PM Modi's 'Link West' Policy Bears Fruit As Strong India-Saudi Arabia Ties Unnerve Pakistan Indian PM Modi embarked on a visit to Saudi Arabia. PM Modi will hold talks with the Saudi crown prince and sign several agreements.

Gravitas: PM Modi Embarks On A Visit To Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Attracts Investors & Fund Managers Back Into The Fold With The Future Investment Initiative.

Gravitas: Davos In The Desert: What Is It & Why Is This Summit Significant?

PM Modi Discusses Bilateral Ties With King Salman, Addresses 'Davos In The Desert' As India, Saudi Arabia Seal Several Deals.

Gravitas: PM Modi In Saudi Arabia: Major Highlights

Strong Bilateral Ties Between India & Saudi Arabia Is A Win-Win Situation For Both The Countries.

WION Edit: Strategic Importance of India-Saudi Arabia Ties

PM Modi delivers a keynote address at 'Future Investment Initiative Forum' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Let's listen in...

PM Modi delivers keynote address at 'Future Investment Initiative Forum' in Riyadh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invited the global investors to benefit from India's start-up ecosystem. Delivering the keynote address at Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Modi said India has become the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem at present and added, even in tier-two & three cities of India startups have come up.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invited the global investors to benefit from India's start-up ecosystem. Delivering the keynote address at Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Modi said India has become the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem at present and added, even in tier-two & three cities of India startups have come up. ''Our start-ups have started investing at global scale. I invite global investors to benefit from our start-up ecosystem,'' he noted. Under Skill India initiative, in the coming three-four years, 400 million people will be trained under different skills which will provide assured skilled manpower to companies investing in India, the Indian prime minister said. Modi also expressed happiness over Saudi Aramco's decision to invest in India. ''By 2024, we aim to invest $100 billion in refining, pipelines, gas terminals. I am happy that Saudi Aramco has decided to invest in West Coast Refinery Project - which will be the largest refinery of Asia,'' he said. The aim of this forum (FII) is not only to discuss the economic system here but also to understand the rising trends of the world and look for ways aimed at global welfare, Modi said. Lauding the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, Modi said ''Our relations with Saudi Arabia is several years old. Our ancient relations has built a strong foundation for our strategic partnership.''

PM Modi invites global investors to benefit from India's start-up ecosystem

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 29th, 2019

Indian Ministry of External Affairs briefs on the outcomes of PM Modi-Mohammad Bin Salman bilateral talks. Let's listen in...

MEA briefs on the outcomes of PM Modi-Mohammad Bin Salman bilateral talks

PM Modi's 2nd visit to Saudi; More than 7 MoU's to be signed. Watch video to know more.

PM Modi's 2nd visit to Saudi; More than 7 MoU's to be signed

Today, PM Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia. All eyes are on Modi-Mohammad Bin Salman's bilateral talks. Is PM Modi's 2nd visit likely to open a new chapter in India-Saudi relations? Key agreements aimed at elevating India-Saudi relations will be getting signed in soon between India-Saudi Arabia by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi King Mohammad Bin Salman. Watch this video to find out more.

Key agreements aimed at elevating India-Saudi relation to get signed in soon

Today, PM Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia. All eyes are on Modi-Mohammad Bin Salman's bilateral talks. Is PM Modi's 2nd visit likely to open a new chapter in India-Saudi relations? Bilateral talks between the Indian PM Modi & Saudi king Mohammad Bin Salman is currently underway. Watch this video to find out more.

Bilateral talks underway between the Indian PM Modi & Saudi king Mohammad Bin Salman

Today, PM Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia. All eyes are on Modi-Mohammad Bin Salman's bilateral talks. Is PM Modi's 2nd visit likely to open a new chapter in India-Saudi relations? Watch this video to find out more.

Is PM Modi's 2nd visit likely to open a new chapter in India-Saudi relations?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday met King of Jordan Abdullah II in Riyadh and discussed ways to strengthen ties between the two countries.

"A good beginning to the day! PM @narendramodi met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in Riyadh. Both leaders exchanged views on working closely together to strengthen our ties across sectors, especially in trade &amp; investment, human resource development &amp; people-to-people ties," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

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A good beginning to the day! 
 
PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in Riyadh. Both leaders exchanged views on working closely together to strengthen our ties across sectors, specially in trade &amp; investment, human resource development &amp; people-to-people ties <a href="https://t.co/Mkcrp0OiNr">pic.twitter.com/Mkcrp0OiNr</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1189086919042445312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The two leaders are here to attend the annual Saudi`s Future Investment Initiative (FII). The Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the FII which will be followed by an interaction with a moderator at the conference. The FII Forum is also known as the `Davos in the Desert` which has been hosted by Riyadh since 2017 to project the Kingdom as a potential investment hub in the region.&nbsp;

The Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) which will be followed by an interaction with a moderator at the conference. Modi is also scheduled to meet King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Before his departure, Modi said in a statement that he looks forward to his participation in the FII Forum where he would be speaking about the growing trade and investment opportunities for the global investors in India as the country marches forward to a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday met King of Jordan Abdullah II in Riyadh and discussed ways to strengthen ties between the two countries. "A good beginning to the day!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday met King of Jordan Abdullah II in Riyadh and discussed ways to strengthen ties between the two countries. "A good beginning to the day! PM @narendramodi met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in Riyadh. Both leaders exchanged views on working closely together to strengthen our ties across sectors, especially in trade & investment, human resource development & people-to-people ties," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. A good beginning to the day! PM @narendramodi met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in Riyadh. Both leaders exchanged views on working closely together to strengthen our ties across sectors, specially in trade & investment, human resource development & people-to-people ties pic.twitter.com/Mkcrp0OiNr — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) October 29, 2019 × The two leaders are here to attend the annual Saudi`s Future Investment Initiative (FII). The Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the FII which will be followed by an interaction with a moderator at the conference. The FII Forum is also known as the `Davos in the Desert` which has been hosted by Riyadh since 2017 to project the Kingdom as a potential investment hub in the region. The Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) which will be followed by an interaction with a moderator at the conference. Modi is also scheduled to meet King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Before his departure, Modi said in a statement that he looks forward to his participation in the FII Forum where he would be speaking about the growing trade and investment opportunities for the global investors in India as the country marches forward to a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024.

Saudi Arabia: PM Modi meets King of Jordan, discusses ways to strengthen ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the third edition of Saudi Arabia's high-Profile annual conference today.

PM Modi to attend Saudi's 'Davos in desert'

WION Exclusively in conversation with Mahesh Sachdev | Former Indian envoy. Watch video to know more.

WION Exclusively in conversation with Mahesh Sachdev | Former Indian envoy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia heralds a new era in Indo-Saudi relations, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia has said while adding that the visit will further bind the two nations in an even stronger strategic partnership.

"Modi's second visit to the Kingdom will set bilateral relations on a new upward trajectory and bind the two nations in an even stronger strategic partnership," he wrote in a column in Arab News dated October 28.

Sayeed said the visit is expected to "further strengthen and expand bilateral ties in various areas such as security and strategic cooperation, defense, energy security, renewable energy, investments, trade and commerce, small and medium enterprises, agriculture, civil aviation, infrastructure, housing, financial services, training and capacity building, culture and people-to-people engagement."

"Nearly a dozen government-to-government agreements related to these areas are expected to be signed, as well as several government-to-business agreements," he said.

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The Prime Minister landed in Saudi Arabia a short while ago. <a href="https://t.co/l6WSNbsh7U">pic.twitter.com/l6WSNbsh7U</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1188919172300005376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The ambassador said the most important outcome of the visit is expected to be the establishment of a Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) between the two countries.

