COPENHAGEN: Sweden on Wednesday offered to host talks between Yemen’s warring parties as Washington called for an urgent halt to hostilities and the UN special envoy ramped up efforts to revive discussions that failed nearly two months ago.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said the United Nations has asked her country if it “could be a place for the UN envoy to gather the parties in this conflict” — the internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, and Yemen’s Iran-backed Shiite rebels known as Houthis.
Wallstrom told Swedish news agency TT that her country would be “happy about it,” but that nothing is definite.
The possible venue comes as UN envoy Martin Griffiths called on the opposing sides in the 3 1/2-year conflict to heed “recent calls” for a quick resumption of the political process and efforts to win a halt to fighting in Yemen.
The Trump administration late Tuesday called for an urgent halt to the war and a start to negotiations aimed at a political settlement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked all parties to support Griffiths in what Pompeo said must be “substantive consultations” in November in a third country.
In separate remarks, also Tuesday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called for a cease-fire within 30 days.
Nigel Tricks of the Norwegian Refugee Council welcomed the cease-fire call, saying it could be “the political breakthrough that we have long requested from parties to this brutal war” that has been “four years of hell for Yemeni women, men and children.”
Griffiths urged the concerned parties to “seize this opportunity” and singled out support for “confidence-building measures” such as Yemen’s central bank, a prisoner exchange and the re-opening of the airport in the rebel-held Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
“Dialogue remains the only path to reach an inclusive agreement,” Griffiths said in a statement.
Wallstrom reiterated Sweden’s support for Griffiths, whose efforts to host talks between the government and rebels in Geneva in September ran aground when Houthi representatives didn’t show up, insisting they had not been guaranteed safe return after the discussions.
The conflict in Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, began with the 2014 takeover of Sanaa by the Houthis who toppled the internationally recognized government. A Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.
The war has killed over 10,000 people and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. The UN says Yemen is facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
At the beginning of 2017, the UN and its partners provided aid to 3 million hungry Yemenis. Since then, assistance has been scaled up, reaching 8 million people last month because of generous funding from donors, but far below the 14 million people — or half Yemen’s population — who may need it.
Earlier this month, Mark Lowcock, the UN humanitarian chief, warned of “an imminent and great big famine engulfing Yemen.”
Sweden says it could host Yemen’s warring sides for talks
Sweden says it could host Yemen’s warring sides for talks
- Wallstrom said the United Nations has asked her country if it “could be a place for the UN envoy to gather the parties in this conflict”
- She told Swedish news agency TT that her country would be “happy about it,” but that nothing is definite
Passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashes in Kazakhstan with many feared dead
- The plane was carrying 67 passengers and five crew, Kazakh authorities say 12 people had survived
- Azerbaijan Airlines said aircraft forced to make emergency landing approximately 3 km from Aktau
ASTANA: An Embraer passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday with 67 passengers and five crew on board, Kazakh authorities announced, saying 12 people had survived.
Unverified video of the crash showed the plane, which was operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising.
The Central Asian country’s emergencies ministry said in a statement that fire services had put out the blaze and that survivors were being treated at a nearby hospital.
Azerbaijan Airlines said the Embraer 190 aircraft, with flight number J2-8243, had been flying from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechnya, but had been forced to make an emergency landing approximately 3 km (1.8 miles) from the Kazakh city of Aktau.
Russian news agencies said the plane had been rerouted due to fog in Grozny.
Authorities in Kazakhstan said they had begun looking into different possible versions of what had happened, including a technical problem, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported.
Pakistan army says thirteen militants killed in operation in South Waziristan
- Intelligence-based operation carried out in Sararogha area in South Waziristan district
- Afghan Taliban said Pakistan strikes in border province of Afghanistan had killed 46 people
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Wednesday thirteen militants had been killed in an intelligence-based operation in the northwestern South Waziristan district.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militancy in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the government in Islamabad broke down.
In recent months, Islamabad has publicly accused Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups, particularly the TTP, that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
“On 24-25 December 2024, Security Forces conducted an intelligence based operation in general area Sararogha, South Waziristan District on reported presence of khwarij [militants],” the army’s media wing said.
