External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a 3-day visit to United Arab Emirates today to co-chair the 14th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and third India-UAE Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister of UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
During the visit, Dr Jaishankar will also meet other dignitaries of UAE. External Affairs Ministry said these meetings will provide an opportunity to review the entire spectrum of comprehensive strategic partnerships between India and UAE.
There has been regular exchange of high-level interaction between India and UAE. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Abu Dhabi in June this year and met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Earlier, both leaders had also held a virtual summit in February this year during which India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed. Both leaders also participated in the I2U2 Summit in July this year.
External Affairs Ministry said, both India and UAE are committed to move forward in their partnership in diverse areas including trade, renewable energy, food security, health, education, defence and people-to-people ties.
20 people killed in heavy clashes erupted in capital Baghdad
In Iraq, at least 20 people have been killed when heavy clashes erupted in the capital Baghdad today. Government officials said that dozens more were injured after protesters loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr stormed to the presidential palace.
According to media reports, Street fighting erupted overnight, as fighters exchanged gunfire and tracer rounds illuminated the night sky in some of the worst violence to hit the Iraqi capital in recent years. The violence was sparked after Mr. Sadr announced his retirement from politics.
Iraq’s caretaker prime minister has called for calm and the military has declared a nationwide curfew after unrest in several other cities. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.
