Islamabad: The Islamabad visit of United Arab Emirates (UAE) president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Monday had been postponed owing to weather conditions, GNN reported.

According to the details, the visit would be rescheduled and new date would be announced later.

He was to be escorted by JF-17 aircrafts to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Noor Khan Air Base where the distinguished guest would be given a 21 gun salute.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and members of the federal cabinet were to welcome the distinguished guest at the air base.

Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan was to be presented a guard of honor by the armed forces of Pakistan at the Prime Minister's House, after which he was to have a one-on-one meeting with Shehbaz Sharif.

The UAE President arrived in Pakistan on 25th of this month. Shehbaz Sharif welcomed him at the Rahim Yar Khan Airport. A meeting was also held between the two leaders in Rahim Yar Khan.

It is pertinent to note that the federal government had announced the local holiday in Islamabad owing to his visit.

Johannesburg: Gunmen opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday at the weekend in a township in South Africa, killing eight and wounding three others, police said Monday.

The birthday celebrant was among those gunned down in the mass shooting in the southern port city of Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth.

"The owner of the house was celebrating his birthday when two unknown gunmen entered the yard" on Sunday evening "and started shooting at the guests," police said in a statement.

The gunmen "randomly shot at guests," police said, adding "eight people died while three others are still fighting for their lives in hospital. The home owner is among the deceased".

The motive of the attack is yet unknown.

Nomthetheleli Mene, the provincial police chief for the Eastern Cape province, condemned the killings as "a blatant disregard for human life".

An investigation has been launched into the attack and police said a manhunt for the perpetrators was underway.

Shootings are common in South Africa, which has one of the world's highest murder rates, fuelled by gang violence and alcohol.

South Africa last year saw string of shootings that killed nearly two dozen at separate bars in working class suburbs in Johannesburg and in the eastern city of Pietermaritzburg.

Police Minister Bheki Cele, the national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, and crime experts were scheduled to visit the scene of the attack later Monday morning.

SOURCE: AFP 

Auckland: Travellers flying with Emirates to Auckland had a long trip to nowhere when the aircraft they were travelling on turned back to Dubai after seven hours in the air.

On Friday, flight number EK448 from Dubai to Auckland departed the UAE at around 10:30am, and ended up landing back at the same airport where it took off a little more than 13 hours later. 

The pilot turned around nearly halfway into the almost 9,000-mile journey, landing back in Dubai just after midnight Saturday. 

Auckland Airport was forced to close at the start of the weekend due to severe flooding. 

“Auckland Airport has been assessing the damage to our international terminal and unfortunately determined that no international flights can operate today,” the airport said in a statement on Saturday afternoon local time. “We know this is extremely frustrating but the safety of passengers is our top priority.”

On Saturday night local time, after domestic flights resumed, airport officials said that international flights would resume Sunday morning.

Emirates said in a statement to Business Insider, “We regret the inconvenience caused to customers. Emirates will continue to monitor the situation in Auckland and issue updates where required.”

The flight, however, was rescheduled for Saturday Dubai time.