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Italian major Eni has signed four agreements with Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and Tatweer Petroleum to study and assess the potential of a number of onshore and offshore exploration and production assets in the country. The deals were signed by Eni head Claudio Descalzi on a visit to Bahrain on 6 November.

If the Houthi rebellion flares up into a sixth major round of fighting, Saudi Arabia will probably be a combatant almost from the outset. Initially Saudi support would probably be low visibility, including a surge or money, equipment and air support.

Since the 13-14 May US-Gulf Co-operation Council summit, at which the United States promised to fast-track arms transfers to its Gulf allies (GSN 993/3), the US has approved at least two possible military sales to the region. On 29 May, the State Department approved the sale to the UAE of guided bomb units (GBUs) and associated parts and logistical support worth around $130m. The UAE has requested 1600 GBUs of three different specifications – 500 GBU-31B/B(V)1 (MK-84/BLU-117) bombs, 500 GBU-31B/B(V)3 (BLU-109) bombs and 600 GBU-12 (MK-82/BLU-111) bombs – along with containers, fuses, spare parts, technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment.

Iraqi troops opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in Fallujah on 25 January, killing seven people and overshadowing Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s attempts to show a more conciliatory approach towards Sunni protesters. Dozens more were wounded as clashes erupted after Friday prayers, the first such confrontation since huge Sunni protests began in late 2012. News agencies said two soldiers were later killed in apparently retaliatory attacks.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdelrahman Al-Thani held talks in Doha on 11 October with the Russian president’s special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev. A few days earlier he was in Malaysia, where he met his counterpart Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman.

Minister responsible for foreign affairs Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah signed a memorandum of co-operation with the European Union high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Federica Mogherini in Brussels on 20 September. The new deal will provide the basis for enhanced political dialogue and strengthened co-operation, according to a statement issued by Mogherini. Those “issues of mutual interest” include the Qatar crisis, relations with Iran and efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Yemen war.

National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has been finalising further deals with international oil companies (IOCs), in the wake of its successful signing on 3 July of a $4.8bn, 20-year deal for Phase 11 of the South Pars gas field with French major Total and China National Petroleum Corporation. The Phase 11 project is the first to be signed under the new International Petroleum Contract (IPC). It provides a potentially useful springboard to convince other oil majors to commit to projects in the Islamic Republic.

Kuwait’s new Anti-Corruption Authority (ACA) has its work cut out. Finally established in mid-2013 after years of rhetoric, the ACA (sometimes also referred to as the Public Authority for Anti-Corruption, or PAAC) has made some progress. A draft law is expected to be completed in February, and ACA members are being trained overseas. But a lack of dedicated resources – and ongoing political upheaval – make its success far from assured.In the past few years, Kuwait has continued to slide down the rankings of Transparency International’s corruption perception index, which measures how corrupt public sectors are seen to be.

The Allegiance Council (Hay’at Al-Bay’ah) was created by royal decree in October 2006. Previously, choosing a successor had been in the hands of the king, although there was some family discussion; the Allegiance Council – also referred to as the Allegiance Commission – aims to formalise the process and base it on a family consensus, bringing together representatives of all the sons of King Abdelaziz to agree on who will succeed. MembershipAccording to the Allegiance Institution Law of 20 October 2006, the council should comprise sons of King Abdelaziz; grandsons of King Abdelaziz whose fathers are deceased,

A rise in crimes such as carjacking, mugging and harassment, and continued warnings of a possible terrorist attack as AQAP regroups, are testing the international security community

Most of the 12 blocks on offer in Iraq’s reworked and delayed fourth licensing round attracted no bidders, but of the three that did, two had a high level of security risk

King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa issued pardons for 901 inmates on humanitarian grounds on 12 March and ordered another 585 prisoners who have served at least half their jail terms to be given alternative penalties and enrolled on rehabilitation and training programmes. Interior minister General Sheikh Rashid Bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa said the early releases were made in light of the “current circumstances” – an apparent reference to the coronavirus crisis.

President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s 19 December decrees brought Yemen’s counterterrorism operations under one roof for the first time, making it clear that, in line with US wishes, Hadi considers the fight against terrorism a military affair.

Ali Abdullah Saleh’s visits to Cairo and Amman have stoked speculation that he is planning a new initiative to reconcile southern leaders before Yemen’s divisions become irreversible

Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has invited bids from local and international companies seeking to build five new mega reservoirs and associated pumping station packages. The tender – which will close on 5 June – is for five separate packages for material supply, construction, testing and commissioning for sites at Umm Birka, Umm Slal, Al Thumama, Rawdhat Rashid and Abu Nakhla. The reservoirs and pipeline network, scheduled to be completed by 2017, will be capable of storing 15m metres cubed of potable water, one of the biggest water security projects in the world.