Iran Nuke Talk Issues: Enrichment, Sanctions

GENEVA November 21, 2013 (AP)
By JOHN HEILPRIN and JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press

Iran nuclear talks entered a delicate phase Thursday as negotiators tried to fine-tune a draft agreement that would limit Tehran's atomic program in return for easing some sanctions. Iran's ability to produce nuclear fuel and relief for Iran's oil and banking sectors appeared to be among the sticking points.

Renewed opposition from influential members of the U.S. Congress to any deal they feel gives the Iranians too much for too little complicated the diplomatic maneuvering. The Democratic-led Senate signaled Thursday it would only give President Barack Obama until next month before pressing ahead with new Iran sanctions, and a key Republican introduced legislation to limit the president's future negotiating ability with Tehran.

Guli jewelry can be admired but not purchased

The New Bell Tower built in Tashkent in 2009 next to the old one especially for Gulnara Karimova © Uznews.net

The New Bell Tower shop that carries Guli jewelry produced by Gulnara Karimova is now a gallery. 

The shop reopened as a gallery in the city center near Amir Timur park on Tuesday. The Guli jewelry – made out of corrals, pearls, emeralds, white, yellow and pink gold – can be seen on display but cannot be purchased.

“You are only allowed to look at the jewelry,” tells the gallery assistant to surprised customers. 

The jewelry on display is not as luxurious as might seem at the first glance and there is a lot of empty space on the shelves. 

Afghan Election Season off to a Messy Start

KABUL, Afghanistan November 20, 2013 (AP)
By KATHY GANNON Associated Press

With Afghanistan's next presidential election just five months away, authorities say they are facing a possible repeat of the abuses that have discredited the country's efforts to build a democracy.

Election officials say they can only estimate how many voters are really on the rolls. Added to the confusion are millions of additional registration cards from the elections of the past. Taliban threats cast a further damper.

U.S. urges Karzai to sign Afghan pact before Afghan elections

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

WASHINGTON -- New discord surfaced between the U.S. and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday, with Karzai saying he would prefer his successor sign a new security pact with the United States, and Washington saying that no signatures by the end of 2013 could be a deal breaker.

Secretary of State John Kerry and Karzai agreed this week to language of a proposed bilateral security agreement that could allow thousands of U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan as trainers and advisers after 2014 when the NATO-led combat mission ends.

Iran unveils new 'biggest' drone

The "Fotros" was unveiled at a ceremony in Tehran

Iran says it has developed a drone with a range of 2,000km (1,200 miles), which would enable it to cover much of the Middle East, including Israel.

The Islamic Republic's Defence Minister said the unmanned aircraft could carry out reconnaissance missions or launch missile strikes.

Hossein Dehghan said sanctions imposed by "enemies" would not stop progress.

Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva

Iran's heavy water plant at Arak remains one key contentious issue

Talks between world powers and Iran to secure a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme have resumed in Geneva.

Both sides have expressed confidence a breakthrough can be achieved.

However ahead of the talks, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned his country would not step back "one iota" from its nuclear rights and had set "red lines" for the meeting.

An interim deal could see Iran curb its uranium enrichment in return for easing of some international sanctions.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but some world powers have suspected it is seeking a nuclear weapons capability.

Suspected US drone 'kills five' in Pakistan

A US drone strike has killed at least five people in an Islamic seminary in Pakistan's north-western Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, officials say.

At least two of the dead were militants, officials said. Students and clerics were also reported killed.

Defeat of Tamils haunts Sri Lanka Commonwealth talks

© afp

British PM David Cameron urged Sri Lanka to hold "a proper inquiry" into the defeat of the Tamil Tiger insurgency following a Commonwealth summit in Colombo hosted by President Mahinda Rajapakse, who oversaw the 2009 rout of the rebel group.

Iran slows expansion of nuclear facilities

© AFP file photo

Iran has not expanded its nuclear facilities over the last three months, UN atomic watchdog's most recent report has shown. Thursday's report comes before a new round of talks between Iran and world powers kicks off next week in Geneva.

Pakistan to try former leader Musharraf for treason

© Photo: AFP

Pakistan’s former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf will face charges of treason, punishable by death, for imposing emergency rule in 2007, the country’s Interior minister said on Sunday.

By News Wires (text)

Indonesia suspends ties with Australia over spy claims

© AFP

Indonesia’s president said Wednesday he was freezing military and intelligence cooperation with Australia over media reports that Canberra tried to spy on his wife. The reports cited documents leaked by ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

By News Wires (text)

 

Indonesia’s relations with Australia sank to their lowest since the turn of the century on Wednesday over reports Canberra had spied on top Indonesians, including the president’s wife, threatening to hurt trade ties.

Zero-sum politics

As an election looms, Bangladesh’s feuding leaders live down to expectations

Nov 2nd 2013 |From the print edition

WRITING about politics in Bangladesh, this newspaper has often found itself drawn to the analogy of a Punch-and-Judy show. We now know this is deeply unfair—to a wholesome if brutal form of puppetry.

Sri Lanka Accused of Barring Human Rights Delegation

COLOMBO (Reuters) - An international human rights group accused Sri Lanka on Thursday of denying visas to its delegation ahead of a Commonwealth summit in the island nation, which is under growing foreign pressure over its rights record.

But Sri Lankan government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said he was unaware of any such visa denial or request by The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI).

Sri Lanka hosts the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next week and human rights groups have urged a boycott by leaders to put pressure on the government, which faces allegations of extra-judicial killings, harassment of minorities and the detention of politicians and journalists.

India launches Mars exploration mission

Rocket carrying unmanned probe lifts off from southern coast for 780-million-km journey to study the Martian atmosphere. Last Modified: 05 Nov 2013 11:19

India has launched its first inter-planetary mission in an attempt to become the only Asian country to reach the planet of Mars. A rocket carrying a 1.35-tonne unmanned probe vehicle lifted off from the country's southern island of Sriharikota on Tuesday, where it began a 300-day, 780-million-km journey to study the Martian atmosphere.

New Taliban Leader

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have elected Maulana Fazlullah as their new chief after the death of the  previous leader in a US drone strike, according to a spokesperson for the group.

The spokesman said that Fazlullah's appointment meant that peace talks with the Pakistan government were now off the table.

Fazlullah led the Taliban's brutal two-year rule in Pakistan's northwestern valley of Swat from 2007 to 2009, before a military operation retook the area.

He takes over leadership of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone strike last Friday.