Abu Dhabi  - A group of nations dubbed the "Friends of Pakistan" agreed, in principle, Monday to throw a financial lifeline to Pakistan.

Specific sums to be committed were not named Monday. There will be another meeting of the group in January followed by a ministerial- level meeting in February that should set the specific amounts of assistance to be expected.

Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, assistant foreign minister for South Asia Affairs, said the group plans to finance projects geared toward policing and security.

Abu Dhabi - A high level meeting of a gathering dubbed "Friends of Pakistan" that aims to support Pakistani's stability and developmental process is to convene in Abu Dhabi on Monday, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The gathering will be under joint chairmanship of the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.

"The Friends of Pakistan" is comprised of 16-nations which include among others Britain, France, Germany, the United States and China plus the United Nations and the European Union. It also includes multilateral financial agencies and world bodies.

Dhabi, Nov. 17th, 2008 --President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent congratulatory cables to Sultan Qaboos of Sultanate Oman, King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, on the national days of their countries.

Dhabi, Nov. 17th, 2008--The recommendations made by the G20 leaders on the global financial crisis on Saturday appear typical and orthodox. The talk of 'prompt action to boost economic growth and stabilise global financial markets by supporting major fiscal stimulus plans', is not backed by the commitment and vigour needed to tackle such a situation.

Abu Dhabi, Nov. 15 : The Pakistan Cricket Board''s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer, Saleem Altaf, has voiced confidence that India''s tour of Pakistan will go ahead as planned.

"We have not heard anything from the Indian Board and until we hear something contrary, the Indian team will play the first match on the 9th January in Hyderabad and the first Test starts on the 13th in Karachi," The News quoted Altaf as telling reporters here.

Abu Dhabi - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) appointed on Thursday a female Muslim marriage registrar, the first in the Gulf and second in the Arab world.

Fatma Saeed Obaid al-Awani, 33, will perform her job during office hours in court in the Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi, officials said.

Fatima obtained a law degree from the college of Sharia and Law at UAE University in 2000. She has two children.

Last March, the UAE appointed Kholoud al-Daheri as its first female judge.