Links
(blogs that are not updated have been deleted)

Dubai based Airine bloggers

TampaxTowers
Style High Club
The Trolley Dolly
Life,as I know it (now Edmonton!)
Bjorn Moerman
James Nixon
TheEKSource
Jens Krüger
 

Egypt

Sandmonkey
Hammonda.net
 

Thailand Blogs

Bangkok Noir

Bangkok Pundit - politics

Thai-blogs.com - rather serious

2bangkok.com - yellow-tinged summary of Bangkok news
BKKOK.com
Thailand Voice promoting blogs from Thailand
Thailand Golf
Thai-blogs -Thailand life and culture
trythaifood - thai recipes
CityLife Chiang Mai
Thailand Crisis not updated but important in understanding 2006-2009.
Absolutely Bangkok
Bangkok Bugle

Thai Girl The exotic adventures of a literary sexagenarian.
Thailand Jumped the Shark

Thai Films
Siam Report
Thai ENews - In Thai
Photo-journ - news blog plus pics
Prachatai - Thai news in English
New Mandala - new perspectives on SE Asia
NewsInBangkok - another news blog
Thailand Intelligent News - misleading title!
Political Prisoners in Thailand
GregToDiffer
Hua Hin Golf
Philip Golingai (mainly Malaysia)
ThailandVoice
Musings from Thailand
Women learning Thai
Vaitor
Ricefield Radio
Reporter in Exile
Robert Amsterdam - Thailand
Somtow's world
Dirtii laundry
Thai Cables
Siam Voices
ThaiWomanTalks
Tasty Thailand

Asia Blogs

Banyan - The Economist

Asia Unbound - CFR
Zen Journalist
The Marmot's Hole - Korea
The writings of MD Nalapat
Democratic Voice of Burma
Ideas for India

Dubai Blogs
Mainly Photos; mainly from Dubai - Gerald Donovan at work!

dxbae - picture blog - also Gerald Donovan
UAE Community Blog - uniting all UAE bloggers
Dubai informer - news and events.
The Grapeshisha Blog - commentary  on a changing Dubai
One Big Construction Site - a long term expat on life in Dubai
Secret Dubai Diary - rather disillusioned expat commentary - sadly seems to have died - but again worth keeping for some interesting recent history.
Dubai As It Used To be - self explanatory - fascinating!
Kippreport - news and commentary
Life In Dubai - moved to Oz
Fake Plastic Souks
Dubai Astronomy Group
Gulf Photo Plus
Dubai Media Observer

The Gulf Blog
Dubai Construction Update
Dubai Race Night
Burj Khalifa

Grumpy Goat
Ever changing lanes
Spontaneous Euphoria
Christopher Saul - Dubai Blog
MattJDuffy
Sport360
The Hedonista
Dubai as it used to be
 

Digging up my past

Redbourn

Arabic affairs blogs

The Arabist
Felix Arabia
MidEastPosts
The Culturist
Pan Arabian Enquirer
Doha News
Al Monitor
The Gulf Blog
Al-Bab

Hong Kong Blogs
Digital Life - A Hong Kong picture blog - interesting pics
A Big White Guy in Hong Kong - self explanatory
Ordinary Gweilo
Hemlock's Diary. And people think I am opinionated - try this!
BigLychee
EastSouthWestNorth - commentary
Glutter.org - Greater China democracy news and many great links
Hong Kong Hustle
Hong Kong Paintings

Hong Kong Outdoors
Hong Kong and Macau Stuff
Hong Wrong
 

In China:

Danwei - media and advertising news from China

Shanghaiist.com
The China Beat - how the east is read.

Hong Kong Cinemagic
Shanghai Scrap
The Paper Tiger
Peking Duck
China Law Blog
China Rises
China Media Project
China in Africa: The Real Story
LivinginChina.com
Sinocism

Chinageeks
Beijing Cream
China Daily Show
Ministry of Tofu

In Macau:

In Singapore:
The Singapore Daily

Xiaxue - self-confessed mean, bitchy, sex goddess who says "wah" a lot!

