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Posts Tagged ‘Queen Elizabeth II’

Prince William Kate Middleton First Marital Trip Canada

The second cover for the upcoming biographical/love story comic book Fame: The Royals comic book has been released just as we receive the news that one of the first trips Britain’s Prince William and his bride Kate will make together as newlyweds will be to our neighbors in the North. The Royal Couple Canada in [...]

Annie Lennox’s Charity Work Earns Honor From Queen Elizabeth

Dame Annie Lennox? Not yet, but the ’80s pop star has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honors List for her charity work in the fight against AIDS, Buckingham Palace said Friday. ”I’m genuinely honored. As somewhat of a renegade, it either means I’ve done [...]

Another British Royal Wedding: Queen Elizabeth’s Granddaughter Zara Phillips Engaged!

Prince William and Kate Middleton aren’t the only posh Brits getting hitched in the New Year: Will’s cousin Zara Phillips has joined the club! Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth II, is engaged to wed her rugby star boyfriend Mike Tindall. The two have been a couple since 2003. Tindall, 32, [...]

$35b Sino-Pak deals inked


ISLAMABAD – China and Pakistan concluded nearly 15 billion dollars’ worth of deals on Saturday, as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing would ‘never give up’ on Pakistan.
Business leaders formalised the paperwork – adding to the 20 billion dollarsÂ’ worth of deals signed Friday – under blanket security at the federal capitalÂ’s five-star Marriott Hotel. The latest deals included 17 agreements, four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and one joint venture.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani witnessed the signing ceremony during Pak-China Business Cooperation Summit where around 260 Chinese delegates and 150 representatives of Pakistan present.
Terming the Pak-China relations as exemplary, Wen Jiabao reiterated his resolve to enhance the bilateral trade with Pakistan in the coming years in a bid to improve flow of investments between both of the countries.
Addressing the moot, the Chinese premier informed that his country would increase investment in Gwadar Port.
He admitted that there were some trade related issues with Pakistan, which were temporary and could be resolved, as China would help Pakistan in increasing exports and improving its infrastructure.
Earlier, Gilani said, “We would encourage Chinese companies to consider investments in the energy sector, which assures certain returns. Our energy requirements are expected to increase from 20,000MWs to more than 160,000MWs by the year 2030.”
“Pakistan has 185 billion tonnes of coal reserves, which would be converted into energy to satisfy Pakistan’s growing demand,” he added while encouraging Chinese investors to explore opportunities in oil and gas sectors.
“The government has announced special economic incentives for Chinese investors including duty-free import of plant and machinery, exemption from sales tax and income tax,” he informed.
He informed the participant that Pakistan was in the process of creating a National Trade Corridor, which would be connected to China through an upgraded Karakoram Highway.
“Besides a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the Joint Five Year Economic Programme, we are now jointly endeavouring to establish closer financial and banking sector cooperation,” PM Gilani said, adding that the govt was giving importance to the safety and security of Chinese personnel and premises in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in his address at banquet hosted in the honour of Wen Jiabao, Gilani while the declaring 2011 as year of Sino-Pak Friendship said Pakistan strongly believed in ‘One-China’ policy and was opposed to any policy aimed at containing progress or impeding peace and development in the region.
The banquet was attended by the three Services Chiefs, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, President PML-Q Ch Shujaat Hussain, ANP President Asfandyar Wali and others.
“We desire a peaceful environment in our region in the interest of our development and to raise the living standards of our people. We seek peaceful resolution of all issues with India, including the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” Gilani said, as he hoped that the success in this endeavour would usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in South Asia.
Similarly, he said, a stable Afghanistan would open up vast opportunities for Pakistan and indeed for other regional countries.
“We deeply appreciate China’s support to Pakistan on various regional and international issues”.
He said the longstanding ties of friendship between the two countries were underpinned by mutual trust, solid confidence and creating synergy to build mutually-beneficial relationship for progress and social harmony in our two countries as well as in Asia and beyond.
“A unique characteristic of Pakistan-China relationship has been that it is not directed against any country,” he remarked.
PM said, “We are opposed to any policy which aims at “containing progress or impeding peace and development” in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese PM promised to assist Pakistan various sectors including energy and agriculture, adding that the strategic ties between the two countries would also be extended.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will address the joint sitting of the Parliament today (Sunday morning).
He will be the first Chinese and the sixth world leader to address the joint session of the PakistanÂ’s Parliament. Five foreign dignitaries who had earlier addressed the joint sitting are Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, ex-Turkish President Kenan Evran, former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Queen Elizabeth II of the Great Britain.
Agencies add: According to a list handed out to journalists, the biggest deal was 6.5 billion dollars to develop wind and solar power.
Though not specifically mentioned, behind-the-scenes talks were expected on China building a one-gigawatt nuclear power plant as part of Pakistani plans to produce 8,000MW of electricity by 2025 to make up its energy shortfall.
The Islamabad city administration declared Saturday a public holiday, apparently for security reasons with the country on full-time alert for suicide attacks and bombings blamed on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked extremists.
“China-Pakistan friendship will last forever,” Chinese Prime Minister told a ceremony commemorating Chinese workers who died in the 1970s while building the Karakoram Highway.
On the occasion, Gilani announced Rs0.3 million for the custodian of graves of 500 Chinese, died in Pakistan during the construction work on the highway.
Earlier on Friday, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters that Pakistan and China signed deals worth around 20 billion dollars boosting trade and investment. It included 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding in fields including energy, rail transport, reconstruction, agriculture and culture.
“China will provide assistance in 36 projects in Pakistan to be completed in five years,” he said. “Basically this is a five-year development plan.”
Although no specific mention was made of nuclear power, talks are believed to be ongoing on China building a one-giga watt nuclear power plant to overcome acute energy shortages.
Gilani has expressed the hope that trade will rise to between 15 and 18 billion dollars over the next five years.
Meanwhile, the two countries reached agreement on enhancing bilateral ties during the one-to-one as well as delegation-level talks between Gilani and Wen Jiabao.
China extended full support to PakistanÂ’s sovereignty, security and political integrity. It also extended strong support for enhancing PakistanÂ’s defence and economic cooperation as well as in space programme.

