Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will embark on a three-nation visit to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar from September 7 to 12 to engage with his counterparts in oil and gas as well as steel sectors in these countries.

He will be accompanied by an official and business delegation during his visit, an official statement said.

In Saudi Arabia, Pradhan will hold meetings with his counterpart Khalid Al-Falih and the senior management of Aramco, the national oil company of the kingdom country.

"During his meetings, the minister will seek to further enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the entire value chain of hydro-carbon sector. Saudi Arabia has traditionally been a top supplier of crude oil to India," the statement said.

During his visit to the UAE, Pradhan is scheduled to meet his counterparts Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry and Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State and the ADNOC Group CEO and discuss issues of bilateral hydrocarbon as well as steel sector engagement within the overall framework of India-UAE Strategic Partnership.

The Union Minister will also participate in the eighth Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER) at Abu Dhabi on September 10, where India is the co-host along with the UAE.

India will co-host the ninth edition of Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable in 2021, according to the statement.

On the sidelines of the roundtable, Pradhan will meet his counterparts from the Asian region and heads of international energy organisations, who are attending the Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable and the World Energy Congress.

In Qatar, Pradhan will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, apart from meeting his counterpart, the Minister of State of Energy Affairs, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, said the statement.

Qatar is India's largest LNG and LPG supplier. (ANI)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will embark on a three-nation visit to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar from September 7 to 12 to engage with his counterparts in oil and gas as well as steel sectors in these countries.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will embark on a three-nation visit to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar from September 7 to 12 to engage with his counterparts in oil and gas as well as steel sectors in these countries. He will be accompanied by an official and business delegation during his visit, an official statement said. In Saudi Arabia, Pradhan will hold meetings with his counterpart Khalid Al-Falih and the senior management of Aramco, the national oil company of the kingdom country. "During his meetings, the minister will seek to further enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the entire value chain of hydro-carbon sector. Saudi Arabia has traditionally been a top supplier of crude oil to India," the statement said. During his visit to the UAE, Pradhan is scheduled to meet his counterparts Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry and Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State and the ADNOC Group CEO and discuss issues of bilateral hydrocarbon as well as steel sector engagement within the overall framework of India-UAE Strategic Partnership. The Union Minister will also participate in the eighth Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER) at Abu Dhabi on September 10, where India is the co-host along with the UAE. India will co-host the ninth edition of Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable in 2021, according to the statement. On the sidelines of the roundtable, Pradhan will meet his counterparts from the Asian region and heads of international energy organisations, who are attending the Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable and the World Energy Congress. In Qatar, Pradhan will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, apart from meeting his counterpart, the Minister of State of Energy Affairs, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, said the statement. Qatar is India's largest LNG and LPG supplier. (ANI)

Dharmendra Pradhan to embark on three-nation visit to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar today

UAE asked Imran Khan's Pak to back off from Kashmir. UAE told Imran Khan to resolve Kashmir issue bilaterally with India and not make it Internation issue.

UAE asked Imran Khan's Pak to back off from Kashmir

Gravitas: UAE, Saudi ministers visit Pakistan. Watch video to know more.

Gravitas: UAE, Saudi ministers visit Pakistan

Little suggests that fabulously wealthy Gulf states and their Middle Eastern and North African beneficiaries have recognised what is perhaps the most important lesson of this year’s popular uprisings in Algeria and Sudan and the 2011 Arab revolts: All that glitters is not gold.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and to a lesser extent Kuwait have in the last decade invested billions of dollars in either reversing or hollowing out the revolts’ achievements in a bid to ensure that political change elsewhere in the region does not come to haunt them.

Qatar, in a counterintuitive strategy that has earned it the ire of the rulers of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has sought to achieve the same goal by attempting to be on the right side of the region’s forces of change.

The irony is that both approaches, despite also involving huge investments at home in economic diversification, education and healthcare, could produce the very result Gulf states seek to avoid: A region that has many of the trappings of 21st century knowledge states but that is incapable of catering to the aspirations of a youth bulge expected to annually increase the workforce by a million people over the next 12 years.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, concluded earlier this year, that the region’s youth bulge was a double-edged sword. It could either pose a threat to regional stability or be an asset for development.

Turning the youth bulge into an asset “Requires urgent and significant investment to create opportunities for meaningful learning, social engagement and work, all of which are currently limited, particularly for young women and the most vulnerable,” the UN agency said in a report entitled MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Generation 2030.

UNICEF arrived at its conclusion even though Gulf states have adopted grandiose plans that envision them becoming within a matter of a decade or two diversified, knowledge-driven economies that enact the social reforms needed to create an opportunity for all segments of society.

The group’s conclusion applies as much to the wealthy Gulf states as it does to the Arab beneficiaries of their politically motivated financial largesse.

The problems with the flexing of the Gulf states’ financial muscle as well as the implementation of reform plans are multi-fold.

They relate as much to quality of the upgrading of services such as education as they are about how political intent shapes development efforts and how high domestic debt in countries like Egypt, where 27 per cent of government expenditure goes to interest payments, and Lebanon, which spends 38 per cent of its budget on debt servicing, benefits Gulf banks and stymies social and economic development.

Credit rating agency Fitch recently downgraded Lebanon’s credit rating to CCC from B- because of "intensifying pressure on Lebanon's financing model and increasing risks to the government's debt-servicing capacity."

Gulf scholar Rohan Advani notes that Gulf institutions account for most of the financial sector investment in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

“In Lebanon, just over 50 per cent of the country’s bank assets are held by GCC-related banks, in Palestine this figure is 63 per cent, and in Jordan it is as high as 86 per cent,” Advani wrote in a review of political economist Adam Hanieh’s study of Gulf finance, Money, Markets, and Monarchies.

Hanieh argues that the bulk of the debt payments are to financial establishments whose major shareholders include Gulf institutions in a process in which “the Arab state…increasingly mediates the transfer of national wealth to large Gulf-related banks.”

Advani warned that “Indebted governments are compelled to intensify a politics of austerity, further trapping these societies in cycles of debt. Investments in social programs or infrastructural developments are often stalled. Popular movements are unable to realise their demands at the state level due to the requirements of foreign creditors and domestic capitalists. The ensuing scenario is one where alternative politics are asphyxiated and increasingly circumscribed by an atrophied status quo.”

That may well be the purpose of the exercise with economic diversification efforts in the Gulf being driven more by the need of autocracies to upgrade their autocratic style and create an opportunity for a restive youth in a bid to ensure regime survival rather than by the acknowledgement of a government’s responsibility to serve the people.

