Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
UK diplomats are scrambling to end Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea as the country’s military draws up plans for strikes against the militant group.
The Iran-backed Houthis continued their attacks on shipping at the weekend, prompting clashes with the US Navy.
British diplomats are speaking to both the Houthis, who control the north of Yemen, and the country’s UN-backed government, which rules the south, a London-based diplomatic source told The National.
The militant group has sought to open another front against Israel amid its war on Gaza and has been attacking vessels in the Red Sea since November.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron spoke to his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in recent days in an attempt to pressure Tehran to exert influence over its proxy.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman denied Tehran's role in the hostilities on Monday and accused the UK and US of threatening the Red Sea’s security, according to Iran International.
Oman has served as a mediator for the Houthis in the past, and most recently in November when the group’s attacks on the Red Sea began.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mr Cameron spoke on Tuesday with Mr Amirabdollahian and Mr Al Busaidi agreeing to "hold the Houthis accountable for these unlawful seizures and attacks".
The UK was also seeking avenues through Arab countries, which do not want to see an escalation in the region, the source said.
It comes as the UK military has set out plans to strike the Houthis should the attacks in the Red Sea continue.
Despite these efforts, the Houthis had left the UK and the US without “much options or choices”, according to former Yemeni diplomat Mustapha Numan.
The Houthis view themselves as having engaging in resistance against Israel and attacks by western powers will only validate their position.
“The Houthis want the [US and UK] to get involved in the conflict, it will make them look like real champions because they are in a war with the West,” Mr Numan told The National.
The group had become “more audacious and confrontational” in its attacks.
“They want to show that they are serious,” he said.
This had left the UK and US “stuck in quite an odd formula”, said Farea Al Muslimi, research fellow at international affairs think tank Chatham House, told The National.
“They don’t want to escalate in the region, but they don’t want Houthis to get away with it,” he added.
Another potential avenue for leverage could be Saudi Arabia, which has been engaged in peace talks with the Houthis since last year. Riyadh is unlikely to want to compromise its peace plan as it seeks an exit from the seven-year war in Yemen.
Arab countries – including Oman – would not want to be seen pressuring the Houthis while Israel’s war on Gaza is still raging.
“Arab countries have their hands tied, they cannot stop the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea even if they are haunted by them,” Mr Al Muslimi said.
“They cannot be part of a military coalition on the Red Sea while doing nothing on Gaza.
“The Houthis are the only ones doing anything on Gaza. They have tied everyone in a really awkward position.”
Others have suggested restoring the UN-backed government's control of the Hodeidah port as a form of pressure on the Houthis. It was handed over to the Houthis after the Stockholm Agreement in 2018.
“If there is going to be [US and British] diplomatic pressure on the Houthis, it should be done through the legitimate government,” said Mohammed Al Qubaty, a former Yemeni cabinet minister and acting chairman of the Southern Civil Democratic Rally.
“The UK and US should really come out to help and pressurise Houthis by giving leeway to the government in the south to respond against the other side.”
Pressure on Iran was a “reasonable approach”, he added, but there were no assurances that the Houthis would respond.
The UK and the US risk being drawn into Yemen’s unresolved war.
Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, which seeks independence for the country’s south, is understood to be involved in the diplomatic developments around the Red Sea, according to a person familiar with the proceedings.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Listen to Extra Time
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
·
Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
·
What is a portfolio stress test?
·
What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
·
How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
·
Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
