New York, Nov. 13, 2008 -- The UAE and the Dominican Republic have established diplomatic relations. Foreign Minister, H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Dominican counterpart, Carlos Morales Troncoso, have signed an agreement to that effect on the fringe of the Interfaith Dialogue Conference being held here in New York.

New York, Nov. 13, 2008  -- Foreign Minister, H. H.

London, Nov. 13, 2008 -- Supreme Council member and Ruler of Sharjah, H. H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, visited here Wednesday the Royal Botanic Gardens, the third most popular of its kind in the world. The Gardens house botanic collections (conserved plants, living plants and documents) that have been enriched over 2 and half centuries.

Dhabi, Nov. 13, 2008 -- Two major UAE English dailies today commented on the latest development in the tense relations between the United States and Iran on the latter's nuclear programme in the light of the latest IAEA statement that documents alleging that Iran has a nuclear weapons programme may have been fabricated, and the rapprochement step taken by Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to congratulate the US President-elect, Barack Obama, which provided a historic opportunity for improving US-Iran relations.

Abu Dhabi, Nov 13 : Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar missed the first one-day match against the West Indies here after pulling his left calf muscle during a practice session.

Team manager Yawar Saeed said that the latest setback in the 34-year-old bowler’s injury-prone career was not serious.

“We are not treating it as an injury, it’s just a calf muscle pull and we will reassess his injury on Wednesday and then on Thursday before deciding when he can take the field,” said Saeed.

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