Ed Caesar
@edcaesar.bsky.social
Writer @newyorker. Author of "The Moth and the Mountain" and "Two Hours". "The Comet" will be published... soon.
Pinned
Ed Caesar
@edcaesar.bsky.social
· Oct 20
The Cocaine Kingpin Living Large in Dubai
Daniel Kinahan, an Irish drug dealer, commands a billion-dollar empire from the U.A.E. Why isn’t he in prison?
www.newyorker.com
I wrote about Daniel Kinahan and his family for @newyorker.com. The story features boxers, assassins, Hezbollah, a billion-dollar cocaine empire, the Open University, and a debonair gangster in a prison in Rome who is singing like a canary...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Strong AKA game from the freshly-indicted Ryan Wedding:
January 23, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Strong AKA game from the freshly-indicted Ryan Wedding:
Rifaat al-Assad has died. This obit in NYT omits a) he used to own Witanhurst, and b) his vast offshore wealth was partly managed for nearly a decade by Mark Bridges, the Queen's private solicitor. (Obit does mention: Mitterand gave him the Legion D'Honneur ffs.) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/w...
Rifaat al-Assad, Paramilitary Leader and ‘Butcher of Hama,’ Dies at 88
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Rifaat al-Assad has died. This obit in NYT omits a) he used to own Witanhurst, and b) his vast offshore wealth was partly managed for nearly a decade by Mark Bridges, the Queen's private solicitor. (Obit does mention: Mitterand gave him the Legion D'Honneur ffs.) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/w...
Reposted by Ed Caesar
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Reposted by Ed Caesar
We're absolutely delighted to welcome Sophie Heawood and @nivenj1.bsky.social to The Fence as columnists for the print magazine in 2026. Their first outings will be in Issue 27. Subscribe today to get eyes on their words first.
www.the-fence.com/shop/
www.the-fence.com/shop/
January 20, 2026 at 3:19 PM
We're absolutely delighted to welcome Sophie Heawood and @nivenj1.bsky.social to The Fence as columnists for the print magazine in 2026. Their first outings will be in Issue 27. Subscribe today to get eyes on their words first.
www.the-fence.com/shop/
www.the-fence.com/shop/
Reposted by Ed Caesar
The Prime Minister of Belgium speaks:
January 20, 2026 at 12:47 PM
The Prime Minister of Belgium speaks:
Reposted by Ed Caesar
Cleminson Street, Salford. Salford pioneered play streets, traffic-free from 8am till sunset (borrowed from New York) in the 1930s. Legislation followed: there were 700 in England and Wales in the 1950s, all but forgotten by the 1980s.
January 18, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Cleminson Street, Salford. Salford pioneered play streets, traffic-free from 8am till sunset (borrowed from New York) in the 1930s. Legislation followed: there were 700 in England and Wales in the 1950s, all but forgotten by the 1980s.
Lovely essay by John Phipps about a man and his cello. (Contains the word "luthier", which improves any piece.)
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
When a Man Loves a Cello
For the concert soloist Steven Isserlis, the perfect instrument is a blessing—and a curse.
www.newyorker.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Lovely essay by John Phipps about a man and his cello. (Contains the word "luthier", which improves any piece.)
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Ed Caesar
'She was long in the body, but strong of limb and rib,
and her muscles moved under the skin
like currents in a bay of the river.
She was swift as the wind or as the summer swallow . . .'
from Sean Jennett's ‘I Was A Labourer’.
Photograph: Chris Killip
and her muscles moved under the skin
like currents in a bay of the river.
She was swift as the wind or as the summer swallow . . .'
from Sean Jennett's ‘I Was A Labourer’.
Photograph: Chris Killip
January 8, 2026 at 8:38 AM
'She was long in the body, but strong of limb and rib,
and her muscles moved under the skin
like currents in a bay of the river.
She was swift as the wind or as the summer swallow . . .'
from Sean Jennett's ‘I Was A Labourer’.
Photograph: Chris Killip
and her muscles moved under the skin
like currents in a bay of the river.
She was swift as the wind or as the summer swallow . . .'
from Sean Jennett's ‘I Was A Labourer’.
Photograph: Chris Killip
There is one rule for criminals in Dubai: no violence. Someone forgot the rule. The Turkish gangster Şeyhmus Muhittinoğlu was shot dead in Dubai just before Christmas. Some eighty Turkish nationals have since been arrested by Dubai police. What a place. www.crimeworld.com/internationa...
Turkish mobster shot dead in rare Dubai gangland hit
Local police have reportedly taken a “zero tolerance” approach to the reputed damage to the city’s image and reputation following the brutal killing
www.crimeworld.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:18 PM
There is one rule for criminals in Dubai: no violence. Someone forgot the rule. The Turkish gangster Şeyhmus Muhittinoğlu was shot dead in Dubai just before Christmas. Some eighty Turkish nationals have since been arrested by Dubai police. What a place. www.crimeworld.com/internationa...
Reposted by Ed Caesar
Tatiana Schlossberg, daughter of Caroline Kennedy, has died at 35. In November, she wrote about receiving a terminal diagnosis following the birth of her daughter.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/hsZC7S
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/hsZC7S
A Battle with My Blood
When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
December 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Tatiana Schlossberg, daughter of Caroline Kennedy, has died at 35. In November, she wrote about receiving a terminal diagnosis following the birth of her daughter.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/hsZC7S
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/hsZC7S
Over Christmas, something remarkable: the Dutch extradited Kidane Habtemariam, an Eritrean people trafficker, from the U.A.E. He will now stand trial in the Netherlands.
