Experts say they have discovered new spyware similar to the infamous Pegasus, which was found two years ago to have been used by various governments to spy on journalists, activists, and political opposition. A team of cybersecurity researchers from the CitizenLab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School said the spyware was produced by an Israeli company...
Spectacular skyscrapers, luxury lifestyles, and sunny beaches — these are the hallmarks of Dubai, a Middle Eastern financial hub known as a playground for the global rich. But the glamorous emirate also has a darker reputation as a tax haven, a top destination for illicit cash, and a preferred hub for money laundering, often through...
French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to welcome the President of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, to Paris July 18. That welcome should not include giving the crown prince a pass on the UAE’s atrocious human rights record. Amid the backdrop of rising energy prices due to Russia’s invasion...
Allies Should Call for Rights Defender’s Immediate Release (Beirut) – United Arab Emirates authorities retaliated against the detained human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor after July 2021, when regional media published a prison letter he wrote detailing his mistreatment in detention and flagrantly unfair trial, Human Rights Watch and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) said today. ...
Events of 2022 In 2022, United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities introduced amendments to a wide range of laws yet continued an alarming campaign of repression and censorship against dissidents. The UAE has expanded its surveillance capabilities, both online and through drone surveillance in public spaces. UAE authorities continue to block representatives of international human rights organizations and United Nations...
Andrew is enjoying a break this week. I’m Jan Kooy, taking care of the Daily Brief in the next few days. Should a deeply repressive country get to host UN climate talks? No, that would be an extremely bad idea. So how on earth did the United Arab Emirates become host of the upcoming and...
PART FOUR A Sunday Vision journalist got in touch with traffickers who smuggled her to Dubai on promises of a high paying job. She ended up in an agent’s holding cell, from where she was taken to a slave market. I thank God that I was able to do this story and return to Uganda...
PART THREE A Vision journalist got in touch with traffickers who smuggle people to work in the Middle East, on promises of high paying jobs. They smuggled her to Dubai with promises of a lucrative job. On arrival, she ended up in an agent’s holding cell. The story, which started last weekend, continues with the...
UAE climate event organisers warn speakers not to ‘criticise corporations,” Speakers at a climate and health conference in the United Arab Emirates were told not to protest or “criticise corporations” in a warning that cited the Gulf state’s laws, alarming campaigners ahead of the country hosting the UN’s COP28 climate summit this year. Organisers advised...
Campaigners said the UAE’s opposition to zero emissions by 2050 was “alarming” given the country will host Cop28 climate talks in December The United Arab Emirates tried to weaken global shipping’s climate target last week, sparking fears that it will lack ambition as host of the Cop28 climate summit. According to four sources in the...