REBELS in Yemen have released scores of detainees they had rounded up and held for years in rebel-controlled territory, a development that raised hopes of reviving stalled peace talks between the warring sides.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said the Iran-aligned rebels, known as Houthis, freed 290 detainees.
Franz Rauchenstein, the ICRC’s chief in Yemen, said the Red Cross facilitated the release following a request from the Houthis.
He expressed hope this would open the door to “further releases to bring comfort to families awaiting reunification with their loved ones”.
Most of the prisoners were taken in raids since 2014, when the rebels overran the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north, pushing out Yemen’s internationally recognised Government and ushering in the civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people.
A Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict in 2015 and has since waged war against the Houthis in an effort to restore the Government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to power. The fighting in the Arab world’s poorest country has also left millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushed the country to the brink of famine.
A NATIONAL day of mourning took place in France for Jacques Chirac’s memorial service, which was attended by dozens of past and current world leaders.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron presided over the military ceremony on a mild, sunny morning near the site of Napoleon’s tomb in the courtyard of Les Invalides.
A military band played the national anthem, La Marseillaise, before Macron inspected the troops.
Chirac’s coffin, covered with a Tricolor flag, was then carried to the centre of the cobbled courtyard.
Macron, who did not speak, later attended the final service at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in downtown Paris alongside family members, French politicians and foreign officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US president Bill Clinton, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
HEAVY rains have killed more than 100 people in central Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states over the past three days, Indian officials have said.
Floodwaters have submerged major cities, bringing them to a grinding halt.
Officials in Uttar Pradesh said at least 79 people have died in the state since Friday after it witnessed a heavy spell of retreating monsoon rains, flooding many areas.
In neighbouring Bihar, the death toll from the latest bout of rain mounted to 25.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here