Queen Elizabeth Panties For Sale!

The Queen’s undies are up for auction. A pair of monogrammed lacy knickers, once belonging to Queen Elizabeth II, are on the eBay auction block, TMZ.com Goss Watchers report. The underwear are currently in the possession of a famous Miami playboy known as “Baron” Joseph de Bicske Dobronyi , who got them through a friend [...]

Kate Middleton Engagement Ring Knockoffs A Holiday Must-Have

Kate Middleton isn’t a princess just yet, but it appears the well-spoken daughter of self-made English millionaires is well on her way to becoming a style icon. Knockoffs of the sparkling sapphire engagement ring that Kate recently accepted from her longtime beau-turned-fiance, Britain’s Prince William, are already on tap to become the must-have accessory of [...]

Prince William Kate Middleton Wedding April 29, 2011

Save the Date for a Spring Wedding: Prince William and Kate Middleton will wed on Friday, April 29, 2011 in Westminster Abbey, British officials said Tuesday. That’s 157 days from now, so let the planning begin. William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and her mother both married at the abbey, where British kings and queens are [...]

Tale Of Two Kates: Anne Hathaway Spoofs Katie Holmes & Kate Middleton On “SNL”

If you’re nobody in Hollywood until you’ve been reincarnated as a caricature on Saturday Night Live, Britain’s soon-to-be Princess Kate Middleton is ready for her closeup. Anne Hathaway not only spoofed Middle, but fellow actress Katie Holmes too, during her weekend hosting gig on NBC’s SNL. In a sketch which featured Andy Samberg as Prince [...]

