Locked-out Indians angry over vaccine export to Saudi Arabia
4 years, 1 month ago

Locked-out Indians angry over vaccine export to Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera  

Indian workers hit hardest by five-month flight ban they say has upended their lives, dividing families and costing jobs and business contracts. India’s decision to export millions of coronavirus vaccine doses to Saudi Arabia has rankled its vast expatriate community, locked out by the kingdom’s months-long flight ban that sparked tense diplomatic wrangling. “India should not offer the vaccine to Saudi Arabia because has barred Indian flights, jeopardising the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers,” one wrote to the Indian embassy in Riyadh on Twitter. India is ready to export to Saudi Arabia 10 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, New Delhi’s envoy to Riyadh wrote recently in the Arab News newspaper. “Indian officials conveyed to Saudi the drug was first approved by Britain and then by India, and the Serum Institute is too busy to entertain requests for a physical inspection,” one of the sources added.

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History of this topic

Saudi Arabia removes restrictions for Hajj pilgrims - Here’s what has changed
2 years, 2 months ago

Saudi Arabia removes restrictions for Hajj pilgrims - Here’s what has changed

Live Mint  

Saudi Arabia has announced a host of changes for Hajj pilgrims that is likely to increase the visitors' tally significantly. “Number of Hajj pilgrims in 1444H will return to how it was before the Coronavirus pandemic without age restrictions,” the Ministry's official Twitter handle quoted him as saying during the opening of Hajj Expo 2023. Details available on India's official …

Jaishankar lauds India’s evacuation drive during Covid-19 at diaspora event in Riyadh
2 years, 6 months ago

Jaishankar lauds India’s evacuation drive during Covid-19 at diaspora event in Riyadh

Hindustan Times  

External affairs minister S jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, said India’s efforts to rescue its citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic was one of the biggest evacuations in the world. Highlighting the growing friendship with the Arab nation, Jaishankar recalled Saudi Arabia’s contribution in tackling Covid-19 pandemic. Highlighting the growing friendship with the Arab nation, Jaishankar …

Covid-19 outbreak: Saudi Arabia bans travel to India, 15 other countries
2 years, 10 months ago

Covid-19 outbreak: Saudi Arabia bans travel to India, 15 other countries

India TV News  

Highlights Saudi Arabia is currently facing a re-outbreak of Covid-19, which has led to a rapid surge in cases. Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia assured that zero monkeypox cases have been detected. Saudi Arabia is currently facing a fresh outbreak of Covid-19, which has led to a rapid surge in the number of daily Covid cases. Looking at the …

Indians fly to UAE, US, UK for booster shots amid Omicron threat
3 years, 3 months ago

Indians fly to UAE, US, UK for booster shots amid Omicron threat

India Today  

Amid debates on vaccine equity and the reluctance of the Indian government to roll out Covid booster shots over lack of scientific evidence, Indians are travelling to countries that are administering booster shots to tourists with valid visas. As Omicron coronavirus cases in India rise, those who can afford it are flying to UAE, US and UK to get their …

UAE relaxes travel restrictions for Indian residents; ban on transit flights also lifted
3 years, 7 months ago

UAE relaxes travel restrictions for Indian residents; ban on transit flights also lifted

Live Mint  

The United Arab Emirates will lift the ban on entry of passengers from India and five other countries from 5 August, the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority said on Tuesday. NCEMA said on Twitter that passengers travelling from countries where flights had been suspended would be able to transit through its airports from Thursday as long as they present …

Issue of normalising foreign travel of Indian citizens being taken up with countries: MEA
3 years, 7 months ago

Issue of normalising foreign travel of Indian citizens being taken up with countries: MEA

India Today  

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said the issue of normalising foreign travel of Indian citizens is being taken up with authorities of various countries and noted that some of them have taken positive steps on it in view of the significant improvement in the Covid-19 situation in India. The issue of normalising travel of Indian citizens abroad has …

Saudi Arabia threatens 3-year travel ban for citizens who visit 'red list' countries, including India
3 years, 7 months ago

Saudi Arabia threatens 3-year travel ban for citizens who visit 'red list' countries, including India

India Today  

Saudi Arabia will impose a three-year travel ban on citizens travelling to countries on the kingdom's 'red list' in efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus and its new variants, state news agency SPA said on Tuesday. It cited an unnamed interior ministry official as saying some Saudi citizens, who in May were allowed to travel abroad without prior permission …

