It comes as no surprise that the Houthi rebels have taken over the government in Yemen. That outcome was entirely predictable, some would say from the moment the armed group took control of the capital Sanaa in September. Others might see the watershed moment as president Abradu Mansur Hadi’s resignation on January 22. Either way, it was inevitable that something would happen after the Houthis set an impossible deadline for an all-party political arrangement. It expired last Wednesday and the Houthis have dissolved parliament. The big question now is how do the Gulf nations – in particular Yemen’s large northern neighbour, Saudi Arabia – respond?
This is the first foreign policy challenge for Saudi Arabia’s new king and a difficult one at that. The situation in Yemen is untenable. The rebels, with the backing of Iran and members of former president Abdullah Saleh’s deposed regime, have announced the creation of a “supreme revolutionary committee”. It is supposed to rule for two years. Despite announcing that their move “will take Yemen to safe shores”, the Houthis appear to have no game plan, strategy or vision for the future. Houthi leaders are being disingenuous at best when they say that the new committee will be inclusive. More to the point, they are being foolishly optimistic if they think that controlling Sanaa by force means they have political control over the whole country. Their takeover may strengthen the southern separatist movement’s desire to secede and in the short term, it may suit the United States to cooperate with a Houthi-led government in attacking Al Qaeda in Yemen targets. But the current political arrangement in Sanaa, which disenfranchises so many Yemenis, is not in the interests of the country or the region.
Let’s be clear, the Houthis are a minority who have seized control with guns. If Yemen is to continue to exist as a cohesive state, which is in everybody’s interests, it must be ruled by a government that represents all its citizens. Iran must stop its meddling, while Yemen’s Gulf neighbours, and the wider world, must stand together to help the country achieve true political inclusivity and stability.
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
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
AUSTRALIA SQUADS
ODI squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Twenty20 squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
India squad for fourth and fifth Tests
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari
MATCH INFO
RB Leipzig 2 (Klostermann 24', Schick 68')
Hertha Berlin 2 (Grujic 9', Piatek 82' pen)
Man of the match Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert