Love, marriage, children, then separation, this news is not unknown to Shakib-Bubly fans. The two celebrities have not lived under the same roof for a long time. Mentioning that there is no place for any other man in her life except Bubly Shakib, the heroine said, "Shakib is the prince of my life. He is  the only man i love." Marrying Shakib is a wrong decision of life, did it ever feel like that? In response to such a question, Bubly said, yes it seems. Because, in many difficult times of my life, when I needed him by my side, I did not have him by my side. At that time, it seemed that the decision to marry him was wrong. "My son is everything now. No love, no relationship can get close to me. In the future, I will spend time with films, children, family," she added.  

In a move that would have been unthinkable only months earlier, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks with Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, in Jeddah on Friday.  The Iranian diplomat met his Saudi counterpart on Thursday but extended his one-day visit to the kingdom to meet the man considered the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. Relations between the two regional rivals have steadily improved since a Chinese-brokered deal announced in March saw them reestablish diplomatic ties. Shiite-dominated Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia severed ties in 2016 after the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was attacked during protests. The demonstrations were in response to Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Iranian-Saudi relations thaw Footage of the meeting on Iranian and Saudi state media showed the two men smiling as they spoke. "Discussions were frank, beneficial, and productive," Amirabdollahian said in a social media post after the meeting. He added they "agree on 'security and development for all' in the region." Iran and Saudi Arabia have backed opposing sides in conflicts across the Middle East, including in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon. Iranian officials have, however, said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sought to end political and economic isolation from the United States by establishing new relations with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has lost confidence in the US commitment to regional security and sought to strengthen ties with China, which has maintained good relations with Iran.

The man who stunned the art world with his multi billion dollar buys of some of the priciest paintings of Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama, David Hockney and Leonardo da Vinci, wants to bind India and Saudi Arabia through commerce and culture, moving beyond oil. Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, hand picked by 35-year old Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman or MBS, to create and run his country’s first Ministry of Culture, was in Mumbai this weekend for a below the radar trip, meeting some of the biggest names of corporate India and the film fraternity, said people in the know. Flying straight from Riyadh to Jamnagar, Prince Badar met Reliance Industries (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani and his family. The kingdom and India’s largest business group have shared deep ties for many decades. RIL sources majority of its crude oil from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco CEO Yasir O. Al Rumayan, who is also the governor of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), joined the RIL board last year as an independent director even though Aramco’s plans of buying a fifth of the Ambani flagship did not materialise after intense negotiations spanning over 2 years. PIF also invested Rs 20,922 crore across Reliance Retail and Reliance Jio Platforms. Reliance, the country’s top exporter, is looking at expanding its retail operations in the Gulf and have set up a trading subsidiary in Abu Dhabi in December focussing on a diverse set of agricultural commodities petroleum, petro chemicals and crude oil. “It was a signal that MBS and the Saudi royalty still considers the Ambani family a strategic ally,” said one of person aware of the meetings. “At a business level both are serious about net zero targets, sustainability. Beyond energy, there are overlapping interests in entertainment, sports as well.” The Saudi delegation also met Tata Group chairman N.Chandrasekaran and Group CFO Saurabh Agrawal at the conglomerate’s headquarters to discuss business opportunities in travel and tourism in Saudi for Taj and Air India. Indian Hotels that operate the Taj hotels have been planning to expand its footprint in Mecca. Vistara and Air India flights to Jeddah, AlUla -- a craggy desert area in the country’s northwest best known for its Petra-like rock tombs that MBS is keen to promote as a big tourism and cultural destination -- and Mecca, especially during the Haj season, were also part of their discussions. After buying out partner GE, TCS has set up an all women centre and innovation lab in Riyadh providing a platform for young software graduates. The Centre, was a key highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in 2016 has since been showcased to several visiting US Presidents.   