Tehran says any talks must be ‘without preconditions’BERLIN (Reuters) — Germany made clear to Iran on Saturday it must halt uranium enrichment if it wants to negotiate with six world powers on an offer of incentives aimed at resolving the nuclear standoff with the Islamic republic.
Read More »mircea
Kuwaiti women campaign in uncharted territory
KUWAIT — Kuwaiti women competing for the first time in a general election are shattering social taboos and campaigning in the uncharted territory of the all-male “diwaniyaâ€, the Gulf Arab state’s version of a gentlemen’s club.
Read More »Asian labourers toil to build UAE for meagre returns
DUBAI — Construction worker B. Lal arrived in the affluent Gulf Arab city of Dubai more than a year ago, hoping to end the grinding poverty of his family in India.
Read More »Egypt’s judges reject new bill on judiciary
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian judges rejected Friday a bill on the judiciary, with their elected body saying it does not ensure judicial independence and allows the state to retain too much power.
Read More »Safety fears see Iraq cup final moved to Kurdish north
SULEIMANIYAH — This year’s Iraqi cup final is to be played in the autonomous Kurdish north for the first time amid safety fears around a tie that threatens to fan sectarian passions.
Read More »Mauritanian proposed constitution put to the test
NOUAKCHOTT (AFP) — A new constitution proposed by Mauritania’s military junta with the aim of bolstering democracy will be put to the test Sunday when the country votes in a referendum.
Read More »Libyan official frustrated at pace of renewed ties with US
WASHINGTON — Libya’s top diplomat in Washington on Friday expressed frustration at the pace of renewed relations with the United States following the restoration of diplomatic ties.
Read More »Saleh to seek new term after all
SANAA(AFP) — Veteran Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in power since 1978, announced Saturday that he would seek a new seven-year term after all, at a mass rally in the capital of the impoverished Arabian Peninsula republic.
Read More »Maliki to present reconciliation plan to assembly
Sunnis outraged by arrest of religious leader in TikritBAGHDAD (Reuters) — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki was expected to present a national reconciliation plan to parliament on Sunday to defuse a Sunni insurgency and tackle sectarian violence, political sources said.
Read More »Saudi Arabia detains 43 suspected militants
RIYADH (AFP) — Saudi security forces have detained 43 suspected militants, including two Somalis, an Ethiopian and an Iraqi, the interior ministry said Saturday after a deadly gunbattle in the capital.
Read More »