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UAE Looks East, Eyes Larger Trade With China

The UAE looks to grab a larger share of trade with China, outwitting its Gulf peers.

Chinese Firm OPPO Launches ‘World’s Thinnest Smartphone’ In UAE

The OPPO R5, priced at Dhs1,899, measures 4.85mm and comes with a 13MP camera.

Kalyan Jewellers To Invest Dhs400m In GCC This Year, Open 12 New Stores

The Indian jewellery retailer currently operates nine outlets in the UAE and three in Kuwait.

Sony To Cut 1,000 Jobs In Smartphone Business – Nikkei

The cuts are in addition to the 1,000 jobs Sony said it would eliminate in its mobile unit in October, Japan’s Nikkei reported.

Malaysia Airlines Website Targeted By Hacker Group “Cyber Caliphate”

In a statement, MAS said the website was not hacked, but that users were redirected to a hacker website.

Japan Condemns Apparent ISIL Execution, Demands Hostage Release

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the apparent killing of Haruna Yukawa “outrageous and impermissible.”

Obama, World Leaders Head To Saudi Arabia To Offer Condolences

Russia’s PM Dmitry Medvedev, UK’s PM David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande are also visiting Saudi to offer condolences.

Twitter Buys Indian Mobile Marketing Start-Up ZipDial

Bengaluru-based ZipDial gives clients phone numbers for use in marketing campaigns.

Samsung Talks To BlackBerry About $7.5bn Buyout – Source

The Korean firm is looking to gain access to BlackBerry’s valuable patent portfolio.

Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan To Join Beijing-Backed Development Bank

The entry brings the total number of founder nations intending to join the $50-billion bank to 26, officials said.

Emirates To Start A380 Flights To Perth

Emirates set to be first airline to fly the A380 to Perth next summer

Police Storm Sydney Cafe To End Hostage Siege, Three Dead

Authorities have not publicly identified the gunman, but a police source named him as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian refugee.

Australia’s Currency Drops As Sydney Hostage Drama Continues

At least one gunman has taken several people hostage at a central Sydney cafe.

UAE’s First Gulf Bank Looks To Asia For Expansion

It is particularly looking to expand into North Asia and mainland China and also wants to increase its presence in India.

UAE To Activate $5.7bn China Currency Swap Soon

The agreement has been designed to facilitate two-way trade and investment.

Qantas Flight From Dubai To Sydney Diverted To Perth After AC Fault

The aircraft descended from 39,000 to 10,000 feet in five minutes before landing safely in Perth.

Qatar Airways To Launch A380 To Bangkok From December 5

The airline had initially planned to deploy the jumbo jet to the Thai capital from January 2015.

Indonesia To Sign Sales, Refinery Deals With CNOOC, Saudi Aramco

Indonesia’s oil firm Pertamina is in talks with CNOOC, Saudi Aramco, Thailand’s PTT Pcl and a Japanese oil company to form joint ventures.

Doha Bank Shareholders Approve India Assets Buy

HSBC Bank Oman said in April it had agreed to the sale of its Indian business to Doha Bank.

Asia Will Feel Positive Impact Of Qatar 2022 – Official

Hassan Al Thawadi assured Asian Football Confederation members they too would also feel the positive affects of a first World Cup in the Middle East.

Indian Carrier IndiGo Expands Dubai Operations

Indian low-cost airline spots budget travel opportunities to Bengaluru and Kozikhode

HSBC Oman Says In Talks With Meezan Bank To Sell Pakistan Unit

HSBC Oman, 51 per cent owned by London-listed HSBC, said talks were preliminary and may or may not lead to a sale.

Pakistan In Talks With Qatar About LNG Imports In 2015

Nearly half of Pakistan’s electricity is generated by gas.

Top 10 Indian Cities For UAE NRI Property Investors

Mumbai tops the list, followed closely by Bangalore, finds new survey.

India Urges Higher Pay For Millions Of Gulf Workers

The recommended minimum monthly salary has risen to SAR1,200 in Saudi, and to Dhs1,500 in the UAE.

Japan Agrees To Extend UAE Crude Storage Deal

The agreement allows UAE easy access to Asian markets while giving Japan priority access to reserves if Japan is in short supply of crude.

Abraaj Buys Into Southeast Asia’s Wine Scene

The deal is Abraaj’s fourth investment into Southeast Asia’s food and beverage industry.

China Makes ICBC Yuan Clearing Bank For Qatar

China has appointed clearing banks for Taiwan, Singapore, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Luxembourg and Seoul in the past two years.

Qatar Sovereign Fund To Launch $10bn Investment Fund With China’s CITIC

QIA, estimated to have around $170 billion, and state-owned CITIC Group signed an MoU to launch the 50-50 investment fund.

Etihad Boosts India Network With Additional Flights To Mumbai, Delhi

Triple daily services will begin to Mumbai on February 15, and to New Delhi on May 1, 2015.