Saudi Arabia is a key pillar of India’s energy security being a source of 17 per cent of crude and 32 per cent of LPG requirements as per Saudi government estimates of 2019-2020. But the kingdom has been looking at strengthening ties with plans to invest $100 billion across petrochemicals, infrastructure and mining. Close on the heels of its free trade agreement (FTA) with the UAE and Australia, India has also expedited the pace of talks with several partners, including other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to create a raft of “fair and balanced” trade deals and further boost domestic exporters. “The visit aimed at strengthening cultural ties between the two countries,” the spokesperson of the Saudi ministry said. “The Saudi delegation held a series of meetings with members of the Indian business and film fraternity.” At a meeting at Jio Centre at Mumbai’s Bandra Kundra Complex, producers and directors Sameer Nair of Applause Entertainment, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Raju Hirani, Kabir Khan, Dinesh Vijan, Ashutosh Gowarikar and others discussed commercial opportunities along with senior representatives with MBC Group – a media conglomerate owned by the Saudi government. Prince Badar is also believed to have also spoken to Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla on the phone to explore potential alliances in co-content creation opportunities. Attempts to reach Nair did not generate a response. “The recent cricket movie 83 was premiered at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah in December where Akshay Kumar was also the guest. Culturally, there are various similarities between the two sides and MBS is personally keen to nurture this,” said a Saudi official present. Such outreach are efforts by the young prince to diversify an oil-dependent economy and liberalise social customs. Till a few years ago, art itself was taboo, as were movie theaters, operas and rock concerts—and now all are becoming common place. Over the last 6 years, since the crown prince’s father King Salman rose to power, Prince Mohammed has ended many social restrictions, but continued to take a hard line against political criticism, running down potential rivals and even arresting dissidents. Over the next decade, the Saudi government intends to build more than a dozen major art institutions, plus more smaller ones, in hopes of attracting tourists and adding as much as $27 billion to the country’s economy, Fayez had earlier said. The Saudis have previously disclosed plans to build a handful of museums, but has refrained from sharing the scale of their ambitions. The added cultural infrastructure is one part of a broader, estimated $64 billion campaign to overhaul the country’s economy and reputation. Da Vinci’s painting bought for a record $450 million at a Christie’s auction, is expected to be a centre piece of the country’s art and culture campaign but the kingdom is not overtly keen on focussing too much attention on just one canvas eclipsing the other works they want to showcase, including a strong focus on Saudi culture and Islamic art. Under MBS, 16 sectors have been highlighted that are to be manned by 11 commissions which are all to be helmed by Prince Badar as the chairman. From film to fashion, culinary arts to literature and translations, museums and libraries, these highlight the key focus areas for the kingdom. Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday laid out an ambitious roadmap of new frontiers and a new milestone for a future-oriented partnership between India and the UAE. The virtual summit was marked by the signing and exchange of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of Economy of UAE Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri in the virtual presence of the two leaders. The agreement will provide significant benefits to Indian and UAE businesses, including enhanced market access and reduced tariffs. It is expected that the CEPA will lead to an increase in bilateral trade from the current USD 60 bn to USD 100 bn in the next 5 years. The Joint Vision Statement issued by the leaders commits the two countries on building on India and UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to promote new trade, investment, and innovation dynamics in diverse sectors, including economy, energy, climate action, emerging technologies, skills and education, food security, healthcare, and defence and security. Two MOUs were signed between India and UAE. These are, MOU between APEDA and DP World & Al Dahra on Food Security Corridor Initiative and MOU between India’s Gift City and Abu Dhabi Global Market on cooperation in financial projects and services. Two other MOUs – one on cooperation in Climate Action and the other on Education have also been agreed between the two sides. Source: ANI  

Over the years India has became a role model to the world in terms of solar energy generation. Their effort to develop renewable energy has already drawn global leader’s attention. In a special address at the India Global Forum session on Climate Action On Wednesday, Britain's Prince Charles said, India, whose solar power efforts are an example to the world, has a vital role to play in the global search for nature-based and technology-driven solutions which are critical to accelerating the move towards a zero carbon future, he added. The 72-year-old heir to the British throne and environmental campaigner, called upon Indian entrepreneurs and CEOs to join the Sustainable Markets India Council, launched to seek out sustainable investments to influence acceleration towards climate action goals. "With India's global reach and robust private sector, I believe there are some key ways we can work together to accelerate our efforts and build a more sustainable future. Firstly, we need to focus on accelerating the flow of private capital to support the transition," said Prince Charles. "I know that renewable energy, particularly solar power, is rapidly gaining ground in India and is an excellent example to the rest of the world," he said. The royal laid out the vision behind his Sustainable Markets Initiative, which he launched in January 2020, to get CEOs from almost every sector together with the express aim of identifying obstacles to progress and finding game-changing ways to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon future. The efforts have identified large financing gaps around sustainable initiatives, in the areas of green energy, water, sanitation, transport