“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij location, as a result of which, thirteen khwarij were sent to hell.”
The army’s statement came hours after a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban rulers in Kabul said Pakistan air strikes in an eastern border province of Afghanistan had killed 46 people.
There has been no official comment from Pakistani authorities on the latest strikes in Afghan territory.
“Last night [Tuesday], Pakistan bombarded four points in the Barmal district of Paktika province. The total number of dead is 46, most of whom were children and women,” Afghan Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
He added that six more people were wounded, mostly children.
An Afghan defense ministry statement late Tuesday condemned the latest strikes by Pakistan on Afghan territory, calling them “barbaric” and a “clear aggression.”
“The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered, but rather considers the defense of its territory and sovereignty to be its inalienable right,” the statement said, using the Taliban authorities’ name for the government.
Deadly air strikes by Pakistan’s military in the border regions of Afghanistan in March that the Taliban authorities said killed eight civilians prompted skirmishes on the frontier.
With inputs from AFP
Government helicopters continue to deliver aid to Pakistani district wracked by sectarian feuds
- Police say at least 136 killed in fresh sectarian feuds in Kurram that started last month
- Northwestern district has for decades seen fighting between Shia and Sunni groups
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday humanitarian aid continued to be delivered to the northwestern Khurram district where the blockade of a main highway since last month following sectarian clashes in the region has triggered a humanitarian crisis.
Kurram, a tribal district of around 600,000 where federal and provincial authorities have traditionally exerted limited control, has frequently experienced violence between its Sunni and Shia communities over land and power. Travelers to and from the town often ride in convoys escorted by security officials.
The latest feuding started on Nov. 21 when gunmen ambushed a vehicle convoy and killed 52 people, mostly Shias. The assault triggered road closures and other measures that have disrupted people’s access to medicine, food, fuel, education and work. Over 130 people have been killed in the fighting that has ensued after the convoy attack, according to police records.
The provincial and federal governments and the Edhi Foundation charity last week started sending medicines to the region via helicopters.
“On the instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the Cabinet Division helicopter has been allocated for the provision of medicines, transfer of patients and other relief activities in Parachinar,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
Parachinar is the main town in Kurram and a main road that connects the region to Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been blocked since sectarian fighting began late last month.
“The National Disaster Management Authority is carrying out this important relief operation to deliver medicines to Parachinar to meet the emergency medical needs of children, women and elderly people of Parachinar,” the PM’s office said.
On Wednesday morning, a government helicopter carrying 500 kilograms of medicines reached Parachinar and returned to Islamabad, the federal capital, with four patients.
“The second helicopter has left Islamabad for Parachinar this afternoon carrying another 500 kg of medicines and on its return, it will bring patients from Parachinar to Islamabad,” the PM’s office said.
Kurram police spokesman Riaz Khan told Arab News on Monday least 136 people had been killed in the violence since last month. If you added those who had died due to lack of access to hospitals and medicines following the road closures, the number reached at least 200, the police officer said.
Pakistani media widely reported on Wednesday at least 100 children has died in Kurram due to lack of access to medication and health facilities.
The KP provincial government last week launched a helicopter service to evacuate people and transport aid and medicines to Kurran amid the closer of the Parachinar-Peshawar road.
The KP government also said last week authorities had decided to dismantle private bunkers — observation posts used in the fighting by both sides — and given a deadline of Feb. 1 for tribesmen in Kurram to handover heavy weapons.
Local tribesmen have so far reportedly refused to surrender their weapons, citing concerns about their safety.
IMF staff-level agreement set to pave way for $1.2bn funding for Egypt
RIYADH: Egypt will potentially have access to around $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund, following a staff-level agreement under the Extended Fund Facility.
The agreement, which is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, aims to provide crucial financial support as Egypt navigates a challenging economic landscape.
The funding is part of Egypt’s broader efforts to stabilize its economy amidst high inflation and lower-than-expected revenues, including a decline in Suez Canal earnings.
“The Egyptian authorities have continued to implement key policies to preserve macroeconomic stability, despite ongoing regional tensions that are causing a sharp decline in Suez Canal receipts,” said Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, who led the IMF mission to Egypt.