Prince William Kate Middleton Engaged — British Royal Wedding Summer 2011

Butter Up the English Muffins: Prince William’s getting hitched! On Tuesday, British royal Prince William, 28, confirmed that he is to set wed college sweetheart Kate Middleton — the daughter of self-made millionaires — next year. William proposed to Middleton during a vacation to Kenya last month and the happy news was announced by royal [...]

Britain is ‘cruel and angry’, says Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren, the actress who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, has attacked modern Britain as being ‘angry’ and ‘cruel’, and said she would feel more at home in France. She also said that the tradition of British decency was declining. “I”m under the impression that this notion is disappearing from [...]

Queen Elizabeth Facebook Page Launched!

Her Royal Highness is now a proud member of Facebook! It’s good to be Queen…. On Monday, Buckingham Palace launched this page called “The British Monarchy” on Facebook, where Brits, admirers, and fans of the Royal Family can “like” Queen Elizabeth II. At press time, The Queen already boasted more than 41,000 friends! “We’re delighted [...]

Both Charlize Theron, Keira Knightley set to play Princess Diana

Actresses Charlize Theron and Keira Knightley will go against each other on the big screen as they are both reportedly lined up to play Diana, Princess of Wales. ””The Monster”” star is said to be in line to play the late royal in a film about her friendship with her former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, who [...]

Forbes World’s Most Powerful Women 2010

First Lady Michelle Obama is the World’s Most Powerful Women, according to the latest ranking from Forbes Magazine. This year’s list of the Most Powerful Women on Earth brands singer Lady Gaga more powerful than the woman who is second-in-line to the US presidency, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Mrs. O joins media moguls Oprah Winfrey [...]

Expat embraces Indian Dynamism; launches website to support charity

Business Wire India): A simple vision of one person has helped build an empowered organization that supports many charities in India. With an intention of creating an avenue for people to learn more about her work, the charities supported by and how people can get involved, Pam Hudson (MBE) an expat residing in India since [...]

What Did Queen Elizabeth’s Trip to New York City Include?

Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly visited New York City for the first time in 34 years! And it has been a brief visit. The Monarch of the UK came to the Big Apple and stayed just several hours there. However, her itinerary was full with stops by Ground Zero and the United Nations. The Queen [...]

Royal Family Has Prohibited Sarah Ferguson From Appearing On “Celebrity Rehab”

Sorry, Dr Drew: Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the Royal Family have forbidden embattled Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson from appearing on the presently-shelved fourth season of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab. Tattling tipsters tell The National Enquirer that a cash-strapped Ferguson was recently forced to turn down a $1 million deal to appear on [...]

Royal Family Has Prohibited Sarah Ferguson From Appearing On “Celebrity Rehab”

Sorry, Dr Drew: Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the Royal Family have forbidden embattled Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson from appearing on the presently-shelved fourth season of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab. Tattling tipsters tell The National Enquirer that a cash-strapped Ferguson was recently forced to turn down a $1 million deal to appear on [...]

Dame Helen Mirren not reprising Queen role

Dame Helen Mirren, who won an Academy Award for her depiction of Queen Elizabeth II in 2006, has dismissed reports that she’s set to reprise the role in a new film about Indira Gandhi. The actress was lined up to tackle the role again in Mother: The Indira Gandhi Story, a two-part biopic about the [...]

Sir Patrick Stewart Knighted By Queen Elizabeth

Patrick Stewart has boldly gone where no Trekkie has gone before: Buckingham Palace. The actor — famous for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation — officially became Sir Patrick Stewart when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in London on Wednesday.The Queen is reported to be a fan of the 69-year-old [...]

Britain heads for hung parliament

London, May 7 : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a bold bid to cling to power early Friday even though the opposition Conservatives could emerge as the biggest party from the general election, according to exit polls.
Speaking after his re-election in his constituency in Scotland, Brown said it was his duty to secure strong [...]