Delhi (The Hawk): The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India held a press conference with the International Media and Influencers on the 2nd day of the Arabian Travel Market, Dubai -2022 ,The press conference was conducted&nbsp;by Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India in the august presence of Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand Mr. Satpal Maharaj. The Press Conference was also attended by Mr. K. Kalimuthu, Counsul, (Economic, Trade, and Commerce), Mr. Prashant Ranjan, Director Tourism, Ministry of Tourism ,Govt of India, Bollywood Celebrity Rakul Preet Singh, and International Singer Shweta Subram.During the press conference, various verticals of tourism potential in India were discussed. Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand Mr Satpal Maharaj discussed the importance of tourist destinations in Uttrakhand that can be leveraged for the promotion of tourism such as adventure tourism, wedding tourism in the State of Uttarakhand. Minister also highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Govt of Uttarakhand with regards to increasing the footfall of tourists in the state. He also discussed various infrastructure development projects such as Haridwar International Airport and way forward strategies being undertaken by the Govt. of Uttarakhand.<img src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/image002YIVY.jpg">Ms. Rupinder Brar stated that the Ministry has been aggressively promoting different tourism products and destinations. The major focus has been given to the potential of MICE, Film Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Medical Tourism, Luxury Tourism, Wildlife Tourism and Adventure Tourism. She stated that the Middle East has been the major target market for Indian tourism. Large number of tourists from the Middle East visit India for MICE, medical, wellness, luxury&nbsp;&nbsp;tourism etc. Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India has been holistically promoting Indian tourism in the Middle East market. Participation in Arabian Travel Mart has been one such initiative by the Government.During the conference, it was highlighted that India has opened up for the International visitors, for this the Ministry has already undertaken ‘NamasteIndia’ Campaign for encouraging International visitors to travel to India. The Ministry has also been focusing on confidence-building stratégies post-pandemic.<img src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/image0034I9S.jpg">Ms. Rakul Preet Singh highlighted the importance of film tourism and the potential of India as an-important destination for film-making, having all physical geographical features and landscape. She further focused on the role of North Eastern States as a potential film shooting destination.Mr. K. Kalimuthu, Counsul,(Economic, Trade, and Commerce) deliberated on the importance of the Indian diaspora for publicity and promotion of India in the overseas market. He also highlighted appeal of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of ‘Chalo India’ thereby urging Indian Diaspora to inspire at least five of their non-Indian friends every year to visit India, calling them 'Rashtradoot'. He emphasized the role of tourism for the overall economic growth of the country.Ms. Shweta Subram also emphasized the role of the Indian diaspora with regard to the promotion of India in the overseas market. She further highlighted that social media promotion shall be the game-changer for the promotion of tourism in India. Lots of millennial tourists use social media looking for promotional content such as travel &amp; tourism. She also spoke about the role of social media influencers in engaging a large number of tourists/followers.The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under its “Incredible India” brand line has participated at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai -2022 being held from 9th to 12th May 2022 showcasing India’s rich &amp; diversified tourism potential and providing a platform to the tourism stakeholders to showcase the various tourism destinations and products including Niche products. Also, aim is to promote India as a ‘Must See, Must Visit’ destination.During the Mart, the India Pavilion will be showcasing India as a “365 Days Destination” a year-round multi-faceted tourist destination such as Culture, Adventure, Cruise, Golf, MICE, luxury, wildlife, wellness, and medical tourism etc. India Reopening as a theme has been amplified during the mart with the ‘Namaste Campaign’ to welcome International Travellers showcasing must-visit destinations of India.Around 18 Participants from India representing the State Tourism Government of Kerala, Nagaland,and Tour Operators, Travel Agents, and Hoteliers/Resorts, will be present in the India Pavilion showcasing the diverse tourism products and services. Apart from this, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka are also showcasing the tourism potential that States has to offer.

 The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India held a press conference with the International Media and Influencers on the 2nd day of the Arabian Travel Market, Dubai -2022

Ministry of Tourism highlights the different Tourism products of India at the 2nd day of Arabian Travel Market

 The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India held a press conference with the International Media and Influencers on the 2nd day of the Arabian Travel Market, Dubai -2022.

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's state oil and gas company Saudi Aramco announced on Sunday that its net income in the first quarter of 2022 increased to a record-breaking $39.5 billion, which is 82% more compared to the same period in 2021."Aramco achieved a record quarterly net income of $39.5 billion in Q1, an 82% increase from $21.7 billion in Q1 2021, primarily driven by higher crude oil prices and volumes sold, and improved downstream margins," the company said in a statement.The main factors that influenced such results were the growth in oil prices and sales volumes, as well as improved downstream margins, Saudi Aramco explained.Saudi Aramco is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia founded in 1933, with the headquarters located in Dhahran. The company controls almost all of the country's oil production facilities.—ANI

Saudi Arabia's state oil and gas company Saudi Aramco announced on Sunday that its net income in the first quarter of 2022 increased to a record-breaking $39.5 billion, which is 82% more compared to the same period in 2021.

