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UAE Uses Zaragoza to Showcase its Development Model : Envoy

The three month-long international Expo Zaragoza 2008 has provided the UAE with an ideal platform to showcase its experience and model for preserving and developing water resources, renewable energy and environment, according to the UAE Ambassador to Spain. "'The UAE impressive participation at the world gathering, which is supervised by the National Media Council, is expected to bring about positive results as it exposes the UAE efforts on water and renewable energy resources and conservation of the environment to the nations and peoples of the world,' HE Sultan Mohammed Al Qurtasi said in an interview to WAM on the occasion of the UAE National Day at Expo Zaragoza which is being staged from June 14 to September 14 in Spain.

"Halal" cuisine to lure Muslim tourists to RP spots--Durano

President wont budge, aides say

Making halal cuisine readily available in tourist destinations will encourage more tourists from Muslim countries to visit the Philippines. This is according to officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT), who on Tuesday stressed the need to intensify the promotion and availability of halal food. Halal food would help the country get a bigger share of the global Muslim tourist market, said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Islamabad: Pressure mounted on President Pervez Musharraf to resign or face impeachment but aides rejected media speculation he was about to step down. Members of the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday lent their voices to the growing opposition clamour for Musharraf to face a vote of confidence or face impeachment. The Daily Times newspaper cited an unidentified politician from a pro-Musharraf party as saying the president was expected to announce his decision to quit on Independence Day today. But Musharraf's spokesman promptly brushed aside the report.

Kuwait places restrictions on companies accused of abusing workers	Dollar rebound will pinch Gulf surpluses
Kuwait City: Kuwait has placed restrictions on five companies accused of abusing foreign workers, most of them cleaners from Asian countries, the countyr's labour minister said on Thursday. The companies will be prevented from receiving government contracts and their business licenses could be revoked, Bader Al Duwailah was quoted as saying in the Al-Watan daily.	The dollar's rise against leading currencies has cut short oil's long rally and is expected to limit the surge in the current account surpluses of Gulf countries this year. However, analysts said oil's decline would not affect spending by the Gulf countries. Oil that worked as a hedge against the decline of the dollar until recently has turned around as the greenback started to gain ground.

Malaysia Still Preferred Investment Location

Foreign investors continue to show strong interest in investing in Malaysia, despite the changes in the Malaysian political landscape arising from the recent elections. “The general election results in 2008 will not diminish the government’s efforts in developing Malaysian economy. Investors remain unperturbed by the election results and view this new political development positively, with Malaysia having strong democratic foundations,” Mohd. Zukepli Embong, Counselor at Investment Section of Embassy of Malaysia said. The Government has guaranteed all existing and potential investors of its continued pro-business policies and incentives packages formulated and implemented by the federal government. Investment approvals are a testimony to this fact, he said pointing out that from January to May 2008, investments amounting to US$7.9 billion were approved.

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