A Taliban official has claimed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani from engaging in Afghan politics while living in Dubai.

Taliban: UAE bans Ashraf Ghani from taking part in Afghanistan politics

It's been more than 100 days since former Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani fled to the UAE as the Taliban stormed took power in Kabul. Since then Ashraf Ghani has stayed away from politics and the public eye.

Did UAE set conditions for Afghanistan's former president Ashraf Ghani?

In what is being termed as the largest legislative reform in its history, the United Arab Emirates has updated its law. This comes in as a move to further develop the legislative system.&nbsp;

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE has approved these reforms to strengthen economic and commercial opportunities, enhance social stability, and ensure the rights of individuals, as well as&nbsp;institutions.&nbsp; 
 
During the "Year of the 50th," new laws and legislative changes were drafted to keep up with the UAE's developmental accomplishments and represent the country's future goals.

The reforms encompass more than 40 laws, making them the greatest legislative reform in the young nation's 50-year history.&nbsp;

One of the most important provisions introduced is that the law is applied to anyone who commits, or participates in, a premeditated murder that occurs against a citizen of the UAE, even if the crime takes place outside the country.

Also, the law aims to enhance community protection from a set of online crimes. The main aim is to combat the spread of rumours and ‘fake news’, and preserve personal privacy and rights.

The law includes various provisions related to fake news and misleading information. It gives courts the power to confiscate devices, software, content.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-praises-south-africa-for-quick-transparent-reporting-of-new-covid-variant-omicron-432491">Also read |&nbsp;US praises South Africa for quick, transparent reporting of new Covid variant Omicron</a>

The new law addresses online false advertising and promotions. This also includes unlicensed trading in crypto-currencies and medical products and supplements.

The new law prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages in a public place or in unlicensed locations. Also, it prohibits the sale, provision or incitement or inducement to consume alcoholic beverages to any person below 21 years of age.

The new law addresses the crime of indecent assault with imprisonment or a fine starting from Dh 10,000. If there has been the use of force, the penalty shall be imprisonment for a period of at least five years and not exceeding 20 twenty years.

The new legislative changes came into being after there were intensive discussions at both the local and federal levels. Teams of 540 specialists and experts from 50 federal and local authorities have worked together over the past five months.&nbsp;

The new legislation will be enacted from January 2, 2022.&nbsp; 
 
Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-criminal-code-to-come-into-force-in-united-arab-emirates-432618/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

In what is being termed as the largest legislative reform in its history, the United Arab Emirates has updated its law. This comes in as a move to further develop the legislative system.

In what is being termed as the largest legislative reform in its history, the United Arab Emirates has updated its law. This comes in as a move to further develop the legislative system. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE has approved these reforms to strengthen economic and commercial opportunities, enhance social stability, and ensure the rights of individuals, as well as institutions. During the "Year of the 50th," new laws and legislative changes were drafted to keep up with the UAE's developmental accomplishments and represent the country's future goals. The reforms encompass more than 40 laws, making them the greatest legislative reform in the young nation's 50-year history. One of the most important provisions introduced is that the law is applied to anyone who commits, or participates in, a premeditated murder that occurs against a citizen of the UAE, even if the crime takes place outside the country. Also, the law aims to enhance community protection from a set of online crimes. The main aim is to combat the spread of rumours and ‘fake news’, and preserve personal privacy and rights. The law includes various provisions related to fake news and misleading information. It gives courts the power to confiscate devices, software, content. Also read | US praises South Africa for quick, transparent reporting of new Covid variant Omicron The new law addresses online false advertising and promotions. This also includes unlicensed trading in crypto-currencies and medical products and supplements. The new law prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages in a public place or in unlicensed locations. Also, it prohibits the sale, provision or incitement or inducement to consume alcoholic beverages to any person below 21 years of age. The new law addresses the crime of indecent assault with imprisonment or a fine starting from Dh 10,000. If there has been the use of force, the penalty shall be imprisonment for a period of at least five years and not exceeding 20 twenty years. The new legislative changes came into being after there were intensive discussions at both the local and federal levels. Teams of 540 specialists and experts from 50 federal and local authorities have worked together over the past five months. The new legislation will be enacted from January 2, 2022. Watch: (With inputs from agencies)

In a move to develop the legislative system, UAE adopts largest legal reform in its 50-year history

In January, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates for his first visit of the year 2022.

His visit will be centred on the Dubai Expo in the United Arab Emirates, where the India Pavilion has attracted a lot of attention and foot traffic.&nbsp;

As part of the 75th anniversary of India's independence, the country's achievements are showcased in a gigantic four-story pavilion.

So far, around 4 lakh people have visited the pavilion, with approximately 8000 of them visiting on Friday.

The four-story building is divided into two halves.

Climate and Biodiversity, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Tolerance and Inclusivity, Golden Jubilee, Knowledge and Learning, Travel and Connectivity, Global Goals, Health and Wellness, Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods, and Water are the 11 basic topics that the zones are founded on.&nbsp;

The PM will meet with the country's top leadership during his visit.

In August 2015, February 2018, and August 2019, Prime Minister Modi visited the UAE.

He has also been awarded the UAE's highest honour, the Order of the Zayed.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar visited the India Pavilion at the Dubai Expo earlier this month and interacted with the top leadership of the UAE.

Engagement between individuals is the bedrock of bonds.

The Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which numbers over 3.3 million people and accounts for 30% of the country's population, is the biggest ethnic group.

In January, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates for his first visit of the year 2022. His visit will be centred on the Dubai Expo in the United Arab Emirates, where the India Pavilion has attracted a lot of attention and foot traffic.

In January, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates for his first visit of the year 2022. His visit will be centred on the Dubai Expo in the United Arab Emirates, where the India Pavilion has attracted a lot of attention and foot traffic. As part of the 75th anniversary of India's independence, the country's achievements are showcased in a gigantic four-story pavilion. So far, around 4 lakh people have visited the pavilion, with approximately 8000 of them visiting on Friday. The four-story building is divided into two halves. Climate and Biodiversity, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Tolerance and Inclusivity, Golden Jubilee, Knowledge and Learning, Travel and Connectivity, Global Goals, Health and Wellness, Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods, and Water are the 11 basic topics that the zones are founded on. The PM will meet with the country's top leadership during his visit. In August 2015, February 2018, and August 2019, Prime Minister Modi visited the UAE. He has also been awarded the UAE's highest honour, the Order of the Zayed. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar visited the India Pavilion at the Dubai Expo earlier this month and interacted with the top leadership of the UAE. Engagement between individuals is the bedrock of bonds. The Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which numbers over 3.3 million people and accounts for 30% of the country's population, is the biggest ethnic group.

UAE to be first foreign destination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday said a new criminal code would come into force in January. UAE has called it the most sweeping legal reform in the Gulf state's history.

New criminal code to come into force in United Arab Emirates

The UAE and Qatar are tussling over control of the Kabul airport. According to sources, the UAE has held talks with the Taliban to run the airport, sources reveal that UAE officials have held a series of discussions with a group in recent weeks to discuss operating the airport.

Afghanistan: UAE, Qatar tussle over handling of Kabul airport

Dubai Cricket Council chairman Abdul Rahman Falaknaz has offered to host India-Pakistan matches in the UAE making the country a neutral venue for both teams. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series between them since 2013 owing to the political tension between the two nations.

After successfully hosting the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, Falaknaz believes UAE can serve as the perfect venue for high voltage India-Pakistan clashes. While India have refused to travel to Pakistan, BCCI might agree to host games against the arch-rivals at a neutral venue like the UAE.

Recalling the good old days when India and Pakistan used to play regularly in Sharjah, Falaknaz said the matches between the two teams used to be like a sporting war on the field. He said getting India and Pakistan playing in the UAE will be the best thing for the Emirates Cricket Board.

"The best thing would be to get India-Pakistan matches here. When Sharjah used to host India and Pakistan all those years ago, it was like a war. But it was a good war, it was a sporting war and it was fantastic," Falaknaz was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times.&nbsp;

"I remember (Bollywood actor) Raj Kapoor came once with his family. During the awards night, he took the mic and said, ‘How wonderful it is to have these India-Pakistan battles in Sharjah. Cricket brings people together, cricket has brought us together, and let us remain this way'," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-bans-pork-beef-in-any-form-halal-meat-made-compulsory-for-indian-cricket-team-report-431377?fbclid=IwAR2vgkm48Hpt7Pqr2B4jgixUmH-yMYA-YRU13M9UwcT9MWJSF54YjI7W2VA">BCCI bans pork, beef in any form; Halal meat made compulsory for Indian cricket team - Report</a>

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series between them since 2013 but continue to meet in the major ICC events. The arch-rivals recently locked horns in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai where the Babar Azam-led side defeated India by ten wickets to get off to a winning start in the tournament.

With their comprehensive ten-wicket win, Pakistan brought an end to their losing streak against India in World Cup matches and bagged their first win against the Men in Blue in a World Cup game.

&nbsp;

Dubai Cricket Council chairman Abdul Rahman Falaknaz has offered to host India-Pakistan matches in the UAE making the country a neutral venue for both teams. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series between them since 2013 owing to the political tension between the two nations.

Dubai Cricket Council chairman Abdul Rahman Falaknaz has offered to host India-Pakistan matches in the UAE making the country a neutral venue for both teams. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series between them since 2013 owing to the political tension between the two nations. After successfully hosting the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021, Falaknaz believes UAE can serve as the perfect venue for high voltage India-Pakistan clashes. While India have refused to travel to Pakistan, BCCI might agree to host games against the arch-rivals at a neutral venue like the UAE. Recalling the good old days when India and Pakistan used to play regularly in Sharjah, Falaknaz said the matches between the two teams used to be like a sporting war on the field. He said getting India and Pakistan playing in the UAE will be the best thing for the Emirates Cricket Board. "The best thing would be to get India-Pakistan matches here. When Sharjah used to host India and Pakistan all those years ago, it was like a war. But it was a good war, it was a sporting war and it was fantastic," Falaknaz was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times. "I remember (Bollywood actor) Raj Kapoor came once with his family. During the awards night, he took the mic and said, ‘How wonderful it is to have these India-Pakistan battles in Sharjah. Cricket brings people together, cricket has brought us together, and let us remain this way'," he added. Also Read: BCCI bans pork, beef in any form; Halal meat made compulsory for Indian cricket team - Report India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series between them since 2013 but continue to meet in the major ICC events. The arch-rivals recently locked horns in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai where the Babar Azam-led side defeated India by ten wickets to get off to a winning start in the tournament. With their comprehensive ten-wicket win, Pakistan brought an end to their losing streak against India in World Cup matches and bagged their first win against the Men in Blue in a World Cup game.

'It used to be like a war': Dubai Cricket Council chairman offers to host India-Pakistan series in UAE

UAE's national carrier Emirates has welcomed the Indian government's decision to divest the national carrier in India. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Emirates president Tim Clark said that the Indian government should also provide unhindered access to all international airlines under open sky policy, listen in to this excerpt.

UAE welcomes Air India sale, Emirates president Tim Clark in an exclusive conversation with WION

As Australia won the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, here's reliving the entire seventh edition held in the UAE.

T20 World Cup 2021: Reliving the seventh edition held in the UAE

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met the United Arab Emirates’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed in Damascus. But the UAE's ally Washington quickly expressed concern over the signal sent by the encounter.

UAE foreign minister meets Syrian President in Damascus

Pakistan's Sindh province has granted permission for up to 14 Arab dignitaries to shoot the globally endangered bird species houbara bustard this year, according to a report published by Dawn on Monday.&nbsp;

Among the hunters are the UAE president, Qatar's prime minister, and Bahrain's monarch.

According to sources, the Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent the "recommendations" for Falconry Season 2021-2022 (excluding protected areas) to the Sindh government, along with a request to provide appropriate licences in compliance with the country's wildlife legislation.

During a meeting two weeks ago, the provincial government authorised the 14 names, each of which was assigned an unique hunting area.&nbsp;

The Houbara bustard is a critically endangered bird that is globally protected.

Every year, it migrates south to spend the winter in Pakistan, where the weather is milder.

The Pakistani government has invited Arab hunters to hunt the bird specifically.

This year, however, Pakistan has come under fire for the assassination of a journalist who broadcast recordings of Arab dignitaries hunting Houbara bustards.

Nazim Jokhio, a Karachi resident, was slain on Wednesday after he released a video alleging he was being threatened by Arab dignitaries in Pakistan over tapes he posted on hunting expeditions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan's Sindh province has granted permission for up to 14 Arab dignitaries to shoot the globally endangered bird species houbara bustard this year, according to a report published by Dawn on Monday.

Pakistan's Sindh province has granted permission for up to 14 Arab dignitaries to shoot the globally endangered bird species houbara bustard this year, according to a report published by Dawn on Monday. Among the hunters are the UAE president, Qatar's prime minister, and Bahrain's monarch. According to sources, the Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent the "recommendations" for Falconry Season 2021-2022 (excluding protected areas) to the Sindh government, along with a request to provide appropriate licences in compliance with the country's wildlife legislation. During a meeting two weeks ago, the provincial government authorised the 14 names, each of which was assigned an unique hunting area. The Houbara bustard is a critically endangered bird that is globally protected. Every year, it migrates south to spend the winter in Pakistan, where the weather is milder. The Pakistani government has invited Arab hunters to hunt the bird specifically. This year, however, Pakistan has come under fire for the assassination of a journalist who broadcast recordings of Arab dignitaries hunting Houbara bustards. Nazim Jokhio, a Karachi resident, was slain on Wednesday after he released a video alleging he was being threatened by Arab dignitaries in Pakistan over tapes he posted on hunting expeditions. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan: 14 Arab royals given permit to hunt endangered Houbara bustard

Colombia, the third-largest economy in Latin America, aims to reach more than US$1 billion in bilateral trade with the UAE by 2030, President Ivan Duque has said.