Saudi Aramco says net income soars to record USD 39.5bn in Q1 2022

Jeddah: Following the re-outbreak of Covid and the rapid surge in the number of daily Covid infections over the past few weeks, Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from traveling to sixteen countries, including India. The sixteen countries where the citizens of Saudi Arabia are banned to travel apart from India include Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus, and Venezuela, reported Gulf News.Further, the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has assured the public that zero monkeypox cases have been detected in the country. Abdullah Asiri, Deputy Minister of Health for preventive health has said that the Kingdom has the capability to monitor and discover any suspected monkeypox cases and also to fight against the infection if any new case emerges. "Until now, cases of transmission between humans are very limited, and therefore the possibility of any outbreaks occurring from it, even in countries that have detected cases, are very low," he added.Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 80 cases of monkeypox in 11 countries and said they are working to better understand the extent and cause of the outbreak.In a statement issued on Friday, the WHO said the virus is endemic in some animal populations in a number of countries, leading to occasional outbreaks among local people and travelers.—ANI

Following the re-outbreak of Covid and the rapid surge in the number of daily Covid infections over the past few weeks, Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from traveling to sixteen countries, including India.

Saudi bans travel to 16 countries including India over Covid outbreaks

Tehran: The relations between Iran and Gulf Arab states have seen a "breakthrough" since President Ebrahim Raisi assumed office in 2021, an Iranian diplomat said Sunday. Iran and Saudi Arabia have taken "positive and constructive steps" toward resolving their differences, said Iranian Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs Ali Reza Enayati in an interview with official news agency IRNA.He also mentioned the earlier dispatch of Iranian representatives to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) headquartered in Saudi Arabia where their cooperation with the OIC was facilitated by Saudi officials. The Iranian official hoped that further negotiations between the two major regional Muslim states would pave the way for the participation of Iranian pilgrims in the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in protest against the attacks on its diplomatic missions in Iran following the kingdom's execution of a Shiite cleric. The relations further soured during the Yemeni civil war between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the internationally-recognized government supported by the Saudi-led coalition.Enayati said Raisi's February visit to Qatar, during which 15 memoranda of understanding were signed, and the president's upcoming trip to Oman are also signs of improvement of Iran's relations with Gulf Arab states.—IANS

 The relations between Iran and Gulf Arab states have seen a "breakthrough" since President Ebrahim Raisi assumed office in 2021, an Iranian diplomat said Sunday.

Iran sees breakthrough in ties with Gulf Arab states: official

Jeddah: Following the re-outbreak of Covid-19 and the rapid surge in the number of daily Covid infections over the past few weeks, Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from traveling to sixteen countries, including India.The sixteen countries where the citizens of Saudi Arabia are banned to travel apart from India include Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus, and Venezuela, reported Gulf News.Further, the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has assured the public that zero monkeypox cases have been detected in the country. Abdullah Asiri, Deputy Minister of Health for preventive health has said that the Kingdom has the capability to monitor and discover any suspected monkeypox cases and also to fight against the infection if any new case emerges."Until now, cases of transmission between humans are very limited, and therefore the possibility of any outbreaks occurring from it, even in countries that have detected cases, are very low," he added.Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 80 cases of monkeypox in 11 countries and said they are working to better understand the extent and cause of the outbreak.In a statement issued on Friday, the WHO said the virus is endemic in some animal populations in a number of countries, leading to occasional outbreaks among local people and travelers.&nbsp;—ANI

Following the re-outbreak of Covid-19 and the rapid surge in the number of daily Covid infections over the past few weeks, Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from traveling to sixteen countries, including India.

