Two delegations from the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen have landed in the country and exchanged prisoners of war, the Saudi state news agency SPA has reported.
Coalition spokesman Brig Gen Turki Al Malki described Wednesday's move as a “goodwill initiative” that aims to “build confidence” as part of efforts to renew a UN-brokered truce that expired on October 2.
“This is a humanitarian visit that handles the detainee issue in a pure humanitarian approach,” Brig Gen Al Malki said.
He said it was made possible “as one of the gains of the truce and the efforts to extend it, in addition to further expanding its humanitarian, economic and livelihood gains for the Yemeni people and kick-starting the political process and reaching comprehensive peace in Yemen”.
Meanwhile, Abdulqader Al Mortada, head of the Houthi-aligned National Committee for Prisoners Affairs, said the list of PoWs was agreed on during negotiations in Amman.
“A technical team from the committee went to Saudi Arabia and a technical team from Saudi Arabia came to Sanaa to confirm the list of names,” he said.
Despite the truce expiring, several analysts told The National that it seemed to still be in place unofficially, even though there have been some skirmishes and a slight escalation in violence on the front lines since.
Jacob Al Sufyani, director of the Aden-based South24 Centre for News and Studies, called it a “truce of negotiations”.
Other indicators of efforts to ensure that Yemen does not return to all-out war are visits by international brokers to the region and bilateral meetings among allied nations.
On Wednesday, Saudi Minister of Defence Khalid bin Salman met his Yemeni counterpart, Lt Gen Mohsen Al Daeri.
Discussions centred around the UN-brokered truce “to alleviate the suffering of the fraternal Yemeni people” and the kingdom's efforts to “advance efforts made to end the Yemeni crisis”, SPA reported.
Also on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said efforts to renew the Yemeni truce were still in place. He added that his country supported the UN-brokered agreement.
Earlier this week, Diplomatic Adviser to the President Dr Anwar Gargash met UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg in Abu Dhabi.
The US State Department also said that its envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, would make a visit to the region to discuss the truce.
“The Houthis have an opportunity to support an expanded truce agreement that would provide millions of Yemenis with immediate relief,” the State Department said.
This would include “much-needed civil servant salary payments, opening roads to and through Taez and across the country, more flight destinations from Sanaa and a path to a durable, inclusive Yemen-led peace process, that includes Yemenis’ calls for justice, accountability and redress for human rights violations and abuses”.
“The truce remains the best opportunity for peace Yemenis have had in years. The United States and the international community stand ready to support an expanded truce,” it added.
Barbara Leaf visit
Also this week, the State Department announced a visit by Barbara Leaf, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs, who will discuss the “urgent need to secure a new, expanded truce agreement and political settlement in Yemen” with UAE officials.
Yemen is in its eighth year of conflict since the 2014 takeover of Sanaa by the Iranian-backed Houthis, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene on behalf of the internationally recognised government.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Hales' batting career
Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94
ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171
T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight (Wednesday), BeIN Sports
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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