Saudi Arabia bars foreigners from hajj due to COVID, allows only 60,000 pilgrims from kingdom
3 years, 9 months ago

Saudi Arabia bars foreigners from hajj due to COVID, allows only 60,000 pilgrims from kingdom

Firstpost  

Saudi Arabia said this year’s hajj, which will begin in mid-July, will also be limited to those ages 18 to 65, and vaccination is compulsory Dubai: Saudi Arabia announced Saturday this year’s hajj pilgrimage will be limited to no more than 60,000 people, all of them from within the kingdom, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A statement on the …

Saudi Arabia lifts Covid-related travel ban for passengers arriving from 11 countries: Full list
3 years, 9 months ago

Saudi Arabia lifts Covid-related travel ban for passengers arriving from 11 countries: Full list

Live Mint  

Saudi Arabia is lifting a ban on travellers arriving from 11 countries that it imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Saudi state news agency said on Saturday, but will still require quarantine procedures. The country's civil aviation ministry, General Authority of Civil Aviation stressed the need to adhere to the application of institutional quarantine procedures for those arriving …

India Holds Utmost Importance to Emirates and Emirates SkyCargo Operations: Interview
3 years, 10 months ago

India Holds Utmost Importance to Emirates and Emirates SkyCargo Operations: Interview

News 18  

Emirates recently airlifted relief material comprising tents that can create 4,500 square metres of hospital space by the World Health Organization to help India in the fight against COVID-19. Q.Tell us about the aid Emirates is transporting to help India fight COVID-19 Since the start of the pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo has played a key role in transporting vital commodities and …

Saudi Arabia Considers Barring Overseas Haj Pilgrims for Second Year Amid Covid Outbreak: Sources
3 years, 10 months ago

Saudi Arabia Considers Barring Overseas Haj Pilgrims for Second Year Amid Covid Outbreak: Sources

News 18  

Saudi Arabia is considering barring overseas pilgrims from the annual haj for the second year running as COVID-19 cases rise globally and worries grow about the emergence of new variants, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Before the pandemic enforced social distancing globally, some 2.5 million pilgrims used to visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca …

UAE extends ban on travellers from COVID-hit India
3 years, 10 months ago

UAE extends ban on travellers from COVID-hit India

Al Jazeera  

India’s tally surges past 20 million, boosted by 357,229 new cases over last 24 hours, while deaths rise by 3,449 for a total of 222,408. 4 May 2021 - 12:06 GMT Desperate for oxygen, Indian hospitals go to court A court in India’s capital New Delhi has become the last hope for many hospitals struggling to get oxygen as supplies …

Price of America First: How US Export Ban Hurt Covid-Scarred 'Friend' India
3 years, 11 months ago

Price of America First: How US Export Ban Hurt Covid-Scarred 'Friend' India

News 18  

After the United States imposed a ban on the export of Covid-19 vaccine raw material and stockpiled shots, resulting in an outcry, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday morning said that the US will rapidly deploy additional support to Indians. Would it lift the ban on the export of raw materials needed for vaccine production in the country, …

'Understand India's pharmaceutical needs': US to consider lifting ban on Covid-19 vaccine raw material supply
3 years, 11 months ago

'Understand India's pharmaceutical needs': US to consider lifting ban on Covid-19 vaccine raw material supply

India TV News  

The Biden administration has conveyed to New Delhi that it understands India's pharmaceutical requirements and promised to give the matter a due consideration, observing that the current difficulty in the export of critical raw materials needed to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines is mainly due to an Act that forces American companies to prioritise domestic consumption. During his meetings with the US …

Why Indians Should Call Out Western World’s Vaccine Hypocrisy During a Pandemic
4 years ago

Why Indians Should Call Out Western World’s Vaccine Hypocrisy During a Pandemic

News 18  

In early February this year, there were two incidents that involved the people of India and the people of Barbados. That week, India had donated 100,000 free doses of vaccine to Barbados, enough to cover more than a third of that country’s population. Since early January, India has exported doses of vaccine to over 70 countries around the world. On …

Indians advised against travelling to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait via UAE amidst growing coronavirus cases
4 years, 1 month ago

Indians advised against travelling to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait via UAE amidst growing coronavirus cases

