Al-Ittihad (UAE): US Concludes Secret Transfer of Iraqi Uranium to Canada – A large stockpile of concentrated natural uranium from Iraq, the last remains of Iraq's nuclear program, has arrived in Canada in a secret US operation that had been carried out over the past two weeks. The operation included 550 tons of "yellowcake" sold to Canadian Cameco Corp, a stockpile that the United States and Iraqi government feared could reach the Iranians through insurgents in Iraq.

Az-Zaman (London; Iraq): UAE Writes Off Iraqi Debts; Names Ambassador to Baghdad – The United Arab Emirates yesterday announced writing off all Iraqi debts owed it, believed to be estimated at $7 billion, in a first such Arab move. During Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's visit to Abu Dhabi, the UAE cabinet also agreed to name a new ambassador to Baghdad, Abdullah Ibrahim al-Shehi, currently the ambassador in India.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Iran, India Negotiate 17 Sailors Arrested Near Nuclear Plant – Indian Foreign Minister Shiyshankar Menon said the arrest of 17 Indian sailors by the Iranian authorities for violating Iranian territorial waters near a nuclear plant was "very complicated" issue. He said the Indian government had contacted its Iranian counterpart to secure their release after they were taken from Saudi boats. The Saudis are still trying to determine the owners of the fishing boats.

As-Safir (Lebanon): Hezbollah and Israel Finalize Swap Deal – A prisoner exchange deal between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel is in its final stages as representatives from both sides signed an agreement through the mediation of U.N. envoy German Gerhard Konrad. The two sides have also exchanged reports regarding information on their prisoners, and sources said the swap should take place next week.

Al-Qabas (Kuwait): Damascus Announces End of Prison 'Riots' – Syria said yesterday the security forces crushed the "disorder" at Saidnaya military prison by inmates convicted of "crimes of extremism and terror," but made no mention of casualties. However, a London-based Syrian human rights monitor close to the Syrian opposition said 25 inmates were killed after Islamist prisoners launched a "disobedience" campaign, which it said was still continuing.