Saudi Arabia Bans Travel To 16 Countries Including India Over New Covid Outbreaks

Thane: Saudi Arabia on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/prophet-remark-3-countries-summon-indian-envoys-outrage-in-gulf/20220606.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">joined Qatar, Iran and Kuwait</a>&nbsp;to express its condemnation of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/bjp-suspends-nupur-sharma-axes-naveen-jindal-over-controversial-remarks/20220605.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">the controversial remarks</a>&nbsp;of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader against Prophet Mohammed and called for 'respect for beliefs and religions'. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its condemnation and denunciation of the statements made by the BJP spokesperson, saying it insulted Prophet Muhammad.The ministry reiterated its 'permanent rejection of prejudice against the symbols of the Islamic religion'. It also rejected anything that give rise to prejudice against 'all religious figures and symbols'.While welcoming the measures taken by the BJP to suspend the spokeswoman, the ministry reaffirmed the 'Kingdom's position calling for respect for beliefs and religions'.Qatar, Iran and Kuwait on Sunday summoned India's Ambassadors and the key Gulf nations expressed their strong protest and condemnation of the controversial remarks of a BJP leader against Prophet Muhammad.Seeking to defuse a diplomatic row, spokespersons of the Indian Embassy in Qatar and Kuwait said on Sunday that the Ambassadors 'conveyed that the tweets do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. These are the views of fringe elements'.In New Delhi, the BJP on Sunday suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal after their controversial remarks against the Prophet.Amid protests by Muslim groups over the remarks, the party also issued a statement aimed at assuaging the concerns of minorities and distancing itself from these members, asserting that it respects all religions and strongly denounces the insult of any religious personality.The controversial remarks also sparked a Twitter trend in the Arab world calling for a boycott of Indian products.—PTI

Saudi Arabia on Monday joined Qatar, Iran and Kuwait to express its condemnation of the controversial remarks of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader against Prophet Mohammed and called for 'respect for beliefs and religions'.

Saudi condemns BJP leader's remarks on Prophet, lauds her suspension

Mumbai: At least four persons perished after a Pawan Hans helicopter ditched into the Arabian Sea near the ONGC’s Sagar Kiran oil-rig, off Mumbai High Fields, around 175 kms off the country’s commercial capital, official sources said on Tuesday.The chopper was carrying nine people – seven passengers, reportedly ONGC staffers, and two pilots – and a major operation comprising the ONGC, the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, and offshore supply vessels, was launched to rescue them. By 2 p.m., all the nine were taken out, but four, who were unconscious after rescue and flown to a Mumbai hospital, were pronounced dead later, said officials.“All 9 persons on board the helicopter were rescued. Unfortunately, four of them, brought unconscious to the Mumbai base and taken to the hospital, lost the battle of life. ONGC deeply mourns this loss,” said the ONGC in a tweet this evening. Further details of the fatalities, the cause of death, their identities, etc are awaited.The rescue operation comprised the ONGC’s offshore supply vessel Malviya-16 and a boat from oil rig Sagar Kiran, while the Indian Coast Guard deployed its helicopters to drop rafts near the ditched chopper, and the Indian Navy sent an ALH and a Sea King chopper.The cause of the emergency landing on water, whether related to weather or technical issues, is not immediately clear, according to ONGC officials in Mumbai and New Delhi.—IANS

 At least four persons perished after a Pawan Hans helicopter ditched into the Arabian Sea near the ONGC’s Sagar Kiran oil-rig, off Mumbai High Fields, around 175 kms off the country’s commercial capital, official sources said on Tuesday.

4 Dead As Pawan Hans Chopper Ditches In Arabian Sea, 5 Saved

Ramallah : Biden is scheduled to visit Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia during his first trip to the region which starts on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. In the past weeks, the Palestinians ramped up their voices calling on the Biden administration to deliver its promises by reopening the US consulate in East Jerusalem and the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in Washington, and removing the PLO from the US terrorism list. Ahead of US President Joe Biden's first visit to the Middle East, the Palestinians are disappointed with the US' failure to present any new peace initiative and fulfill its promises on the Palestinian cause.Biden is scheduled to visit Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia during his first trip to the region which starts on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.In the past weeks, the Palestinians ramped up their voices calling on the Biden administration to deliver its promises by reopening the US consulate in East Jerusalem and the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in Washington, and removing the PLO from the US terrorism list.Meanwhile, the Palestinians criticized the US for its silence over the escalation of Israeli unilateral practices in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Ramzi Rabah, a PLO executive committee member, said that within the PLO executive committee, there is widespread criticism of the US policy as its members urged the Palestinian Authority "not to bet on any actual US role in the region".The Palestinian leadership "must go to alternative options in dealing with Washington," Rabah told Xinhua in an interview.He said that as the US refuses to take any serious steps to stop Israel from escalating its practices against the Palestinians, "there is a need to go to the UN and the UN Security Council to create an international political initiative.""I think that the essence of Biden's visit to the region is to arrange a regional alliance, to secure the American interests and confront Iran," Rabah noted, expressing the Palestinians' disappointment at the US inaction to break the protracted stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.Wassel Abu Yousef, another member of the PLO executive committee, ruled out major positive results from Biden's visit on advancing the Palestinian cause, citing that the US has increased support for Israel and its practices against the Palestinians, including confiscating land, demolishing homes and expanding settlements.The Palestinians "do not expect anything new from Biden's visit to the region regarding the implementation of the US promises, except that it will result in more support for Israel," he told Xinhua in an interview.Frustration and despair are prevailing among the Palestinians as nearly 29 years have passed since the Palestinians signed the Oslo peace agreement with Israel, under the US sponsorship, to end the conflict between them.The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been deadlocked since 2014 mainly due to Washington's refusal to change its biased pro-Israeli policy that ignores the political rights of the Palestinian people, who hope to establish an independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.Abdulmajid Sweilem, a Palestinian analyst from the West Bank city of Ramallah, said that Biden's visit to the Palestinian territories is just "a political courtesy".Biden is expected to "repeat Washington's old slogans of adhering to the two-state solution and protecting the Palestinian people's right to dignity and security, among other cliches," he told Xinhua in an interview."Ultimately, these cliches mean improving the lives of the Palestinians under the framework of Israeli domination and limited Palestinian self-rule," Sweilem added. --- (IANS)