Highlighting that New Delhi appreciates the Kingdom's vital role as a reliable source for India's long-term energy supplies, the ambassador said, "Both countries are keen to transform the buyer-seller relationship in this sector into a much broader strategic partnership based on mutual complementarity and interdependence."

The ambassador recalled that a trilateral partnership has been formed between Saudi Aramco, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and a consortium of Indian oil majors with an aim to set up the world's largest greenfield refinery in Raigarh district on India's west coast.

The ambassador stressed that the two countries are exploring closer cooperation in defence industries and noted that there has been an increase in the participation of Saudi Armed Forces personnel in Indian military courses.

Sayeed said that the trade between the two countries is growing at a healthy rate of 24 per cent annually, there is potential to double the "non-oil component" to $20 billion in the next five years.

He lauded the role played by Indian Diaspora in strengthening relations between the two countries saying the contribution of 2.6-million-strong Indian diaspora to the Kingdom's development is widely "acknowledged and appreciated."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Riyadh for a two-day visit, is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday at the invitation of the Saudi King. Upon his arrival at the King Khalid International Airport, Modi inspected a guard of honour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia heralds a new era in Indo-Saudi relations, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia has said while adding that the visit will further bind the two nations in an even stronger strategic partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia heralds a new era in Indo-Saudi relations, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia has said while adding that the visit will further bind the two nations in an even stronger strategic partnership. "Modi's second visit to the Kingdom will set bilateral relations on a new upward trajectory and bind the two nations in an even stronger strategic partnership," he wrote in a column in Arab News dated October 28. Sayeed said the visit is expected to "further strengthen and expand bilateral ties in various areas such as security and strategic cooperation, defense, energy security, renewable energy, investments, trade and commerce, small and medium enterprises, agriculture, civil aviation, infrastructure, housing, financial services, training and capacity building, culture and people-to-people engagement." "Nearly a dozen government-to-government agreements related to these areas are expected to be signed, as well as several government-to-business agreements," he said. The Prime Minister landed in Saudi Arabia a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/l6WSNbsh7U — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 28, 2019 × The ambassador said the most important outcome of the visit is expected to be the establishment of a Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) between the two countries. Highlighting that New Delhi appreciates the Kingdom's vital role as a reliable source for India's long-term energy supplies, the ambassador said, "Both countries are keen to transform the buyer-seller relationship in this sector into a much broader strategic partnership based on mutual complementarity and interdependence." The ambassador recalled that a trilateral partnership has been formed between Saudi Aramco, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and a consortium of Indian oil majors with an aim to set up the world's largest greenfield refinery in Raigarh district on India's west coast. The ambassador stressed that the two countries are exploring closer cooperation in defence industries and noted that there has been an increase in the participation of Saudi Armed Forces personnel in Indian military courses. Sayeed said that the trade between the two countries is growing at a healthy rate of 24 per cent annually, there is potential to double the "non-oil component" to $20 billion in the next five years. He lauded the role played by Indian Diaspora in strengthening relations between the two countries saying the contribution of 2.6-million-strong Indian diaspora to the Kingdom's development is widely "acknowledged and appreciated." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Riyadh for a two-day visit, is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday at the invitation of the Saudi King. Upon his arrival at the King Khalid International Airport, Modi inspected a guard of honour.

PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia will strengthen bilateral relations: Indian envoy

Pakistan once again has denied Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fly over Pakistani air space for his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia. This time, India has dragged Pakistan to International Civil Aviation Organisation for his repeated denial to use its air space. Watch this video to find out more.

Pak denied Indian PM Modi to fly over Pakistani air space again for his visit to Saudi

Unemployment and sluggish economic growth are fuelling social tension and popular protests in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/world-suffering-synchronised-slowdown-says-new-imf-chef-effect-more-pronounced-in-india-254687">several Arab countries</a>, the International Monetary Fund said Monday.

The unrest is, in turn, contributing to slower growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, alongside global trade tensions, oil price volatility and a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-agrees-brexit-extension-but-sets-no-date-as-uk-squabbles-over-election-258193">disorderly Brexit process</a>, the IMF said in a report on the regional economic outlook.

Earlier this month it lowered the 2019 forecast for the region -&nbsp;taking in the Arab nations and Iran -&nbsp;to a meagre 0.1 per cent from 1.1 per cent last year.

The IMF slashed its outlook for the region's three largest economies -&nbsp;Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

The risks around the forecast of earlier this month "are skewed to the downside and are highly dependent on global factors," the IMF said in its report on Monday.

"The level of growth that countries in the region are having is below what is needed to address unemployment," said Jihad Azour, the IMF's director for the Middle East and Central Asia.

"We are in a region where the rate of unemployment at the youth level exceeds 25-30 per cent and this requires growth to be higher by 1-2 per cent" in order to make a dent in joblessness, Azour told AFP in an interview.

The IMF report said that high unemployment was worsening social tensions in Arab countries.&nbsp;

"Unemployment averages 11 per cent throughout the region versus seven per cent across other emerging market and developing economies," it said.&nbsp;

"Women and young people are particularly likely to be out of work, with more than 18 per cent of women... without jobs in 2018."

Violent protests have broken out in several Arab countries since early 2010 and turned into bloody civil wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya.

A new wave of demonstrations erupted over the last year in Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and Lebanon, typically demanding economic reforms and action against corruption.

In Lebanon, where protesters have brought the country to a standstill with demands for a full overhaul of the political system, the economy grew at a very slow pace over the past few years, Azour noted.

"The government has to act firmly and swiftly in order to address those imbalances, bring confidence back by addressing the fiscal situation, and lower expenditure," he said.

The IMF also said that public debt levels were very high in many Arab countries -- exceeding 85 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on average, with rates of more than 150 per cent in Lebanon and Sudan.

"Having built over many years, the cost of public debt burdens has become sizeable, preventing investments critical to the region's long-term economic future," it said.

The IMF said that Iran, which is subject to crippling US sanctions, has entered a steep economic recession and faces a battle against spiralling inflationary pressures.

The Islamic republic's economy is projected to contract by 9.5 percent this year after posting negative growth of 4.8 percent in 2018.

Iranian authorities must align "the exchange rate close to the market rate and also reform the financial sector... and try to address some of the implications of the high level of inflation," Azour said.

As a result of the sanctions, Tehran is believed to be exporting only around 500,000 barrels per day of crude, down from over two million bpd before the sanctions.

The IMF said that oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, led by Saudi Arabia, are expected to grow by just 0.7 percent this year from 2.0 percent in 2018 due to lower oil prices and output.

"GCC economies need to diversify and grow out of oil and this requires them to accelerate the reforms that have been started in the last four to five years," Azour said.

Unemployment and sluggish economic growth are fuelling social tension and popular protests in several Arab countries, the International Monetary Fund said Monday.

