Each time the European Union’s sanctions against Russia come up for renewal, there’s speculation that some countries might break ranks and vote against the trade and financing restrictions. There will probably be no deserters this time around either; but a softening of the sanctions is on the cards in the near future. In December, the sanctions, which include travel bans …

  Eric Mack SPECIAL TO EMIRATES BUSINESS Last year, a survey of 1,000 20-somethings worldwide found young adults most admire Nelson Mandela and Pope Francis among public figures. But the name coming in third on that list wasn’t Barack Obama or a historical figure like Gandhi, both of whom appear further down in the poll results. The man who ranks …

  South Korea is faced with periodic environmental disasters in the form of pollution blowing from China. In the winter, the source is typically excessive burning of coal used in China for heating. In the spring, yellow dust from the deserts of northern China and Mongolia are blown across Northeast Asia, picking up soot and carcinogens from China-based industrial processes …