and other critical infrastructure. "In January this year, I launched the Terra Carta as the mandate of my Sustainable Markets Initiative and the basis of a recovery plan for nature, people and planet. At this historic tipping point, the Terra Carta offers a roadmap for acceleration towards a genuinely sustainable future, one that harnesses the power of nature combined with the transformative innovation and resources of the private sector," he said. Prince Charles focused specifically on the need for a clear set of "global farm metrics" to create sustainable supply chains. The Climate Action session of the India Global Forum, a two-day hybrid conference organised by UK-headquartered India Inc. Group on Wednesday and Thursday, also included a discussion with Michael Bloomberg, former New York Mayor and Founder of Bloomberg Ltd. The India Global Forum, pegged around the theme of Future. Now. Radical Actions for the Post Pandemic Era , will bring together a range of worldwide experts. Source: NDTV B.M./ Rtv

A US intelligence report has found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the murder of exiled Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The report released by the Biden administration says the prince approved a plan to either "capture or kill" Khashoggi. The US announced sanctions on dozens of Saudis but not the prince himself. Saudi Arabia rejected the report, calling it "negative, false and unacceptable". Crown Prince Mohammed, who is effectively the kingdom's ruler, has denied any role in the murder. Khashoggi was killed while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, and his body cut up. The 59-year-old journalist had once been an adviser to the Saudi government and close to the royal family but he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US in 2017. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Prince Mohammed. What does the report find? "We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi," the report by the office of the US director of national intelligence says. The crown prince is the son of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and is considered to be the effective ruler of the kingdom. The intelligence report lists three reasons for believing that the crown prince must have approved the operation: His control of decision-making in the kingdom since 2017 The direct involvement in the operation of one of his advisers as well as members of his protective detail His "support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad" The report goes on to name individuals allegedly complicit in, or responsible for, Khashoggi's death. But it says "we do not know how far in advance" those involved planned to harm him. Saudi authorities have blamed the killing on a "rogue operation" by a team of agents sent to return the journalist to the kingdom, and a Saudi court tried and sentenced five individuals to 20 years in prison last September, after initially sentencing them to death. In 2019, UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard accused the Saudi state of the "deliberate, premeditated execution" of Khashoggi and dismissed the Saudi trial as an "antithesis of justice". What does this mean for US-Saudi relations? Shortly after the report was released, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the travel restrictions, dubbed the "Khashoggi Ban". Those targeted are "believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities", he said. "Perpetrators targeting perceived dissidents on behalf of any foreign government should not be permitted to reach American soil," he warned. In addition, the treasury department sanctioned some of those around the crown prince: one of his close aides, former deputy intelligence chief Ahmad Asiri, as well as his personal protective force, which was involved in the killing. As far back as 2018, the CIA reportedly believed that the crown prince had ordered the murder but the allegation that he was involved has never been made publicly by US officials until now. Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is a key American ally in the Middle East. US President Joe Biden is expected to take a firmer line than his predecessor Donald Trump on human rights and the rule of law in Saudi Arabia. In a phone call on Thursday with King Salman, the president "affirmed the importance the United States places on universal human rights and the rule of law", the White House said. According to sources quoted by Reuters news agency, the Biden administration is also considering the cancellation of arms deals with Saudi Arabia that pose human rights concerns as well as the limiting of future military sales to "defensive" weapons. Dismissing the US report, the Saudi foreign ministry insisted that those responsible for the crime had been properly investigated and justice had been served. "It is truly unfortunate that this report, with its unjustified and inaccurate conclusions, is issued while the Kingdom had clearly denounced this heinous crime, and the Kingdom's leadership took the necessary steps to ensure that such a tragedy never takes place again," it added. It further rejected "any measure that infringes upon its leadership, sovereignty, and the independence of its judicial system". How was Khashoggi killed? Khashoggi went to the consulate in October 2018 in order to obtain papers allowing him to marry his Turkish fiancée. He had allegedly received assurances from the crown prince's brother, Prince Khalid bin Salman, who was ambassador to the US at the time, that it would be safe to visit the consulate. Prince Khalid has denied any communication with the journalist. According to Saudi prosecutors, Khashoggi was forcibly restrained after a struggle and injected with a large amount of a drug, resulting in an overdose that led to his death. His body was then dismembered and handed over to a local "collaborator" outside the consulate, prosecutors said. The remains were never found. Details were revealed in transcripts of purported audio recordings of the killing obtained by Turkish intelligence. Source: BBC AH

