Yemeni government, Houthis agree to end banking dispute, resume flights

After months of crisis in Yemen's financial and banking system, the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebel group agreed to de-escalate financial tensions in the war-torn west Asian country with a U.N.-brokered deal earlier this week.

The United Nations special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg announced that the Yemeni government and the Houthis agreed to end the banking dispute with the Houthi militia and resume flights from the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The two sides agreed to mutually cancel all the recent decisions and procedures against banks and resume national carrier Yemenia Airways' Sanaa-Jordan route with an increase to three daily flights.

"An agreement was reached under the supervision of the United Nations to reopen the airport. The first flight took off this morning at 8:00, with three flights to Jordan daily. We hope to add flights to Cairo and India soon," said Khalid Al-Shaif, director of Sanaa International Airport.

Additionally, daily flights to Cairo and India, or as needed, will be operated, according to Grundberg's statement.

This is especially true for patients in areas under Houthi group control who need to travel abroad for treatment. Since the airport's closure in 2016, about 30,000 patients, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health in Sanaa, have been unable to travel abroad.

"Although late, it is a positive step for Yemeni citizens and traders. The flights will be a great help, especially for patients and travelers, making movement easier for them," said Omar Al-Akhowa, a Sanaa resident.

"Do not involve Yemenia Airways in political disputes. It’s a commercial company that serves citizens whether they are in the north, east, or south. Hopefully, these steps will continue and there will be a resolution because the people have truly suffered a lot," said Mahmoud Abu Ghalib, another Sanaa resident.

The agreement between the Yemeni parties to end the financial crisis and expand travel destinations from Sanaa Airport could lead to more agreements. It may also help to end the decade of war and blockade that Yemenis have suffered, described by the United Nations as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Yemeni government, Houthis agree to de-escalate in banking, Yemenia Airways

The Indonesian naval sail training ship Kri Bima Suci (945) arrived at a military port in Shanghai on Friday for a five-day visit, underscoring the strengthening maritime cooperation between China and Indonesia.

It is the second visit by the Kri Bima Suci, the Indonesian Navy's largest sail training ship, and the third visit by the Indonesian Navy, to the Chinese city.

At 14:30, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy held a warm welcome ceremony for the Kri Bima Suci at the naval port.

"It is a great experience for us to have an opportunity to visit Shanghai again. Professionalism is very high because I think the PLA Navy, Chinese navy, is growing very fast. They have so many ships, some big ships, and it makes China take an important position in this region."," said Hastaria Dwi Prakoso, the commanding officer of the Kri Bima Sicu.

Following the welcome ceremony, the captain of the Chinese frigate Shuozhou invited the Kri Bima Suci's main officers to visit the ship, and the two navies engaged in friendly exchanges.

"We will organize deck receptions, cultural and sports activities, professional and technical exchanges and some other activities during the (Kri Bima Suci's) five-day visit to further deepen mutual understanding and friendship between our two navies," said Chen Jiayu from a naval base in the PLA's Eastern Theater Command.

Indonesian naval training ship visits Shanghai