Deal
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The logo of Exxon Mobil Corporation is shown on a monitor above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, December 30, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
April 23, 2019
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp said it has signed a 20-year agreement to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China’s Zhejiang Energy, as the U.S. oil and gas giant steps up marketing of the fuel in China, the world’s second-largest buyer.
Under the sales and purchase agreement, Exxon Mobil will supply 1 million tonnes a year of the super-chilled fuel to the provincial government-backed Zhejiang Energy, Exxon said in a statement late on Monday.
The agreement, which follows a framework deal announced last October, did not give details on price or timing, or say where the supplies will be sourced.
Exxon Mobil said last year it would deliver the LNG starting in the early 2020s, while LNG supplies to China would come from its global portfolio.
The U.S. firm has been expanding its portfolio of LNG, including from upcoming projects in Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, Qatar and Golden Pass in the United States.
Zhejiang Energy is building a 9 billion yuan ($1.34 billion) receiving terminal for the fuel in Wenzhou, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, with annual handling capacity of 3 million tonnes.
Chinese state oil and gas major Sinopec will be a partner in the terminal.
Chen Zhu, managing director at Beijing-based consultancy SIA Energy, said the Exxon-Zhejiang deal was separate from U.S.- China trade negotiations under which Chinese firms are expected to eventually boost purchases of U.S. gas.
“The gas supplies to the Zhejiang firm will come from Exxon’s portfolio production outside the U.S.,” Chen said, adding that the Wenzhou terminal is likely to be operational in 2022 or 2023.
Exxon already has two long-term LNG supply agreements in China, one each with Sinopec and CNPC, China’s largest state oil group, she said.
(Reporting by Chen Aizhu and Jessica Jaganathan; editing by Richard Pullin)
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FILE PHOTO: Apr 17, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) reacts against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
April 23, 2019
Boston Red Sox right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will undergo elbow surgery on Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
Eovaldi’s surgery is to remove loose bodies in his right elbow. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
The 29-year-old was placed on the 10-day injury list on Saturday. He has a 6.00 ERA in four starts this season.
Eovaldi pitched Wednesday against the New York Yankees and gave up one unearned run and three hits over six innings. He didn’t experience any problems during the start but he was unable to straighten his right arm the following day.
–The MRI exam of New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom’s right elbow revealed no damage, and the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner could make his scheduled Friday start.
“No problems whatsoever,” New York general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told reporters. “We got the answers we were hoping for.”
After the exam came back without a problem, deGrom threw a 30-pitch bullpen session prior to the Mets’ Monday game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
–The Pittsburgh Pirates activated outfielder Gregory Polanco from the injured list prior to their game against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
Polanco has been working his way back from major surgery on his left shoulder. He injured the shoulder and a knee while sliding into second base during a game against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 7.
–The Colorado Rockies placed staff ace Kyle Freeland on the 10-day injured list due to a blister on his left middle finger.
The left-hander pitched six scoreless against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday before he departed after 86 pitches due to the blister.
Freeland, 25, is 2-3 with a 4.23 ERA in five starts this season. Last season, he went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA in 33 starts while finishing fourth in the National League Cy Young Award balloting.
–The New York Yankees released left-hander Gio Gonzalez from his minor league contract, officially making the 33-year-old a free agent.
Gonzalez opted out of the deal on Saturday, leaving the Yankees facing a 48-hour deadline in which to either place on him on the 25-man roster or grant him his release. He would have received a $3 million base salary plus $300,000 for each start if he was added to the roster.
Gonzalez went 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
–A Florida judge ruled that Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera must support the two children he fathered out of wedlock the same way he does the children born to his wife, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The decision is the latest turn in an 18-month battle between Cabrera and Belkis Rodriguez of Orlando, Fla. In her 2017 child support lawsuit, she contended her children deserve to have the same lifestyle his other three children have.
Orange County Circuit Court Judge Alan Apte agreed with Rodriguez, writing in his ruling, “The court finds that the parties’ children should have the same opportunities as the opportunities that the father provides to his three other children that he and his wife share.”
