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Gaza Ceasefire Holds As Focus Turns To Longer Term

The deal, which took effect on Tuesday evening, called for an indefinite halt to hostilities and the immediate opening of Gaza’s blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt.

Iranian Minister Says Saudi Talks “Constructive”

Hossein Abdollahian was in Jeddah for the first high-level talks between the two nations since Hassan Rouhani was elected Iran’s president.

Kuwait Energy Keen To Invest More In Iraq – CEO

Sara Akbar said the violence in Iraq was temporary and could not overshadow the country’s vast potential for relatively easy oil.

Israeli Air Strikes Target More Gaza High-Rises

Israeli attacks flattened the 13-storey Basha Tower and the 16-storey Italian Complex.

Iran Oil Minister: Oil Prices Appropriate, Decline Is Short-Lived

Brent crude edged up towards $103 a barrel on Tuesday, although supply pressure and weak economic data in consumer countries curbed gains.

Qatar Seeks To Free More US Hostages In Syria

The Gulf Arab state’s diplomacy recently helped free Peter Theo Curtis, an American journalist held since 2012.

Three Chinese Engineers Kidnapped In Southeast Turkey

The workers were seized from the town of Silopi by suspected members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Oil Edges Above $102, Supply Risks Support

Geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and Libya pushed up prices, although ample supply limited the rebound from last week’s 14-month low.

Iran Deputy Foreign Minister To Visit Saudi Arabia

Hossein Amir Abdollahian’s trip is the first high-profile visit to the Kingdom since the election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2013.

Qatar Facilitates Release Of American Kidnapped In Syria

Peter Theo Curtis, an American writer, was missing since 2012.

War Planes Attack Libyan Capital Again

In recent weeks Libya has seen the worst fighting since the NATO-backed campaign to oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Netanyahu Warns Gaza Civilians After Israel Destroys 13-Storey Building

The bombing of Al Zafer Tower in Gaza City, which housed 44 families, was the first time in the Gaza war that Israel had brought down so tall a structure.

Stock News: Conservative Ownership Rules May Slow Saudi Uptrend

The Capital Market Authority proposed limiting total foreign ownership of the market’s value to 10 per cent.

Pressure On Europeans To Take More Action Against Islamic State

Political leaders in Britain, France and Germany have so far ruled out joining military action in Iraq.

Western Iran Hit By 5.2 Magnitude Earthquake

The depth of six miles was the same as that of a 6.3-magnitude quake which hit the same area on Aug. 18.

Special Report: The End of Iraq?

The country we all know as Iraq may never be the same again and that poses problematic questions for the stakeholders in its economy.

Hamas Says Israel Killed Three Top Gaza Commanders

Egyptian-mediated talks to end weeks of deadly fighting between Israel, Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza collapsed on Tuesday when violence broke out after ten days of relative calm.

Marriott Says Protea Acquisition Helps Boost Occupancy In MEA

Marriott saw occupancy rise 4.4 per cent and RevPar increase by 3.9 per cent in the Middle East and Africa region during Q2.

Hikma Pharma Cuts Revenue Forecast For Branded Drugs

The Jordanian drugmaker cited shipment issues in some north African markets.

Gaza War Resumes With Deadly Strikes, Rocket Fire

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

Islamic State Video Purports To Show Beheading Of US Journalist

James Foley, 40, was kidnapped by armed men on Nov. 22, 2012, in northern Syria while on his way to the Turkish border.

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.

US Bars All American Airlines From Flying Over Syria

The US Federal Aviation Administration said the move was taken after “updated assessment of risk” and a lack of airlines wishing to fly in the airspace.

Major Earthquake In Western Iran Leaves 60 Injured

State news agency IRNA said the quake was magnitude 6.1 while the US Geological Survey put it at 6.3.

Stock News: Saudi Arabia The Main Attraction Amid Summer Lull

The Kingdom’s benchmark rose for the 13th time in 15 sessions on Sunday to reach a new six-year peak.

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.

Islamic State Establishes Jihadist Hub In The Heart Of Middle East

The Islamic State is well-resourced, with young volunteers, cash to buy weapons and pay wages, plus an arsenal of weapons it captured from the Iraqi army in June.