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Radio 1 DJ freed from Dubai prison
The legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ, Grooverider, has reportedly been freed from a Dubai jail after serving 10 months of his four year sentence for cannabis possession. He was arrested towards the end of November when he was caught entering the country for a gig carrying 2.16 grams of cannabis. Many believed he would be granted a pardon immediately, as has happened with similar incidents with international artists, but Groove had to sit it out a bit longer.
Grooverider, real name Raymond Bingham, played an instrumental part in Britain's dance music culture, being hailed by many as the 'Godfather' of drum and bass as well as gaining respect for the BBC radio show he co-hosted with Fabio for a number of years.
Official Radio 1 report can be found here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/entertainment/newsid_... The legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ, Grooverider, has reportedly been freed from a Dubai jail after serving 10 months of his four year senten... more -
Jail for two women in Emirates’ first lesbian indecency case
A Bulgarian woman and her Lebanese partner have been sentenced to one month in jail after being found guilty by a Dubai court of indecent acts.
It is thought to be the first case of its kind in the United Arab Emirates.
Dubai's Court of Appeal upheld the convictions.
The 36-year-old Bulgarian and 30-year-old Lebanese woman will both be deported after they have served their sentences.
7Days newspaper reported that they were spotted kissing and petting on a public beach in April. They both pleaded not guilty to charges they had behaved indecently.
Dubai, one of the seven oil-rich United Arab Emirates, is a popular destination for UK tourists.
While the majority of its 5.6 million residents are foreigners, homosexual relations are still a crime and punishments range from jail to deportation and death penalty.
In July 40 men were arrested in a crackdown on transvestites.
"Any man or woman who dresses up and behaves like the opposite gender in public will be questioned and legal action will be taken against him or her," Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, said in a statement on the Dubai Police website.
"The 40 transvestites were referred to the Public Prosecution, which issued an administrative deportation order against them. All of those arrested were visitors and tourists and not residents.
"This is against the UAE's traditions and social values," he said.
In May Dahi announced that transvestites caught in public would be arrested as part of a new campaign.
He said "transvestites have been seen of late in public places, including shopping malls."
He said the campaign under the slogan "Our social values are precious.. let's protect them", targets those who "do not respect social values and behave like the opposite sex." A Bulgarian woman and her Lebanese partner have been sentenced to one month in jail after being found guilty by a Dubai court of indec... more -
In a hospital bed far from home
DUBAI—Thousands of miles from home and no one to keep her company except for a yellow teddy bear that lies beside her hospital bed, Baikan Musa can only communicate by blinking her eyes.
The 29-year-old Filipina maid was paralysed after a hit-and-run accident last New Year’s Eve and has since been confined to a bed in Rashid Hospital, Dubai since then.
However the penniless expatriate is unable to pay for her own spiralling medical bills and the fact that she was jaywalking when she was hit by the car means that insurance companies are refusing to pay out.
Rashid Hospital says that Baikan Musa’s medical expenses should be covered by her visa sponsor or the agency which recruited her to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However her sponsor cancelled her contract a few days before the accident and her agency claim they are not liable because she was crossing the road illegally at the time, rather than using a pedestrian crossing.
According to reports, her family have been traced but are said to be made destitute by a cyclone which recently struck the Philippines. Her brother is said to have finally saved enough to obtain a passport and will visit the UAE on August 22nd.
However with her family unable to provide the full-time professional care that she requires and no official confirmation from hospitals in Manila that she will be looked after upon her return, it is unclear what will become of Baikan Musa.
Dubai is a magnet for expatriates from the Indian subcontinent and the Philippines and many of whom work for higher wages in Dubai and send the money home to their partners and children.
However many suffer a lack of labour rights and discriminatory salary rates. A Filipina maid working in Dubai can expect to earn around US$270 a month for a job that requires living in the house of a wealthier family. Many complain of sexual harassment and some are forced to work as prostitutes.
“We have a maid at home who is employed by my uncle,” one British expatriate, who did not wish to be named, told this newspaper. “He took her in and gave her a decent wage. Prior to that she was forced to work as a prostitute and suffered appalling treatment.”
Whatever was the story behind Baikan Musa’s contract being terminated a few days before the accident eight months ago, it is clear that now it will never be told. DUBAI—Thousands of miles from home and no one to keep her company except for a yellow teddy bear that lies beside her hospital bed, Ba... more -
Street Style: Dubai
The latest fashion trends emerging from the streets of Dubai brought to you in this installment of Street Styles.
