A group that had been detained in Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa landed in Marib on Sunday as prisoner swaps continued for the third consecutive day.
A plane carrying 48 Houthis — the first of several such flights — landed in Sanaa, while another carrying 42 Yemeni detainees flew in the opposite direction, landing in Marib.
Another three flights are scheduled to leave Marib on Sunday and two from Sanaa.
Deputy human rights minister Majid Al Fadael shared photos of the group waiting at Sanaa Airport for the first flight to Marib, and of buses transporting Houthis to Tadawin Airport. After the plane had landed, he shared images the newly freed men walking across the tarmac ready to meet family members, some of whom they hadn't seen since the war began eight years ago.
A total of 194 former detainees will be exchanged on Sunday, including four prominent journalists after international human rights organisations had pressed for their freedom. These included Tawfiq Al Mansouri, who is reportedly in poor health, his family told The National.
Prisoner exchanges began on Friday amid renewed efforts to bring an end to the nine-year conflict in Yemen.
Almost 900 will be swapped between the Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi coalition led by the internationally recognised government.
The process is being enabled by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Ten flights have already transported 675 prisoners, it told The National on Sunday.
Saudi detainees were included on Saturday as planes departed for Riyadh, while flights also departed for government-held Mokha on the Red Sea coast.
On Friday, 318 prisoners were transported on four flights between government-controlled Aden and Sanaa.
Many are awaiting emotional reunions ahead of the Eid Al Fitr holiday next week, with some families reuniting for the first time in more than eight years.
The ICRC has shared images of family reunions and described Saturday as a "day of joy."
"As we repatriated 237 former detainees from Abha to Sanaa and 20 from Sanaa to Riyadh, hundreds of families can finally rejoice after being reunited with their loved ones," said the organisation's GCC representative Ala'a Nayel.
"The energy and emotions of these individuals as they finally get to hug their loved ones in indescribable.
Journalist Tawfiq Al Mansouri was sentenced to death by Houthi rebels in 2020 but is expected to be sent home as part of Sunday's exchange.
His family has told The National of their anticipation and joy to celebrate Eid together after eight long years of separation.
While the deal is seen as a breakthrough towards ending the conflict, experts have warned that there is no "quick fix" to Yemen's war.
"The country requires a comprehensive, multi-track strategy to address the extensive legacy of war and identify viable solutions for the future," Ahmed Nagi, senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, told The National on Friday.
Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen visited Sanaa last week to revive a peace deal with the Houthi rebels which ended last October.
The UN has said the talks are the closest Yemen has come to peace.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan have hailed the progress made in ending the conflict.
In The Heights
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
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About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
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Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
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The National selections:
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7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
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9.25pm: Kimbear
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
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The biog
Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Baghdad
Education: PhD student and co-researcher at Greifswald University, Germany
Hobbies: Ping Pong, swimming, reading
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
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'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
