On Thursday, Pope Francis arrived for a four-day visit in Bahrain marking his first visit to the Gulf nation and only the second Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula. He spoke at the Sakhir royal palace following his arrival, during which he called for an end to discrimination and human rights violations saying that it is essential that “fundamental human rights are not violated but promoted”.&nbsp;

During his visit, the Pope was welcomed by the country’s monarchy King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Bahrain which is led by the Sunni monarchy has been accused and criticised of overseeing human rights abuses by the Shia Muslim opposition and other rights groups. However, these accusations have been vehemently denied by authorities.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/supplying-arms-to-ukraine-morally-acceptable-says-pope-516611">Supplying arms to Ukraine 'morally acceptable', says Pope</a>

The 85-year-old Pope during his address also referred to Bahrain's constitution and talked about the importance of putting commitments into practice so that religious freedom is completed and “not limited to freedom of worship”; people get equal dignity and opportunities which must be “concretely recognised for each group” and also so that no form of discrimination&nbsp;exists.&nbsp;

The Pope’s visit aims to bolster ties with the Islamic world and was followed after his landmark 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi, where he signed a document promoting the Catholic-Muslim fraternity with a leading Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb. He will stay in Bahrain from November 3 to November 6 during which he will address the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence” and meet with the Muslim Council of Elders.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-says-he-needs-to-slow-down-travel-or-consider-retirement-502142">Pope Francis says he needs to slow down travel or consider retirement</a>

The Pope will also visit Catholic Churches in the country including the first one that was established in the Gulf region in 1939 and may also interact with the sizable Catholic community in Bahrain of at least 160,000 people in a country of 1.5 million. Reports suggest that many pilgrims will visit Bahrain on Saturday to attend the pope’s big Mass at the national stadium.&nbsp;

This visit has also drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between the Sunni-led government and Shia community as the latter led the pro-democracy movement in 2011 and nationwide protests demanding reform. However, the monarchy reportedly quashed the dissent with major crackdowns and help from the neighbouring UAE and Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/end-spiral-of-violence-and-death-pope-urges-putin-521874">End 'spiral of violence and death', Pope urges Putin</a>

Since then the government has detained and imprisoned thousands of activists, protestors and even journalists after conducting mass trials. Francis’ remarks also come after human rights groups as well as relatives of Shia activists on death row have urged the Pope to speak out against capital punishment and oppression.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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On Thursday, Pope Francis arrived for a four-day visit in Bahrain marking his first visit to the Gulf nation and only the second Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula.

On Thursday, Pope Francis arrived for a four-day visit in Bahrain marking his first visit to the Gulf nation and only the second Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula. He spoke at the Sakhir royal palace following his arrival, during which he called for an end to discrimination and human rights violations saying that it is essential that “fundamental human rights are not violated but promoted”. During his visit, the Pope was welcomed by the country’s monarchy King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Bahrain which is led by the Sunni monarchy has been accused and criticised of overseeing human rights abuses by the Shia Muslim opposition and other rights groups. However, these accusations have been vehemently denied by authorities. ALSO READ: Supplying arms to Ukraine 'morally acceptable', says Pope The 85-year-old Pope during his address also referred to Bahrain's constitution and talked about the importance of putting commitments into practice so that religious freedom is completed and “not limited to freedom of worship”; people get equal dignity and opportunities which must be “concretely recognised for each group” and also so that no form of discrimination exists. The Pope’s visit aims to bolster ties with the Islamic world and was followed after his landmark 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi, where he signed a document promoting the Catholic-Muslim fraternity with a leading Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb. He will stay in Bahrain from November 3 to November 6 during which he will address the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence” and meet with the Muslim Council of Elders. ALSO WATCH: Pope Francis says he needs to slow down travel or consider retirement The Pope will also visit Catholic Churches in the country including the first one that was established in the Gulf region in 1939 and may also interact with the sizable Catholic community in Bahrain of at least 160,000 people in a country of 1.5 million. Reports suggest that many pilgrims will visit Bahrain on Saturday to attend the pope’s big Mass at the national stadium. This visit has also drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between the Sunni-led government and Shia community as the latter led the pro-democracy movement in 2011 and nationwide protests demanding reform. However, the monarchy reportedly quashed the dissent with major crackdowns and help from the neighbouring UAE and Saudi Arabia. ALSO READ: End 'spiral of violence and death', Pope urges Putin Since then the government has detained and imprisoned thousands of activists, protestors and even journalists after conducting mass trials. Francis’ remarks also come after human rights groups as well as relatives of Shia activists on death row have urged the Pope to speak out against capital punishment and oppression. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bahrain: Pope calls for an to end human rights violations and discrimination during visit

In Dubai, an Indian hotel employee hit a jackpot as he won Dh25 million on Thursday in the first Big Ticket Live outdoor draw since 2020. Sajesh NS,&nbsp;The Series 245 big prize winner is&nbsp;a resident of Dubai who arrived in the UAE two years ago from Oman, has been purchasing Big Tickets every month for the past four years. His 20 coworkers helped him buy his winning ticket online, and they will all now split the prize money.

Sajesh said that he wants to help others when asked how he intends to use his money, reported Gulf news.

“There are over 150 employees at the hotel where I work, and I would like to help out as many of them as I can by sharing a portion of my winnings with them,” he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virgin-australia-launches-lottery-to-make-people-opt-for-the-middle-seat-on-flights-528347">Virgin Australia launches lottery to make people opt for the middle seat on flights</a>

Despite becoming a millionaire, Sajesh plans to continue purchasing tickets every month.

One lucky winner will get Dh30 million for the first time ever with Big Ticket at the next December live draw. There will also be a second prize of Dh1 million, a third prize of Dh100,000, and a fourth reward of Dh50,000 revealed.

In November, Dh1 million will be awarded to each weekly e-draw winner.

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In Dubai, an Indian hotel employee hit a jackpot as he won Dh25 million on Thursday in the first Big Ticket Live outdoor draw since 2020. Sajesh NS, The Series 245 big prize winner is a resident of Dubai who arrived in the UAE two years ago from Oman, has been purchasing Big Tickets every month for the past four years.

In Dubai, an Indian hotel employee hit a jackpot as he won Dh25 million on Thursday in the first Big Ticket Live outdoor draw since 2020. Sajesh NS, The Series 245 big prize winner is a resident of Dubai who arrived in the UAE two years ago from Oman, has been purchasing Big Tickets every month for the past four years. His 20 coworkers helped him buy his winning ticket online, and they will all now split the prize money. Sajesh said that he wants to help others when asked how he intends to use his money, reported Gulf news. “There are over 150 employees at the hotel where I work, and I would like to help out as many of them as I can by sharing a portion of my winnings with them,” he said. Also read | Virgin Australia launches lottery to make people opt for the middle seat on flights Despite becoming a millionaire, Sajesh plans to continue purchasing tickets every month. One lucky winner will get Dh30 million for the first time ever with Big Ticket at the next December live draw. There will also be a second prize of Dh1 million, a third prize of Dh100,000, and a fourth reward of Dh50,000 revealed. In November, Dh1 million will be awarded to each weekly e-draw winner. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian hotel employee in Dubai hits jackpot; wins Dh25 million in Big Ticket

On an island off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, officials have unearthed an old Christian monastery that may date back to the years when Islam swept over the Arabian Peninsula.

A unique perspective on the history of early Christianity along the Persian Gulf coast may be gained from the monastery on Siniyah Island, which is a component of the sand dune sheikhdom of Umm al-Quwain.

It is the second such monastery to be discovered in the Emirates, and it dates back as far as 1,400 years, long before the region's vast deserts gave rise to a thriving oil industry that resulted in the creation of a unified nation that is now home to the skyscraper-filled cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-national-palace-museum-admits-breaking-artefacts-worth-over-70-million-530063">Taiwan: National Palace Museum admits breaking artefacts worth over $70 million</a>

According to experts, the two monasteries were lost to history in the sands of time.

Christians still make up a small percentage in the Middle East today.

Also watch |&nbsp;Bumper saffron harvest cheers up farmers in Kashmir region

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bumper-saffron-harvest-cheers-up-farmers-in-kashmir-region-530680/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rare-1000-year-old-manuscript-looted-from-bulgarian-forces-now-given-back-to-greek-monastery-by-the-us-521693'">monastery</a> is located on Siniyah Island, a barrier island protecting the Khor al-Beida marshes in Umm al-Quwain, an emirate 50 kilometres (or miles) northeast of Dubai on the Persian Gulf coast. Like bent fingers, a succession of sandbars extend from the island. The monastery was found by archaeologists on one, to the northeast of the island.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On an island off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, officials have unearthed an old Christian monastery that may date back to the years when Islam swept over the Arabian Peninsula.