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Islamic Fashionista
You may not have heard of Rabia Z yet, but that is about to change. Meet Dubai Fahion Week's "Emerging Talent Winner" and the winner of the British Council's "Young Entrepreneur of the Gulf" award. This young woman has burst onto the fashion stage and she is aiming high. What makes her unique is that she is designing for the modern Muslim woman, and she isn't including burkas in her Fall line. She is taking traditional Muslim fashion and making it fun, fabulous, and "modern."
Rabia would like to thank:
Kristian Ranker and Nicole Means
www.kristianranker.com You may not have heard of Rabia Z yet, but that is about to change. Meet Dubai Fahion Week's "Emerging Talent Winner" ... more -
UAE's oil reserves to last 92 years
The UAE's oil reserves of 97.8 billion barrels, which make 7.9 per cent of the world's total stocks, would last 92 years at current production levels, according to a report.
The UAE's crude oil output on an average rose 1.53 per cent to 2.66 million barrels per day (bdp) for the quarter ended June as compared to the January-March quarter, latest data by the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows.
The Middle East's oil reserves stood at 755 billion barrels, or 61 per cent of the world's total, while the global oil reserves amounted to 1.24 trillion barrels, said the data.
The UAE's oil consumption rose 7.7 per cent to 450,000 barrels per day in 2007, registering the highest growth rates in the Middle East.
The UAE's proven oil reserves of 97.8 billion barrels make 7.9 per cent of the world's total reserves, said the 2008 BP Statistical Review of World Energy. The UAE's oil reserves of 97.8 billion barrels, which make 7.9 per cent of the world's total stocks, would last 92 years at ... more -
UAE owns a piece of the NYC skyline
The Abu Dhabi Investment Council bought the Chrysler building for $800 million. I find it a bit strange that the United Arab Emirates own a piece of the big apple.
Apparently foreign acquisition of New York landmarks isn't a new phenomenon.
In May, a consortium of Middle Eastern countries purchased the General Motors building and three other midtown towers for $3.95bn. The Abu Dhabi Investment Council bought the Chrysler building for $800 million. I find it a bit strange that the United Arab Emirates ... more -
UAE seeks to ditch oil for alternative energy
The previously negative attitude of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to climate change shifted in 2007, as the UAE led several members of the organisation to take a positive lead in developing alternative energies, and began investment in technologies like carbon capture and carbon storage. "Abu Dhabi is now selling an environmentally-conscious image and wants to be a leader in alternative energy,"the UAE has made a significant shift in its thinking when it ceased to be frightened of the consequences of both climate change and climate change mitigation.Up till 2007the UAE had focused on its vulnerability to climate change mitigation as world markets moved to accommodate the new measures to combat climate change.
These would impact the UAE mainly through a highly variable oil price, and possible long-term shift away from use of hydro-carbons, both damaging to the present economy of the UAE.The UAE had also has largely ignored the future impact of climate change on its national security, from the potential threats of rising temperatures, falling water resources, and potentially elevated sea levels.The old style of thinking was still present as recently as December 2007 when the UAE's address to the UN conference on climate change in Bali was mostly full of progressive thinkingexcept for the section that argued that the interests of economies based principally on fossil fuels had not been sufficiently addressed in the negotiations, and demanded that no additional obligations should be placed on developing countries that would impede their development.
In the last six months, however, the impact of the UAE's interest in alternative technologies has come to the fore, exemplified by the launch of Abu Dhabi's Masdar project earlier this year. Masdar is made up of various projects on alternative energy and carbon management, and included building a "totally green city" of 50,000 residents and 1,500 businesses by 2016. The previously negative attitude of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to climate change shifted in 2007, as the UA... more -
UAE to cancel Iraq's $7 billion debt
So they want to pardon them in a way, How will this affect oil prices I wonder.
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UAE to pay of 7Billion Iraq Debt..
there are nice people out there!
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Dubai's rotating skyscrapers that change shape
Buildings in Dubai and Moscow will be powered by sun and wind and continuously change shape as floors rotate around central axis.
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Mile high tower announced to be built in Saudi Arabia
Prince Charles famously doesn't care for skyscrapers. He sees them as a vain attempt to assert masculinity, like a rock star with a cucumber down his trousers – or, as he puts it: "Trying to make them ever taller than the other person's building is surely taking the commercial macho into the realms of adolescent lunacy".
