Kabul / AFP Militants linked to IS extremists abducted and killed around 30 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan, officials said on Wednesday, raising concerns about the group’s expanding presence beyond its eastern stronghold. The killings occurred late Tuesday north of Firoz Koh, the capital of Ghor province, with the local government calling it a revenge attack after a …

  Peshawar / AFP A polio worker was gunned down on Wednesday as he was administering vaccines to children in northwest Pakistan, officials said, the latest casualty in the country’s long campaign against the crippling disease. The incident occurred in Jamrud area of the tense Khyber tribal district that borders Afghanistan and was once a haven for Taliban militants, though …

  Diyarbakir / AFP Turkish police clashed with protesters in Diyarbakir on Wednesday, using tear gas and water cannon to prevent them demonstrating against the detention of the Kurdish-majority city’s co-mayors. Gultan Kisanak and Firat Anli were taken into custody on Tuesday night in a surprise move against the leaders of a city which has been hit by the renewed fighting …

  Madrid / AFP Russia scrapped plans on Wednesday to refuel Syria-bound warships in a Spanish port after Madrid came under pressure to refuse access to a flotilla that may be used to help attacks on Aleppo. The Spanish foreign ministry said that three Russian ships—part of a wider flotilla led by aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov—had been due to take on …

  Dubai / WAM The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai launched a ‘Consumer Empowerment Index,’ the first of its kind in the region, to gauge the level of awareness among consumers regarding their rights and responsibilities as well as to take consumer awareness to a higher level of ‘consumer consciousness.’ The move is in line with the best practices …

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business The Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently held a meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission on the Ministry’s premises in Abu Dhabi. The meeting aimed to review the financial and economic performance indicators, as well as the Ministry’s achievements and financial policies that support the national economy. HE Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary …

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business The eighth edition of the International Real Estate & Investment Show (IREIS 2016), the only real estate event in Abu Dhabi that targets investors and consumers rather than trade visitors, will kick off on Thursday, October 27, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Drawing the participation of more than 125 exhibitors from …

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The UAE media deals in a realistic and professional manner with events keeping national interests in mind, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Chairman of the Board of Director of National Media Council (NMC), has said. The region experiences threats and risks, which prompt those in charge of the media to redouble …

  Dubai / Emirates Business Azizi Developments, a leading UAE-based real estate developer with global reach into international markets, announced its newest project in the emerging Dubai Healthcare City: Azizi Aliyah. The fully-serviced residence, a B+G+2P+14+R structure, is Azizi Developments’ first project in Dubai Healthcare City, conveniently located between Burj Khalifa and the future tallest skyscraper in the world, The …

  Sharjah / WAM The array of opportunities for Sharjah and Russia to do business was the topic of discussion at a roundtable event organised by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday. More than 100 businesspersons and representatives of Sharjah-based Russian companies attended the meeting, which was aimed at boosting …