United States government condemns Houthi terrorist attack against UAE
A United States government official condemned the ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist militia against the UAE on Monday…reports Asian Lite News
In a tweet, Edward Price, the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, said, “We condemn the latest Houthi missile attack on Abu Dhabi. While Israel’s president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians.”
On Monday morning, the UAE air defence forces had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist group at the UAE.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed in a statement that “there were no casualties resulting from the attack, and the fragments of the ballistic missile fell outside of populated areas.” (WAM)
Taliban discuss frozen funds, sanctions with US in Norway
The Taliban have said that they have discussed frozen Afghan assets, sanctions and humanitarian assistance with US Treasury officials in Norway, reported Sputnik…reports Asian Lite News
“Serious and effective talks were also held with senior US Treasury officials on frozen assets, economic sanctions, humanitarian aid,” Sputnik quoted the Taliban-led Afghan Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement on Wednesday.
“The talks also included expediting economic activities to ease restrictions on banking transactions and the free flow of money,” the ministry added in a statement.
A delegation headed by the foreign minister of the interim Taliban government Amir Khan Muttaqi on Saturday arrived in Norway on a three-day visit to deliberate on the provision of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan as well as “political, educational and economic issues.”
The ministry also said that as a result of this meeting Kabul was able to present its policies, achievements, and plans for the future in direct response to the concerns of the world and resolve many misunderstandings, according to Sputnik.
Currently, Afghanistan faces a dire situation as the country’s foreign assets were frozen soon after the Taliban took control of the country. A number of the global organizations have also refused to release the country’s assets despite multiple requests by the Taliban.
Norwegian charities pledge support
Norwegian charities on Tuesday pledged support to Afghanistan during Taliban delegation visit to Oslo.
Representatives of Norwegian charities and organizations met with acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, during his three-day visit to Oslo, and pledged assistance to Afghanistan in various fields, including health and education, as reported by Ariana News.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the newly-formed administration of Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on his Twitter account that the meeting was attended by seven Norwegian charitable organizations and associations.
He said that during the meeting, officials from Norwegian charities pledged humanitarian assistance in various areas, including health, education, agriculture and livestock, and demining.
According to Balkhi, Muttaqi assured the organizations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) full cooperation in the delivery of aid and equitable distribution, according to Ariana News.
Muttaqi led a 15-member delegation to Norway this week where they met with a broad range of officials and foreign representatives.
In addition to meeting Norwegian officials, the Taliban also met with dignitaries from the US, Canada and the United Kingdom, and with representatives of a number of European countries. (ANI)
3,500 families flee homes in Syria’s Hasakah amid US airtstrikes
As many as 3,500 families have so far fled their homes in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah amid US airstrikes and clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Islamic State (IS) terror group…reports Asian Lite News
The airstrikes and the clashes have been escalating following the jailbreak of IS inmates from a Kurdish-controlled prison in the Gweiran neighbourhood in Hasakah on January 20, Xinhua news agency.
Following the prison break, the SDF engaged in fierce battles with IS militants inside and outside the prison while the US-led warplanes kept on targeting residential areas where the fugitives could have reached.
Earlier on Monday, the warplanes struck a university campus in Hasakah and destroyed the university’s parking lot, as part of their manhunt for the escaped inmates.
Such a situation has pushed thousands of families to flee their homes close to the clashes sites in Kurdish-controlled areas.
Local media reports have said the displaced families reached the government-controlled areas in Hasakah and settled in temporary displacement shelters, as the Syrian army opened safe corridors to secure the fleeing families.
Director of Social Affairs Ibrahim Khalaf said in a statement that due to the increase in the number of displaced families, two new temporary shelters were opened, bringing the number of centres to five in the city.
Khalaf pointed out that the work is underway to equip the sixth centre in light of the continued influx of people from the southern neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry on Monday held an urgent meeting of representatives from the international organisations operating in Syria to address the crisis in Hasakah.
Hasakah province is largely controlled by the US-backed SDF, while some certain areas, particularly in the city of Qamishli, are still under the control of the Syrian government.
Noting that the 5G stations in the UAE have been installed in multiple places for many years…reports Asian Lite News
Regarding the news on the suspension of some flights to certain US airports due to 5G deployment, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has clarified that this issue is exclusively related to the relevant US airports.
“There is no disruption or interference in the UAE between 5G networks and air navigation systems,” affirmed a TDRA statement on Thursday.
Noting that the 5G stations in the UAE have been installed in multiple places for many years, TDRA said no negative impact on the safety of air navigation systems has occurred.
TDRA bases its 5G plans on studies that take into account the safety of frequencies and potential impact on other sectors. The authority also considers the decisions and procedures approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in this regard.
TDRA has confirmed that it is coordinating in this matter with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which in turn coordinates and communicates with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and European and American aviation safety regulatory agencies to ensure the highest levels of safety and security in this context.