Phallic icons or not, we're about to move into a new era of mega-tall buildings that will put structures like Chicago's Sears Tower, at 442 metres (1,450 feet) tall, and Taiwan's Taipei 101, at 508m, in the shade.
George Efstathiou, a managing partner at the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, declares that "the age of the super-skyscrapers is starting again". Considering the scale of the structures on the way, he could well be right.
The structure set to beat them all was announced at the end of March. The Mile High Tower, to be built in a "mini city" near the Red Sea port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, will be about 1,600 metres tall – seven times the height of the Canary Wharf tower in London Docklands, or four Empire State buildings on top of each other. Prince Charles famously doesn't care for skyscrapers. He sees them as a vain attempt to assert masculinity, like a rock star with... more -
UAE may be first Arab nation to restore full ties with Iraq
The United Arab Emirates is expected to soon name an ambassador to Iraq and could open an embassy in the war-ravaged nation, Iraqi officials said Thursday.
The move would make UAE the first Arab nation to re-establish full diplomatic relations with Iraq since an Egyptian ambassador was killed there in 2005. Shiite-dominated Iraq has been working to strengthen ties with the Sunni-led Arab world.
The visit by United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan took place as the U.S. and other nations urge Arab countries to deploy ambassadors to Iraq, reopen embassies and forge closer relationships with the post-Saddam Hussein government.
Though the UAE will name an ambassador in coming days, according to Iraqi officials, it may take several months to send the envoy to Baghdad because of security and logistical concerns. The United Arab Emirates is expected to soon name an ambassador to Iraq and could open an embassy in the war-ravaged nation, Iraqi off... more -
Opportunità di business e joint-venture negli Emirati con Showroom a Dubai
il progetto "ITALIA BAY" a Dubai, negli Emirati Arabi Uniti (UAE), vuole essere un'opportunità di espansione per alcune selezionate e fortunate piccole o grandi realtà imprenditoriali italiane che intendono cogliere le possibilità offerte da un mercato in velocissimo sviluppo, importatore di svariate tipologie di beni e prodotti dall'Europa e dall'Italia; il consorzio si propone di diffondere e vendere a Dubai i prodotti/servizi dei professionisti e delle imprese italiane.
NOTE - Avvertenze:
1. il Consorzio è senza scopo di lucro (no-profit) e i benefici sono riservati alle singole ditte aderenti;
2. al momento non vi sono costi, si raccolgono le svariate adesioni che giungono da ogni parte d’Italia;
3. il Consorzio è riservato a professionisti, imprese, ditte, aziende solo ITALIANE - di ogni dimensione -
4. per aderire occorre riempire il modulo da richiedere via email e restituirlo entro la scadenza
Per info:
consorzio.italia.bay@gmail.com oppure
dr.meli@virgilio.it oppure
a mezzo fax al n° 095.7233406 il progetto "ITALIA BAY" a Dubai, negli Emirati Arabi Uniti (UAE), vuole essere un'opportunità di espansione per alcune... more -
Dubai police crack down on cross-dressers
olice in Dubai have arrested several men and women for cross-dressing in what they said was a campaign to preserve the social values of the cosmopolitan Gulf Arab trade and tourism hub, newspapers reported on Monday.
Dubai is part of the seven-member United Arab Emirates, a Muslim country where cross-dressing is frowned upon but whose population is dominated by migrants with diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.
The detainees were being referred to the public prosecutor as part of the one-week campaign called "Preserve Our Social Values", though it was not clear what charges would be brought.
Dubai is a city of sky-scrapers and mega-developments, which attracts foreign workers ranging from well-paid Western executives to low-wage Asian laborers. Tourists may wear bikinis and drink cocktails at hotel nightclubs but homosexual behavior is banned. olice in Dubai have arrested several men and women for cross-dressing in what they said was a campaign to preserve the social values o... more -
Plight of migrant workers blemishes Dubai's image
The unfair treatment towards south Asian immigrant workers is coming to light, albeit late in the day. Dubai showcases itself as a global economic forerunner, when in reality it still has a long way to go before any substantial social or economic reforms are established. The unfair treatment towards south Asian immigrant workers is coming to light, albeit late in the day. Dubai showcases itself as a gl... more
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UAE condemns Jaipur blasts
On 14th May in Dubai The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the blasts in Jaipur and extended its support to India in its fight against terrorism.
“The UAE vehemently condemns the blasts in Jaipur and extends full support to India’s efforts to fight terrorism,” UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, according to state run Emirates News Agency (WAM).