The result is a flawed approach to all aspects of reform.

In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 economic and social reform plan that calls for greater private sector involvement has turned into a top-down effort that emphasises state control with the government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as the key player.

A combination of depressed oil prices and the recent replacement of energy minister Khalid al-Falih as chairman of the board of Aramco by PIF head Yasir al-Rumayyan, a close associate of Prince Mohammed, raises questions about the state oil company’s positioning in advance of a much-touted initial public offering.

Ellen Wald, an energy analyst and author of a history of Aramco, the kingdom’s main source of revenue, noted that at PIF Al-Rumayyan had overseen investments more geared towards speculative gains than the sustainable growth of Saudi wealth.

Wald said that raised the question of whether Al-Rumayyan’s objective with Aramco would be to serve the company’s long-term interests or those of the PIF.

Aramco this year bought a 70 per cent stake in petrochemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp for $69 billion in an effort to raise funds for PIF and delay the Aramco IPO that had originally been scheduled for 2018 but has since been delayed until 2020 or 2021. The megadeal is expected to boost the oil company’s downstream growth plans.

Nonetheless, Wald cautions that Al-Rumayyan’s appointment “Doesn't necessarily bode well for Aramco, which is a different kind of company. It has to make stable decisions for the long term," she said.

By the same token, UNICEF warned that poverty, violent conflict, restrictive social norms, patriarchy, rights violations and lack of safe spaces for expression and recreation were limiting opportunities as well as civic adolescent and youth engagement.

Gulf emphasis on geopolitical dominance, regime survival and return on financial investment produces short term solutions that often exacerbate conflict, produce little trickle-down effect and few prospects for long-term stability.

“As a result, adolescents and youth in MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) feel disillusioned, with girls and young women, refugees, those with disabilities and the poor being particularly marginalised and underrepresented,” the UNICEF report said.

“Youth unemployment in the region is currently the highest in the world. Education systems are failing to prepare adolescents and youth for the workplace, and markets are not generating urgently needed jobs,” the report warned.

Gulf wealth glitters but if the UNICEF report is anything to go by, it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce the gold of a development that is sustainable and benefits not only all segments of Gulf societies but also of those across the region that have become dependent on it. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Little suggests that fabulously wealthy Gulf states and their Middle Eastern and North African beneficiaries have recognised what is perhaps the most important lesson of this year’s popular uprisings in Algeria and Sudan and the 2011 Arab revolts: All that glitters is not gold.

Little suggests that fabulously wealthy Gulf states and their Middle Eastern and North African beneficiaries have recognised what is perhaps the most important lesson of this year’s popular uprisings in Algeria and Sudan and the 2011 Arab revolts: All that glitters is not gold. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and to a lesser extent Kuwait have in the last decade invested billions of dollars in either reversing or hollowing out the revolts’ achievements in a bid to ensure that political change elsewhere in the region does not come to haunt them. Qatar, in a counterintuitive strategy that has earned it the ire of the rulers of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has sought to achieve the same goal by attempting to be on the right side of the region’s forces of change. The irony is that both approaches, despite also involving huge investments at home in economic diversification, education and healthcare, could produce the very result Gulf states seek to avoid: A region that has many of the trappings of 21st century knowledge states but that is incapable of catering to the aspirations of a youth bulge expected to annually increase the workforce by a million people over the next 12 years. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, concluded earlier this year, that the region’s youth bulge was a double-edged sword. It could either pose a threat to regional stability or be an asset for development. Turning the youth bulge into an asset “Requires urgent and significant investment to create opportunities for meaningful learning, social engagement and work, all of which are currently limited, particularly for young women and the most vulnerable,” the UN agency said in a report entitled MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Generation 2030. UNICEF arrived at its conclusion even though Gulf states have adopted grandiose plans that envision them becoming within a matter of a decade or two diversified, knowledge-driven economies that enact the social reforms needed to create an opportunity for all segments of society. The group’s conclusion applies as much to the wealthy Gulf states as it does to the Arab beneficiaries of their politically motivated financial largesse. The problems with the flexing of the Gulf states’ financial muscle as well as the implementation of reform plans are multi-fold. They relate as much to quality of the upgrading of services such as education as they are about how political intent shapes development efforts and how high domestic debt in countries like Egypt, where 27 per cent of government expenditure goes to interest payments, and Lebanon, which spends 38 per cent of its budget on debt servicing, benefits Gulf banks and stymies social and economic development. Credit rating agency Fitch recently downgraded Lebanon’s credit rating to CCC from B- because of "intensifying pressure on Lebanon's financing model and increasing risks to the government's debt-servicing capacity." Gulf scholar Rohan Advani notes that Gulf institutions account for most of the financial sector investment in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, and Yemen. “In Lebanon, just over 50 per cent of the country’s bank assets are held by GCC-related banks, in Palestine this figure is 63 per cent, and in Jordan it is as high as 86 per cent,” Advani wrote in a review of political economist Adam Hanieh’s study of Gulf finance, Money, Markets, and Monarchies. Hanieh argues that the bulk of the debt payments are to financial establishments whose major shareholders include Gulf institutions in a process in which “the Arab state…increasingly mediates the transfer of national wealth to large Gulf-related banks.” Advani warned that “Indebted governments are compelled to intensify a politics of austerity, further trapping these societies in cycles of debt. Investments in social programs or infrastructural developments are often stalled. Popular movements are unable to realise their demands at the state level due to the requirements of foreign creditors and domestic capitalists. The ensuing scenario is one where alternative politics are asphyxiated and increasingly circumscribed by an atrophied status quo.” That may well be the purpose of the exercise with economic diversification efforts in the Gulf being driven more by the need of autocracies to upgrade their autocratic style and create an opportunity for a restive youth in a bid to ensure regime survival rather than by the acknowledgement of a government’s responsibility to serve the people. The result is a flawed approach to all aspects of reform. In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 economic and social reform plan that calls for greater private sector involvement has turned into a top-down effort that emphasises state control with the government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as the key player. A combination of depressed oil prices and the recent replacement of energy minister Khalid al-Falih as chairman of the board of Aramco by PIF head Yasir al-Rumayyan, a close associate of Prince Mohammed, raises questions about the state oil company’s positioning in advance of a much-touted initial public offering. Ellen Wald, an energy analyst and author of a history of Aramco, the kingdom’s main source of revenue, noted that at PIF Al-Rumayyan had overseen investments more geared towards speculative gains than the sustainable growth of Saudi wealth. Wald said that raised the question of whether Al-Rumayyan’s objective with Aramco would be to serve the company’s long-term interests or those of the PIF. Aramco this year bought a 70 per cent stake in petrochemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp for $69 billion in an effort to raise funds for PIF and delay the Aramco IPO that had originally been scheduled for 2018 but has since been delayed until 2020 or 2021. The megadeal is expected to boost the oil company’s downstream growth plans. Nonetheless, Wald cautions that Al-Rumayyan’s appointment “Doesn't necessarily bode well for Aramco, which is a different kind of company. It has to make stable decisions for the long term," she said. By the same token, UNICEF warned that poverty, violent conflict, restrictive social norms, patriarchy, rights violations and lack of safe spaces for expression and recreation were limiting opportunities as well as civic adolescent and youth engagement. Gulf emphasis on geopolitical dominance, regime survival and return on financial investment produces short term solutions that often exacerbate conflict, produce little trickle-down effect and few prospects for long-term stability. “As a result, adolescents and youth in MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) feel disillusioned, with girls and young women, refugees, those with disabilities and the poor being particularly marginalised and underrepresented,” the UNICEF report said. “Youth unemployment in the region is currently the highest in the world. Education systems are failing to prepare adolescents and youth for the workplace, and markets are not generating urgently needed jobs,” the report warned. Gulf wealth glitters but if the UNICEF report is anything to go by, it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce the gold of a development that is sustainable and benefits not only all segments of Gulf societies but also of those across the region that have become dependent on it. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Gulf economies: All that glitters is not gold

Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-foreign-minister-to-visit-pakistan-today-247502">Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir</a>, respectively, arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss the Kashmir issue that has been persistently internalised by Pakistan since India changed the constitutional status of the region.&nbsp;

Giving an update on the arrival of the foreign delegates, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi took to Twitter saying that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will be discussed as the EU Parliament, along with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation`s (OIC) Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), "calls for an end to the curfew" in the region.

During the one-day visit, Al Nahyan and Al-Jubeir will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, reported The Express Tribune.

The Saudi Foreign Minister had earlier visited Pakistan in March as part of Riyadh`s efforts to de-escalate tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad that had emerged in the aftermath of the airstrike conducted by Indian Air Force at Balakot.

Showing the so-called solidarity with the Kashmiris on its part, Pakistan has reached out to numerous countries, including the Middle East, and China, ever since the Indian Parliament last month revoked Article 370 and Article 35 (A) of the Indian Constitution that accorded special status to the region.

However, the cash-strapped country has been repeatedly snubbed by the international community over its efforts after New Delhi time and again denied any third party interference in the issue, calling it to be a "strictly internal" matter of the country.

Instead of addressing pressing issues like struggling economy, rising inflation, and poverty, Pakistanis have been concentrating more on Kashmir, with the Foreign Minister himself apprising the United Nations over the matter more than thrice in a month.

Qureshi wrote, "Have been reaching out to 2-4 FMs every day to keep the world updated about the daily atrocities and worsening conditions" in Jammu and Kashmir, adding, "The humanitarian crisis unfolding has caught the world`s attention."

The news of the Foreign Minister`s visit came after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan dialled Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of Islamabad`s nefarious designs to deflect the regional developments amid the ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad over the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan is also looking forward to raising the Kashmir issue during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next month.&nbsp;

Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, respectively, arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss the Kashmir issue that has been persistently internalised by Pakistan since India changed the constitutional status of the region.

Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, respectively, arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss the Kashmir issue that has been persistently internalised by Pakistan since India changed the constitutional status of the region. Giving an update on the arrival of the foreign delegates, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi took to Twitter saying that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will be discussed as the EU Parliament, along with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation`s (OIC) Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), "calls for an end to the curfew" in the region. During the one-day visit, Al Nahyan and Al-Jubeir will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, reported The Express Tribune. The Saudi Foreign Minister had earlier visited Pakistan in March as part of Riyadh`s efforts to de-escalate tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad that had emerged in the aftermath of the airstrike conducted by Indian Air Force at Balakot. Showing the so-called solidarity with the Kashmiris on its part, Pakistan has reached out to numerous countries, including the Middle East, and China, ever since the Indian Parliament last month revoked Article 370 and Article 35 (A) of the Indian Constitution that accorded special status to the region. However, the cash-strapped country has been repeatedly snubbed by the international community over its efforts after New Delhi time and again denied any third party interference in the issue, calling it to be a "strictly internal" matter of the country. Instead of addressing pressing issues like struggling economy, rising inflation, and poverty, Pakistanis have been concentrating more on Kashmir, with the Foreign Minister himself apprising the United Nations over the matter more than thrice in a month. Qureshi wrote, "Have been reaching out to 2-4 FMs every day to keep the world updated about the daily atrocities and worsening conditions" in Jammu and Kashmir, adding, "The humanitarian crisis unfolding has caught the world`s attention." The news of the Foreign Minister`s visit came after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan dialled Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of Islamabad`s nefarious designs to deflect the regional developments amid the ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad over the Kashmir issue. Pakistan is also looking forward to raising the Kashmir issue during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next month.

UAE, Saudi Foreign Ministers arrive in Pakistan to discuss Kashmir issue

A controversial former security official and Abu Dhabi-based political operator, Mohammed Dahlan, has lurked for several years in the shadows of Palestinian politics. Now, he could emerge as a monkey wrench in an attempt to pave the way for US President Donald J Trump’s much-maligned ‘deal of the century’ to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestine Authority, and Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, have condemned the proposed, yet to be published deal and boycotted a conference in Bahrain in June organised by Jared Kushner, Trump’s negotiator and son-in-law, that focussed on economic aspects of the proposal.

The Palestinian boycott followed Abbas’ earlier rejection of the United States as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after the Trump administration recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, cut off funding and closed down the Palestinian representation in Washington. Trump has since recognised the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as part of Israel.

Kushner unveiled at the conference, attended by government officials and businessmen from the Gulf, the United States, Europe and Asia, a $50 billion investment plan, $28 billion of which would be earmarked for the creation of Palestinian jobs and reduction of poverty.

The Trump administration has said it would release political details of the peace plan only after the September 17 Israeli election so that it does not become an issue in what appears to be a tight electoral race between prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud and former military chief Benny Gantz’s Blue and White.

Saudi and United Arab Emirates crown princes, Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, have quietly sought to support the US peace effort that in Kushner’s words will deviate from the 2002 Arab peace plan by not calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dahlan, who is believed to be close to the UAE’s Prince Mohammed as well as former Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, has played an important role in that effort, particularly with regard to UAE efforts to clip Hamas’ wings.

