Oman has sent a delegation to Yemen for the second time in a month, in an effort to mediate a revival in peace talks that stalled in October.
The delegation arrived in the Yemen capital Sanaa accompanied by the head Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam, to discuss the latest developments.
It comes after Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi met with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg in Muscat on Wednesday.
“The visit of the Omani delegation comes as a continuation of the recent meetings, after we conveyed many messages,” Mr Abdulsalam said.
“The intensive visits between Sanaa and Muscat reflect our seriousness in reaching tangible steps, and the issue is related to the extent of the seriousness of the other party.”
Earlier in January, the Iran-backed Houthis repeated their demand that a dispute with Yemen's internationally recognised government over civil servants' wages must be resolved before they can agree to a permanent ceasefire.
Efforts to restart peace negotiations between the Houthis and the Yemeni government have stalled in recent months, with the salaries of civil servants proving a major sticking point.
Both sides accepted a truce for two months at the start of Ramadan in April last year. It was subsequently extended three times, but talks to extend it beyond October stalled.
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Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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Date started: February 2017
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Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
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Price: Dh98,900
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Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
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