–The St. Louis Cardinals placed starting pitcher Michael Wacha on the 10-day injured list with patellar tendinitis in his left knee, retroactive to April 19.
Wacha is 1-0 with a 4.64 ERA through four starts this season, including a 6-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in his most recent start last Wednesday.
The 27-year-old right-hander leads the Cardinals with 24 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
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FILE PHOTO: Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning arrives prior to the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, U.S., December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Young
April 23, 2019
The Arizona Cardinals still haven’t tipped their hand as to how they’ll use the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday, and teams continue to inquire about a trade, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday.
He also said general manager Steve Keim, coach Kliff Kingsbury and owner Michael Bidwill have a final meeting scheduled to make a decision.
The assumption is Cardinals will draft Kyler Murray, who won the Heisman Trophy and led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff in 2018. Reports over the weekend surfaced that the Cardinals plan to keep Josh Rosen at quarterback and draft a difference-maker on defense.
CBS Sports columnist Pete Prisco reported that Bidwill wanted the team to take Murray, but that has changed. “Now all of a sudden they’re pulling back and, from what I have been told, they’re going to go in a different direction,” Prisco said. “They’re not going to draft Kyler Murray.”
–Washington Redskins senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams made it clear that the team is still seeking an upgrade at quarterback after trading for Case Keenum last month.
The Redskins, who hold the 15th pick in Thursday’s first round, have been connected to some of the draft’s top quarterback prospects and also to Rosen, whom the Cardinals could trade if they draft Murray.
“Case has done a good job over the last couple of years where he’s been, and you know, we needed a quarterback and was able to trade for Case,” Williams told reporters. “But that does not put us out of the realm of picking a quarterback if there’s one there that we like at 15. We don’t know who’s going to be there at 15. We’ve got some guys we do like, and if those guys are there, that’s the discussion that has to be had.”
–Peyton Manning will not join ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast team this season, Sporting News reported.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback met with network executives last month in Denver about replacing Jason Witten, who has returned to the Dallas Cowboys after one season in the booth.
But Manning is reluctant to comment on games while his younger brother, Eli, is still playing, according to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. Eli’s New York Giants have two Monday night games scheduled in 2019.
–Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb clarified his recent comments about current Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.
“For those of you who misread, didn’t understand, were confused or just didn’t like my comments let me clarify it for you,” McNabb wrote on Twitter. “Let me start by saying there’s no beef, riff or ill-will toward (Wentz) or the @Eagles. My comments were strictly based off of experience and understanding of how the business of football works.”
McNabb said on Saturday the team should consider drafting another quarterback if Wentz doesn’t take the Eagles beyond the second round of the playoffs within “two years or so.”
–A week after Russell Wilson agreed to his four-year, $140 million deal with the Seahawks, he reportedly decided to share the wealth with the Seattle offensive linemen, gifting them each $12,000 in Amazon stock.
Each of Wilson’s 13 linemen reportedly received a letter with the gift, expressing his gratitude and hopes that the gift would help them “prepare for life after football.”
“You sacrifice your physical and mental well-being to protect me, which in turn allows me to provide and care for my family. This does not go unnoticed and it is never forgotten,” he wrote in a letter first published by TMZ.
–Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett signed his franchise tender on Monday, locking in a one-year, $15,209,000 salary for 2019.
The team has been vocal about its intentions to sign Jarrett to a long-term deal, which the sides have until July 15 to negotiate. If no extension is agreed upon, he will play out 2019 on the tag.
The Falcons also announced the signing of free agent safety J.J. Wilcox, who spent 2018 with the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.
–The Green Bay Packers intend to exercise their fifth-year option, expected to be worth about $8 million, on defensive tackle Kenny Clark for the 2020 season.
General manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed that plan to reporters, although the team has until a May 3 deadline to make the move official.
–Buffalo signed free agent running back T.J. Yeldon to a two-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.
Yeldon, 25, had 414 rushing yards and one touchdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
–The Denver Broncos signed defensive linemen Billy Winn and Mike Purcell, along with offensive lineman Jake Rodgers.