On an island off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, officials have unearthed an old Christian monastery that may date back to the years when Islam swept over the Arabian Peninsula. A unique perspective on the history of early Christianity along the Persian Gulf coast may be gained from the monastery on Siniyah Island, which is a component of the sand dune sheikhdom of Umm al-Quwain. It is the second such monastery to be discovered in the Emirates, and it dates back as far as 1,400 years, long before the region's vast deserts gave rise to a thriving oil industry that resulted in the creation of a unified nation that is now home to the skyscraper-filled cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Also read | Taiwan: National Palace Museum admits breaking artefacts worth over $70 million According to experts, the two monasteries were lost to history in the sands of time. Christians still make up a small percentage in the Middle East today. Also watch | Bumper saffron harvest cheers up farmers in Kashmir region The monastery is located on Siniyah Island, a barrier island protecting the Khor al-Beida marshes in Umm al-Quwain, an emirate 50 kilometres (or miles) northeast of Dubai on the Persian Gulf coast. Like bent fingers, a succession of sandbars extend from the island. The monastery was found by archaeologists on one, to the northeast of the island. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Christian monastery pre-dating Islam unearthed in UAE

The United Arab Emirates and the United States have signed a partnership to promote $100 billion of investments in clean energy projects and add 100 gigawatts of clean energy globally by 2035, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"Together, we will spur large-scale investment in new energy technologies, in our own countries, around the world and in emerging economies," U.S. energy envoy Amos Hochstein said a statement carried on WAM.&nbsp;

The statement said the partnership would "assemble and stimulate" private and public sector funding and support for clean energy innovation, carbon and methane management, advanced reactors including small modular reactors, and industrial and transport decarbonisation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-foxconn-denies-reports-of-staff-deaths-calls-viral-video-malicious-530220" hreflang="en">Did Foxconn staff die due to Covid lockdown? Video claims so, firm denies</a>

Under the initiative, the UAE, an OPEC oil producer, and the United States would provide technical, project management and funding assistance for commercially and environmentally sustainable energy projects in other countries.&nbsp;

"The energy transition needs a realistic, practical and economically viable plan to deliver climate progress together with energy security and inclusive economic growth," Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, said in the statement.&nbsp;

The initiative will also focus on investing in responsible and resilient supply chains, promoting investment in green mining as well as production of minerals and materials vital to the energy transition.&nbsp;

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The United Arab Emirates and the United States have signed a partnership to promote $100 billion of investments in clean energy projects and add 100 gigawatts of clean energy globally by 2035, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.

The United Arab Emirates and the United States have signed a partnership to promote $100 billion of investments in clean energy projects and add 100 gigawatts of clean energy globally by 2035, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday. "Together, we will spur large-scale investment in new energy technologies, in our own countries, around the world and in emerging economies," U.S. energy envoy Amos Hochstein said a statement carried on WAM. The statement said the partnership would "assemble and stimulate" private and public sector funding and support for clean energy innovation, carbon and methane management, advanced reactors including small modular reactors, and industrial and transport decarbonisation. Also read | Did Foxconn staff die due to Covid lockdown? Video claims so, firm denies Under the initiative, the UAE, an OPEC oil producer, and the United States would provide technical, project management and funding assistance for commercially and environmentally sustainable energy projects in other countries. "The energy transition needs a realistic, practical and economically viable plan to deliver climate progress together with energy security and inclusive economic growth," Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, said in the statement. The initiative will also focus on investing in responsible and resilient supply chains, promoting investment in green mining as well as production of minerals and materials vital to the energy transition.

UAE and United States to invest $100 billion on clean energy projects

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which led to a massive fuel crisis, the energy minister for the United Arab Emirates stated on Monday (October 31) that OPEC+ is committed to supplying the world with the oil it requires.&nbsp;

The minister reinforced the idea that the group of leading producers would always be able to maintain market equilibrium. At a major industry event in Abu Dhabi, Suhail al-Mazrouei stated that OPEC+ will always remain a trustworthy technical organisation to manage oil supply and demand.&nbsp;

OPEC+ is a group of the producer bloc with allies including Russia.&nbsp;

Russia-Ukraine war LIVE updates | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-more-than-50-missiles-target-ukraine-529893">Ukraine targeted by missiles; grain exports restart</a>&nbsp;

"This technical organisation (OPEC) is always going to stay as a trusted, technical organisation taking decisions and doing its best to balance the supply and demand, so that is our commitment," Suhail said.&nbsp;

"If there is a requirement like we have done so many times in the past, we are a phone call away if there are requirements, and we have said this so many times before," he added.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia blames Ukraine for Black sea attack, 350,000 apartments left without electricity and water&nbsp;

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Amos Hochstein, the US energy envoy, issued a warning that the price of energy must be set in a way that promotes economic expansion and that greater investment is required in the oil and gas industry.&nbsp;

While speaking at the same conference, he further stated that the connection between the US and UAE is "solid, long-standing, and enduring".&nbsp;

Notably, the United States government criticised the unexpected decision when OPEC+ agreed to reduce oil production in October, sparking one of the group's largest conflicts with the West.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which led to a massive fuel crisis, the energy minister for the United Arab Emirates stated on Monday (October 31) that OPEC+ is committed to supplying the world with the oil it requires.

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which led to a massive fuel crisis, the energy minister for the United Arab Emirates stated on Monday (October 31) that OPEC+ is committed to supplying the world with the oil it requires. The minister reinforced the idea that the group of leading producers would always be able to maintain market equilibrium. At a major industry event in Abu Dhabi, Suhail al-Mazrouei stated that OPEC+ will always remain a trustworthy technical organisation to manage oil supply and demand. OPEC+ is a group of the producer bloc with allies including Russia. Russia-Ukraine war LIVE updates | Ukraine targeted by missiles; grain exports restart "This technical organisation (OPEC) is always going to stay as a trusted, technical organisation taking decisions and doing its best to balance the supply and demand, so that is our commitment," Suhail said. "If there is a requirement like we have done so many times in the past, we are a phone call away if there are requirements, and we have said this so many times before," he added. WATCH | Russia blames Ukraine for Black sea attack, 350,000 apartments left without electricity and water × ALSO READ | Moscow recruiting prisoners with HIV, hepatitis for Putin's private army: Report Amos Hochstein, the US energy envoy, issued a warning that the price of energy must be set in a way that promotes economic expansion and that greater investment is required in the oil and gas industry. While speaking at the same conference, he further stated that the connection between the US and UAE is "solid, long-standing, and enduring". Notably, the United States government criticised the unexpected decision when OPEC+ agreed to reduce oil production in October, sparking one of the group's largest conflicts with the West. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Only a phone call away': UAE asserts OPEC+ keen on supplying world with oil it needs

After Sri Lanka made it to the Super 12 round, of the T20 World Cup, with a 16-run win over the Netherlands in the qualifiers on Thursday (October 20), the onus was on Namibia to join them with a victory over UAE in Group A's last encounter. Namibia, who beat Sri Lanka in their tournament opener, failed to chase a modest 149 and were restricted to 141 for 8 in 20 overs to lose by seven runs and miss out on a Super 12 berth. From Group A, Sri Lanka will join Pool A in the next round whereas the Dutch line-up will be a part of the Team India-starrer Pool B.

Talking about the contest, UAE won the toss and opted to bat first. Riding on&nbsp;Muhammad Waseem's 41-ball 50, UAE were off to a cautious start. In the last few overs, the upped the ante courtesy of vital knocks from skipper&nbsp;Chundangapoyil Rizwan (29-ball 43) and&nbsp;Basil Hameed's 14-ball 25 not out. Namibia paid the price for leaking as many as 33 runs in the last 12 balls as UAE posted a competitive 149 for 3.&nbsp;

In reply, Namibia were off to a nervy start and lost wickets at regular intervals to be reeling at 46 for 5. Their chase was going nowhere before all-rounder David Weise's 36-ball 55 and&nbsp;Ruben Trumpelmann's 24-ball 25 kept them alive. Weise's big hits brought the chase alive and infused an intense battle in the last few overs before he fell with his side needing 10 off 3 balls.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-they-do-not-win-this-time-sunil-gavaskar-rates-indias-chances-at-t20-wc-before-pakistan-clash-527051">'If they do not win this time...' - Sunil Gavaskar rates India's chances at T20 WC before Pakistan clash</a>

Waseem, who returned with the Player-of-the-Match award, kept his nerves to bowl a fantastic last over and conceded only half a dozen runs to take his side to a thrilling seven-run win as they bowed out of the showpiece event with a win from three games. For Namibia, they will be gutted about missing out on a Super 12 berth as they only needed a win to go past the Netherlands line-up and progress ahead.

At the post-match presentation, UAE skipper CP Rizwan said, "A great moment for UAE cricket. I would like to thank our coach and the management. We had been doing well in patches, but today everything clicked together. (On Waseem's bowling at the death) He used to bowl a lot of death overs in our domestic cricket, and with the dew I backed my instinct of bowling medium pacers. This win is really big for UAE cricket, it can tell the world that we are here!"

After Sri Lanka made it to the Super 12 round, of the T20 World Cup, with a 16-run win over the Netherlands in the qualifiers on Thursday (October 20), the onus was on Namibia to join them with a victory over UAE in Group A's last encounter.

