Qatari couple charged in Texas with abusing household staff

Hassan Salem Al Homoud and his wife, Zainab Al Hosani, were charged with engaging in forced labor and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Egyptian court adjourns Al Jazeera journalists trial to Thursday

The journalists were arrested in December 2013 and originally sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison.

Qatar sues French far-right official for attacks comment

Florian Philippot, the VP of the anti-immigrant party, accused Qatar of “funding an Islamism that kills” after the Charlie Hebdo attack.

France says Yemen hostage video is genuine

The video shows Frenchwoman Isabelle Prime, who was taken hostage in Yemen, appealing to President Francois Hollande to help her.

Etihad starts A380 services to Sydney

The A380 will now operate one of the airline’s two daily services between Sydney and Abu Dhabi.

Emaar Misr cuts price of its Egypt IPO to $353m

The company had previously aimed to price the shares at 4.70 Egyptian pounds.

Europe should consider World Cup boycott to oust FIFA’s Blatter – UK

Blatter, 79, won a vote on Friday to serve a fifth term as FIFA president even as the soccer body is mired in corruption scandals.

Video: Lenovo’s new laser projector smartphone concept

The laser projector extension enables the screen of a device to be projected onto a surface.

GCC’s construction sector to boom despite oil price drop

The Gulf’s construction sector is estimated to reach a value of $172 billion in 2015, a new study said.

Yemen may never emerge intact from civil war

Secessionist sentiment in the south, stoked by what southerners see as marginalisation by the north, is deepening as result of the damage inflicted upon Aden by the northern Houthis.

Emirates to launch daily service to Bologna in Italy

The service is scheduled to begin on November 3, 2015 and will increase Emirates’ weekly flights serving Italy to 56.

Almost 41% of UAE users downloaded paid apps in last 30 days

A survey, which polled smartphone users in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon and Egypt, found that more than 50 per cent of users downloaded more than five apps in the last month.

Saudi designates two senior Hezbollah officials as terrorists

Khalil Youssef Harb and Mohammed Qabalan have been banned from any dealings with Saudis.

Etihad to support 23,400 jobs, add $2.9bn to US economy in 2015 – study

By 2020, the airline will have committed $41 billion to the US’ GDP, an Etihad-commissioned study by Oxford found.

Chevron says output from Saudi-Kuwait joint Wafra oilfield to remain shut

The oilfield will not be reopened until difficulties to operate there are resolved, the US firm said.

Air strikes kill at least 80 in deadliest bombings of Yemen war

Arab warplanes and ships also hammered Yemen’s largest military port in the Red Sea city of Hodeida at dawn on Wednesday.

Qatar remains 2022 World Cup host even as Swiss investigate FIFA officials

Several high-ranking soccer officials, including two vice-presidents of FIFA, were arrested by Swiss police on Wednesday.

Abu Dhabi fund ADIA names Pandtle head of US internal equities

Pandtle, who previously worked at Eagle Asset Management, will oversee the management of US-focused equity portfolios run by the fund.

Lenovo to bring Motorola brand to Middle East later this year

The move will see Motorola smartphones available in the region for the first time.

If you want Qatar state contracts, give us flight slots, says airline CEO

Akbar Al Baker’s remarks come after the Dutch government said it will temporarily stop granting new slots at Schiphol to Gulf airlines.

Iran, Oman discuss Yemen war, settle maritime borders

Foreign ministers from both the countries discussed implementing a ceasefire in Yemen.

GCC says air strikes against ISIL have not failed

Officials say that air strikes need to be complemented with other steps to effectively silence the Islamic militant group.

Egypt denies Arabtec project to build a million homes has stalled

Egyptian officials have said the entire project will cost about 280 billion Egyptian pounds ($36.7 billion).

QEWC, Mitsubishi to build Qatar’s biggest-ever power, water plant

The $3.2 billion plant at Umm Al Houl, 20 kms south of Doha, will provide 2,520MW of electricity and 136.5 million gallons per day of water.

Japan’s Mitsubishi, Tepco win $2.5bn Qatar gas plant bid

The 2.4 GW plant, located 20km south of Doha, is scheduled to begin operations in 2017.

Different Arab money

With oil cheap, public pressure grows on Gulf sovereign funds

With most of the funds publicly disclosing little information, lawmakers in some states are looking out for poor performance or even wrongdoing.

Airbus sees “significant” orders at Paris Airshow in June

Airbus’ A400M will be displayed on the ground at the Paris Airshow, but will not take part in daily flying displays.

GCC, EU plan joint aviation agreement

Officials from both the regions held extensive talks recently to discuss an agreement based on liberated skies.

Kuwait’s Al Ahli Bank buying Egyptian unit of Greece’s Piraeus Bank for $150m

The transaction, which requires approvals from the central banks of Kuwait and Egypt, stands to benefit both lenders.

Saudi shells hit Yemen aid office, killing five – local official

Artillery fire and air strikes hit the town of Maydee along Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia in Hajja province.