Mr Brown - colourful commentary from Singapore
Singapore Democrats
The Online Citizen
Icarus flew too high
Bonjour Singapore

In Burma:

National League for Democracy

In Canada:

BlogTO
Now Toronto

Media:
On the Ground ND Kristof

Tabloid Watch (UK)
The Diplomat - Asia Pacific
CJ Purcell
Foreign Policy
Vanity Fair
Watchdog reporting
Fleet Street Blues
 

Aviation:

Amadeus (airline schedules)

Airline meals - see it b4 you eat it!

Airliners - aviation forum, trip reports and pix archive
A Captain's Blog - the routine of a California based 767 captain
FA Uniforms - interesting collection of the old and new

Planenation - commercial aviation news

Airchive - a web museum of commercial aviation.

CrankyFlier - mainly US commentary
AvHerald - daily log of airliner incidents
RandPeck's blog
Rand Peck - writing and photography from a US based 757 captain
PlaneBuzz - airline financials
SmartCockpit

Sharjah - 1937
Boarding Area business travel
World Airports
Flight Wisdom
ATC - Toronto (YYZ)
Today in the sky
Ask the pilot
The Flying Scotsman - A BA pilot blog
Key Magazines - UK
Crossing the Sky
Blogging at FL250
Flight Level 390
The wings stayed on
PilotOutlook
Birmingham Airport
Aviation Queen
LiveATC.net
AirplaneFood
Flight to Success
Routehappy

KPAE - Paine Field Blog
UxMilk (mainly Qantas)
World Stewardess Crews
Airways magazine blog
DubaiAirportsConnect
APEX Editor's Blog
In a Foreign Sky
Better on a Camel

Travel:

Johnny Jet
Paris photo blog
Business Traveller - Asia
Camels and Chocolate
GranTourismo
Legal Nomads
Circle of Asia
Tales of Asia
Smart Travel Asia
Untraveller
The World and his TukTuk

 

News:

The Guardian - UK

BBC World News

CNN Asia

Bangkok Post
Gulf News

Arabian Business
CNNfan.com scary fan site!
Twitmericks
vox - Research-based policy analysis and commentary from leading economists
Next Media - news animation
SoupSoup

 

Bangkok info sites:

thailand.com

learningthai.com

sawadee.com

thailandstories

bangkok a-z
 

Worthy Sites:

Niall Ferguson

Rconversation - from Rebecca MacKinnon, ex-TV reporter-turned-blogger.
RGE Monitor - macro-economic analysis
Migrant Rights
Cricket Archive
Good experience
Heresy Corner

What Matters - McKinsey
 

Golf Sites:
wei under par

The Christina Kim

Cricket sites:

Alternative Cricket Almanac
99.94
Cricket with Balls
The Old Batsman
StumpedForADuck
The NightWatchman

Other Sports
Sulia.com - football

Fun Sites:

Fun signs
Urban Dictionary
Earth TV

Useful Sites:

World Time Clock

Cooking
Cooking Light
 

Technology Ideas:
Loose wire

Stuff - gadgets
TechCrunch
Boing Boing
The Next Web

TNooz - Travel Tech
The Immedium Blog

ViralBlog
The Next Web
Now and Next
The Sports Scientists
FacebookStories
LiesDamnedLiesstatistics
Mixed Topics

Photography
unchartedphotography
Glen Calvin Photography
GulfPhotoPlus

The Rest:

Black Flamingo - recipes and life (no golf!)
Mixed Topics
Watford Mad (WFC)
BHappy - a Watford Blog
Watford Legends
All About Cricket
Brain Pickings
Ballpark-it.com - recipes

TV:
Northern Exposure

Previous months:

Nov - Dec 2012

Sept - Oct 2012

July - August 2012

May -June 2012
March-April 2012
Jan-Feb 2012
 

Nov - Dec 2011
Sept - Oct 2011
July - Aug 2011
May - June 2011
March - April 2011
Jan - Feb 2011

Nov - Dec 2010
Sept - Oct 2010
July - Aug 2010
May - June 2010
March - April 2010
Jan - Feb 2010

Nov - Dec 2009
Sept - Oct 2009
July - Aug 2009
May - June 2009
March - April 2009
Jan - Feb 2009

Nov - Dec 2008
Sept - Oct 2008
July - Aug 2008
May - June 2008
March - April 2008
Jan - Feb 2008

Nov - Dec 2007
Sept - Oct 2007
July - Aug 2007
May - June 2007
March - April 2007
Jan - Feb 2007

Nov - Dec 2006
Sept - Oct 2006
July - Aug 2006
May - June 2006
March - April 2006
Jan - Feb 2006

Nov - Dec 2005
Sept - Oct 2005
July - Aug 2005
May - June 2005
March - April 2005
Jan - Feb 2005

Nov - Dec 2004
Sept - Oct 2004
July - Aug 2004
April - June 2004
Jan - Feb 2004

 Author

Robert Scott lives and works in Dubai; born in England I have since lived in Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.