In an exclusive interview to Emirates News Agency (WAM), the president of Colombia, who is on his first official visit to the UAE, said he hopes to triple the trade figures with the middle eastern country within the next 24 months.

“Do I see a potential to achieve US$1 billion (by 2030)? Yes, and it could reach higher than that. But I think we must connect the markets, eliminate barriers and be able to bring investments from the UAE to Colombia,” he said.

“I really believe that the next challenge is to triple the trade (figures) between Colombia and the UAE over the course of the next 24 months and be able to have the biggest ever investment by the UAE in Colombia.

“I’m certain that green energy, hydrogen, non-conventional renewable energy sources and conventional energy like oil and gas will have a lot of interest from the UAE investors in Colombia.”

According to UAE’s Ministry of Economy, the non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries touched US$176 million in the first half of 2019.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/colombias-vice-president-marta-lucia-ramirez-calls-for-joint-vaccine-production-with-india-417812">Colombia's vice president Marta Lucía Ramírez calls for joint vaccine production with India</a>

The two countries established their diplomatic ties 45 years ago, and Colombia was one of the first countries to support the UAE’s bid to host Expo 2020 Dubai.

There are no direct flights between the two countries yet. However, the Colombian president revealed that he will discuss it with Emirati officials on Sunday.

“We have been having that conversation with the ambassador of the UAE to Colombia and our ambassador here. I will meet UAE authorities today (to discuss it further),” he said.

“One of the things that I would love to raise (in the meeting) is to eliminate logistical complexities and be able to connect directly between Colombia and the UAE.”

The two countries are working on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on double taxation avoidance, President Duque said.

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When asked whether the UAE could be the second Middle Eastern country, after Israel, to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia, he answered, “I think there is a great opportunity. We can do something strong, fast, impactful. We are working on the avoidance of double taxation and there is an investment agreement (with the UAE) that is being discussed in the Congress. So, why not an FTA? I think it will be a win-win situation.”

Duque, who was elected in 2018 as the President, believes that the UAE can be an “accelerator and an important partner” of his vision of turning Colombia into the “Silicon Valley of Latin America.”

“Yes, I see the UAE playing a role. Not only through the [sovereign] funds, but also when it comes to the supply of technology - Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, blockchain,” he said.

"We have been able to develop technologies that can be suitable for the UAE companies looking towards Latin America. The UAE can be a very important partner, supporting our country to move more startups in specialised technology; to become providers and be able to connect the UAE can be an accelerator of the vision of Colombia becoming the Silicon Valley of Latin America."

Colombia is an emerging destination for incubation of technology and IT companies. In 2015, the country was the third largest provider of IT services in Latin America with more than 5,400 companies and sales close to US$2.5 billion, Luis German Restrepo, the director for ProColombia Miami, had told Forbes.

Talking about the Colombian economy and tourism, President Duque said, “This year, our economy will grow above 8.5 percent, which will be the best growth [rate for Colombia] in this century.”

“4.5 million tourists visited Colombia in 2019. We want in 2022 to reach a higher level I’m motivated to see Colombia in a post-pandemic world where we will take advantage of our capabilities, including the possibility of having biotourism and ecotourism as an engine for our economic growth," he concluded.

Colombia, the third-largest economy in Latin America, aims to reach more than US$1 billion in bilateral trade with the UAE by 2030, President Ivan Duque has said.

Colombia, the third-largest economy in Latin America, aims to reach more than US$1 billion in bilateral trade with the UAE by 2030, President Ivan Duque has said. In an exclusive interview to Emirates News Agency (WAM), the president of Colombia, who is on his first official visit to the UAE, said he hopes to triple the trade figures with the middle eastern country within the next 24 months. “Do I see a potential to achieve US$1 billion (by 2030)? Yes, and it could reach higher than that. But I think we must connect the markets, eliminate barriers and be able to bring investments from the UAE to Colombia,” he said. “I really believe that the next challenge is to triple the trade (figures) between Colombia and the UAE over the course of the next 24 months and be able to have the biggest ever investment by the UAE in Colombia. “I’m certain that green energy, hydrogen, non-conventional renewable energy sources and conventional energy like oil and gas will have a lot of interest from the UAE investors in Colombia.” According to UAE’s Ministry of Economy, the non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries touched US$176 million in the first half of 2019. Also read | Colombia's vice president Marta Lucía Ramírez calls for joint vaccine production with India The two countries established their diplomatic ties 45 years ago, and Colombia was one of the first countries to support the UAE’s bid to host Expo 2020 Dubai. There are no direct flights between the two countries yet. However, the Colombian president revealed that he will discuss it with Emirati officials on Sunday. “We have been having that conversation with the ambassador of the UAE to Colombia and our ambassador here. I will meet UAE authorities today (to discuss it further),” he said. “One of the things that I would love to raise (in the meeting) is to eliminate logistical complexities and be able to connect directly between Colombia and the UAE.” The two countries are working on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on double taxation avoidance, President Duque said. Also read | Colombia authorises export of dried cannabis flowers When asked whether the UAE could be the second Middle Eastern country, after Israel, to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia, he answered, “I think there is a great opportunity. We can do something strong, fast, impactful. We are working on the avoidance of double taxation and there is an investment agreement (with the UAE) that is being discussed in the Congress. So, why not an FTA? I think it will be a win-win situation.” Duque, who was elected in 2018 as the President, believes that the UAE can be an “accelerator and an important partner” of his vision of turning Colombia into the “Silicon Valley of Latin America.” “Yes, I see the UAE playing a role. Not only through the [sovereign] funds, but also when it comes to the supply of technology - Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, blockchain,” he said. "We have been able to develop technologies that can be suitable for the UAE companies looking towards Latin America. The UAE can be a very important partner, supporting our country to move more startups in specialised technology; to become providers and be able to connect the UAE can be an accelerator of the vision of Colombia becoming the Silicon Valley of Latin America." Colombia is an emerging destination for incubation of technology and IT companies. In 2015, the country was the third largest provider of IT services in Latin America with more than 5,400 companies and sales close to US$2.5 billion, Luis German Restrepo, the director for ProColombia Miami, had told Forbes. Talking about the Colombian economy and tourism, President Duque said, “This year, our economy will grow above 8.5 percent, which will be the best growth [rate for Colombia] in this century.” “4.5 million tourists visited Colombia in 2019. We want in 2022 to reach a higher level I’m motivated to see Colombia in a post-pandemic world where we will take advantage of our capabilities, including the possibility of having biotourism and ecotourism as an engine for our economic growth," he concluded.

Trade, direct flights on agenda of Colombian President Duque’s first official visit to UAE

A new law has come up in Abu Dhabi concerning the family matters for non-Muslims, which includes marriage, divorce and inheritance. &nbsp;

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Sunday issued a new law to regulate personal status for non-Muslims in the jurisdiction. &nbsp;

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This law has been enacted to provide a flexible and advanced judicial mechanism for the determination of personal status disputes for non-Muslims. &nbsp;

The AD Judicial Department has established the first court, which is dedicated to non-Muslim family matters. The procedures of the new court will be bilingual, ie in Arabic and English, to facilitate the understanding of judicial procedures by foreigners and to improve judicial transparency. &nbsp;

The new law consists of 20 articles, which are divided into several chapters, covering divorce, civil marriage, joint custody of children and inheritance. &nbsp;

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The law will enhance the emirate's position and global competitiveness as one of the most attractive destinations for talent and skills. &nbsp;

Youssef Saeed Al Abri, Undersecretary, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), noted that the new legislation is the first of its kind in the world as it deals with the smallest details regarding non-Muslim family life. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A new law has come up in Abu Dhabi concerning the family matters for non-Muslims, which includes marriage, divorce and inheritance. UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Sunday issued a new law to regulate personal status for non-Muslims in the jurisdiction.

A new law has come up in Abu Dhabi concerning the family matters for non-Muslims, which includes marriage, divorce and inheritance. UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Sunday issued a new law to regulate personal status for non-Muslims in the jurisdiction. Also Read: Israeli foreign minister distances government from blacklisted NSO Group This law has been enacted to provide a flexible and advanced judicial mechanism for the determination of personal status disputes for non-Muslims. The AD Judicial Department has established the first court, which is dedicated to non-Muslim family matters. The procedures of the new court will be bilingual, ie in Arabic and English, to facilitate the understanding of judicial procedures by foreigners and to improve judicial transparency. The new law consists of 20 articles, which are divided into several chapters, covering divorce, civil marriage, joint custody of children and inheritance. Also Read: Iraqi Prime Minister escapes assassination attempt after explosive-laden drone targets his house The law will enhance the emirate's position and global competitiveness as one of the most attractive destinations for talent and skills. Youssef Saeed Al Abri, Undersecretary, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), noted that the new legislation is the first of its kind in the world as it deals with the smallest details regarding non-Muslim family life. (With inputs from agencies)

For non-Muslims, new personal status law introduced in Abu Dhabi

With rubbish piling up in the desert, the United Arab Emirates has found a new way to get rid of its trash -- incinerators that will turn it into electricity.

The&nbsp;UAE, one of the world's top oil exporters, is building the Gulf region's first&nbsp;waste-to-power&nbsp;plants to ease its chronic trash problem and, at the same time, its reliance on gas-fuelled electricity stations.

Green groups are unconvinced. They say advanced recycling, composting and changing habits amid grossly wasteful rates of consumption would be better for the environment, warning of pollution risks from the greenhouse gas-intensive incinerators too.

But engineer Nouf Wazir, from&nbsp;waste&nbsp;management&nbsp;company Bee'ah, argues they are a way to&nbsp;make&nbsp;use of refuse that cannot be recycled.

"Not everyone knows that&nbsp;waste&nbsp;has value," said Wazir, a senior engineer on the project. The Sharjah facility is expected to launch this year, burning more than 300,000 tonnes of&nbsp;waste&nbsp;per year to&nbsp;power&nbsp;up to 28,000 homes.

In the neighbouring emirate of Dubai, another plant is being developed at a cost of $1.2 billion, according to Hitachi Zosen Inova, one of the partner companies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europe-once-again-at-epicentre-of-coronavirus-pandemic-who-426681">Also read |&nbsp;Europe once again at epicentre of coronavirus pandemic: WHO</a>

When it is completed in 2024, the Dubai plant will be one of the largest in the world, capable of gobbling up 1.9 million tonnes of&nbsp;waste&nbsp;per year&nbsp;about 45 percent of the household&nbsp;waste&nbsp;currently produced in the emirate.

'People consume a lot'

As the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;has mushroomed from a desert outpost to a thriving business hub,&nbsp;waste&nbsp;has multiplied.

So has&nbsp;power&nbsp;use, which has soared 750 percent since 1990 according to the International Energy Agency.

Now with about 10 million people, five times the population of 30 years ago, the wealthy&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;uses more electricity and creates more&nbsp;waste&nbsp;per head than almost any other country.

Authorities put&nbsp;waste&nbsp;production at 1.8 kilos (four pounds) per person per day.

In the&nbsp;UAE, "people consume a lot, and they throw away a lot", said Riad Bestani, founder of ECOsquare, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in eco-friendly&nbsp;waste&nbsp;management.

Landfills are strewn across the country. In Dubai alone, six cover an area of about 1.6 million square meters (395 acres), according to the municipality.

In the absence of other solutions, it estimates that landfills will occupy 5.8 million square meters of the emirate by 2041, an area the size of more than 800 football pitches.

Fees for landfills are "pretty much nonexistent, so it's quite cheap and easy to dump all materials into the desert", said Emma Barber, director of Dubai-based DGrade, which designs clothes and accessories from recycled plastic bottles.

The&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;has set about diversifying its electricity generation, more than 90 percent of which comes from gas-powered plants.

Last year, the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;inaugurated the Arab world's first nuclear plant and, making use of its location in one of the world's hottest regions, it has significant solar&nbsp;power&nbsp;resources.&nbsp;

In the run-up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, which started on Sunday, the&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;said it was targeting carbon neutrality by 2050.

'Separate, sort, recycle'

While supporters of the plants say the incinerators carry minimal pollution risks, activists say other approaches would be better for the environment.

According to Janek Vahk of Zero&nbsp;Waste&nbsp;Europe, incinerating rubbish may be "easier" than having space-consuming landfills, but it is far from green.

"The most beneficial for the climate (and) the environment would be recoverage" and composting, Vahk told AFP.

"But this is not really happening because... it's easier to simply&nbsp;burn&nbsp;it than to separate, sort and recycle."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-accused-of-hypocrisy-for-using-private-jet-after-cop26-summit-426684">Also read |&nbsp;UK PM Boris Johnson accused of 'hypocrisy' for using private jet after COP26 summit</a>

The Brussels-based NGO has called for a moratorium on new&nbsp;waste&nbsp;incinerators and the phasing-out of old ones by 2040, warning the electricity they produce is greenhouse-gas intensive -- even compared to fossil fuels.

