SANAA // The remaining relatives of the former Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, have been removed from the top echelons of the security forces, including a son and a nephew who had more than 100,000 troops under their command.
Decrees issued by Mr Saleh's replacement, Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, dissolved the country's Republican Guard, which was led by Mr Saleh's eldest son, Ahmed.
He also sacked Gen Ali Moshen, the commander of the first armoured division and an enemy of Mr Saleh.
The guards and first armoured division will be absorbed into the country's defence ministry.
Gen Yahya Mohammed Saleh, a nephew of the former president, was also removed as the leader of the country's counterterror unit and central security forces.
The announcement marks a key phase in Yemen's transfer from Mr Saleh's autocratic regime after he was forced to stand down in February following a year of protests, in which factions of the military fought each other on the streets of Sanaa.
The purging of Mr Saleh's relatives from the military's top positions was a key demand from the opposition.
The decrees announced late on Wednesday, were supported by the GCC.
"Restructuring the army is a must," the GCC chief Abdulatif Al Zayani told Mr Hadi in a phone call, congratulating him on the steps "tied to implementing the Gulf initiative ... and UN Security Council resolutions," Saba state news agency reported.
Mr Al Zayani stressed "the support of GCC states for those decisions".
Mr Hadi took power in Yemen less than a year ago, after Mr Saleh stepped down under a power transition agreement mediated by the GCC, following a year-long uprising against his rule.
Ahmed Ali Saleh commanded about 80,000 troops in the guard while Yahya Mohammed Saleh oversaw a force of 64,000. Yahya Mohammed Saleh is now a civilian while Ahmed Ali Saleh will remain in the military, although it was unclear what his rank would be.
Yemen's armed forces will now be restructured to include four components: ground forces, navy, air force and border guards.
Gen Mohsen, who led troops against Mr Saleh during the uprising, but maintained critics in the current government who say he is too powerful, said he accepted the move. He also said those relieved from their duties should help rebuild Yemen's military.
"No one should oppose the military reforms," said Gen Mohsen.
Abdulsalam Mohammed, the director of Abaad Strategic Centre, a think tank in Sanaa, said the sackings put an end to any dreams Mr Saleh had of coming back to power.
"It's an era that passed and will not comeback," he said.
Mr Saleh was forced out of power in February after 33 years in rule. But he remains in Yemen and his presence has raised worries with factions taking part in the National Dialogue Conference that he would try to derail political progress. The conference, set up under the power transfer deal, is meeting to discuss constitutional reforms that would lead to elections for president and parliament in 2014.
Under the power transfer deal, Mr Saleh was granted immunity for violations committed during his time in power but was not barred from political involvement. He remains the leader of the party he founded and currently the country's largest, the General People Congress.
"We refused involvement in the political process or national dialogue if the Saleh family was still in control of Yemen's military," said Saber Bamashmoos, a youth activist in Sanaa who protested against the Saleh family. Mr Bamashmoos, who is taking part in the conference, said Salah loyalists shot him in the right leg while he was protesting and killed three of his friends during the uprising.
"Hundreds of youth activists died in 2010 and they will now rest in peace because the Saleh family is out of both power and the military," he said.
The Joint Meeting Parties, Yemen's largest opposition bloc, said all political factions should support the president as he tries to reform the military. "This is what the people have been waiting for and this day is historical and will be remembered," the JMP said.
Khaled Al Anesi, who joined the protests to remove Ali Abdullah Saleh from power soon after Egypt's revolution, said that while he was pleased about the reforms, more was expected from Mr Hadi.
"We are now seeking justice from those who attacked the Yemeni people and looted their wealth," Mr Al Anesi said.
Nabil Al Soufi, a media adviser for the Saleh family, said the reforms the did not mean the end of Ahmed Ali Saleh's future within Yemen's security forces. "Ahmed Ali will still serve as a military leader and I am confident that he will remain a force in Yemen for years to come."
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
The%20specs
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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
Company%20Profile
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20Shipsy%3Cbr%3EYear%20of%20inception%3A%202015%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Soham%20Chokshi%2C%20Dhruv%20Agrawal%2C%20Harsh%20Kumar%20and%20Himanshu%20Gupta%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20India%2C%20UAE%20and%20Indonesia%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20logistics%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%20more%20than%20350%20employees%3Cbr%3EFunding%20received%20so%20far%3A%20%2431%20million%20in%20series%20A%20and%20B%20rounds%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Info%20Edge%2C%20Sequoia%20Capital%E2%80%99s%20Surge%2C%20A91%20Partners%20and%20Z3%20Partners%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Everton%20Fixtures
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now