I am very happily married to Tai.

If you want to know more you only need to ask! ask.

29 August 2013

Rolf Harris is the latest BBC pensioner to be charged with sex offences from the 1970s....shocking what the BBC tolerated.

"Two little boys had two little toys"....indeed.

Golf in Hua Hin for the last three days - Sawang, Sea Pine and Majestic Creek.

21 August 2013

"This is how I always look at golf. I'm not going to die if I hit a bad shot. So I just hit it, find it and hit it again."

17 year old Charley Hull - from Europe's victorious Solheim Cup team. Genius.

20  August 2013

ANA is replacing its Air Asia Japan joint venture with a new LCC with the awful name of Vanilla Air.

Since it is Japan based you would have thought they would go for Green Tea or Macha.

18 August 2013

Dubai v Singapore in the race for Hub airport of the 2020s - Singapore's PM Lee announced today that the city state is planning for a Terminal 5, completion in 2020s, which will double capacity of Changi Airport.

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It is the first weekend of the 2013/2014 \Premier League - and time for this year's predictions: League winner - Manchester City from Chelsea and Manchester United in second and third.

Relegated - Hull, Stoke and Crystal Palace.

Managers who will not survive the season:

Arsene Wenger at Arsenal
Alan Pardew at Newcastle
Mark Hughes at Stoke City
Paulo di Canio at Sunderland

As for Arsenal - an opening day defeat to Aston Villa suggests a very long dismal season - and worth noting that I have spent more money this summer than Arsene Wenger.

15 August 2013

Thai Airways suffers net loss of Bt8.43 billion in 2nd quarter due to baht appreciation, rising costs, global slowdown.

Ouch.

********************************
The Jimmy Savile fall-out continues - Dave Lee Travis has been charged with 11 counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault against alleged victims aged between 15 and 29.

The former Radio 1 DJ was charged with offences spanning three decades, from 1977 to 2007, and relating to nine alleged victims.

The 68-year-old, who is to be prosecuted under his real name David Patrick Griffin, was arrested last November under the Operation Yewtree investigation into sexual offences by Jimmy Savile and others.

Travis is one of 14 men arrested under Operation Yewtree since it launched in the aftermath of the Savile scandal last October.

He is the third to be charged with offences under the investigation, after charges were brought against the celebrity publicist Max Clifford and the former chauffeur David Smith.

Travis denies all the allegations.

14 August 2013

Hemel Hempstead has been named Britain’s ugliest town after a surge in votes saw its town centre nominated worse than front runner Luton.

According to a poll, run by the team behind the Crap Towns publications, the Hertfordshire town also beat Slough, Bracknell and Birmingham.

One of the authors behind the survey, Sam Jordison, told The Telegraph: “I know exactly why Hemel did so well in the poll. I've been there once. And once was more than enough.”

The first edition of Crap Towns, published in 2003, sold more than 100,000 copies and provoked outrage from residents located in towns ridiculed.
 

13 August 2013

Very positive use of twitter from the ruler of Dubai today - this really is a great example of how to stay engaged:

HH Sheikh Mohammed@HHShkMohd

"My twitter page followers reached 2 millions today, thanks to your continuous support,

To all our followers, you've been the core value by suggesting ideas, responding to initiatives and participating in many discussions

And You were behind the success of many social and humanitarian campaigns we launched on twitter"

**********************************
Apologies for the lack of updates. We have been in Thailand for almost a week - and busy!

7 August 2013

I hope Etihad has deep pockets.

Virgin Australia, which Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways owns a 10.5 percent stake, has forecast it will make a loss of up to AUD$110m (US$98m) for the full year 2013, the airline has reported.

Add this to losses at Air Berlin, Air Seychelles and Jat (air Serbia) and you do wonder at the wisdom of their investment strategy.

