US President Joe Biden ordered a reversal of his predecessor's decision to designate Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terrorist organisation. EPA / Bloomberg
US President Joe Biden ordered a reversal of his predecessor's decision to designate Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terrorist organisation. EPA / Bloomberg
US President Joe Biden ordered a reversal of his predecessor's decision to designate Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terrorist organisation. EPA / Bloomberg
It is still early days for the Biden administration. But even as it remains focused on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent economic crisis within its borders, it seems anxious to leave a mark on the world stage that would help set itself apart from the previous Trump administration. This has proved illusory so far. And in one theatre of conflict – Yemen – the Biden team's departure from Washington's policy over the past four years has proved puzzling and perhaps even risky.
That President Joe Biden has not secured a notable foreign policy win may be a sign of the times we live in. It could also be a testament to Donald Trump’s largely positive foreign policy legacy, particularly in the Middle East.
Mending relations with Washington's traditional allies in Europe and fellow Nato member states, frayed during the Trump years, is the one proverbial low-hanging fruit the administration can pluck. This explains Secretary of State Antony Blinken's efforts to reach out to the rest of the West. But there are very few other places in the world where a new administration can create an impact right away these days.
China is a rising power. Russia continues to be tough to deal with, although the Biden administration did extend the New Start arms reduction treaty with Moscow. The Venezuelan regime has proved stubborn despite political and economic turmoil there. North Korea's weapons programme is much too complicated to tackle straight away. On the Palestine-Israel conflict, the Biden team has found that American interests are better served by building on Mr Trump's achievements, which include the signing of the Abraham Accords.
It has decided to review the Trump administration's plan to withdraw troops from war-torn Afghanistan. But the Taliban's threat of retaliation and open-ended war against American forces could create a new crisis for Washington.
On Iran, the administration has backed itself into a corner. It initially created an expectation around the proposed return to the 2015 nuclear deal, which Mr Trump had withdrawn the US from in 2018, before being struck by harsh realities involving Tehran’s mostly destabilising foreign policy. Mr Biden has not blinked yet, but in its bid to make Washington cave, the Iranian regime continues to threaten the world that it is even closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon.
He withdrew support for the Saudi Arabia-led effort to halt the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels' illegal takeover of the country. He then decided to delist the Houthis as a terror organisation, just weeks after they had been put on the list by the outgoing Trump administration.
Houthi supporters chant slogans as they attend a demonstration against the US over its decision to designate the Houthis a foreign terrorist organisation in Sanaa, Yemen. AP
Almost as if to signal that it was a mistake to have done so, within days of Mr Biden declaring his intention to end the war in Yemen, the Houthis began escalating tensions in the Arabian Peninsula. They have launched repeated strikes inside neighbouring Saudi Arabia, a long-time US ally, including, most recently, a drone attack on Abha airport.
This escalation has forced the US to respond firmly by keeping intact sanctions on three of the group’s key leaders. Even Russia, no ally of the US, has called on Iran to force its proxy to deescalate tensions.
Evidently, diplomacy is being given a chance.
The EU is providing crucial support to Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, and to Timothy Lenderking, the US Special Envoy for Yemen, who earlier in the week brought to Riyadh new ideas regarding a ceasefire and the revival of the political process. Financial inducements to the Houthis could be part of these proposals, alongside political reforms and a developmental package for all of Yemen.
Saudi Arabia's deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received the UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths and the US special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking. Image: SPA
What would Washington do if it fails to curb Houthis' strikes inside Saudi Arabia? Would it resort to military intervention?
Saudi Arabia itself has pledged support for the US diplomatic effort to end the war. One could even argue that the Houthi attacks have brought the Biden administration closer to Riyadh, as demonstrated by Mr Blinken’s call to Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Foreign Minister.
However, questions remain unanswered.
Does Washington have any leverage to push the Houthis towards the negotiating table with the other Yemeni parties, including the legitimate government in Aden, and Saudi Arabia in order to reach a political solution? After all, the Houthis have come to control a large part of the country. Having been taken off the terror list, and with continued backing from Tehran, what incentive do they have to push for peace? Also, what would the US do if it fails to curb their constant strikes inside Saudi Arabia? Would it resort to military intervention?
Washington would do well to remember that ending the conflict in Yemen through a peaceful settlement has proved difficult even for the regional powers. This is not just owing to Tehran’s role in the war but because of the years-long, intractable nature of the conflict itself.
Time will tell if the Biden administration’s Yemen policy, made in its early days, proves fruitful – or whether it ends up becoming the costly product of its determination to carve a niche for itself.
Raghida Dergham is the founder and executive chairwoman of the Beirut Institute and a columnist for The National
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), EsekaiaDranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), JaenBotes (Exiles), KristianStinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), EmosiVacanau (Harlequins), NikoVolavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), ThinusSteyn (Exiles)
Ten10 Cricket League
Venue and schedule Sharjah Cricket Stadium, December 14 to 17
Teams
Maratha Arabians Leading player: Virender Sehwag; Top picks: Mohammed Amir, Imad Wasim; UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan
Bengal Lions Leading player: Sarfraz Ahmed; Top picks: Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman; UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Rameez Shahzad
Kerala Kings Leading player: Eoin Morgan; Top picks: Kieron Pollard, Sohail Tanvir; UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Imran Haider
Pakhtoons Leading player: Shahid Afridi; Top picks: Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal; UAE players: Amjad Javed, Saqlain Haider
Punjabi Legends Leading player: Shoaib Malik; Top picks: Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan; UAE players: Ghulam Shabber, Shareef Asadullah
Team Sri Lanka Cricket Will be made up of Colombo players who won island’s domestic limited-overs competition
How to apply for a drone permit
Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
Submit their request
What are the regulations?
Fly it within visual line of sight
Never over populated areas
Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally • Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered • Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity • Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
What are the influencer academy modules?
Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
Cinematography, shots and movement.
All aspects of post-production.
Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