Winn was out of the league last year after missing all of 2017 with a knee injury. He had 19 tackles for Denver in 2016.
–Field Level Media
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FILE PHOTO: NFL Football – Seattle Seahawks v Oakland Raiders – NFL International Series – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – October 14, 2018 Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
April 23, 2019
A week after Russell Wilson agreed to his four-year, $140 million deal with the Seahawks, he reportedly decided to share the wealth with the Seattle offensive linemen, gifting them each $12,000 in Amazon stock.
Each of Wilson’s 13 lineman reportedly received a letter with the gift, expressing his gratitude and hopes that the gift would help them “prepare for life after football.”
“You sacrifice your physical and mental well-being to protect me, which in turn allows me to provide and care for my family. This does not go unnoticed and it is never forgotten,” he wrote in a letter first published Monday by TMZ.
“When I sat down to think of ways to honor your dedication, a dozen different ideas came to mind,” the letter continued. “Some were flashy, some were cool. But I wanted to give you something that had a lasting impact. Something that would affect the lives of you, your family, and your children. …
“You have invested in my life … this is my investment into yours.”
The grand total came to $156,000, which TMZ reports Wilson paid with a credit card.
Last week, 30-year-old Wilson signed an extension with the Seahawks that made him the highest-paid player in the league.
–Field Level Media
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FILE PHOTO: A PG&E truck carrying an American Flag drives past PG&E repair trucks in Paradise, California, U.S. November 21, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage
April 23, 2019
(Reuters) – California utility owner PG&E Corp said on Monday it agreed to a deal with BlueMountain Capital Management LLC to appoint a new independent director and a safety adviser, resolving a months-long battle with the activist shareholder.
BlueMountain, a New York-based hedge fund, in March selected 13 candidates it hoped to install as directors at PG&E’s board after slamming the embattled power utility for seeking bankruptcy protection.
As part of the agreement, BlueMountain will withdraw its nominee slate of 13 candidates and vote in favor of PG&E’s board nominees at the meeting, PG&E said in a statement.
PG&E said it has appointed Fred Buckman, former chief executive officer of utilities Consumers Energy and PacifiCorp, as an independent director, effective immediately, while Christopher Hart, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, will serve as a special independent safety adviser.
Buckman replaces Richard Kelly, who has resigned as a director.
Buckman and Hart, nominated by BlueMountain, will serve the same roles at PG&E’s subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
The company said it will propose to increase the maximum size of PG&E’s board to 15 directors, to be voted on at its annual meeting of shareholders.
“We believe the changes and other undertakings announced today reflect the boards’ commitment to improving their governance and oversight,” BlueMountain Chief Investment Officer Andrew Feldstein said in the statement.
PG&E filed for bankruptcy in January as it faces crushing liabilities related to deadly wildfires in 2017 and 2018 that killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes.
PG&E recently hired Bill Johnson as its CEO, after a group of investors, including Knighthead Capital Management, Redwood Capital Management and Abrams Capital Management, pushed for his appointment.
(Reporting by Shanti S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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Main candidates for Spanish general elections People’s Party (PP) Pablo Casado, Spanish Prime Minister and Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) Pedro Sanchez, Ciudadanos’ Albert Rivera and Unidas Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias pose before a televised debate ahead of general elections in Pozuelo de Alarcon, outside Madrid, Spain, April 22, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
April 22, 2019
By Ingrid Melander and Belén Carreño
MADRID (Reuters) – The main candidates in Spain’s general election on Monday clashed over how to handle Catalonia’s independence drive, accusing each other of lying in a tense television debate that left questions open on what coalition deals could be struck.
Spain’s parliamentary election on April 28, one of the country’s most divisive since its return to democracy in the late 1970s, is being fought more on emotional and identity issues, such as Catalonia’s botched independence bid than on the economy.
None of the four candidates emerged as a clear winner from the late-night debate during which all except the anti-austerity Pablo Iglesias appeared quite tense, trading barbs and accusing the others of lying, being out of touch with reality and not doing enough to handle corruption cases within their respective parties.
