The US has exempted aid groups from its recent move to classify Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement as a terrorist organisation. Reuters
The US has exempted aid groups from its recent move to classify Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement as a terrorist organisation. Reuters
The US has exempted aid groups from its recent move to classify Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement as a terrorist organisation. Reuters
The US has exempted aid groups from its recent move to classify Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement as a terrorist organisation. Reuters

Yemen: UN and aid groups exempt from US Houthi terror designation


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Aid and UN agencies operating in Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen are exempt from sanctions imposed on the rebels, the US said.

But relief groups said the decision to designate the movement as a foreign terrorist organisation would create a gap humanitarians would be unable to fill.

“Our concern from the beginning ... is the impact on the commercial sector and that the vast majority of food and other basic supplies that come into Yemen through the commercial sector,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the sanctions against the Iran-backed organisation last week and they took effect on Tuesday.

The decision would freeze any American-related assets of the Houthis and ban the US from doing business with them, making it a crime to provide support or resources to the group.

The designation includes exemption of exports to Yemen of agricultural commodities, a category that includes live animals, vitamins and minerals, bottled drinking water and raw, processed and packaged food.

“We would propose to review that immediately to make sure that what we are doing is not impeding the provision of humanitarian assistance,” Antony Blinken, Mr Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.

UN officials are trying to revive peace talks to end the war as economic collapse and Covid-19 deepen Yemen’s suffering.

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Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies

Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe

Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE

UAE fixtures

Saturday, January 18, v Canada

Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan

Saturday, January 25, v South Africa

UAE squad

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MATCH INFO

Iceland 0 England 1 (Sterling pen 90 1)

Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)

Final round

25 under -  Antoine Rozner (FRA)

23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)

21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)

20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)

19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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