******************************
Yesterday we took the long way to BKK yesterday as flights from Dubai to Bangkok are so busy.

Up at 3.30am; at DXB by 4.30am for our 6.00am departure on Kenya Airways from Dubai to Hong Kong connecting to the Emirates daily flight from HKG to Bangkok.

The comparison between the airlines is night and day - and if Kenya Airways is as they claim "the Pride of Africa" then they are setting their standards very low indeed.

Arriving 100 minutes before the flight at Terminal 1 area B in Dubai was awful. There is a pre-check in security  check. But only one line of three available was working. All check in and carry on bags have to go through the bag check machine. And arriving in front of us were large numbers of passengers heading to Kigali all with a mass of bags and boxes. The queue snaked back through the pre departure area.

Dubai Airports could fix this so easily. It is unclear why they cannot and why they only opened one security check.

Meanwhile check in area C was closed for access but had people sitting there and Tai was able to beg them to check our bags and let us through so we could get to the Kenya Airways check in at area B.

It did not matter that much - though the departure screens showed an on-time departure the DNATA handing agent said there was a one hour delay which in fact was a two hour delay.

The airliner is an old Boeing 767-200 - and it is in pretty poor condition inside. Old seats; mainscreen front of cabin IFE only which is useless as the sound on my headset and in the next seat does not work; overhead lights do not work; cabin is too cold. But the crew were smiling and the food surprisingly decent - a penang chicken curry was a surprise.

A lady first officer was a surprise as well.

The crew need to do safety briefings for customers at the over wing exits. Three of the four exits had chinese passengers sitting there who spoke no English and probably had no idea that they were at an exit. Alarming

The Emirates A380 is such a different airplane by comparison. Though the crew needed happy bills. They really were the most stressed, angry and at times quite rude crew that I have seen on any emirates flight.

So here is the answer - an Emirates plane but with the Kenyan air crew.

It was a long, long day.

5 August 2013

Only 5 August and England retain the Ashes after today's play is washed out at Old Trafford.

Tough on Australia who outplayed England in this game.

***********************
From the Guardian OBO while we wait to see if there is any play on the 5th day - if there is England are likely to struggle.

"Haven't figured out how I'll judge it yet. I might see if I can get some venerable ex-international to decide for us.

Here's a very fine T side from Rob Scott. "Trescothick (cpt), Tavare, Trott, Thorpe, Tyldesley (for the Old Trafford faithful), Taylor (wkt), Titmus, Tate, Trueman, Tyson, Tufnell.""

4 August 2013

Spain vs England in a new fight over Gibralter.

It is not a great surprise. How would the British feel if the Spanish had sovereignty over the Isle of Wight.

Gibralter has been British for 309 years.

Of course a bit of nationalist sabre rattling is always a good distraction from economic crises.

3 August 2013

A building under construction in Business Bay caught fire this morning.

Smoke was seen billowing from the building, which is located near the Dubai Mall Metro Station along Shaikh Zayed Road and very close to Executive Towers.

Firefighting trucks were seen trying to navigate through Downtown and Business Bay to access the building. 

**************************
There is more trouble ahead in Thailand and maybe soon - after all it normally starts when I am in the country and Tai and I will be back there from 8 August - the alarm signs include mounting political protests, the upcoming amnesty bill, the tightened security around parliament and recent riot control drills, the imposition of the Internal Security Act, the mass deployment of police this weekend and the King and Queen moving to Hua Hin.

This cannot all be coincidence.

2 August 2013

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said on Thursday it signed an agreement with Serbia to acquire 49 percent of its loss-making JatAirways, which will be rebranded as Air Serbia.

Etihad (or I assume the Abu Dhabi government) and the government of Serbia have agreed "both to inject $40 million" into the Serbian national carrier, a statement said.

The two parties will also "each provide up to $60 million further funding," the statement added.

Etihad has also been awarded a five-year contract to manage the carrier.

"We will have tough decisions to make," said Etihad's chief James Hogan. He has far too many distractions and far too many marginal airlines under their semi control.

************************
In addition Etihad and Air Canada will begin reciprocal codeshare operations from 6 August 2013. Very strange.

A new agreement between Canada and the UAE cannot be far away. But It may favour Etihad over Emirates.