Pablo Casado, of the conservative People’s Party, and Albert Rivera, from the center-right Ciudadanos, repeatedly accused outgoing Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the election front-runner, of working against the country’s interest.
“The unity of Spain is at risk because of the Socialist government of Pedro Sanchez … those who want to break Spain apart have Sanchez as their favorite candidate,” said the right-wing Casado.
“Do we want the future of Spain to remain in the hands of those who want to liquidate Spain?,” the center-right Rivera said in the late-night televised debate.
Rivera also kept pointing to a picture of Sanchez meeting with Catalonia separatist leader Quim Torra, which he put on his podium for much of the debate.
The October 2017 independence referendum in Catalonia – declared illegal by Spanish courts, but followed by a short-lived declaration of independence – has sent shockwaves through Spanish politics, which are weighing on Sunday’s vote.
Sanchez, who became prime minister in June of last year and has been more open to dialogue with Catalan separatists than his conservative predecessor Mariano Rajoy, responded by saying he was in favor of dialogue, but was opposed to independence for the region located in the country’s northeast.
He said several times throughout the debate that his two right-of-center opponents, who both accused him of lying, might need “a truth detector to see if they tell any truth.”
Sanchez’s Socialists are seen as ahead in opinion polls, but without enough seats to rule on their own. The same polls show they will likely need more than the support of the anti-austerity Podemos to rule, and may need the support of nationalist parties, including those from Catalonia.
WHAT COALITION DEAL?
The polls show it will be even harder for the three right-wing parties to win enough seats to rule.
But the number of undecided voters is so high that all possible outcomes are within the margin of error and could still change on Sunday, pollsters say, all the more so because of how hard it is to predict how many seats the upstart far-right Vox party will get.
Opinion polls show a possible coalition deal would be between the Socialists and Ciudadanos, but Rivera has repeatedly ruled it out and did so again on Monday.
Sanchez, however, did not respond when Podemos leader Iglesias repeatedly asked him if he was ruling out a deal with Ciudadanos, indirectly keeping the door open to such an option.
Vox was not invited to the debate and was not mentioned by name by any of the candidates, with only Sanchez mentioning its leader Santiago Abascal by name, to try and rally left-wing voters against the possibility of seeing a right-wing government backed by the far right. [nL5N21Y5LX]
Vox is forecast to be the far-right party to get seats in the national parliament in nearly four decades, marking a watershed in the country’s modern democratic history.
Another TV debate among the same four candidates will follow on Tuesday, giving them another chance to differentiate themselves ahead of the election.
(Reporting by Ingrid Melander, Belen Carreno and Joan Faus; editing by G Crosse)
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FILE PHOTO: A smartphones with Sprint logo are seen in front of a screen projection of T-mobile logo, in this picture illustration taken April 30, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
April 22, 2019
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senior executives at T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp made the case to U.S. officials in Washington last week that they should approve a planned tie-up between the two wireless companies, arguing a combined firm would have incentives to “aggressively lower prices.”
T-Mobile US Chief Executive John Legere, Sprint executive chairman Marcelo Claure, T-Mobile US chief operating officer Michael Sievert, and other senior executives met with Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on Thursday, according to a federal filing on Monday.
In a presentation made public on Monday, the firms said they would “focus on taking share from Verizon and AT&T through lower prices.”
If completed, the $26 billion merger would create a carrier with 127 million customers that would be a formidable competitor to the No.1 and No.2 wireless players, Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T, respectively.
A group of eight Democratic senators and independent Senator Bernie Sanders in February urged the Justice Department and FCC to reject the deal, saying monthly bills for consumers could rise as much as 10 percent. Consumer advocates warn the deal will reduce the number of national wireless carriers to three from four.
Sources told Reuters last week that the Justice Department had concerns about the merger in its current structure.
A person briefed on the matter confirmed Legere met on Thursday with the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, Makan Delrahim, as the government’s review nears a conclusion. A decision is likely by early June, people briefed on the matter said.
The Justice Department declined comment.
T-Mobile has said the combined company would be better and faster at building 5G, the next generation of wireless, to compete with AT&T and Verizon.