I wrote about Kidane's life and many crimes here: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
I wrote about Kidane's life and many crimes here: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The Kingpin Who Kidnapped Migrants for Ransom
An Eritrean trafficker promised to help Africans desperate to reach Europe—then brutalized them inside a Libyan compound while extorting their families back home. With his fortune, he partied in Dubai...
www.newyorker.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Over Christmas, something remarkable: the Dutch extradited Kidane Habtemariam, an Eritrean people trafficker, from the U.A.E. He will now stand trial in the Netherlands.
I wrote about Kidane's life and many crimes here: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
I wrote about Kidane's life and many crimes here: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Ed Caesar
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Make it even more vulgar.
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Make it even more vulgar.
Reposted by Ed Caesar
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Really interesting development, grateful to @harrystopes.bsky.social for highlighting it. Read the thread...
THREAD. The CCRC has referred the murder convictions of 3 men who were convicted in 2017 of the murder of Abdul Hafidah in Moss Side, Manchester to the Court of Appeal.
(Nathaniel Williams was also convicted of murder in the same case: his application on the same basis is still being considered.)
(Nathaniel Williams was also convicted of murder in the same case: his application on the same basis is still being considered.)
Murder convictions in Moss Side ‘joint enterprise’ case referred to court of appeal
CCRC says new evidence undermines narrative Durrell Goodall, Reano Walters and Trey Wilson were in a gang
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Really interesting development, grateful to @harrystopes.bsky.social for highlighting it. Read the thread...
Reposted by Ed Caesar
Beautiful piece by @TimAdamsWrites on the brilliant Observer journalist Rachel Cooke who could write wonderfully about anything, has died tragically young and will be hugely, hugely missed by so many people.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Beautiful piece by @TimAdamsWrites on the brilliant Observer journalist Rachel Cooke who could write wonderfully about anything, has died tragically young and will be hugely, hugely missed by so many people.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Was sent this bit of news overnight. "Irish mafia" arrested in Colombia, during Clan del Golfo raids. Eagle-eyed readers of @newyorker.com will note that Clan del Golfo has recently worked with the Kinahan group.
November 14, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Was sent this bit of news overnight. "Irish mafia" arrested in Colombia, during Clan del Golfo raids. Eagle-eyed readers of @newyorker.com will note that Clan del Golfo has recently worked with the Kinahan group.
Reposted by Ed Caesar
Woman in a purple hat, Manchester, 1985, photo by Shirley Baker (1932-2014).
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Woman in a purple hat, Manchester, 1985, photo by Shirley Baker (1932-2014).
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair...
Amazing piece about NEOM, The Line, and where fantasy meets reality in Saudi Arabia. Chapeau @financialtimes.com
Amazing piece about NEOM, The Line, and where fantasy meets reality in Saudi Arabia. Chapeau @financialtimes.com
NEW: The End of the Line: the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Neom gigaproject - a 500m tall, 170km long wall-like building intended ultimately to house 9 million people - can’t get out of the ground, say more than 20 former Neom architects, engineers and senior executives.
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair...
Amazing piece about NEOM, The Line, and where fantasy meets reality in Saudi Arabia. Chapeau @financialtimes.com
Amazing piece about NEOM, The Line, and where fantasy meets reality in Saudi Arabia. Chapeau @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Ed Caesar
A rail worker credited with saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing on a train has been named as Samir Zitouni.
The 48-year-old's actions on the Doncaster to London King's Cross service on Saturday evening were described as "nothing short of heroic".
The 48-year-old's actions on the Doncaster to London King's Cross service on Saturday evening were described as "nothing short of heroic".
Train hero who saved passengers during attack named
The rail worker credited with saving multiple lives is named as Samir Zitouni.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
A rail worker credited with saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing on a train has been named as Samir Zitouni.
The 48-year-old's actions on the Doncaster to London King's Cross service on Saturday evening were described as "nothing short of heroic".
The 48-year-old's actions on the Doncaster to London King's Cross service on Saturday evening were described as "nothing short of heroic".
So fun to write this short tribute to a classic @newyorker.com story: Up and then Down, by Nick Paumgarten.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/tak...
But don't read that read the original. It's about eight thousand words long and it will make your day better.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/200...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/tak...
But don't read that read the original. It's about eight thousand words long and it will make your day better.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/200...
Up And Then Down
Late on a Friday night, Nicholas White got stuck on an elevator in a nearly empty office building.
www.newyorker.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
So fun to write this short tribute to a classic @newyorker.com story: Up and then Down, by Nick Paumgarten.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/tak...
But don't read that read the original. It's about eight thousand words long and it will make your day better.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/200...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/tak...
But don't read that read the original. It's about eight thousand words long and it will make your day better.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/200...
Honoured.
October 31, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Honoured.
No More Kings, by @willoyd.bsky.social -- an essay very much worth your time. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
Abolish the monarchy
It’s more than Prince Andrew – the whole House of Windsor is rotten to the core
www.newstatesman.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
No More Kings, by @willoyd.bsky.social -- an essay very much worth your time. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
Thank you to the Sunday Long Read... Kinahan and many other delicious treats in this week's buffet.
Start your week with the SLR, featuring @edcaesar.bsky.social, @nxthompson.bsky.social, @cnull.bsky.social & many more! mailchi.mp/sundaylongre...
The Sunday Long Read: Digital Remains, Why I Run, New Restaurant
The week's best journalism. Every Sunday.
mailchi.mp
October 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Thank you to the Sunday Long Read... Kinahan and many other delicious treats in this week's buffet.
Heaney, by @fotoole.bsky.social : observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Seamus Heaney’s poems for a darkening age | The Observer
Collected in a landmark new edition, the late Irish writer’s work is attuned to wonder, replete with humanity and rooted in the tragedies of history
observer.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Heaney, by @fotoole.bsky.social : observer.co.uk/culture/book...