ADAM SCHRECK

Rights group: Abuse at Abu Dhabi museum site despite reforms

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Reforms enacted in the United Arab Emirates have not done enough to end the exploitation of migrant workers building a high-profile project that includes branches of the Louvre and the Guggenheim museums, a leading human rights group said Tuesday.

Britain to boost military presence in Persian Gulf

The agreement marks a strategic shift for Britain, which formally withdrew from its major Gulf military bases in 1971. It comes as the U.K., the United States and their allies seek to push back Islamic State group militants that have taken over large parts of Iraq and Syria and as world powers work

Dubai pushes ahead on world’s biggest airport plan

The approval sets in motion a vast building project that will boost capacity exponentially at the airport known as Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central. Backers envision it will eventually handle more than 200 million passengers per year.

Dubai lays out plans for Legoland, other parks

Meraas Holding said initial work began in February on the $2.7 billion Dubai Parks and Resorts project, and that the first phase should be done by 2016. The company is backed by Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Qatar denies funding extremist Islamic State group

The energy-rich OPEC member has come under renewed scrutiny over ties to militants, including the Palestinian Hamas and Syrian rebel groups. A German official last week suggested that Qatar may also play a role in funding the Islamic State group, which is fighting in Iraq and Syria and recently behe

Militants overrun most of major Iraqi city

The rampage by the black banner-waving insurgents was a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as he tries to hold onto power, and highlighted the growing strength of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The group has been advancing in both Iraq and neighboring Syria, capturing territo

‘Happy’ video arrests highlight tensions in Iran

Criticism outside Iran was predictably swift Wednesday, with calls for freedom for the jailed youths zipping around social media. Williams tweeted: “It’s beyond sad these kids were arrested for trying to spread happiness.”

Mideast airline Etihad offers bed and bath suites

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Talk about some serious legroom.

Etihad Airways, a fast-growing Mideast carrier, laid out plans Sunday to offer passengers who find first-class seats a bit too tight a miniature suite featuring a closed-off bedroom, private bathroom and a dedicated butler.

‘Forever grateful': Saved mall goers thank police

“I will be forever grateful for those three brave and selfless Kenyans,” said Lyndsay Handler, an American who was among those rescued from the roof in the first hours of the siege that began Saturday. “Words cannot fully capture the depth of this gratitude, but anyone who has come close to losing a

Iranian exiles leave disputed Camp Ashraf in Iraq

The MEK is staunchly opposed to Iran’s clerical regime, and thousands of its members were granted sanctuary inside Iraq by Saddam. It carried out a series of bombings and assassinations inside Iran in the 1980s and fought alongside Iraqi forces in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

Iraq confirms arrest of minister’s bodyguards

In the year since the last American troops left Iraq, the country has been wracked by sectarian violence and political stalemate. Iraq’s Sunni vice president is on the run after being convicted in absentia and sentenced to death on terror charges, and bloody attacks by Sunni extremists against Shiit

Kingdom, Batelco team on bid for Saudi Zain stake

The two suitors didn’t say how much they were offering for the 25 percent stake, which they previously had pursued separately. Those earlier offers were unsuccessful.