Biden is scheduled to visit Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia during his first trip to the region which starts on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. In the past weeks, the Palestinians ramped up their voices calling on the Biden administration to deliver its promises by reopening the US consulate in East Jerusalem and the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in Washington, and removing the PLO from the US terrorism list. Ahead of US President Joe Biden's first visit to the Middle East, the Palestinians are disappointed with the US' failure to present any new peace initiative and fulfill its promises on the Palestinian cause.

Palestinians disappointed with US policy ahead of Biden's visit

Riyadh :&nbsp;Saudi Arabia on Friday announced a decision to open its air space for all air carriers.The country's General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the decision meets Saudi Arabia's dedication to fulfilling its obligations under the Chicago Convention of 1944, which stipulates non-discrimination between civil aircrafts used in international air navigation. The decision consolidates the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents and enhancing international air connectivity, Xinhua news agency reported.On the same day, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid applauded the Saudi Arabian decision on its airspace openness."This is the first step. We will continue to work with due caution, for the Israeli economy, its security and for the citizens of Israel," Lapid said in a statement released by his office.Israeli airlines previously could not travel over Saudi airspace due to a ban, making flights to regions like Asia costlier and longer. --- (IANS)

Saudi Arabia on Friday announced a decision to open its air space for all air carriers. The country's General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the decision meets Saudi Arabia's dedication to fulfilling its obligations under the Chicago Convention of 1944, which stipulates non-discrimination between civil aircrafts used in international air navigation.

 Saudi Arabia opens air space for all air carriers

Saudi Arabia on Friday announced a decision to open its air space for all air carriers.
The country's General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the decision meets Saudi Arabia's dedication to fulfilling its obligations under the Chicago Convention of 1944, which stipulates non-discrimination between civil aircrafts used in international air navigation.

Ranchi:&nbsp;Amid ruckus by opposition BJP in Jharkhand Assembly, demanding a debate on corruption, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato on Tuesday suspended four legislators of the saffron camp till August 4, a day before the ongoing monsoon session comes to an end. MLAs Bhanu Pratap Shahi, Dhulu Mahto, Jaiprakash Bhai Patel and Randhir Singh were suspended from the House for unruly behavior. As soon as the proceedings began at 11 am, the saffron party MLAs trooped into the well, seeking resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren over various allegations and a debate on corruption. Despite repeated appeals by Mahato to allow the House to run normally, the ruckus continued, promping him to suspend the legislators. Amid uproarious scenes, he also adjourned the House till 12.30 pm.—PTI

Amid ruckus by opposition BJP in Jharkhand Assembly, demanding a debate on corruption, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato on Tuesday suspended four legislators of the saffron camp till August 4, a day before the ongoing monsoon session comes to an end.

