MIDDLE EAST: Israeli acceptance of roadmap made empty by attached conditions

Leading United Arab Emirates (UAE) English dailies today welcomed the Israeli acceptance of the roadmap peace plan as the first endorsement of a Palestinian statehood by an Israeli government.

UAE-INFORMATICS: Plan for web-based encyclopedia

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association yesterday unveiled one of its several new projects - an Electronic Encyclopedia on the UAE that will be a visual web library providing net surfers with information on important services sectors and bodies in the country.

MIDDLE EAST: Bush, Sharon and Abu Mazen summit in Jordan

Israeli sources said today that the summit, to group US President George Bush and each of Palestinian Premier Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli peer Ariel Sharon is to be held within a fortnight in the Red Sea coastal resort of Aqaba with King Abdullah II attending.

IRAQ: Kuwait denied POW report

Kuwait has officially denied that a Kuwaiti POW had been found in Iraq.

KAZAKHSTAN: Earthquake leaves 13,000 homeless.

An earthquake has left more than 13,000 people without homes in Kazakhstan.

POLITICS-MOROCCO: Islamist Party under Attack

The Justice and Development Party (PJD), Morocco's only legal Islamist organisation, has come under fire over the recent terrorist attacks in Casablanca.

PALESTINE: Israeli troops raid West Bank refugee camp

A large Israeli force entered the Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank before dawn Saturday, Israeli Radio reported, claiming that militants intended to use the camp as a base from which to launch attacks against Israel.

MIDDLE EAST: Israeli troops kill one Palestinian north of Gaza Strip

Israeli troops killed one Palestinian today in Abu Safiyah area in the north of the Gaza Strip as they shelled the area with heavy machinegun fire.

UAE: Dubai Municipality wins Arab Cities Award

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dubai Municipality received the Arab Cities Award for city beautification during the 7th session of the award, in a ceremony held recently in Doha, Qatar.

UAE-ENVIRONMENT: Commitment to biodiversity

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Environmental Agency (FEA), observing the International Day for Biological Diversity yesterday, reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to conservation of the environment and biological diversity.

UAE: Emergency aid for Algerian earthquake victims

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered the delivery of emergency relief assistance to victims of the devastating earthquake which struck the Algerian capital and its surrounding areas in the early hours of yesterday, Thursday.

GULF: Riyadh summit confirms close ties between regional countries, says UAE

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) paper today commented on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit meeting, which recently took place in Riyadh on Wednesday.

POLITICS-YEMEN: Opposition Roped in to Fight Terrorism

A new government has been formed in Yemen after elections last month, with an opposition leader appointed advisor to the President.

UAE-TOURISM: Abu Dhabi reclaims sea for mega project

The emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is invading its own sea to expand westwards in a multi-billion dollar project involving extension of the breakwater and the construction of a Disneyland-style fun city, a wildlife reserve and a palm-dotted resort village for local and foreign tourists, according to a report in the ‘Gulf News'.

MIDDLE EAST: Current developments could lead to disregard Palestinian

In a lecture delivered at THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-up, Hafidh Al Bargouthi, Editor in Chief of ‘Al Hayat al Jadeeda' newspaper, based in Jerusalem, said that the Palestinian government of Mohamoud Abbas "Abu Mazin" has come to power to implement the "roadmap".

UAE-IRAQ: Wounded Iraqis arrive for hospital treatment

The third group of wounded Iraqis arrived here yesterday night for treatment in United Arab Emirates (UAE) hospitals.

IRAQ: Summit stance underscores mounting concern across Arab world

The urgent call made yesterday by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders during their one-day summit in the Saudi capital of Riyadh for the Iraqi people to be allowed to run their own affairs and take charge of the country's wealth underscores the deep concern that prevails across the Arab world about the future of that country, said a leading United Arab Emirates (UAE) Arabic daily.

POLITICS-PALESTINE: The Challenge of Violence

One of the senior commanders of the militant Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades stares out of the window of his office in a ministry building of the Palestinian Authority, where he works.

AFGHANISTAN: Shootout at US embassy

US soldiers guarding the American Embassy in Kabul shot and killed three Afghan soldiers on Wednesday who they mistook to be assailants, the chief of police in the Afghan capital said.

INDIA: 50,000 employees join strike in Gujarat

Around 50,000 employees in government offices, banks and other sectors embarked on a one-day strike on Wednesday to protest against the federal government's - anti-labor policies" and policies on privatization.

PALESTINE: Abu Mazen cancels visit to Beit Hanoun after new invasion

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas today cancelled a visit scheduled this Wednesday to Beit Hanoun, in Gaza town, after Israeli tanks and bulldozers again invaded the town earlier Wednesday with soldiers firing in the air and warning workers to evacuate factories.