The 'unacceptable detentions' are breaches of the privileges and immunities accorded to UN staff under international law, read a statement from the agencies. EPA
The 'unacceptable detentions' are breaches of the privileges and immunities accorded to UN staff under international law, read a statement from the agencies. EPA
The 'unacceptable detentions' are breaches of the privileges and immunities accorded to UN staff under international law, read a statement from the agencies. EPA
The 'unacceptable detentions' are breaches of the privileges and immunities accorded to UN staff under international law, read a statement from the agencies. EPA

UN agencies urge Houthis to release four staff members


Adla Massoud
  • English
  • Arabic

UN agencies on Tuesday called for the immediate release of four staff members who have been held by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, saying their whereabouts remain unknown.

The “unacceptable detentions” are breaches of the privileges and immunities accorded to UN staff under international law, read a statement from Unesco head Audrey Azoulay, human rights chief Volker Turk and Toily Kurbanov, executive co-ordinator of the UN Volunteers programme.

“We have not received information about the reasons for their detention or their status, even though the Ansar Allah movement (also called Houthis) have repeatedly assured that their release would be imminent,” they stated.

Two of the UN staff members have been in custody since 2021, while the other two have been detained since August and October 2023, respectively.

The Houthis, who have been at war against the internationally recognised government backed by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, have emerged as a major military force in the Arabian Peninsula, with tens of thousands of fighters and a huge arsenal of ballistic missiles and armed drones.

The group controls northern Yemen and its Red Sea coasts.

The Yemen war has settled into a stalemate and the fighting has largely stopped, but both sides have failed to renew a UN-brokered truce that expired in October.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a dire humanitarian crisis, with 80 per cent of Yemen's population reliant on aid.

Kidnappings are frequent in the impoverished nation, with armed tribesmen and militants taking hostages to swap for prisoners or cash.

A UN spokesman told The National that the world body is actively working to secure the release of the Yemeni UN personnel and is engaging with appropriate intermediaries in the process.

“They haven’t shared any information so it’s unknown what they want. We are repeatedly calling for their release and hoping it will happen soon,” said Seif Magango, representative for the UN Human Rights Office.

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Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Sole survivors
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  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.

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How to keep control of your emotions

If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.

Greed

Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.

Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.

Fear

The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.

Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.

Hope

While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.

Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.

Frustration

Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.

Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.

Boredom

Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.

Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
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Updated: November 14, 2023, 5:39 PM`