4 BJP MLAs suspended amid noisy scenes in J'khand Assembly

Riyadh: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday concluded his first official visit to Saudi Arabia during which he reviewed all aspects of India-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and discussed regional and global issues.
Jaishankar arrived in Riyadh on September 10, 2022. During the visit, he called on Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman on September 11 in Jeddah and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveying greetings on the upcoming National Day of Saudi Arabia on September 23 and reiterating an invitation to Crown Prince to visit India at an early date, an Embassy of India in Riyadh press release stated.
Earlier, on September 11 afternoon the EAM met the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh.
The two Ministers co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation (PSSC), under the framework of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council, added the release.
Both Ministers assessed the progress in bilateral relations positively across all domains including political, trade, energy, investments, defence, security and culture. Several areas were identified for further enhancing bilateral cooperation such as food security, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defence industry and entertainment.
The two Ministers endorsed the work of the four Joint Working Groups of the PSSC (Political and Consular; Defence; Legal and Security; and Social and Cultural) well as the Senior Officials Meetings, said the release.
They also discussed greater coordination between the two countries in multilateral organisations, especially the G-20. Jaishankar met the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf on September 10 and discussed India-GCC relations. The EAM and GCC Secretary General also signed an MOU on Mechanism of Consultations between India and GCC. The MOU provides for the institutionalization of annual dialogue between India and the GCC and setting up Working Groups on different areas of cooperation, added the release.
During the visit, Jaishankar also interacted with the Indian community in Saudi Arabia at an event organized at the Indian Embassy on September 10. Further, the EAM also addressed senior Saudi officials, academics and future Saudi diplomats in an interactive session at the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies on September 11.
India-Saudi Arabia relations have strengthened considerably over the past few years including in political, security, energy, trade, investment, health, food security, cultural and defence fields.
The top leadership of both countries remained in close touch even during the Covid-19 pandemic. —ANI

 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday concluded his first official visit to Saudi Arabia during which he reviewed all aspects of India-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and discussed regional and global issues.

Jaishankar Concludes His First Official Visit To Saudi Arabia

San Francisco: The Apple Watch Ultra has been tested by a YouTuber who dropped it, subjected it to a jar of nails, and repeatedly smashed it with a hammer to see how durable the sapphire crystal protecting the display is.
According to MacRumors, TechRax, a channel popular for testing the durability of products, first tested the Apple Watch Ultra by dropping it from around four feet high.&nbsp;
The Apple Watch Ultra was left mostly unscuffed, aside from minor dents along the titanium casing. Next, the Apple Watch Ultra was mixed around in a jar of nails and was once again left with no visible marks.
TechRax also tested the durability of the Apple Watch Ultra's sapphire crystal display cover by repeatedly hitting it with a hammer.
In the test, the watch withstood repeated hits with the hammer until it finally cracked, and only after the table took some damage first.
While the Apple Watch Ultra's display did not initially take damage, the watch did fail to turn on after repeated hits.
The failure to power on could indicate that while the sapphire may not have broken at first, some internal components may have suffered damage.
Apple claims the Apple Watch Ultra is its most rugged, durable, and extreme Apple Watch yet, aiming to compete directly with Garmin.&nbsp;
—IANS

The Apple Watch Ultra has been tested by a YouTuber who dropped it, subjected it to a jar of nails, and repeatedly smashed it with a hammer to see how durable the sapphire crystal protecting the display is.

 YouTuber tests Apple Watch Ultra durability with hammer

New Delhi: India has received unusual praise from Saudi Arabia's World Muslim League for its policy of non-violence and tolerance towards all.
The Mecca-based World Muslim League timed its praise for India's Global and National outlook on Gandhi Jayanti- something which Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Group has never done before.
Hailing Mahatma Gandhi for being a pioneer of the philosophy of non-violence, the Muslim World League, for the first time, paid tribute to Gandhi on his 153rd birth anniversary and said that the day should be an occasion to spread the message of non-violence internationally.
"Today, October 2, we celebrate Gandhi Jayanti to honour the birthday and remember the life of Mahatma Gandhi, a visionary, freedom fighter, and follower of non-violence. Today also is the International Day of Non-Violence," Muslim World League wrote in a tweet.
It added that October 2 should be used as an opportune day to spread the message of non-violence on an international level. "Every year, the world celebrates the International Day Of Non-Violence, celebrating the life of the pioneer of the non-violence philosophy, Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. An occasion to spread the message of non-violence internationally through education and public awareness," it tweeted.
The Muslim World League is an international non-governmental Islamic organization based out of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Mecca or Makkah is the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad and is the location of Islam's holiest place Ka'aba.
October 2 also coincides with the International Day Of Non-Violence. "On this day every year, the world celebrates the International Day Of Non-Violence, remembering the life path and strategy of the pioneer of the philosophy of Non-Violence, Mahatma Gandhi. It is an occasion to spread the message of Non-Violence through education and public awareness."
The wishes extended by the organization on the birth anniversary of "Bapu" underscores the forging of ties between India with the Muslim and Arab world at large.
Notably, there has been a paradigm shift in the relationship between the two countries under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The visit of PM Narendra Modi to Riyadh in April 2016 captured the spirit of enhanced cooperation in the political, economic, security and defence realms.
During the visit, King Salman conferred the Kingdom's highest civilian honour on Prime Minister Modi, indicating the importance Saudi Arabia attached to its relations with India.
The visit of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to India in February 2019 further took forward this momentum. During the visit, it was announced that the Kingdom would invest approximately USD 100 billion in India and six MoUs/Agreements were signed in the fields of investment, tourism, housing, exchange of audio-visual programmes, and an agreement was signed to pave way for Saudi Arabia to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which was launched by Prime Minister Modi.
Prime Minister Modi visited Riyadh again on October 28-29, 2019, during which the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) Agreement was signed, which established a high-level council to steer the Indo-Saudi relationship. Twelve MoUs/Agreements were signed during the visit across several fields, including energy, security, defence production, civil aviation, medical products, strategic petroleum reserves, small and medium scale industries, and the training of diplomats. During the visit, PM Modi also delivered the keynote address at the Third Future Investment Initiative Summit. —ANI