Unemployment and sluggish economic growth are fuelling social tension and popular protests in several Arab countries, the International Monetary Fund said Monday. The unrest is, in turn, contributing to slower growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, alongside global trade tensions, oil price volatility and a disorderly Brexit process, the IMF said in a report on the regional economic outlook. Earlier this month it lowered the 2019 forecast for the region - taking in the Arab nations and Iran - to a meagre 0.1 per cent from 1.1 per cent last year. The IMF slashed its outlook for the region's three largest economies - Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The risks around the forecast of earlier this month "are skewed to the downside and are highly dependent on global factors," the IMF said in its report on Monday. "The level of growth that countries in the region are having is below what is needed to address unemployment," said Jihad Azour, the IMF's director for the Middle East and Central Asia. "We are in a region where the rate of unemployment at the youth level exceeds 25-30 per cent and this requires growth to be higher by 1-2 per cent" in order to make a dent in joblessness, Azour told AFP in an interview. The IMF report said that high unemployment was worsening social tensions in Arab countries. "Unemployment averages 11 per cent throughout the region versus seven per cent across other emerging market and developing economies," it said. "Women and young people are particularly likely to be out of work, with more than 18 per cent of women... without jobs in 2018." Violent protests have broken out in several Arab countries since early 2010 and turned into bloody civil wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya. A new wave of demonstrations erupted over the last year in Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and Lebanon, typically demanding economic reforms and action against corruption. In Lebanon, where protesters have brought the country to a standstill with demands for a full overhaul of the political system, the economy grew at a very slow pace over the past few years, Azour noted. "The government has to act firmly and swiftly in order to address those imbalances, bring confidence back by addressing the fiscal situation, and lower expenditure," he said. The IMF also said that public debt levels were very high in many Arab countries -- exceeding 85 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on average, with rates of more than 150 per cent in Lebanon and Sudan. "Having built over many years, the cost of public debt burdens has become sizeable, preventing investments critical to the region's long-term economic future," it said. The IMF said that Iran, which is subject to crippling US sanctions, has entered a steep economic recession and faces a battle against spiralling inflationary pressures. The Islamic republic's economy is projected to contract by 9.5 percent this year after posting negative growth of 4.8 percent in 2018. Iranian authorities must align "the exchange rate close to the market rate and also reform the financial sector... and try to address some of the implications of the high level of inflation," Azour said. As a result of the sanctions, Tehran is believed to be exporting only around 500,000 barrels per day of crude, down from over two million bpd before the sanctions. The IMF said that oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, led by Saudi Arabia, are expected to grow by just 0.7 percent this year from 2.0 percent in 2018 due to lower oil prices and output. "GCC economies need to diversify and grow out of oil and this requires them to accelerate the reforms that have been started in the last four to five years," Azour said.

Unemployment, sluggish growth fuelling protests in Arab countries: IMF

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday embarked on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia with the focus on energy, defence and security, the launching of RuPay card in the kingdom and a speech at the third Future Investment Initiative Forum, also known as the "Davos of the desert".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday embarked on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia with the focus on energy, defence and security, the launching of RuPay card in the kingdom and a speech at the third Future Investment Initiative Forum, also known as the "Davos of the desert". In his departure statement, Modi said, "India and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed traditionally close and friendly relations. Saudi Arabia has been one of the largest and reliable suppliers of India’s energy needs." Modi will be addressing the Future Investment Initiative Forum, which is part of the King's vision 2030 to make Saudi a more diversified economy at 8pm on Tuesday. At the forum meet, PM will, "speak about the growing trade and investment opportunities for the global investors in India as the country marches forward to a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024.", the statement said. Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and separate delegation-level talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Both sides will be signing the Strategic Partnership Council --SPC MoU--which will be headed by PM Modi and crown prince and have two verticals at foreign minister level and trade ministers level. Under vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has selected eight countries -- India, China, UK, US, France, Germany, South Korea and Japan -- for forging a strategic partnership which was agreed in February this year and aims to monitor the Strategic partnership between both countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart for Saudi Arabia today. He will launch 'RuPay' card in Saudi. Saudi Arabia will be the 3rd country to get the RuPay card.

PM Modi to depart for Saudi Arabia today, will launch 'RuPay' card in Saudi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leaving for Saudi Arabia tomorrow. The focus of his visit would be on energy, launching RuPay card in the kingdom and a speech at the 3rd Future Investment Initiative Forum which is also known as the "Davos of the desert". On Tuesday, PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and separate delegation-level talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Both sides will be signing the Strategic Partnership Council - SPC MoU -which will be headed by PM Modi and the crown prince. India and Saudi Arabia will also have two verticals at foreign ministers' level and trade ministers' level. Under the vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has selected 8 countries for forging strategic partnerships. The countries include India, China, UK, US, France, Germany, South Korea and Japan. The SPC was agreed upon in February this year and aims to monitor the strategic partnership between both countries.&nbsp;

Future investment initiative (FII) forum

The highlight of the visit will be PM Modi's speech at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum in Riyadh. The prime minister will be attending the third session of the investment meeting and will deliver the keynote address. The FII is organised by the kingdom’s Sovereign Wealth Fund – the Public Investment Fund and is organised under Saudi King's vision 2030 which sees the economic transformation of the country from an oil-based economy to a more diversified economy. It was first organised in 2017.

Energy&nbsp;

Energy remains the main component of the visit with India importing 18 per cent of its crude oil requirement from the West Asian country.

TS Tirumurti, secretary economic relations, Ministry of External Affairs said, "We also hope to sign an MoU on a joint venture between Indian Oil Middle East with Al-Jeri company of Saudi Arabia for downstream cooperation for inter-alia setting up retail outlets in Saudi Arabia. Energy security has been the main area of India’s engagement with Saudi Arabia. We are well on our way to transforming the buyer-seller relationship in this sector into a much larger strategic partnership."

Saudi Aramco, UAE's ADNOC and Indian public sector oil companies are jointly developing $44 billion worth "west coast refinery" in Raigad, Maharashtra which is the single largest greenfield refinery in India. Saudi company Al fanar is currently executing a 300 MW wind power project in Kutch, Gujarat. Indian company Reliance announced that Saudi Aramco, one of the most valuable and profitable companies in the world, will take over 20 per cent share in RIL oil and chemical business at a value of a whopping $75 billion. Saudi Arabia is also looking to participate in India's strategic petroleum reserves.&nbsp;

People-to-people ties

To help the Indian community in the kingdom, India will be launching RuPay card. Saudi Arabia is the third country in West Asia after Bahrain and UAE to get the facility.

"An MoU is likely to be signed during the visit to launch the Rupay card in Saudi Arabia which will be very useful for not only the large Indian community but also to Haj and Umrah pilgrims, "TS Tirumurti said.

The Indian community in the kingdom has over 2.5 million people who send back $11 billion in remittances and with an increase in Haj quota to 2,00,000 from 1,750,25, the people-to-people connect between the two nations have strengthened. Around 7,00,000 Indians visit kingdom for Umrah each year. For the welfare of the Indian workers, PM Modi will launch the integration of e-migrate system which will be aligned with the Saudi counterpart to safeguard employment conditions. India and Saudi Arabia will also sign an MoU to increase the quota for flights between the two countries. During Crown Prince's February visit, India had agreed to an increase of 8,000 seats per week.

Defence

India and Saudi Arabia are increasingly cooperating on defence with a special focus on maritime security in the Indian ocean. The first India Saudi Arabia Joint Naval exercise will be held by the end of December this year. India has been training Saudi defence personnel. New Delhi is also leveraging its expertise in cyberspace with Saudi officers being given training in cybersecurity at the Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhi Nagar. The Saudi Royal Navy had visited India in August this year and visited the information fusion centre of the Indian Ocean region set up by the Indian Navy.&nbsp;

Pakistan, Kashmir, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan are the three countries in West Asia who have increased engagement with New Delhi. India says Saudi Arabia "has shown understanding of the recent developments" of revoking the special status for Jammu and Kashmir. Secretary, economic relations said, Riyadh's stand "has had a salutary effect on Pakistan"

On terror, Tirumurti said, "no doubt that both our countries are equally concerned about terrorism and you’d also recall that India itself had condemned the missile and the drone strikes on inter-alia the Saudi oil installations and facilities. So, therefore, terrorism has been an important aspect of our discussions and our cooperation." Saudi Arabia had condemned the Pulwama and Uri attacks.