Vahk argues that incineration is "more efficient" in colder Nordic countries when the heat produced is also harnessed, but not in hot deserts.

"If you only produce electricity, the greenhouse gases' intensity of this energy is very high," Vahk said, adding that incinerators are also "very expensive to build&nbsp;and they need to have continuous input to run."

Rami Shaar, co-founder of Washmen, a Dubai-based start-up that collects customers' laundry and recycling at the same time, said&nbsp;waste-to-electricity is not "necessarily&nbsp;green energy".

"It's a bit of a solution towards not extracting more oil but it doesn't solve the full problem," he said.&nbsp;

With rubbish piling up in the desert, the United Arab Emirates has found a new way to get rid of its trash -- incinerators that will turn it into electricity. The UAE, one of the world's top oil exporters, is building the Gulf region's first waste-to-power plants to ease its chronic trash problem and, at the same time, its reliance on gas-fuelled electricity stations.

With rubbish piling up in the desert, the United Arab Emirates has found a new way to get rid of its trash -- incinerators that will turn it into electricity. The UAE, one of the world's top oil exporters, is building the Gulf region's first waste-to-power plants to ease its chronic trash problem and, at the same time, its reliance on gas-fuelled electricity stations. Green groups are unconvinced. They say advanced recycling, composting and changing habits amid grossly wasteful rates of consumption would be better for the environment, warning of pollution risks from the greenhouse gas-intensive incinerators too. But engineer Nouf Wazir, from waste management company Bee'ah, argues they are a way to make use of refuse that cannot be recycled. "Not everyone knows that waste has value," said Wazir, a senior engineer on the project. The Sharjah facility is expected to launch this year, burning more than 300,000 tonnes of waste per year to power up to 28,000 homes. In the neighbouring emirate of Dubai, another plant is being developed at a cost of $1.2 billion, according to Hitachi Zosen Inova, one of the partner companies. Also read | Europe once again at epicentre of coronavirus pandemic: WHO When it is completed in 2024, the Dubai plant will be one of the largest in the world, capable of gobbling up 1.9 million tonnes of waste per year about 45 percent of the household waste currently produced in the emirate. 'People consume a lot' As the UAE has mushroomed from a desert outpost to a thriving business hub, waste has multiplied. So has power use, which has soared 750 percent since 1990 according to the International Energy Agency. Now with about 10 million people, five times the population of 30 years ago, the wealthy UAE uses more electricity and creates more waste per head than almost any other country. Authorities put waste production at 1.8 kilos (four pounds) per person per day. In the UAE, "people consume a lot, and they throw away a lot", said Riad Bestani, founder of ECOsquare, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in eco-friendly waste management. Landfills are strewn across the country. In Dubai alone, six cover an area of about 1.6 million square meters (395 acres), according to the municipality. In the absence of other solutions, it estimates that landfills will occupy 5.8 million square meters of the emirate by 2041, an area the size of more than 800 football pitches. Fees for landfills are "pretty much nonexistent, so it's quite cheap and easy to dump all materials into the desert", said Emma Barber, director of Dubai-based DGrade, which designs clothes and accessories from recycled plastic bottles. The UAE has set about diversifying its electricity generation, more than 90 percent of which comes from gas-powered plants. Last year, the UAE inaugurated the Arab world's first nuclear plant and, making use of its location in one of the world's hottest regions, it has significant solar power resources. In the run-up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, which started on Sunday, the UAE said it was targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. 'Separate, sort, recycle' While supporters of the plants say the incinerators carry minimal pollution risks, activists say other approaches would be better for the environment. According to Janek Vahk of Zero Waste Europe, incinerating rubbish may be "easier" than having space-consuming landfills, but it is far from green. "The most beneficial for the climate (and) the environment would be recoverage" and composting, Vahk told AFP. "But this is not really happening because... it's easier to simply burn it than to separate, sort and recycle." Also read | UK PM Boris Johnson accused of 'hypocrisy' for using private jet after COP26 summit The Brussels-based NGO has called for a moratorium on new waste incinerators and the phasing-out of old ones by 2040, warning the electricity they produce is greenhouse-gas intensive -- even compared to fossil fuels. Vahk argues that incineration is "more efficient" in colder Nordic countries when the heat produced is also harnessed, but not in hot deserts. "If you only produce electricity, the greenhouse gases' intensity of this energy is very high," Vahk said, adding that incinerators are also "very expensive to build and they need to have continuous input to run." Rami Shaar, co-founder of Washmen, a Dubai-based start-up that collects customers' laundry and recycling at the same time, said waste-to-electricity is not "necessarily green energy". "It's a bit of a solution towards not extracting more oil but it doesn't solve the full problem," he said.

Oil-rich UAE to burn waste to make power

Israel is holding its largest and most advanced air force exercise ever, joined by seven countries including India, France, the US, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. The exercise named 'Blue Flag' is underway in Israel's Negev desert.

Israel holds largest-ever air force drill with UAE visit

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will take part in a first-ever virtual meeting later today.&nbsp;

Billed as the "quad", the meeting seems to be a direct outcome of the Abraham accords of 2020. The accords led to the normalisation of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, with both sides opening direct commercial, telephonic links. The meeting takes place post 10 PM IST and details are set to be announced by the countries involved after it.

The UAE is the first country in the Persian Gulf to normalise ties with Israel. India has strong ties with both Israel and UAE in West Asia and since the accords were signed, they have worked in a trilateral arrangement.

In May, the three countries signed the first-ever pact that involves producing robotic solar cleaning technology in India for a project in the UAE by an Israel based company, Ecoppia. The trilateral partnership was initiated by the International Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce (IFIICC).

The May release by the Israeli embassy in Delhi said, "Abraham Accords peace agreement signed between Israel and the UAE has certainly paved the way for friendships and business partnerships across the region. India, being a friend of both the UAE and Israel, is the preferred partner to leverage the global potential of the UAE, Israel, and India Trilateral. "

The estimate by the Israeli government pegs the innovation and international business potential of the 3 countries at $110 billion by 2030. The three countries are soon expected to focus on a mega connectivity plan that connects the Mediterranean to India via the Arab world. The foreign ministers of India, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, and others are expected to meet in Dubai at the 12th edition of the Sir Bani Yas Forum in November this year.

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will take part in a first-ever virtual meeting later today.

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will take part in a first-ever virtual meeting later today. Billed as the "quad", the meeting seems to be a direct outcome of the Abraham accords of 2020. The accords led to the normalisation of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, with both sides opening direct commercial, telephonic links. The meeting takes place post 10 PM IST and details are set to be announced by the countries involved after it. The UAE is the first country in the Persian Gulf to normalise ties with Israel. India has strong ties with both Israel and UAE in West Asia and since the accords were signed, they have worked in a trilateral arrangement. In May, the three countries signed the first-ever pact that involves producing robotic solar cleaning technology in India for a project in the UAE by an Israel based company, Ecoppia. The trilateral partnership was initiated by the International Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce (IFIICC). The May release by the Israeli embassy in Delhi said, "Abraham Accords peace agreement signed between Israel and the UAE has certainly paved the way for friendships and business partnerships across the region. India, being a friend of both the UAE and Israel, is the preferred partner to leverage the global potential of the UAE, Israel, and India Trilateral. " The estimate by the Israeli government pegs the innovation and international business potential of the 3 countries at $110 billion by 2030. The three countries are soon expected to focus on a mega connectivity plan that connects the Mediterranean to India via the Arab world. The foreign ministers of India, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, and others are expected to meet in Dubai at the 12th edition of the Sir Bani Yas Forum in November this year.

Abraham Accords dividend: India, US, UAE & Israel foreign ministers to hold meeting

In a further blow to the country's freedom of expression, the Chinese government is proposing new regulations that would prohibit news reporting by sources that are not directly financed by the Communist Party.After years of being restricted to only civilian roles in the military, women will now be allowed to join the combat roles for the first time, said Kuwaiti army on Tuesday. &nbsp;After accepting an award in Lisbon, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she thinks a lot about what she would be doing if she "ruled the world". &nbsp; 
 
Click on headlines to read more 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-plans-to-ban-non-communist-media-outlets-in-a-further-blow-to-free-speech-420272">China plans to ban non-Communist media outlets in a further blow to free speech</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/04/152906-chinese-media.jpg" />

China may prohibit all private investment in the media, implying that the Communist Party would finance it entirely.A submission to a senior decision-making committee would halt spending in news collecting and broadcasting.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-kuwaiti-women-can-now-serve-military-in-combat-roles-420270">In a first, Kuwaiti women can now serve military in combat roles</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/10/13/215912-women-in-army.jpg" />

Women will now be allowed to join the combat roles in Kuwaiti army. Earlier, they were restricted to only civilian roles for years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-thinks-a-lot-about-what-to-do-if-she-ruled-the-world-420276">US commitment to Taiwan is 'rock solid': Pentagon</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/20/155564-0001wm3fa.jpg" />

The US with bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam, has a large military presence in the region and has been pursuing a "pivot" in focus toward the Indo-Pacific to counter China's increasingly assertive posture.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-commitment-to-taiwan-is-rock-solid-pentagon-420278">US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thinks ‘a lot’ about what to do if she 'ruled the world'</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/08/13/206480-untitled-design-27.jpg" />

After accepting an award in Lisbon, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she thinks a lot about what she would be doing if she "ruled the world". &nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Nigerian School flogs girl for consuming alcohol

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Watch | Gravitas: G20 says 'laser-focused' on terror in Afghanistan

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-g20-says-laser-focused-on-terror-in-afghanistan-420264/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In a further blow to the country's freedom of expression, the Chinese government is proposing new regulations that would prohibit news reporting by sources that are not directly financed by the Communist Party.

In a further blow to the country's freedom of expression, the Chinese government is proposing new regulations that would prohibit news reporting by sources that are not directly financed by the Communist Party.After years of being restricted to only civilian roles in the military, women will now be allowed to join the combat roles for the first time, said Kuwaiti army on Tuesday. After accepting an award in Lisbon, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she thinks a lot about what she would be doing if she "ruled the world". Click on headlines to read more China plans to ban non-Communist media outlets in a further blow to free speech China may prohibit all private investment in the media, implying that the Communist Party would finance it entirely.A submission to a senior decision-making committee would halt spending in news collecting and broadcasting. In a first, Kuwaiti women can now serve military in combat roles Women will now be allowed to join the combat roles in Kuwaiti army. Earlier, they were restricted to only civilian roles for years. US commitment to Taiwan is 'rock solid': Pentagon The US with bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam, has a large military presence in the region and has been pursuing a "pivot" in focus toward the Indo-Pacific to counter China's increasingly assertive posture. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thinks ‘a lot’ about what to do if she 'ruled the world' After accepting an award in Lisbon, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she thinks a lot about what she would be doing if she "ruled the world". Watch | Gravitas: Nigerian School flogs girl for consuming alcohol Watch | Gravitas: G20 says 'laser-focused' on terror in Afghanistan

Morning news brief: China to outlaw news outlets, China-Taiwan tensions and more

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the US is the "root cause" of instability on the Korean Peninsula. He said Pyongyang is only increasing its military capabilities as a deterrent.The first instalment of US Vice President Kamala Harris’ YouTube Originals space series has gone viral. It has been widely mocked on several platforms too.An Afghan interpreter who assisted in the rescue of then-Senator Joe Biden from the harsh Afghan countryside has managed to flee the country with his family. 
 
Click on headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-blames-us-for-regional-tensions-defends-weapons-buildup-420039">North Korea's Kim Jong Un blames US for regional tensions, defends weapons buildup</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/10/12/215574-untitled-design-2.jpg" /> 
On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticised the US for hostile actions and stated that his country is beefing up its military capabilities to preserve national sovereignty.

<a href="wionews.com/world/watch-us-vice-president-harris-nasa-video-with-child-actors-gets-mocked-goes-viral-420041">Watch: US Vice President Harris' NASA video with child actors gets mocked, goes viral</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/04/27/192886-untitled-design-6.jpg" />The first installment of US Vice President Kamala Harris’ YouTube Originals space series has gone viral. It has been widely mocked on several platforms by many netizens too.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghan-interpreter-who-helped-rescue-biden-in-2008-escapes-taliban-regime-420043">Afghan interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008 escapes Taliban regime</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/10/12/215576-untitled-design-3.jpg" /> 
The Afghan translator who assisted in the retrieval of then-Senator Joe Biden from the Afghan highlands in 2008 but was left behind by the Kabul airlift has been flown to Pakistan. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: India's game plan to win the global space race

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Watch | Gravitas: India-China military talks break down: What next?

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the US is the "root cause" of instability on the Korean Peninsula. He said Pyongyang is only increasing its military capabilities as a deterrent.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the US is the "root cause" of instability on the Korean Peninsula. He said Pyongyang is only increasing its military capabilities as a deterrent.The first instalment of US Vice President Kamala Harris’ YouTube Originals space series has gone viral. It has been widely mocked on several platforms too.An Afghan interpreter who assisted in the rescue of then-Senator Joe Biden from the harsh Afghan countryside has managed to flee the country with his family. Click on headlines to read more North Korea's Kim Jong Un blames US for regional tensions, defends weapons buildup On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticised the US for hostile actions and stated that his country is beefing up its military capabilities to preserve national sovereignty. Watch: US Vice President Harris' NASA video with child actors gets mocked, goes viral The first installment of US Vice President Kamala Harris’ YouTube Originals space series has gone viral. It has been widely mocked on several platforms by many netizens too. Afghan interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008 escapes Taliban regime The Afghan translator who assisted in the retrieval of then-Senator Joe Biden from the Afghan highlands in 2008 but was left behind by the Kabul airlift has been flown to Pakistan. Watch | Gravitas: India's game plan to win the global space race Watch | Gravitas: India-China military talks break down: What next?

