Pay-TV Operator OSN Has “No Current Plans” To List Shares – CEO

KIPCO, OSN’s parent company, had indicated that an IPO was expected to happen this year.

Five Challenges For Modi’s New Indian Government

A large budget deficit and concerns that the El Nino could devastate agricultural output, require immediate attention.

New Indian PM Narendra Modi Will Boost Trade Links With The GCC

Narendra Modi’s BJP party won the 2014 Indian elections with a landslide majority.

Saudi Arabia May Curb Trade Ties With Netherlands Over Anti-Islam Slogans

Stickers printed by far-right politician Geert Wilders display anti-Islam slogans.

Why Is Bank Lending To GCC SMEs Low?

Poor financial reporting and an absence of credit bureaus are hindering SME lending.

French Investment Bank Natixis Plans Middle East Hiring Spree

Natixis currently has around 40 staff in Dubai, as well as a small representative office in Egypt.

Narendra Modi Wins India’s Election With A Landslide

Congress faces worst-ever result, Rahul Gandhi may lose seat.

BJP and Allies Set To Sweep 2014 Indian Elections

Congress and allies lose ground in states considered to be their strongholds.

UAE Says No Plans For More Financial Aid To Egypt For Now

The UAE and other Gulf states promised more than $12 billion in loans and donations to support the Egyptian economy after Mursi’s removal.

More OPEC Oil Needed To Balance Market This Year -IEA

Global oil demand growth will be slightly higher than previously thought in 2014, at 1.32 million barrels per day (bpd), the IEA said.

Qatar Airways Launches London Business Class and Hofuf Flights

Doha carrier identifies gap for focused premium product on highly competitive route

WHO Says Deadly MERS Virus Does Not Constitute Global Emergency

The virus, which causes coughing, fever and sometimes fatal pneumonia, has been reported in more than 500 patients in Saudi Arabia.

Yahoo Buys Mobile “Self-Destruct” Messaging App Blink

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

US Urges Gulf To Unite Against Threats Like Iran

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel addressed a meeting of GCC defence ministers in Jeddah.

US Woos High-Spending GCC Visitors

There has been a marked increase in the number of direct air connections between the two regions in the last year.

Death Toll In Turkish Mine Blast Exceeds 200, Many Still Trapped

The death toll has risen to 201 in the incident, which is considered to be Turkey’s worst mining disaster in decades.

Saudi Foreign Minister Says Has Invited Iranian Counterpart To Visit

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has visited most of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE since the nuclear pact.

IMF Chief Draws Cautious Response From Arab Countries In Call To End Subsidies

The Fund estimates that subsidies cost the region $237 billion annually.

UK Health Authorities Say Second U.S. MERS Case Flew Via London

The passenger was on Saudi Airlines Flight 113 from Jeddah to London.

Qatar’s Katara Hospitality Inks Deal With Starwood To Operate Milan Hotel

Katara-owned Excelsior Hotel Gallia will be a part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection portfolio, making it the brand’s seventh hotel in Italy.

Emirates Launches Fifth Daily Flight To Singapore

The Asian country has become an important gateway hub for the Dubai-based carrier.

Exclusive: More Gulf Restaurants For Heinz Beck

Beck’s Belcanto will be another ‘casual fine dining’ concept, similar to Social by Heinz Beck at The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah.

Philippines Hoping To See 20% Rise In GCC Tourists In 2014

The Southeast Asian country is boosting social media promotion and working on improving air connectivity to lure more visitors from the GCC.

Dubai Agrees $1.7bn Sale Of German Packaging Firm Mauser

Mauser was put up for sale earlier this year, having been bought by DIC from JP Morgan’s buyout unit in 2007, in a deal which valued the firm at 850 million euros.

REVEALED: The Gulf Business 2014 Salary Survey

Despite a closing of the gap between Western and Arab salaries in 2014, average wages have declined overall.

Revealed: Western Expatriate Salaries In The Gulf

The Gulf Business 2014 Salary Survey found that salaries for Western expatriates in the GCC fell steeply last year.

Revealed: Asian Expatriate Salaries In The Gulf

The Gulf Business 2014 Salary Survey found that the average wage of an Asian expatriate in the GCC dropped by 4.27 per cent.

Revealed: Arab Expatriate Salaries In The Gulf

The Gulf Business 2014 Salary Survey found that there has been an influx of well-qualified Arab expats into the GCC in the last year.

UK Fraud Office Steps Up Probe Into Barclays Over Qatar

The Financial Times said this was an acceleration of the SFO’s probe into allegedly corrupt arrangements with Qatar as part of the bank’s emergency cash call in 2008.

Saudi’s Naimi: Willing To Supply More Oil In Case Of Shortage

Russia’s military intervention on Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and its aftermath in eastern Ukraine have rattled oil markets for the last few months.