In its presentation to Rosenworcel, T-Mobile cited Verizon’s decision to charge $10 extra per month for 5G service. “This won’t happen when new T-Mobile introduces 5G,” the presentation said.
The agreement to combine the carriers, struck in April 2018, was approved by both companies’ shareholders in October and has received national security clearance, but still needs approval from the Justice Department and FCC. A number of state attorneys general are also reviewing the deal.
To win support for the deal, T-Mobile had said it would not increase prices for three years and has pledged to use some spectrum for wireless broadband in rural areas. The firms say the combined entity would add 11,000 additional employees by 2024 compared to the standalone firms.
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)
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FILE PHOTO: Apr 7, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) tries to get around Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
April 22, 2019
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside was allegedly embezzled out of $2.75 million by attorney Michael Avenatti 27 months ago, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Alexis Gardner, a former girlfriend of Whiteside, retained Avenatti to negotiate a potential lawsuit against Whiteside and Avenatti struck a $3 million deal.
Whiteside made an initial $2.75 million payment to Avenatti in January 2017 but none of the money was passed on to Gardner, according to the report.
Avenatti was entitled to just over $1 million in legal fees but hid the payment from Gardner, according to prosecutors, and took $2.5 million to buy a share of a private jet.
Avenatti was indicted on April 10 by a grand jury in Santa Ana, Calif. Gardner is one of five people who had money stolen from them by Avenatti, prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, Avenatti repeatedly told Gardner that Whiteside wasn’t making his payments. Eventually, Avenatti made 11 payments to Gardner over a 15-month period — always misrepresenting them as a payment from Whiteside — totaling $194,000 before stopping in June 2018.
On Sunday, Avenatti commented on this Twitter account, saying in part:
“I look forward to all the details coming out regarding Hassan Whiteside’s settlement, the money received by the client, the money deducted for fees and costs, etc. and the reason why he paid the money.”
The reason for a $3 million settlement isn’t publicly known and Whiteside offered no explanation in a joint statement provided to the Los Angeles Times.
“We entered into a mutually agreed upon settlement more than two years ago following the end of our relationship; a settlement that reflected Alexis’ investment of time and support over a number of years as Hassan pursued a career in the NBA,” Whiteside and Gardner said in a statement released by Whiteside’s agent.
“It is unfortunate that something that was meant to be kept private between us is now being publicly reported. We have both moved on amicably and wish nothing but the best for each other.”
Last month, Avenatti was charged with attempting to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to expose misconduct by Nike employees involving payments to college basketball players. He mentioned former Arizona center Deandre Ayton and Oregon big man Bol Bol as players who received money from Nike as recruits.
About 10 days later, Avenatti said the mother of Duke star Zion Williamson was paid by Nike for “bogus consulting services” as part of the deal to get Williamson to choose the Blue Devils.
Avenatti jumped into the public eye when he was the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels during her legal battles with President Donald Trump. He and Daniels parted ways earlier this year.
Whiteside, 29, just completed the third season of a four-year, $98 million contract. He averaged 12.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in 72 games (53 starts) this past season.
–Field Level Media
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FILE PHOTO: Logo of Bombardier is seen at an office building in Zurich, Switzerland, February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
April 22, 2019
By Allison Lampert
MONTREAL (Reuters) – Canada’s Bombardier Inc sees higher sales from modernizing existing rail cars as the company works to further diversify its largest division as measured in revenue, a spokesman said this month.
Bombardier projects that a quarter of its transportation division’s expected 2020 revenue of $10 billion will come from rail services, up from 18 percent in 2014, according to a company investor presentation. Rail services include retrofitting, operations and maintenance.
The Montreal-based company is counting on its transportation and corporate jet divisions for growth as it sheds its money-losing commercial aviation businesses. It closed a deal last summer to cede a controlling stake in its largest narrowbody program to Europe’s Airbus SE.
But the company has wrestled with execution problems and delays on rail contracts that led earlier this year to the temporary halting of car deliveries in New York because of air compressor software defects, and in Switzerland because of faulty doors. New York deliveries have since resumed.
