The shuttered US embassy in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
The shuttered US embassy in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
The shuttered US embassy in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
The shuttered US embassy in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA

Blinken calls on Houthis to release detained embassy staff in Yemen


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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called on Yemen's Houthi rebels to release 12 current and former US and UN employees who were detained by the Iran-backed militants last year.

“One year ago, Houthi forces breached the compound used by the US embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, and began detaining our Yemeni colleagues,” Mr Blinken tweeted on Wednesday.

“I call on the Houthis to reunite these Yemeni citizens with their families.”

He said the continued detention of those employees “shows gross disregard for diplomatic norms and constitutes an affront to the entire international community”.

Mr Blinken reiterated the US commitment to advancing a durable resolution to the Yemen conflict and said the release of those detained would be a demonstration from the Houthis “of their commitment to peace for the people of Yemen and willingness to participate in a future government that respects the rule of law”.

Last year, Yemeni security employees of the US government were detained in Sanaa after the compound that once housed the American embassy was attacked by the Houthis.

Some of them were immediately released but at least 10 former US embassy staffers are still in custody.

The UN confirmed in December that the Houthis had arrested two of its employees in Sanaa in early November.

UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures

Tuesday, October 29

Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE

Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman

Wednesday, October 30

Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one

Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two

Thursday, October 31

Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four

Friday, November 1

Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one

Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two

Saturday, November 2

Third-place playoff, 2.10pm

Final, 7.30pm

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

The%20specs
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Dunki
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Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Updated: October 19, 2022, 8:31 PM