Riyadh-Delhi: Hamim

'Hamin', is an Arabic word for intimate friend and both India and Saudi Arabia aim to become one. This will be PM Modi's second visit to Saudi Arabia since 2016 and comes months after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's visit to India. During the 2016 visit, PM Modi was conferred the highest civilian award of the kingdom - King Abdul Aziz Sash. Saudi Arabia has announced it will invest up to $100 billion in India. Trade between the two countries grew by $24 billion in the last year and stands at $34 billion. There are around 322 Indian companies in the kingdom such as L&amp;T, Wipro, TCS and startups like PayTM, OYO, among others. Last year, India was the guest of honour at the 32nd edition of the Saudi national festival of heritage and culture 'Janadriyah' wherein the then External Affairs Minister late Sushma Swaraj participated. Yoga, as a "sports activity" was allowed in the country in November 2017 and since then has been gaining popularity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leaving for Saudi Arabia tomorrow. The focus of his visit would be on energy, launching RuPay card in the kingdom and a speech at the 3rd Future Investment Initiative Forum which is also known as the "Davos of the desert".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leaving for Saudi Arabia tomorrow. The focus of his visit would be on energy, launching RuPay card in the kingdom and a speech at the 3rd Future Investment Initiative Forum which is also known as the "Davos of the desert". On Tuesday, PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and separate delegation-level talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Both sides will be signing the Strategic Partnership Council - SPC MoU -which will be headed by PM Modi and the crown prince. India and Saudi Arabia will also have two verticals at foreign ministers' level and trade ministers' level. Under the vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has selected 8 countries for forging strategic partnerships. The countries include India, China, UK, US, France, Germany, South Korea and Japan. The SPC was agreed upon in February this year and aims to monitor the strategic partnership between both countries. Future investment initiative (FII) forum The highlight of the visit will be PM Modi's speech at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum in Riyadh. The prime minister will be attending the third session of the investment meeting and will deliver the keynote address. The FII is organised by the kingdom’s Sovereign Wealth Fund – the Public Investment Fund and is organised under Saudi King's vision 2030 which sees the economic transformation of the country from an oil-based economy to a more diversified economy. It was first organised in 2017. Energy Energy remains the main component of the visit with India importing 18 per cent of its crude oil requirement from the West Asian country. TS Tirumurti, secretary economic relations, Ministry of External Affairs said, "We also hope to sign an MoU on a joint venture between Indian Oil Middle East with Al-Jeri company of Saudi Arabia for downstream cooperation for inter-alia setting up retail outlets in Saudi Arabia. Energy security has been the main area of India’s engagement with Saudi Arabia. We are well on our way to transforming the buyer-seller relationship in this sector into a much larger strategic partnership." Saudi Aramco, UAE's ADNOC and Indian public sector oil companies are jointly developing $44 billion worth "west coast refinery" in Raigad, Maharashtra which is the single largest greenfield refinery in India. Saudi company Al fanar is currently executing a 300 MW wind power project in Kutch, Gujarat. Indian company Reliance announced that Saudi Aramco, one of the most valuable and profitable companies in the world, will take over 20 per cent share in RIL oil and chemical business at a value of a whopping $75 billion. Saudi Arabia is also looking to participate in India's strategic petroleum reserves. People-to-people ties To help the Indian community in the kingdom, India will be launching RuPay card. Saudi Arabia is the third country in West Asia after Bahrain and UAE to get the facility. "An MoU is likely to be signed during the visit to launch the Rupay card in Saudi Arabia which will be very useful for not only the large Indian community but also to Haj and Umrah pilgrims, "TS Tirumurti said. The Indian community in the kingdom has over 2.5 million people who send back $11 billion in remittances and with an increase in Haj quota to 2,00,000 from 1,750,25, the people-to-people connect between the two nations have strengthened. Around 7,00,000 Indians visit kingdom for Umrah each year. For the welfare of the Indian workers, PM Modi will launch the integration of e-migrate system which will be aligned with the Saudi counterpart to safeguard employment conditions. India and Saudi Arabia will also sign an MoU to increase the quota for flights between the two countries. During Crown Prince's February visit, India had agreed to an increase of 8,000 seats per week. Defence India and Saudi Arabia are increasingly cooperating on defence with a special focus on maritime security in the Indian ocean. The first India Saudi Arabia Joint Naval exercise will be held by the end of December this year. India has been training Saudi defence personnel. New Delhi is also leveraging its expertise in cyberspace with Saudi officers being given training in cybersecurity at the Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhi Nagar. The Saudi Royal Navy had visited India in August this year and visited the information fusion centre of the Indian Ocean region set up by the Indian Navy. Pakistan, Kashmir, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan are the three countries in West Asia who have increased engagement with New Delhi. India says Saudi Arabia "has shown understanding of the recent developments" of revoking the special status for Jammu and Kashmir. Secretary, economic relations said, Riyadh's stand "has had a salutary effect on Pakistan" On terror, Tirumurti said, "no doubt that both our countries are equally concerned about terrorism and you’d also recall that India itself had condemned the missile and the drone strikes on inter-alia the Saudi oil installations and facilities. So, therefore, terrorism has been an important aspect of our discussions and our cooperation." Saudi Arabia had condemned the Pulwama and Uri attacks. Riyadh-Delhi: Hamim 'Hamin', is an Arabic word for intimate friend and both India and Saudi Arabia aim to become one. This will be PM Modi's second visit to Saudi Arabia since 2016 and comes months after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's visit to India. During the 2016 visit, PM Modi was conferred the highest civilian award of the kingdom - King Abdul Aziz Sash. Saudi Arabia has announced it will invest up to $100 billion in India. Trade between the two countries grew by $24 billion in the last year and stands at $34 billion. There are around 322 Indian companies in the kingdom such as L&T, Wipro, TCS and startups like PayTM, OYO, among others. Last year, India was the guest of honour at the 32nd edition of the Saudi national festival of heritage and culture 'Janadriyah' wherein the then External Affairs Minister late Sushma Swaraj participated. Yoga, as a "sports activity" was allowed in the country in November 2017 and since then has been gaining popularity.

PM Modi to leave for Saudi Arabia tomorrow; focus on energy, RuPay card

Saudi Arabia appointed a prince with diplomatic experience in Western capitals as foreign minister on Wednesday in a partial cabinet reshuffle as the kingdom tries to mend its international image and prepares to take over the Group of 20 presidencies.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud had served for the last several months as ambassador to Germany and earlier as a political adviser at the Washington embassy. His previous business career in the defence industry included chairmanship of a joint venture with planemaker Boeing.

Saudi Arabia, a key US&nbsp;ally in confronting Iran, has faced intense Western criticism over its human rights record, including over last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and its involvement in the devastating war in Yemen.

Prince Faisal joins a new cadre of top Saudi diplomats in their 40s, including the ambassadors to the United States and Britain, who are siblings.

"Look at the team being put together in DC, London, and now with the new foreign minister... Consolidation deepens and a pro-Western crew is in place," said Neil Quilliam, senior research fellow at Britain's Chatham House think-tank.

"It is a move to outsmart Iran in all the capitals and at the UN&nbsp;This is a new form of pushback."

Saudi Arabia is trying to build consensus to contain the missile programme of its regional foe after the Trump administration withdrew from a deal that put limits on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions.

