Monthly Archives: January 2006

We don’t need no SA-80

Posted on January 25, 2006 by Tim Newman

Cinema goers in the UK are to be shown a shocking spoof shopping channel ad offering AK-47 machine guns for sale. reports the BBC, who are seemingly unable to differentiate between an assault rifle and a machine gun. Amnesty International … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments

Russia forges stronger ties with Uzbekistan

Posted on January 23, 2006 by Tim Newman

Remember the days when the likes of Craig Murray were claiming that: As seen from Tashkent, US policy is not much focussed on democracy or freedom. It is about oil, gas and hegemony. In Uzbekistan the US pursues those ends … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Russia, Uzbekistan | 2 Comments

Ex-Soviets in Dubai

Posted on January 23, 2006 by Tim Newman

This article on people from the former Soviet Union in Dubai appeared in the Gulf News over the weekend: [D]espite their increasing success in a variety of diverse professions, … many Russian speakers still suffer from a negative stereotype in … Continue reading →

Posted in Dubai, USSR | Comments Off

Lukoil to make “big announcement”

Posted on January 19, 2006 by Tim Newman

From Upstream Online: Shares in Russian explorer Lukoil broke through 2000 roubles ($70.22) and $70 for the first time today on the back of solid results and management promises of a “big announcement”. … Lukoil, which is 16% owned by … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Russia | Comments Off

Eastern Europe?

Posted on January 19, 2006 by Tim Newman

From today’s Gulf News: A couple from Eastern Europe who were caught half-dressed having sexual intercourse in a small car on Shaikh Zayed Road have been jailed. The Dubai Public Prosecution had charged the 19-year-old female, from Kyrgyzstan, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dubai | Comments Off

Prostitution: to legalise or not?

Posted on January 18, 2006 by Tim Newman

The legal status of prostitution seems to once again have come up for discussion in the UK. It is a subject, living in Dubai and taking an interest in all things Central Asian, of which I know a little. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 6 Comments

A Forum with a Difference

Posted on January 16, 2006 by Tim Newman

This is a bit sick. On a message board for Honda enthusiasts, a wife of one of the regular contributors starts a thread in February 2002 with the following post: As most of you here may know i am lifsatrip7′s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorised | 1 Comment

Lord of War

Posted on January 15, 2006 by Tim Newman

Just before I went off to Korea, I went to see Lord of War at the cinema. Nicholas Cage stars as Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian-American from a poor family in New Brighton Brighton Beach who becomes an international arms dealer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Politics | 7 Comments

Leftists, Russians, and the Concept of Press Freedom

Posted on January 15, 2006 by Tim Newman

What have leftists in the West got in common with Russians? Not a lot I’d say, but not nothing. Konstantin on his Russian Blog gives us one such example: Sometimes I find articles that recover my trust in the freedom … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Russia | 1 Comment

Gazprom goes boom!

Posted on January 14, 2006 by Tim Newman

Wow. As investors take advantage of the long-awaited reform, which had restricted foreign ownership of the stock, Gazprom’s market capitalisation has risen by more than 25% in just four trading sessions, smashing through the $200 billion mark. There’s a quick … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Russia | 1 Comment