TEHRAN // Iran offered on 'Tuesday to resume nuclear talks with the United States and other world powers next week after pushing for a shift of venue to Turkey to give Tehran an ally on the sidelines.
It was not immediately clear, however, whether the mothballed negotiations could be restarted as quickly as next Monday - under the Iranian proposal carried by the semiofficial Mehr news agency. Iranian officials also said that the issue of nuclear fuel-swapping, which derailed the last round of talks, is off the table.
Iran also has sent mixed signals in the past over willingness to discuss Western demands to curb its nuclear ambitions, including sending counter-proposals and using delaying tactics that effectively brought talks to an impasse.
After the Iranian announcement, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no firm date has been set for the talks, Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
In Paris, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said there was "no confirmation" through official channels about the time or place to resume talks.
But the proposal attributed to Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki shows Iran's apparent eagerness to reopen dialogue over its nuclear ambitions after facing tighter international economic sanctions.
It also displays the growing diplomatic aspirations of NATO-member Turkey as a bridge between the West and Islamic world. Turkey is a longtime Western ally, but its Islamic-oriented leadership has been gradually shifting its priorities toward boosting ties with Iran and other Muslim nations.
Talks with the six nations - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - collapsed last year after Iran balked at a UN-drafted plan to send most of its enriched uranium abroad in exchange for reactor-ready fuel for its lone power reactor and a separate facility to make isotopes for cancer treatment.
The six powers suspect Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability under the cover of a civil energy program. Iran denies that, saying it only has peaceful aims, such as power generation.
Iran accepted a uranium-for-fuel swap proposal from allies Brazil and Turkey, but the six nations said that offer fell short of their demands to ensure that Iran does not possess the raw materials for a nuclear weapon.
The U.N. Security Council imposed a fourth round of tough sanctions against Iran in June over its refusal to halt enrichment.
Although Iran has opened the door to restart talks, it has not given any indication of backing off Western demands to halt enriching uranium - which can be used to make fuel for power plants as well as material for warheads.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry on Tuesday said Iran should engage in a more "responsible dialogue" with the West, saying that with the Democrats' loss to resurgent Republicans in the midterm elections, the U.S. House may not be as lenient toward Iran.
The House "perhaps will not be ready to provide Iran with the opportunities that this government has been ready to provide," Kerry told a small group of journalists during a visit to Turkey.
The Mehr agency quoted Mottaki as saying talks were "expected" to start Monday. Mottaki had earlier suggested Turkey as the venue.
Mottaki said both Iran and the West should show "flexibility" for setting date and place of the talks.
"Then it will not be hard to set them," he was quoted as saying.
He also urged the six nations to soften their stance toward Iran.
"In the past, we witnessed confrontation instead of a constructive" approach, he was quoted as saying.
The French Foreign Ministry spokesman Valero said there is still no official response from Iran.
"For us, it's very simple on Iran. We are still waiting for a concrete response from Iranian authorities to our proposals made to them - about where, when and about what. We are still waiting for that," he said.
"We don't have any indications" about a Nov. 15 date in Turkey, he added.
Remaining Fixtures
Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final
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- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
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What are the regulations?
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It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
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Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
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Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
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Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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Director: James Gray
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The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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