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, has expressed sadness over the damages caused by super cyclone Amphan in Bangladesh as he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Prince Charles wrote this letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on behalf of himself and his wife Duchess of Cornwall Camilla. “My wife and I wanted you to know how deeply we feel for the people of Bangladesh following the loss of life and utter devastation caused by cyclonic storm Amphan,” Charles wrote in the letter. Prince Charles said their hearts go out to all those who have been so cruelly bereaved or injured, or whose homes have been swept away by the cyclone. “We understand how dreadfully difficult this must have been as your people prepared to celebrate what should have been a joyful Eid,” he wrote. Prince Charles added: “Our greatest possible sympathy and our special prayers are with the people of Bangladesh at such a desperately anxious time, as you battle against the effects of both the COVID-19 pandemic and this appallingly severe storm.” Amphan made landfall in India and Bangladesh on May 20 evening, wreaking havoc in Bangladesh coastlines and in the Indian state of West Bengal. Source: BSS AH

The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus, Clarence House has announced, reports BBC. Prince Charles, 71, is displaying mild symptoms "but otherwise remains in good health", a spokesman said, adding that the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, has been tested but does not have the virus. Both Charles and Camilla are now self-isolating at Balmoral. Buckingham Palace said the Queen last saw her son on 12 March, but also "remains in good health". The Queen, the palace added, "is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare". A Clarence House statement read: "In accordance with government and medical advice, the prince and the duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland. "The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire, where they met the criteria required for testing. "It is not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks." The prince's last public engagement was on 12 March, but the Press Association news agency reported he subsequently had a number of private meetings with Highgrove and Duchy individuals, all of whom have been made aware. Source: UNB AH

Prince Harry has taken aim at the journalists who have dissected his life since the day he was born as he expressed regret for the way he has had to step down from royal duties. In a personal speech that referenced his late mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car accident while being pursued by paparazzi, Harry said Sunday he had "no other option'' but to step away as he and his wife, Meghan, seek a more peaceful life. "When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing,'' Harry said at a dinner in London for Sentebale, his Africa-based charity supporting youngsters with HIV. ``You looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force. And my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful, because this is so much bigger than just us.'' The comments were Harry's first public remarks since Saturday night, when his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, announced the terms under which the prince and his wife will walk away from most royal duties, give up public funding and try to become financially independent. The couple are expected to spend most of their time in Canada while maintaining a home in England near Windsor Palace. The queen's statement said the agreement, reached after crisis talks, was a "constructive and supportive way forward." But Harry's speech made it clear that the couple had not gotten their wish to be able to carry on with some royal duties while becoming independent. "Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible," he said. "For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this,'' he added. "The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven't always got it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.'' Harry, 35, has made no secret of his disdain for Britain's tabloid media in the past, with both he and Meghan filing lawsuits against press outlets last fall. At the time, Harry gave an interview drawing parallels between the treatment of his wife and the media frenzy that contributed to the death of his mother. Harry praised his grandmother, the queen, and the rest of his family for supporting him and his wife in recent months. He called the decision to change both jobs and continents "a leap of faith" and said he hopes the move will allow him and his family to achieve a "more peaceful life." Under terms of the deal announced Saturday, Harry and Meghan will stop using their "royal highness" titles this spring and will lose all access to public funds once they stop carrying out official functions. Harry opened his speech by noting that many in the audience had watched him grow up and said he wanted them "to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share, not as a prince, or a duke, but as Harry." He framed the decision to leave as his own, made on behalf of Meghan and their young son, Archie. He spoke of both during his remarks, telling the audience that eight-month-old Archie had seen snow for the first time a few days ago and "thought it was bloody brilliant." He then turned to his relationship with the queen and other members of his family. "I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother — my commander in chief — and I'm incredibly grateful to her and the rest of my family for the support they have shown Meghan and I over the last few months," he said. Meghan and Archie and the couple's dogs are already in Canada, and it was not clear how soon Harry would join them or where in Canada they would live. The couple spent the holiday season on Vancouver Island, and Meghan worked for seven years in Toronto filming the TV series "Suits." Source: AP/UNB AH

