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The Spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim Community, His Highness the Aga Khan, arrived in Uganda yesterday.The Aga Khan was received at Entebbe International Airport by the Minister of State for Investment Sam Kutesa and of Regional Co-operation Kahinda Otafiire.
The Monitor Board Chairman Dr Martin Aliker and officials of the Aga Khan Foundation were also at the airport.
The Aga Khan and his entourage boarded a waiting military helicopter for a scheduled meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
Officials of the Aga Khan Foundation said the meeting was scheduled for yesterday.

The President, General Pervez Musharraf has said that the government has provided a conducive policy frame work and support mechanism to encourage private investment in the micro finance sector.
He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the first micro finance Bank in the private sector set up by the Agha Khan rural Support programme and the Agha Khan Fund for Economic Development in Islamabad today.

World Bank to fund energy project in eastern Tajik regionA World Bank mission arrived in Dushanbe yesterday to study the progress of reforms in Tajikistan's energy sector, including tariffs policy.

ITAR-TASS was told at the World Bank mission's office that mission experts would visit [eastern] Mountainous Badakhshon Autonomous Region to analyse the state of affairs at the hydroelectric stations being built there.

The USAID has launched a new initiative to strengthen the management capacity of a new generation of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Pakistan through a grant to the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). I
The programme will strengthen and increase the competitive base of NGOs to help them meet management standards required to compete for donor funds, said an announcement issued here on Monday.

US Ambassador Nancy Powell highlighted the USG's commitment to develop civil society in the country, which has an important role to play in Pakistan's social, economic and political development.

Epsom Derby Also Run on June 7The Belmont Stakes (gr. I), when Funny Cide will bid to win the Triple Crown, is not the only major race being run on June 7. The 224th running of the Vodafone Derby at Epsom Downs in England will be run earlier the same day.

Unbeaten Refuse To Bend will attempt to become the first Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) winner since 1989 to win the Derby.

People sign a condolence book dedicated to the memory of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, at Aga Khan's residence Chateau de Bellerive above Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2003. Aga Khan, the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees and uncle of the spiritual leader of the Shiite Muslim Ismaili community, has died at the age of 70 on May 12, 2003, in a hospital in Boston, USA, after a long illness. (AP Photo/Keystone/Gary Ottei)

The Aga Khan, the billionaire spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims, will build the English-speaking world's biggest Islamic art museum and cultural center in Toronto after plans to buy a site in London failed, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
The Aga Khan Development Network, one of the charitable institutions and businesses headed by the Aga Khan, said the museum would house artifacts from renowned private collections including those of the Aga Khan and of the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London.

Belgian Christophe Soumillon will ride the favourite Dalakhani in the Arc. Picture: Getty ImagesMelbourne spring carnival entries Vinnie Roe, Black Sam Bellamy and Mubtaker are scheduled to take their place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp tomorrow and, while they are not expected to travel to Melbourne, their performances will give Australians a helpful insight into international form.

RDCongo: le Prince Aga Khan à KinshasaKINSHASA, 23 avril (XINHUA) --Le prince Aga Khan est arrivée jeudi à Kinshasa, pour un séjour de 75 heures, à l'invitation du président de la RDCongo, Joseph Kabila, a rapporté vendredi l' Agence Presse Associee (APA).

His Highness The Aga Khan today met the Union Minister of Culture, Shri Jaipal Reddy. They discussed the efforts of the Aga Khan Foundation in restoring the historical monuments in India and elsewhere. The Minister appreciated the Foundation's zeal and endeavour in the restoration and maintenance of monuments in India. The role of ASI was also applauded in the maintenance and upkeep of monuments in India. His Highness Aga Khan suggested that the culture tourism could be reinvigorated in the Asian Region.

HIS Royal Highness the Aga Khan and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) plan to pay for a new hydro-electric dam in western Uganda. IFC is the private lending arm of the World Bank.
Syda Bbumba, the energy minister, said the Government wants people in Bushenyi, Rukungiri and Kanungu districts to become minority shareholders in the project.

The Aga Khan Development Network has pledged continued investment in the country's social and economic projects.The network's resident representative, Mr Anil Ishani, said the support would not be affected by the political or economic situation as the organisation was confident that the people of Kenya would manage their affairs well.
Mr Ishani was speaking to diplomats and heads of international organisations during a reception the network held for them in Nairobi. He said last year, the Aga Khan Development Network spent Sh218 million on social development agencies in the country.

His Highness Aga Khan Kerim IV together with his brother His Highness Prince Amin Aga Khan have arrived in Kyrgyzstan on an official visit. Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Nikolai Tanaev has met him at the airport. A ceremony of laying foundation of the University of Central Asia took place in Naryn today.

The Aga Khan has urged Muslims to strive to create a better future for the young generation. The Spiritual Leader of the Ismaili Muslim Community was yesterday presiding over the 60th anniversary celebration of the Uganda Muslim Education Association (UMEA) at Kibuli Mosque.DISTINGUISHED VISITOR: His Highness the Aga Khan (L) with Prince Kassim Nakibinge at Kibuli Mosque yesterday (Photo by James Akena).

While attending the Berlin International Conference for Afghanistan, Minister Carroll met with the Aga Khan, Head of the Aga Khan Development Network. CIDA and the Aga Khan Foundation are partners in a variety of projects in Asia and Africa.

ANCIENT TRASH DUMP: Cairo's new 74-acre park, Al Azhar, is located on what was a centuries-old rubbish heap in the middle of Cairo's historic old city.SARAH GAUCH
Egypt gets its own 'central park'
By Sarah Gauch | Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor

The Aga Khan (L) and the Director of the International Press Instiute Johann Fritz listen to the opening remarks during the official opening ceremony of the International Press Institute and the 54th World Congress General Assembly in Nairobi May 22, 2005. Rwanda President Paul Kagame accused the western media of portraying Africa as a continent wracked with poverty, war and disease, adding that it was up to Africans to change that image,and he also said that the negative portrayal of the continent was one of the reasons it was lagging behind in development. REUTERS/Antony Njuguna

Fur Love to Fur Shame: Change of Heart for a PrincessFashion Wire Daily October 17, 2003 - Paris -On Tuesday night, Le Bar du Plaza Athenée on Avenue Montaigne -- Paris toniest shopping street currently dripping in ultra-expensive winter pelts -- bore witness to a rather unusual event, as it hosted an award ceremony for a competition to produce anti-fur advertising, put on by The Fur Free Alliance.

There's the stereotype of the Muslim woman -- silent and withdrawn behind her veil, obsequious when called upon, unable to think for herself, much less drive a car.
And then there's Shabnam Lutafali. Besides being a devout Muslim, the Pakistan native is a doctor of economics and a professor at the University of Houston-Downtown. She also serves as the president of the Southwest regional board for the Ismaili Muslims, followers of the Aga Khan.

Like most Ismailis, Lutafali believes that being Muslim and being a competent, active woman are not mutually exclusive.

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, in a historic visit to Afghanistan, today announced that USDA intends to donate $5 million of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Food for Progress Program. Veneman also announced the first Cochran Fellowship Program with Afghanistan to provide short-term, U.S.-based training for eight Afghan women to study agricultural finance.