The United Nations must work faster to help break the rebel Houthis' hold on Hodeidah amid a pause in the Yemen government forces' assault to take back the key port city, its governor said.
In an exclusive interview with The National, Dr Al Hasan Taher said UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths was prolonging a series of peace talks between the internationally-recognised government and the Iran-backed Houthis.
“Martin Griffiths has been shuttling between many countries and then going back to [rebel-held] Sanaa with no breakthrough and helping the Houthis maintain their control over Hodeidah and its port," he said.
“Why has he not come to visit the thousands of civilians dying because of the Houthis’ siege on Hodeidah?”
Dr Taher reiterated that the rebels are using the city's port to smuggle in weapons provided by Tehran as well as foreign advisers to help them in their military operations.
“They have used the port to transport Iranian and Lebanese advisers to Hodeidah and Sanaa and they have brought over dozens more to help them assemble missiles and manufacture drones,” he said, adding that many of the experts were evacuated when the pro-government forces — backed by an Arab coalition — launched an offensive on Hodeidah on June 13.
The assault, however, was temporarily paused late last month to aid UN peace efforts for a political solution.
Dr Taher said the experts were training the Houthis on how to launch missiles and drones and how to plant mines.
“Land and sea mines from Iran were smuggled in the millions into the country, and we have seen the Houthis target cargo ships in the Red Sea many times,” he said.
“The Houthis will never agree to hand over control of the city and its port to the government, which is why military pressure is the only solution to force them to surrender — which they will sooner or later.”
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Dr Taher said that the temporary pause was necessary to try and give the UN a chance to find a peaceful resolution. Pro-government forces insist that the Houthis withdraw completely and unconditionally from Hodeidah, while the rebels have so far only agreed to shared control with the UN.
“The Yemeni president, Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, and our brothers in the Arab coalition are keen to solve all issues in the country peacefully,” he said.
“However, if the rebels continue with their aggressive behaviour and refuse to withdraw, then this temporary pause was their only chance. We are ready for all options.”
Dr Taher said the Houthi militia continues to commit human rights violations and has increased its “war crimes practices” after feeling the pressure by the coalition, which includes Saudi Arabia and the UAE that intervened in March 2015 at the request of the legitimate government to restore its power.
"The Houthis changed Hodeidah from a vibrant city to a ghost town haunted by gunmen and their sectarian slogans," he told The National.
“Public establishments, markets, shops are almost all closed.”
The governor said that the Houthis continue to conscript children and offer civilians two options: either fight or go to prison.
"They exploit the people's need for food and aid to force them to join their ranks,” he said. “This is not acceptable.”
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
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
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
