Friday 23 October 2026 · Edition of the day

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The Skeptic's Daily

The day's biggest stories, taken apart. For each one: what is actually established, what is only asserted, the questions worth asking — and a plausibility score for the central claim, given everything currently known.

Stories
1
Average plausibility
72%
How to read the score
It rates how well the core claim is evidenced — not how important the story is, nor whether it is good or bad news.
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01PoliticsGlobal

UAE nomination for UN chief draws human rights objections

France 24 reports criticism of former envoy Lana Nusseibeh's nomination, without evidence of her prospects for selection.

France 24 reported that the United Arab Emirates nominated its former envoy Lana Nusseibeh to become the next UN secretary-general. Human rights defenders objected, citing the country's human rights record and allegations that it backs forces behind a massacre in Sudan.

What holds up

  • ✓France 24 identifies Nusseibeh as the UAE's nominee and a former envoy.
  • ✓The item attributes objections to human rights defenders rather than presenting their predicted consequences as established facts.

What doesn't yet

  • ?The excerpt does not provide nomination records, selection details or evidence of support among decision-makers.
  • ?The allegation about UAE backing for forces in Sudan is not substantiated in this item, and no UAE response is included.

Ask before you share

  • →What official records confirm the nomination and its status?
  • →What evidence supports the allegations raised by critics, and how has the UAE responded?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]France 24 · Published 22 Oct 2026 · france24.com