“We extend our sympathies to those injured and pray for their speedy recovery,” Al Nahyan said.
The terrorist attacks go against Islam's principle of sanctity of life, the attacks have been condemned by Muslim organisations and countries. On 14th May in Dubai The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the blasts in Jaipur and extended its support to India in its f... more -
Abu Dhabi Masdar, zero carbon city.
"In April, 2006, the government of Abu Dhabi launched the Masdar Initiative, a landmark program to establish an entirely new economic sector dedicated to alternative and sustainable energy.
The Masdar Initiative offers a proactive response to today's energy and environmental challenges and is being driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), a company wholly-owned by the government of Abu Dhabi through Mubadala Development Company. "
The planned Masdar City, which means "the source" in Arabic, will be the home to some 47,500 residents.
Masdar City is to be multi-level, with a light rail on one level moving people in and out of the city with pedestrians at ground level. In addition to solar power, wind turbines and waste-to-energy plants will be employed to generate power. "In April, 2006, the government of Abu Dhabi launched the Masdar Initiative, a landmark program to establish an entirely new econ... more -
Exploited and Trapped in Dubai
A group of men have been sleeping rough in a Karama park for the past six months after their passports were stolen by a recruitment agent when they arrived in Dubai. At least 30 Indians now regard the park as their home, as they have no money to rent accommodation and cannot get jobs as they are regarded as illegal workers.
“This little park has become our home for the past six months. We sleep on the grass and look towards the sky hoping that there won’t be rain or dust storms... Sometimes we remain awake all night as it is too cold to sleep,” said Bukke Shiva Rao, a 32-year-old Indian worker from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
He said that he sleeps in the park at night and goes out during the daytime looking for work. “No one is ready to provide us with a job as we are illegals and do not hold any identification documents to prove our credentials. Our only aim is to return to our country but we need help,” he added. “We have no idea for how many more days we will be suffering like this. One of our colleagues went out recently and broke his arm. He is still desperately looking for treatment. There are also many others who are suffering with various other ailments,” said another worker, Y Rajesh.
A Dubai-based social worker has been providing free food to the group on a daily basis. The men said that they came to the country at the time when the amnesty was announced last year but mounting debts back home forced them to try to find jobs, rather than take advantage of the grace period.
“We borrowed huge sums of money to come here and the interest rate has been climbing every month. We thought we could earn good money staying here. However we failed to find jobs due to strict labour laws introduced after the end of the amnesty period,” said Rajesh who paid dhs10,000 to an agent to come to Dubai.
Indian Consulate officials said that they would contact the workers and try to help them. “We will get in touch with the workers to find out why they are stranded in the country and try to provide them air tickets so that they can fly home,” BS Mubarak, Consul for Labour Affairs in the Indian Consulate, told 7DAYS. A group of men have been sleeping rough in a Karama park for the past six months after their passports were stolen by a recruitment ag... more -
Dubai Rape Sentences Upheld
A court has upheld 15-year jail terms against two Emirati men who raped a teenage boy in Dubai. The victim’s lawyer, Hessein al-Jaziri said yesterday: “The high court confirmed the judgements of the Court of First Instance and the Appeal Court,” adding the men would now begin serving their prison sentences.
Yesterday’s ruling confirmed a February 17 Appeal Court decision to uphold the sentences originally handed down on the men following their trial. Prosecutors had called for the death penalty, in a case which has attracted worldwide media interest. A juvenile convicted in the same case lost an appeal against his three-year sentence on Sunday, but could still appeal to a higher court, Jaziri said.
One of the men who raped the 15-year-old was HIV-positive, although the victim has since been tested and found not to be infected with the sexually transmittable disease. The boy’s mother, Veronique Robert, launched a media campaign to publicise the case and gain support for her demand that homosexual rape carries a tougher penalty.
She protested at the original verdict against the two convicted men, saying: “Fifteen years is nothing for someone who knew that he had AIDS.” The boy was attacked on July 14 last year, when three males offered him a lift from a Dubai shopping mall. Instead, they drove into the desert near Al Barsha and there raped the victim, while threatening him with a knife and billiard cue.
Defence lawyers claimed the boy - a French-Swiss teenager - had consented to sex and had lied to the police. A court has upheld 15-year jail terms against two Emirati men who raped a teenage boy in Dubai. The victim’s lawyer, Hessein al-Jazir... more
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