Morning news brief: Kim criticizes US, Kamala Harris' NASA video, and more

Stadiums in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will operate at 70% of capacity for the Twenty20 World Cup, the organisers said, though conditions in Oman, where preliminary rounds are due to be played, have still to be fully assessed following a cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen struck coastal areas of Oman, including the capital of Muscat on Sunday, two weeks before preliminary round matches of the tournament commence on Oct. 17.

Some 3,000 fans would be accommodated at Al Amerat stadium in Muscat, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Sunday, though the cyclone left streets in the Omani capital under water, prompted evacuations from coastal areas and delayed flights in and out of the country.

The 16-team tournament was shifted to the Gulf states as result of a surge of COVID-19 infections in India, but the Indian cricket board (BCCI) remains the event host.

The ICC said the BCCI and itself had worked closely with host authorities to ensure fans are welcomed in a safe environment and COVID-19 protocols are applied at all venues.

"The T20 World Cup is the largest sporting event to be held in the region and it will be the biggest global cricket event since the pandemic with fans in stadia," the ICC said.

"In the UAE all venues will be operating at approximately 70% of maximum seated capacity, whilst Abu Dhabi has also introduced new socially distanced `pods` of a maximum of 4 spectators on their east and west grass mounds," it said.

Dubai, which hosts matches including the Nov. 14 final, and Sharjah are the two other venues in the UAE. 
The UAE is currently hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) with fans at a reduced capacity.

Stadiums in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will operate at 70% of capacity for the Twenty20 World Cup, the organisers said, though conditions in Oman, where preliminary rounds are due to be played, have still to be fully assessed following a cyclone.

Stadiums in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will operate at 70% of capacity for the Twenty20 World Cup, the organisers said, though conditions in Oman, where preliminary rounds are due to be played, have still to be fully assessed following a cyclone. Tropical Cyclone Shaheen struck coastal areas of Oman, including the capital of Muscat on Sunday, two weeks before preliminary round matches of the tournament commence on Oct. 17. Some 3,000 fans would be accommodated at Al Amerat stadium in Muscat, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Sunday, though the cyclone left streets in the Omani capital under water, prompted evacuations from coastal areas and delayed flights in and out of the country. The 16-team tournament was shifted to the Gulf states as result of a surge of COVID-19 infections in India, but the Indian cricket board (BCCI) remains the event host. The ICC said the BCCI and itself had worked closely with host authorities to ensure fans are welcomed in a safe environment and COVID-19 protocols are applied at all venues. "The T20 World Cup is the largest sporting event to be held in the region and it will be the biggest global cricket event since the pandemic with fans in stadia," the ICC said. "In the UAE all venues will be operating at approximately 70% of maximum seated capacity, whilst Abu Dhabi has also introduced new socially distanced `pods` of a maximum of 4 spectators on their east and west grass mounds," it said. Dubai, which hosts matches including the Nov. 14 final, and Sharjah are the two other venues in the UAE. The UAE is currently hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) with fans at a reduced capacity.

UAE stadiums to be at 70% capacity for T20 World Cup 2021, Oman reels from cyclone

Crash of Abu Dhabi Police air ambulance on Saturday killed four people including the two pilots, said the police. In a tweet, Abu Dhabi Police said that pilot trainer Khamis Saeed Al-Holy, Lieutenant Pilot Nasser Muhammad Al-Rashidi as well as civilians Dr Shahid Farouk Gholam and nurse Joel Qiui Sakara Minto died in the crash, Khaleej Times newspaper reported

General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police mourned death of four of its medical team members

"The General Command of Abu Dhabi Police extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to their families, acquaintances and co-workers," the force said in a tweet.

The Gulf News identified the two pilots killed in the line of duty as Emiratis while the nationalities of doctor Ghulam and nurse Minto were not immediately known.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Crash of Abu Dhabi Police air ambulance on Saturday killed four people including the two pilots, said the police. In a tweet, Abu Dhabi Police said that pilot trainer Khamis Saeed Al-Holy, Lieutenant Pilot Nasser Muhammad Al-Rashidi as well as civilians Dr Shahid Farouk Gholam and nurse Joel Qiui Sakara Minto died in the crash, Khaleej Times newspaper reported General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police mourned death of four of its medical team members "The General Command of Abu Dhabi Police extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to their families, acquaintances and co-workers," the force said in a tweet.

Crash of Abu Dhabi Police air ambulance on Saturday killed four people including the two pilots, said the police. In a tweet, Abu Dhabi Police said that pilot trainer Khamis Saeed Al-Holy, Lieutenant Pilot Nasser Muhammad Al-Rashidi as well as civilians Dr Shahid Farouk Gholam and nurse Joel Qiui Sakara Minto died in the crash, Khaleej Times newspaper reported General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police mourned death of four of its medical team members "The General Command of Abu Dhabi Police extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to their families, acquaintances and co-workers," the force said in a tweet. The Gulf News identified the two pilots killed in the line of duty as Emiratis while the nationalities of doctor Ghulam and nurse Minto were not immediately known. (With inputs from agencies)

Four killed in air ambulance crash in Abu Dhabi, UAE

In a striking revelation, an Afghan private airline company Kam Air transferred around 155 family members of the company's leadership to Abu Dhabi, said media reports. &nbsp;

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The flight was scheduled to evacuate scribes and other persons out of the country. At the last moment, it flew with only families of the airline's leadership. The plane was only half-filled. &nbsp;

According to the report, US State department discovered the evacuees were not on the list when the plane landed in the United Arab Emirates. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/under-taliban-rule-afghan-fighters-test-their-mettle-in-kabul-pits-416218" hreflang="en">Under Taliban rule, Afghan fighters test their mettle in Kabul pits &nbsp;</a>

The claims have been denied by the Kam Air officials, saying the company was not picking evacuees. It was only responsible for transferring them, they said. &nbsp;

Kam Air chief executive Mohammad Dawood Sharifi, said, “We had only two flights--to Abu Dhabi and Tbilisi. They went according to the list. Because many people remain in Afghanistan, they make these claims that Kam Air took some families and relatives.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/driving-training-centre-for-women-on-verge-of-closure-in-kabul-416176" hreflang="en">Driving training centre for women on verge of closure in Kabul</a> &nbsp;

The passengers, who were not on the list, are still in Abu Dhabi. Their fate is uncertain. &nbsp;

"I am a journalist working here, and still here. This has negatively affected my soul that someone misused my identity (being a journalist) and went out of the country,” said Jawad Etimad, a journalist. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

In a striking revelation, an Afghan private airline company Kam Air transferred around 155 family members of the company's leadership to Abu Dhabi, said media reports.

In a striking revelation, an Afghan private airline company Kam Air transferred around 155 family members of the company's leadership to Abu Dhabi, said media reports. Watch: × The flight was scheduled to evacuate scribes and other persons out of the country. At the last moment, it flew with only families of the airline's leadership. The plane was only half-filled. According to the report, US State department discovered the evacuees were not on the list when the plane landed in the United Arab Emirates. Also Read: Under Taliban rule, Afghan fighters test their mettle in Kabul pits The claims have been denied by the Kam Air officials, saying the company was not picking evacuees. It was only responsible for transferring them, they said. Kam Air chief executive Mohammad Dawood Sharifi, said, “We had only two flights--to Abu Dhabi and Tbilisi. They went according to the list. Because many people remain in Afghanistan, they make these claims that Kam Air took some families and relatives.” Also Read: Driving training centre for women on verge of closure in Kabul The passengers, who were not on the list, are still in Abu Dhabi. Their fate is uncertain. "I am a journalist working here, and still here. This has negatively affected my soul that someone misused my identity (being a journalist) and went out of the country,” said Jawad Etimad, a journalist. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: Kam Air allegedly took 155 kin of firm's top brass instead of evacuees to UAE, claim reports

Saudi and Emirati efforts to define ‘moderate’ Islam as socially more liberal while being subservient to an autocratic ruler is as much an endeavour to ensure regime survival and bolster aspirations to lead the Muslim world as it is an attempt to fend off challenges rooted in diverse strands of religious ultra-conservatism.

The Saudi and Emirati efforts to garner religious soft power have much in common even though the kingdom and the United Arab Emirates build their respective campaigns on historically different forms of Islam. The two Gulf states are, moreover, rivals in the battle for the soul of Islam, a struggle to define what strand or strands will dominate the faith in the 21st century.

The battle takes on added significance at a time that Middle Eastern rivals are attempting to dial down regional tensions by managing their disputes and conflicts rather than resolving them. The efforts put a greater emphasis on soft power rivalry rather than hard power confrontation often involving proxies.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-76th-united-nations-general-assembly-key-issues-and-the-indian-dilemma-414656">Opinion | 76th United Nations General Assembly: Key issues and the Indian dilemma</a>

Saudi Arabia and the UAE propagate a ‘moderate’ Islam on the back of significant social reforms in recent years that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler and relegates the clergy to the status of the ruler’s clerics.

The reforms include Saudi Arabia’s lifting of a ban on women’s driving, enhancing of women’s professional and personal opportunities, curbing the powers of the religious police and introducing Western-style entertainment.

The UAE last November allowed unmarried couples to cohabitate, loosened alcohol restrictions and criminalised “honour killings,” a widely criticised religiously packaged tribal custom that allows a male relative to kill a woman accused of dishonouring her family.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE compete in the Muslim world with Turkish and Iranian Islamist strands of the faith that are laced with nationalism.

The Gulf states’ state-led moderation of religious practices rather than of theology and Muslim jurisprudence is also challenged by some strands of Wahhabism, the ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam on the basis of which Saudi Arabia was founded.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-initial-taliban-moves-fail-to-convince-afghanistans-neighbours-413032">Opinion | Initial Taliban moves fail to convince Afghanistan’s neighbours</a>

“Wahhabism has refracted into three broad groups since the early 1990s: a left that has developed a discourse of civic rights, a centre occupying official posts of state (dubbed ‘ulama al-sultan’ or the ruler’s clerics) that has put up some resistance to the loosening of their powers in the social, juridical and media spheres, and a Wahhabi right sympathetic to the jihadist discourse of al-Qaeda and its focus on questions of foreign policy,” said scholar Andrew Hammond.

While Turkey and Iran pose a geopolitical danger, autocratic monarchical rule is more fundamentally threatened by the religious challenge posed by what Mr. Hammond dubs the Wahhabi left and the Wahhabi right as well as Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, the only non-state player in the battle for the soul of Islam, that advocates and practices reform of Islamic jurisprudence and unconditionally endorses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The arrests in recent years of Saudi scholars and preachers such as Safar al-Hawali, Salman al-Awda, Sulayman al-Duwaish, Ibrahim al-Sakran, and Hasan al-Maliki suggests as much.

Implicitly drawing a distinction with Nahdlatul Ulama, Mr. Hammond argues that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reforms amount to “defanging Wahhabism not dethroning it.”

The crown prince, since coming to office, has radically cut back on the investment of tens of billions of dollars in the propagation of religious ultra-conservatism across the globe, most effectively in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has also sought to balance Wahhabism with Saudi ultra-nationalism and shave off the rough social edges of the kingdom’s austere interpretation of the faith. His subjugation of the clergy, and incarceration of adherents of the Wahhabi left and far-right, put an end to a 73-year long power-sharing agreement between the ruling Al-Saud family and the clergy.

The left has entertained concepts of a constitutional rather than an absolute monarchy, called for political liberalisation and civil rights and in some cases endorsed the 2011 popular Arab revolts that toppled four Arab autocrats.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-new-taliban-government-and-the-dangers-posed-by-it-411656">Opinion | New Taliban government and the dangers posed by it</a>

The Wahhabi left could be joined in challenging the conservative Gulf monarchies and, simultaneously, be challenged by Nahdlatul Ulama once the group expands its activities to target the Muslim world’s grassroots beyond Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country as well as its foremost democracy. In its first outreach to grassroots elsewhere, Nahdlatul Ulama is expected to launch an Arabic-language website before the end of the year that would target the Arab world.

Nahdlatul Ulama’s concept of a humanitarian Islam that embraces principles of tolerance, pluralism, gender equality, secularism and human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration goes considerably further than proposals put forward by Mr. Hammond’s Wahhabi left, perhaps better described as more liberal rather than an ideological left-wing of a fundamentally ultra-conservative movement.

The Indonesian group’s concept of Islam also contrasts starkly with the Saudi and Emirati notion of autocratic religious moderation that involves no theological or jurisprudential reform but uses ‘the ruler’s clergy’ to religiously legitimise repressive rule under which protests, political parties and petitioning of the government are banned and thought is policed.

“The state has strengthened the Wahhabi centre through neutralising the Wahhabi left and right, which have each represented a threat to state authority and legitimacy … As for the civic rights innovations of the Wahhabi left exemplified by al-Awda, it is precisely this discourse that the state wants to shut down,” Mr. Hammond said, referring to the imprisoned cleric.

