Dozens convicted, jailed over coup plot in United Arab Emirates

ABU DHABI - A United Arab Emirates court on Tuesday jailed scores of Emiratis convicted of plotting a coup, after a trial that reflected the Gulf state's mistrust of Islamist groups following the Arab uprisings.

Among the 68 men convicted were academics and members of some prominent families in the UAE, including a cousin of the ruler of one of the seven emirates in the oil-rich federation.

Judge Falah al-Hajiri read out the names of 26 acquitted defendants, then announced jail terms for the remaining 68, eight of whom he sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison.

Umrah visa validity limited to 14 days

The Ministry of Haj has decided to limit the validity of Umrah visas to only 14 days because of the ongoing work to expand the mataf — the open area around the Holy Kaaba.

According to a circular sent two days ago to Umrah agencies in the Kingdom and Saudi missions abroad, the new rule comes into effect from Monday, June 10.

There will be no one-month visas this year.

Tehran, Bishkek review facilitating visa issuance

Dushanbe : Iran's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Ali Najafi discussed facilitation of visa issuance for Iranian and Kyrgyz nationals in a meeting Tuesday with two members of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Asil Boyok Zhinibikov and Nazar Ali Arefov.

During the meeting, Najafi briefed the two Kyrgyz parliamentarians on his plans to help further promote mutual cooperation between Tehran and Bishkek during his mission.

Meanwhile, Zhinibikov said that facilitation of visa issuance for nationals of the two countries and consequently, attracting more foreign tourists and investments to Kyrgyzstan would lead to further progress and prosperity of the Central Asian country.

Thousands of Yemenis deported from Saudi Arabia

Sana: Saudi Arabia has begun deporting thousands of Yemeni labourers following new regulations requiring foreigners to work only for their sponsors, a Yemeni official said on Monday, a move that could “significantly damage” the poor country’s economy.

Some two million of Yemen’s 25 million citizens work abroad, more than half of them in larger and richer neighbour Saudi Arabia. Remittances bring in $2 billion (Dh7.34 billion) a year to Yemen, a country still grappling with revolt, a separatist movement and an Islamist insurgency.

Saudi Arabia arrests 18 suspected spies

The Saudi authorities have arrested 18 suspected spies, including an Iranian and a Lebanese, on charges of espionage for a foreign country, the interior ministry said.

"Sixteen Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese were arrested in co-ordinated and simultaneous operations in four regions of the kingdom," including the capital Riyadh and Mecca, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.