VIENNA – Diplomats say the U.S and Iran are discussing a compromise that would let Iran keep much of its uranium-enriching technology but reduce its potential to make nuclear weapons. The two diplomats told The Associated Press that such a compromise could break the decade-long deadlock on attempts to limit …
Read More »Industrial equipment maker Siemens to ax 7,800 jobs in cost-cutting drive
FRANKFURT, Germany – Industrial machinery maker Siemens AG says it will cut 7,800 administrative jobs worldwide as part of an effort to streamline the sprawling company and its many businesses. Munich-based Siemens said in a statement Friday that 3,300 of the job losses will be in Germany. Siemens CEO Joe …
Read More »Germany: Top-level talks to organize summit on Ukraine peace to resume in Minsk
BERLIN – Germany’s Foreign Ministry says talks between senior officials from Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine to pave the way for a summit of leaders in Minsk will resume in the Belarusian capital. The ministry says that officials from the four countries will meet again in Minsk Tuesday evening, following …
Read More »French official: Egypt to buy 24 Rafale jet fighters for 5.2B euros; jets' first foreign sale
PARIS – A French official says Egypt has agreed to buy 24 Rafale jets as part of a 5.2 billion-euro (US$5.93 billion) defense deal, marking the first foreign sale of the French-made fighters. The official said French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was expected to travel to Cairo on Monday …
Read More »UN expresses hope as latest round of Mali talks kicks off in Algiers despite renewed fighting
ALGIERS, Algeria – The U.N. representative to Mali has expressed hope over the latest round of peace talks set to begin Monday between the warring factions in the country. The talks which began in Algiers in September are between Mali’s government, a series of separatist rebel groups based in the …
Read More »British teen who said he wanted to behead a soldier convicted of terrorism
LONDON – A teenage British convert to Islam who said he wanted to decapitate a soldier has been convicted of terrorism. A jury at London’s Central Criminal Court found 19-year-old Brusthom Ziamani guilty Thursday of preparing an act of terrorism. Prosecutors said Ziamani was inspired by the two Islamic extremists …
Read More »New Zealand to send troops to Iraq to train local forces in battle against Islamic State
WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand will send a small number of troops to Iraq to help train local forces in their battle against the Islamic State group, Prime Minister John Key announced Tuesday. Key told lawmakers the country would deploy up to 143 military personnel, who would be based …
Read More »Argentina overhauls discredited intelligence agency amid criticism from opposition lawmakers
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina’s Congress has approved a law overhauling an intelligence agency under fire from the president as well as the opposition. The measure approved early Thursday comes after President Cristina Fernandez said the agency was out of control and suggested a top spy could have been involved …
Read More »Maldives opposition resolves to continue protests to press for former president's release
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – An opposition lawmaker in the Maldives said her party will press on with street protests until the government frees a former president and current opposition leader. Mohamed Nasheed, the Indian Ocean nation’s first democratically elected president, was arrested a week ago for allegedly ordering the military …
Read More »Kuwait supreme court upholds verdict against online journalist for insulting country's ruler
KUWAIT CITY – A Kuwaiti lawyer says the country’s supreme court has upheld a verdict against an online journalist sentenced to two years in prison for Twitter posts deemed insulting to the Gulf nation’s ruler. Ayyad al-Harbi was arrested in 2012 as part of a social media crackdown throughout the …
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