Dahlan went into exile in the UAE in 2007 after Hamas defeated his US-backed efforts to thwart the group’s control in Gaza. US President George W Bush described Dahlan at the time as “our boy.”

Dahlan has since been indicted by Abbas’ Palestine Authority on corruption charges.

In his latest move, Dahlan is reported to be considering the establishment of a long muted political party, a move that would enjoy UAE and Egyptian support but could divide his following in Gaza.

Some of Dahlan’s supporters in the Democratic Reform Current that remains part of Abbas’ Al Fatah movement, argued in the past that a party would further fragment the Palestinian political landscape.

The revived talk of a party appears to be fuelled by Israel’s facilitation of hundreds of millions of US dollars in Qatari support for Gaza’s health and education services as well as reconstruction.

Qatar, with its close ties to various Islamist movements, has long supported Hamas, while Prince Mohammed’s visceral opposition to any expression of political Islam has pitted the UAE against the movement.

The two states’ diametrically opposed views of political Islam lie at the core of the rift in the Gulf with the UAE alongside Saudi Arabia leading a more than two-year-old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar.

The revived talk follows a failed 2017 effort to negotiate Dahlan’s return to Gaza in talks between Hamas, representatives of Egyptian intelligence, and the Palestinian politician.

The deal would have involved Hamas sharing power with Dahlan in exchange for a loosening of the Israeli-Egyptian economic stranglehold on the impoverished Gaza Strip at a time that Abbas was refusing to pay salaries of Gazan civil servants and Israel was reducing electricity supplies in a bid to force Hamas’ hand.

The talk of Dahlan making a political move comes against the backdrop of a broader, sustained UAE-Saudi effort to facilitate the US peace plan, despite the two states’ official insistence that East Jerusalem should be the capital of an independent Palestinian state, and counter manoeuvring in Palestine by Qatar and its, ally Turkey.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia and the UAE sought to weaken Turkish efforts to exploit opposition to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem to bolster its claim to leadership of the Muslim world and weaken Jordan’s role as the custodian of the Haram esh-Sharif in the city that is home to the Al Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third most holy site.

Speaking earlier this year to an Arab media outlet believed to be close to Qatar, Kamal Khatib, an Israeli Palestinian Islamist leader, asserted that Dahlan, working through local businessmen, had unsuccessfully tried to acquire real estate adjacent to the holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount where Judaism’s two ancient temples once stood.

With approximately half of its population of Palestinian descent, Jordan has walked a tight rope balancing its reluctance to endorse the Trump administration’s approach to Israeli-Palestinian peace-making with its complex ties to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Unlike Jordan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are not shackled by Palestinian demographics but need to tread carefully in supporting an initiative that is widely believed to be designed to deprive Palestinians of independent statehood because of domestic public sentiment and fears that it would backfire and strengthen Hamas.

A formal re-entry into Palestinian politics by Dahlan could help resolve the UAE and Saudi dilemma that is accentuated by concern that too much pressure on Abbas to reverse his rejection of US mediation could boost Hamas with its ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Said one Gulf official: “We are trying to strike a delicate balance. The key in doing so is to strengthen moderates, not extremists,” The official’s codeword for Hamas and other Islamists. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

A controversial former security official and Abu Dhabi-based political operator, Mohammed Dahlan, has lurked for several years in the shadows of Palestinian politics.

A controversial former security official and Abu Dhabi-based political operator, Mohammed Dahlan, has lurked for several years in the shadows of Palestinian politics. Now, he could emerge as a monkey wrench in an attempt to pave the way for US President Donald J Trump’s much-maligned ‘deal of the century’ to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestine Authority, and Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, have condemned the proposed, yet to be published deal and boycotted a conference in Bahrain in June organised by Jared Kushner, Trump’s negotiator and son-in-law, that focussed on economic aspects of the proposal. The Palestinian boycott followed Abbas’ earlier rejection of the United States as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after the Trump administration recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, cut off funding and closed down the Palestinian representation in Washington. Trump has since recognised the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as part of Israel. Kushner unveiled at the conference, attended by government officials and businessmen from the Gulf, the United States, Europe and Asia, a $50 billion investment plan, $28 billion of which would be earmarked for the creation of Palestinian jobs and reduction of poverty. The Trump administration has said it would release political details of the peace plan only after the September 17 Israeli election so that it does not become an issue in what appears to be a tight electoral race between prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud and former military chief Benny Gantz’s Blue and White. Saudi and United Arab Emirates crown princes, Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, have quietly sought to support the US peace effort that in Kushner’s words will deviate from the 2002 Arab peace plan by not calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dahlan, who is believed to be close to the UAE’s Prince Mohammed as well as former Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, has played an important role in that effort, particularly with regard to UAE efforts to clip Hamas’ wings. Dahlan went into exile in the UAE in 2007 after Hamas defeated his US-backed efforts to thwart the group’s control in Gaza. US President George W Bush described Dahlan at the time as “our boy.” Dahlan has since been indicted by Abbas’ Palestine Authority on corruption charges. In his latest move, Dahlan is reported to be considering the establishment of a long muted political party, a move that would enjoy UAE and Egyptian support but could divide his following in Gaza. Some of Dahlan’s supporters in the Democratic Reform Current that remains part of Abbas’ Al Fatah movement, argued in the past that a party would further fragment the Palestinian political landscape. The revived talk of a party appears to be fuelled by Israel’s facilitation of hundreds of millions of US dollars in Qatari support for Gaza’s health and education services as well as reconstruction. Qatar, with its close ties to various Islamist movements, has long supported Hamas, while Prince Mohammed’s visceral opposition to any expression of political Islam has pitted the UAE against the movement. The two states’ diametrically opposed views of political Islam lie at the core of the rift in the Gulf with the UAE alongside Saudi Arabia leading a more than two-year-old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar. The revived talk follows a failed 2017 effort to negotiate Dahlan’s return to Gaza in talks between Hamas, representatives of Egyptian intelligence, and the Palestinian politician. The deal would have involved Hamas sharing power with Dahlan in exchange for a loosening of the Israeli-Egyptian economic stranglehold on the impoverished Gaza Strip at a time that Abbas was refusing to pay salaries of Gazan civil servants and Israel was reducing electricity supplies in a bid to force Hamas’ hand. The talk of Dahlan making a political move comes against the backdrop of a broader, sustained UAE-Saudi effort to facilitate the US peace plan, despite the two states’ official insistence that East Jerusalem should be the capital of an independent Palestinian state, and counter manoeuvring in Palestine by Qatar and its, ally Turkey. Saudi Arabia and the UAE sought to weaken Turkish efforts to exploit opposition to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem to bolster its claim to leadership of the Muslim world and weaken Jordan’s role as the custodian of the Haram esh-Sharif in the city that is home to the Al Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third most holy site. Speaking earlier this year to an Arab media outlet believed to be close to Qatar, Kamal Khatib, an Israeli Palestinian Islamist leader, asserted that Dahlan, working through local businessmen, had unsuccessfully tried to acquire real estate adjacent to the holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount where Judaism’s two ancient temples once stood. With approximately half of its population of Palestinian descent, Jordan has walked a tight rope balancing its reluctance to endorse the Trump administration’s approach to Israeli-Palestinian peace-making with its complex ties to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Unlike Jordan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are not shackled by Palestinian demographics but need to tread carefully in supporting an initiative that is widely believed to be designed to deprive Palestinians of independent statehood because of domestic public sentiment and fears that it would backfire and strengthen Hamas. A formal re-entry into Palestinian politics by Dahlan could help resolve the UAE and Saudi dilemma that is accentuated by concern that too much pressure on Abbas to reverse his rejection of US mediation could boost Hamas with its ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Said one Gulf official: “We are trying to strike a delicate balance. The key in doing so is to strengthen moderates, not extremists,” The official’s codeword for Hamas and other Islamists. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