After Sri Lanka made it to the Super 12 round, of the T20 World Cup, with a 16-run win over the Netherlands in the qualifiers on Thursday (October 20), the onus was on Namibia to join them with a victory over UAE in Group A's last encounter. Namibia, who beat Sri Lanka in their tournament opener, failed to chase a modest 149 and were restricted to 141 for 8 in 20 overs to lose by seven runs and miss out on a Super 12 berth. From Group A, Sri Lanka will join Pool A in the next round whereas the Dutch line-up will be a part of the Team India-starrer Pool B. Talking about the contest, UAE won the toss and opted to bat first. Riding on Muhammad Waseem's 41-ball 50, UAE were off to a cautious start. In the last few overs, the upped the ante courtesy of vital knocks from skipper Chundangapoyil Rizwan (29-ball 43) and Basil Hameed's 14-ball 25 not out. Namibia paid the price for leaking as many as 33 runs in the last 12 balls as UAE posted a competitive 149 for 3. In reply, Namibia were off to a nervy start and lost wickets at regular intervals to be reeling at 46 for 5. Their chase was going nowhere before all-rounder David Weise's 36-ball 55 and Ruben Trumpelmann's 24-ball 25 kept them alive. Weise's big hits brought the chase alive and infused an intense battle in the last few overs before he fell with his side needing 10 off 3 balls. ALSO READ | 'If they do not win this time...' - Sunil Gavaskar rates India's chances at T20 WC before Pakistan clash Waseem, who returned with the Player-of-the-Match award, kept his nerves to bowl a fantastic last over and conceded only half a dozen runs to take his side to a thrilling seven-run win as they bowed out of the showpiece event with a win from three games. For Namibia, they will be gutted about missing out on a Super 12 berth as they only needed a win to go past the Netherlands line-up and progress ahead. At the post-match presentation, UAE skipper CP Rizwan said, "A great moment for UAE cricket. I would like to thank our coach and the management. We had been doing well in patches, but today everything clicked together. (On Waseem's bowling at the death) He used to bowl a lot of death overs in our domestic cricket, and with the dew I backed my instinct of bowling medium pacers. This win is really big for UAE cricket, it can tell the world that we are here!"

T20 World Cup: David Wiese's 55 in vain as UAE eliminate Namibia, Netherlands enter Super 12

The T20 World Cup (T20 WC) 2022 edition started with a bang. The one-time winners and current Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka lost to Namibia in their opening game of the qualifying round whereas two-time champions West Indies went down to Scotland, by 42 runs, in their tournament opener. West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by 31 runs on Wednesday (October 19) to spice things up in Group B, the Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders also got off the mark in the showpiece event, in Australia, with a win over UAE a day before.

Sri Lanka might have opened their account in the mega event, however, they still have lots to do in order to progress into the Super 12 round. They face Netherlands, who beat Namibia and the UAE, in their last encounter and it is a do-or-die game for the 2014 champions. Ahead of their crucial tie, here's how SL can make it to the next round of the competition.

EXPLAINED: How Sri Lanka can enter Super 12 round

At present, Sri Lanka occupy the third position in Group A, with a one and a loss and an NRR of +0.600. A win will see them go achieve four points and will&nbsp;better either Netherlands or Namibia, on run rate or points basis. The margin of error is very less for Shanaka &amp; Co. as a defeat&nbsp;will all but end their journey in the eighth edition of the T20 WC.

Given how rain has&nbsp;already played spoilsport in the ongoing edition, if weather god does not permit a game, then SL&nbsp;could face elimination incase of Namibia's win over UAE in the remaining Group A clash. In case both the matches are abandoned due to rain, the Lankans will be on their way back home due to a poor NRR than Namibia and having lesser points than current table-toppers Netherlands.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Namibia will go through with a win over UAE irrespective of the outcome in the SL-Netherlands' face-off.&nbsp;If both Sri Lanka and Namibia win, it will see all the three teams such as Netherlands, Namibia and the Lankans on four points each. In such a scenario, the latter two will proceed ahead. The Dutch side will suffer due to their narrow wins so far in the competition.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/their-tummies-are-visible-lower-are-heavy-misbah-ul-haq-unimpressed-with-pakistans-fitness-standards-526814">'Their tummies are visible, lower are heavy': Misbah-ul-Haq unimpressed with Pakistan's fitness standards</a>

Facing UAE, on Tuesday, Patham Nissanka's 74 and three-fers each from Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera starred in SL's 79-run win over UAE. Being asked to bat first, the one-time winners posted 152-8 before dismissing the opposition for a paltry 73 all-out in 17.1 overs.

At the post-match presentation, Shanaka said, "They (crowd) are following us everywhere we go. I'd like to thank them. Really disappointed with the way we ended the innings (with the bat). We could have scored 180-190. The tone was set upfront, but Bhanu (Bhanuka Rajapaksa) and I didn't click. It was important to tick with a win, we focused on a win only. He (Pathum Nissanka ) is outstanding, his focus is to bat through the innings. I'm happy for him. (When asked about Chameera's injury) Hopefully everything will be fine."

The T20 World Cup (T20 WC) 2022 edition started with a bang. The one-time winners and current Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka lost to Namibia in their opening game of the qualifying round whereas two-time champions West Indies went down to Scotland, by 42 runs, in their tournament opener.

The T20 World Cup (T20 WC) 2022 edition started with a bang. The one-time winners and current Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka lost to Namibia in their opening game of the qualifying round whereas two-time champions West Indies went down to Scotland, by 42 runs, in their tournament opener. West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by 31 runs on Wednesday (October 19) to spice things up in Group B, the Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders also got off the mark in the showpiece event, in Australia, with a win over UAE a day before. Sri Lanka might have opened their account in the mega event, however, they still have lots to do in order to progress into the Super 12 round. They face Netherlands, who beat Namibia and the UAE, in their last encounter and it is a do-or-die game for the 2014 champions. Ahead of their crucial tie, here's how SL can make it to the next round of the competition. EXPLAINED: How Sri Lanka can enter Super 12 round At present, Sri Lanka occupy the third position in Group A, with a one and a loss and an NRR of +0.600. A win will see them go achieve four points and will better either Netherlands or Namibia, on run rate or points basis. The margin of error is very less for Shanaka & Co. as a defeat will all but end their journey in the eighth edition of the T20 WC. Given how rain has already played spoilsport in the ongoing edition, if weather god does not permit a game, then SL could face elimination incase of Namibia's win over UAE in the remaining Group A clash. In case both the matches are abandoned due to rain, the Lankans will be on their way back home due to a poor NRR than Namibia and having lesser points than current table-toppers Netherlands. On the other hand, Namibia will go through with a win over UAE irrespective of the outcome in the SL-Netherlands' face-off. If both Sri Lanka and Namibia win, it will see all the three teams such as Netherlands, Namibia and the Lankans on four points each. In such a scenario, the latter two will proceed ahead. The Dutch side will suffer due to their narrow wins so far in the competition. ALSO READ | 'Their tummies are visible, lower are heavy': Misbah-ul-Haq unimpressed with Pakistan's fitness standards Facing UAE, on Tuesday, Patham Nissanka's 74 and three-fers each from Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera starred in SL's 79-run win over UAE. Being asked to bat first, the one-time winners posted 152-8 before dismissing the opposition for a paltry 73 all-out in 17.1 overs. At the post-match presentation, Shanaka said, "They (crowd) are following us everywhere we go. I'd like to thank them. Really disappointed with the way we ended the innings (with the bat). We could have scored 180-190. The tone was set upfront, but Bhanu (Bhanuka Rajapaksa) and I didn't click. It was important to tick with a win, we focused on a win only. He (Pathum Nissanka ) is outstanding, his focus is to bat through the innings. I'm happy for him. (When asked about Chameera's injury) Hopefully everything will be fine."

T20 World Cup: Ahead of do-or die game vs Netherlands, here's how Sri Lanka can enter Super 12 round

The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it will be sending $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help in rebuilding the nation amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. According to Wam news agency, the decision was taken following an order from President Sheikh Mohamed.&nbsp;

The UAE has been an ally of Ukraine till now and they have already sent monetary aid to Ukrainians who were taking refuge in Bulgaria and Poland towards the start of the crisis. According to the United Nations, around eight million people fled Ukraine and were scattered all around Europe.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rare-protests-featuring-slogans-against-xi-jinping-spread-across-china-526426" hreflang="en">Rare protests featuring slogans against Xi Jinping spread across the world</a>

Sheikh Mohamed has also been quite vocal about helping Ukrainian civilians affected by the constant fighting and during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he made it clear that he will be providing “humanitarian and economic&nbsp;assistance to mitigate the impact of the conflict with Russia”.&nbsp;

Zelensky also took to Twitter on Monday to thank UAE for their constant support.&nbsp;

Apart from the humanitarian aid, Sheikh Mohamed also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a “peaceful” conclusion to the Ukraine-Russia war. The two world leaders met in Strelna and according to state media, Mohamed called for both Russia and Ukraine to find a “middle ground”.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-summons-senior-chinese-diplomat-after-protester-beaten-at-manchester-consulate-526501">UK summons Chinese diplomat after protester beaten at Manchester consulate</a>

"By engaging in dialogue, negotiation, and diplomatic mechanisms, a political settlement can be reached that will achieve international peace and security," the UAE state news agency reported.&nbsp;

Ukraine also received the first part of the proposed financial aid from the European Union on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal posted on Telegram that the government received $1.96 million from the EU as a “financial resource to help cover urgent budgetary expenses”.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it will be sending $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help in rebuilding the nation amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it will be sending $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help in rebuilding the nation amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. According to Wam news agency, the decision was taken following an order from President Sheikh Mohamed. The UAE has been an ally of Ukraine till now and they have already sent monetary aid to Ukrainians who were taking refuge in Bulgaria and Poland towards the start of the crisis. According to the United Nations, around eight million people fled Ukraine and were scattered all around Europe. Also read | Rare protests featuring slogans against Xi Jinping spread across the world Sheikh Mohamed has also been quite vocal about helping Ukrainian civilians affected by the constant fighting and during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he made it clear that he will be providing “humanitarian and economic assistance to mitigate the impact of the conflict with Russia”. Zelensky also took to Twitter on Monday to thank UAE for their constant support. Apart from the humanitarian aid, Sheikh Mohamed also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a “peaceful” conclusion to the Ukraine-Russia war. The two world leaders met in Strelna and according to state media, Mohamed called for both Russia and Ukraine to find a “middle ground”. Also read | UK summons Chinese diplomat after protester beaten at Manchester consulate "By engaging in dialogue, negotiation, and diplomatic mechanisms, a political settlement can be reached that will achieve international peace and security," the UAE state news agency reported. Ukraine also received the first part of the proposed financial aid from the European Union on Tuesday. The Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal posted on Telegram that the government received $1.96 million from the EU as a “financial resource to help cover urgent budgetary expenses”.