India TV News  

Indians advised against travelling to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait via UAE amidst growing coronavirus cases Indians, who are already in the UAE en route to Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, have been advised to consider returning to India and to make their further travel plan only after the restrictions in the final destinations countries are lifted. India has asked its nationals not …

Saudi Arabia suspends flights from 20 nations, including India, over Covid-19 spike
4 years, 1 month ago

Saudi Arabia suspends flights from 20 nations, including India, over Covid-19 spike

India Today  

Saudi Arabia has suspended flights from 20 nations, including India and the United States, in a bid to curb the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country. According to a report by news agency AFP, the Saudi Arabia interior ministry has announced that international flights from 20 nations have been suspended from Wednesday as the nation saw a fresh …

India undertaking contractual supplies of coronavirus vaccines to several countries: MEA
4 years, 2 months ago

India undertaking contractual supplies of coronavirus vaccines to several countries: MEA

India TV News  

India is undertaking contractual supplies of coronavirus vaccines to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco, Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at a media briefing that India has so far sent consignments of coronavirus vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Seychelles. Srivastava said supplies of …

Coronavirus | India clears vaccine exports to Brazil after delay
4 years, 2 months ago

Coronavirus | India clears vaccine exports to Brazil after delay

The Hindu  

Brazil is set to collect two million doses of Serum Institute’s Covishield vaccine, two weeks after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their “urgent” clearance, sources confirmed to The Hindu. Brazil among ‘key partners’ After the clearance of grant assistance of the vaccines to neighbouring countries, including Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius and Seychelles this week, …

‘Pharmacy of the world’ India starts Covid vaccine exports with shipment to neighbour Bhutan
4 years, 2 months ago

‘Pharmacy of the world’ India starts Covid vaccine exports with shipment to neighbour Bhutan

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy India on Wednesday began to …

Vaccine Maitri: Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Sent by India Reach Bhutan and Maldives
4 years, 2 months ago

Vaccine Maitri: Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Sent by India Reach Bhutan and Maldives

News 18  

Bhutan and Maldives on Wednesday became the first two countries to receive COVID-19 vaccines sent by India in sync with its ‘neighbourhood first’ policy. On Tuesday, India had said it would send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday. It is learnt that 1,50,000 doses of Covisheild vaccine, manufactured by the Serum …

India plans 20 million doses of vaccine supply to neighbors
4 years, 2 months ago

India plans 20 million doses of vaccine supply to neighbors

Live Mint  

India, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of inoculations, plans to offer 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to its neighbors as it draws up a policy to supply vials to countries across the globe, people with knowledge of the matter said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to tap India’s leadership in vaccine manufacturing by helping countries battling the …

International flights: Countries where Indians can’t travel
4 years, 6 months ago

International flights: Countries where Indians can’t travel

Hindustan Times  

The civil aviation ministry has entered into air bubbles with 14 countries where Indians can fly. Air bubbles are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger service at a time when regular international flights across the world are suspended. Where Indians can’t fly to and why As the countries are opening international travel gradually, the governments are …

Opinion | Saudi-India partnership a key in addressing covid-19 crisis
4 years, 6 months ago

Opinion | Saudi-India partnership a key in addressing covid-19 crisis

Live Mint  

The G20 Saudi Arabia Presidency comes at a difficult time when the world is suffering from one of the worst health disasters leading to slowdown in economic growth and trade. The leaders have endorsed the ‘G20 Action Plan Supporting the Global Economy through the COVID-19 pandemic’ in April as the first step in formulating a collective response. Saudi Arabia has …

Coronavirus: India plans to evacuate citizens stranded abroad
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus: India plans to evacuate citizens stranded abroad

Al Jazeera  

India to use planes and naval ships to bring back hundreds of thousands of nationals stuck abroad due to COVID-19. India has embarked on a “massive” operation calling on passenger jets and naval ships to bring back some of the hundreds of thousands of nationals stuck abroad due to coronavirus restrictions, the government said. A government statement said repatriation flights …

Coronavirus lockdown | Nod for return of stranded Indians
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus lockdown | Nod for return of stranded Indians

The Hindu  

The government has decided to allow hundreds of thousands of Indians stranded in different parts of the world to return home in a “phased manner” beginning May 7, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Monday. In the first phase, “distressed citizens” will be brought back on commercial aircraft and naval ships, according to a list prepared by the respective …

