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Nawaz Sharif thanks Shaikh Khalifa for aid to Pakistan
Nawaz Sharif thanks Shaikh Khalifa for aid to Pakistan (Wam) / 1 January 2014 President meets Pakistan Prime Minister on the sidelines of his private visit to Pakistan. The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Tuesday met Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of his private visit to Pakistan. At the beginning of the meeting, Sharif welcomed Shaikh Khalifa and his accompanying delegation and wished him a pleasant stay in his second country. Shaikh Khalifa also expressed his happiness to visit Pakistan and meeting Sharif, hailing the level of the existing relations and cooperation between the two friendly peoples. “We are looking forward to further developing the fraternal relations between the UAE and Pakistan and always strive hard to bring benefits to the people of the two countries,” Shaikh Khalifa said. On his part, Sharif underscored that Shaikh Khalifa’s visit represents the strong relations and the bonds of love between the two friendly countries. He also pointed out the excellent role being played by the UAE in provision of aid to the people of Pakistan in the form of several projects aimed at improving the level of services in various provinces of Pakistan. He affirmed that Pakistani leadership and the people appreciate the UAE, led by Shaikh Khalifa, for this kid and noble gesture. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to bolster them for mutual benefit. They also exchanged views on a number of latest regional and international developments, in addition to other issues of mutual interest. The meeting was attended by Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President’s Representative, members of the accompanying delegation of Shaikh Khalifa, a number of Shaikhs, senior officials and Essa Abdulla Albasha Al Noaimi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan. Earlier, Shaikh Khalifa, on his arrival at Rahim Yar Khan, was received by Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif along with a number of officials in the province. Clad in traditional dresses two girls presented bouquets to Shaikh Khalifa and the arena was decorated with the flags of two countries and welcoming banners. Earlier, Shaikh Khalifa was seen off in Al Ain by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, a number of Shaikhs and senior officials. — Wam Continue reading
Several wounded in Cairo bomb attack on bus: security
Several wounded in Cairo bomb attack on bus: security (AFP) / 26 December 2013 A bomb was placed or hurled onto a bus in Cairo. Investigators check a damaged bus after a bomb blast near the Al-Azhar University campus in Cairo’s Nasr City district on December 26, 2013. – Reuters A bomb went off near a public transport bus in the Egyptian capital on Thursday, injuring five people, security officials and a medic said. Security officials said the improvised bomb had been placed next to a bus in the north Cairo neighbourhood of Nasr City and police defused another bomb nearby. The victims received mild to moderate injuries, a health ministry official said. The interior ministry said the bomb had been planted in a grassy area at the intersection of two busy streets in Nasr City. Militants have killed scores of policemen and soldiers in attacks since the military’s overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in July. The bombing comes two days after a suicide car bomber killed 15 people, mostly policemen, in an attack on their headquarters in a Nile Delta city. On Wednesday, the military-installed government declared Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement a terrorist group, and blamed it for the police headquarters bombing although a Al Qaeda-inspired group in the Sinai peninsula said it was responsible. The Brotherhood, which organises near daily protests demanding Mursi’s reinstatement, insists it is peaceful and has condemned militant attacks. The bombing in Cairo appears to be the first against civilian targets, although it could have exploded prematurely. A suicide bomber had set off a car bomb in September in the same neighbourhood in an attempt to assassinate interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim as his convoy passed by. The minister survived but a bystander was killed in the explosion. Continue reading
Christmas spirit grips UAE
Christmas spirit grips UAE Staff Reporter / 26 December 2013 People get together with loved ones on Christmas to pray for peace, harmony and prosperity in the coming year. The Christmas tree put up at the Mall of the Emirates and the decorations surrounding it served as the perfect background for photo enthusiasts. — KT photo by Shihab The festive spirit gripped the country on Wednesday, as people got together with loved ones on Christmas to pray for peace, harmony and prosperity in the coming year. Several residents that Khaleej Times caught up with, especially children, said their wish to Santa is to end the suffering of children in Syria, Philippines, and other areas, where people are grappling with the aftermath of disasters — both natural and man made. Eight-year-old Julian Duff, a British expatriate, said: “My mother said that we should always pray for people who are in need. So my wish to Santa is that children everywhere must be happy.” Christmas wishes put up at the St Mary’s Church in Dubai on Wednesday. — KT photo by Rahul Gajjar Julian’s parents’ got him a brand new battery operated race car and clothes on Christmas eve. People were also seen crowding at shopping malls, completing last minute shopping. Some residents said they miss celebrating with their family members back in their home countries. Melanie Donohue, an Irish national, said: “I miss my family and the Christmas weather back home. But Dubai so far has been great as well. You can buy pretty much everything that you usually get back home. I just finished a whole lot of last minute shopping and am heading back home for some turkey and other delicious Christmas goodies.” Sharjah resident and school teacher Seena Japeth said: “We miss our relatives back home. Here we celebrate more with friends than with our family. There was a hearty Christmas meal; we shared cake with our friends.” Indian national, Cherian V, said: “There is a wonderful spirit in the air and Christmas is mostly about spending quality time with friends and family members, which is exactly what we try and do. Our kids need to know the importance of tradition and spending time with family. This is one of the ways in which we can remind kids of family values.” An evening at the church Roses outside St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oudh Metha were being sold by the dozen on Christmas. Muthu, a rose-seller stationed at the Church, told Khaleej Times that he sold about 100 stems of pink and red roses by the afternoon of the 25th. The roses were bought and placed at the foot of the barn inside the church premises, constructed with hay and gunny sacks and a small toy figure of baby Jesus. Multiple counters were bustling with people buying 2014 calendars with photos of Mother Mary and Jesus, Bibles, Novenas and prayer beads. On Tuesday afternoon at 3.30pm, the church held a mass for the old and sick. Carol singing took place from 11.30pm onwards. The mass itself had a packed audience. In the main hall, at least 30 rows of pews tightly accommodated hundreds of worshippers singing hymns. Loudspeakers in the compound carried the voices of the hymns outside. People were dressed in their Christmas-best and were seen posing for photos. Office-goers were present too. They were either given the day off or availed of one to spend Christmas with families, eating festive food. It was a merry Christmas indeed. – news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
