The so-called “Summit for Democracy” led by the US goes against the basic spirit of democracy and will further polarize the world, resulting in the emergence of new blocs…reports Asian Lite News
“It is a bad sign, as the world direly needs cooperation and joint efforts to tackle the issues of pandemic, climate change, food insecurity, water and energy,” said the article titled “Democracy summit, undemocratic practices.”
‘So-called ‘democracy summit’ by US will polarize the world’
The US has invited only a limited number of countries and communities to the summit, and the exclusion of other systems and countries shows that it does not care about diversity, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the article.
Western intervention in the name of democracy has destroyed a number of countries, leaving millions of people starving and hundreds of thousands of innocent people killed during the process of introducing democracy.
Israel has urged the United States to halt the nuclear talks with Iran immediately, accusing Iran of having begun to enrich uranium with advanced centrifuges…reports Asian Lite News
The call was made on Thursday during a phone talk between Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to a statement issued by Bennett’s office, Xinhua news agency reported.
Israel urges US to halt nuclear talks with Iran
Bennett quoted a report released on Wednesday by the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to which Iran has started the process of enriching uranium to the level of 20-per cent purity with advanced centrifuges at its Fordow underground facility.
Accusing Iran of “carrying out ‘nuclear blackmail’ as a negotiation tactic,” the Israeli leader said “this must be met with an immediate cessation” of the ongoing negotiations between Iran and world powers in Vienna.
The talks in the Austrian capital are aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal under which Iran curbed its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
A vocal opponent of the nuclear deal, Israel insists that Iran has been secretly seeking to obtain nuclear weapons despite Iran’s repeated statements that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh has said the current US government should stop following the maximum pressure policy by former President Donald Trump against Iran…reports Asian Lite News
“The Americans took our time in six (previous) rounds of negotiations to preserve Trump’s failed legacy,” Khatibzadeh added, referring to the six rounds of negotiations between Iran and the remaining parties to 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which were held in Austria’s capital Vienna from April to June and were suspended after Iran’s Presidential elections.
US govt should stop Trump’s maximum pressure policy against Iran
Iran has entered into the new rounds of talks with good intentions and real will for fruitful talks and “I advise … the real parties to seize this window of opportunity because this window will not remain open forever,” he said during his weekly press conference.
“Equally, we are moving toward lifting oppressive sanctions and neutralising the pressure lever,” the Iranian spokesman added, noting the composition of the Iranian negotiating team in Vienna shows the extent to which Iran will focus on lifting sanctions.
Asked whether Iran would hold direct talks with the US in Vienna, Khatibzadeh gave a negative answer, Xinhua news agency reported.
“No. There will be no bilateral talks with the US delegation,” he said.
Six rounds of talks were held between Iran and P4+1, namely Britain, China, France, Russia plus Germany, with the US indirectly involved from April to June. The new round of talks is scheduled to begin in Austria’s capital Vienna on Monday after a hiatus because of the Iranian Presidential elections in June.
The US government under Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement in May 2018 and unilaterally re-imposed sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal since May 2019.
Iran’s new negotiating team has set out demands for the revival of the nuclear agreement, including the removal of all US sanctions, verification mechanism for the removal of embargo, and guarantees from the US that next administrations will not breach the deal.
American companies are creating a framework for future jobs, which is a new area of cooperation between the US and the UAE, a senior executive of an American business body told Emirates News Agency (WAM)…writes Binsal Abdulkader
“We’re actually creating a curriculum in American companies for jobs that don’t exist. So, the US and the UAE are having a lot of discussions about how you educate a young population for a job that we don’t even know that we need for a job that doesn’t exist!” said Liz Beneski, Chief Executive Director of AmCham Abu Dhabi, which is the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi, a member of the global network of American Chambers of Commerce.
US businesses, new trends She believes that there is a great deal of free thinking on this new trend, which offers a new opportunity. Beneski made these comments while talking about the new trends among the US businesses in the UAE.
Liz Beneski
Many of them are operating in new and emerging sectors such as fintech, agriculture technology, education technology, medical technology and e-mobility. There are major players in the cybersecurity and space sectors as well, she explained.
“There are other important industries that are being born here and elsewhere. COVID-19 has changed how everyone works, so there is a rebirth in the wellness and the happiness of staff, employees and colleagues. There’s a focus again on education,” she said, adding that all age groups need to upskill and learn new technologies to cope with the changing trends.
American technologies will support that trend as US companies are creating a domain for such future opportunities, the American executive affirmed.
“I would say, as the UAE loves to say the impossible is possible, we have to invent new industries for issues and opportunities that are currently coming to the fore; American technology is certainly complementary to all the discoveries and opportunities here in the UAE.”