As it pursues retrofitting contracts, Bombardier is eying a possible plan by the largest U.S. rapid transit system to modernize around 1,000 subway cars made by the company in the late 1990s and early 2000s, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The New York City Transit Authority is weighing a plan to retrofit its R142 subway car fleet with modern technology like Wi-Fi, but has not formally called for bids, one of the sources said. Sources declined to be identified as the discussions are confidential.
Transit agencies, which have traditionally bought new cars, are considering retrofits to respond to customer demand for amenities like Wi-Fi and accommodations for disabled riders.
According to the American Public Transit Association (APTA), the average U.S. subway and commuter rail car is now around 22 years old, about halfway through its 40-year life span and still young enough to retrofit.
A spokesman for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which oversees NYC Transit, did not respond to requests for comment.
Bombardier declined to comment on New York, but the company spokesman sees demand for retrofitting as manufacturing costs rise.
“With increasing costs to produce new trains and the limited availability of federal funding support for large rolling stock acquisitions, a potential exists for reinvesting in existing rolling stock equipment,” company spokesman Eric Prud’Homme said by email.
Prud’Homme would not disclose details about the division’s sales or margins from retrofitting.
Retrofitting delivers higher margins and is considered less risky than building new, because the complexity of some vehicle orders can lead to delays, rail industry executives say.
Among its retrofitting orders, Bombardier won a $255 million contract to upgrade trains in Australia earlier this month.
Modernizing, however, brings challenges for agencies because it takes vehicles out of service to be retrofitted. Such a move risks creating gridlock in New York City which “is already busting at the seams,” said one of the sources.
Prud’Homme said retrofitting can generally accommodate agencies by conducting the work when cars are taken out of service for regular maintenance.
New York City Transit Authority President Andy Byford recently left the door open to Bombardier winning more work because of improvements on their contract.
“The more they (Bombardier) now deliver and the more the units work straight out of the box … and the fewer the defects when they turn up, the stronger case they make in the future,” Byford told reporters on the sidelines of the agency’s March board meeting.
(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Denny Thomas and Matthew Lewis)
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FILE PHOTO: Leader of the Shi’ite Houthi movement, Abdul-Malik Badruddin al-Houthi, addresses supporters via a screen during a demonstration to mark the Ashura holy day, which commemorates the 7th century death of a grandson of the prophet Muhammad, in Sanaa, Yemen September 30, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
April 22, 2019
DUBAI (Reuters) – Yemen’s Houthi forces have missiles that could be fired at Riyadh, Dubai and Abu Dhabi should violence escalate in the main Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, where a fragile ceasefire is now in place, the leader of the Houthi movement said on Monday.
Yemen’s four-year war pits the Iran-aligned Houthis against the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition of Yemeni and Arab forces, which include the United Arab Emirates.
“Our missiles are capable of reaching Riyadh and beyond Riyadh, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” Abdul Malik al-Houthi told Houthi-run Masirah TV.
“It is possible to target strategic, vital, sensitive and influential targets in the event of any escalation in Hodeidah,” he said. “We are able to strongly shake the Emirati economy.”
Houthi forces regularly fire missiles into southern Saudi Arabia and occasionally aim for targets such as the capital Riyadh or facilities of state oil company Saudi Aramco. Most missiles have been intercepted by the Saudi military.
Hodeidah port is the entry point for most of Yemen’s humanitarian aid and commercial imports. It is the current focal point of U.N. efforts to implement a December deal between warring parties.
The United Nations is trying to get both sides to pull troops out of Hodeidah but the process has stalled. Both sides blame the other for lack of progress.
Although a ceasefire largely holds in Hodeidah, violence continues elsewhere and has escalated in recent weeks.
Plagued by decades of instability, Yemen’s latest conflict began in late 2014 when Houthi forces drove Hadi’s government out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-backed alliance intervened in March 2015 to restore Hadi’s government.
The Houthis, who say their revolution is against corruption, control Sanaa and most population centers.
(Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Edmund Blair)
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