Anti-government protesters demand a trial for Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa yesterday. As Mr Saleh arrived in the US yesterday, seeking treatment for wounds sustained during an assassination attempt, a number of military units joined in protests against his rule.
Anti-government protesters demand a trial for Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa yesterday. As Mr Saleh arrived in the US yesterday, seeking treatment for wounds sustained during an assasShow more

Saleh's military support fading as protests spread to previously loyal Republican Guard



SANAA // Only days after Yemen's president left the country for medical treatment, military leaders organised massive protests calling for the ruling family of Ali Abdullah Saleh to end its control over the country's security forces.

Hundreds of Republican Guard troops demanding the overthrow of their commander, Mr Saleh's son, Ahmed, yesterday closed a road leading to the headquarters in Sanaa, calling for an uprising in the military.

Units loyal to the president later crushed the mutiny by the force's 4th Brigade, with an unspecified number of people injured, said a military official.

The Guard, with more than 120,000 fighters, was the backbone of Mr Saleh's regime during the anti-government demonstrations and marches last year that shook the country. Considered the best trained and armed security forces, they did not suffer significant defections to the opposition, as did regular military units.

"Ahmed headed the Republican Guards in less than 10 years. He reached his position through corruption and that will not last," said Abdul Kareem Salman, a Guard official in the capital.

Mr Saleh, who left for the United States on Saturday to seek treatment for injuries sustained in an assassination attempt last year, has handed over power to his deputy, Abed Mansour Hadi, paving the way for an early presidential election next month.

The demonstrations extended to Yemen's air force, where more than 70 per cent of the units have defected, according to Abdul Aziz Al Muhayya, deputy commander of operations at the air force who was involved in the demonstrations. The demontrators have called for the ouster of General Mohammed Saleh, the force's top commander and half brother of President Saleh.

"We vowed to protect the people of Yemen. However, this was not the case and we were forced to bombard and kill our own people," said Mohammed Sharabi, a pilot.

Organisers of the air force protests told The National that they are trying to weaken President Saleh's power base during his absence.

"It's now or never for us. Saleh is gone so let's weaken his ground," said Saleh Al Azazi, a 2nd lieutenant.

Demonstrations against the Saleh family also took place yesterday within the coastguard, the interior ministry, the navy, the military police, the central security forces, and the police academy.

Vice President Abed Mansour Hadi spoke on Saturday with President Saleh by phone, said aides in Mr Hadi's office.

"Vice President Hadi is currently in a critical situation," said the aide.

"Saleh realised that the opposition would use his absence in their favour and that is why protests are escalating in the military and army divisions," he said.

Opposition leaders deny any involvement in the military protests but said the demonstrations were expected.

"Youth and average people revolted against oppression last year, while a large portion of the military stood against them," said Mohammed Qahtan, a member of the opposition Islah party.

"The oppression of the ruling family forced them to switch sides in favour of the people and that is why the protests are now in most military departments," said Mr Qahtan.

President Saleh arrived yesterday at an unspecified location in the US, according to the country's foreign press office. His journey had taken him through Oman and London.

The one-line Yemeni statement said Mr Saleh was in the US for a "short-term private medical visit". His staff has said he is in the US to be treated for injuries suffered during the assassination attempt. He was burnt over much of his body and had shards of wood embedded in his chest by an explosion in his palace mosque as he prayed.

After months of unrest, Mr Saleh agreed in November to a deal, negotiated by the Gulf Cooperation Council, to end his 33-year-rule in exchange for immunity to prosecution. Hundreds of people died during crackdown on the protests, which began in January 2011.

Many ruling party members, lawmakers, cabinet ministers and, most importantly, powerful military generals and tribal leaders abandoned him, siding with the opposition.

It is unclear how long Mr Saleh intends to remain in the US. In a speech before he left Yemen for Oman a week ago, he promised to return home before the February 21 presidential election, but the US and its allies have pressured Mr Saleh to leave Yemen for good.

* With additional reports from Associated Press

Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Two stars

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

THE SPECS

Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8

Transmission: six-speed manual

Power: 518bhp

Torque: 625Nm

Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds

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Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
 

Scotland's team:

15-Sean Maitland, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Nick Grigg, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Byron McGuigan, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price, 8-Magnus Bradbury, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Ben Toolis, 3-Willem Nel, 2-Stuart McInally (captain), 1-Allan Dell

Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Jonny Gray, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Greig Laidlaw, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Chris Harris

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation

- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut

- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.

- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.

- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.

 

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
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Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Brief scores

Toss India, chose to bat

India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)

Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)

India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')

Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')

Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)

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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
SPECS
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIGHT INFO

Men’s 60kg Round 1:

Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points 
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1

Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final:

First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2

Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)