Summary: a string of lawsuits in the UK and USA allege the global law firm Dechert LLP and former top lawyers were involved in serious criminal activity in the United Arab Emirates.
Summary: a landmark decision by a French court confirms the charge of complicity of the world’s largest cement manufacturer in crimes against humanity over its dealings with the Islamic State in Syria.
Summary: while scientists around the world rush to assess the impact of the emerging Omicron variant, much of the Middle East is at a worrying threat threshold.
Summary: the UAE is a key hub for gold trading linked to money laundering, organised crime and terrorist financing. The authorities have promised to clean up their act but a court case in India suggests there is still a long way to go.
Summary: The day-to-day business in most Arab embassies and consulates is PR , diplomacy and serving regime members but they are also busy with surveillance and, at times, engage in other far more sinister activities.
Summary: Oman has a record as defuser of crises and as mediator. Currently claiming to defuse but not to mediate.
Summary: numerous dismissals and arrests in police, army and security, linked by some to the presidential election next year.
Summary: coalition offensive at Hodeida not advancing. Political objectives not clear, Saudi/UAE differences. UN peace plan disrupted.
The humanitarian impact of the Qatar blockade; a Saudi-Qatari prince is rendered from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia; a senior UAE prince defects to Doha via the Qatari embassy in London. Rumours of US-brokered talks in Switzerland to resolve the crisis.
Summary: a euphemism for extra judicial killing to protect the reputation of a family. Ancient and widespread, but information other than anecdotal exceptionally hard to find.
