A highly anticipated prisoner swap between Yemen's Houthi rebels and the government has been delayed by a few days, a Yemeni official said on Monday.
The exchange of 887 prisoners, brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross, was to take place on April 11, but Yemen's Deputy Human Rights Minister Majed Fadhil, who is part of the negotiations committee, said technical issues stood in the way.
“The ICRC documents every single prisoner and conducts interviews with them individually to confirm their identity,” he told The National.
“With the large number of prisoners and despite all planning and efforts from all sides, the ICRC has said it needed a few more days to finish its interviews.”
Asked about the delays, the ICRC said the process “involves multiple layers and can be quite complex”.
“More time was needed to complete the agreed-upon procedures before the start of the operations.”
Mr Fadhil said the prisoner exchange was finalised over seven rounds of negotiations, of which two each were held in Switzerland and Jordan.
“The subject of detainees is a very important one because it is considered a trust-building issue,” he said.
The process will be carried out over three days and will take place in six different airports, he said.
Prominent Yemeni detainees are among those to be released from the Houthi side. They include Nasser Mansour Hadi, brother to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, former defence minister Mahmoud Al Subaihi, and Mohammad Abdullah Saleh, brother to Yemen's vice president Tareq Mohammad Abdullah Saleh.
Saudi Arabia's re-establishing of ties with Iran has also helped to provide "positive momentum" to talks and peace efforts, Yemen's Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak said in an interview with Cairo TV on Sunday.
"There are direct talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Sanaa to revive the truce," he said.
"Talks between the Saudis and the Houthis never stopped even during the war, whether on political or security issues."
Hamed Ghalib from Yemen's National Resistance, which is involved in the negotiations with the Houthis, said the prisoners include 23 Saudi nationals and three Sudanese civilians.
The detainees will first be transferred between Sanaa and Aden, then between Sanaa and Riyadh, and lastly between Sanaa and Marib, he said.
"These detainees have been in captivity for nearly six years, without having any contact with their families and loved ones," Mr Ghalib said.
On Saturday, the Houthis announced the release of 13 of its prisoners from Saudi Arabia as an Omani delegation arrived in the rebel-held capital Sanaa for talks to end the eight-year war.
The 13 men were released in exchange for one Saudi prisoner, the Houthi's official in charge of negotiations on prisoner exchanges, Abdulqader Al Murtaza, said.
Talks had begun in the Jordanian capital to discuss the prisoner exchange in 2020 but had stalled several times as the war intensified.
A potential truce agreement, as discussed among Saudi officials and the Houthis, will entail the release of all prisoners of war, The National reported earlier.
The truce would extend for six months, until the end of the current year, and also include the re-opening of ports, merging of economic systems in the north and south, and payment of public servant salaries, which has been a sticking point for the warring sides.
Yemen's capital Sanaa was taken over by the Iran-backed Houthis in 2014, prompting the government to ask Saudi Arabia to intervene on its behalf and restore it to power.
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advana, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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Results:
5pm: Baynunah Conditions (UAE bred) Dh80,000 1,400m.
Winner: Al Tiryaq, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Abdullah Al Hammadi (trainer).
5.30pm: Al Zahra Handicap (rated 0-45) Dh 80,000 1,400m:
Winner: Fahadd, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
6pm: Al Ras Al Akhdar Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m.
Winner: Jaahiz, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
6.30pm: Al Reem Island Handicap Dh90,000 1,600m.
Winner: AF Al Jahed, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
7pm: Al Khubairah Handicap (TB) 100,000 2,200m.
Winner: Empoli, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh80,000 2,200m.
Winner: Shivan OA, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.
Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
THE SPECS
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Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
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