The country incurred losses of $8 billion due to a sharp decline in Suez Canal revenues, as revealed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty last month.
The IMF and Egyptian authorities have agreed to recalibrate the country’s fiscal consolidation path, creating fiscal space for critical social programs targeting vulnerable groups and the middle class, while ensuring long-term debt sustainability.
“Particular attention will be needed to contain fiscal risks stemming from state-owned enterprises in the energy sector, and to enforce the strict implementation of the public investment ceiling, which includes capital expenditures associated with public entities that operate outside the general government budget,” added Holler.
She praised Egypt’s plans to streamline and simplify its tax system but stressed that additional reforms are necessary to boost domestic revenue mobilization.
As part of the agreement, Egypt committed to increasing its tax-to-revenue ratio by 2 percent of gross domestic product over the next two years, focusing on eliminating exemptions rather than raising taxes.
“A comprehensive reform package is needed to ensure that Egypt rebuilds fiscal buffers to reduce debt vulnerabilities, and generates additional space to increase social spending, especially in health, education and social protection,” she said.
Looking ahead, Egypt’s reform priorities involve boosting domestic revenues, improving the business environment, accelerating divestment, leveling the playing field, and enhancing governance and transparency.
“While Egypt faces headwinds from the difficult external environment, there was agreement that further efforts were needed to accelerate the divestment program. The authorities expressed commitment to redouble their efforts in this area, which is crucial to support private sector development and to reduce the high debt burden,” added Holler.
Earlier this month, Fitch Ratings downgraded Egypt’s economic growth forecast to 3.87 percent for the fiscal year 2024/25, down from 4.2 percent, citing disruptions in Suez Canal navigation.
The rating agency projected a recovery in the financial year 2025/26, with growth accelerating to 5.1 percent, up from an earlier estimate of 4.7 percent, contingent on normalizing Red Sea navigation and improved performance in the services sector amid easing geopolitical tensions.
Amina Muaddi celebrates festive milestone ahead of Beyonce show
DUBAI: Jordanian Romanian shoe designer Amina Muaddi celebrated a major fashion moment this week, taking to Instagram to share her excitement over Beyonce wearing her custom Yigit pumps in a teaser for the star’s NFL Christmas Day Halftime Show on Netflix.
Muaddi shared the video on her Instagram Stories. In the clip, the music icon can be seen wearing the satin heels in black and adorned with studs.
In the clip that Beyonce also shared on her Instagram account, the music sensation was seen holding a banjo, a stringed instrument often linked to folk, country, and bluegrass music. She wore a wide-brimmed black hat paired with sleek sunglasses, a colorful patterned cape featuring red and blue hues, and a rhinestone-adorned top. The outfit was completed with black gloves and a black skirt.
“I’m sending you big joy and love on this cowboy Christmas Eve. I’ll see y’all tomorrow, in my city HTX,” Beyonce wrote to her 313 million followers, referring to Houstan, Texas.
In another teaser posted last week, the singer also chose Amina Muaddi heels — the Begum glass pumps.
The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer will headline the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game’s halftime show on Dec. 25, after the Kansas City Chiefs play the Pittsburgh Steelers will play earlier in the day. Both games will feature a special pre-game performance of “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey.
Beyonce seems to be a fan of part-Arab designer Muaddi. During the singer’s Renaissance World Tour last year, she was spotted in Muaddi’s creations on stage on a number of occasions.
“I’m so happy to be part of this queen’s historic tour. Every time I see her on stage I’m in complete awe of her — the ultimate supernova. Grateful to @beyonce and her team of incredible creatives for these @aminamuaddiofficial moments on stage,” Muaddi wrote on Instagram at the time.
Muaddi launched her eponymous footwear line in August 2018, approximately one year after departing from her role as co-founder and creative director of luxury footwear label Oscar Tiye.
The shoemaker’s eponymous label’s distinct pumps, sling-backs, mules, boots and sandals in an array of vibrant colors and holographic designs have since garnered a loyal checklist of famous fans, including Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber Baldwin.