UAE to send $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine amid ongoing crisis

An Indian man from northern Uttar Pradesh state was wrongly detained at Abu Dhabi airport, UAE, after officials erroneously found his face matching with one of the wanted criminals through face recognition software.

After being questioned extensively for hours over a mistaken identity case on October 11, he was deported to India in the early hours of Sunday.

After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, he was greeted by well-wishers and media personnel, to whom he narrated his ordeal.

Praveen Kumar, who works as a contractor for a cement company in Noida, and his wife Usha were on a week-long leisure trip to Switzerland and had a connecting flight from Abu Dhabi.

He stated that the company he works for had arranged the Switzerland trip for him, which was organised by a travelling agency.

The agency had booked a connecting flight from Abu Dhabi as the direct flight to Switzerland was not available.

But after landing at the airport, the immigration authorities seized the couple’s passports and visas and then took them to a separate room for questioning.

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UPDATE | Resident of Noida, Praveen Kumar arrives back; visuals from Delhi airport 
 
CID there at airport detained me once &amp; then let me go, after which they detained me for a second time when I was on my way towards departure: Praveen Kumar (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/jYdarH0vfC">https://t.co/jYdarH0vfC</a> <a href="https://t.co/alQKH5AJFw">pic.twitter.com/alQKH5AJFw</a>
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1581402928510046208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“They kept me overnight and forced me to accept that I was someone else and put me in a holding cell in the morning. Then, they took me to a different city, where I was detained and questioned for hours,” Kumar told ANI news agency.

After news of the couple’s detention came to the fore, their family members tweeted to India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials of the ministry seeking help.

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate SL Yathiraj told ANI that the family had submitted an application to get him released, following which the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy and the state's Home Ministry were apprised.

“I would like to thank PM Modi and (Uttar Pradesh) Chief Minister Adityanath for their quick action in the matter,” Kumar added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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An Indian man from northern Uttar Pradesh state was wrongly detained at Abu Dhabi airport, UAE, after officials erroneously found his face matching with one of the wanted criminals through face recognition software.

An Indian man from northern Uttar Pradesh state was wrongly detained at Abu Dhabi airport, UAE, after officials erroneously found his face matching with one of the wanted criminals through face recognition software. After being questioned extensively for hours over a mistaken identity case on October 11, he was deported to India in the early hours of Sunday. After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, he was greeted by well-wishers and media personnel, to whom he narrated his ordeal. Praveen Kumar, who works as a contractor for a cement company in Noida, and his wife Usha were on a week-long leisure trip to Switzerland and had a connecting flight from Abu Dhabi. He stated that the company he works for had arranged the Switzerland trip for him, which was organised by a travelling agency. The agency had booked a connecting flight from Abu Dhabi as the direct flight to Switzerland was not available. But after landing at the airport, the immigration authorities seized the couple’s passports and visas and then took them to a separate room for questioning. UPDATE | Resident of Noida, Praveen Kumar arrives back; visuals from Delhi airport CID there at airport detained me once & then let me go, after which they detained me for a second time when I was on my way towards departure: Praveen Kumar (1/2) https://t.co/jYdarH0vfC pic.twitter.com/alQKH5AJFw — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 15, 2022 × “They kept me overnight and forced me to accept that I was someone else and put me in a holding cell in the morning. Then, they took me to a different city, where I was detained and questioned for hours,” Kumar told ANI news agency. After news of the couple’s detention came to the fore, their family members tweeted to India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials of the ministry seeking help. Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate SL Yathiraj told ANI that the family had submitted an application to get him released, following which the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy and the state's Home Ministry were apprised. “I would like to thank PM Modi and (Uttar Pradesh) Chief Minister Adityanath for their quick action in the matter,” Kumar added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian man wrongly detained at Abu Dhabi airport over mistaken identity, lands in Delhi

President of the United Arab Emirates will be flying to Russia today to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Citing the local media reports, his visit aims to help reach effective political solutions to the Ukrainian's crisis.

UAE President to visit Russia later today, will discuss Ukraine war

The United Arab Emirates is betting big on Tech. UAE's economy ministry is busy setting up shop in Metaverse. Metaverse could add $360 billion to GDP in the MENA region.

UAE's economy ministry busy setting up shop in Metaverse

United Arab Emirates' (UAE) job exploration visa came into effect on Wednesday (October 5). This visa seeks to attract job seekers to UAE and to ease process for the same. The announcement of job exploration visa was made as part of UAE's Advanced Visa System.

Before job exploration visa, job-seekers would come to UAE on regular tourist-visa. What's new about the job exploration visa is that it does not require a sponsor or a host.

<h2>Who is eligible for UAE job exploration visa?</h2>

Earlier, the UAE government had announced that those classified under first, second or third skill level would get the visa. These skill levels are defined by UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emigration.

<h2>What is the validity of UAE job exploration visa?</h2>

There are three options: 60, 90 and 120 days. This means that people seeking a job in UAE have upto 4 months to explore the job market.

<h2>What are fees of UAE job exploration visa?</h2>

Sixty-day visa costs Dh1,495 (USD 407), 90 day visa will cost Dh1,655 (USD 450) and 120-day visa will cost Dh1,815 (USD 494)

<h2>Where to apply for UAE job exploration visa?</h2>

One can make an application on the website of UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

<h2>What are required documents for UAE job exploration visa?</h2>

Applicants would need passport copy, a colour photograph and attested copy of qualification certificate. Applicants are advised to check the official website before preparing for the application.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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United Arab Emirates' (UAE) job exploration visa came into effect on Wednesday (October 5). This visa seeks to attract job seekers to UAE and to ease process for the same.

United Arab Emirates' (UAE) job exploration visa came into effect on Wednesday (October 5). This visa seeks to attract job seekers to UAE and to ease process for the same. The announcement of job exploration visa was made as part of UAE's Advanced Visa System. Before job exploration visa, job-seekers would come to UAE on regular tourist-visa. What's new about the job exploration visa is that it does not require a sponsor or a host. Who is eligible for UAE job exploration visa? Earlier, the UAE government had announced that those classified under first, second or third skill level would get the visa. These skill levels are defined by UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emigration. What is the validity of UAE job exploration visa? There are three options: 60, 90 and 120 days. This means that people seeking a job in UAE have upto 4 months to explore the job market. What are fees of UAE job exploration visa? Sixty-day visa costs Dh1,495 (USD 407), 90 day visa will cost Dh1,655 (USD 450) and 120-day visa will cost Dh1,815 (USD 494) Where to apply for UAE job exploration visa? One can make an application on the website of UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. What are required documents for UAE job exploration visa? Applicants would need passport copy, a colour photograph and attested copy of qualification certificate. Applicants are advised to check the official website before preparing for the application. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UAE job exploration visa: Check eligibility, documents, fees and more

The United Arab Emirates, which already owns the highest tower in the world and has undertaken a daring Mars mission, aspires to become a forerunner in the metaverse's depths.

It was stated that the UAE's economy ministry was opening up shop inside the immersive virtual world that is currently taking shape in a project that was unveiled inside Dubai's dazzling Museum of the Future.

According to officials, anyone who don virtual reality goggles or use other means to enter will find a ministry ready to execute bilateral agreements with other governments and open for business with businesses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mercedes-benz-launches-first-made-in-india-eqs-580-electric-car-521927">Mercedes-Benz launches first ‘Made in India’ EQS 580 luxury electric car</a>

The UAE's economy minister acknowledged that the metaverse is currently in a "test" phase but that users will soon be able to game, work, and study there.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri was giving a speech at the inaugural Dubai Metaverse Assembly, which was hosted at the museum, whose unique ring-shaped design is flanked by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kuwait-vote-shakes-up-parliament-amid-political-deadlock-521532">Arabic</a> calligraphy.

In order to explore the potential of the metaverse, a network of digital spaces meant to be an extension of the actual world, representatives of tech titans mixed with entrepreneurs and developers.

By easing visa requirements for independent contractors, business owners, and creatives, Dubai hopes to recruit 1,000 blockchain-focused enterprises as it competes to become one of the top 10 metaverse economies in the world.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United Arab Emirates, which already owns the highest tower in the world and has undertaken a daring Mars mission, aspires to become a forerunner in the metaverse's depths.

The United Arab Emirates, which already owns the highest tower in the world and has undertaken a daring Mars mission, aspires to become a forerunner in the metaverse's depths. It was stated that the UAE's economy ministry was opening up shop inside the immersive virtual world that is currently taking shape in a project that was unveiled inside Dubai's dazzling Museum of the Future. According to officials, anyone who don virtual reality goggles or use other means to enter will find a ministry ready to execute bilateral agreements with other governments and open for business with businesses. Also read | Mercedes-Benz launches first ‘Made in India’ EQS 580 luxury electric car The UAE's economy minister acknowledged that the metaverse is currently in a "test" phase but that users will soon be able to game, work, and study there. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri was giving a speech at the inaugural Dubai Metaverse Assembly, which was hosted at the museum, whose unique ring-shaped design is flanked by Arabic calligraphy. In order to explore the potential of the metaverse, a network of digital spaces meant to be an extension of the actual world, representatives of tech titans mixed with entrepreneurs and developers. By easing visa requirements for independent contractors, business owners, and creatives, Dubai hopes to recruit 1,000 blockchain-focused enterprises as it competes to become one of the top 10 metaverse economies in the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UAE all set to open economy ministry office in metaverse

Tech giant Oracle has been fined $23 million by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for breaking the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The punishment was issued for funnelling money to corrupt officials in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and India.

