German Minister Accuses Qatar Of Funding Islamic State Fighters

Gerd Mueller presented no evidence of a Qatari link to Islamic State.

Gaza War Resumes With Deadly Strikes, Rocket Fire

Palestinian health officials said the strikes killed 10 people including two women and four children.

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Denounces Iraq’s Islamic State Group

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh said the militant groups Islamic State and al Qaeda were “enemy number one of Islam”.

Islamic State Message To America: “We Will Drown All Of You In Blood”

U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq have helped Kurdish fighters take back some territory captured by Islamic State militants.

Unidentified War Planes, Explosions Heard In Libyan Capital

A Libyan TV channel said planes targeted positions in Tripoli where militias have been fighting for control for over one month.

UN Nuclear Chief Holds Top Level Nuclear Talks In Iran

Yukiya Amano’s trip comes ahead of an August 25 deadline for Iran to provide information to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Hezbollah Sees Islamic State As Threat To Gulf, Jordan

The radical Islamist movement that has seized territory in Iraq and Syria is a growing “monster”, said Hezbollah’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah.

Bahrain Sentences 14 To Life In Jail For Killing Policeman Last Year

The 14 were convicted of premeditated murder and intent to use violence against members of the security forces.

Renewed Gaza Truce Holds After Rocky Start

A halt in more than a month of fighting, in which 1,945 Palestinians and 67 Israelis have been killed, had been set to expire at midnight on Wednesday.

Egypt’s Mubarak Denies Ordering Killing Of Protesters

Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for complicity in the deaths of demonstrators, but an appeals court subsequently ordered a retrial.

Italian Journalist, Three Bomb Disposal Experts, Two Others Killed In Gaza

They were killed when unexploded munitions blew up in the town of Beit Lahiya.

Gulf States Might Return Envoys To Doha Soon – Official

Oman’s foreign minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah said that the recent dialogue between Qatar’s emir and Saudi’s King Abdullah has been effective in easing the rift.

Glad To Be Rid Of Maliki, Saudi Arabia Congratulates New Iraq PM

In a message sent to Haider al-Abadi, King Abdullah wished him success in “in restoring cohesion” among the Iraqi people.

Saudi Arabia Tells Israel Only Peace Can Ensure Its Survival

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal also called for support from Egypt to end the fighting.

Human Rights Watch Urges UN Inquiry Into “Systematic” Egypt Killings

Egypt’s government said the report was “characterised by negativity and bias” and relied on anonymous witnesses rather than neutral sources.

Kuwait Revokes Citizenship Of 10 More People

The cabinet said in a statement that it had reviewed data related to the naturalisation of the 10 and found they were ineligible for Kuwaiti citizenship.

UN Names Panel To Probe War Crimes In Gaza, Israel Slams It

The independent team will investigate “all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law” by both sides.

Egypt, Saudis Seek United Front Against Militant Islam

Saudi Arabia and Egypt see the recent success of militants in Iraq as a threat to their stability and undermining security in the region.

Turkey’s Erdogan Wins Presidential Poll

Erodgan won the first popular presidential election after winning just over half the votes.

Turks Vote For President As Erdogan Envisages “New Turkey”

Opinion polls put Erdogan, 60, far ahead of two rivals competing for a five-year term as president.

Islamic State Killed 500 Yazidis, Buried Some Victims Alive – Iraq

Iraq’s human rights minister said some 300 women were also kidnapped as slaves.

Bahrain Bans Three Clerics From Preaching; Opposition Condemns Move

Bahrain has forbidden Sheikh Kamel al-Hashemi, Adel al-Hamad and Mohammed al-Mansi to preach in and around the capital Manama.

Bahrain Accuses Qatar Of Luring Citizens To Switch Nationality

Bahrain News Agency quoted a senior official as saying that Qatar had “targeted specific families and singled out a particular category of people” with no consideration to Bahraini laws.

Mediators Race Against Clock To Extend 3-Day Gaza Truce

Efforts to turn the ceasefire into a lasting truce could prove difficult.

Cost Of Gaza Truce “Almost Too Much To Bear” – UN Chief

Gaza officials say the war has killed 1,867 Palestinians, most of them civilians.

Saudisation Conditions Force Closure Of 200,000 Companies

Limitations on hiring imposed by the Nitiqat nationalisation programme led to the closures.

Egypt Upholds Death Sentence For 12 For Murder Of Policeman -Sources

The men were charged in connection with violence that erupted when police stormed the town of Kerdasa near Cairo in September.

UAE Issues Military Cards For First Batch Of Emirati Recruits

The training for the first batch of conscripts will begin on August 30, state news agency WAM said.

Saudi Arabia Provides $1bn Aid To Lebanon’s Army

Lebanon has been buffeted by violence linked to the Syrian conflict, including rocket attacks, suicide bombings and gun battles.

UK Minister Sayeeda Warsi Quits Over ‘Morally Indefensible’ Gaza Policy

Gaza officials say the war has killed 1,865 Palestinians, most of them civilians.