The track record of proponents of autocratic religious moderation is checkered at best. While the UAE has created a society that is by and large religiously tolerant, neither Saudi Arabia nor Egypt, which doesn’t have the wherewithal to fight a soft power battle in the Muslim world but seeks to project itself as a champion of religious tolerance, can make a similar claim.

Prince Mohammed has met Jewish and Evangelical leaders. Mohammed al-Issa, the head of the Muslim World League, long a major vehicle to promote Saudi religious ultra-conservatism, doesn’t miss an opportunity these days to express his solidarity with other faith groups. Yet, non-Muslims remain barred in the kingdom from worshipping publicly or building their own houses of worship.

In Egypt, Patrick George Zaki, a 27-year-old student, lingers in prison since February 2020 on charges of spreading false news and rumours for publishing an article documenting incidents of discrimination against Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority.

Mr. Zaki was arrested a year after Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Egypt’s citadel of Islamic learning, signed a Declaration of Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together with Pope Francis during the two men’s visit to the UAE. The declaration advocates religious freedom and pluralism.

By contrast, Nahdlatul Ulama secretary general Yahya Staquf recently told the story of Riyanto in a September 11 speech at Regent University, a bulwark of American Evangelical anti-Muslim sentiment founded by televangelist Pat Robertson. A member of Nahdlatul Ulama’s militia, Riyanto died guarding a church in Java on Christmas Eve when a bomb exploded in his arms as he removed it from a pew.

“To us in Nahdlatul Ulama, Riyanto is a martyr, and we honour his memory every Christmas Eve alongside millions of our Indonesian Christian brothers and sisters,” Mr. Staquf said.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Saudi and Emirati efforts to define ‘moderate’ Islam as socially more liberal while being subservient to an autocratic ruler is as much an endeavour to ensure regime survival and bolster aspirations to lead the Muslim world as it is an attempt to fend off challenges rooted in diverse strands of religious ultra-conservatism.

Saudi and Emirati efforts to define ‘moderate’ Islam as socially more liberal while being subservient to an autocratic ruler is as much an endeavour to ensure regime survival and bolster aspirations to lead the Muslim world as it is an attempt to fend off challenges rooted in diverse strands of religious ultra-conservatism. The Saudi and Emirati efforts to garner religious soft power have much in common even though the kingdom and the United Arab Emirates build their respective campaigns on historically different forms of Islam. The two Gulf states are, moreover, rivals in the battle for the soul of Islam, a struggle to define what strand or strands will dominate the faith in the 21st century. The battle takes on added significance at a time that Middle Eastern rivals are attempting to dial down regional tensions by managing their disputes and conflicts rather than resolving them. The efforts put a greater emphasis on soft power rivalry rather than hard power confrontation often involving proxies. Also Read | Opinion | 76th United Nations General Assembly: Key issues and the Indian dilemma Saudi Arabia and the UAE propagate a ‘moderate’ Islam on the back of significant social reforms in recent years that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler and relegates the clergy to the status of the ruler’s clerics. The reforms include Saudi Arabia’s lifting of a ban on women’s driving, enhancing of women’s professional and personal opportunities, curbing the powers of the religious police and introducing Western-style entertainment. The UAE last November allowed unmarried couples to cohabitate, loosened alcohol restrictions and criminalised “honour killings,” a widely criticised religiously packaged tribal custom that allows a male relative to kill a woman accused of dishonouring her family. Saudi Arabia and the UAE compete in the Muslim world with Turkish and Iranian Islamist strands of the faith that are laced with nationalism. The Gulf states’ state-led moderation of religious practices rather than of theology and Muslim jurisprudence is also challenged by some strands of Wahhabism, the ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam on the basis of which Saudi Arabia was founded. Also Read | Opinion | Initial Taliban moves fail to convince Afghanistan’s neighbours “Wahhabism has refracted into three broad groups since the early 1990s: a left that has developed a discourse of civic rights, a centre occupying official posts of state (dubbed ‘ulama al-sultan’ or the ruler’s clerics) that has put up some resistance to the loosening of their powers in the social, juridical and media spheres, and a Wahhabi right sympathetic to the jihadist discourse of al-Qaeda and its focus on questions of foreign policy,” said scholar Andrew Hammond. While Turkey and Iran pose a geopolitical danger, autocratic monarchical rule is more fundamentally threatened by the religious challenge posed by what Mr. Hammond dubs the Wahhabi left and the Wahhabi right as well as Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, the only non-state player in the battle for the soul of Islam, that advocates and practices reform of Islamic jurisprudence and unconditionally endorses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The arrests in recent years of Saudi scholars and preachers such as Safar al-Hawali, Salman al-Awda, Sulayman al-Duwaish, Ibrahim al-Sakran, and Hasan al-Maliki suggests as much. Implicitly drawing a distinction with Nahdlatul Ulama, Mr. Hammond argues that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reforms amount to “defanging Wahhabism not dethroning it.” The crown prince, since coming to office, has radically cut back on the investment of tens of billions of dollars in the propagation of religious ultra-conservatism across the globe, most effectively in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has also sought to balance Wahhabism with Saudi ultra-nationalism and shave off the rough social edges of the kingdom’s austere interpretation of the faith. His subjugation of the clergy, and incarceration of adherents of the Wahhabi left and far-right, put an end to a 73-year long power-sharing agreement between the ruling Al-Saud family and the clergy. The left has entertained concepts of a constitutional rather than an absolute monarchy, called for political liberalisation and civil rights and in some cases endorsed the 2011 popular Arab revolts that toppled four Arab autocrats. Also Read | Opinion | New Taliban government and the dangers posed by it The Wahhabi left could be joined in challenging the conservative Gulf monarchies and, simultaneously, be challenged by Nahdlatul Ulama once the group expands its activities to target the Muslim world’s grassroots beyond Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country as well as its foremost democracy. In its first outreach to grassroots elsewhere, Nahdlatul Ulama is expected to launch an Arabic-language website before the end of the year that would target the Arab world. Nahdlatul Ulama’s concept of a humanitarian Islam that embraces principles of tolerance, pluralism, gender equality, secularism and human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration goes considerably further than proposals put forward by Mr. Hammond’s Wahhabi left, perhaps better described as more liberal rather than an ideological left-wing of a fundamentally ultra-conservative movement. The Indonesian group’s concept of Islam also contrasts starkly with the Saudi and Emirati notion of autocratic religious moderation that involves no theological or jurisprudential reform but uses ‘the ruler’s clergy’ to religiously legitimise repressive rule under which protests, political parties and petitioning of the government are banned and thought is policed. “The state has strengthened the Wahhabi centre through neutralising the Wahhabi left and right, which have each represented a threat to state authority and legitimacy … As for the civic rights innovations of the Wahhabi left exemplified by al-Awda, it is precisely this discourse that the state wants to shut down,” Mr. Hammond said, referring to the imprisoned cleric. The track record of proponents of autocratic religious moderation is checkered at best. While the UAE has created a society that is by and large religiously tolerant, neither Saudi Arabia nor Egypt, which doesn’t have the wherewithal to fight a soft power battle in the Muslim world but seeks to project itself as a champion of religious tolerance, can make a similar claim. Prince Mohammed has met Jewish and Evangelical leaders. Mohammed al-Issa, the head of the Muslim World League, long a major vehicle to promote Saudi religious ultra-conservatism, doesn’t miss an opportunity these days to express his solidarity with other faith groups. Yet, non-Muslims remain barred in the kingdom from worshipping publicly or building their own houses of worship. In Egypt, Patrick George Zaki, a 27-year-old student, lingers in prison since February 2020 on charges of spreading false news and rumours for publishing an article documenting incidents of discrimination against Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority. Mr. Zaki was arrested a year after Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Egypt’s citadel of Islamic learning, signed a Declaration of Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together with Pope Francis during the two men’s visit to the UAE. The declaration advocates religious freedom and pluralism. By contrast, Nahdlatul Ulama secretary general Yahya Staquf recently told the story of Riyanto in a September 11 speech at Regent University, a bulwark of American Evangelical anti-Muslim sentiment founded by televangelist Pat Robertson. A member of Nahdlatul Ulama’s militia, Riyanto died guarding a church in Java on Christmas Eve when a bomb exploded in his arms as he removed it from a pew. “To us in Nahdlatul Ulama, Riyanto is a martyr, and we honour his memory every Christmas Eve alongside millions of our Indonesian Christian brothers and sisters,” Mr. Staquf said. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | The Battle for the soul of Islam: Will the real reformer of the faith stand up?

Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as captain of his Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after IPL 2021

Decoding Virat Kohli's decision to quit RCB captain after IPL 2021

Three former US&nbsp;intelligence officers hired by the United Arab Emirates to carry out sophisticated cyber operations admitted to hacking crimes and violating US&nbsp;export laws that restrict the transfer of military technology to foreign governments, according to court documents made public on Tuesday.

The documents detail a conspiracy by the three men to furnish the Emirates with advanced technology and to assist Emirati intelligence operatives in breaches aimed at damaging the perceived enemies of the small but powerful Persian Gulf nation.

The men helped the Emirates, a close American ally, gain unauthorized access to “acquire data from computers, electronic devices and servers around the world, including on computers and servers in the United States,” prosecutors said.

The three men worked for DarkMatter, a company that is effectively an arm of the Emirati government. They are part of a trend of former US&nbsp;intelligence officers accepting lucrative jobs from foreign governments hoping to bolster their abilities to mount cyber operations.

Legal experts have said the rules governing this new age of digital mercenaries are murky, and the charges made public on Tuesday could be something of an opening salvo by the government in a battle to deter former American spies from becoming guns for hire overseas.

The three men, Marc Baier, Ryan Adams and Daniel Gericke, admitted violating US&nbsp;laws as part of a three-year deferred prosecution agreement. If the men comply with the agreement, the Justice Department will drop the criminal prosecution. Each man will also pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. The men will also never be able to receive a U.S. government security clearance.

Baier worked for the National Security Agency unit that carries out advanced offensive cyber operations. Adams and Gericke served in the military and in the intelligence community.

DarkMatter had its origins in another company, an American firm called CyberPoint that originally won contracts from the Emirates to help protect the country from computer attacks.

CyberPoint obtained approval from the US&nbsp;government to work for the Emiratis, a necessary step intended to regulate the export of military and intelligence services. Many of the company’s employees had worked on highly classified projects for the NSA and other U.S. intelligence agencies.

But the Emiratis had larger ambitions and repeatedly pressed CyberPoint employees to exceed the boundaries of the company’s American license, according to former employees.

CyberPoint rebuffed requests by Emirati intelligence operatives to try to crack encryption codes and to hack websites housed on American servers — operations that would have run afoul of American law.

So in 2015 the Emiratis founded DarkMatter — forming a company not bound by United States law — and lured numerous American employees of CyberPoint to join, including the three defendants.

DarkMatter employed several other former NSA and CIA officers, according to a roster of employees obtained by The New York Times, some making salaries of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

The investigation into the American employees of DarkMatter has continued for years, and it had been unclear whether prosecutors would bring charges.

Experts cited potential diplomatic concerns about jeopardizing the United States’ relationship with the Emirates -&nbsp;a country that has cultivated close ties to the past several US&nbsp;administrations -&nbsp;as well as worries about whether pursuing the case might expose embarrassing details about the extent of the cooperation between DarkMatter and US&nbsp;intelligence agencies.

There is also the reality that US&nbsp;laws have been slow to adapt to the technological changes that have provided lucrative work for former spies once trained to conduct offensive cyber operations against America’s adversaries.

Specifically, the rules that govern what US&nbsp;intelligence and military personnel can and cannot provide to foreign governments were devised for 20th-century warfare — for instance, training foreign armies on American military tactics or selling defense equipment like guns or missiles.

They have not addressed the hacking skills honed in some of America’s most advanced intelligence units and sold to the highest bidder.

This year, the CIA sent a blunt letter to former officers warning them against going to work for foreign governments. The letter, written by the spy agency’s head of counterintelligence, said it was seeing a “detrimental trend” of “foreign governments, either directly or indirectly, hiring former intelligence officials to build up their spying capabilities.”

“I can’t mince words -&nbsp;former CIA officers who pursue this type of employment are engaging in activity that may undermine the agency’s mission to the benefit of US&nbsp;competitors and foreign adversaries,” wrote Sheetal T. Patel, the CIA’s assistant director for counterintelligence.

Prosecutors said that the Emirates gradually transitioned its contracts from CyberPoint to DarkMatter, but that at no time did the three men obtain the necessary approvals to provide defense services to DarkMatter. The court documents said that the three men and others worked in DarkMatter’s “Cyber Intelligence Operations,” which gained access to “information and data from thousands of targets around the world.”

In interviews, former DarkMatter employees said that Emirati officials were particularly focused on hacking the computer systems of the country’s main rival, Qatar, but that operations were also carried out against Emirati dissidents and journalists. They even hacked the emails of a Qatari minister communicating with former first lady Michelle Obama about a planned trip to Qatar.

Baier and his group purchased computer tools from US&nbsp;companies for use in hacking operations, according to prosecutors. In two instances, DarkMatter paid about $750,000 and $1.3 million -&nbsp;illustrating how much American companies stand to gain from selling those dangerous tools to foreign countries and businesses.

