India’s New Budget Targets Growth, Jobs

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also raised limits on foreign investment in defence and insurance ventures to 49 per cent from 26 per cent.

Bahrain Questions Opposition Leader After Expelling US Diplomat

Ali Salman, the leader of opposition group al-Wefaq, was summoned after he met with visiting US official Tom Malinowski.

UAE Holding Suspected Qatari “Agents” For Questioning – Report

A Qatari newspaper reported earlier this week that UAE authorities had detained three Qatari citizens who were on holiday.

Bahrain Summons Top Opposition Leader For Questioning

Sheikh Ali Salman from al Wefaq and his political assistant were summoned by authorities after they met visiting US official Tomasz Malinowski.

Bahrain Orders Visiting US Official To Leave The Country

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Tomasz Malinowski, was accused of “intervening” in Bahrain’s internal affairs.

Saudi Jails Four For Planning To Fight In Iraq, Supporting Al Qaeda

The four, one of whom was sentenced in absentia, were given prison sentences of two years to five years and six months.

Kuwait Court Frees Prominent Opposition Figure On Bail – Lawyer

The court ordered Musallam al-Barrak to be freed on payment of a KD5,000 bail and delayed his case until September.

Senior Iraqi Army Commander Killed In Battle

The official was killed “when mortar rounds fell” in the Ibrahim Bin Ali area, a military spokesman said.

Egypt’s Sisi Says He Wishes Al Jazeera Journalists Were Deported, Not Tried

An Egyptian court handed down prison sentences of seven to 10 years to three journalists last month.

Kuwait Police Disperse Rally Demanding Politician’s Release

Prominent opposition politician Musallam al-Barrak has been detained for questioning over allegations that he insulted the judiciary.

Bahraini Policeman Dies Of Bomb Blast Wounds – Ministry

The explosion occurred near the village of East Eker, south of the capital Manama.

Kuwait Warns Against Violent Protests

The government accused demonstrators of setting fire to tyres and garbage containers and destroying a restaurant last week.

Growing Concern In Muslim World About Islamist Militancy – Survey

Support for violent tactics such as suicide bombing has fallen in many countries but significant minorities still approve of them, a survey showed.

Saudi Arabia Deploys 30,000 Soldiers To Border With Iraq – Al-Arabiya TV

Al Arabiya said that it had obtained a video showing Iraqi soldiers in Karabala after they quit their positions on the border.

Obama Discusses Iraq Threats With Saudi Arabian King Abdullah

U.S President Barack Obama and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah agreed to consult closely on regional developments, the White House said.

Saudi King Appoints New Spy Chief As Regional Crisis Spreads

Prince Khaled bin Bandar served as both deputy defence minister and governor of Riyadh last year.

Saudi King Sacks Deputy Defence Minister – Royal Court

Prince Khaled bin Bandar bin Abdul-Aziz was removed from his post less than two months after his appointment.

Saudi King, In Ramadan Message, Vows To Crush Terrorists

The remarks came days after the king ordered all necessary measures to protect Saudi against potential “terrorist threats” from Iraq.

Saudi King Tells Kerry He Will Press Sunnis To Join Iraq Government

Saudi Arabia had previously been unwilling to support the formation of a new government unless Iraqi PM Nour al-Maliki stepped aside.

Saudi King Orders Steps To Protect Kingdom Against “Terrorist Threats”

The agency said the monarch ordered the unspecified measures after he chaired a meeting of the country’s national security council .

With Eye On Iraq, Kuwait Urges End To Political Games

The emir urged Kuwaitis not to publicly discuss an investigation into reports of a recording of people discussing an alleged plot against the governing system.

Kerry To Visit Saudi Arabia On Friday To Discuss Iraq and Syria

The U.S. Secretary of State will most likely meet the Saudi monarch in Jeddah.

Bahrain Opposition Leader Cleared Of Terrorism Charges

Khalil al-Marzouq, deputy leader of the al-Wefaq party, was charged with inciting terrorism.

Egypt’s President Says Will Not Interfere In Judicial Rulings

Egypt was widely criticised by rights groups and Western governments after it sentenced three Al Jazeera journalists to prison for seven years.

Kuwait Withdraws Envoy From Iraq Due To Security Situation – Ministry Official

Kuwait said that it would reinstate its ambassador in Iraq once the political situation stabilises.

Al Jazeera Condemns Egyptian Jail Sentences For Its Journalists

Al Jazeera English managing director said that the ruling “defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice”.

Egypt Court Jails Al Jazeera Journalists For 7-10 Years

The three journalists who were sentenced include Australian Peter Greste, Al Jazeera’s Kenya-based correspondent, and Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy.

Egyptian Verdict Due For Three Jailed Al Jazeera Journalists

All three have been held at Egypt’s notorious Tora Prison for six months, in a case that has drawn criticism from Western governments and human rights groups.

Khamenei Says Iran Strongly Opposes US Intervention In Iraq

Khamenei added in remarks to judiciary officials that Washington aimed to keep Iraq under its control and place its own stooges in power.

Renegade General Urges Turks, Qataris To Leave East Libya

Turkey and Qatar both have supported the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement which has been declared a “terrorist” organisation by Egypt and Gulf countries.