Far out on the Arabian Sea one night in February, 2018, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, the fugitive daughter of Dubai’s ruling emir, marvelled at the stars. The voyage had been rough. Since setting out by dinghy and Jet Ski a few days before, she had been swamped by powerful waves, soaking the belongings...
Ethiopia: Companies Long Ignored Gold Mine Pollution
(Nairobi) – A company operating a gold mine in Ethiopia, Midroc Investment Group, and the Swiss refinery Argor-Heraeus that sourced its gold took no action over media reports about pollution from the mine for years, Human Rights Watch said today. An assessment carried out at the Ethiopian government’s request found that local residents had experienced serious health effects....
Is the Blossoming Relationship Between Russia and the UAE Doomed?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing raft of Western sanctions have prompted an explosion of interest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) among Russians. Bilateral trade is breaking all previous records, and Russians are buying up real estate and opening businesses there. Yet for all the hope that the UAE could become an alternative...
How UAE is getting around international sanctions against Russia
As the next host of COP28, scheduled for the end of 2023, the United Arab Emirates has become a mecca of international sanctions evasion, and both Russians and Syrians are taking advantage. From November 30 to December 12, 2023, the United Arab Emirates Confederation will host COP28. Not only is Dubai, which is considered a...
‘Russia outside Russia’: For elite, Dubai becomes a wartime harbor
“Dubai is much more free — in every way,” he said, sporting an intricately torn designer T-shirt at a cafe he just opened in the city, where his children are now in a British school. “We are independent of Russia,” he said. “This is very important.” A year into a historic onslaught of economic sanctions...
‘Saka muchayita seyi’ – Mnangagwa’s ally chides Zimbabweans on Gold Mafia
PASSION Java, a self-proclaimed prophet and close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has waded into the Gold Mafia scandal, telling Zimbabweans the alleged ongoing heists of their minerals do not matter. Java also claimed that Angel’s utterances were deliberate as he was part of a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) investigation into Al Jazeera itself and...
‘Hunting rifles’ — really? China ships assault weapons and body armor to Russia
Customs data obtained by POLITICO reveals direct shipments of Chinese assault rifles, as well as drone shipments and body armor routed via Turkey and the UAE. Chinese companies, including one connected to the government in Beijing, have sent Russian entities 1,000 assault rifles and other equipment that could be used for military purposes, including drone...
The TRUTH About What Really Goes Down in Dubai…
Thank you for watching ‘Our Queer Life’ – my series that shines a light on the stories of people in our queer community that have walked a different walk of life than most of us. I have had the most amazing time meeting all of the different queer people on the show and I truly...
How UAE is getting around international sanctions against Russia
As the next host of COP28, scheduled for the end of 2023, the United Arab Emirates has become a mecca of international sanctions evasion, and both Russians and Syrians are taking advantage. From November 30 to December 12, 2023, the United Arab Emirates Confederation will host COP28. Not only is Dubai, which is considered a...
EU to mull sanctions on Dubai shipper suspected of running Russian tanker fleet
SUN Ship Management has become one of the main transporters of Russian oil to countries including India and Cuba. BRUSSELS — The EU is discussing whether to sanction Dubai-based shipping company SUN Ship Management Ltd, which is suspected of helping Russia circumvent restrictions on its oil exports, three diplomats told POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook on condition of anonymity....