Washington and Riyadh blame Iran for a series of recent attacks, including a September&nbsp;14 strike on key Saudi oil sites. Iran denies responsibility.

Saudi Arabia's young diplomats are part of a new generation of royals, including several other ministers and deputy governors, who have risen to power under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 34.

The de facto ruler of the world's top oil exporter has the support of many Saudi youth as he pushes to diversify the economy and open the ultra-conservative society up to the world. But his reforms have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent including the arrest of scores of critics.

As part of Wednesday's reshuffle announced in state media, Saleh al-Jasser, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, replaced Nabil al-Amoudi as transport minister.

It was unclear if Amoudi would remain in government. He was appointed last month to the board of Saudi Aramco as part of top management changes in the kingdom's energy sector as the state oil giant prepares for a partial share flotation as early as this year.

Outgoing foreign minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, who had earlier served as finance minister for years, remains a minister of state. He was appointed less than a year ago to restructure the ministry.

Saudi Arabia appointed a prince with diplomatic experience in Western capitals as foreign minister on Wednesday in a partial cabinet reshuffle as the kingdom tries to mend its international image and prepares to take over the Group of 20 presidencies.

Saudi Arabia appointed a prince with diplomatic experience in Western capitals as foreign minister on Wednesday in a partial cabinet reshuffle as the kingdom tries to mend its international image and prepares to take over the Group of 20 presidencies. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud had served for the last several months as ambassador to Germany and earlier as a political adviser at the Washington embassy. His previous business career in the defence industry included chairmanship of a joint venture with planemaker Boeing. Saudi Arabia, a key US ally in confronting Iran, has faced intense Western criticism over its human rights record, including over last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and its involvement in the devastating war in Yemen. Prince Faisal joins a new cadre of top Saudi diplomats in their 40s, including the ambassadors to the United States and Britain, who are siblings. "Look at the team being put together in DC, London, and now with the new foreign minister... Consolidation deepens and a pro-Western crew is in place," said Neil Quilliam, senior research fellow at Britain's Chatham House think-tank. "It is a move to outsmart Iran in all the capitals and at the UN This is a new form of pushback." Saudi Arabia is trying to build consensus to contain the missile programme of its regional foe after the Trump administration withdrew from a deal that put limits on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. Washington and Riyadh blame Iran for a series of recent attacks, including a September 14 strike on key Saudi oil sites. Iran denies responsibility. Saudi Arabia's young diplomats are part of a new generation of royals, including several other ministers and deputy governors, who have risen to power under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 34. The de facto ruler of the world's top oil exporter has the support of many Saudi youth as he pushes to diversify the economy and open the ultra-conservative society up to the world. But his reforms have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent including the arrest of scores of critics. As part of Wednesday's reshuffle announced in state media, Saleh al-Jasser, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, replaced Nabil al-Amoudi as transport minister. It was unclear if Amoudi would remain in government. He was appointed last month to the board of Saudi Aramco as part of top management changes in the kingdom's energy sector as the state oil giant prepares for a partial share flotation as early as this year. Outgoing foreign minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, who had earlier served as finance minister for years, remains a minister of state. He was appointed less than a year ago to restructure the ministry.

Young Saudi prince with Western experience named foreign minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to Saudi Arabia from October 28 to 29, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday. &nbsp;

Modi will also deliver the keynote address and meet Saudi Arabia's King Salman and hold a delegation level talk during his two-day visit, he added.

Modi will launch RuPay card in Saudi Arabia during his trip.

RuPay will help the Indian Haj pilgrims, Kumar said.

Saudi Arabia is the third country in the Gulf region to get the RuPay card facility after the UAE and Bahrain.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson also said that a joint India-Saudi Arabia naval exercises will be held on December 2019.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to Saudi Arabia from October 28 to 29, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to Saudi Arabia from October 28 to 29, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday. Modi will also deliver the keynote address and meet Saudi Arabia's King Salman and hold a delegation level talk during his two-day visit, he added. Modi will launch RuPay card in Saudi Arabia during his trip. RuPay will help the Indian Haj pilgrims, Kumar said. Saudi Arabia is the third country in the Gulf region to get the RuPay card facility after the UAE and Bahrain. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson also said that a joint India-Saudi Arabia naval exercises will be held on December 2019.

PM Modi to visit Saudi Arabia from October 28 to 29

External Affairs Ministry briefs press over PM's visit to Saudi Arabia. Watch video to know more.

External Affairs Ministry briefs press over PM's visit to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has appointed a new foreign minister with experience in Western capitals and loyalty to the powerful crown prince, in what observers say is a generational shift being driven by the young ruler.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, a one-time adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and currently ambassador to Germany, will replace Ibrahim al-Assaf who was in the role for less than a year.

Assaf, who was appointed in the aftermath of the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, was demoted to minister of state.

While Assaf was charged with mending the kingdom's reputation in the immediate aftermath of the scandal, Prince Faisal has more repair work to do and must also contend with the kingdom's dangerously tense relations with Iran.&nbsp;

The new minister has "really strong ties with traditional Saudi allies", said Cinzia Bianco, a Middle East analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations. "He is dynamic and proactive."

But analysts also pointed to the 45-year-old prince's background with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, as well as his younger brother Prince Khaled, a former ambassador to Washingon he also served as an adviser.

"It is part of a generational shift creating a new class of leaders in Saudi Arabia that are disconnected from the old power brokers, helping MBS to consolidate his power without having to rely on the old guard," said Andreas Kreig, a professor at King's College London.

"This, in turn, guarantees loyalty and control amid a centralisation of power in the hands of the crown prince. Foreign policy decisions are being made inside the crown prince's office with ministers being executioners not actual decision-makers."&nbsp;

Prince Mohammed, a self-styled moderniser shaking up the conservative petrostate, has sought to shore up his reputation in the wake of the Khashoggi scandal which tested longstanding alliances with Western powers.

"A new Saudi political dynasty is appearing," tweeted Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi foreign policy expert at the University of Essex.

Prince Faisal, who was appointed as envoy to Berlin earlier this year, "has really strong ties with traditional Saudi allies, US and even a more European outlook than would be traditionally the case," said Bianco.&nbsp;

He takes office as the kingdom continues to deal with the aftermath of Khashoggi's killing, its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 attacks, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals.

"The outgoing wasn’t really a foreign policy person. The newly appointed is very smart, very articulate and he has also been very strident in his statements," said James Dorsey, a Middle East expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

"MBS needs someone who is much more strident. MBS has a lot of repairs to do and the new foreign minister has got what MBS needs."

The kingdom has also been navigating a spike in tensions with its regional arch-rival Iran since attacks on Saudi oil facilities last month that temporarily halved the kingdom's crude output and sent world prices soaring.&nbsp;

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels claimed responsibility, but US officials blamed Tehran itself, charging that the rebels did not have the range or sophistication to target the facilities.

Tehran has denied involvement and warned of "total war" in the event of any retaliatory attack on its territory.

Earlier this month, Tehran said that an Iranian-flagged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iranian-oil-tanker-hit-off-saudi-coast-may-have-been-missiles-255343">oil tanker was hit </a>by two explosions off the coast of Saudi Arabia, sparking new fears of conflict.

As part of the reshuffle announced overnight, transport minister Nabil al-Amoudi was also replaced, with Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser installed in the role.

The change comes after a fire engulfed a new high-speed train station in the western city of Jeddah in September, injuring five people.