AmCham’s 35 years Formed 35 years ago by a group of American businesspersons, AmCham Abu Dhabi currently has over 400 businesspersons as members and represents industry sectors such as energy, oil and gas, renewables, healthcare, defence, aerospace, cybersecurity, project management, education, technology, finance and fintech.
About 20 percent of the members are women and many of them serve in the C-suite level.
UAE flag
“Our mission is very simple; Amcham Abu Dhabi fosters the bilateral trade relationship between the United States and the UAE. And we do that fostering of trade through, firstly relationship building. Relationships are so key to the American way of doing business and luckily that aligns beautifully with the Emirati way of doing business – relationship first and transaction second,” she said.
US-UAE business ties The UAE could be the only country in the entire world that does business with all 50 states of the US, she pointed out. No other country does business with the smallest state – Rhode Island – and the largest states such as Texas and California as well, “which is amazing,” Beneski said.
“The UAE brings jobs to Americans by buying American goods. The UAE one of the top investors in the US.”
A few thousand Emirati students are studying in the US and “I wish it was 50,000. This is the 50th year [of the UAE’s founding] and would love to see 50,000 Emirati students in America. That friendship that bond between the United States and the UAE is something to be celebrated, but more importantly to be treasured. It does start with trade.”
The AmCham CED believes “it is really exciting time ahead in the US-UAE economic relations. I do believe the continued investment of the wealth funds such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala is exciting for the United States. They’re buying hotels or educational institutions or making generous donations to children’s hospitals or schools, which help the youth of America,” Beneski said.
The Ethiopian government has urged the US and some organisations to stop spreading false information regarding the country’s current situation…reports Asian Lite News
The Ethiopian government has warned the US Embassy in Addis Ababa and other organisations against their continued practice of spreading false information, state media quoted Minister of Communication Service, Kebede Desisa as saying.
Ethiopian govt urges US to stop spreading false information
This came a day after the US Embassy in Ethiopia issued a caution to its citizens residing in Ethiopia over possible terror attacks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Xinhua news agency reported.
Earlier, the US government repeatedly warned its citizens to leave the east African country over the expanding conflict there.
The conflict, which erupted in November 2020 in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray region between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, has over the past months spread across neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions as forces loyal to the TPLF have advanced southward.
This prompted huge popular mobilisation in the regions as well as other states in the country to fight back the TPLF’s expansion.
Earlier in December, the Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives ratified a six-month state of emergency rule to contain the TPLF’s advancement and ensure the country’s peace and security.
A senior Iranian diplomat has urged the US to lift sanctions in an “effective and verifiable manner”, as the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal are preparing to attend a meeting on the revival of the accord next week…reports Asian Lite News
Mohammad Reza Ghaebi, the acting head of Iran’s mission in Vienna, said that in order to end the current deadlock over the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the US government should “stop violating its obligations under the agreement without any delay and precondition”, reports Xinhua news agency.
Iranian diplomat urges US to lift sanctions in effective manner
Making the remarks before the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ghaebi cited “the US violations of the agreement” and “the European countries’ unwillingness to clearly condemn the .S illegal withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran” as the root causes for the current impasse regarding the the historic agreement.
Referring to the upcoming Vienna nuclear meeting, he noted “it is important that the outcome of these efforts ensures that all sanctions will be lifted in an effective and verifiable manner”.
It is “not reasonable” to expect more forbearance from Iran as long as the sanctions remain in place, he stressed.
Iran has insisted that the lifting of the sanctions will be the determinant point in the upcoming talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)…reports Asian Lite News
“If the JCPOA does not imply specific economic interests and the normalization of foreign trade for the Islamic Republic, the US should know that this window will not be open forever,” Saeed Khatibzadeh, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told the media here.
Khatibzadeh dismissed “speculations” on the possibility of an interim deal between Iran and its western counterparts on the 2015 nuclear agreement as a “psychological operation” aimed at “fishing in troubled waters”.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan raised the “interim deal” idea in a recent meeting , arguing that it would allow parties to the talks to “buy more time for nuclear negotiations”.
The Iranian spokesman also dismissed recent remarks by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, noting “it would be better for the United States to make sure that objective guarantees are given regarding the lifting of the sanctions against Iran”.
Austin affirmed the US’ commitment to reaching a diplomatic outcome in the Vienna talks, but added that if Iran “isn’t willing to engage seriously, Washington will look at all the options necessary to keep the US secure”.