World Business Watch: SEC fines Oracle $23 mn for bribing officials in India, Turkey, and UAE

German chancellor on a two-day West Asia tour. The UAE and Germany signed a landmark agreement on Sunday aimed at accelerating joint efforts to boost energy security.

Olaf Scholz visits Qatar, UAE nods to an 'energy security' agreement

Emirates Mars Mission "Science Lead" Hessa Al Matroushi has called ISRO an "important voice among the world’s younger space nations".

The Emirates Mars Mission was launched by United Arab Emirates Space Agency in 2020 for the exploration of the red planet.

The UAE space agency was created in 2014, while ISRO was established over 50 years ago in August of 1969.

Al Matroushi joined Emirates Mars Mission’s science team to work on the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) instrument in 2015. Her work was published in several papers, particularly in the analysis of models to simulate Mars' thermospheric oxygen emissions.&nbsp;

Recently, Emirates Mars Mission discovered new kind of ‘patchy’ mars proton aurora while working along with NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission.

Speaking to WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, she explained the significance of the discovery.

WION: Kindly explain the ‘Proton Aurora’ to our readers.

Hessa Al Matroushi: The new aurora that the Emirates Mars Mission has discovered has been dubbed the ‘patchy proton aurora’ and is a totally new and previously unimagined behaviour of Mars’ atmosphere. Prior missions had observed a broad dayside glow, the proton aurora, caused by hydrogen atoms in the sparse atmosphere of the planet interacting with the solar wind – the stream of high-speed particles emitted by the sun.

The Emirates Mars Mission’s Hope probe has been something of a game changer, though, both because its unique elliptical orbit gives near complete coverage of the planet every nine days. This means we can see all of the planet where before we only had ‘snapshots’ and we see it with better coverage and fidelity not only at all times of day and night but also throughout the seasons.

Because of that, when we looked at the dayside atmosphere during periods of high solar activity, we saw that the proton aurora wasn’t in fact uniform – that there was significant turbulence taking place, in which hydrogen atoms, in particular, were interacting with the solar wind in a chaotic behaviour we hadn’t seen before. There are a number of triggers for this turbulence, and that’s where observations made by NASA’s MAVEN mission came in – we were able to correlate MAVEN data with the data we were getting from EMM’s Hope probe and explore some of the likely causes for this chaotic behaviour.

&nbsp;

WION: How significant is this discovery and your collaboration with NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission?

Hessa Al Matroushi: This is the third set of unique observations Hope has made of Mars’ aurora – we had previously made planetary scale observations of the discrete nightside aurora, which map to the planet’s unique crustal magnetosphere, as well as a mysterious and huge auroral effect called the sinuous discrete aurora, which stretches almost halfway across the planet. All of these new phenomena give us insights into the interaction between the Martian atmosphere and the solar wind, which are critical to our understanding of how Mars’ atmosphere has been lost – at one time, we believe Mars had a rich atmosphere capable of supporting life, with running water on the planet’s surface. How this transformed into today’s dead planet is one of the questions that Hope has set out to better understand.

The data from MAVEN gave us context for our observations and helped us to better understand the causational environment for the patchy proton aurora. The paper we’ve published on the new phenomenon was made possible by a data-sharing collaboration linked between the Emirates Mars Mission and MAVEN and we think it shows how collaboration between nations and missions is critical to the exploration of space.

&nbsp;

WION: What next can we expect from the Emirates Mars Mission?

Hessa Al Matroushi: Basically, more data. We are releasing all of the data gathered by the Hope observatory every quarter and it’s freely available to any researcher, scientist or enthusiast around the world at the Emirates Mars Mission Science Data Center –https://sdc.emiratesmarsmission.ae.

&nbsp;

WION: Is a collaboration between the Emirates Mars Mission and India's ISRO in the pipeline?

Hessa Al Matroushi: We believe that collaboration between nations, missions, space agencies and the fast-growing private sector in space is critical for our future exploration of space. It’s one of the main reasons the UAE has launched the Abu Dhabi Space Debate, a new global forum designed to create a platform to address the critical issues that we all face moving forwards. The need for international cooperation and collaboration in the development of the space sector has never been more pressing and the Abu Dhabi Space Debate is a global platform for leaders and policymakers to review the opportunities and challenges ahead for the space sector and advance not only global dialogue and collaboration between nations but also forge concrete alliances and multilateral agreements that advance the sector as a whole. The inaugural debate is taking place in Abu Dhabi on December 5 and 6 this year and we hope it will be an opportunity to make concrete progress in advancing international cooperation, standards and policy-setting for the global space sector. Critically, we hope that ISRO, as an important voice among the world’s younger space nations, will be a major partner in that ongoing debate.

Emirates Mars Mission "Science Lead" Hessa Al Matroushi has called ISRO an "important voice among the world’s younger space nations". The Emirates Mars Mission was launched by United Arab Emirates Space Agency in 2020 for the exploration of the red planet.

Emirates Mars Mission "Science Lead" Hessa Al Matroushi has called ISRO an "important voice among the world’s younger space nations". The Emirates Mars Mission was launched by United Arab Emirates Space Agency in 2020 for the exploration of the red planet. The UAE space agency was created in 2014, while ISRO was established over 50 years ago in August of 1969. Al Matroushi joined Emirates Mars Mission’s science team to work on the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) instrument in 2015. Her work was published in several papers, particularly in the analysis of models to simulate Mars' thermospheric oxygen emissions. Recently, Emirates Mars Mission discovered new kind of ‘patchy’ mars proton aurora while working along with NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission. Speaking to WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, she explained the significance of the discovery. WION: Kindly explain the ‘Proton Aurora’ to our readers. Hessa Al Matroushi: The new aurora that the Emirates Mars Mission has discovered has been dubbed the ‘patchy proton aurora’ and is a totally new and previously unimagined behaviour of Mars’ atmosphere. Prior missions had observed a broad dayside glow, the proton aurora, caused by hydrogen atoms in the sparse atmosphere of the planet interacting with the solar wind – the stream of high-speed particles emitted by the sun. The Emirates Mars Mission’s Hope probe has been something of a game changer, though, both because its unique elliptical orbit gives near complete coverage of the planet every nine days. This means we can see all of the planet where before we only had ‘snapshots’ and we see it with better coverage and fidelity not only at all times of day and night but also throughout the seasons. Because of that, when we looked at the dayside atmosphere during periods of high solar activity, we saw that the proton aurora wasn’t in fact uniform – that there was significant turbulence taking place, in which hydrogen atoms, in particular, were interacting with the solar wind in a chaotic behaviour we hadn’t seen before. There are a number of triggers for this turbulence, and that’s where observations made by NASA’s MAVEN mission came in – we were able to correlate MAVEN data with the data we were getting from EMM’s Hope probe and explore some of the likely causes for this chaotic behaviour. WION: How significant is this discovery and your collaboration with NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission? Hessa Al Matroushi: This is the third set of unique observations Hope has made of Mars’ aurora – we had previously made planetary scale observations of the discrete nightside aurora, which map to the planet’s unique crustal magnetosphere, as well as a mysterious and huge auroral effect called the sinuous discrete aurora, which stretches almost halfway across the planet. All of these new phenomena give us insights into the interaction between the Martian atmosphere and the solar wind, which are critical to our understanding of how Mars’ atmosphere has been lost – at one time, we believe Mars had a rich atmosphere capable of supporting life, with running water on the planet’s surface. How this transformed into today’s dead planet is one of the questions that Hope has set out to better understand. The data from MAVEN gave us context for our observations and helped us to better understand the causational environment for the patchy proton aurora. The paper we’ve published on the new phenomenon was made possible by a data-sharing collaboration linked between the Emirates Mars Mission and MAVEN and we think it shows how collaboration between nations and missions is critical to the exploration of space. WION: What next can we expect from the Emirates Mars Mission? Hessa Al Matroushi: Basically, more data. We are releasing all of the data gathered by the Hope observatory every quarter and it’s freely available to any researcher, scientist or enthusiast around the world at the Emirates Mars Mission Science Data Center –https://sdc.emiratesmarsmission.ae. WION: Is a collaboration between the Emirates Mars Mission and India's ISRO in the pipeline? Hessa Al Matroushi: We believe that collaboration between nations, missions, space agencies and the fast-growing private sector in space is critical for our future exploration of space. It’s one of the main reasons the UAE has launched the Abu Dhabi Space Debate, a new global forum designed to create a platform to address the critical issues that we all face moving forwards. The need for international cooperation and collaboration in the development of the space sector has never been more pressing and the Abu Dhabi Space Debate is a global platform for leaders and policymakers to review the opportunities and challenges ahead for the space sector and advance not only global dialogue and collaboration between nations but also forge concrete alliances and multilateral agreements that advance the sector as a whole. The inaugural debate is taking place in Abu Dhabi on December 5 and 6 this year and we hope it will be an opportunity to make concrete progress in advancing international cooperation, standards and policy-setting for the global space sector. Critically, we hope that ISRO, as an important voice among the world’s younger space nations, will be a major partner in that ongoing debate.