Saudi Arabia's investments in India on track despite economic downturn, says Ambassador Saud bin Mohammed Al Sati
4 years, 10 months ago

Saudi Arabia's investments in India on track despite economic downturn, says Ambassador Saud bin Mohammed Al Sati

The Hindu  

Despite a massive 50% drop in oil revenues and a downturn in the economy, Saudi Arabia’s investments in India will not be affected, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to India Saud bin Mohammed Al Satisaid in a written interview. Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has also decided to extend the validity of exit and return visas that expire between February 25 …

Kuwait offers to airlift stranded Indians
4 years, 10 months ago

Kuwait offers to airlift stranded Indians

The Hindu  

The Government of Kuwait on Friday said it was willing to evacuate a large number of workers and illegal migrants from India. In a detailed press statement, the Embassy of Kuwait said the Ambassador of Kuwait Jassem Al Najem has conveyed to India his government’s plans to begin the operations after the nationwide lockdown is lifted. “The Ambassador highlighted Kuwait’s …

India drawing up plans to bring back its citizens stranded abroad
4 years, 11 months ago

India drawing up plans to bring back its citizens stranded abroad

Live Mint  

The Indian foriegn ministry in coordination with its missions abroad besides the civil aviation ministry and state governments, is drawing up plans to bring back Indians stranded abroad, two people familiar with the development said on Sunday. Though the consultations are on, the stranded Indians will be flown back only after the nationwide lockdown to control the spread of the …

Coronavirus | Post-lockdown, Indians in Gulf will be the first to return
4 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus | Post-lockdown, Indians in Gulf will be the first to return

The Hindu  

A week before the current phase of nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic ends, the government has begun preparations for the return of Indians stranded or needing to return from various countries, beginning with countries in the Gulf region. Not only are there businessmen and travellers who were stuck when the travel restrictions began, there are many expatriate workers …

Coronavirus lockdown | Jaishankar thanks Saudi, Omani Ministers for looking after Indian community
4 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus lockdown | Jaishankar thanks Saudi, Omani Ministers for looking after Indian community

The Hindu  

India on Thursday thanked Saudi Arabia for looking after the expat Indian community as the world continued to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar spoke with his Saudi Arabia and Oman counterparts as the Gulf region began observing the holy month of Ramadan. Dr. Jaishankar also thanked Foreign Minister Yusuf Alawi of Oman for “taking …

Coronavirus Outbreak: India stares at strained ties with UAE as Abu Dhabi seeks to review labour relations with countries reluctant to take back expats
4 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: India stares at strained ties with UAE as Abu Dhabi seeks to review labour relations with countries reluctant to take back expats

Firstpost  

The Supreme Court of India has reportedly urged Indians to stay put where they are and adjourned the hearing of all the petitions related to their evacuation for a month. — India in Dubai April 11, 2020 Al-Ain based social worker and former general secretary of the Indian Social Centre Russell Mohamad points towards the plight of hundreds of school …

Coronavirus | Thousands of Indians stranded overseas are disheartened as govt. refuses to lift passenger ban
4 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus | Thousands of Indians stranded overseas are disheartened as govt. refuses to lift passenger ban

The Hindu  

Twenty-three-year-old Rahul V., an MBA student in East London, first heard about Air India flights coming to the United Kingdom from a British government website he has been tracking for the past two weeks, ever since India banned travel for passengers from the U.K. due to the coronavirus pandemic. The student from Hyderabad, one of hundreds stranded in the U.K., …

Gulf travel plans of NRIs go awry
5 years ago

Gulf travel plans of NRIs go awry

The Hindu  

Travel plans of hundreds of non-resident Indians have gone awry with several Gulf Cooperation Council countries imposing stringent restrictions on air passengers in the wake of the raging COVID-19 threat worldwide. Those who have booked tickets for the summer vacation have postponed their travel plans even as many airline companies are facilitating rebooking for new dates even up to May …

Coronavirus | Kuwait imposes travel ban on seven countries, including India
5 years ago

Coronavirus | Kuwait imposes travel ban on seven countries, including India

The Hindu  

Passengers heading for Kuwait from Calicut International Airport at Karipur were sent back home on Saturday morning when Kuwait imposed a travel ban on seven countries, including India, because of coronavirus scare. Air India Express cancelled its flight to Kuwait, which was to carry 170 passengers from Karipur. Airline and airport authorities said they were clueless about the situation and …

