Danish Major General Michael Lollesgaard, who heads a United Nations team tasked with negotiating in Yemen. Abduljabbar Zeyad / Reuters
Danish Major General Michael Lollesgaard, who heads a United Nations team tasked with negotiating in Yemen. Abduljabbar Zeyad / Reuters
Danish Major General Michael Lollesgaard, who heads a United Nations team tasked with negotiating in Yemen. Abduljabbar Zeyad / Reuters
Danish Major General Michael Lollesgaard, who heads a United Nations team tasked with negotiating in Yemen. Abduljabbar Zeyad / Reuters

Withdrawal is first step on road to peace


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"Patience and persistence": those were the defining words from UN special envoy Martin Griffiths in his statement to the UN Security Council, giving a flicker of hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel of the conflict in Yemen, triggered by the Houthi coup over five years ago. "There is a momentum on Yemen," he continued. That momentum is set to be translated into action as troops from both the Houthi rebels and government forces withdraw from Hodeidah in the coming week. Like the political process itself, they will be cautious steps; first, from as little as 100 metres apart to several kilometres away; and finally, to about 30km from the war-ravaged port city.

This is, however, a step in a long process and, as Mr Griffiths is at pains to emphasise, he is “under no illusions about the challenges we face”. He acknowledges deadlines have been missed – the withdrawal, for example, was scheduled to take place more than one month ago and the Houthis have repeatedly stalled on taking part in talks, failing to attend negotiations in Geneva last year and finally coming to the table in Stockholm last December. Those talks have led all parties to this point – not yet at a distance from the cliff edge but certainly no longer peering over the precipice. It is instructive that, unlike UN-led peace processes that have stumbled, the Yemen talks did not become a substitute for real action. They have been integral to engineering both sides to this stage and as Mr Griffiths said, the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s legitimate government has participated in “numerous almost daily meetings” to reach this point. Now, after weeks of constant shuttle diplomacy, is the chance to follow through on promises made in Sweden, for the sake of millions of suffering Yemenis. A prisoner exchange, another of the commitments brokered in Sweden, will be the next measure of progress.

There is, of course, much that could still go wrong. As Anwar Gargash, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, says, it is now crucial that the Houthis' deeds match their words. The rebels have been given an opportunity to demonstrate some political will in moving towards peace. For the future and prosperity of Yemen, they must not squander this chance. Mr Griffiths' conviction that the Yemen conflict is "solvable" is heartening – not least because the alternative for the people of this country is, as he warns, so unthinkable. About 80 per cent of Yemen's population need humanitarian aid. Nearly 10 million are "a step away from famine" and current resources are only expected to last six weeks. If the Stockholm agreement is now translated into real progress on the ground, Yemen will have taken a positive step towards a political resolution and its long-suffering people can begin to dare to hope.

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Company%C2%A0profile
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Kibsons%20Cares
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERecycling%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EAny%20time%20you%20receive%20a%20Kibsons%20order%2C%20you%20can%20return%20your%20cardboard%20box%20to%20the%20drivers.%20They%E2%80%99ll%20be%20happy%20to%20take%20it%20off%20your%20hands%20and%20ensure%20it%20gets%20reused%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EKind%20to%20health%20and%20planet%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESolar%20%E2%80%93%2025-50%25%20of%20electricity%20saved%3Cbr%3EWater%20%E2%80%93%2075%25%20of%20water%20reused%3Cbr%3EBiofuel%20%E2%80%93%20Kibsons%20fleet%20to%20get%2020%25%20more%20mileage%20per%20litre%20with%20biofuel%20additives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESustainable%20grocery%20shopping%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENo%20antibiotics%3Cbr%3ENo%20added%20hormones%3Cbr%3ENo%20GMO%3Cbr%3ENo%20preservatives%3Cbr%3EMSG%20free%3Cbr%3E100%25%20natural%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Schedule:

Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)

Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)

Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four

Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai) 

Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)

Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 28: Final (Dubai)

Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books

THREE
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Moving%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SMG%20Studio%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Team17%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20One%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

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