Turkey Will Probably Never Join The EU – Ankara Negotiator

Accession talks launched in 2005 got bogged down in a dispute over the divided island of Cyprus.

Syria Discloses Chemical Weapons Stockpile Details – Watchdog

Syria is believed to possess about 1,000 tonnes of toxins

Turkey’s Erdogan Risks Alienating Gulf Investors

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan outspoken support for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has set it at odds with the Gulf Arab states.

Turkey Has No Plans To Privatise Stake In Turkish Airlines

The government controls 49 per cent of Turkish Airlines, Europe’s fourth-biggest carrier.

Gold Hits One-Week High After Fed Keeps On Easing

Bullion gained 4.2 per cent on Wednesday, its biggest daily gain since June 2012

Emirates Starting Boston Flights Next March

Emirates keen to target New England trade and transfer traffic opportunities

Etihad Airways Plans Major India Expansion

The Abu Dhabi-based airline plans to introduce more flights, more seats and new routes to India.

Chemical Weapons Disposal Will Cost $1bn, Take A Year – Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied that his forces were responsible for a chemical weapons attack in Ghouta.

National Bank of Fujairah Launches Subsidiary In Hong Kong

NBF’s new entity will help facilitate expanding cross border flows between the UAE and China.

Bahrain’s Arcapita Emerges From US Bankruptcy

Arcapita’s plan will see it transfer its assets into a new holding company which will dispose of them over time to pay off creditors.

BlackBerry’s New Phone Z30 To Launch In Middle East Next Week

The new touchscreen device boasts a five-inch display and a 1.7 gigahertz processor.

RBS To Boost Mideast, Africa Trade Finance After Regional Revamp

The bank’s retail business in the UAE was sold to Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in 2010.

Qatar Looking Less Likely To Bid For Versace – Sources

Family-owned Italian fashion house Versace is looking to sell between 15 to 20 per cent to investors.

Qatari Businessman ‘Robbed At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport’

Report claims businessman was assaulted and forced to hand over high-value items

Social Entrepreneurship Can Reduce Welfare Costs In ME

In a candid chat with Gulf Business, Hult Prize CEO Ahmad Ashkar discusses why he thinks the time is ripe for social entrepreneurship in the Middle East.

Majority Of Middle East Senior Managers Are Hired Online: Study

Most senior managers apply for jobs via the career portal on a company’s website, says study.

France’s Alstom Wins $227m Saudi Steam Turbine Deal

The company will supply four 720MW steam turbine generator sets for the Shuqaiq power plant.

Barclays Called Reckless Over $511m Payments To Qatar Investors

The payments were made under “advisory service agreements” linked to Barclays’ emergency fundraising with Qatari investors.

Qatar-Egypt LNG Supply Talks On Hold As Summer Peak Passes

Qatar agreed in May to donate five cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Egypt.

UN Confirms Chemical Weapon Use In Syria Attack

U.N. chemical investigators confirmed the use of sarin nerve agent in an August 21 poison gas attack.

Prince Alwaleed To Retain Twitter Stake, Sees IPO By Early 2014

The Saudi billionaire invested $300 million in the social media giant in late 2011.

Wealthy Individuals To Be Main Buyers Of Zain Iraq IPO – CFO

The telecoms operator is looking to raise more than $1 billion through its IPO next year.

Serbia Seeks To Borrow Up To $3 Billion From UAE – Official

The money will be used to repay “the most difficult debts” and regurgitate the economy, said Serbia’s deputy prime minister.

Occidental Seeks Buyers For Stake In Middle East Unit

Sources say the company could sell 30 per cent to 40 per cent of its Middle East business unit.

US, Russia Agree On Syria Weapons, Obama Says Force Still Option

The accord demands that Syrian President President Bashar al-Assad account for his secret stockpile within a week.

Syria’s Chemical Weapons; Decades To Build, Years To Destroy

Syria’s stockpile is believed to be spread over dozens of sites and include research and development centres, some of them underground.

Ex-Barclays Team Plans London-Based Islamic Asset Firm

Arabesque is due to open to investors in the first quarter of 2014 and will focus on value-based investment strategies.

Kuwait To Transfer $2bn Aid To Egypt

Kuwait’s state news agency said the package would comprise a $2 billion central bank deposit, a $1 billion grant and $1 billion in oil products.

StanChart Appoints MENA CEO As Head Of Islamic Arm

Christos Papadopoulos will lead the bank’s expansion in sharia-compliant banking.

ME Insurance M&A Activity At All Time Low

Transactions in the Middle East between July 2012 and June 2013 dropped to nine deals as compared to 13 in the previous year.