Prosecutors said the men “expanded the breadth and increased the sophistication” of the operations that DarkMatter was providing to the Emirati government. The efforts took aim at “individual, corporate and government targets by compromising computers and accounts belonging to associates, employees or relatives of the primary targets,” according to court documents.

Prosecutors said CyberPoint warned the Americans that it could not support DarkMatter’s intended computer exploitation operations without obtaining the proper US&nbsp;authorisation.

Two former employees, Lori Stroud and Jonathan Cole, left the company after growing troubled about DarkMatter’s hacking and targeting of US&nbsp;citizens. When the pair, who are married, raised the issue with their superiors, they were sidelined, they said.

They left the company in 2017 and began cooperating extensively with the FBI’s investigation.

“This is a huge win,” Cole said in an interview Tuesday. “This will send a message to former US&nbsp;intelligence operatives working overseas. They should not share US&nbsp;tradecraft with foreign governments.”

Three former US intelligence officers hired by the United Arab Emirates to carry out sophisticated cyber operations admitted to hacking crimes and violating US export laws that restrict the transfer of military technology to foreign governments, according to court documents made public on Tuesday.

Three former US intelligence officers hired by the United Arab Emirates to carry out sophisticated cyber operations admitted to hacking crimes and violating US export laws that restrict the transfer of military technology to foreign governments, according to court documents made public on Tuesday. The documents detail a conspiracy by the three men to furnish the Emirates with advanced technology and to assist Emirati intelligence operatives in breaches aimed at damaging the perceived enemies of the small but powerful Persian Gulf nation. The men helped the Emirates, a close American ally, gain unauthorized access to “acquire data from computers, electronic devices and servers around the world, including on computers and servers in the United States,” prosecutors said. The three men worked for DarkMatter, a company that is effectively an arm of the Emirati government. They are part of a trend of former US intelligence officers accepting lucrative jobs from foreign governments hoping to bolster their abilities to mount cyber operations. Legal experts have said the rules governing this new age of digital mercenaries are murky, and the charges made public on Tuesday could be something of an opening salvo by the government in a battle to deter former American spies from becoming guns for hire overseas. The three men, Marc Baier, Ryan Adams and Daniel Gericke, admitted violating US laws as part of a three-year deferred prosecution agreement. If the men comply with the agreement, the Justice Department will drop the criminal prosecution. Each man will also pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. The men will also never be able to receive a U.S. government security clearance. Baier worked for the National Security Agency unit that carries out advanced offensive cyber operations. Adams and Gericke served in the military and in the intelligence community. DarkMatter had its origins in another company, an American firm called CyberPoint that originally won contracts from the Emirates to help protect the country from computer attacks. CyberPoint obtained approval from the US government to work for the Emiratis, a necessary step intended to regulate the export of military and intelligence services. Many of the company’s employees had worked on highly classified projects for the NSA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. But the Emiratis had larger ambitions and repeatedly pressed CyberPoint employees to exceed the boundaries of the company’s American license, according to former employees. CyberPoint rebuffed requests by Emirati intelligence operatives to try to crack encryption codes and to hack websites housed on American servers — operations that would have run afoul of American law. So in 2015 the Emiratis founded DarkMatter — forming a company not bound by United States law — and lured numerous American employees of CyberPoint to join, including the three defendants. DarkMatter employed several other former NSA and CIA officers, according to a roster of employees obtained by The New York Times, some making salaries of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. The investigation into the American employees of DarkMatter has continued for years, and it had been unclear whether prosecutors would bring charges. Experts cited potential diplomatic concerns about jeopardizing the United States’ relationship with the Emirates - a country that has cultivated close ties to the past several US administrations - as well as worries about whether pursuing the case might expose embarrassing details about the extent of the cooperation between DarkMatter and US intelligence agencies. There is also the reality that US laws have been slow to adapt to the technological changes that have provided lucrative work for former spies once trained to conduct offensive cyber operations against America’s adversaries. Specifically, the rules that govern what US intelligence and military personnel can and cannot provide to foreign governments were devised for 20th-century warfare — for instance, training foreign armies on American military tactics or selling defense equipment like guns or missiles. They have not addressed the hacking skills honed in some of America’s most advanced intelligence units and sold to the highest bidder. This year, the CIA sent a blunt letter to former officers warning them against going to work for foreign governments. The letter, written by the spy agency’s head of counterintelligence, said it was seeing a “detrimental trend” of “foreign governments, either directly or indirectly, hiring former intelligence officials to build up their spying capabilities.” “I can’t mince words - former CIA officers who pursue this type of employment are engaging in activity that may undermine the agency’s mission to the benefit of US competitors and foreign adversaries,” wrote Sheetal T. Patel, the CIA’s assistant director for counterintelligence. Prosecutors said that the Emirates gradually transitioned its contracts from CyberPoint to DarkMatter, but that at no time did the three men obtain the necessary approvals to provide defense services to DarkMatter. The court documents said that the three men and others worked in DarkMatter’s “Cyber Intelligence Operations,” which gained access to “information and data from thousands of targets around the world.” In interviews, former DarkMatter employees said that Emirati officials were particularly focused on hacking the computer systems of the country’s main rival, Qatar, but that operations were also carried out against Emirati dissidents and journalists. They even hacked the emails of a Qatari minister communicating with former first lady Michelle Obama about a planned trip to Qatar. Baier and his group purchased computer tools from US companies for use in hacking operations, according to prosecutors. In two instances, DarkMatter paid about $750,000 and $1.3 million - illustrating how much American companies stand to gain from selling those dangerous tools to foreign countries and businesses. Prosecutors said the men “expanded the breadth and increased the sophistication” of the operations that DarkMatter was providing to the Emirati government. The efforts took aim at “individual, corporate and government targets by compromising computers and accounts belonging to associates, employees or relatives of the primary targets,” according to court documents. Prosecutors said CyberPoint warned the Americans that it could not support DarkMatter’s intended computer exploitation operations without obtaining the proper US authorisation. Two former employees, Lori Stroud and Jonathan Cole, left the company after growing troubled about DarkMatter’s hacking and targeting of US citizens. When the pair, who are married, raised the issue with their superiors, they were sidelined, they said. They left the company in 2017 and began cooperating extensively with the FBI’s investigation. “This is a huge win,” Cole said in an interview Tuesday. “This will send a message to former US intelligence operatives working overseas. They should not share US tradecraft with foreign governments.”

Ex-US intelligence officers admit to hacking crimes in work for Emiratis

Private sector companies in the UAE will have to fill 10 percent of their positions with Emirati nationals in five years' time, the UAE said on Sunday in its latest tranche of economic reforms.

UAE: Private sector to fill 10% positions with Emiratis in five years

The UAE announced a new visa Sunday allowing foreigners to work in the country without being sponsored by an employer, loosening residency requirements in an attempt to boost economic growth.

Foreigners in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates are generally only given limited visas tied to their employment, and long-term residency is difficult to obtain.&nbsp;

But those holding the new "green visa" will be able to work without company sponsorship, and can sponsor their parents and children up to 25 years old, officials said.

"It targets highly skilled individuals, investors, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, as well exceptional students and postgraduates," said Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani al-Zeyoudi.&nbsp;

Resource-rich Gulf countries such as the UAE are increasingly seeking to diversify their economies and reduce reliance on oil.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-600-taliban-fighters-killed-in-panjshir-clashes-against-resistance-forces-410830">Also read |&nbsp;UAE loosens residency requirements with 'green visa'</a>

The coronavirus pandemic has also impacted tourism and businesses in the UAE, whose economy was already slumping in recent years due to low oil prices.

In 2019, the UAE launched the 10-year "Golden visa" to attract wealthy individuals and highly skilled workers, the first such scheme in the Gulf.&nbsp;

Similar programmes have since been launched in other resource-rich Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Riyadh said in June 2019 that it will offer permanent residency for 800,000 riyals and a one-year renewable residency costing 100,000 riyals, allowing expats to do business and buy property without a Saudi sponsor.

Doha also flung open its property market to foreigners, with a scheme giving those buying homes or stores the right to longer-term or permanent residency permits.

Foreigners account for 90 percent of the 10 million population in the UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy after neighbouring Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

The UAE announced a new visa Sunday allowing foreigners to work in the country without being sponsored by an employer, loosening residency requirements in an attempt to boost economic growth.

The UAE announced a new visa Sunday allowing foreigners to work in the country without being sponsored by an employer, loosening residency requirements in an attempt to boost economic growth. Foreigners in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates are generally only given limited visas tied to their employment, and long-term residency is difficult to obtain. But those holding the new "green visa" will be able to work without company sponsorship, and can sponsor their parents and children up to 25 years old, officials said. "It targets highly skilled individuals, investors, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, as well exceptional students and postgraduates," said Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani al-Zeyoudi. Resource-rich Gulf countries such as the UAE are increasingly seeking to diversify their economies and reduce reliance on oil. Also read | UAE loosens residency requirements with 'green visa' The coronavirus pandemic has also impacted tourism and businesses in the UAE, whose economy was already slumping in recent years due to low oil prices. In 2019, the UAE launched the 10-year "Golden visa" to attract wealthy individuals and highly skilled workers, the first such scheme in the Gulf. Similar programmes have since been launched in other resource-rich Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Riyadh said in June 2019 that it will offer permanent residency for 800,000 riyals and a one-year renewable residency costing 100,000 riyals, allowing expats to do business and buy property without a Saudi sponsor. Doha also flung open its property market to foreigners, with a scheme giving those buying homes or stores the right to longer-term or permanent residency permits. Foreigners account for 90 percent of the 10 million population in the UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy after neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

UAE loosens residency requirements with 'green visa'

The United Arab Emirates announced Sunday a major plan to stimulate its economy and liberalise stringent residency laws for expatriates, as the country seeks to overhaul its finances and attract foreign residents and capital.

The country's plan to lure foreign talent reflects a growing contrast with the other oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf that are becoming increasingly protectionist.

Although many of the Emirati ministers' promised overhauls remained vague at a press conference, their intentions to boost spending after the devastation of the pandemic and loosen laws to draw more residents was clear.

Abdulla bin Touq, the minister of the economy, pledged that the Emirati government would pour some USD 13.6 billion into the economy over the next year. He laid out a raft of investment opportunities for countries to boost development by 10 per cent in the coming years.

"We are confident that these projects in the support of investment will make (the UAE) one of the most competent economies in the world,"&nbsp;he proclaimed at the government's first large in-person press conference since the pandemic

The UAE for years since its independence has tied employment to residency status, giving employers outsized power and forcing people to immediately leave the country once they lost their jobs.

The new plans give residents more time to seek other jobs after termination, allow youth over age 15 to gain employment as they live with their parents, and enable widows and divorced couples to live longer without visa restrictions in the country.

The United Arab Emirates announced Sunday a major plan to stimulate its economy and liberalise stringent residency laws for expatriates, as the country seeks to overhaul its finances and attract foreign residents and capital.

The United Arab Emirates announced Sunday a major plan to stimulate its economy and liberalise stringent residency laws for expatriates, as the country seeks to overhaul its finances and attract foreign residents and capital. The country's plan to lure foreign talent reflects a growing contrast with the other oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf that are becoming increasingly protectionist. Although many of the Emirati ministers' promised overhauls remained vague at a press conference, their intentions to boost spending after the devastation of the pandemic and loosen laws to draw more residents was clear. Abdulla bin Touq, the minister of the economy, pledged that the Emirati government would pour some USD 13.6 billion into the economy over the next year. He laid out a raft of investment opportunities for countries to boost development by 10 per cent in the coming years. "We are confident that these projects in the support of investment will make (the UAE) one of the most competent economies in the world," he proclaimed at the government's first large in-person press conference since the pandemic The UAE for years since its independence has tied employment to residency status, giving employers outsized power and forcing people to immediately leave the country once they lost their jobs. The new plans give residents more time to seek other jobs after termination, allow youth over age 15 to gain employment as they live with their parents, and enable widows and divorced couples to live longer without visa restrictions in the country.

UAE rolls out plan to invest in economy, liberalise laws

Qatar has expressed its ambitions to open a humanitarian doorway to Afghanistan. A UAE plane reached Kabul with food and medical aid reached Kabul airport on Friday.

UAE plane reaches Kabul with food and medical aid

For about a year, Roberto Bravo lived in a windowless bedroom in a Brooklyn house owned by his brother, a dark basement unit he tried to cheer up with personal mementos: a photo of himself in a tuxedo surrounded by friends, and a flag of Ecuador, his home country, that he hung on the wall.

On Wednesday night, the apartment turned into a death trap as water gushed into his unit and quickly overwhelmed him.

He screamed for help — “Ayúdame por favor,” “Please help me” — as the water climbed to the ceiling. He never made it out.

Cramped basement apartments have long been a prevalent piece of New York City’s vast housing stock, a shadowy network of illegal rentals that often lack basic safety features like more than one way to get out, and that yet are a vital source of shelter for many immigrants like Bravo.

But after Wednesday’s record-shattering rainfall, the underground units turned into tormented scenes of life and death: Of the 13 people killed so far in New York City in Wednesday’s storm, at least 11 were in basement units, nearly as many dead as in Louisiana, where Hurricane Ida made landfall earlier this week.

