The UN special envoy to Yemen held talks with Houthi leaders in the Sanaa on Sunday but left the rebel-held capital without any apparent progress towards salvaging a fragile ceasefire in Hodeidah and without visiting the port city as he had reportedly planned to do.
Martin Griffiths arrived in Sanaa on Saturday for the first time since the ceasefire was agreed at UN-brokered peace talks in Sweden last month.
The visit came as government forces and residents in Hodeidah reported an increase in Houthi attacks and the arrival of rebel reinforcements despite the ceasefire, which went into effect on December 18.
Mr Griffiths issued no statement after his talks with the rebels but pro-government forces in Hodeidah said he had failed to achieve a positive outcome.
"Mr Griffiths has not convinced the Houthis to withdraw from the city and its three ports because they are linking their withdrawal with the reopening Sanaa airport, which was not part of the Swedish peace deal," Col Wathah Al Dubaish, spokesman for the Amalikah Brigades, told The National.
Rebel leader Mohammed Ali Al Houthi told Agence France-Presse that he had suggested to Mr Griffiths that another round of peace talks "could take place soon in Amman or by video conference", but made no mention of the situation in Hodeidah.
UN officials said Mr Griffiths would fly to Riyadh on Sunday night for talks with President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi's government.
The UN envoy was also scheduled to meet in Sanaa with Patrick Cammaert, head of the UN monitoring team deployed in Hodeidah under a Security Council resolution endorsing the ceasefire deal. The retired Dutch general also chairs the Redeployment Co-ordination Committee, which includes rebel and government representatives.
According to the UN resolution, the warring parties must cease hostilities in Hodeidah province and remove their forces from Hodeidah city and its ports “within 21 days of the ceasefire coming into force”.
With the deadline just days away, "the only thing Mr Griffiths can do is extend the time of the ceasefire, giving the Houthis more time to keep up their dirty games in the city", Col Al Dubaish said.
He said leaders of the pro-government forces called an emergency meeting and agreed to send a letter to President Hadi and the Arab Coalition to warn them that “peace with the rebels will not be achieved by ignoring their attacks on Hodeidah".
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Read more:
UN envoy Martin Griffiths returns to Yemen with Hodeidah truce in the balance
Yemen's Houthi rebels are undermining Hodeidah ceasefire, Security Council warned
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According to a Yemeni government source, Mr Griffiths planned to press the Houthis to open humanitarian corridors for delivery of aid — one of the confidence-building measures agreed upon in Sweden as a precursor to further talks.
"The militias are putting what was agreed in Sweden at risk," the source said.
The UN says about 20 million Yemenis — two-thirds of the population — are dependent on humanitarian aid after nearly four years of war. Hodeidah is the entry point for about 70 per cent of the country's food and aid shipments, but most of it is being stolen by the Houthis, UN and government officials say.
Yemen's Minister of Local Administration, Abdul Raqeeb Fatah, said the Houthis had looted 65 per cent of the humanitarian aid sent through Hodeidah.
Speaking to the UAE state news agency Wam, Mr Fatah accused the rebels of "wilful disregard" for the plight of the Yemeni people over the past three years.
"Under the pretext of 'the war effort', the militias plundered and seized by force 697 relief trucks using the roads linking Hodeidah to Sanaa, Ibb, Taez, Hajjah and Dhamar, as well as goods entering the governorates under the Houthis’ control," said Mr Fatah, who also chairs Yemen's Higher Committee for Relief.
He said the rebels detained 88 relief and commercial vessels at Hodeidah and Al Salif ports, 34 of which had cargoes that got spoiled and damaged after being held for more than six months.
The UN's World Food Programme has threatened to cut off aid deliveries to rebel-held areas because much of it was not reaching the people, citing photographic evidence showing rebels seizing food and manipulating lists of aid recipients.
“If you don’t act within 10 days, the WFP will have no choice but to suspend the assistance ... that goes to nearly three million people,” director David Beasley wrote in a letter to the Houthi leader on January 1. “This criminal behaviour must stop immediately.”
The WFP however dismissed allegations by Mr Fatah on Sunday that the rebels had seized 72 of its relief trucks.
"These are already at a checkpoint for inspection; they're not in the hands of anyone, they've just been delayed," Abeer Etefa, senior WFP regional communications officer for the Middle East, told The National.
“They have been blocked on the road to Ibb by customs; they are awaiting clearance, this is normal practice," she said. "They’ve been there for two to three days. They check the food quality and quantity and make sure there is no rotten food. It normally takes two days, so it’s taken one day longer than usual.”
Ms Etefa also refuted local reports that Houthi rebels had attacked WFP stores at a warehouse in Hodeidah.
“The warehouse is no longer under our contract. For the past three months, we have nothing in this warehouse,” she said.
Racecard:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m
8.15pm: Meydan Trophy | Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
8.50pm: Balanchine | Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m.
The Internet
Hive Mind
four stars
The biog
Name: Maitha Qambar
Age: 24
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Education: Master’s Degree
Favourite hobby: Reading
She says: “Everyone has a purpose in life and everyone learns from their experiences”
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Group B
Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Day 4, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.
Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.
The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Alita: Battle Angel
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Keean Johnson
Four stars
SQUADS
South Africa:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada
Coach: Ottis Gibson
Bangladesh:
Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.
Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
