South Africa wants to be considered among the leaders of the developing world along with Brazil, Russia, India and China, its president said, pushing for membership of a grouping that has growing global influence.

President Jacob Zuma told reporters Wednesday during a state visit to China that South Africa has discussed its interest in joining the informal grouping of the four major developing nations, known as BRIC, with each member government.

The four nations work to boost trade with each other and have called for developing countries to have bigger role in major global financial decisions, primarily within institutions such as the International Monetary Fund.

The familiar sound of beating drums still fills the stadium as the United Arab Emirates begins its new football season, but matches are kicking off a lot later this summer.

With league play starting bang in the middle of Ramadan, officials have scheduled games to start well after ten o'clock at night to accommodate fasting players.

By the time crowds fill Al Nahyan stadium, players on Abu Dhabi's Al Wahda football team have had a chance to pray and break their fast.

Dawat Islamic Society of Nigeria, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Lagos State, South West Nigeria,  held its annual Ramadan lecture on Saturday, 21 August, 2010, dishing out awards to distinguished members of the society.

The event was graced by dignitaries and Islamic scholars across Lagos State, including Sheik Abdul-Ganny Solati, Alhaji Surajudeen Abdul-Wahab, Alhaji Abdul-Wasii Adeyemi, Chief Mogaji, Alhaja Latifat Saula and Alhaji Jimoh Ejigbadero, among others.

In his thought-provoking lecture, the lecturer of the day, Sheik Solati, reiterated the importance of serving God wholeheartedly, saying “whoever commits him or herself wholly to the service of Allah (SWT) by shunning all acts of sin and engaging purely in good deeds to fellow human beings, could use that to challenge Allah in periods of difficulty,” while one of the award recipients, Alhaji Surajudeen Abdul-Wahab, enjoined all Muslims to be committed to glorious propagation of Islam.