1 August 2013

Emirates Airline said on Wednesday it will serve Amsterdam with a second daily non-stop flight from December 4.

The Dubai airline said in a statement that a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft will add capacity of more than 3,700 seats a week in both directions.

*****************************
I have been back home in Hong Kong for three days - it is hot, humid, chaotic and great fun.

27 July 2013

This week's Dubai stories make me increasingly uncertain about staying here....

For the most part foreigners in Dubai have virtually nothing to do with the UAE citizens, a situation that seems to widely suit both sides and allows foreigners to avoid having to deal with some of the rather "interesting" local perceptions and laws.

But still people do get into trouble with the law here; some are naive, some foolish and some just plain unlucky.

Whatever the reasons, it pays to be discreet.

And it is probably good to know when enough is enough.

It also underscores the contradictory and potentially baffling messages sent by places such as Dubai.

Dubai's tolerance permits (even encourages) indulgences such as unlimited-booze brunches, WAG holidays and Ibiza style night clubs. Bling is marketed as a virtue. so is excess.

Less effort is spent reminding foreigners that Dubai's laws are influenced by Islamic tenets that prohibit sex out of wedlock or even getting too amorous with your partner in public.

Enforcement is laissez-faire in Dubai — but it takes one person to be offended and then the law has to act.

There is a wide contrast between what happens on the street, what is written in the law, and how much authorities warn visitors and foreign residents of the legal boundaries.

The blows to Dubai’s image from the Dalelv case are cautionary tales for Gulf states trying to project a Western-friendly aura.

Even so there are no suggestions of changes to the laws; perhaps behind the scenes there maybe greater thought on how the laws are implemented and the message that is send to Dubai's majority foreign residents and the growing number of visitors.

24 July 2013

Finally, a Luther series with almost a happy ending. Admittedly not much of one – there was a shoot-out, an abduction, a murder, three more attempted murders, and John Luther (Idris Elba) finished the episode dumped, wounded, coatless, possibly unemployed and standing hand-in-hand with the universe's campest serial killer – but you have to take what you can get.

Alice may have become a but too camp and not enough psycho - but she is still a great character.

And she and Luther do fit together.

23 July 2013

There is a dreadful article in The National today written in an attempt to undertake damage limitation after the outcry over the sentencing of Marte Dalelv.

The National headline tells the reader that it has are the facts behind the case. It then argues that the case was not about rape at all but about consensual intercourse and perjury.

It must have been a shocking and confusing situation for any woman to be in. She was convinced enough that she had been violated to report a rape. Brave. Given that she lived in Doha she must have already known that reporting the alleged rape would be difficult.

There would have been many police. All men. All speaking Arabic. There are tests. Her employer is called. She insist that her employer suggested that she should say it was consensual and the case would then not be pursued. This may well have been after discussions with the police. Her employer comes out of this with no credit despite some late damage control.

Her friends and the Norwegian authorities ran a very active campaign for her release. #boycottdubai has been very active on twitter.

She initially reported a rape; she changed her claim to consensual expecting the case would close. It did not and she was sentenced.

I accept we will never fully know what happened between the two individuals or what happened at the Bur Dubai police station. I do know that it is an intimidating place to be.

But no does mean no. And the fact that a woman has had a drink does not make her prey.

A couple of twitter reactions:

@JamesPiotr
Horrific @TheNationalUAE piece on rape case in Dubai. Slimy facts dressed up as guilt. Subtext: drunk, asked for it

‏@JamesPiotr
I don't know who James Langton, the co author of that atrocious Dubai rape case article but he should hang his head in shame.

‏@cjpurcell
Wow, @TheNationalUAE really is a rag.
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/pardoned-norwegian-woman-in-dubai-rape-claim-case-overwhelmed-by-freedom …

The trouble is that the law and its application will not change. Maybe the police processes will be more understanding; maybe the courts will apply greater discretion. But as Ramadan ends, fall arrives and the MICE and holiday seasons kick into gear, the best advice to visitors is to know the laws of the country, to keep a low profile and to behave with extreme caution. Despite the image that Dubai sells overseas this is not Ibiza; it is not Berlin; it is not Bangkok. This is a town where you are one drink or one indiscreet moment away from a serious problem.