UAE backs Donld Trump's 'Deal of the century' to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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PM Modi's Visit To UAE & Bahrain: What's On The Agenda

WION Gravitas: Significance of PM Modi's visit to UAE & Bahrain

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PM Modi conferred with King Hamad Order of the Renaissance. PM Modi accepts the honour on behalf of 1.3 billion Indians.

PM Modi first Indian PM to visit Bahrain, honoured by the King of Bahrain

PM Modi greeted thousands of Indians in Bahrain, Modi chants ring out in Bahrain.

PM Modi in Bahrain; addresses Indian Community

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uae-honours-pm-modi-with-highest-civilian-award-order-of-zayed-245309">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> will continue with his ongoing foreign tour without any change in his plan after the sad demise of former finance minister Arun&nbsp;Jaitley.&nbsp;

PM Modi had tweeted out saying that had spoken to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-politicians-arrive-at-jaitleys-residence-to-pay-tribute-last-rites-to-take-place-tomorrow-at-nigambodh-ghat-245311">Arun&nbsp;Jaitley</a>'s family and expressed his condolences.The family had insisted that PM should not cut short his ongoing foreign tour.

Paying homage to&nbsp;Arun&nbsp;Jaitley&nbsp;PM Modi in a tweet had said, "Arun Jaitley Ji was a political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary. He was an articulate leader who made a lasting contribution to India. His passing away is very saddening. Spoke to his wife Sangeeta Ji as well as son Rohan and expressed condolences. Om Shanti."

He said, "With the demise of Arun Jaitley Ji, I have lost a valued friend, whom I have had the honour of knowing for decades. His insight on issues and nuanced understanding of matters had very few parallels. He lived well, leaving us all with innumerable happy memories. We will miss him!"

PM is on a 3-nation tour of France, UAE and Bahrain. He has already visited UAE and France on a state visit and is currently in Bahrain. He will again go to France on Sunday to participate in the 45th G7 summit where India has been invited after 10 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue with his ongoing foreign tour without any change in his plan after the sad demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue with his ongoing foreign tour without any change in his plan after the sad demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley. PM Modi had tweeted out saying that had spoken to Arun Jaitley's family and expressed his condolences.The family had insisted that PM should not cut short his ongoing foreign tour. Paying homage to Arun Jaitley PM Modi in a tweet had said, "Arun Jaitley Ji was a political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary. He was an articulate leader who made a lasting contribution to India. His passing away is very saddening. Spoke to his wife Sangeeta Ji as well as son Rohan and expressed condolences. Om Shanti." He said, "With the demise of Arun Jaitley Ji, I have lost a valued friend, whom I have had the honour of knowing for decades. His insight on issues and nuanced understanding of matters had very few parallels. He lived well, leaving us all with innumerable happy memories. We will miss him!" PM is on a 3-nation tour of France, UAE and Bahrain. He has already visited UAE and France on a state visit and is currently in Bahrain. He will again go to France on Sunday to participate in the 45th G7 summit where India has been invited after 10 years.

PM Modi to continue with his foreign visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday received <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-be-honoured-with-uaes-highest-civilian-award-245219">UAE's highest civilian order, the 'Order of Zayed'</a>.

UAE's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the honour acknowledging PM Modi's distinguished leadership. &nbsp;

The award was announced in April this year.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in UAE yesterday evening. Earlier in the day, both the leaders held delegation-level talks in Abu Dhabi today.&nbsp;

During the talks, the Crown Prince and PM Modi discussed the growing convergences between the two nations.

"Crown prince referred very warmly to our relations and to the level we have reached. He stressed the importance of India and UAE working even more closely to overcome challenges," Secretary ER Tirumurti noted.&nbsp;

Tirumurti added that the Crown Prince talked about the "bridges we have built should be made even stronger" and "stressed the importance of continuing to work closely towards deradicalisation".&nbsp;

UAE is the first country in the Gulf to adopt the RuPay card and the third country globally after Singapore and Bhutan to adopt it.&nbsp;

RuPay Card will be accepted at 175,000 merchant acceptance locations and 5,000 ATM and cash access locations within the UAE.

The adoption of RuPay card will help Indian tourist, who will be visiting the country, and businesses there. The UAE receives close to 3 million Indian tourists annually and the adoption of RuPay card in the West Asian country will lower the charges as Indians tourists will save on the exchange rate.&nbsp;

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Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred with Order of Zayed, UAE's highest civilian award by Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. <a href="https://t.co/tezAhEDtJU">pic.twitter.com/tezAhEDtJU</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1165196105073606656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The RuPay card was launched in the presence of the Indian community who pledged support to invest in Kashmir Investment Summit.

"At the business roundtable in Abu Dhabi with NRI businessmen based in the UAE, PM urged them to invest in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and Laddakh, in view of the recent changes. The NRI business community demonstrated their enthusiasm in this regard." External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Indian PM and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi also released postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary in the UAE. This is PM Modi's third visit to the UAE.

