Iran: We can be flexible

Detroit Free Press

TENSIONS OVER NUCLEAR PROGRAM

Iran is ready to show flexibility at nuclear talks to ease Western concerns over its contentious nuclear program, its foreign ministry spokesman said Saturday, as tensions rise in the standoff among itself, Israel and the West.

The remarks by Ramin Mehmanparast, published by the official IRNA news agency, underscore Tehran's push to resume talks with world powers as Western sanctions squeeze the economy tighter and the European Union weighs a boycott of Iranian natural gas.

The five members of the United Nations Security Council, plus Germany and Iran, aim to resume high-level talks that were suspended in June. The countries want the Islamic Republic to stop enriching uranium to 20% purity because, at that level, the material can be quickly turned into fuel for nuclear weapons.

Tropical Storm Rafael

Caribbean flooding reported, flights canceled
Tropical Storm Rafael lashed the eastern Caribbean on Saturday with heavy rains that are expected to unleash floods on islands around the region.

Flights scheduled to leave Puerto Rico's main international airport were canceled, and the Carnival Victory cruise ship canceled a stop in St. Maarten.

Flooding was reported in Trinidad, where the storm caused a brief power outage at the island's main international airport late Friday. At least one flight was canceled.

The storm was located about 85 miles east of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands at 8 p.m. Saturday. It had top sustained winds of 50 m.p.h. and was moving north at 12 m.p.h.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm will gain some strength and could become a hurricane by late Monday.

Middle East

Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood draws fire
A statement against Jews by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual guide drew criticism from an Israeli lawmaker Saturday, while a Jewish activist group called on Washington to cut contacts with Egypt over the issue.

Mohammed Badie said during his weekly message that Jews were spreading "corruption" and had slaughtered Muslims and desecrated holy sites. He further called on Muslims to fight Israel, saying Zionists only understand force.

Israel has increasingly become concerned over its relations with Egypt as the formerly repressed Muslim Brotherhood has risen to power with the election of an Islamist president following the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. Newly elected President Mohammed Morsi has pledged that Egypt will abide by a 1979 peace accord with Israel.

Israel hits Gaza: Israel's military said Saturday that its aircraft fired at militants belonging to an al-Qaida-inspired group in Gaza a day after rockets hit a house in Israel. Palestinian health official Ashraf al-Kidra said one man was killed and another injured in the air strike. Hamas said a security facility was hit, causing no injuries.

A rocket fired from Gaza hit a house in southern Israel on Friday. There were no injuries.

Afghanistan

6 die in suicide bombing at intelligence office
A suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up at a local intelligence office in southern Afghanistan, in the deadliest of three attacks that left at least nine people dead on Saturday, officials said.

Six people -- four Afghan intelligence officers, a coalition service member and a civilian employee working for the coalition -- died in the bombing, which took place in the Maruf district of Kandahar province. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Boat mishap

22 rescued after vessel hits shoal near island
Nearly two dozen people who were enjoying a bachelor party on what's billed as San Francisco Bay's only "floating wine tasting room" were OK after their boat hit a shoal near Alcatraz Island and began sinking Friday night, officials said.

The 45-foot Neptune hit the shoal around 8:42 p.m. and started taking on water. Three Coast Guard boats took all 22 passengers and crew members off the vessel and brought them to the pier, a spokesman said.

Quick hits
Vessels collide: The Pentagon said late Saturday that it was investigating why a Navy submarine collided with an Aegis cruiser during routine operations at an undisclosed location. The U.S. Fleet Forces Command said in a news release that the submarine USS Montpelier and the Aegis cruiser USS San Jacinto collided about 3:30 p.m. No one was injured, and the extent of any damage was not clear Saturday evening.

Jump on: Daredevil Felix Baumgartner's jump from 23 miles up may happen this morning if weather continues to cooperate. Baumgartner's jump near Roswell, N.M., already has been canceled twice because of high winds. He will try to break a 1960 high-altitude parachuting record.