That people living in illegal basement apartments face danger is not new. But while the worry has traditionally focused on fires or, to a lesser degree, carbon monoxide poisoning, climate change has now made these low-lying homes increasingly treacherous for a different reason: the likelihood of deadly flooding, when a wall of water blocks what is often the only means of escape.

“If there was ever proof that we need to address this basement issue, this is it,” said Annetta Seecharran, executive director of the Chhaya Community Development Corp., a group that works on housing issues for low-income South Asian and Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers. “We’re going to continue to have these climate-related issues.”

The floods on Wednesday have placed fresh scrutiny on New York City’s regulation of basement apartments. Because most are illegal, there is no reliable count of how many exist, but the number is likely in the tens of thousands.

In one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, they have offered low-income New Yorkers, including many working-class families who work in restaurants and hotels, affordable places to live. The basement apartments also provide some extra income for small landlords, many of whom are also immigrants.

“In most places if you have a house and your basement is big enough, most people are renting out their basements,” Seecharran said.

This week, however, as rain inundated New York, harrowing scenes played out in those basements.

Deborah Torres, who lives on the first floor of a building in Woodside, Queens, said she heard desperate pleas from the basement apartment of three members of a family, including a toddler, as floodwaters rushed in. A powerful cascade of water prevented anyone from getting into the apartment to help — or anyone from getting out. The family did not survive.

At a home in Forest Hills, Queens, floodwater burst through a glass sliding door into a basement apartment, pinning Darlene Lee, 48, between the apartment’s steel front door and the door frame. The property manager, Patricia Fuentes, heard Lee screaming for help, as others tried to free Lee while the waters rose. But they could not save her.

There have been long-standing problems with regulating such apartments. The law governing these apartments is complex, and includes rules that say a basement’s ceilings must be at least 7 feet 6 inches high and that living spaces must have a window. The city must approve apartments with a certificate of occupancy before they can be rented.

Between January 2011 and Tuesday, the city had received more than 157,000 complaints involving illegal conversions. Illegal conversions include not only basements that have been made into residential units, but also single-family homes that have been altered into multifamily buildings, and units that have been converted into short-term rentals.

But more than half of the cases were closed after an inspector couldn’t gain access to the dwelling, a New York Times analysis of buildings department data shows.

More than 77,000 of the complaints were in Queens, where at least 59% of cases were closed without inspectors gaining access — the highest rate of any borough.

At one home in Queens, where an 86-year-old woman was found dead in Wednesday’s storm, city records also showed two complaints of illegal basements in 2012. The complaints were closed after city building inspectors could not gain access to the basement.

A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Buildings said inspectors were required to make two attempts at gaining access to a property before the case can be closed. Tenants also have the right to deny entry, the spokesperson said.

In many cases, tenants or homeowners may not have an incentive to report any issues with safety because of a fear of getting fined or losing the home, said Jessica Katz, executive director of the Citizens Housing Planning Council, a nonprofit housing group.

She said the storm’s toll “highlights the housing crisis that we have that leads people to have to live in unsafe conditions in the first place, a code enforcement system that’s complaint-driven that wouldn’t necessarily be able to meet the needs of these tenants in such a situation, and a set of codes that make it very difficult to make the apartment safer.”

The office of Mayor Bill de Blasio did not answer questions about the city’s response to illegal basement homes on Thursday. But a City Hall official said anyone living in a basement apartment could call 311 or 911 to report issues without fear of being vacated, unless there were pressing life safety dangers. The official, who declined to be identified, said the city would announce additional measures on Friday.

Seecharran said that because of the growing need for affordable housing in New York City, and because many lower-income homeowners need supplemental income, people would continue to seek homes in basements, regardless of whether they were illegal.

“We need to bring basement apartments out of the shadows and into the light,” Seecharran said.

The city recently launched a pilot program in East New York, Brooklyn, designed to help people convert illegal units to legal, rentable apartments that meet safety standards. That program is ongoing but had been slowed by budget cuts during the coronavirus pandemic.

De Blasio called for legalizing basement units by helping homeowners with regulations and costs for conversion. Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee for mayor who is favored to win in November, also has expressed support for legalizing those units.

It is not clear whether all of the homes where people died during the storm on Wednesday were illegal units, but many have a history of complaints and violations of city code.

At the Woodside home, a certificate of occupancy shows that the basement had not been approved for residential use. At another home near Jamaica, Queens, where a 45-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were found dead, a complaint claims that the space had been illegally converted to a residential space.

A spokesperson for the Department of Buildings said earlier Thursday that the agency was investigating the deaths, but did not have “any records of any previously issued violations at these properties related to illegal conversion issues.”

As the rains stopped and the sun shone, many residents of basement apartments in wide swaths of Queens were displaced and trying to find shelter. Property owners were struggling to access aid that could help them repair their homes and prevent mold or other problems from arising, Seecharran said.

“The damage has been done to countless basements, and for many people the basement is their home,” Gov. Kathy C. Hochul said at a news conference. “This is not a lower level where people have a game room, this is their home, and that’s what’s happened, so now we have a homeless situation, people who have to be in shelters.”

At the basement apartment where Bravo, 66, lived near Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, his brother, who owned the building, cleared out the debris on Thursday brought in by the floodwaters.

Bravo had served in the Ecuadorian army before immigrating to the United States in the 1980s, according to his brother Pablo Bravo. Roberto Bravo used to work in construction and paint homes. In recent years, however, he had gotten divorced and his health had deteriorated.

He walked to a senior center every day to eat and socialize, according to Walter Reyes, 68, who took care of him on many days. Asked if he knew whether the apartment was legal, Pablo Bravo said a building inspector told him it was not.

“I thought I was helping a family member,” he said.

Another tenant, Ricardo Garcia, 50, who works construction, said he pays $500 a month for his room in the home. He said he found out about the place from a friend.

Oliver De La Cruz, 22, a delivery driver, heard about another basement room from his cousin’s husband. De La Cruz said he never considered whether the apartment might be illegal.

He said he also never considered — or was warned about — the possibility of a flood and having to struggle to save himself.

He said he would never live in a basement apartment again.

For about a year, Roberto Bravo lived in a windowless bedroom in a Brooklyn house owned by his brother, a dark basement unit he tried to cheer up with personal mementos: a photo of himself in a tuxedo surrounded by friends, and a flag of Ecuador, his home country, that he hung on the wall.

For about a year, Roberto Bravo lived in a windowless bedroom in a Brooklyn house owned by his brother, a dark basement unit he tried to cheer up with personal mementos: a photo of himself in a tuxedo surrounded by friends, and a flag of Ecuador, his home country, that he hung on the wall. On Wednesday night, the apartment turned into a death trap as water gushed into his unit and quickly overwhelmed him. He screamed for help — “Ayúdame por favor,” “Please help me” — as the water climbed to the ceiling. He never made it out. Cramped basement apartments have long been a prevalent piece of New York City’s vast housing stock, a shadowy network of illegal rentals that often lack basic safety features like more than one way to get out, and that yet are a vital source of shelter for many immigrants like Bravo. But after Wednesday’s record-shattering rainfall, the underground units turned into tormented scenes of life and death: Of the 13 people killed so far in New York City in Wednesday’s storm, at least 11 were in basement units, nearly as many dead as in Louisiana, where Hurricane Ida made landfall earlier this week. That people living in illegal basement apartments face danger is not new. But while the worry has traditionally focused on fires or, to a lesser degree, carbon monoxide poisoning, climate change has now made these low-lying homes increasingly treacherous for a different reason: the likelihood of deadly flooding, when a wall of water blocks what is often the only means of escape. “If there was ever proof that we need to address this basement issue, this is it,” said Annetta Seecharran, executive director of the Chhaya Community Development Corp., a group that works on housing issues for low-income South Asian and Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers. “We’re going to continue to have these climate-related issues.” The floods on Wednesday have placed fresh scrutiny on New York City’s regulation of basement apartments. Because most are illegal, there is no reliable count of how many exist, but the number is likely in the tens of thousands. In one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, they have offered low-income New Yorkers, including many working-class families who work in restaurants and hotels, affordable places to live. The basement apartments also provide some extra income for small landlords, many of whom are also immigrants. “In most places if you have a house and your basement is big enough, most people are renting out their basements,” Seecharran said. This week, however, as rain inundated New York, harrowing scenes played out in those basements. Deborah Torres, who lives on the first floor of a building in Woodside, Queens, said she heard desperate pleas from the basement apartment of three members of a family, including a toddler, as floodwaters rushed in. A powerful cascade of water prevented anyone from getting into the apartment to help — or anyone from getting out. The family did not survive. At a home in Forest Hills, Queens, floodwater burst through a glass sliding door into a basement apartment, pinning Darlene Lee, 48, between the apartment’s steel front door and the door frame. The property manager, Patricia Fuentes, heard Lee screaming for help, as others tried to free Lee while the waters rose. But they could not save her. There have been long-standing problems with regulating such apartments. The law governing these apartments is complex, and includes rules that say a basement’s ceilings must be at least 7 feet 6 inches high and that living spaces must have a window. The city must approve apartments with a certificate of occupancy before they can be rented. Between January 2011 and Tuesday, the city had received more than 157,000 complaints involving illegal conversions. Illegal conversions include not only basements that have been made into residential units, but also single-family homes that have been altered into multifamily buildings, and units that have been converted into short-term rentals. But more than half of the cases were closed after an inspector couldn’t gain access to the dwelling, a New York Times analysis of buildings department data shows. More than 77,000 of the complaints were in Queens, where at least 59% of cases were closed without inspectors gaining access — the highest rate of any borough. At one home in Queens, where an 86-year-old woman was found dead in Wednesday’s storm, city records also showed two complaints of illegal basements in 2012. The complaints were closed after city building inspectors could not gain access to the basement. A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Buildings said inspectors were required to make two attempts at gaining access to a property before the case can be closed. Tenants also have the right to deny entry, the spokesperson said. In many cases, tenants or homeowners may not have an incentive to report any issues with safety because of a fear of getting fined or losing the home, said Jessica Katz, executive director of the Citizens Housing Planning Council, a nonprofit housing group. She said the storm’s toll “highlights the housing crisis that we have that leads people to have to live in unsafe conditions in the first place, a code enforcement system that’s complaint-driven that wouldn’t necessarily be able to meet the needs of these tenants in such a situation, and a set of codes that make it very difficult to make the apartment safer.” The office of Mayor Bill de Blasio did not answer questions about the city’s response to illegal basement homes on Thursday. But a City Hall official said anyone living in a basement apartment could call 311 or 911 to report issues without fear of being vacated, unless there were pressing life safety dangers. The official, who declined to be identified, said the city would announce additional measures on Friday. Seecharran said that because of the growing need for affordable housing in New York City, and because many lower-income homeowners need supplemental income, people would continue to seek homes in basements, regardless of whether they were illegal. “We need to bring basement apartments out of the shadows and into the light,” Seecharran said. The city recently launched a pilot program in East New York, Brooklyn, designed to help people convert illegal units to legal, rentable apartments that meet safety standards. That program is ongoing but had been slowed by budget cuts during the coronavirus pandemic. De Blasio called for legalizing basement units by helping homeowners with regulations and costs for conversion. Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee for mayor who is favored to win in November, also has expressed support for legalizing those units. It is not clear whether all of the homes where people died during the storm on Wednesday were illegal units, but many have a history of complaints and violations of city code. At the Woodside home, a certificate of occupancy shows that the basement had not been approved for residential use. At another home near Jamaica, Queens, where a 45-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were found dead, a complaint claims that the space had been illegally converted to a residential space. A spokesperson for the Department of Buildings said earlier Thursday that the agency was investigating the deaths, but did not have “any records of any previously issued violations at these properties related to illegal conversion issues.” As the rains stopped and the sun shone, many residents of basement apartments in wide swaths of Queens were displaced and trying to find shelter. Property owners were struggling to access aid that could help them repair their homes and prevent mold or other problems from arising, Seecharran said. “The damage has been done to countless basements, and for many people the basement is their home,” Gov. Kathy C. Hochul said at a news conference. “This is not a lower level where people have a game room, this is their home, and that’s what’s happened, so now we have a homeless situation, people who have to be in shelters.” At the basement apartment where Bravo, 66, lived near Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, his brother, who owned the building, cleared out the debris on Thursday brought in by the floodwaters. Bravo had served in the Ecuadorian army before immigrating to the United States in the 1980s, according to his brother Pablo Bravo. Roberto Bravo used to work in construction and paint homes. In recent years, however, he had gotten divorced and his health had deteriorated. He walked to a senior center every day to eat and socialize, according to Walter Reyes, 68, who took care of him on many days. Asked if he knew whether the apartment was legal, Pablo Bravo said a building inspector told him it was not. “I thought I was helping a family member,” he said. Another tenant, Ricardo Garcia, 50, who works construction, said he pays $500 a month for his room in the home. He said he found out about the place from a friend. Oliver De La Cruz, 22, a delivery driver, heard about another basement room from his cousin’s husband. De La Cruz said he never considered whether the apartment might be illegal. He said he also never considered — or was warned about — the possibility of a flood and having to struggle to save himself. He said he would never live in a basement apartment again.

How the storm turned basement apartments into death traps

As Taliban commanders exchange their guns for the reins of power, some 38 million Afghans can do little but hold their breath and wait to see how their latest conquerors will rule.

That uncertainty, also palpable in foreign capitals from Washington to Beijing, is compounded by the deep contradiction between the group’s record of extremism and brutality during its prior reign, from 1996 to 2001, and its promises of moderation today.