Emirates Mars Mission's 'Science Lead' calls ISRO an 'important voice among world’s younger space nations'

Climate change it is affecting the world and West Asia is bearing the brunt of it. From heat waves to droughts, the region is at the forefront of climate change. Some countries are trying to tackle it artificially like the UAE is turning to cloud seeding for artificial rain as demand for water shoots up particularly in the gulf nation, take a look!

WION Climate Tracker: UAE tries to increase precipitation artificially, here's how

The UAE has introduced several forms of visas recently. With 10-year Golden visa, 5-year Green visa and 5-year multi-entry tourist visa, the aim is to strengthen UAE's position as an ideal place to live, work and invest. The new system is being trialled now while the actual implementation will start from October 3. Watch this video to know everything about the new visa system.

New UAE visa system: All you need to know

As the fierce temperatures continue to mount increasingly becoming a health hazard. An air conditioned gymnasium is providing Abu Dhabi with an indoor workout option for your four-legged friends.

WION Climate Tracker | Dogs 'Beat the Heat' in AC gyms in UAE

The Asia Cup 2022 edition is about to kick off on August 27 (Saturday). Undoubtedly, the hype regarding the forthcoming tournament is very high given that two Asian giants India and Pakistan are set to lock horns with each other in their respective tournament-openers on August 28, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

The rivalry between the two senior teams will resume once again, following their last face-off in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Interestingly, the last clash between both sides also took place at the same venue, in Dubai, where Babar Azam &amp; Co. demolished India by ten wickets to break their World Cup jinx versus their neighbouring country. Given the Asia Cup is being held in the shortest format as a dress rehearsal for the 2022 T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November, Rohit Sharma-led India and the Men in Green will leave no stone unturned to emerge on top in the Asian championship.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-vs-babar-azam-wasim-akram-joins-best-batsman-debate-ahead-of-india-pakistan-asia-cup-clash-509517">Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Wasim Akram joins 'best batsman' debate ahead of India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash</a>

While India and Pakistan are placed in the same group (Pool A), they will meet on August 28. However, there's a catch. For the unversed, cricket fans are in for a treat as the two heavyweights are likely to meet each other as many as three times overall in the 2022 edition.

As India and Pakistan are expected to run past the other qualifying team -- who will join them in Pool A -- and enter the Super 4, they are likely to be pitted against each other on September 4 (Sunday). As Rohit-led Men in Blue and Pakistan are two of the strongest teams and, thus, they are expected to top the Super 4 and face-off in the tournament finale as well, i.e. on September 11.

Having said that, one cannot write off competitive and ever-improving teams such as Afghanistan, Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh and Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lanka. If a lot of upsets take place, the finalists can appear to be different than the ones many expect at this point.&nbsp;

India and Pakistan have never played in the Asia Cup final so far. Will the script change this time around? Only time will tell...

The Asia Cup 2022 edition is about to kick off on August 27 (Saturday). Undoubtedly, the hype regarding the forthcoming tournament is very high given that two Asian giants India and Pakistan are set to lock horns with each other in their respective tournament-openers on August 28, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

The Asia Cup 2022 edition is about to kick off on August 27 (Saturday). Undoubtedly, the hype regarding the forthcoming tournament is very high given that two Asian giants India and Pakistan are set to lock horns with each other in their respective tournament-openers on August 28, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. The rivalry between the two senior teams will resume once again, following their last face-off in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Interestingly, the last clash between both sides also took place at the same venue, in Dubai, where Babar Azam & Co. demolished India by ten wickets to break their World Cup jinx versus their neighbouring country. Given the Asia Cup is being held in the shortest format as a dress rehearsal for the 2022 T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November, Rohit Sharma-led India and the Men in Green will leave no stone unturned to emerge on top in the Asian championship. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Wasim Akram joins 'best batsman' debate ahead of India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash While India and Pakistan are placed in the same group (Pool A), they will meet on August 28. However, there's a catch. For the unversed, cricket fans are in for a treat as the two heavyweights are likely to meet each other as many as three times overall in the 2022 edition. As India and Pakistan are expected to run past the other qualifying team -- who will join them in Pool A -- and enter the Super 4, they are likely to be pitted against each other on September 4 (Sunday). As Rohit-led Men in Blue and Pakistan are two of the strongest teams and, thus, they are expected to top the Super 4 and face-off in the tournament finale as well, i.e. on September 11. Having said that, one cannot write off competitive and ever-improving teams such as Afghanistan, Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh and Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lanka. If a lot of upsets take place, the finalists can appear to be different than the ones many expect at this point. India and Pakistan have never played in the Asia Cup final so far. Will the script change this time around? Only time will tell...

Asia Cup 2022: EXPLAINED! How India might take on Pakistan thrice in mega event

The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that its ambassador to Tehran would resume duties within days, six years after ties were downgraded in support of Saudi Arabia.

Ambassador Saif Mohammed al-Zaabi "will resume his duties at the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;embassy in the Islamic republic of Iran in the coming days to contribute to further advancing bilateral relations", the Emirati foreign ministry said in a statement.

The move seeks to "achieve the common interests of the two countries and the wider region", it added.

With Middle East political alignments shifting,&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;presidential adviser Anwar Gargash in mid-July called for an easing of regional tensions and signalled the ambassador's possible return.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-uae-cepa-encourages-trade-through-tariff-elimination-says-uaes-economy-minister-marri-507372">India, UAE CEPA encourages trade through tariff elimination, says UAE's Economy Minister Marri</a>

The&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;scaled back its ties with the Islamic republic in 2016, in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after Iranian protesters attacked the kingdom's diplomatic missions in Iran following Riyadh's execution of Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Other Arab Gulf countries including Kuwait made similar moves.

Iran said earlier this month that Kuwait had sent its first ambassador to Tehran since 2016.

In July, the Emirati and Iranian foreign ministers held a telephone conversation and discussed boosting ties,&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;state media reported at the time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/icmr-detects-monkeypox-virus-strain-a2-among-uae-travellers-what-does-it-mean-504446">ICMR detects monkeypox virus strain A.2 among UAE travellers. What does it mean?</a>

The oil-rich&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;has previously said that Arab Gulf states should take part in "collective diplomacy" to reach an agreement with Iran, which has been in talks with Western powers on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal.

On Tuesday the European Union and United States said they were studying Iran's response to a "final" draft of such an agreement.

In 2020, the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;established diplomatic relations with Israel, a move which Tehran condemned.

But Abu Dhabi has been pursuing a policy of rapprochement with former regional rivals including Qatar and Turkey as well as Iran, with which it had maintained strong economic ties despite the diplomatic downgrade.&nbsp;

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The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that its ambassador to Tehran would resume duties within days, six years after ties were downgraded in support of Saudi Arabia.

The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that its ambassador to Tehran would resume duties within days, six years after ties were downgraded in support of Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Saif Mohammed al-Zaabi "will resume his duties at the UAE embassy in the Islamic republic of Iran in the coming days to contribute to further advancing bilateral relations", the Emirati foreign ministry said in a statement. The move seeks to "achieve the common interests of the two countries and the wider region", it added. With Middle East political alignments shifting, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash in mid-July called for an easing of regional tensions and signalled the ambassador's possible return. Also read | India, UAE CEPA encourages trade through tariff elimination, says UAE's Economy Minister Marri The UAE scaled back its ties with the Islamic republic in 2016, in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after Iranian protesters attacked the kingdom's diplomatic missions in Iran following Riyadh's execution of Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Other Arab Gulf countries including Kuwait made similar moves. Iran said earlier this month that Kuwait had sent its first ambassador to Tehran since 2016. In July, the Emirati and Iranian foreign ministers held a telephone conversation and discussed boosting ties, UAE state media reported at the time. Also read | ICMR detects monkeypox virus strain A.2 among UAE travellers. What does it mean? The oil-rich UAE has previously said that Arab Gulf states should take part in "collective diplomacy" to reach an agreement with Iran, which has been in talks with Western powers on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal. On Tuesday the European Union and United States said they were studying Iran's response to a "final" draft of such an agreement. In 2020, the UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel, a move which Tehran condemned. But Abu Dhabi has been pursuing a policy of rapprochement with former regional rivals including Qatar and Turkey as well as Iran, with which it had maintained strong economic ties despite the diplomatic downgrade. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UAE ambassador to return to Iran after six-year absence

The United Arab Emirates has said that its ambassador to Tehran will return within a few days and this comes six years after the UAE ties with Iran were downgraded.

UAE ambassador to Iran to resume duties after 6 years, hope to advance bilateral ties

Chief of Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, held a conversation with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and sought assistance and support for USD 1.2 billion disbursement under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme.

According to reports, Bajwa had also appealed to the US to help Islamabad secure an early disbursal of USD 1.2 billion in funds under the IMF programme to avert the risk of debt default.

The army chief reached out to the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on a phone call, Geo News reported citing Nikkei Asia. Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement over the release of the funds to support the country’s fragile economy.&nbsp;

The staff-level agreement will pave the way for the USD 1.2 billion disbursement expected this month after the board approves it. In the recent development, IMF and Pakistan have reached a staff-level agreement on the combined seventh and eighth reviews for a USD 6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan facility.

Pakistan hopes&nbsp;that this agreement would stabilize the country’s economy and depreciate its currency. IMF also hoped that it would bring down high inflation and end Pakistan’s political instability, reported Geo News.

Earlier, Pakistan decided to impose additional taxes totalling Pakistani Rs (PKR) 30 billion as it struggles to arrange PRK 100 billion in emergency funds to prevent an international default on oil and gas payments and sustain its staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to the local media reports.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet presided over by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Sunday.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Chief of Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, held a conversation with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and sought assistance and support for USD 1.

