West Asia

Quarter of Iraqi population beneath poverty line in 2022: Ministry

The Iraqi Ministry of Planning has said that the poverty rate in the country was 25 per cent in 2022

Argentina lifts WC and Qatar's building frenzy reaches its day of reckoning

As Qatar returns to its sleepier pace after Argentina triumphed in Sunday's final of a controversial, yet often breathtaking football World Cup, the next challenge is already upon the nation

Indian leather, footwear exports to WANA region up by 20% in 2022

Indian footwear and leather exports to West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region have registered an exponential growth of 20 per cent in the first half of 2022, officials said on Monday. Opening the India Footwear and Leather Products Show 2022 in Dubai on Monday as part of the Indian government's export promotion drive across global markets, Council for Leather Exports (CLE) Chairman Sanjay Leekha said the growth momentum for Indian exports to the region is all set to see a marked scaling up, particularly in the UAE. "Indian footwear and leather exports to West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region registered an exponential growth of 20 per cent in the first half of the 2022 fiscal, from April to September, with the UAE followed by Saudi markets leading the uptake," the CLE said in a press release. The India Footwear and Leather Products Show 2022 will run from December 13-14. As for footwear and leather exports, we are already on the road to a higher market share in WANA from the ..

Air India to spend $400 mn to refurbish Boeing 777s and 787 fleet

Carrier will add new seats and best in-flight entertainment across all classes

As West Asia looks beyond America, Xi may be headed to Saudi Arabia

Xi will visit Saudi Arabia from Dec. 7-9, when he will take part in a regional summit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Arab leaders

Russian army chief in Syria meets Kurdish commander amid threats by Turkey

The chief of Russian forces in Syria has met with a Kurdish commander over threats by Turkey to launch a new incursion into northern Syria, a Kurdish spokesman and an Arab TV station said Monday. Siamand Ali, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, confirmed to The Associated Press that Lt. Gen. Alexander Chaiko met Sunday with Kurdish commander Mazloum Abdi in northeast Syria, adding that he has no details about what they discussed. Chaiko's trip to the northeast came days after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to order a land invasion of northern Syria targeting Kurdish groups following the Nov. 3, explosion in Istanbul that killed six people and wounded dozens. Russia has called for de-escalation along the Turkey-Syria border. Turkey has launched a barrage of airstrikes on suspected militant targets in northern Syria and Iraq over the past week, in retaliation for the Istanbul bombing that Ankara blames on the Kurdish groups. The groups have denied

Yemen's government signs $1 billion aid package with UAE-based fund

Yemen's internationally recognized government signed a deal with the Arab Monetary Fund on Sunday, state media said, paving the way for the Saudi-backed administration to receive USD 1 billion of economic aid. The Abu Dhabi-based fund, a sub-organization of the 22-member Arab League, will pay out the $1 billion program from 2022 to 2025. The economic deal aims to help the Yemeni government establish monetary and fiscal stability through wide-ranging economic reforms, Saba news agency said. Yemen's civil war, which is entering its eighth year, has decimated the country's economy and pushed half of the population to the brink of famine. More than 150,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including over 14,500 civilians. On average food is 60% more expensive than it was last year, largely due to the war in Ukraine that has cut off the country's critical wheat imports from Eastern Europe. The conflict began in 2014 when the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital of Sanaa

Fifa World Cup: Official soundtrack showcases Asia's soft power, culture

Jung Kook's "Dreamers", performed jointly with Fahad Al Kubaisi, became the fastest official FIFA World Cup song to reach No. 1 on iTunes Charts in the US

Over 80k delegates, 140 heads of state to attend COP28 in Dubai: Minister

Over 80,000 delegates, including over 140 heads of state and government leaders, would participate in COP28 which is scheduled to be held next year in the UAE, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, one of the country's ministers and special envoy for climate change, has said. Al Jaber, who is the minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UAE's special envoy for climate change, highlighted the importance of the UAE hosting the Conference of the Parties and said COP28 will be an important global event coinciding with the country's national day and will be held at Expo City Dubai. "COP2, which will be hosted in the UAE in 2023, will welcome high-level participation including over 140 heads of state and government leaders, over 80,000 delegates, and more than 5,000 media professionals," Al Jaber said on Tuesday, He said the determination of the UAE, its strong diplomatic relations with global nations and its pragmatic position on climate action, underpinned by proven experience in the energ

Iranian Ambassador denies military deployment toward Iraqi borders

The Iranian Ambassador to Iraq has denied any Iranian military deployment toward Iraqi borders, the IRIB news agency reported

Iran to draw up roadmap with Belarus to strengthen economic ties

Iran's first Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber has said that Tehran and Minsk will draw up a roadmap for expanding economic and trade relations

FIFA: 5 mins of mistakes, we went down, says Messi after loss to S Arabia

Following the shocking defeat against Saudi Arabia, the Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi admitted that he did not expect his team Argentina to start the FIFA World Cup in this fashion

Iraq discounts heavily to muscle out cheaper Russian oil in India

After a dip in market share, suppliers from the West Asian nation are discounting heavily to muscle out cheaper Russian oil

Rupee closes just 2 paise shy of 80 against US dollar as oil prices rise

Crude oil prices jumped on Monday as US President Joe Biden's talks with West Asian countries failed to culminate in an agreement to increase output

Remittances from West Asia hit in FY21 due to Covid-19 pandemic

According to an RBI survey, Indians in advanced nations, like the US & UK, emerged important sources of money

UAE, US to invest $2.3 billion in India under the framework of I2U2

I2U2 was conceptualised during a meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries in October last year

Remarks on Prophet threaten to fray India's energy ties with Islamic world

West Asia is also India's biggest supplier of LPG, the fuel that is used in kitchens. India imported 48 million tonnes, or 58 per cent of the fuel used in the last three fiscals

India, France discuss key issues of West Asia, North Africa region

The discussions were held as part of the first ever consultations between India and France on the West Asia and North Africa Region in virtual mode

What does the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict mean for West Asia?

Western commentators are struggling to describe the significance of Ukraine war. Fareed Zakaria has described it as "seismic event", the most significant international event since fall of Berlin Wall

Biden, Saudi king discuss energy supplies, West Asia in telephone call

Global crude prices, which have rallied about 20% this year, are likely to surpass $100 a barrel.