Modi holds talks with Saudi King to boost strategic ties

April 3, 2016

Riyadh, Apr 3: Seeking to inject new momentum in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held wide-ranging talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on ways to expand strategic cooperation in a range of areas including trade, investment and counter-terrorism.

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Energy-powerhouse Saudi Arabia is India's largest crude oil supplier, accounting for about one-fifth of total imports and both sides were of the view that cooperation in this sector should expand.

Before his talks with the King, Modi, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit, was accorded an official welcome at the Royal Court.

In the last seven months, it is Modi's second visit to the Gulf, a strategically important region which is home to over 8 million Indians and key to India's energy security. He had visited United Arab Emirates in August last year.

India's ties with Saudi Arabia have been on an upswing over the last two decades based on burgeoning energy ties. Both sides are keen on expanding the economic ties in a range of areas besides the oil sector.

Ahead of his talks with the King, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Aljubeir called on Modi and discussed a number of issues of mutual interests.

Khalid A Al Falih, Minister of Health and Head of Saudi Arabia's national oil company Aramco also called on Modi. He told the Prime Minister that Aramco looks at India as its most preferred investment destination.

"Minister Al Falih to PM: Saudi Aramco looks to India as its No.1 target for investment," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Earlier, Modi interacted with a group of 30 Saudi and Indian businessmen and invited CEOs of top companies of the oil-rich country to invest in India's defence, energy, railway, health and agriculture sectors.

Stating that there is huge opportunity to ramp up trade ties, the Prime Minister said time has come to move from "buyer-seller relationship" to chart a new path of growth and development which will benefit people of both the countries.

"We have to look beyond the buyer-seller relationship. Because that will be an obstacle in the path of progress," he said.

Modi is the fourth Indian Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia after Manmohan Singh in 2010, Indira Gandhi in 1982 and Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956.

His visit here comes amid the current turmoil in the Middle East and the issue is understood to have figured in his meeting with the Saudi leadership.

Also Read:

PM Modi calls upon Saudi businesses to invest in India

PM Narendra Modi visits TCS' all-women IT centre in Riyadh

Modi announces 24X7 helpline for NRIs; worker resource centres in Riyadh, Jeddah

PM Modi breaks bread with Indian construction workers in Saudi Arabia

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November 30,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 30: A 22-year-old college student succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Mangaluru today, days after she was hit by a goods tempo while crossing a road in Padubidri.

The deceased has been identified as Preksha, a resident of Nadsalu Billitota in Padubidri. The fatal incident occurred as Preksha, who was returning home after completing her examination, attempted to cross the service road towards Mangaluru. She was struck by a goods tempo approaching from the Udupi side, causing her to fall and sustain a severe head injury.

Prompt action from local residents ensured she received immediate first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru for specialised treatment. Despite medical efforts, she passed away while undergoing care.

Preksha was a student at Karavali College, Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that she belonged to a financially vulnerable family, having previously lost her father. She is survived by her mother and brother.

A case related to the accident has been registered at the Padubidri police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. The incident highlights the growing concerns over road safety, particularly on busy service roads, and serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of traffic accidents.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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