Islamabad/AFP The Pakistani military accused India on Monday of killing seven soldiers in cross-border fire in disputed Kashmir, in what appeared to be an unusually high toll after months of surging tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours. “Seven soldiers embraced shahadat (martyrdom) at the Line of Control (LoC) in Bhimber sector in a crossfire LOC violation by Indian troops late …

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) have officially opened the fifth round of funding for renewable energy projects in developing countries. The funding round of approximately US$ 50 million is part of ADFD’s US$ 350 million (AED 1.285 billion) commitment offering concessional loans to renewable energy projects endorsed …

  Ajman / Emirates Business HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, honored the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) for sponsoring and supporting the 4th Gulf Business Women Forum that was held on November 9-10 at Fairmont Ajman Hotel. In line with its commitment to support the Forum and keenness to communicate with …

  DUBAI / Emirates Business UAE’s cleaning sector is fast adopting automated technologies; this was evident from the latest technologies demoed at Middle East Cleaning Technology Week (MECTW) being held at Dubai International Convention Centre from November, 13-15. The largest event for the cleaning sector in the region, for the first time, hosted live demos for innovative products in the …

  Dubai / Emirates Business InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, and Al-Futtaim, one of the region’s most progressive business houses headquartered in Dubai, have signed an agreement for the management of the largest Holiday Inn hotel in the UAE. The 520-room Holiday Inn Dubai Festival City will operate under a management agreement with Dubai …

  New York /AFP President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to move aggressively on a conservative agenda in filling Supreme Court vacancies, cracking down on immigration and cutting taxes, but also sought to reassure worried Americans they have nothing to fear from his presidency. Setting aside the strident tone of his campaign, the 70-year-old assumed a gentler manner in his first …

  Sofia/ AFP EU member Bulgaria headed on Monday into fresh political turbulence after a former airforce commander seen as more sympathetic to Russia triumphed in presidential elections, prompting Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to quit. In his victory speech, Rumen Radev reiterated his opposition to EU sanctions on Russia and praised new US President-elect Donald Trump for “seeking more dialogue” with …

  Beijing/ AFP Chinese President Xi Jinping and US president-elect Donald Trump agreed on Monday to meet “at an early date” to discuss the relationship between their two powers, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Monday. In a telephone call, Xi told Trump—who frequently savaged Beijing on the campaign trail and threatened to impose a 45-percent tariff on Chinese-made goods—that the …

  Johannesburg / AFP Jailed Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been transferred to a prison adapted for disabled inmates to serve the rest of his sentence for murdering his girlfriend, a South African official said on Monday. The Department of Correctional Services said the double amputee was moved from Kgosi Mampuru II prison in the capital Pretoria to Atteridgeville Correctional …

  Berlin /AFP Germany’s ruling coalition has backed Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as the country’s next president, party sources said on Monday, paving the way for a sharp critic of Donald Trump to become head of state. Party leaders have been wrangling for months over whom to nominate as a potential successor to President Joachim Gauck, a 76-year-old former pastor …