****************************
The man who filmed the Emirati official hitting an Indian driver in a road rage incident a week ago is still in police custody and has been refused bail.

Again we can only hope that common sense will prevail.

A legal specialist, Dr Ali Al Jarman, told The National that "people are not allowed to film any incident, even if they see a crime being committed. The act of recording the incident is illegal in itself," he said. "Even if you take it to the police and don't publish it, you are still in violation of the law."

The National added that when it comes to defamation cases, the law gives victims of alleged defamation the right to win cases by simply proving the harm on their reputation, even if the statement about them was proven to be true.

******************************
It is very hard to escape royal baby news.

He is as yet unnamed. Austin is now a favorite - Austin Cambridge. Geddit.

It must be hard being born knowing that a) you will be bald in your thirties and b) you have no career choice.

With three kings coming in a row after QEII dies there is one job title that you will not hear for at may decade's - the title of Queen's gynaecologist will rapidly become obsolete.

22 July 2013

In case you are on Mars and have not heard the news:

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has given birth to a baby boy. The unnamed son is third in line to the throne. Both mother and child are doing well, Kensington Palace said in a short statement. They will both remain in hospital overnight.

The son of Prince William and Middleton weighed 8lbs 6oz (3.6kg). He was delivered at 4.24pm in the maternity wing of St Mary's hospital by natural birth. The Duke of Cambridge was at the bedside.

"We could not be happier," William said in a statement. A Buckingham palace spokesman said the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are "delighted at the news". The prime minister, David Cameron, predicted William and Kate will "make wonderful parents".

Hundreds gathered outside the hospital to celebrate the news. The crowd sang: "Happy birthday dear royal baby," in absence of a name. Later several hundred people were outside Buckingham Palace, where an ornate easel announced the birth.

The birth of the royal baby had been followed around the world. In America rolling news channels devoted their coverage to the birth, while Australia prime minister Kevin Rudd sent his country's "warmest regards" to the new family.

Barring some sort of tragedy or illness, realistically the bay will not be King until around 2065; Charles is the next King then his son William, who is still only 31, follows. Baby Cambridge - he has no name yet - has a long life in waiting.

I will not be around to see his head on British stamps....I wonder if there will even be stamps in 50 years!

***************************
Royal baby alert - A woman entirely financially dependent on the State has chosen to have a baby. The Daily Mail should be furious.

***************************
R&A cancelled traditional post-Open press conference. Can't imagine why? #sexism #slowplaypenalties #overpricedtickets #lowattendance

21 July 2013

Tony Fernandes - CEO and founder of Air Asia: "I don’t admire too many premium carriers, but Emirates is fantastic. They’ve built an airline out of sand. That airline has created a country. They fly everywhere. Emirates is on everything—from football jerseys to everything. They are a great brand, and are doing so well. Other airlines are jealous of them. They say they get free oil, but that’s nonsense.

Everyone says Singapore Airlines did well. But that’s because all the others were idiots. Now Singapore Airlines is struggling. They are like confused puppies. They are doing low-cost and full fare. They were the kings. Now, when others wake up, they don’t know what to do. The LCC has routes that don’t work for them. Unless they are a truly independent brand, they can’t do much."

From Forbes India on "AirAsia: The Tony and Mittu Show"

18 July 2013

FIFA will decide In October (3rd or 4th apparently) whether to move 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter.

Apparently the summers have become warm since they won vote to host.

Bizarre really.

The bid was for a summer world cup. The FIFA delegates approved a summer world cup in Qatar. Idiots. What were they thinking?

And now Blatter wants a winter world cup! He is shameless.

17 July 2013

Passenger numbers to Istanbul are down dramatically...one daily flight instead of two on EK and light loads - the protests have done damage to the tourism industry - shame - it is a fascinating city.

****************************
Episode 3 of series 3 and Luther was back to its best - not perfect - but awfully good.

*****************************
Ray Wilkins was found guilty today of drink-driving. He was three times over the limit. He abused the police. He had te audacity to plead not guilty requiring a court trial and the judge, less him or her, threw the book at him.

Considering Sky's stance on Keys & Gray, surely they won't keep someone who endangered lives?

Also it would be appropriate that we do not be see him on Al Jazeera Sports.

