Gulf in the News – February 20, 2014

Iran, world powers tackle agenda for final nuclear accord

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

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The opening session on Tuesday was “productive” and “substantive”, they said. “The focus was on the parameters and the process of negotiations, the timetable of what is going to be a medium- to long-term process,” one European diplomat said.

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Gulf states, Russia disagree on Syria

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

There are growing attempts to depict the outcome of the Geneva II talks on the Syria crisis as a failure, which brings suspicion that those talking about a failure are secretly conspiring a military solution.

This is unacceptable for Russia, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “Let’s wait until it’s (the talks are) over before we say that it is a failure,” Lavrov said in response to a question about the differences in opinion on Syria during the GCC and Russia ministerial meeting held in Kuwait yesterday.

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Bahraini to die over cop’s killing

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

A court in Bahrain has sentenced one man to death and six others to life imprisonment for the killing of a policeman after a protest last year, local media reported on Wednesday.

Two other defendants were given sentences of five and six years in jail for their role in what state-run media have called a “terrorist attack … using an incendiary projectile” on the cop named Mohammed Aasef.

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Kingdom plans SR236bn petchem investment

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

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The Kingdom plans to invest nearly SR236 billion in new projects to stimulate petrochemical industry, a step seen to keep the Kingdom’s position as one of the best petrochemical players globally.

GCC to spearhead global economic growth in 2014

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

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The report forecast that there will be growth of 3.2 percent across the international board much of it spurred by recovery in high-income economies.

This not only indicates a substantial improvement over the latest 2013 growth estimate of 2.4 percent but occurs against a backdrop last year where the World Bank had downgraded the GDPs of several economies.

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