Saudi Rejects U.N. Security Council Seat, Opening Way For Jordan

Jordan’s place on the Security Council still would need to be approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly.

Gulf Draws Foreign Money As Arab Spring States Struggle

Gulf equity and debt markets have boomed, partly on the back of inflows of foreign money, while markets affected by the Arab Spring have struggled.

Saudis Unconvinced By Kerry’s Show Of U.S. Goodwill

Saudi leaders fear President Barack Obama’s administration has stopped listening to its Arab ally.

Yasser Arafat Was Murdered With Polonium – Widow

A team of experts opened Arafat’s grave in the West Bank city of Ramallah last November to seek evidence of alleged poisoning.

New Qatar Emir Takes Aim At Inflation, Corruption

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani showed sensitivity to issues that could become politically controversial in the tiny but wealthy state.

Kerry Hails Disgruntled Saudi Arabia As Important U.S. Ally

Saudi Arabia is angry over what it sees as a weak foreign policy on the part of the Obama administration.

Bahrain Charges Top Opposition Leader

Sheikh Ali Salman was released on Sunday after five hours of interrogation about an opposition display.

Kuwaiti MP To Question Prime Minister Over Housing

Housing is the most pressing issue for Kuwaitis who say they have to wait up to 20 years for a government-subsidised home.

British Prime Minister Voices His Support For Dubai Expo 2020

David Cameron, Prime Minister of the UK, gives his reasons for why the emirate should host the expo.

Bahrain Defends Use Of Teargas Following Criticism

The Gulf state has reportedly has plans to buy 1.6 million canisters of the material.

UAE Signs $4.9bn Aid Package To Egypt

Over $1 billion of the money pledged will go to supply Egypt with fuel

Kuwait Emerges As Front-Runner To Fill Saudi Security Council Seat

Saudi Arabia rejected a UN Security Council place in protest at the body’s failure to end the war in Syria and act on other Middle East issues.

Qatari Poet Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Insulting Emir

Muhammad Ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami praised the Arab Spring revolts that toppled four authoritarian leaders.

Freed Lebanese, Turkish Hostages Fly Home After Deal

The nine Lebanese hostages were seized by Syrian rebels in May 2012

Arab States Urge Saudi To Keep U.N. Security Council Seat

The Kingdom refused its newly won council seat condemning the UN body’s double standards on the Middle East

Arab Spring Haj Pilgrims Talk Politics Despite Heavy Security

There was an undercurrent of frustration with the instability brought about by the Arab Spring uprisings.

Libyan PM Freed After Being Seized Over US Raid – Officials

Ali Zeidan was ‘kidnapped’ and held by militia for several hours on Thursday in Tripoli.

Libyan Prime Minister Zeidan Kidnapped From Hotel By Gunmen

Zeidan, who was staying at a hotel in Tripoli, was forcibly taken by gunmen from a former rebel faction.

Bahrain To Try Opposition Leader For Inciting Terrorism

Khalil al-Marzouk was detained in mid-September by police investigating what authorities called his promotion of terrorism.

Iran President’s Phone Call With Obama Stirs Hardline Suspicions

Rouhani, who took office in August, had the supreme leader’s approval for his move to build bridges with Washington.

Saudi Arabia Scrapped U.N. Speech In Protest Over Syria And Israel

The conservative Islamic kingdom is one of the main backers of rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Bahrain Jails 50 For Ties To Anti-Government Group

Bahrain has seen almost daily protests by members of the Shi’ite majority since February 2011.

Egypt’s Transitional Government Phase To End By Spring

The Egyptian army ousted Mursi, a Muslim Brotherhood leader, on July 3 after mass protests against his one-year rule.

Egypt Set For Total Rewrite Of Mursi Constitution

A 50-member committee has been appointed by the interim government to amend the constitution.

Turkey Will Probably Never Join The EU – Ankara Negotiator

Accession talks launched in 2005 got bogged down in a dispute over the divided island of Cyprus.

Syria Discloses Chemical Weapons Stockpile Details – Watchdog

Syria is believed to possess about 1,000 tonnes of toxins

Chemical Weapons Disposal Will Cost $1bn, Take A Year – Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied that his forces were responsible for a chemical weapons attack in Ghouta.

Bahrain Opposition Leader Accused Of Inciting “Terror”

Khalil al-Marzouq, of the opposition Al Wefaq party was summoned by the police and is expected to face legal charges.

UN Confirms Chemical Weapon Use In Syria Attack

U.N. chemical investigators confirmed the use of sarin nerve agent in an August 21 poison gas attack.

US, Russia Agree On Syria Weapons, Obama Says Force Still Option

The accord demands that Syrian President President Bashar al-Assad account for his secret stockpile within a week.