Fraud allegations rise as last 2 candidates face off in UNESCO leadership racePARIS — The U.N.’s cultural agency braced for an unusually suspenseful final round of voting to select its new chief — a race so tight it may come down to a random drawing between a controversial Egyptian and his low-profile Bulgarian rival. Gunmen in southern Sudan kill at least 80 as wave of tribal violence engulfs the southCAIRO — Gunmen attacked a village in southern Sudan and killed some 80 people and wounded 46, said a southern government official Monday, adding that he believed the militia was organized by the central government. Bulgarian and controversial Egyptian are neck-and-neck in UNESCO racePARIS — An Egyptian culture minister who once threatened to burn Israeli books will face off against a career diplomat from Bulgaria in the race to lead the U.N.’s agency for learning and culture. Human rights group accuses Italy of violating rights of would-be migrantsROME — A human rights group on Monday accused Italy of forcibly returning would-be migrants to Libya, failing to screen them for possible asylum requests and exposing them to abuse in the North African country. UN prepares for week with tough issues and new faces _ Obama, Gadhafi, Medvedev and Hu JintaoUNITED NATIONS — Among the world leaders gathering this week at the United Nations to tackle problems ranging from climate change to the spread of nuclear weapons will be many new faces, including the presidents of the United States, Russia and China. Libya to scoop up Canadian oil company Verenex for $293.7M after Chinese co. withdraws bidNEW YORK — Canada-based oil producer Verenex Energy Inc. said it has agreed to be sold to the Libyan Investment Authority for about $314.1 million Canadian ($293.7 million) in cash, after a better deal with a Chinese firm fell through. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr feast to end holy fasting month of RamadanA look at how Muslims around the world began celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a three-day feast that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Sudan’s army says more areas of North Darfur have been cleared of rebel presenceKHARTOUM, Sudan — The Sudanese army said Sunday it has cleared several more areas of rebel control in North Darfur province ahead of peace talks set for October. Rebels denied the government claims. Between sexy TV and a religious crackdown, Ramadan stirs Egypt’s cultural schizophreniaCAIRO — The holy month of Ramadan has brought out Egypt’s cultural split personality, twisting Egyptians into knots over whether their society is secular, Muslim or a muddled mix. Debate burns on over ‘book burning’ comment as UNESCO votes for new leaderPARIS — He’s an Egyptian culture minister who once threatened to burn Israeli books — and he might soon become the face of the United Nations’ arm for learning and culture. Egypt sentences 2 American couples to two-year prison terms, fines in illegal adoptions caseCAIRO — Two American couples who say they were trying to adopt children in Egypt were convicted of human trafficking and sentenced to two years in prison Thursday in a case that highlighted the murky process for adopting in this predominantly Muslim country. Top Egyptian cleric supports Muslim women’s right to wear trousersCAIRO — Egypt’s top Islamic authority defended women’s rights to wear trousers in public following a high profile court case in neighboring Sudan were women were flogged for dressing in pants, the local press reported Wednesday. Libyan takes helm of UN General Assembly calling for Mideast peace, end to nuclear weaponsUNITED NATIONS — Veteran Libyan diplomat Ali Treki took the helm of the U.N. General Assembly, calling for stepped up efforts to achieve Mideast peace, close the widening gap between rich and poor, and eliminate nuclear weapons. In new audio address, bin Laden calls for Americans to end Afghan war and alliance with IsraelCAIRO — Osama bin Laden said in a new audiotape that President Barack Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan is “hopeless” and called on Americans to resolve the conflict with al-Qaida by ending the war there and breaking the U.S. alliance with Israel. Egypt defends use of lethal force against migrants trying to cross into IsraelCAIRO — Egypt defended its use of lethal force against African migrants trying to cross illegally into Israel, saying Monday that it does so only as a last resort and to fight criminal activity in the politically sensitive area. In new audio address, Osama bin Laden calls Obama ‘powerless’ to win war in AfghanistanCAIRO — Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden described President Barack Obama as “powerless” to stop the war in Afghanistan and threatened to step up guerrilla warfare there in a new audiotape released to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. In new audio address, bin Laden reportedly calls Obama ‘powerless’CAIRO — Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden described President Barack Obama as “powerless” to stop the war in Afghanistan, and Americans’ inability to grasp why the Sept. 11 attacks occurred has “cost you a lot without any result whatsoever.” Israeli PM Netanyahu: Differences remain with US over restarting peace talks with PalestiniansJERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking before a key meeting with the White House Mideast envoy, said Sunday that differences remain with the U.S. over resuming peacemaking with the Palestinians. Netanyahu says he hopes to bridge remaining gaps with US on peacemakingJERUSALEM — An ongoing disagreement between Israel and the U.S. over how to resume Mideast peace talks remains unresolved, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. British Foreign Office denies ’secret deal’ with Libya over policewoman’s murderLONDON — Britain’s complicated relations with Libya returned to center stage Sunday as Foreign Office diplomats took the unusual step of denying a newspaper report about a secret deal with Moammar Gaddafi’s regime. Despite changes, Egypt’s bureaucracy remains a minefield for Egyptians and foreigners alikeCAIRO — After hours of pushing through sweltering crowds at office windows, I was on the verge of registering my newborn son when the woman behind the counter uttered the phrase most dreaded from an Egyptian civil servant. Report: British special forces are giving counter-terrorism training to Libyan infantryLONDON — Some of Britain’s most elite soldiers have been training Libyan forces in counterterrorism and surveillance for the past six months, a newspaper said Saturday. Al-Qaida Web sites go down ahead of 9/11 anniversary, just like last yearCAIRO — A U.S.-based group monitoring militant Web sites said Friday that jihadist forums have been experiencing technical problems on the eve of Sept. 11, finally going offline a day before the 8th anniversary of the al-Qaida attack on the U.S. Families of 17 sailors killed in USS Cole attack want more compensation from SudanNORFOLK, Va. — The families of 17 sailors killed in the 2000 attack on the USS Cole are asking to reopen their lawsuit against Sudan in an effort to seek more money. Darfur refugee representative says US envoy unwelcome for being too close to Sudan governmentCAIRO — The U.S. special envoy to Sudan is not welcome in Darfur’s refugee camps because he has downplayed the scope of the crisis there, a refugee representative said Friday. Chavez jokes with Spanish king who once told him to shut upMADRID — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez joked Friday with King Juan Carlos, saying the Spanish monarch’s new beard reminded him of Fidel Castro, further cementing a patched-up rapport with a man who once told Chavez to shut up. Iraqi shoe thrower might use star power to promote humanitarian causes after prison releaseBAGHDAD — The Iraqi television reporter who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush in one of the more bizarre episodes of the Iraq war might use his new iconic status in Iraq to promote humanitarian causes, his family said. Iraq, Syria trade accusations in failed talks to resolve dispute over militantsCAIRO — The foreign ministers of Iraq and Syria had a heated exchange, trading accusations Wednesday in a failed attempt to resolve a deepening split over Iraqi claims that Syria is harboring Sunni militants behind a recent flareup in violence. Obama’s envoy in Sudan to bolster peace deal as activists say US too lenient on KhartoumCAIRO — President Barack Obama’s envoy to Sudan launched a new mission Wednesday to overcome obstacles in the country’s fragile north-south peace deal, as activists sharply criticized U.S. policies as too lenient on the Khartoum government. Morgan Stanley’s president of Middle East and North Africa ops, Georges Makhoul, leaving bankNEW YORK — Morgan Stanley said Wednesday its president of Middle East and North Africa operations, Georges Makhoul, is leaving the bank. |
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