16 July 2013

Al Jazeera Sport has bought exclusive media rights to English Premier League soccer in the Middle East and North Africa for three years starting from next month, it said in a statement on Monday.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera reached agreement with TV sports rights firm MP & Silva for access to all 380 Premier League matches across media platforms and devices in 23 countries from Iran to Morocco, taking in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

Former Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray will front the English language programmes.

It will therefore be a mix of football and discovery channel with two dinosaurs presenting the football coverage.

********************************
Twitter announced a new arrival at DXB today: @HHShkMohd inspects Emirates Airlines new Airbus A319, dedicated for officials, VIPs and families #Dubai

Not sure why that is Emirates and not the Royal fleet?

15 July 2103

Emirates has announced it will commence a daily A380 service to Barcelona from 1st February 2014. This will replace one of the two daily 777-300 flights.

14 July 2013

Thai VietJetAir  has officially been launched after Hanoi based namesake VietJetAir recently signed a joint venture agreement with Kan Air of Chiang Mai that will see the new Thai LCC based out of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.

Expected to commence operations in early 2014, the new carrier will initially operate a fleet of two or three Airbus A320 aircraft on domestic and international routes; services to Cambodia and Myanmar are already under consideration.

Now the question is how does Thai VietJetAir get access to Suvarnabhumi while Thai AirAsia languishes out at Don Muang?

****************************
Back in Dubai. Hot.

12 July 2013

Sadly this review in the Independent is spot-on - Luther is good- but season 3 is just too much cliche and not enough brooding detective.....Luther deserves a better nemesis than a clichéd bogeyman hiding under beds and in wardrobes

11 July 2013

Lots of driving the last few days - SW England to Manchester, Durham and Edinburgh. Too much. Would be nice to stop and have a look around.

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Great day of test cricket at Trent Bridge today...why test cricket is the best possible form of the game.

7 July 2013

Hoping for the best for Thailand's Sirithip Sinhakarn, one of Asiana flight attendants from the SFO crash landing. She is severely injured from the crash. She is undergoing surgery at Stanford Hospital

*************************
Proof - not that it was really needed - that Tony Blair is an irrelevant, self-serving dork: Egyptian army had no choice over move to topple Morsi, says Tony Blair

6 July 2013

It is 15 years today since the closure of Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong.

Hard to believe it has been that long.

Much has happened since. Good and less than good.

I (or more accurately Alex) still have (has) our certificates from taking the first flights out of Chep Lap Kok on 7 July to head back to Singapore.

********************************
Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia have offered asylum to Edward Snowden.

Tough call - maybe Bolivia. It always looks such a beautiful country.

And a round of applause for all three nations.

*********************************
Singapore based Tiger Airways is now Tigerair - just so you know.....

*********************************
Sadly I fear this is true: "Congrats to Mohammed el Baradei on being appointed new spokesman to the international press for the Egyptian Army!"

4 July 2013

Quiz: are you smart enough to pass the US citizenship exam?

I scored 7 out of 10.....Alex 6. Can you do better?

********************************
Classic Dubai: Arabian Business publishes an article: 'Parents can't moan about school fees - GEMS chief' - the comments from readers are far from flattering about GEMS and Sunny Varkey. The comments are then deleted on Arabian Business and comments are disabled on the article.

Simple really - if you dont have the courage to read and publish readers' comments then dont publish the article.

*********************************
Note to the idiot driving too fast out of Imperial College yesterday and thinking he was clever in front of his mates trying to run over pedestrians walking up Exhibition Road - you are a moron. 

2 July 2013

Next time I threaten to book an Easyjet flight please check my sanity....what a nasty patronising way to fly.

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Alex and I were on the train from Schiphol to Delft to visit the Delft University of Technology. We were about 5 minutes past Schiphol and the train brakes hard to a stop.

A passenger had committed suicide jumping off a platform under our express train.

We were stuck for about 90 minutes while emergency services did their work.

One guy in our carriage was heading to the University for a 2pm exam; he would not get their on time. Felt sorry for him.

And you worry about the driver; it must be shocking to see someone throw their body under your train. I hope the driver is well looked after and counseled by the rail company.

The University by the way was excellent. And we were very well looked after by the people at the faculty or Aeronautical Engineering who arranged a tour for us. Very impressive.