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, say they plan "to step back" as senior members of Britain's royal family, a stunning announcement that underscores the couple's wish to forge a new path for royals in the modern world. A statement issued Wednesday evening by Buckingham Palace, described as "a personal message from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex," said Harry and Meghan intend to become financially independent" and to "balance" their time between the U.K. and North America. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," the statement said. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support her majesty the queen." The 35-year-old Harry, the youngest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, is Queen Elizabeth II's grandson and sixth in line to the British throne. With his ginger hair and beard, he has become one of the royal family's most popular members. Before marrying the prince in a royal wedding watched around the world in 2018, the 38-year-old Duchess of Sussex was an American actress known as Meghan Markle and a star of the TV show "Suits." The couple's first child, Archie, was born in May 2019. In their statement, the couple did not reveal where in North America they plan to make a second home, but they cited their baby as a reason why they decided to live part of their time outside Britain. "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity," it read. Hours later, Buckingham Palace issued a second statement, hinting that the first had caught some in the royal household by surprise. The statement said discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were "at an early stage.'' "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through,'' it read. Harry and his family skipped the queen's traditional Christmas gathering at her Sandringham country estate last month to visit Canada and to see Markle's mother, who lives in California. Meghan grew up in Los Angeles and lived in Toronto while filming "Suits." The message about the couple's plans also appeared on their official Instagram feed, along with a link to a website, sussexroyal.com, where followers could find more information. The website elaborated on why they are seeking financial independence from the monarchy's funding mechanism, known as the "Sovereign Grant." A page on the site states the grant they are forsaking covers just 5% of the costs for the duke and duchess and is used for their official office expenses. Meghan and Harry "value the ability to earn a professional income, which in the current structure they are prohibited from doing," the website states. "Their Royal Highnesses feel this new approach will enable them to continue to carry out their duties for Her Majesty the Queen, while having the future financial autonomy to work externally. As an actress and a human rights activist, the duchess was accustomed to media attention before her marriage, but she has made no secret that the transition to being a global celebrity and part of Britain's royal family was difficult. The royal couple particularly took issue with their treatment at the hands of the British tabloids, whose aggressive coverage of all things royal is legendary. In October, Meghan sued a newspaper for copyright infringement for publishing a letter she wrote to her estranged father. Later that month, Harry brought his own claim against two of the most popular tabloids over alleged hacking of phone voicemail messages. The prince also lashed out at the British media for its treatment of Meghan, accusing the press of hounding his wife the same way it did his mother. Princess Diana died in a 1997 car crash while trying to elude paparazzi in Paris. "My deepest fear is history repeating itself. I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces," Harry said. The royal couple revealed their struggles with the media during an ITV documentary "Harry & Meghan: An African Journey," which followed them on their autumn tour of Southern Africa. Both said they had struggled with the spotlight and that much of what was printed about them is untrue. The duchess told ITV that her British friends warned her not to marry the prince because of the intense media scrutiny that would follow in his country. But the U.S. television star said she "naively" dismissed the warnings, because as an American she didn't understand how the British press worked. "I never thought this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair. And that is the part that is hard to reconcile," Meghan said. "But (I) just take each day as it comes." The duchess said the pressure was aggravated by the fact that she went quickly from being a newlywed to being pregnant and then a new mother. The British media have also made much of an alleged rift between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne. Harry and Meghan last year opted out of living at Kensington Palace in London, where William and his family lives, and moved to a Frogmore Cottage at Windsor. In the ITV interview, Harry acknowledged there have been some differences between him and the 37-year-old William, although he said most of what has been printed about a rift between the two brothers has been "created out of nothing." "Part of this role and part of this job and this family being under the pressure that it's under, inevitably stuff happens," he said. "But, look, we're brothers. We'll always be brothers. We're certainly on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him, as I know he'll always be there for me." Source: AP/UNB AH