UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will arrive in Sweden for peace talks on Wednesday. EPA
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will arrive in Sweden for peace talks on Wednesday. EPA
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will arrive in Sweden for peace talks on Wednesday. EPA
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will arrive in Sweden for peace talks on Wednesday. EPA

UN head expected in Sweden to participate in Yemen talks

Antonio Guterres will discuss ways of ending the war

Mina Aldroubi

December 12, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to attend peace talks between Yemen's warring sides in Sweden on Thursday.

Mr Guterres will meet both parties in rural town Rimbo, north of Stockholm, to discuss ways of ending the Yemeni crisis, sources close to the government delegation told The National on Tuesday evening.

The international organisation has brought together the two sides for the first time since 2016.

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Read more:

Yemen government and Houthi rebels exchange lists ahead of planned prisoner swap

Beyond the Headlines podcast: Yemenis continue to suffer as warring sides negotiate

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The development comes as UN-led talks entered their sixth day on Tuesday. The consultations have so far sidestepped discussions on a political transition, focusing instead on a prisoner swap, the reopening of Sanaa airport and securing UN administration of strategic Red Sea port Hodeidah.

Last week, Mr Guterres called on the Yemeni government and rebels to de-escalate violence around the city of Hodeidah, through which 90 per cent of food imports and three quarters of humanitarian aid reach Yemen, where the UN says close to 75 per cent of the population will need humanitarian assistance in 2019.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths told reporters on Monday that “tangible agreements will be announced by the end of this round”.

So far, Mr Griffiths and his team of experts have shuttled between the two parties.

Representatives from the Yemeni government delegation, right, and the Houthi rebels, pose for a photo with negotiators. AFP
Representatives from the Yemeni government delegation, right, and the Houthi rebels, pose for a photo with negotiators. AFP

Consultations are expected to last until Thursday, with both sides under pressure to agree on confidence-building measures that will allow formal peace negotiations to resume.

Another round of talks between Yemen’s two sides is expected to resume again in early 2019, according to UN sources.

The war has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2015, when Saudi Arabia and its allies, including the UAE, joined the government's battle against the Iranian-backed rebels.

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Read more: Accounts of prison torture forces Houthi leader to investigate

Medic Farouk Baakar demonstrates how he was shackled to a wall during his torture in a prison run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. All photos by Nariman El-Mofty / AP Photo
Medic Farouk Baakar demonstrates how he was shackled to a wall during his torture in a prison run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. All photos by Nariman El-Mofty / AP Photo
Monir Al Sharqi disappeared for a year and some in his family and other activists believe he was detained and tortured by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who finally doused him with acid and dumped him in a stream. All photos by Nariman El-Mofty / AP Photo
Monir Al Sharqi disappeared for a year and some in his family and other activists believe he was detained and tortured by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who finally doused him with acid and dumped him in a stream. All photos by Nariman El-Mofty / AP Photo
Anas Al Sarrari recalled how after 60 days of being hung by his wrists from the ceiling and being beaten in a prison, he was thrown into a cell and discovered his legs no longer worked.
Anas Al Sarrari recalled how after 60 days of being hung by his wrists from the ceiling and being beaten in a prison, he was thrown into a cell and discovered his legs no longer worked.
Mahmoud Al Ghabri, a journalist, arrested by Houthi militiamen on December 22 2015 and held for three days, during which his captors beat him, burned him with cigarettes and dripped melted plastic over his body.
Mahmoud Al Ghabri, a journalist, arrested by Houthi militiamen on December 22 2015 and held for three days, during which his captors beat him, burned him with cigarettes and dripped melted plastic over his body.
The mother, right, and wife of of a Yemeni detainee who has been held for months in Houthi prison, pose for a photograph.
The mother, right, and wife of of a Yemeni detainee who has been held for months in Houthi prison, pose for a photograph.
Mohammed al-Washie, a journalist, was detained in October 2015 and during torture, his captors broke his leg.
Mohammed al-Washie, a journalist, was detained in October 2015 and during torture, his captors broke his leg.
The 24-year-old student was beaten and hung from a ceiling by his handcuffed wrists.
The 24-year-old student was beaten and hung from a ceiling by his handcuffed wrists.
Results

6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Scores

Day 2

New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227

New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
On Women's Day

SPECS

Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR

Engine: 5.7-litre V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 362hp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELiz%20Garbus%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Duke%20and%20Duchess%20of%20Sussex%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

THE BIO

Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain

Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude

Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE

Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally

Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science

Napoleon
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The bio

Favourite vegetable: Broccoli

Favourite food: Seafood

Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange

Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania

Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.

Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes

RESULT

Valencia 3

Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'

Ferran Torres 67'

Atlanta 4

Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'

YemenAntonio GuterresSwedenSaudi Arabia