LONDON / AP Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says Scotland should get more sweeping powers but remain in the United Kingdom. Brown entered the fray over the region’s future on Saturday with a speech in Scotland saying Brexit makes the case for Scottish independence weaker, not stronger. He said Scotland should be able to set some tax rates, …

  BERLIN / AP Germany’s foreign minister says Turkey’s chances of joining the European Union are dwindling, but the country might one day hope for a privileged partnership with the bloc. Sigmar Gabriel told German weekly Der Spiegel in an interview published Saturday that “Turkey is further away than ever before from EU membership.” Gabriel, whose center-left Social Democrats have …

  HOMS / AP Scores of Syrian opposition fighters and their families began leaving the last rebel-held neighborhood in the central city of Homs on Saturday as part of a Russian-backed evacuation deal signed earlier this week. By midday around 100 fighters and their families had left the city, once known as the epicenter of the 2011 uprising against President …

  ORLY / AP Soldiers at Paris’ busy Orly Aiport shot and killed a man who wrestled one of their colleagues to the ground and tried to steal her rifle on Saturday, officials said. Thousands of travellers were evacuated and at least 15 flights were diverted to the city’s other airport, Charles de Gaulle. No one else was hurt. Police …

  WASHINGTON / AP President Donald Trump defiantly refused to back down from his explosive claim that Barack Obama wiretapped his phones, and sidestepped any blame for the White House decision to highlight an unverified report that Britain helped carry out the alleged surveillance. In brushing off the diplomatic row with perhaps America’s closest ally, Trump also revived another: the …

  BUENOS AIRES / WAM His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation met with Foreign Minister of Argentina, Susana Mabel Malcorra. Sheikh Abdullah was accorded an official reception upon his arrival at the venue. The national anthems of the UAE and Argentine were played, followed by an inspection of the Guard of Honour …

  Dubai / WAM The economic development in the UAE accelerated with the integration of federal and local laws and regulations, along with the world-class infrastructure in the country, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has said. He added, this has established the foundations for a strong and diversified economy …

  Dubai / WAM Some 914 Emirati men and women were employed by 111 financial and banking institutions in 75 days through Government Accelerators, a government approach that was launched last year to accelerate the achievement of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021, according to Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Of these, 774 …

  Dubai / WAM The International Government Communication Forum 2017 (IGCF) will host two workshops, in collaboration with the United Nations Foundation, to enhance the quality of media coverage and government communication systems, to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sixth Edition of IGCF 2017 will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al …

  Dubai / WAM Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) on Saturday announced its participation in CeBIT 2017, marking its fourth presence at the global event for digital business. Set to run from March, 20-24 in Hannover, Germany, the upcoming edition of the trade show will feature an exhibition, conferences, corporate events, and keynote sessions. During the five-day event, DSOA, the regulatory …