Jerusalem, 25 Dec. 2008 - UAE Foreign Minister H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has reiterated commitment to the Arab initiative for peace with Israel, describing it as the "solution for all the region's problems." Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazin in the West Bank's city of Bethlehem, Sheikh Abdullah said he was honoured to meet with Abbas and the Palestinian people.

Dubai, Dec 24 : The England team was fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its six-wicket defeat against India in the first Test played in Chennai between 11 and 15 December.

Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Kevin Pietersen's side was ruled to be one over short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

London, December 20 : Authorities in Dubai are still holding the British man convicted of having unmarried sex and public indecency on Jumeirah Beach.

The Indian cinema has left a deep impression at the Dubai International Film Festival, which ends on December 17, 2008.

Film Dilli 6, which is jointly produced by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Productions and UTV Motion Pictures, was inaugurated.

The film was screened before the stalwarts of entertainment.

Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and UTV's Siddharth Roy Kapoor were present at the festival.

Dubai, Dec. 17 : ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has identified slow over-rates and verbal abuse as two key areas that must be kept in check for cricket to maintain its feel-good factor over the coming months.

Lorgat confirmed he had written to all Emirates ICC match referees and umpires asking them to be "assertive and proactive" in dealing with the issues.

And, he added that players, and especially captains, also bore a major responsibility to ensure the game was played in the right spirit and at the right pace.

Dubai, Dec. 16 : ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has sent a message of congratulation and gratitude to the India and England teams after a hard-fought and exciting Test match in Chennai, played in trying circumstances.

"I have been in touch with both the BCCI and ECB since the end of the match to thank them for what was a great advertisement for cricket," an ICC press release quoted Lorgat, as saying.