Saudi Arabia suspends entry for pilgrims over coronavirus
5 years, 1 month ago

Saudi Arabia suspends entry for pilgrims over coronavirus

Live Mint  

Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended visas for visits to Islam's holiest sites for the "umrah" pilgrimage, an unprecedented move triggered by coronavirus fears that raises questions over the annual hajj. A hajj travel association in Bangladesh said over 1,000 pilgrims, many with non-refundable tickets to Saudi Arabia, were "stranded at Dhaka airport" after being denied permission to board following Riyadh's …

Saudi Arabia halts entry to Mecca over fears of coronavirus outbreak; move comes just months ahead of annual hajj
5 years, 1 month ago

Saudi Arabia halts entry to Mecca over fears of coronavirus outbreak; move comes just months ahead of annual hajj

Firstpost  

Saudi Arabia halted travel to the holiest sites in Islam over fears about a viral epidemic just months ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage, a move that came as West Asia has over 220 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. Dubai: Saudi Arabia on Thursday halted travel to the holiest sites in Islam over fears about a viral epidemic just …

Stranded Indian workers in the Gulf need more than a return ticket
8 years, 7 months ago

Stranded Indian workers in the Gulf need more than a return ticket

Live Mint  

Bengaluru/New Delhi: Finding a way to fly back home is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the problems faced by the unemployed Indian workers stuck in the Gulf are concerned. Singh’s visit last week, Saudi Arabia agreed to give exit visas to hundreds of jobless Indian workers to go back home at its own expense. In New …

Saudi Arabia to send stranded Indian workers back at its own expense
8 years, 7 months ago

Saudi Arabia to send stranded Indian workers back at its own expense

Live Mint  

New Delhi: In a diplomatic victory for India, Saudi Arabia has agreed to give exit visas to hundreds of jobless Indian workers there and will send them back home at its own expense. Making a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said Saudi Arabia has also agreed to provide free medical facility and food …

Stranded Indian workers in Saudi Arabia recount ordeal
8 years, 7 months ago

Stranded Indian workers in Saudi Arabia recount ordeal

Live Mint  

Bengaluru/New Delhi: “I just want to go home,” Rajeshwar Kumar, 30, said over phone from a labour camp in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah city. On Wednesday evening, minister Singh put out a statement saying the claims regarding unpaid salaries of Indian workers stranded in Saudi Arabia will be “honoured” by the Saudi government. The minister said he had “a very good …

87% complaints of 'exploitation' received from Indian workers from Gulf countries
8 years, 7 months ago

87% complaints of 'exploitation' received from Indian workers from Gulf countries

Firstpost  

As thousands of laid-off Indian workers in Saudi Arabia were said to be without food, 87 percent of complaints received from Indian workers at Indian missions across nine countries were from six Gulf countries By Chaitanya Mallapur As thousands of laid-off Indian workers in Saudi Arabia were said to be without food, 87 percent of complaints received from Indian workers …

10,000 Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia to be brought back, says Sushma Swaraj
8 years, 7 months ago

10,000 Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia to be brought back, says Sushma Swaraj

Firstpost  

: The government is making all efforts to bring back the 10,000 Indian workers rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia and is also providing them food in camps. New Delhi: The government is making all efforts to bring back the 10,000 Indian workers rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia and is also providing them food in camps, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj …

Govt looking to evacuate Indian workers from Saudi Arabia
8 years, 7 months ago

Govt looking to evacuate Indian workers from Saudi Arabia

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India is looking at evacuating a large number of its expatriate workers facing an uncertain future in Saudi Arabia after job cuts in the construction industry, a government official said on Sunday. More than 10,000 Indians working in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are estimated by India to be without jobs after low oil prices forced governments in the …

Government allays fears on job cuts in Saudi Arabia
11 years, 11 months ago

Government allays fears on job cuts in Saudi Arabia

The Hindu  

The government has allayed apprehensions of Saudi Arabia sending back Indians on a large scale because of its Nitaqat law, providing for mandatory recruitment of locals in private establishments. The government had dismissed the talk that the bulk of the 24.5-lakh Indians would have to return because the Saudi law provided for increased reservation from five to 30 per cent. …

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