Iran, Six Powers Hold ‘Useful’ Nuclear Talks; Agreement Elusive

The next round of senior-level negotiations is due to take place next week in Vienna.

Egypt’s Economy Seen Just Meeting 2013/14 Growth Target

The country’s economy is predicted to grow 2.1 per cent this fiscal year, finds poll.

Bahraini Shi’ite Youth Risk Radicalisation As Political Talks Stall

There are fears that a deadlock in political efforts to solve a three-year-old standoff is deepening frustration among young Shi’ites.

Exclusive: Wealthy Russians Seek Second Citizenship To Beat Western Sanctions

Second citizenship expert says he has seen a significant jump in interest from Russian millionaires in the last month.

Bahrain, Russia Sign Investment Deal Amid Western Sanctions

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said it had signed a deal with Bahraini sovereign wealth fund to identify and work together on investment opportunities in their countries.

Bahrain Jails Five For Plotting To Bomb 2013 F1 Race

Bahrain’s official news agency did not name the five but said they had confessed to the plot.

Bahrain Sentences Eight People To Life For Policeman Bomb Death

Eight men planted a homemade bomb close to where police usually erected a checkpoint during protests, before setting tyres on fire and blocking the road to lure policemen to the site.

Bahrain Says Expels Representative Of Shi’ite Ayatollah Sistani

This latest move likely adds to tensions in the tiny Gulf state, where there are clashes with police in many Shi’ite areas almost every day.

Saudi Prince Says Gulf States Must Balance Threat From Iran

Prince Turki al-Faisal said that the Gulf states should be prepared for any possible outcome from Iran’s nuclear talks with world powers.

Kuwaiti Newspapers Suspended Over “Plot” Tape Stories

Two newspapers were suspended after they published stories about a recording that discusses an alleged plot to overthrow the Gulf state’s ruling system.

Influential Cleric Attempts To Soothe Gulf Rift

The cleric used unusually placatory language about Qatar’s neighbours, some of whom he has accused of a variety of failings including being insufficiently Islamic.

Gunmen Kill 2 Egyptian Policemen Near Cairo

The armed men fled the scene after shooting dead Captain Ashraf Badeer el-Qazaz of the intelligence service, the ministry said in a statement.

Two Killed In Bahrain Car Explosion – Interior Ministry

The ministry said on its Twitter account the explosion was in the mostly Shi’ite village of al-Maqshaa’, outside of the capital Manama.

Gulf Arab States Agree On Measures To Heal Internal Rift

GCC foreign ministers met in Riyadh for a comprehensive review of measures used to implement foreign and security policies.

Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Bandar Replaced By His Deputy-Royal Decree

Prince Bandar, a former ambassador to Washington, was appointed as the chief Saudi spy in July 2012.

Saudi Arabia: Reported Poison Gas Use By Syria Is Challenge To World

The reported gas attacks posed a clear challenge to the Security Council decision to dismantle Assad’s chemical arsenal, a senior official said.

Saudi Warns Imams Against Talking Politics In Mosques

Religious clerics found preaching about politics during their Friday sermons could lose their jobs, the ministry said.

Gunmen Kill Saudi Guard Near Yemeni Border, Wound Another

The guards came under heavy fire from the Yemeni side of the border at about 3 a.m in the eastern part of Jizan province.

Kuwait Opposition Calls For Elected Government, Reforms

The Opposition Coalition said parliament should be able to work without the threat of dissolution.

Saudi Liberal Website Closed By Jeddah Court

Local media reported that the website was shut down for publishing anti-Islamic material.

Kuwait Orders Blackout In Court Case Over “Plot” Tape

A statement said all forms of communication were banned from discussing the case, including news outlets and social media.

Kuwait Hopes For Remedy To Gulf Row Over Qatar Soon

Kuwait, which offered to mediate in the dispute, is planning to present a solution to the two sides soon, a Gulf Arab diplomat said.

UAE Plans Law To Regulate NGOs

The law is expected to be ready by 2015, according to a UAE federal minister.

Small Blast Heard In Bahrain Capital – Witnesses

The incident took place near a government security building in the Adliya district.

Blasts At Cairo University Kill Two – Security Officials

Two bombs killed a police officer and wounded five other security forces who had been guarding the facility, the ministry said.

Saudis Charge Three Over Allegedly Seditious Tweets

The men are reportedly the first to be charged under the terms of a February royal decree.

Kuwaiti Minister Rejects U.S. Accusations Of Syria Terror Funding

Nayef al-Ajmi was quoted as saying that comments made by the U.S. official in March, were “baseless and groundless”.

Bahrain Jails 13 For Life Over Protest, Attack – Lawyer

Defendants were accused of attacking two officers and of taking part in an illegal protest, according to their lawyer.

Saudi Dynasty Moves To Forestall Succession Crisis

The Kingdom recently appointed Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince.

Egyptian Soldier Killed, 3 Police Wounded In Attack On Bus

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.