Abu Dhabi, Dec 09th, 2008 : At the largest congregation on earth, on the foothills of Mount Arafat, where the rituals of Hajj reach their peak, came the voice of the Grand Mufti. Witnessed by hundreds of millions around the world, he reminded once again that "terrorism is contrary to the teachings and tenets of Islam".

Khaleej Times dedicated its editorial today to this 'Voice of Reason' and wrote: 'The message from the Mount of Arafat is loud and clear: "The world must confront and criminalise terrorism we must be cautious of terrorism and fight hostile criminal gangs that destroy countries and people".

Abu Dhabi, Dec 09th, 2008 : A elite of 48 Arab poets chosen from around the world will compete in the finals of the 'Poet of Millions' contest due to kick off on Thursday 11th December 2008 at Al Raha Theatre in Abu Dhabi.

The contest in the Nabati school of the Arabic poetry is organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) under the patronage of General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Abu Dhabi, Dec. 9th, 2008 --President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred a first class Order of Independence on Abdul Halim Caracalla, founder of the famous Lebanese Caracalla Dance Theatre.

The honour was bestowed on Mr. Caracalla as a token of recognition of his enormous contributions to the contemporary Arab art in general and Arab theatre in particular.

Abu Dhabi, 8th Dec. 2008 -- President H. H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan today performed the Eid Al Adha Prayer at the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

Also at the mosque to perform the prayers alongside the President were HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister.

Abu Dhabi, 8th Dec. 2008 -- President H. H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received a group of well-wishers on the occasion of Eid Al Adha at Al Mushrif Palace in the presence of HH Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister.

Abu Dhabi, Dec. 8 : England''s cricketers have decided to undertake the tour of India for a two Test series beginning from December 11, but not before some reported high drama behind closed doors.

According to former Test player Derek Pringle, the drama surrounding the tour ratcheted up around 8.15 p. m. in the evening on Sunday with the late arrival of the two Morrises, Hugh the general manager of the England team and Sean the chief executive of the Players Cricketers Association, and security officer Reg Dickason, the Test squad, and coaches decamping to the team room.