India has received unusual praise from Saudi Arabia's World Muslim League for its policy of non-violence and tolerance towards all.

India Gets Unusual Praise From Saudi Arabia's World Muslim League

Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to side with Saudi Arabia as the kingdom continues to be at loggerheads with the United States over the cut in oil supply in the international market.
"Pakistan expresses solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the wake of statements made against the Kingdom in the context of OPEC+ decision, Pakistan expresses solidarity with the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the Pakistan foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Tensions started brewing between the US and Saudi after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced massive cut in oil production. The White House said that US President Joe Biden will now work with Congress to 're-evaluate' the relationship with Saudi Arabia.
While backing the Kingdom, Pakistan said it appreciates the concerns of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for avoiding market volatility and ensuring global economic stability. "Pakistan encourages a constructive approach on such issues based on engagement and mutual respect," the statement added. Earlier, in an interview with CNN, US National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said Biden is "willing to work with Congress as we think about what the right relationship with Saudi Arabia needs to be going forward."
"I think the President's been very clear that this is a relationship that we need to continue to re-evaluate, that we need to be willing to revisit. And certainly, in light of the OPEC decision, I think that's where he is, and he's willing to work with Congress to think through what that relationship ought to look like going forward," he said.
Biden during his visit to Saudi Arabia in July had expressed optimism that Saudi Arabia would take steps to boost the global oil supply in the coming weeks, which had been viewed as a major goal of the trip given high domestic gas prices globally due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, OPEC's decision has now made the White House rethink its relationship with Saudi Arabia. OPEC's decision can be viewed in another light as well -- mid-term elections in US. Oil production cuts come on the heels of midterm elections and inflation will be the one thing on top of voters' minds. Incidentally, Pakistan's decision to back Saudi comes days after Biden called Pakistan one of the most "dangerous" nations in the world. —ANI

Pakistan has decided to side with Saudi Arabia as the kingdom continues to be at loggerheads with the United States over the cut in oil supply in the international market.

Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia Over Its Tension With US

Hyderabad: The Arabian Sea, to an extent, acts as a memory bank of the summer monsoon, with the seasonal cycle of the Upper Ocean and air-sea interaction playing a major role, a study by University of Hyderabad (UoH) surmises.
The findings from this study have significant implications for not only understanding the upper ocean's dynamics and thermodynamics in the Arabian Sea but also the summer monsoon and its predictability.
The study published in scientific reports, hypothesises that the signal of the Indian summer monsoon winds over the Arabian Sea Findlater Jet (FJ) is trapped in the Arabian Sea for almost till the next March.
The Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), also known as the southwest monsoon, is a well-known ocean-atmospheric phenomenon characterised by organised south-westerly winds and enhanced rainfall from June to September. The cross equatorial south-westerly winds from the East African coast towards India develop by the end of May, intensify into a low-level jet during July, and collapse by the end of September. This low-level atmospheric jet in the Arabian Sea is known as Findlater Jet (FJ), an UoH release stated Friday.
The axis of the FJ is represented by the region of maximum wind speed at the height of 850 millibars (about 1.5 km) and extends from the Horn of Africa to the coast of Gujarat in India. The strength of the FJ is known to affect the ISM rainfall over the Indian subcontinent.
In general, strong FJs are associated with more active spells (more rainfall days) of ISM rainfall, while weak FJs are associated with breaks (fewer rainfall days). It is known that the FJ influences the upper ocean.
The cyclonic wind stress north of the axis of the FJ induces open-ocean upwelling, while the anticyclone wind stress south of the axis leads to open-ocean downwelling, through Ekman dynamics.
This results in the modulation of mixed layer depth and upper ocean heat content on either side of the axis of the FJ.
The present study shows that all these results in a deep thermocline in the central AS region during the ISM, which traps a high magnitude of heat.
In winter monsoon months, with the change in the wind direction, the wind stress curl is positive over large parts of the Arabian Sea.
Interestingly, it was found that the thermocline does not shoal and reduce the upper ocean heat content in the central AS, as expected. This is attributed to two reasons. Firstly, winds are weaker and spread over a larger area over the Arabian Sea, making the magnitude of the wind stress curl low.
Secondly, the wind stress in the eastern AS triggers what are known as westward propagating downwelling Rossby waves, which deepen the thermocline and prevent the trapped heat from coming up again.
During the following spring, the collapse of the Rossby waves leads to the shoaling and mixing of underlying waters with surface waters, thereby resurfacing of the trapped heat. The resurfacing of the trapped heat makes the AS sort of a memory bank of the FJ-induced signal generated during the previous summer. This memorised signal in the AS may also pre-condition the local sea surface temperature to influence the next monsoon in a certain way.
The study was led by Vikas Kushwaha, a PhD student at the Centre for Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Hyderabad, in collaboration with his PhD supervisor Prof. Karumuri Ashok, Dr. Feba Francis, a Research Associate, and Prof. Prasanna Kumar, who was a former Chair Professor at the Centre. The researchers also acknowledge suggestions from Prof. Satish Shetye, another former Chair Professor of the Centre at the initial stages.&nbsp;
—IANS