From 21 January, the airline will reinstate its Boeing 777 operations to Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Miami, Newark, Orlando and Seattle…reports Asian Lite News
As a result of telecommunication operators delaying the roll-out of 5G networks around US airports, the US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing have issued formal notifications that lift the previous restriction on aircraft operations, enabling Emirates to safely restore full scheduled operations to all its US destinations by Saturday.
From 21 January, the airline will reinstate its Boeing 777 operations to Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Miami, Newark, Orlando and Seattle.
Emirates services to Los Angeles, New York JFK, and Washington DC remain unimpacted. Flights to Boston, Houston and San Francisco, on which the airline had temporarily deployed A380 aircraft on 20 and 21 January, will return to Boeing 777 operations on Saturday 22 January.
The airline also operates Boeing 777 freighter aircraft to Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Columbus and Aguadilla, carrying exports and essential cargo such as food and life-saving medicines and pharmaceuticals.
Earlier this week, Emirates suspended its services to some US destinations based on the FAA advisory and Boeing recommendations on possible interference between the 5G antennas and aircraft systems, as safety of operations is the top priority.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “We apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers by the temporary suspension of flights to some of our US destinations. Safety will always be our top priority, and we will never gamble on this front. We welcome the latest development which enables us to resume essential transport links to the US to serve travellers and cargo shippers. However, we are also very aware that this is a temporary reprieve, and a long-term resolution would be required. Emirates will continue to work closely with the aircraft manufacturers and relevant regulators to ensure the safety and continuity of our services.”
“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding, and express appreciation to our teams and partners who have worked round the clock to minimise impact on customers and help us return to service quickly.”
President Joe Biden is planning to re-designating Houthi militia as an international terrorist organisation days after the Iran-backed group killed three people in a drone strike in the UAE…reports Asian Lite News
Marking his first full year in office with a two-hour press conference, Biden focused on his domestic efforts and the fight against COVID-19, but also touched on foreign policy issues, mostly addressing the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and also taking questions on Iran and Yemen, news agencies reported.
Weeks after taking office in 2021, Biden officially delisted the Houthi militia as a “foreign terrorist organization,” a designation put in place by his predecessor, Donald Trump.
The US leader has also worked to bring Iran back to the negotiating table over its nuclear weapons program.
President Joe Biden
Asked if he would redesignate the Houthis as a terrorist group, Biden replied: “It’s under consideration.”
Biden was also asked if he was making progress with Iran in efforts to force the regime to adhere to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or nuclear deal.
“It is not time to give up. There is some progress to be made,” he replied.
However, the lengthy press conference was clearly intended to highlight Biden’s achievements since being sworn in as president one year ago on Jan. 20, 2021.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates submitted a letter to Norway, the United Nations Security Council President for the month of January, requesting a meeting of the Council to address the Houthi terrorist attacks in Abu Dhabi on 17 January.
The letter condemns the Houthis’ targeting of civilians and civilian objects in flagrant violation of international law. It calls on the Council to unequivocally condemn the Houthi attacks with one voice.
“The United Arab Emirates strongly condemns the Houthis’ targeting of civilians and civilian objects in flagrant violation of international law,” said Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN. “The UAE expresses its condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes those injured a speedy recovery. This illegal and alarming escalation is a further step in the Houthis’ efforts to spread terrorism and chaos in our region. It is another attempt by the Houthis, using the capabilities they have unlawfully acquired in defiance of UN sanctions, to threaten peace and security. The United Arab Emirates calls on the Security Council to speak with one voice and join in firmly and unequivocally condemning these terrorist attacks, which were launched in complete disregard of international law.”
At 10 a.m. UAE time on 17 January 2022, Houthi militias targeted the Musaffah ICAD 3 area and the new construction area at Abu Dhabi International Airport, both of which are civilian infrastructure. The attacks, which led to the explosion of three petroleum tankers, killed two Indian civilians and one Pakistani civilian and injured six other civilians. The Houthis confirmed responsibility for the attacks.
Biden’s Special Envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, was sent to the Gulf and London on Wednesday “to reinvigorate peace efforts in coordination with the UN, senior regional government officials and other international partners,” according to a statement from US State Department spokesman Ned Price.
US, France discuss ways to promote Libya’s democratic process
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian to discuss efforts to promote the democratic process in Libya, the State Department said on Sunday…reports Asian Lite News
Efforts to lead Libya into elections at the end of December were thrown into disarray when the country’s electoral commission said a vote could not take place, citing what it called inadequacies in the electoral legislation and the judicial appeals process.
Blinken also spoke about the recent informal EU foreign ministers’ meeting, that was held in the western French city of Brest on Friday as part of the French presidency of the Council of the EU.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had reiterated following the meeting on Friday his view that talks to revive a 2015 Iran nuclear deal are progressing “much too slowly to be able to reach a result.”
Antony-Blinken
“We now have to conclude and come to a decision: Either the Iranians want to complete this, in which case we have the impression that there will be flexibility in the Americans’ stance.
“Or they don’t want to complete this, and in that case we will be faced with a major proliferation crisis,” Le Drian said.
“There will be nothing more to negotiate if nothing happens,” he warned.
