UAE draws down troops in Yemen in ‘strategic redeployment’

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates has drawn down its troop levels in Yemen but remains a key member of the Saudi-led coalition at war with Iran-aligned rebels there, a senior Emirati official said Monday.

The official confirmed that UAE troop levels are down, describing it as a “strategic redeployment.” The official declined to disclose how many soldiers have left Yemen and how many remain.

“Definitely, we do have troop levels that are down for reasons that are strategic in Hodeida and reasons that are tactical,” the official said, referring to the Yemeni port city where a U.N.-brokered cease-fire is supposed to be in place.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss troop deployments for security reasons.

Mexico extends $100 million reforesting program to Honduras

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico said Monday it will extend a reforestation program to Honduras, and increase funding to $100 million to create jobs in Central America and stem migration from the region.

Mexico had already announced a $30 million tree-planting program for El Salvador and that money is presumably part of the $100 million total effort.

Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s foreign relations secretary, said Honduras’ president is expected to finalize details in a visit to Mexico this month.

Ebrard said creating jobs will do more to stop the flow of migrants than border enforcement measures.

It is unclear whether Guatemala will also join Mexico’s reforestation program.

A similar plan to plant fruit and lumber trees is already being implemented in southern Mexico; it is one of the pet projects of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Ebrard also said that 327 Central American migrants awaiting US asylum hearings have found jobs in northern Mexico, and that companies had offered a total of 3,700 positions.