The Arabian Sea, to an extent, acts as a memory bank of the summer monsoon, with the seasonal cycle of the Upper Ocean and air-sea interaction playing a major role, a study by University of Hyderabad (UoH) surmises.

 UoH study finds Arabian Sea acts as memory bank for Indian Summer Monsoon circulation

Thiruvananthapuram: After a day of the Arabian Sea suddenly and inexplicably receding from the shores of Kerala's Kozhikode, the situation returned to normal on Sunday, and authorities also ruled out the threat of a tsunami.
It was around 4 p.m. on Saturday that the sea suddenly withdrew till the horizon with no waves coming up and large area of land emerging.
People had come in large numbers to witness the phenomenon from in and around Kozhikode district.
As the crowds swelled up, the police and fire force personnel reached the spot and police put up a barricade to prevent people from venturing into the area sea, warning that the water could come back with double the vigour and that this could be dangerous.
The Indian Ocean 2004 tsunami was fresh in the minds of the people but the State Disaster Management Authority clarified that there was no tsunami warning or possibility.
An disaster management authority official told IANS that this was a phenomenon not related to tsunami and that the sea has now returned to normalcy.
On Sunday, large number of people reached Kozhikode beach only to find large number of fish in the place where the sea had withdrawn.
A.A Balu and K. Sakeer, friends and businessmen from West Hill, Kozhikode reached the beach and had a good catch of fish.
"We had come to the beach for a run but found a large quantity of fish that could be collected using bare hands and we can even share these with our neighbours. We were afraid yesterday, given the fact that the sea has withdrawn and the authorities were not coming up with a clear answer. Anyway, the sea is back and we are happy," Sakeer told IANS.&nbsp;
—IANS

After a day of the Arabian Sea suddenly and inexplicably receding from the shores of Kerala's Kozhikode, the situation returned to normal on Sunday, and authorities also ruled out the threat of a tsunami.

 Sea back to normal in Kozhikode after receding, tsunami ruled out

New Delhi: Google has warned that a commercial surveillance vendor was exploiting three zero-day security vulnerabilities in new Samsung smartphones that could have been exploited to steal users' data.
All three vulnerabilities were in the manufacturer's custom components rather than in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) platform or the Linux kernel.
'It's also interesting to note that 2 out of the 3 vulnerabilities were logic and design vulnerabilities rather than memory safety,' said Maddie Stone, Project Zero.
'While we understand that Samsung has yet to annotate any vulnerabilities as in-the-wild, going forward, Samsung has committed to publicly sharing when vulnerabilities may be under limited, targeted exploitation, as part of their release notes,' Stone added in a blog post.
'We hope that, like Samsung, others will join their industry peers in disclosing when there is evidence to suggest that a vulnerability is being exploited in-the-wild in one of their products'.
The Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG) obtained a partial exploit chain for Samsung devices that it believes belonged to a commercial surveillance vendor.
'All 3 vulnerabilities are within Samsung custom components, including a vulnerability in a Java component,' said the team.
The exploit sample targeted Samsung phones running kernel 4.14.113 with the Exynos SOC.
'Samsung phones run one of two types of SOCs depending on where they're sold. For example the Samsung phones sold in the United States, China, and a few other countries use a Qualcomm SOC and phones sold in most other places (example Europe and Africa) run an Exynos SOC,' said the Google team.
Examples of Samsung phones that were running kernel 4.14.113 in late 2020 (when this sample was found) include the S10, A50, and A51 smartphones, the team added.
'The analysis of this exploit chain has provided us with new and important insights into how attackers are targeting Android devices. It highlights a need for more research into manufacturer specific components,' said Google.&nbsp;
—IANS

Google has warned that a commercial surveillance vendor was exploiting three zero-day security vulnerabilities in new Samsung smartphones that could have been exploited to steal users' data.