As well, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/35-foreigners-including-asians-dead-in-saudi-bus-crash-report-256360">35 foreigners</a> were killed last week when a bus collided with another heavy vehicle near the Islamic holy city of Medina.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia has appointed a new foreign minister with experience in Western capitals and loyalty to the powerful crown prince, in what observers say is a generational shift being driven by the young ruler.

Saudi Arabia has appointed a new foreign minister with experience in Western capitals and loyalty to the powerful crown prince, in what observers say is a generational shift being driven by the young ruler. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, a one-time adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and currently ambassador to Germany, will replace Ibrahim al-Assaf who was in the role for less than a year. Assaf, who was appointed in the aftermath of the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, was demoted to minister of state. While Assaf was charged with mending the kingdom's reputation in the immediate aftermath of the scandal, Prince Faisal has more repair work to do and must also contend with the kingdom's dangerously tense relations with Iran. The new minister has "really strong ties with traditional Saudi allies", said Cinzia Bianco, a Middle East analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations. "He is dynamic and proactive." But analysts also pointed to the 45-year-old prince's background with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, as well as his younger brother Prince Khaled, a former ambassador to Washingon he also served as an adviser. "It is part of a generational shift creating a new class of leaders in Saudi Arabia that are disconnected from the old power brokers, helping MBS to consolidate his power without having to rely on the old guard," said Andreas Kreig, a professor at King's College London. "This, in turn, guarantees loyalty and control amid a centralisation of power in the hands of the crown prince. Foreign policy decisions are being made inside the crown prince's office with ministers being executioners not actual decision-makers." Prince Mohammed, a self-styled moderniser shaking up the conservative petrostate, has sought to shore up his reputation in the wake of the Khashoggi scandal which tested longstanding alliances with Western powers. "A new Saudi political dynasty is appearing," tweeted Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi foreign policy expert at the University of Essex. Prince Faisal, who was appointed as envoy to Berlin earlier this year, "has really strong ties with traditional Saudi allies, US and even a more European outlook than would be traditionally the case," said Bianco. He takes office as the kingdom continues to deal with the aftermath of Khashoggi's killing, its worst diplomatic crisis since the September 11, 2001 attacks, in which most of the hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals. "The outgoing wasn’t really a foreign policy person. The newly appointed is very smart, very articulate and he has also been very strident in his statements," said James Dorsey, a Middle East expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. "MBS needs someone who is much more strident. MBS has a lot of repairs to do and the new foreign minister has got what MBS needs." The kingdom has also been navigating a spike in tensions with its regional arch-rival Iran since attacks on Saudi oil facilities last month that temporarily halved the kingdom's crude output and sent world prices soaring. Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels claimed responsibility, but US officials blamed Tehran itself, charging that the rebels did not have the range or sophistication to target the facilities. Tehran has denied involvement and warned of "total war" in the event of any retaliatory attack on its territory. Earlier this month, Tehran said that an Iranian-flagged oil tanker was hit by two explosions off the coast of Saudi Arabia, sparking new fears of conflict. As part of the reshuffle announced overnight, transport minister Nabil al-Amoudi was also replaced, with Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser installed in the role. The change comes after a fire engulfed a new high-speed train station in the western city of Jeddah in September, injuring five people. As well, 35 foreigners were killed last week when a bus collided with another heavy vehicle near the Islamic holy city of Medina.

Saudi Arabia names new foreign minister in generational shift

A decision to impose a 100 per cent tax on bills at restaurants that serve shisha has ignited criticism on social media in Saudi Arabia, where the water pipes are a popular pastime.

The furore has also been fuelled by confusion over how the tax is applied.

In the meantime, some restaurants have stopped offering shisha, while others have lowered their prices to appease customers.

The government's official gazette said earlier this month that the tax will apply to all tobacco products.

However, the ruling from the ministry of rural and municipal affairs said it will apply "to the total invoice of the business serving tobacco products".

A number of restaurants and cafes contacted by AFP said they believed that the tax applies to all table orders in any establishment that serves tobacco products, whether or not the order included shisha.

The decision sparked an avalanche of criticism on social media networks where the Arabic hashtag "tax on hookah restaurants" is trending in the kingdom.

Many people posted photos of their restaurant bills, with totals of more than double the initial amount when taking into account the new 100 per cent tax and a still-unpopular five per cent value-added tax which went into effect last year.

"Tobacco tax, controversy and confusion," read a headline in the Al-Madina newspaper on Monday.

In the face of persistent budget deficits, the world's top crude oil exporter has resorted to measures like cutting subsidies on fuel and power and imposing new taxes including on cigarettes and soft drinks.

There were also suggestions that the new shisha tax could be a measure to protect public health.

"This is an indirect way to prohibit shisha without actually prohibiting it," tweeted Electronic Lawyer, a popular commentator who has more than 80,000 followers.

Other Twitter users said the new decision goes against the country's Vision 2030 ambitions to change its ultra-conservative image and revamp the economy.

Encouraging investment and kickstarting tourism is part of a reform programme envisaged by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to wean the kingdom off its reliance on oil.

Saudi columnist Bassam Fatiny criticised the size of the tax as ill-considered.

"Let us assume that tax on tobacco has environmental and health benefits, is it logical that it be 100 per cent!" he said on Twitter. "The ministry must have misunderstood Vision (2030)."

A decision to impose a 100 per cent tax on bills at restaurants that serve shisha has ignited criticism on social media in Saudi Arabia, where the water pipes are a popular pastime.

A decision to impose a 100 per cent tax on bills at restaurants that serve shisha has ignited criticism on social media in Saudi Arabia, where the water pipes are a popular pastime. The furore has also been fuelled by confusion over how the tax is applied. In the meantime, some restaurants have stopped offering shisha, while others have lowered their prices to appease customers. The government's official gazette said earlier this month that the tax will apply to all tobacco products. However, the ruling from the ministry of rural and municipal affairs said it will apply "to the total invoice of the business serving tobacco products". A number of restaurants and cafes contacted by AFP said they believed that the tax applies to all table orders in any establishment that serves tobacco products, whether or not the order included shisha. The decision sparked an avalanche of criticism on social media networks where the Arabic hashtag "tax on hookah restaurants" is trending in the kingdom. Many people posted photos of their restaurant bills, with totals of more than double the initial amount when taking into account the new 100 per cent tax and a still-unpopular five per cent value-added tax which went into effect last year. "Tobacco tax, controversy and confusion," read a headline in the Al-Madina newspaper on Monday. In the face of persistent budget deficits, the world's top crude oil exporter has resorted to measures like cutting subsidies on fuel and power and imposing new taxes including on cigarettes and soft drinks. There were also suggestions that the new shisha tax could be a measure to protect public health. "This is an indirect way to prohibit shisha without actually prohibiting it," tweeted Electronic Lawyer, a popular commentator who has more than 80,000 followers. Other Twitter users said the new decision goes against the country's Vision 2030 ambitions to change its ultra-conservative image and revamp the economy. Encouraging investment and kickstarting tourism is part of a reform programme envisaged by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to wean the kingdom off its reliance on oil. Saudi columnist Bassam Fatiny criticised the size of the tax as ill-considered. "Let us assume that tax on tobacco has environmental and health benefits, is it logical that it be 100 per cent!" he said on Twitter. "The ministry must have misunderstood Vision (2030)."

Saudi Arabia's new 100% shisha tax sparks fury

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief on the loss of 35 lives due to a bus accident that took place in Saudi Arabia`s Medina province on Wednesday.

Expressing condolences to the families of those who died, Modi tweeted, "Anguished by the news of a bus crash near Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured."