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We have historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India, reinforced by the pivotal role of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave these relations a big boost. In appreciation of his efforts, the UAE President grants him the Zayed Medal.
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohamedBinZayed/status/1113685304907567105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In a tweet the&nbsp;Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,&nbsp;Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said that PM Modi has been conferred the award for boosting India-UAE ties. 
He tweeted, “We have historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India, reinforced by the pivotal role of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave these relations a big boost. In appreciation of his efforts, the UAE President grants him the Zayed Medal.”

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Ministry of External Affairs: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first engagement in the United Arab Emirates was the launch of Rupay card, it is the first time the Rupay card is being launched in the Middle East. <a href="https://t.co/epGqhm3W2h">pic.twitter.com/epGqhm3W2h</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1165270264659075074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Modi first visited the country in August of 2015 which was followed by the visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2016.

The following year the Crown Prince was the chief guest at India's republic day parade and again in 2018 PM Modi visited the country and was the chief guest at the sixth World Government Summit in Dubai.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday received UAE's highest civilian order, the 'Order of Zayed'. UAE's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the honour acknowledging PM Modi's distinguished leadership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday received UAE's highest civilian order, the 'Order of Zayed'. UAE's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the honour acknowledging PM Modi's distinguished leadership. The award was announced in April this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in UAE yesterday evening. Earlier in the day, both the leaders held delegation-level talks in Abu Dhabi today. During the talks, the Crown Prince and PM Modi discussed the growing convergences between the two nations. "Crown prince referred very warmly to our relations and to the level we have reached. He stressed the importance of India and UAE working even more closely to overcome challenges," Secretary ER Tirumurti noted. Tirumurti added that the Crown Prince talked about the "bridges we have built should be made even stronger" and "stressed the importance of continuing to work closely towards deradicalisation". UAE is the first country in the Gulf to adopt the RuPay card and the third country globally after Singapore and Bhutan to adopt it. RuPay Card will be accepted at 175,000 merchant acceptance locations and 5,000 ATM and cash access locations within the UAE. The adoption of RuPay card will help Indian tourist, who will be visiting the country, and businesses there. The UAE receives close to 3 million Indian tourists annually and the adoption of RuPay card in the West Asian country will lower the charges as Indians tourists will save on the exchange rate. Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred with Order of Zayed, UAE's highest civilian award by Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. pic.twitter.com/tezAhEDtJU — ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019 × The RuPay card was launched in the presence of the Indian community who pledged support to invest in Kashmir Investment Summit. "At the business roundtable in Abu Dhabi with NRI businessmen based in the UAE, PM urged them to invest in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and Laddakh, in view of the recent changes. The NRI business community demonstrated their enthusiasm in this regard." External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Indian PM and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi also released postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary in the UAE. This is PM Modi's third visit to the UAE. We have historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India, reinforced by the pivotal role of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave these relations a big boost. In appreciation of his efforts, the UAE President grants him the Zayed Medal. — محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) April 4, 2019 × In a tweet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said that PM Modi has been conferred the award for boosting India-UAE ties. He tweeted, “We have historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India, reinforced by the pivotal role of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave these relations a big boost. In appreciation of his efforts, the UAE President grants him the Zayed Medal.” Ministry of External Affairs: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first engagement in the United Arab Emirates was the launch of Rupay card, it is the first time the Rupay card is being launched in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/epGqhm3W2h — ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019 × Modi first visited the country in August of 2015 which was followed by the visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2016. The following year the Crown Prince was the chief guest at India's republic day parade and again in 2018 PM Modi visited the country and was the chief guest at the sixth World Government Summit in Dubai.

UAE honours PM Modi with highest civilian award 'Order of Zayed'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-eu-threatens-trade-retaliation-brazil-sends-army-to-fight-amazon-fires-245212">As European Union threatens trade retaliation, Brazil sends army to fight Amazon fires</a>

European leaders on Friday threatened to tear up a trade deal with South America, reflecting growing international anger at Brazil as a record number of fires in the Amazon rainforest intensified an unfolding environmental crisis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-launches-short-range-missiles-again-complicating-us-attempts-for-talks-245221">North Korea launches short-range missiles again, complicating US attempts for talks</a>

North Korea fired what appears to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Saturday, the South Korean military said, the latest in a series of launches in recent weeks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-heaps-another-5-tariff-on-chinese-goods-in-latest-tit-for-tat-escalation-245211">Trump heaps another 5% tariff on Chinese goods in latest tit-for-tat escalation</a>

US President Donald Trump on Friday lashed back at a new round of Chinese tariffs by heaping an additional 5 per cent duty on some $550 billion in targeted Chinese goods in the latest tit-for-tat trade war escalation by the world's two largest economies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-be-honoured-with-uaes-highest-civilian-award-245219">PM Modi to be honoured with UAE's highest civilian award for boosting ties</a>

Indian Prime will be conferred with United Arab Emirates's highest civilian award--the Zayed medal on Saturday. The award was announced in April this year.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-finance-minister-arun-jaitleys-health-deteriorated-aiims-245239">Former finance minister Arun Jaitley's health deteriorates, says AIIMS sources</a>

Two weeks after being hospitalised, former finance minister Arun Jaitley's health has been deteriorating, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) sources said on Friday.

As European Union threatens trade retaliation, Brazil sends army to fight Amazon fires European leaders on Friday threatened to tear up a trade deal with South America, reflecting growing international anger at Brazil as a record number of fires in the Amazon rainforest intensified an unfolding environmental crisis.

As European Union threatens trade retaliation, Brazil sends army to fight Amazon fires European leaders on Friday threatened to tear up a trade deal with South America, reflecting growing international anger at Brazil as a record number of fires in the Amazon rainforest intensified an unfolding environmental crisis. North Korea launches short-range missiles again, complicating US attempts for talks North Korea fired what appears to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Saturday, the South Korean military said, the latest in a series of launches in recent weeks. Trump heaps another 5% tariff on Chinese goods in latest tit-for-tat escalation US President Donald Trump on Friday lashed back at a new round of Chinese tariffs by heaping an additional 5 per cent duty on some $550 billion in targeted Chinese goods in the latest tit-for-tat trade war escalation by the world's two largest economies. PM Modi to be honoured with UAE's highest civilian award for boosting ties Indian Prime will be conferred with United Arab Emirates's highest civilian award--the Zayed medal on Saturday. The award was announced in April this year. Former finance minister Arun Jaitley's health deteriorates, says AIIMS sources Two weeks after being hospitalised, former finance minister Arun Jaitley's health has been deteriorating, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) sources said on Friday.

News brief: Big stories of the day

PM Narendra Modi on Friday night will reach UAE to further boost strategic partnership.Modi will be honoured with UAE’s highest civilian award on Saturday.

