The UN special envoy for Yemen said on Tuesday the renewal of the truce between the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels remained “inconclusive” due to a lack of trust.
Hans Grundberg, who was briefing the UN Security Council on Yemen during a closed-door meeting, said the “overall challenge of reluctance by parties to agree on an actual settlement of the conflict” was hindering chances for peace.
“The Houthis impose preconditions; the government of Yemenfaces the challenge of defining its priorities,” he said.
The UN envoy warned that the possibility of a “new conflict remains real”.
Since the breakdown in negotiations, UN officials have been talking to the warring sides as well as international stakeholders to try to end the violence and enact a formal ceasefire.
It is important, Mr Grundberg said, to frame the renewal of the truce as the starting point to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, as it could help build confidence.
Compromise will be needed from all to move forward, as the country remains in a “precarious state of uncertainty”, he added.
On Monday, the EU called on the Iran-backed Houthis to abandon what it called their “extremist positions” and engage constructively with UN efforts to resolve the crisis.
In a statement, the EU reaffirmed “its principled commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, and its full support to the UN peace efforts and … Hans Grundberg in his mediation efforts”.
The bloc urged the Houthis to abandon “maximalist” positions and engage constructively in talks.
Mr Grundberg shared his concerns over the Houthis' “continued threat” to international shipping and warned of lasting repercussions that could lead to a deterioration of the local economic situation.
The Houthishave hindered the Yemeni government's ability to export oil, a vital revenue source, by launching drone attacks on terminals in the south to deter tankers from loading crude.
Yemen's pro-government forces mark 56th anniversary of revolution — in pictures
Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take part in a military parade marking the 56th anniversary of the 1962 revolution that established the Yemeni republic, in the country's northeastern province of Marib. All photos by AFP
Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take part in a military parade marking the 56th anniversary of the 1962 revolution that established the Yemeni republic, in the country's northeastern province of Marib.
Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take part in a military parade marking the 56th anniversary of the 1962 revolution that established the Yemeni republic, in the country's northeastern province of Marib.
Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take part in a military parade marking the 56th anniversary of the 1962 revolution that established the Yemeni republic, in the country's northeastern province of Marib.
Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take part in a military parade marking the 56th anniversary of the 1962 revolution that established the Yemeni republic, in the country's northeastern province of Marib.
Fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government take part in a military parade marking the 56th anniversary of the 1962 revolution that established the Yemeni republic, in the country's northeastern province of Marib.
The group has defended its actions, saying it was preventing the “theft” of Yemen's oil wealth.
Mr Grundberg noted the future of the country should be decided not only by the parties but by a diverse range of Yemeni stakeholders.
To that end, he said: “I am in close contact and grateful for co-operation with Saudi Arabia and Oman.
“We have a real and rare opportunity to finally resolve the conflict. We have a collective responsibility to remind the parties to seize the opportunity and to not escalate.”
Yemen's devastating civil war began in 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition intervened at the request of the government.
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened. He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia. Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”. Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr Started: 2019 Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr Sector: FinTech Headquarters: Egypt UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi Current number of staff: More than 150 Funds raised: $22 million
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti withCoastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
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.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