In addition to the casualties, four others were left seriously wounded after a private charter bus carrying 39 passengers collided with a heavy vehicle loader in Medina province, reported Sputnik news agency.

The passengers included individuals with Asian or Arabic nationalities, the spokesperson for Medina police indicated.An investigation into the matter has been initiated.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief on the loss of 35 lives due to a bus accident that took place in Saudi Arabia`s Medina province on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief on the loss of 35 lives due to a bus accident that took place in Saudi Arabia`s Medina province on Wednesday. Expressing condolences to the families of those who died, Modi tweeted, "Anguished by the news of a bus crash near Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured." In addition to the casualties, four others were left seriously wounded after a private charter bus carrying 39 passengers collided with a heavy vehicle loader in Medina province, reported Sputnik news agency. The passengers included individuals with Asian or Arabic nationalities, the spokesperson for Medina police indicated.An investigation into the matter has been initiated.

PM Modi expresses grief on bus mishap in Saudi Arabia's Medina

By Haidar Khezri

Kurdish fighters under attack by Turkey have described President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria as a “stab in the back.”

Since the bombing began on October 9, Turkish military operations against the Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria, Washington’s staunchest and most effective allies in the war against the Islamic State, has killed at least 11 civilians and an unconfirmed number of Kurdish fighters, with estimates ranging from dozens to hundreds.

Kurdish fighters are key partners to the US in the Middle East. From 2003 to 2017, they helped overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein, battled al-Qaida and pushed the Islamic State out of northern Iraq and Syria.

Kurdish women have fought on the front lines in all these battles, as they have done since the 19th-century Kurdish commander Kara Fatma led an Ottoman battalion of 700 men and 43 women against the Russian Empire.

That was unusual for the period – but, then again, Kurdish women have long been exceptions in the mostly conservative Middle East.

Who are the Kurds?

Kurdistan, where I was born, is among the largest nations in the world without a state. Around 35 million Kurds inhabit a mountainous zone straddling Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Armenia.

The Kurds were first split up politically in the 17th century when their territory was divided between the Ottoman and Safavid empires. Back then, the Roman scholar Pietro Della Valle travelled to the region and was surprised to find “Kurdish women commuting freely without hijab.” He noted in his 1667 travelogue that “they engage with Kurdish men and foreigners without any problems.”

After World War I, a treaty between Britain and France, called the Sykes-Picot Agreement, drew arbitrary borders across the Middle East, creating colonial protectorate states. The partition again fragmented the Kurds, this time across four countries: modern-day Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

The Kurds have been fighting for their sovereignty ever since. In recent decades, they have succeeded in establishing autonomously governed regions within Iraq and Syria.

But in Iran and Turkey, the Kurds continue their armed struggle. Both countries to view this ethnic minority as a terrorist threat and legally repress Kurdish populations.

This setup has put Kurdistan – domestically a rather peaceable, prosperous place with significant oil reserves – squarely in the center of a geopolitical quagmire.

Until Trump’s recent turnaround, the US had backed the Kurds in Syria, Iraq and Iran, where they were critical to defeating the Islamic State and served as jailers to about 11,000 captured IS fighters.

But Turkey – a US ally – sees the armed Kurds in Syria as an extension of the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey since the 1980s.

In May 2018, over 250 people were killed when Turkey bombed the Kurdish-majority Syrian city of Afrin, which Turkish armed forces consider a “terrorist corridor.”

The feminists of the PKK

The Marxist-Leninist PKK, founded in 1978, may be an enemy of the Turkish state, but it is also one of the most feminist movements in the Middle East.

The group held its first congress on women’s rights in 1987, in which PKK co-founder Sakine Cansiz – who was assassinated in 2013 – proposed that its “liberation for all” rhetoric must include women’s liberation, too.

Today the party’s political agenda explicitly recognises religious minorities, dissidents and women as the crux of democracy.

In the autonomous Kurdish regions of Iraq and Syria, women have the same legal rights as men. Indeed, the Iraqi Kurdish regional government has a higher proportion of women than the United Kingdom – 30 per cent versus 20 per cent.

The charter of the semi-autonomous Syrian Federation of Kurdistan, founded in 2012, requires that women must hold a minimum of 40 per cent of all government posts. Every Kurdish Syrian public institution must also have two co-presidents, one male and one female.

Women also make up 30 per cent of Kurdish fighters deployed across the Middle East. More than 25,000 Kurdish women are deployed in Syria as the Women’s Protection Units, an all-female militia inspired by the KPP’s feminist liberation ideology.

In contrast, about 14 per cent of US military service members are women.

Female Kurdish troops rescued thousands of Yazidis trapped by the Islamic State on Iraq’s Mount Sinjar in 2014 and helped liberate the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State in 2017.

Equal in battle but not everywhere else

Despite the relative freedom of women in Kurdistan compared to elsewhere in the Middle East, Kurdish society is not entirely gender equal.

In 2014, only 12 of 250 judges in Iraqi Kurdistan were female, and just one of 21 government ministers was. Female genital mutilation, child marriage and honour killings – in which male family members murder women who are alleged to have disgraced their families – persist, particularly in rural areas of Kurdistan.

And, in my experience, feminist debates like equal pay for women and #MeToo aren’t yet a topic of conversation in Kurdistan.

Historically, too, it’s noteworthy that many famous female Kurdish leaders succeeded only because their empowerment did not challenge the male establishment.

During World War I, Lady Adela Khanum, leader of the Kurdish region of Halabja, saved the lives of numerous British army officers on the battlefield, earning her the nickname “Princess of the Brave.”

But she originally rose to power because she inherited the position when her husband died. While ruling Halabja from 1909 to 1924, she did not push a women’s rights agenda.

The hard labour of freedom

Kurdish women who were seen as threats to male authority have often been punished, sometimes with death.

That’s what happened to the very first woman to fight in the Kurdish army. Margaret George Malik quickly rose up among the all-male ranks in the 1960s to lead troops in the Kurdish war for independence from Iraq.

She was murdered in 1969 under mysterious circumstances. Some historians believe that Malik was killed by her lover because she rejected his marriage proposal. Others say she was assassinated by the Kurdish leadership, which feared her growing influence.

Either way, Malik’s murder speaks to the battles Kurdish women still fight today.

It’s meaningful that in the Kurdish language, the word for woman – “jin” – shares a root with the word for life: “jiyan.” And both jin and jiyan are related to the word “jan,” or labour pains.

In a region surrounded by threats – from Turkey’s attacks and Islamic State terrorism and patriarchy at home – the women of Kurdistan are fighting for their life and liberty. And the cost is hard, dangerous labour.

 
(Haidar Khezri is Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the<a href="https://theconversation.com/kurds-targeted-in-turkish-attack-include-thousands-of-female-fighters-who-battled-islamic-state-125100"> original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Haidar Khezri Kurdish fighters under attack by Turkey have described President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria as a “stab in the back.

