Trump aide promises 'very professional transition' to Biden
Dubai: President Donald Trump's national security adviser promised a very professional transition to the administration of President-elect Joe Biden in an interview broadcast Monday, even as Trump continues to falsely claim he won the November election.
Speaking to the Global Security Forum hosted in part by Qatar, Robert O'Brien several times mentioned the transition and referred to recent peace deals that Bahrain, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates struck with Israel as a great legacy for the president to have as he leaves office.
While caveating that Trump did have outstanding court challenges, O'Brien's comments signaled some of the firmest statements yet from a senior administration official acknowledging Biden's win in the Nov 3 vote.
If the Biden-Harris ticket is determined to be the winner obviously things look that way now we'll have a very professional transition from the National Security Council. There's no question about it, O'Brien said.
They're going to have very professional folks coming in to take these positions. He added: We've passed the baton and had peaceful, successful transitions even in the most contentious periods.
Since losing, Trump has made unsubstantiated claims about the election on Twitter. There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the vote. Officials from both the Democratic and Republican parties have said the poll went well, as have international observers.
The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency also says: The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.
O'Brien, Trump's fourth national security adviser, previously served as his special envoy on hostage affairs. Asked about American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared covering Syria's civil war in 2012 and is believed to be held by Damascus, O'Brien said the U.S. was using every lever to get him back home.
We are using every tool, whether it's through allies, whether it's through adversaries, O'Brien said.
We would like to get him back and I'd like to see him back and I know the president would like to see him back before he leaves office. Syria has not acknowledged holding Tice. A top Lebanese security official said Saturday that he visited Syria for two days to speak with officials there about Tice.
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Israel-Iran tensions disrupt flights at Bengaluru Airport, passengers stranded
Bengaluru: International flight operations at Kempegowda International Airport were hit on Saturday after escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The tensions led to widespread airspace restrictions across West Asia, leaving several passengers stranded and uncertain about their onward journeys.
Multiple flights connecting Bengaluru to Gulf hubs and onward destinations in Europe along with the United States were cancelled or rerouted as several countries.
Passengers scheduled to travel to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Italy reported abrupt cancellations. Airline staff attributed the disruption to the evolving security situation and closure of key aviation corridors. Some travellers were quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that they were informed that services would resume only after conditions stabilised while no timelines were indicated.
In an advisory posted on social media platform X, the Kempegowda International Airport said certain international flights were experiencing schedule changes due to developments in parts of the Middle East. A dedicated help desk had been set up at the kerbside of Terminal 2 to assist affected passengers with information and guidance.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, hundreds of flights nationwide were expected to be cancelled due to the airspace curbs. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been coordinating with airlines to facilitate passenger support.
Aviation experts cited by the Hindustan Times, indicated that disruptions could persist if airspace restrictions remain in place, affecting travel plans for passengers flying out of Bengaluru in the coming days.
