Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, returned to the UAE on Tuesday after concluding his official visit to India.
Maharashtra State Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha was at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport as the UAE delegation departed.
Sheikh Khaled expressed appreciation for the generous hospitality received during his visit, highlighting that it reflected the long-standing ties between the UAE and India, state news agency Wam reported.
The visit was punctuated by the signing of partnerships between UAE and Indian entities, representing both the public and private sectors, that extended the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement established in May 2022.
Sheikh Khaled, also Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, held high-level talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussing ways to support co-operation in several sectors.
A reception was held in his honour at Hyderabad House in New Delhi after he landed on Sunday.
On Monday, the Crown Prince visited the shrine of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, at Raj Ghat memorial in New Delhi, and planted a tree of friendship in celebration of the deep-rooted ties between India and the Emirates. He also met Indian President Droupadi Murmu during a special reception held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Sheikh Khaled was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials, business leaders and prominent economic partners from the UAE.
Deals agreed at talks
Several strategic agreements were announced, including Adnoc's entry into a 15-year liquefied natural gas agreement with IndianOil, a government-owned oil and gas company.
Adnoc has also signed a framework agreement with Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve to extend its oil storage agreement and support India’s energy security.
India-UAE Business Forum
On Tuesday, a number of agreements and economic initiatives were announced at the India-UAE Business Forum in Mumbai. It focused on key sectors such as healthcare, biotechnology, renewable energy, sustainability, AI, logistics and supply chains, and agricultural technology.
Notable among them was Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence and cloud company G42's announcement to launch its Hindi large language model.
Abu Dhabi’s LuLu Group also announced its collaboration with India's Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority to procure and import organic produce from India to the UAE. And AD Ports Group, the operator of industrial cities and free zones in Abu Dhabi, partnered with India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways to create a virtual trade corridor connecting both countries.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
More coverage from the Future Forum
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