Negotiations to salvage the nuclear deal resumed in late November after they were suspended in June as Iran elected a new, ultraconservative government.
“Secretary Blinken reiterated the United States’ firm commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of continued Russian aggression and discussed US resolve to respond swiftly and strongly to any further Russian invasion into Ukraine,” the State Department also said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Algerian counterpart Ramdane Lamamra in Cairo to discuss developments in Libya, Sudan, Mali, and the Sahel and Sahara regions.
The two ministers stressed the need to intensify coordination within the framework of joint African action in a way that enhances efforts to achieve peace and security on the African continent, especially in light of the various security challenges imposed by the successive developments in the region, the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman said on Facebook.
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Aboul-Gheit.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stressed the importance of encouraging the Libyan institutions to assume their responsibilities toward the Libyan people during this important and critical stage that would lead to the desired electoral process.
He was speaking during a meeting with Stephanie Williams, the UN secretary-general’s special adviser on Libya, in the Egyptian capital, the Arab League’s General Secretariat said in a statement.
The two parties agreed on the importance of holding elections that will reflect the will of the Libyan people, while continuing the security, military and economic agenda.
The US will allow Lebanon to import natural gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan through Syria…reports Asian Lite News
The US will allow Lebanon to import natural gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan through Syria, without being subject to restrictions imposed by the US Caesar Act which prohibits cooperation with Syria, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has said.
The US authorities have informed Egyptian officials about Lebanon’s capability of importing energy through Syria, Bou Habib said on Thursday during his meeting at Baabda Palace with President Michel Aoun to inform him about his recent visit to the US.
The Energy and Oil Ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon had agreed last September to supply Lebanon with electricity from Jordan and natural gas from Egypt through the Arab Gas pipeline to solve the electricity crisis in Lebanon, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Lebanese Foreign Minister also noted that US officials expressed keenness to resume the process of demarcating the southern maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, and the US mediator Amos Hochstein will come to Lebanon within the next few days to resume his efforts with the aim of moving forward in this regard.
Lebanon has been going through an unprecedented financial crisis due to the failing policies adopted by successive governments which resulted in a public debt hovering over $96 billion.
Boston Public Schools in Massachusetts were closed as eight to 10 inches of snow were expected to fall in the city…reports Asian Lite News
A winter storm stretching from the US states of Maine to Virginia has blanketed large parts of the East Coast, causing school closures, power outages and flight cancellations, and particularly leading the governors of New Jersey and Virginia to declare a state of emergency.
Citing a snowstorm earlier this week in Virginia which played a role in the more than 24-hour traffic jam on Interstate-95, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam on Friday said that “these back-to-back storms will generate landmark winter weather that requires extra flexibility — particularly as many continue to deal with power outages.”
Parts of New York City saw more than eight inches of snowfall, while more than 10 inches fell in parts of neighboring Connecticut by Friday morning, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the National Weather Service (NWS).
Boston Public Schools in Massachusetts were closed as eight to 10 inches of snow were expected to fall in the city.
Federal offices in Washington, D.C., closed on Friday because of the weather. About 60,000 customers were experiencing power outages in Virginia Friday morning, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.US. More than 2,400 US flights were canceled as of midday Friday, according to the flight tracker FlightAware.com.
The fast-moving winter storm that pummeled parts of Kentucky and Virginia is expected to cause widespread disruption across the Northeast on Friday and Saturday, dumping between 4 and 12 inches of snow on the region’s major cities.
“More than 60 million people are under winter weather alerts, and local officials have taken pre-emptive measures to prepare the densely-populated region, including shutting government offices and ordering school closures,” a prominent US based media outlet reported.
Other parts of the US also experienced inclement weather Thursday and Friday. A snowstorm in the South that began Thursday led to pileups and jams on highways. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear activated the National Guard on Thursday.
Washington state had record snow and rainfall, with some towns seeing more than five inches of rain and others getting nearly two feet of snow, leading to flooding, landslides and the threat of avalanches, said NWS.
Iran blacklists 51 more US individuals over Soleimani's assassination
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has blacklisted 51 more US individuals for their “roles” in the assassination of former military commander Qasem Soleimani…reports Asian Lite News
In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry said the new list of sanctioned American individuals, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, was in line with implementing Iran’s law on “combating human rights violations and the adventurous and terrorist acts of the US in the region”, reports Xinhua news agency.
“The designated persons, as the case may be, have taken part in decision-making, organising, financing, and carrying out the terrorist act or have otherwise justified terrorism which is a threat to the international peace and security through supporting such egregious terrorist attack,” it said.
Former US President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, among others, were previously listed to be sanctioned for the same reason, according to the statement.
A US drone strike on a convoy killed Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, along with an Iraqi militia commander near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.
In a public address here on January 3 to mark Soleimani’s second death anniversary, President Ebrahim Raisi said that Trump and Pompeo must be “prosecuted for their criminal activity” through a fair mechanism, warning Iran’s revenge in case those involved in and behind the “criminal act” are not punished.