By Haidar Khezri Kurdish fighters under attack by Turkey have described President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria as a “stab in the back.” Since the bombing began on October 9, Turkish military operations against the Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria, Washington’s staunchest and most effective allies in the war against the Islamic State, has killed at least 11 civilians and an unconfirmed number of Kurdish fighters, with estimates ranging from dozens to hundreds. Kurdish fighters are key partners to the US in the Middle East. From 2003 to 2017, they helped overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein, battled al-Qaida and pushed the Islamic State out of northern Iraq and Syria. Kurdish women have fought on the front lines in all these battles, as they have done since the 19th-century Kurdish commander Kara Fatma led an Ottoman battalion of 700 men and 43 women against the Russian Empire. That was unusual for the period – but, then again, Kurdish women have long been exceptions in the mostly conservative Middle East. Who are the Kurds? Kurdistan, where I was born, is among the largest nations in the world without a state. Around 35 million Kurds inhabit a mountainous zone straddling Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Armenia. The Kurds were first split up politically in the 17th century when their territory was divided between the Ottoman and Safavid empires. Back then, the Roman scholar Pietro Della Valle travelled to the region and was surprised to find “Kurdish women commuting freely without hijab.” He noted in his 1667 travelogue that “they engage with Kurdish men and foreigners without any problems.” After World War I, a treaty between Britain and France, called the Sykes-Picot Agreement, drew arbitrary borders across the Middle East, creating colonial protectorate states. The partition again fragmented the Kurds, this time across four countries: modern-day Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The Kurds have been fighting for their sovereignty ever since. In recent decades, they have succeeded in establishing autonomously governed regions within Iraq and Syria. But in Iran and Turkey, the Kurds continue their armed struggle. Both countries to view this ethnic minority as a terrorist threat and legally repress Kurdish populations. This setup has put Kurdistan – domestically a rather peaceable, prosperous place with significant oil reserves – squarely in the center of a geopolitical quagmire. Until Trump’s recent turnaround, the US had backed the Kurds in Syria, Iraq and Iran, where they were critical to defeating the Islamic State and served as jailers to about 11,000 captured IS fighters. But Turkey – a US ally – sees the armed Kurds in Syria as an extension of the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey since the 1980s. In May 2018, over 250 people were killed when Turkey bombed the Kurdish-majority Syrian city of Afrin, which Turkish armed forces consider a “terrorist corridor.” The feminists of the PKK The Marxist-Leninist PKK, founded in 1978, may be an enemy of the Turkish state, but it is also one of the most feminist movements in the Middle East. The group held its first congress on women’s rights in 1987, in which PKK co-founder Sakine Cansiz – who was assassinated in 2013 – proposed that its “liberation for all” rhetoric must include women’s liberation, too. Today the party’s political agenda explicitly recognises religious minorities, dissidents and women as the crux of democracy. In the autonomous Kurdish regions of Iraq and Syria, women have the same legal rights as men. Indeed, the Iraqi Kurdish regional government has a higher proportion of women than the United Kingdom – 30 per cent versus 20 per cent. The charter of the semi-autonomous Syrian Federation of Kurdistan, founded in 2012, requires that women must hold a minimum of 40 per cent of all government posts. Every Kurdish Syrian public institution must also have two co-presidents, one male and one female. Women also make up 30 per cent of Kurdish fighters deployed across the Middle East. More than 25,000 Kurdish women are deployed in Syria as the Women’s Protection Units, an all-female militia inspired by the KPP’s feminist liberation ideology. In contrast, about 14 per cent of US military service members are women. Female Kurdish troops rescued thousands of Yazidis trapped by the Islamic State on Iraq’s Mount Sinjar in 2014 and helped liberate the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State in 2017. Equal in battle but not everywhere else Despite the relative freedom of women in Kurdistan compared to elsewhere in the Middle East, Kurdish society is not entirely gender equal. In 2014, only 12 of 250 judges in Iraqi Kurdistan were female, and just one of 21 government ministers was. Female genital mutilation, child marriage and honour killings – in which male family members murder women who are alleged to have disgraced their families – persist, particularly in rural areas of Kurdistan. And, in my experience, feminist debates like equal pay for women and #MeToo aren’t yet a topic of conversation in Kurdistan. Historically, too, it’s noteworthy that many famous female Kurdish leaders succeeded only because their empowerment did not challenge the male establishment. During World War I, Lady Adela Khanum, leader of the Kurdish region of Halabja, saved the lives of numerous British army officers on the battlefield, earning her the nickname “Princess of the Brave.” But she originally rose to power because she inherited the position when her husband died. While ruling Halabja from 1909 to 1924, she did not push a women’s rights agenda. The hard labour of freedom Kurdish women who were seen as threats to male authority have often been punished, sometimes with death. That’s what happened to the very first woman to fight in the Kurdish army. Margaret George Malik quickly rose up among the all-male ranks in the 1960s to lead troops in the Kurdish war for independence from Iraq. She was murdered in 1969 under mysterious circumstances. Some historians believe that Malik was killed by her lover because she rejected his marriage proposal. Others say she was assassinated by the Kurdish leadership, which feared her growing influence. Either way, Malik’s murder speaks to the battles Kurdish women still fight today. It’s meaningful that in the Kurdish language, the word for woman – “jin” – shares a root with the word for life: “jiyan.” And both jin and jiyan are related to the word “jan,” or labour pains. In a region surrounded by threats – from Turkey’s attacks and Islamic State terrorism and patriarchy at home – the women of Kurdistan are fighting for their life and liberty. And the cost is hard, dangerous labour. (Haidar Khezri is Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Kurdish women have been exceptions in mostly conservative Middle East

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-visit-showcases-vladimir-putins-growing-middle-east-influence-255779">President Vladimir Putin visited Abu Dhabi on Tuesday</a>, seeking to attract over $1.3 billion worth of investments in Russia's economy.

Putin, who came to the United Arab Emirates a day after signing a key oil deal with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, was greeted by Abu Dhabi's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.&nbsp;

A dozen agreements worth more than $1.3 billion, notably in the energy, advanced technology and sectors, are expected to be sealed during the visit, according to the Russian sovereign wealth fund.&nbsp;

As Putin made his way to the presidential palace, jets painted the sky white, blue and red,&nbsp;the colours of the Russian flag, and ceremonial cannon salutes were fired.

The streets of Abu Dhabi were lined with Emirati and Russian flags, while road signs typically displaying warnings for motorists greeted Putin in Arabic and Russian.

"The United Arab Emirates welcomes the visit of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-nothing-compromising-in-trump-call-to-ukraine-leader-253325">the Russian president</a>," read the signs.&nbsp;

"Among the Gulf countries, the UAE is the leader in terms of trade with Russia," Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov told the press a few days ahead of the visit.

In 2018, trade between the two countries had reached up to $1.7 billion.

"Relations with the Emirates are very advanced, and they are constantly improving," Russian Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin told reporters in Riyadh on Monday.&nbsp;

President Vladimir Putin visited Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, seeking to attract over $1.3 billion worth of investments in Russia's economy. Putin, who came to the United Arab Emirates a day after signing a key oil deal with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, was greeted by Abu Dhabi's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

President Vladimir Putin visited Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, seeking to attract over $1.3 billion worth of investments in Russia's economy. Putin, who came to the United Arab Emirates a day after signing a key oil deal with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, was greeted by Abu Dhabi's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. A dozen agreements worth more than $1.3 billion, notably in the energy, advanced technology and sectors, are expected to be sealed during the visit, according to the Russian sovereign wealth fund. As Putin made his way to the presidential palace, jets painted the sky white, blue and red, the colours of the Russian flag, and ceremonial cannon salutes were fired. The streets of Abu Dhabi were lined with Emirati and Russian flags, while road signs typically displaying warnings for motorists greeted Putin in Arabic and Russian. "The United Arab Emirates welcomes the visit of the Russian president," read the signs. "Among the Gulf countries, the UAE is the leader in terms of trade with Russia," Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov told the press a few days ahead of the visit. In 2018, trade between the two countries had reached up to $1.7 billion. "Relations with the Emirates are very advanced, and they are constantly improving," Russian Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin told reporters in Riyadh on Monday.

Putin in Abu Dhabi seeking $1.3 billion in investments

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