Big boost for India-UAE ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in the UAE where he will discuss bilateral and regional issues with the top leadership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Arrives In UAE

PM Modi receives UAE's highest civilian award. Putin, Queen Elizabeth has received this award previously.

Brahma Chellaney, Strategic affairs expert on UAE's Zayed Medal to PM Modi

Prime Minister Modi slated to launch RuPay card in UAE. WION's Sumit Chaturvedi brings you the details.

Prime Minister Modi slated to launch RuPay card in UAE

Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/climate-change-defence-and-kashmir-in-the-spotlight-as-modi-meets-macron-ahead-of-g7-summit-244916">Narendra Modi</a> left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday from Paris following the successful completion of the first leg of his three-nation tour.

Modi will return to France on August 25 to attend the G-7 summit where India has been invited as a partner country.

Watch: PM Modi in France -&nbsp;Paris chants 'Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai'

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Hours before his departure from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the Prime Minister addressed the Indian diaspora in France and inaugurated a memorial in Nid D'Aigle dedicated to the victims of two Air India crashes in the country's airspace during the years 1950 and 1966.

During his stay at the UAE, PM Modi will hold talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, an official release said on Monday.

He will also receive the Order of Zayed, the highest civilian decoration of the UAE which was conferred on him in April in recognition of his distinguished leadership that gave a big boost to bilateral relations between the two countries.

 
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday from Paris following the successful completion of the first leg of his three-nation tour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday from Paris following the successful completion of the first leg of his three-nation tour. Modi will return to France on August 25 to attend the G-7 summit where India has been invited as a partner country. Watch: PM Modi in France - Paris chants 'Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai' × Hours before his departure from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the Prime Minister addressed the Indian diaspora in France and inaugurated a memorial in Nid D'Aigle dedicated to the victims of two Air India crashes in the country's airspace during the years 1950 and 1966. During his stay at the UAE, PM Modi will hold talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, an official release said on Monday. He will also receive the Order of Zayed, the highest civilian decoration of the UAE which was conferred on him in April in recognition of his distinguished leadership that gave a big boost to bilateral relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for UAE from France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for France as part of his tri-nation tour. He will hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron during his two-day state visit to France from August 22 with an aim to strengthen cooperation in the fields of defence, maritime security, counter-terrorism, and civil nuclear energy along with robust trade and investment relations. From France, the prime minister will leave for a bilateral visit to UAE and Bahrain and will return to Biarritz city in France to attend the G7 summit.

PM Modi leaves for France as part of tri-nation tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron during his two-day state visit to France from August 22 with an aim to strengthen cooperation in the fields of defence, maritime security, counter-terrorism, and civil nuclear energy along with robust trade and investment relations. From France, the prime minister will leave for a bilateral visit to UAE and Bahrain and will return to Biarritz city in France to attend the G7 summit.

PM Modi to embark on tri-nation tour to France, UAE & Bahrain

UAE will confer PM Modi with its highest civilian award. PM Modi to embark on West-Asia tour, will visit Bahrain & UAE next week. This will be his first visit to Bahrain. Watch this video to know more.

UAE will confer PM Modi with its highest civilian award

PM Modi to embark on West-Asia tour, will visit Bahrain & UAE next week. This will be his first visit to Bahrain. Watch this video to know more.

PM Modi to embark on West-Asia tour, will visit Bahrain & UAE next week

After UAE and Sri Lanka, now the Maldives has backed India government's move to scrap Article 370, Article 35A and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs).

The Maldivian government released a statement on Tuesday backing Indian move that aims integrate Kashmir more closely with the rest of the country.

"The Maldives considers the decision taken by the Government of India regarding Article 370 of the Indian Constitution as an internal matter," an official statement by the Maldives government said.

"We believe that it is the right of every sovereign nation to amend their laws as required," it added.

On Tuesday, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe backed the creation of a new Union Territory of Ladakh, noting it would be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority.

Wickremesinghe, in a tweet, also said that the creation of Ladakh and the restructuring of Jammu and Kashmir were India's internal matters.

The UAE Ambassador Ahmad Al Banna said his country has taken note of the Indian government`s decision to abrogate Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and added that it was India`s internal matter aimed at improving efficiency.

"We also took note of the introduction of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill in the Indian Parliament aimed at replacing Article 370 with the creation of Ladakh region and the state of Jammu and Kashmir as India`s two new Union Territories," he said.

India abrogated Article 370 which accorded a special status to Jammu and Kashmir after a resolution regarding the same was passed in both houses of the Parliament.

The Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill 2019 was also passed. It strips Jammu and Kashmir's status of a state, converting it into two Union Territories — namely Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature). 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

After UAE and Sri Lanka, now the Maldives has backed India government's move to scrap Article 370, Article 35A and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs).

After UAE and Sri Lanka, now the Maldives has backed India government's move to scrap Article 370, Article 35A and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs). The Maldivian government released a statement on Tuesday backing Indian move that aims integrate Kashmir more closely with the rest of the country. "The Maldives considers the decision taken by the Government of India regarding Article 370 of the Indian Constitution as an internal matter," an official statement by the Maldives government said. "We believe that it is the right of every sovereign nation to amend their laws as required," it added. On Tuesday, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe backed the creation of a new Union Territory of Ladakh, noting it would be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority. Wickremesinghe, in a tweet, also said that the creation of Ladakh and the restructuring of Jammu and Kashmir were India's internal matters. The UAE Ambassador Ahmad Al Banna said his country has taken note of the Indian government`s decision to abrogate Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and added that it was India`s internal matter aimed at improving efficiency. "We also took note of the introduction of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill in the Indian Parliament aimed at replacing Article 370 with the creation of Ladakh region and the state of Jammu and Kashmir as India`s two new Union Territories," he said. India abrogated Article 370 which accorded a special status to Jammu and Kashmir after a resolution regarding the same was passed in both houses of the Parliament. The Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill 2019 was also passed. It strips Jammu and Kashmir's status of a state, converting it into two Union Territories — namely Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature). (With inputs from agencies)

Article 370: After UAE and Sri Lanka, now Maldives back  Indian government's move

Global reactions have been pouring in the aftermath of India's removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, with the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka reacting positively while the US coming out with a cautious statement.