 Surveillance vendor targeted Samsung smartphones with zero-day bugs: Google

Doha (The Hawk): At Janoub Stadium on Tuesday night, Olivier Giroud scored twice, Adrien Rabiot scored once, and Kylian Mbappe scored once to help the defending champions France defeat Australia 4-1.
The World Cup hosts recovered from an early scare when Craig Goodwin gave the Socceroos a startling lead in the ninth minute, but goals by Rabiot (27th), Giroud (32nd and 74th minutes), and Mbappe (68th minute) made it possible for manager Didier Deschamps' team to earn all three points.
After drawing 0-0 with Tunisia earlier in the day at Education City Stadium, Denmark will play France on November 26 before wrapping out their group matches against Tunisia on November 30.
On the other side, Australia's final group game is against Denmark four days after their play against Tunisia in the next round.
An early goal had given the Australians hope of a victory this time around after France narrowly defeated them 2-1 in the group stage of the last World Cup thanks to an own goal and a penalty.
However, Mbappe and co. rose to the occasion to launch their campaign to defend the title in style, so that was not to be.
Karim Benzema, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, had to withdraw from the competition after ripping a muscle in practise, so Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann took over calling the shots on the field.
Given its embarrassing wealth, France did not notice much of a difference when players like Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, who were both a part of the winning 2018 World Cup side but were unable to travel to Qatar, were absent.
Early in the game, the Socceroos silenced the French fans with a spectacular goal as Craig Goodwin slammed the ball into the net from the back post following a sweeping, magnificent attacking move in the ninth minute.
The European juggernauts displayed class by making a strong comeback to rip apart the opposition's defence. They scored twice in the final five minutes of the half to make it 2-1 at the interval.
France's first goal in the tournament was scored by midfielder Rabiot, and Giroud added a second goal five minutes later to put his team ahead.
Three minutes into the second half, France added two more goals to make it 4-1.
In the 71st minute, Giroud scored his second goal of the game; three minutes earlier, Mbappe had made it 3-1.
The Australians had their fair share of opportunities, with Jackson Irvine's shot shortly before halftime hitting the post.
(Inputs from Agencies)

At Janoub Stadium on Tuesday night, Olivier Giroud scored twice, Adrien Rabiot scored once, and Kylian Mbappe scored once to help the defending champions France defeat Australia 4-1.

France, the defending champs, comes back from a goal down to thrash Australia 4-1

Kathmandu: Rabi Lamichhane resigned as Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister on Friday after the Supreme Court found him guilty of not having a valid citizenship certificate to contest the parliamentary election.
Lamichhane, 48, handed over his resignation to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda".
Following the apex court’s verdict, Lamicchane announced his resignation and told reporters outside his office that he is "no more the Deputy Prime Minister".  To paraphrase, "I am not even the president of the Rastriya Swotantra Party." In response to the Supreme Court's decision, he declared, "I am not even the citizen of this country or 'Anagarik' non-citizen." Lamichhane was appointed to the position of deputy prime minister and Home Minister on December 25.—Inputs from Agencies

Rabi Lamichhane resigned as Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister on Friday after the Supreme Court found him guilty of not having a valid citizenship certificate to contest the parliamentary election

Nepal's Deputy PM and Home Minister Lamichhane resigns after SC nullifies his citizenship

New Delhi: The ship-launched variant of the BrahMos supersonic missile was successfully tested by the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea on Sunday.
The missile that was tested had the indigenous 'seeker and booster', officials stated.
"The Indian Navy carried out a successful precision strike in the Arabian Sea by ship launched BrahMos missile with DRDO-designed indigenous seeker and booster, reinforcing our commitment towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence," said a senior military official.—Inputs from Agencies

The ship-launched variant of the BrahMos supersonic missile was successfully tested by the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea on Sunday

The Hawk

Tag : Rabi

Ministry of Tourism highlights the different Tourism products of India at the 2nd day of Arabian Travel Market

Sunil Aswal

Tag : Rabi

Ministry of Tourism highlights the different Tourism products of India at the 2nd day of Arabian Travel Market

Sunil Aswal

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