Chief of Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, held a conversation with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and sought assistance and support for USD 1.2 billion disbursement under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme. According to reports, Bajwa had also appealed to the US to help Islamabad secure an early disbursal of USD 1.2 billion in funds under the IMF programme to avert the risk of debt default. The army chief reached out to the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on a phone call, Geo News reported citing Nikkei Asia. Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement over the release of the funds to support the country’s fragile economy. The staff-level agreement will pave the way for the USD 1.2 billion disbursement expected this month after the board approves it. In the recent development, IMF and Pakistan have reached a staff-level agreement on the combined seventh and eighth reviews for a USD 6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan facility. Pakistan hopes that this agreement would stabilize the country’s economy and depreciate its currency. IMF also hoped that it would bring down high inflation and end Pakistan’s political instability, reported Geo News. Earlier, Pakistan decided to impose additional taxes totalling Pakistani Rs (PKR) 30 billion as it struggles to arrange PRK 100 billion in emergency funds to prevent an international default on oil and gas payments and sustain its staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to the local media reports. The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet presided over by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Sunday. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Pakistan army chief reaches out to UAE, Saudi authorities on IMF loan

The Biden administration approved two massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help them defend against Iran. Package includes $3 billion in Patriot missiles for Saudi Arabia and more than $2 billion for high-altitude missile defense for UAE.

WION Dispatch: US approves massive $5 BN arms sale to Saudi, UAE to counter Iran

South Africa has formally asked the UAE to extradite Rajesh and Atul Gupta, popularly known as the Gupta brothers. The duo faces corruption charges relating to former president Jacob Zuma's time in power.

Gupta brothers' extradition: South Africa government submits official request to UAE

South Africa has formally asked the United Arab Emirates to extradite the Gupta brothers. The duo faced corruption charges during former President Jacob Zuma's time in power and the two are accused of orchestrating industrial scale corruption in the country.

South Africa: Ramaphosa government submits official request to UAE govt to extradite the Gupta brothers

China and Pakistan have extended invite&nbsp;to “any third country” willing to be part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by making investment.

CPEC, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is a combination of transport and energy projects that are under construction throughout Pakistan beginning in 2013. Originally valued at $47 billion, the value of CPEC projects is worth $62 billion as of 2020, according to BBC.

The plan will largely centre on an economic corridor from Gwadar in Pakistan to Kashgar in the Chinese region of Xinjiang.

India has repeatedly registered its protests over the project, saying that it is in violation of its sovereignty as it passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

During the third meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group (JWG) on International&nbsp;Cooperation and Coordination (JWG-ICC) held in virtual mode, both sides expressed interest in inviting other countries to make investments in the project, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.

The meeting highlighted that CPEC had broken new ground in strengthening international and regional connectivity, especially in the context of its extension to Afghanistan.

"As an open and inclusive platform, both sides welcomed interested third parties to benefit from avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation opened up by CPEC," the Foreign Office statement said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-has-been-a-very-active-buyer-and-is-stockpiling-grain-says-us-499913" hreflang="en">China has been a very active buyer, is stockpiling grain, says US</a>

Though it has not been revealed who might be investing in the project, a Global Times report on January 16 suggested that Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Germany might come on board.

Though originally conceived to bring forth jobs and prosperity in Pakistan, CPEC projects have seen massive resistance from certain sections of the people, especially in the Gwadar district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/was-detained-by-taliban-for-writing-against-them-australian-journalist-details-her-ordeal-to-wion-499921">Detained by Taliban for writing against them', Oz journalist details ordeal</a>

Development in Gwadar, which is the backbone of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), had decelerated during the leadership of former Prime Minister Imran Khan due to friction between the two countries, the Nikkei Asia news agency reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China and Pakistan have extended invite to “any third country” willing to be part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by making investment.

China and Pakistan have extended invite to “any third country” willing to be part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by making investment. CPEC, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is a combination of transport and energy projects that are under construction throughout Pakistan beginning in 2013. Originally valued at $47 billion, the value of CPEC projects is worth $62 billion as of 2020, according to BBC. The plan will largely centre on an economic corridor from Gwadar in Pakistan to Kashgar in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. India has repeatedly registered its protests over the project, saying that it is in violation of its sovereignty as it passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. During the third meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group (JWG) on International Cooperation and Coordination (JWG-ICC) held in virtual mode, both sides expressed interest in inviting other countries to make investments in the project, according to a statement by the Foreign Office. The meeting highlighted that CPEC had broken new ground in strengthening international and regional connectivity, especially in the context of its extension to Afghanistan. "As an open and inclusive platform, both sides welcomed interested third parties to benefit from avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation opened up by CPEC," the Foreign Office statement said. Also read | China has been a very active buyer, is stockpiling grain, says US Though it has not been revealed who might be investing in the project, a Global Times report on January 16 suggested that Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Germany might come on board. Though originally conceived to bring forth jobs and prosperity in Pakistan, CPEC projects have seen massive resistance from certain sections of the people, especially in the Gwadar district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Also read | Detained by Taliban for writing against them', Oz journalist details ordeal Development in Gwadar, which is the backbone of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), had decelerated during the leadership of former Prime Minister Imran Khan due to friction between the two countries, the Nikkei Asia news agency reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pakistan, China invite ‘any third country’ to join CPEC project

On July 14, 2022, the heads of government of India, Israel, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States of America met at the first leader’s summit of the I2U2 group.

On July 14, 2022, the heads of government of India, Israel, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States of America met at the first leader’s summit of the I2U2 group. The grouping emerged from the 2021 Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the four countries when it was called International Forum for Economic Cooperation. The first leaders’ summit was exploratory, and the participating countries agreed to focus on investments in six sectors- water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. The apparent outcome of the first meeting was that it gave clarity on the nature of the grouping. The grouping is said to be purely economic as it focuses on the geoeconomic aspects of capital investments for improving infrastructure, climate change action, and public health access. With its diplomatic prowess, India has been a part of major economic initiatives in its neighbourhood in the form of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, BRICS, and now the I2U2. The I2U2 allows India to secure investments from Israel, UAE, and the US, emerge as an alternative renewable energy hub and diversify the supply chain mechanism. The I2U2 grouping is India’s continued legacy of cultivating harmonious and economically beneficial relations with West Asia under its Look West policy. The article explores India’s opportunities concerning the I2U2 grouping and assesses the group from a lens of continuation of the broader Look West policy. I2U2: What is in there for India? The cooperation between India, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and the US is a game-changer as these countries have come together to fulfil geoeconomic objectives of enhanced investments and tackle global challenges. For India, the I2U2 grouping is of particular significance as it places New Delhi in a position to leverage its strategic relations with Israel, UAE, and the US to build mutually beneficial economic partnerships without any adverse impact on its domestic commitments. During the summit, it was announced that UAE would invest $2 billion to develop sustainable and hi-tech integrated food parks in India’s Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The investment in food parks will give an impetus to the Indian agricultural system as it will help in more agricultural output with cooperation from the Israel-UAE state and private sector. The investment also points toward the sustainability advantage that will benefit India as the food parks will address the food waste problem. Regarding geoeconomic features, the investment will enhance food security in the Gulf region, with India getting space to negotiate on energy security. Additionally, the I2U2 grouping focuses on private capital investment and technical expertise to solve waste treatment problems, health access, and start-up linkages. India stands to gain from these investments as India’s start-up industry is increasing quickly. The investments in start-ups and their linkages with other countries will provide an impetus to entrepreneurial innovation and the creation of more such ventures. Apart from the food security and start-up-oriented investment, the grouping also benefits India with its Clean Energy initiative. The initiative looks forward to establishing a hybrid renewable energy facility bringing together wind and solar energy for energy conservation and promoting a sustainable enterprise. The clean energy project aligns with India’s commitment to reducing carbon dependency in the Paris Agreement. Hence, India stands to gain from the I2U2 grouping as it is an opportunity for India to cooperate with UAE and Israel to make a stronghold in the rest of West Asia. Continuation of 'Look-West' policy It would not be an exaggeration to say that the I2U2 grouping is a continuation of India’s Look West Policy. India has had trade partnerships with West Asia in areas of energy and oil since the 1990s. In 2014, with the coming of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, in line with the Look East policy, he charted a new approach focusing on building strategic relations with West Asia. Under the Look West policy, India determined to fulfil its national interest without getting involved in the regional politics of the Arab world. India’s approach to engaging with West Asia establishes a common ground for cooperation. The relations between India and West Asia rest on government-to-government (G-G), business-to-business (B-B), and people-to-people (P-P) contacts. In May 2022, India and the United Arab Emirates signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is expected to increase the bilateral between the two countries. Similarly, India shares historical relations with Israel owing to its defence requirements. Saudi Arabia is another partner of India in West Asia, actively investing in the Jio platform of Reliance Industries. Therefore, the I2U2 complements India’s Look West Policy as it strengthens its position in the region by collaborating with UAE and Israel on economic, oil, energy, and defence matters. Additionally, partnering with the US other than in the Indo-Pacific enhances Indo-US relations. Grants India an advantage in the region The Look West Policy has positioned India in an advantageous position as its relations with the OIC have improved while remaining a balancer in the region by not taking sides between the Arab world and Israel or Saudi Arabia and Iran. The I2U2 presents an opportunity for India to enhance its partnership with the Arab world and strengthen its stance on harnessing relations with all regions. The grouping is a platform where countries can multilaterally invest and cooperate. The Arab region is significant for India’s foreign policy as it is a hotspot of many conflicts. The Look West Policy is India’s strategy of engaging with the area bypassing Pakistan’s geopolitical boundaries. Therefore, the Look West Policy and I2U2 are a critical aspect of India’s foreign policy as it is in the country’s national interest. The Look West Policy complements I2U2 by engaging India with other developing economies of West Asia in sectors ranging from energy, climate action, sustainability, etc. India should continue to diplomatically engage with West Asia to continue its multilateral approach to international relations while also focusing on building more people-to-people contacts. The I2U2 grouping allows India to act as a balancer in the region by engaging with all countries in a geopolitically charged region. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

I2U2: A continuation of India's 'Look West' policy

The United Arab Emirates has initiated work towards building and launching an advanced constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) satellites, that will serve as eyes-in-the-sky during all-weather and day/night conditions. This proposed constellation of SAR satellites has been named 'Sirb', which is an Arabic term for a flock of birds. 'Sirb' is the first project to be funded by the UAE's newly-announced National Space Fund, which will invest AED3 billion($816mn) in supporting the growth of the UAE's space sector.

