The US has announced sanctions on Ethiopian and Eritrean officials over the civil war in the Tigray region.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is placing visa bans on officials “responsible for, or complicit in, undermining resolution of the crisis in Tigray".
The sanctions target Ethiopian and Eritrean government officials and members of the security forces as well as “Amhara regional and irregular forces and members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front”. Visa bans may also be placed on immediate family members of those sanctioned.
“This includes those who have conducted wrongful violence or other abuses against people in the Tigray region of Ethiopia as well as those who have hindered access of humanitarian assistance to those in the region,” Mr Blinken said.
“Should those responsible for undermining a resolution of the crisis in Tigray fail to reverse course, they should anticipate further actions from the United States and the international community. We call on other governments to join us in taking these actions.”
He also announced that Washington has “imposed wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia and will bring our defence trade control policy in line with them” while vowing to continue to provide humanitarian support.
The US has sent more than $300 million in aid to Tigray since the conflict broke out in November when Ethiopian and Eritrean forces entered the region with Amhara militias to conduct an offensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
The conflict has displaced more than two million people and left another 4.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
Ethiopia has blocked the UN from providing humanitarian aid to Tigray, enacted telephone and internet blackouts, and restricted journalists' access to the region.
Despite the telecoms and media blackout, there have been multiple reports of Ethiopian and Eritrean forces committing crimes against civilians, including sexual assault.
Mr Blinken described events in Tigray “ethnic cleansing”.
Although Eritrea vowed to pull its forces out of the region in March, Asmara has yet to do so. For this reason, Congress has pushed for sanctions on Ethiopian and Eritrean officials.
The US Senate unanimously passed a non-binding resolution last week calling for an immediate ceasefire in Tigray, as well as the withdrawal of Eritrean troops.
The Tigray Centre for Information and Communication hired the consulting firm Von Batten-Montague-York to lobby Congress to pass the resolution and urge the administration of President Joe Biden to levy human rights sanctions.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
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• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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