he added. Salman made his comments in a joint statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after delegation-level talks between them. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Extremism & terrorism are our common concerns.We would like to tell our friend India that we'll cooperate on all fronts, be it intelligence sharing. We'll work with everyone to ensure a brighter future for our upcoming generations. pic.twitter.com/io5oIvFzTX — ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019 × PM Modi: Pulwama mein hua barbar hamla duniya par chhai khatre ki nishani hai, hum is baat par sahmat hain ki atankwaad ko samarthan dene waale deshon pe sambhav dabav banane ki avyashkata hai #IndiaSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/MmSprEgg1J — ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019 × "We agreed that there is a need to increase pressure on the countries which support terrorism," Modi said, adding that the two had also discussed greater defence cooperation. He added that the attacks in Pulwama cast their shadow not only on India but also on the world. Modi also said that Saudi Arabia is one of India's "most valuable strategic partners". He added that "our relations have grown stronger" and that he welcomed "Saudi investment in Indian infrastructure".

Will 'cooperate on all fronts' against terror: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India