Global reactions have been pouring in the aftermath of India's removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, with the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka reacting positively while the US coming out with a cautious statement. The UAE envoy to India Dr Ahmad Al Banna while taking note of the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and removal of Article 370 called it internal matter of India said "We expect that the changes would improve social justice and security and confidence of the people in the local governance and will encourage further stability and peace". Recent years have seen India and UAE coming closers and an increase in number of high-level visits between the two countries. Indian PM Modi first visited the country in August of 2015 which was followed by the visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2016. The following year the Crown Prince was the chief guest at India's republic day parade and again in 2018 PM Modi visited the country and was the chief guest at the sixth World Government Summit in Dubai. Earlier this year UAE awarded its highest civilian award, The Zayed Medal to PM Modi. The positive statement came from Sri Lanka with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe in a tweet welcomed the creation of "Ladakh state" which he said will be the "first Indian state with a Buddhist majority". In a tweet, he said, "Ladakh will become an Indian State. With 70% of Ladakh’s population being Buddhist it will be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority. Creation of Ladakh and consequential restructuring is India’s internal matter, it is a beautiful region well worth a visit" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first foreign visit in second term visited the Indian ocean Island country in June of 2019. The United States state department came out with a cautious statement on the Indian government's decision. The US State Dept while taking "note that the Indian government has described these actions as strictly an internal matter" said it is "concerned about reports of detentions and urge respect for individual rights and discussion with those in affected communities." It also called on India and Pakistan "to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control.” Interestingly the state department statement made no mention of US President Donald Trump's mediation offer on Jammu and Kashmir, that was rejected New Delhi. India engages with global diplomatic community Meanwhile, Indian diplomats have up there efforts to make sure the global community understands New Delhi's action and also thwart any propaganda by Pakistan. The Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma speaking to reporters in Moscow said, " its an internal matter and it also an internal administrative matter. We have not done anything to change the external parameters of Jammu and Kashmir state...we are not surprised that Pakistan is raising this, but our response will be the same that it is not a matter that concerns Pakistan" The ministry of external affairs continued briefing of envoys on Tuesday on the administrative developments in Kashmir which included briefing for Latin American and Caribbean countries envoys and envoys from neighbouring countries. Envoys from United Nations Security council and Asean countries were briefed on Monday with India explaining that the changed have been made to spur socio economic development of the region.

Global reaction on India's Kashmir decision; UAE, Sri Lanka positive while US issues a cautious statement

UAE Responds to India's move to revoke Article 370 and said that it will improve the confidence of people in governance and will improve security.

UAE responds to India's move to revoke Article 370

United Arab Emirates military drawdown raises stakes in south Yemen

A World Bank arbitration court has imposed a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/chinese-firms-pledge-to-invest-5-billion-in-cash-strapped-pakistan-235580">penalty of over five billion dollars</a> on Pakistan for the unlawful denial of a mining lease to a company for the Reko Diq project in 2011.

The Tethyan Copper Company had approached the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in 2012 after the Balochistan government declined its lease request.&nbsp;

The international tribunal on Saturday announced in a 700-page ruling that Pakistan has to pay Tethyan Copper $5.8 billion in damages, Samaa News reported.

Pakistan's Supreme Court had terminated the deal in 2013. The mining company said that it had invested over $220 million on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-pay-foreign-firm-6-billion-over-mine-closure-world-bank-235889">Reko Diq</a>.

The company is still "willing to strike a deal with Pakistan," Tethyan board chair William Hayes said in a statement.&nbsp;

But, added that "It would continue protecting its commercial and legal interests until the dispute was over."

The case between the Pakistani government and the international company continued for at least seven years.

The penalty came as a major blow to the cash-strapped economy of Pakistan that has received billions in financial aid packages from international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a few friendly countries, including China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the current fiscal year.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday issued orders for the formation of a commission to investigate and fix responsibility for the massive loss borne by Pakistan in the Reko Diq case.

The Attorney General's office issued a press release stating that Islamabad together with the Balochistan government was analysing the legal and financial effects of the court orders and that the government was considering all aspects of the matter and will decide the future course with a consultation.

The press release said Pakistan had the right to use all legal options available under the international laws.&nbsp;

The government also welcomed Tethyan Copper Company's (TCC) offer to resolve the issue through negotiations. It also welcomed all the international investors to Pakistan.

It added that Pakistan was further interested in the development of Reko Diq resources and as a responsible state saw the international agreements and protection of legal rights and interests with seriousness.

Reko Diq mine is famed for its vast gold and copper reserves and is believed to have the world's fifth-largest gold deposit.

The small town of Reko Diq in Chagai district in Balochistan is located in a desert area, 70 kilometres north-west of Naukundi, close to the border with Iran and Afghanistan.&nbsp;

A World Bank arbitration court has imposed a penalty of over five billion dollars on Pakistan for the unlawful denial of a mining lease to a company for the Reko Diq project in 2011.

A World Bank arbitration court has imposed a penalty of over five billion dollars on Pakistan for the unlawful denial of a mining lease to a company for the Reko Diq project in 2011. The Tethyan Copper Company had approached the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in 2012 after the Balochistan government declined its lease request. The international tribunal on Saturday announced in a 700-page ruling that Pakistan has to pay Tethyan Copper $5.8 billion in damages, Samaa News reported. Pakistan's Supreme Court had terminated the deal in 2013. The mining company said that it had invested over $220 million on Reko Diq. The company is still "willing to strike a deal with Pakistan," Tethyan board chair William Hayes said in a statement. But, added that "It would continue protecting its commercial and legal interests until the dispute was over." The case between the Pakistani government and the international company continued for at least seven years. The penalty came as a major blow to the cash-strapped economy of Pakistan that has received billions in financial aid packages from international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a few friendly countries, including China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the current fiscal year. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday issued orders for the formation of a commission to investigate and fix responsibility for the massive loss borne by Pakistan in the Reko Diq case. The Attorney General's office issued a press release stating that Islamabad together with the Balochistan government was analysing the legal and financial effects of the court orders and that the government was considering all aspects of the matter and will decide the future course with a consultation. The press release said Pakistan had the right to use all legal options available under the international laws. The government also welcomed Tethyan Copper Company's (TCC) offer to resolve the issue through negotiations. It also welcomed all the international investors to Pakistan. It added that Pakistan was further interested in the development of Reko Diq resources and as a responsible state saw the international agreements and protection of legal rights and interests with seriousness. Reko Diq mine is famed for its vast gold and copper reserves and is believed to have the world's fifth-largest gold deposit. The small town of Reko Diq in Chagai district in Balochistan is located in a desert area, 70 kilometres north-west of Naukundi, close to the border with Iran and Afghanistan.

International Court slaps $5 billion penalty on Pakistan in Reko Diq case

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