U.S. and Middle East airlines trade accusations on subsidy claim

Three major US airlines are trying to persuade their government to alter the “Open Skies” agreements with the UAE and Qatar

Qatar Airways CEO sees no need for concessions to US airlines

Al Baker said Qatar Airways expects to deliver its rebuttal to the U.S. airlines’ claims in the next few weeks

Mobile data traffic in Middle East and North East Africa to grow 14 times by 2020

Mobile subscriptions in the region are expected to grow by 6 per cent between 2014 and 2020 while LTE subscriptions are expected to triple in 2015 alone.

Oil prices fall as OPEC keeps production high

OPEC agreed on Friday to stick to its policy of not limiting its output, which currently stands above 30 million barrels per day.

Etihad Airways in expanded codeshare deal with Air France-KLM

The two carriers will share codes on more flights starting this year, opening more European cities to the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s customers.

Saudi-led air strikes kill 44 in attack on Yemeni army compound

More than 100 people, including civilians, were also wounded in the attack, according to reports.

Boeing on track to deliver flydubai’s first 737 MAX in 2017

Testing of the new aircraft is slated to begin in the first half of 2016.

Emirates obtains naming rights for UK’s Spinnaker Tower

The structure, situated in Portsmouth, will be renamed Emirates Spinnaker Tower and rebranded in red.

OPEC+meeting

OPEC agrees to keep pumping as oil glut fears persist

The decision defers discussion of several tricky questions set to arise as members such as Iran and Libya prepare to reopen the taps after years of diminished production.

Scotland fans go easy on Qatar but Amnesty up the heat

There had been widespread calls among Scotland supporters to boycott the match with Qatar because of human rights concerns.

Mubadala GE joint venture says looks at options for future structure

The joint venture was studying options in the wake of the U.S. conglomerate’s decision to exit most of its GE Capital operations.

Etihad-backed Alitalia unveils new cabins, services and livery

Seats and services are now more closely aligned with partner Etihad.

OPEC+meeting

Core Gulf OPEC members in ‘consensus’ on oil ceiling -delegate

A source within the group said the outlook for the oil market is positive, especially in the second half of this year.

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.