Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

IRINnews Asia: ISLAMABAD - The construction of five new bridges by the Aga Khan Foundation between the remote northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan and the southeastern Badakhshoni Khui province in Tajikistan, will help improve the food situation in extremely vulnerable areas, aid workers told IRIN on Thursday. Both provinces are very mountainous, difficult to reach and are geographically isolated in economic terms.

L'Actualité - Article de Yves Starvridès - En détruisant au lance-roquettes la bibliothèque Nasser Khosrow, les talibans ont effacé des pans entiers de la culture persane. Pour la reconstruire, son directeur compte sur les intellectuels occidentaux. C'était une des plus belles bibliothèques publiques d'Afghanistan. Peut-être même la plus belle. Avec ses 55 000 volumes, elle était le joyau de la Fondation Nasser Khosrow: des manuscrits vieux de 10 siècles y c

New Vision (Kampala). By John Eremu: ' The Aga Khan Foundation has sunk US$300,000 (sh522m) into the establishment of a university of nursing in Uganda. The East African regional director for Aga Khan Universities, Dr. Grace Miller, told The New Vision in an interview that the money was spent on renovation and equipping the university premises on Makerere Road in Old Kampala. Speaking at the university's open day on Wednesday, the state minister for trade, Dr. Abel Rwendeire, hailed the Aga Khan development network for providing an opportunity for nurses to upgrade.

Maclean's. 'With her Ismaili Muslim parents, Samira has 'vacationed' in Tanzania and Pakistan, helping people see life more clearly -- literally. The trips are a project of her ophthalmologist dad and optometrist mom, who work with local agencies to give free eye clinics. Samira contributes by holding eye charts, taking histories or reassuring the fearful. You're expected to help others, she says of her faith.'

Zanzibar, Tanzania - His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims and Zanzibar's Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha today signed an Agreement of Co-operation to initiate a comprehensive urban rehabilitation proposal for the Seafront Area of Zanzibar's Stone Town, after a private meeting with President Amani Abeid Karume. The Seafront Area, characterised by many historic buildings and public open spaces, is one of the most culturally and economically significant parts of the Stone Town, itself recently recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - (AP) Tajikistan's national airline on Thursday began passenger service to Afghanistan and officials announced plans to build five bridges connecting the countries... The Tajikistan Airlines decision to open service between Dushanbe and Kabul, the Afghan capital, was largely in response to demand by businessmen, airline officials said. The flights are expected to go once a week.

Tokyo, Japan: His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims today announced, at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, a multiyear commitment of US$75 million by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to help re-build Afghanistan

Washington Post. For the first time in its 36 years, the Smithsonian Folklife festival will be dedicated to a single subject: an exploration of the ancient Silk Road, the trade route that linked Asia and Europe, and its influence of its cultures on American life today... The event has attracted three principal sponsors, which are also underwriting Ma's project: the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Ford Motor Co. and Siemens, the German conglomerate... The festival will spotlight about 350 artists, another record for the event.

ISLAMABAD - (Dawn) : The Aga Khan, Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, arrives here on Sunday for a short visit to Pakistan. The Aga Khan will meet with President Pervez Musharraf as well as senior government officials. During this visit, he will attend the inauguration of the First Micro-Finance Bank, sponsored by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). The Aga Khan is also expected to be present at a ceremony to formally inaugurate the Islamabad Serena Hotel, developed and operated by Tourism Promotion Services, an affiliate of the AKFED.

Times of India - : The Baltistan region

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has clarified an article that appeared in the East African Standard newspaper on Thursday, July 25, 2002 titled 'NGOs fail to account for grants.' AKF said the article that stated: It has been 'revealed that NGOs affiliated to Aga Khan Foundation Early Childhood Development Project (ECD) have failed to account for funds awarded to them,' was incorrect. The Foundation would like to inform the public that: First, there are no NGO's affiliated to AKF in Tana River District.

Osh (KABAR)- According to the Osh oblast's press service, Shah Karim Al-Husein Aga-Khan will arrive to Osh to visit a new building of a school reconstructed for funds of Karim Aga-Khan. During the visit he will meet with governor Naken Kasiev to discuss key positions of potential cooperation.

Washingston- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it will donate about 5,500 metric tons of U.S. agricultural commodities to the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) for use in Tajikistan under the Food for Progress program.

Buildings that blend with community life celebrated at AGA Khan Awards

Brussels, Belgium - World Bank Press Release: Leading international experts, European decision makers, foundations, NGOs and the private sector met in Brussels today for a roundtable discussion on Early Childhood Development (ECD) predominately in developing countries. The meeting was the first ever organised in Europe by the Aga Khan Foundation and the World Bank.

Dushanbe : Two experts from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) are in [Tajikistan's] Mountainous Badakhshon Autonomous Region to see for themselves the condition of the Pamir-1 hydroelectric power station, particularly its tunnel, Asia-Plus learnt from an official from the organization, Matthew Scanlon.

The East African (Nairobi). SERIOUS CHALLENGES continue to face outlying populations of quake-hit Nahrin District in Afghanistan as aid agencies consider downscaling relief efforts around Nahrin City. Inaccessible populations, landmines, water and sanitation, and changing weather remain major problems.

Washington - His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims, addressed the presidents of over 100 leading public and private research universities from around the world at the International Convocation of the American Association of Universities on these issues, expressing the hope that he could 'convince institutions in both the developing and industrialised world to come together to work on common problems, opportunities and responsibilities.'

Kabul, Afghanistan - His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Mr. Hamid Karzai, Chairman of the Interim Authority of the Government of Afghanistan today signed an Agreement of Cooperation for Development that establishes an operating framework for the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Afghanistan.

A sell-out Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Awards' Dinner heard the Aga Khan, the Guest Of Honor, expound on his breeding philosophy and then present the 13 awards for excellence in British Thoroughbred Breeding. The Aga Khan had a very successful 2000, headlined by Sinndar winning the Vodafone Derby, the Budweiser Irish Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and Kalanisi capturing the Dubai Champion Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Turf. Sir Michael Oswald, the TBA President, presented the Aga Khan with a silver salver to mark the achievements of 2000.