UAE's National Space Fund is a new national investment and development fund for the space sector, which will support new programmes launched to support international and Emirati companies co-operating in leading-edge space sector engineering, sciences and research applications.

Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and MoS for Public Education and Advanced Technology, said "A long-term plan and programme for the development of the Emirates’ space sector is in place to create economic opportunities, new jobs and help to fund global partnerships and new leaders in technology, space sciences and engineering here in the UAE. We are planning for a bright future filled with new challenges and openings for our young people – and this fund is precisely targeted at building opportunities for international co-operation in building Emirati enterprises.”&nbsp;

SAR technology combines the power of imaging satellites with cloud and ground-penetrating capabilities that can be used for urban planning, archaeology, weather prediction to atmospheric quality analysis and climate change mapping, besides a host of civil and strategic applications.&nbsp;

“SAR technology leapfrogs traditional imaging satellites, allowing us to continue making detailed observations through day and night, fog and cloud cover, creating complex data sets simply not possible through conventional imaging. These small-scale satellites are more agile, faster to develop and more powerful" the Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency added.&nbsp;

The six-year satellite development programme will see the maiden satellite launch in three years, a much faster time to launch than was possible using traditional earth observation satellite design principles. The 'Sirb' satellites will be built through a number of partnerships between the Emirati public and private sector together with international players, with submissions being opened for a range of system integration, development and subsystem construction opportunities as part of the constellation development, launch, operation and commercialisation plan.

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The United Arab Emirates has initiated work towards building and launching an advanced constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) satellites, that will serve as eyes-in-the-sky during all-weather and day/night conditions.

The United Arab Emirates has initiated work towards building and launching an advanced constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) satellites, that will serve as eyes-in-the-sky during all-weather and day/night conditions. This proposed constellation of SAR satellites has been named 'Sirb', which is an Arabic term for a flock of birds. 'Sirb' is the first project to be funded by the UAE's newly-announced National Space Fund, which will invest AED3 billion($816mn) in supporting the growth of the UAE's space sector. UAE's National Space Fund is a new national investment and development fund for the space sector, which will support new programmes launched to support international and Emirati companies co-operating in leading-edge space sector engineering, sciences and research applications. Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and MoS for Public Education and Advanced Technology, said "A long-term plan and programme for the development of the Emirates’ space sector is in place to create economic opportunities, new jobs and help to fund global partnerships and new leaders in technology, space sciences and engineering here in the UAE. We are planning for a bright future filled with new challenges and openings for our young people – and this fund is precisely targeted at building opportunities for international co-operation in building Emirati enterprises.” SAR technology combines the power of imaging satellites with cloud and ground-penetrating capabilities that can be used for urban planning, archaeology, weather prediction to atmospheric quality analysis and climate change mapping, besides a host of civil and strategic applications. “SAR technology leapfrogs traditional imaging satellites, allowing us to continue making detailed observations through day and night, fog and cloud cover, creating complex data sets simply not possible through conventional imaging. These small-scale satellites are more agile, faster to develop and more powerful" the Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency added. The six-year satellite development programme will see the maiden satellite launch in three years, a much faster time to launch than was possible using traditional earth observation satellite design principles. The 'Sirb' satellites will be built through a number of partnerships between the Emirati public and private sector together with international players, with submissions being opened for a range of system integration, development and subsystem construction opportunities as part of the constellation development, launch, operation and commercialisation plan. Watch WION's live TV here: ×

UAE to develop and launch SAR Satellite Constellation 'Sirb'; maiden launch in 2025

United States President Joe Biden has welcomed the United Arab Emirates-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), among other pacts Abu Dhabi has signed during his talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE and US President held talks in Jeddah on 16th July during the latter's Saudi Arabia visit. The Joint statement that was later released said, President Biden "welcomed the UAE’s economic initiatives throughout the Middle East and beyond, including its recent Free Trade Agreements signed with Israel, India, and Indonesia as well as new investments in Jordan and Egypt."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sri-lankan-crisis-economy-lessons-india-can-learn-498205">Sri Lankan crisis: Economy lessons India can learn</a>

Earlier this year, India and UAE signed the free trade agreement, hailed as the key to increased economic cooperation. The FTA is India's 1st comprehensive trade agreement in a decade and under the deal, duty gets eliminated on 80% of tariff lines. It is not only expected to add $9 billion to UAE's GDP by 2030 but also a market for Indian products in the entire West Asian region. The comments come even as last week saw the first I2U2 summit involving leaders of India, Israel, UAE and the US. The summit, in a hybrid mode, saw key announcements for India like the establishment of food parks and renewable energy. 
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United States President Joe Biden has welcomed the United Arab Emirates-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), among other pacts Abu Dhabi has signed during his talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

United States President Joe Biden has welcomed the United Arab Emirates-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), among other pacts Abu Dhabi has signed during his talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE and US President held talks in Jeddah on 16th July during the latter's Saudi Arabia visit. The Joint statement that was later released said, President Biden "welcomed the UAE’s economic initiatives throughout the Middle East and beyond, including its recent Free Trade Agreements signed with Israel, India, and Indonesia as well as new investments in Jordan and Egypt." Also Read: Sri Lankan crisis: Economy lessons India can learn Earlier this year, India and UAE signed the free trade agreement, hailed as the key to increased economic cooperation. The FTA is India's 1st comprehensive trade agreement in a decade and under the deal, duty gets eliminated on 80% of tariff lines. It is not only expected to add $9 billion to UAE's GDP by 2030 but also a market for Indian products in the entire West Asian region. The comments come even as last week saw the first I2U2 summit involving leaders of India, Israel, UAE and the US. The summit, in a hybrid mode, saw key announcements for India like the establishment of food parks and renewable energy.

US President Biden welcomes India-UAE Free Trade Agreement

The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been dominating headlines with the United States President Joe Biden meeting his UAE counterpart at the Arab summit. In a recent development, an American civil rights lawyer was arrested by the UAE authorities, according to a US-based rights group. The lawyer – Asim Ghafoor - had previously worked in the Khashoggi case. The UAE authorities told Reuters that they arrested Ghafoor on charges of money laundering.

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Rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) told the media that the lawyer was arrested while going to Istanbul for a family weeding. While they were not able to meet with Ghafoor, UAE has granted a request by the US embassy for a consular visit.

“A request has been received and granted, resulting in the case being reopened, and the relevant legal proceedings are under way,” an Emirati official said according to Reuters.

According to the Reuters report, the arrest took place at the Dubai Airport on July 14. The US authorities have confirmed that they knew about the arrest but did not confirm whether it was a topic that was discussed by the leaders during their meeting in Saudi Arabia.

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“There’s no indication that it has anything to do with the Khashoggi issue,” the US official said according to Reuters when asked about the impact this arrest can have on the case.

Khashoggi was killed in 2018 at the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye. It was alleged by the US intelligence that the operation was carried by Saudi agents at the orders of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, all such accusations were denied by the Saudi authorities.

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The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been dominating headlines with the United States President Joe Biden meeting his UAE counterpart at the Arab summit.

The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been dominating headlines with the United States President Joe Biden meeting his UAE counterpart at the Arab summit. In a recent development, an American civil rights lawyer was arrested by the UAE authorities, according to a US-based rights group. The lawyer – Asim Ghafoor - had previously worked in the Khashoggi case. The UAE authorities told Reuters that they arrested Ghafoor on charges of money laundering. Also read | Cargo plane carrying 12-tonne ‘hazardous material’ crashes in Greece, 8 dead Rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) told the media that the lawyer was arrested while going to Istanbul for a family weeding. While they were not able to meet with Ghafoor, UAE has granted a request by the US embassy for a consular visit. “A request has been received and granted, resulting in the case being reopened, and the relevant legal proceedings are under way,” an Emirati official said according to Reuters. According to the Reuters report, the arrest took place at the Dubai Airport on July 14. The US authorities have confirmed that they knew about the arrest but did not confirm whether it was a topic that was discussed by the leaders during their meeting in Saudi Arabia. Also read | Russia will take more aggressive stance in Ukraine war, says defence minister “There’s no indication that it has anything to do with the Khashoggi issue,” the US official said according to Reuters when asked about the impact this arrest can have on the case. Khashoggi was killed in 2018 at the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye. It was alleged by the US intelligence that the operation was carried by Saudi agents at the orders of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, all such accusations were denied by the Saudi authorities. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Former Khashoggi lawyer detained in UAE, sentenced to three years in prison

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