On November 29, representatives from China, Russia, France, Germany, the UK, and Iran will restart long-delayed talks over the revival of the JCPOA, with indirect involvement of the US.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, have deliberated the strategic relations between the UAE and the US across various levels, with special emphasis on areas of defence…reports Asian Lite News
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, have deliberated the strategic relations between the UAE and the US across various levels, with special emphasis on areas of defence.
Lloyd-Austin
This came as Sheikh Mohamed received Austin at Qasr Al Shati’ Palace in Abu Dhabi, where they also reviewed a number of international and regional issues of interest.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, and Major General Saleh Mohammed Saleh Megrin Al Ameri, Commander of Joint Operations.
US participation at Airshow
Almost a 100 US companies are taking part in this year’s Dubai Airshow, which is “about 25 percent more” than in the previous edition that took place in 2019, according to Sean Murphy, Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
“This reflects the greater degree of comfort that the world is feeling coming out of COVID-19 and it’s a recognition that the UAE has done a great job in managing [the pandemic]. I think people feel very comfortable about coming to the UAE whether for the Dubai Airshow or for Expo 2020 Dubai,” Murphy told Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of Dubai Airshow 2021.
“That’s a tangible manifestation of both the importance of the Airshow itself, which is really one of the most important aerospace and defence platforms in the world, and the confidence that people feel in coming to the UAE knowing that all the issues that surround the pandemic are being appropriately addressed,” he added.
According to the US Embassy’s latest figures, the bilateral trade between the US and the UAE stood at more than US$16 billion in the first nine months of 2021. The total trade in 2020 amounted to US$18 billion.
“The UAE and the United States are both top investors in each other’s countries and they support thousands of jobs. Emirati investments in the United States, its purchases from our companies support tens of thousands of jobs. This Airshow is a tremendous opportunity for our companies to exhibit their products and services, do business and strengthen those economic ties that are foundational to our relationship,” Murphy said.
Strategic relationship is of equal significance, according to the US official. “The UAE and the United States are very close partners in securing peace and stability in this region and other parts of the world. Of course, the UAE has demonstrated its leadership in creating the condition for peace most tangibly and most recently in the Abraham Accords,” he said.
“It has shown leadership in those areas and an increasingly important area of collaboration [with the US] has to do with humanitarian operations,” he added, hailing the UAE’s evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.
“We are very grateful for the assistance that the leadership and people of the UAE have shown in Afghanistan’s evacuation operations. We know that the evacuees are very grateful for it as well.”
Murphy also congratulated the UAE for winning the right to host the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in 2023.
“It is an incredible accomplishment and a real vote of confidence in the UAE’s leadership in renewable energy and efforts to address climate change. It’s really a very exciting time in the history of the UAE during this year of the Golden Jubilee. And the good news just keeps coming.”
Visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Abuja and met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and some officials, discussing the US administration’s interest in the West African country…reports Asian Lite News
A statement issued by the Nigerian presidency said Buhari and Blinken held talks in Abuja over issues including regional security and climate change. It quoted Blinken as saying that the United States and Nigeria have diverse challenges, but a common denominator is security, and hope for better partnerships.
US top diplomat visits Nigeria, discusses areas of interest
The US top diplomat, who had held a virtual meeting with the Nigerian leader earlier in the year, hailed the contributions of Buhari to the protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland.
At a joint press conference with Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama in Abuja on Thursday, Blinken highlighted a number of areas that the US is willing to further cooperate with Nigeria, including security, climate change, education, health, and work with the West African country in important critical infrastructure under the USAID framework, Xinhua news agency reported.
Nigeria is the second leg of Blinken’s three-country tour in Africa starting in Kenya on Wednesday, which will be rounded off in Senegal later this week.
Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen met with US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman to discuss current situation concerning the expanding conflict in northern Ethiopia…reports Asian Lite News
Mekonnen, who is also Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, said that forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have “continued committing atrocities in the Afar and Amhara regions, creating massive humanitarian and economic damages,” according to the Ethiopian Government Communications Service.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on the US to force the TPLF to withdraw its forces from the two regions, Xinhua news agency reported.
Mekonnen said humanitarian flights will be allowed in Lalibela and Kombolcha, rebel held areas in the Amhara region.
He also announced the permission for 369 humanitarian aid trucks to enter the Tigray region.
The conflict that erupted a year ago on November 4 in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray region between forces loyal to the TPLF and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), has over the past months spread across neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.
The two officials further discussed the conditions of US nationals across the East African country, according to the Ethiopian Government Communications Service.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, is in Ethiopia as part of the 55-member pan African bloc’s efforts to bring peaceful resolution to the conflict.
