Joe Biden to sign executive order to deter detention, hostage-taking of Americans abroad
July 20, 2022, 7:57 am

Joe Biden to sign executive order to deter detention, hostage-taking of Americans abroad

US President Joe Biden - Twitter account

President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Tuesday (July 19) aimed at deterring and punishing wrongful detention of U.S. citizens abroad by authorizing government agencies to impose sanctions and other measures, the Anews reported.

It said that Biden has faced growing pressure from families of hostages and detainees, particularly on the case of WNBA star Brittney Griner who has been held in Russia since February and is on trial on drug charges.

Deteriorating ties between the United States and Russia over Russia's invasion of Ukraine spotlighted her detention and the wider issue.

The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, named after an American journalist abducted and killed in Syria, says that more than 60 U.S. citizens are wrongfully detained in about 18 countries, some for more than a decade.

A senior administration official said in a call with reporters on Monday (July 18) that Biden was "committed to getting all these cases resolved and ... at the same time, start to bring up a deterrence strategy that can raise the cost of hostage-taking and wrongful detention.”

"I think I speak for the entire @WNBA when I say this: We need her home urgently" - Brittney Griner's former coach @coachjameswade talks to CNN's @ErinBurnett as the WNBA star faces a fifth month detained in Russia. pic.twitter.com/ICvGVz238l
— CNN (@CNN) July 20, 2022

Officials said that the executive order will authorize agencies to impose unspecified costs and consequences, including financial sanctions, on those involved in hostage-taking.

Officials said, the sanctions could cover a state or an individual acting on behalf of it.

They added that the order will direct government agencies to work more closely with detainees' families and share information and possibly intelligence.

America’s biggest win from Biden’s Middle East tour

As part of the new steps, State Department travel advisories will add warnings when there is elevated risk of wrongful detention in a foreign country. On Tuesday, six countries -- Myanmar, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela -- will receive the warning.

The administration held a video call on Monday with family members of detainees to preview the executive order, according to several participants. Many were disappointed, saying they were not allowed to speak on the call and were skeptical the order would be effective.

One participant said, the order "appears to concern deterring future cases more than solving the current ones.”

The U.S. government has not disclosed an official number of Americans detained abroad.

The Foley foundation says countries wrongfully holding Americans include Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Yemen.

Joe Biden invites UAE President to White House

Russia's release in April of former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed intensified calls by relatives of others held overseas for Biden to act.

Reed was freed after three years of detention as part of a prisoner swap with Russia. Biden commuted the U.S. prison sentence of Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko.

Several weeks before Reed's release, his parents met with Biden after demonstrating outside the White House. Family members say they believe the path to securing release begins with meeting face-to-face with Biden, a view the administration has sought to discourage.

Source: anews

Scientists warn of ‘very high ozone pollution’ for Europe as heatwaves rise Russia-allied Bashar al-Assad regime cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.