History may offer a few clues. The Taliban are, depending on how one counts, something like the sixth or seventh rebel group to take over a country in the modern era. And while no two are exactly alike, certain patterns have emerged in how rebels rule.

Some learn to govern effectively, even to modernize, while others collapse in chaos or renewed war. Some grow crueler in power, lashing out at their subjects in fear and insecurity. Others moderate, though mostly in search of legitimacy and foreign aid.

But all seem to share a few traits:

A tightly bureaucratic authoritarianism, albeit sometimes allowing a degree of political opening. A focus on controlling or coercing elements of society seen as tied to the old order, sometimes through staggering violence. And a quest for foreign support and recognition as they strain to overcome the pariah status that tends to greet militants who shoot their way into power.

Those habits have a common purpose: consolidating authority. It is almost always the paramount concern for rebel rulers, who tend to understand that seizing a government building is not the same as becoming a government.

That years long process, civil war scholar Terrence Lyons has written, is shaped as much by the victors’ need for "postwar legitimacy and power consolidation" as it is by "the nature of victorious insurgent groups": hardened, disciplined and ideological.

Rebel Governance

Insurgents who seize power tend to quickly convert themselves into a very specific kind of government: party-based authoritarianism.

Think of China’s Communist Party, a one-time rebellion that took power in 1949. It is tightly unified, with rigid internal hierarchies and a practiced hand at bureaucratic organizing but little tolerance for dissent.

Rebels choose this model for the simple reason that it’s how they’re already organized.

"A successful rebel group is simultaneously a political party, a military organization and a business," Lyons wrote in a study on how rebels govern.

In power, the discipline and cohesion of rebel groups often make their governments more stable and pragmatic than other types of authoritarianism, perhaps even longer-lived.

They tend to express "ambivalence, if not hostility, toward democracy," Lyons found, even as they claim to represent popular liberation. And their experience in the zero-sum contests of war can lead them to see peacetime competition — elections, protests, dissent — as a threat.

After taking power over China, Mao Zedong invited intellectuals, journalists and others to critique the new government. But, apparently taken aback, he jailed or killed many who had taken up his offer.

Still, while rebel governments’ capacity for violence can be vast, years of hiding out in villages and mountain passes leaves them keenly aware of the value of cultivating popular support.

Many continue this practice in power, especially those who represent a particular ethnic or religious group, like the Taliban, and may wish to put the others at ease.

The rebels who seized Uganda in 1986 offered amnesty to supporters of the old order. Ethiopian militants who took power in 1991 hosted "peace and stability committees" across the country in an attempt to show that they intended to represent everyone. In 1994, when ethnic Tutsi militias took control of Rwanda amid a genocide of their kin, they promised reconciliation and a pan-ethnic unity government.

All three held elections, albeit mostly for show, and allowed a degree of political freedom, within tightly controlled limits.

But make no mistake: Insurgents, as a rule, cling to office with an authoritarian’s iron grip, guarded and perhaps paranoid about losing the power they fought so hard to win.

Purges and Mass Exodus

Rebel governments tend to organize much of their early rule around fears of being rejected by the public, undermined by holdovers from the previous government, even confronted by a rebellion of their own.

In response, they will often seek to control, coerce and even violently purge whole social classes seen as aligned to the old order, which may still hold sway over the culture, economy and governing bureaucracy.

One of Mao’s first acts was purging rural landowners, an economically powerful group considered to be right wing.

His forces rounded up thousands, encouraging local villagers to root out any left. Many were sent to forced labor camps or beaten to the death on the spot. Mao estimated the death toll at 2 million, though some historians put the number at 200,000.

The violence of Mao’s campaign is unusual, but the scale is not.

On taking power in 1959, Cuba’s revolutionaries made clear that they saw the middle and upper classes, which had largely backed the old government, as enemies. About 250,000 people fled. Their exodus permanently altered Cuban society.

The Taliban have said they wish to avoid this in Afghanistan, warning of a "brain drain" if its educated middle class flees. The group did not stand in the way as tens of thousands were evacuated over the past two weeks but has said it wishes to work with those who remain.

Since the extremes of the Cold War, when insurgents easily won superpower blessing for mass murder, rebels have learned to cater to the expectations of the international community.

Uganda has made a show of moderation and inclusion that, while superficial, averted the worst fears of postwar recrimination.

Seeking Recognition

The quest for legitimacy, to persuade subjects at home and governments abroad to treat insurgents as a rightful government, typically involves seeking public acknowledgment from social and religious leaders, even the war’s losers.

Accounts of the Taliban’s advance toward Kabul have included such scenes: local leaders or strongmen greeting the group in a show of acceptance.

But much of rebels’ focus is often abroad. Recognition from foreign powers can bring legitimacy and aid — essential for rebuilding after civil war — and stave off the threat of isolation.

Rwandan and Ugandan rebel leaders sat down with Western diplomats even as their forces still fought for control, promising to do as told.

The Taliban’s diplomatic outreach has been almost obsequious, praising even long-hostile governments such as India’s. For the group that harbored al-Qaida, international acceptance is unlikely to come easily.

Others have arguably confronted chillier receptions. It took Mao’s government 22 years to secure United Nations recognition and several more to win over the United States.

The episode is instructive. Though Mao oversaw a world power, the weaknesses inherent in rebel rule created a need for recognition deep enough that he radically altered his foreign policy to get it.

Internationally reviled and facing a potentially devastating economic crisis, the Taliban’s need may be even greater.

Barnett R. Rubin, an Afghanistan scholar, wrote this spring that the group’s "quest for recognition and eventual eligibility for aid provides some of the most important leverage that other actors have over them."

Still, China’s government changed only in the ways that the world demanded of it. As President Richard Nixon landed in Beijing in 1972, his hosts were overseeing one of the longest-running political purges in modern history. The inclinations and habits of their rebel origins still held.

As Taliban commanders exchange their guns for the reins of power, some 38 million Afghans can do little but hold their breath and wait to see how their latest conquerors will rule.

As Taliban commanders exchange their guns for the reins of power, some 38 million Afghans can do little but hold their breath and wait to see how their latest conquerors will rule. That uncertainty, also palpable in foreign capitals from Washington to Beijing, is compounded by the deep contradiction between the group’s record of extremism and brutality during its prior reign, from 1996 to 2001, and its promises of moderation today. History may offer a few clues. The Taliban are, depending on how one counts, something like the sixth or seventh rebel group to take over a country in the modern era. And while no two are exactly alike, certain patterns have emerged in how rebels rule. Some learn to govern effectively, even to modernize, while others collapse in chaos or renewed war. Some grow crueler in power, lashing out at their subjects in fear and insecurity. Others moderate, though mostly in search of legitimacy and foreign aid. But all seem to share a few traits: A tightly bureaucratic authoritarianism, albeit sometimes allowing a degree of political opening. A focus on controlling or coercing elements of society seen as tied to the old order, sometimes through staggering violence. And a quest for foreign support and recognition as they strain to overcome the pariah status that tends to greet militants who shoot their way into power. Those habits have a common purpose: consolidating authority. It is almost always the paramount concern for rebel rulers, who tend to understand that seizing a government building is not the same as becoming a government. That years long process, civil war scholar Terrence Lyons has written, is shaped as much by the victors’ need for "postwar legitimacy and power consolidation" as it is by "the nature of victorious insurgent groups": hardened, disciplined and ideological. Rebel Governance Insurgents who seize power tend to quickly convert themselves into a very specific kind of government: party-based authoritarianism. Think of China’s Communist Party, a one-time rebellion that took power in 1949. It is tightly unified, with rigid internal hierarchies and a practiced hand at bureaucratic organizing but little tolerance for dissent. Rebels choose this model for the simple reason that it’s how they’re already organized. "A successful rebel group is simultaneously a political party, a military organization and a business," Lyons wrote in a study on how rebels govern. In power, the discipline and cohesion of rebel groups often make their governments more stable and pragmatic than other types of authoritarianism, perhaps even longer-lived. They tend to express "ambivalence, if not hostility, toward democracy," Lyons found, even as they claim to represent popular liberation. And their experience in the zero-sum contests of war can lead them to see peacetime competition — elections, protests, dissent — as a threat. After taking power over China, Mao Zedong invited intellectuals, journalists and others to critique the new government. But, apparently taken aback, he jailed or killed many who had taken up his offer. Still, while rebel governments’ capacity for violence can be vast, years of hiding out in villages and mountain passes leaves them keenly aware of the value of cultivating popular support. Many continue this practice in power, especially those who represent a particular ethnic or religious group, like the Taliban, and may wish to put the others at ease. The rebels who seized Uganda in 1986 offered amnesty to supporters of the old order. Ethiopian militants who took power in 1991 hosted "peace and stability committees" across the country in an attempt to show that they intended to represent everyone. In 1994, when ethnic Tutsi militias took control of Rwanda amid a genocide of their kin, they promised reconciliation and a pan-ethnic unity government. All three held elections, albeit mostly for show, and allowed a degree of political freedom, within tightly controlled limits. But make no mistake: Insurgents, as a rule, cling to office with an authoritarian’s iron grip, guarded and perhaps paranoid about losing the power they fought so hard to win. Purges and Mass Exodus Rebel governments tend to organize much of their early rule around fears of being rejected by the public, undermined by holdovers from the previous government, even confronted by a rebellion of their own. In response, they will often seek to control, coerce and even violently purge whole social classes seen as aligned to the old order, which may still hold sway over the culture, economy and governing bureaucracy. One of Mao’s first acts was purging rural landowners, an economically powerful group considered to be right wing. His forces rounded up thousands, encouraging local villagers to root out any left. Many were sent to forced labor camps or beaten to the death on the spot. Mao estimated the death toll at 2 million, though some historians put the number at 200,000. The violence of Mao’s campaign is unusual, but the scale is not. On taking power in 1959, Cuba’s revolutionaries made clear that they saw the middle and upper classes, which had largely backed the old government, as enemies. About 250,000 people fled. Their exodus permanently altered Cuban society. The Taliban have said they wish to avoid this in Afghanistan, warning of a "brain drain" if its educated middle class flees. The group did not stand in the way as tens of thousands were evacuated over the past two weeks but has said it wishes to work with those who remain. Since the extremes of the Cold War, when insurgents easily won superpower blessing for mass murder, rebels have learned to cater to the expectations of the international community. Uganda has made a show of moderation and inclusion that, while superficial, averted the worst fears of postwar recrimination. Seeking Recognition The quest for legitimacy, to persuade subjects at home and governments abroad to treat insurgents as a rightful government, typically involves seeking public acknowledgment from social and religious leaders, even the war’s losers. Accounts of the Taliban’s advance toward Kabul have included such scenes: local leaders or strongmen greeting the group in a show of acceptance. But much of rebels’ focus is often abroad. Recognition from foreign powers can bring legitimacy and aid — essential for rebuilding after civil war — and stave off the threat of isolation. Rwandan and Ugandan rebel leaders sat down with Western diplomats even as their forces still fought for control, promising to do as told. The Taliban’s diplomatic outreach has been almost obsequious, praising even long-hostile governments such as India’s. For the group that harbored al-Qaida, international acceptance is unlikely to come easily. Others have arguably confronted chillier receptions. It took Mao’s government 22 years to secure United Nations recognition and several more to win over the United States. The episode is instructive. Though Mao oversaw a world power, the weaknesses inherent in rebel rule created a need for recognition deep enough that he radically altered his foreign policy to get it. Internationally reviled and facing a potentially devastating economic crisis, the Taliban’s need may be even greater. Barnett R. Rubin, an Afghanistan scholar, wrote this spring that the group’s "quest for recognition and eventual eligibility for aid provides some of the most important leverage that other actors have over them." Still, China’s government changed only in the ways that the world demanded of it. As President Richard Nixon landed in Beijing in 1972, his hosts were overseeing one of the longest-running political purges in modern history. The inclinations and habits of their rebel origins still held.

How will the Taliban govern? A history of rebel rule offers clues

Top leaders of the United Arab Emirates will arrive&nbsp;in Kabul to meet with Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as he prepares to build a new government in Afghanistan.

According to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, a UAE plane carrying at least 60 tonnes of food and health products have already landed at Kabul airport on Friday.

In related news, ex-Afghan President Asraf Ghani has sought asylum in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, after Tajikistan denied his jet permission to land there.

On the request of the US, the UAE has agreed to host 5,000 Afghan people who will be evacuated from their country for ten days on their route to a third country.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the UAE has participated in the Doha peace negotiations alongside the US, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.

(With inputs from agencies)

Top leaders of the United Arab Emirates will arrive in Kabul to meet with Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as he prepares to build a new government in Afghanistan.

Top leaders of the United Arab Emirates will arrive in Kabul to meet with Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as he prepares to build a new government in Afghanistan. According to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, a UAE plane carrying at least 60 tonnes of food and health products have already landed at Kabul airport on Friday. In related news, ex-Afghan President Asraf Ghani has sought asylum in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, after Tajikistan denied his jet permission to land there. On the request of the US, the UAE has agreed to host 5,000 Afghan people who will be evacuated from their country for ten days on their route to a third country. Furthermore, the UAE has participated in the Doha peace negotiations alongside the US, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

As Baradar prepares to lead the new Afghan government, UAE leaders to arrive in Kabul 

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