RAS LANUF // The Libyan government and rebels fighting against Muammar Qaddafi accused each other of blowing up oil facilities in the east of the country today.
The rebels said Colonel Gaddafi's forces had hit an oil pipeline leading to Es Sider and dropped bombs on storage tanks in the Ras Lanuf area.
Libyan state television blamed the explosion on "al Qa'eda-backed" armed elements who had blown up an oil storage tank as pro-Qaddafi forces advanced into Ras Lanuf.
A rebel official in Benghazi accused Colonel Qaddafi of playing a "dirty game" by hitting pipelines. Huge blasts rocked the Libyan rebel-held oil town of Ras Lanuf Wednesday, sending flames leaping hundreds of metres into the sky, as fighting raged with government troops.
A series of powerful explosions went off near an oil facility as forces loyal to Colonel Qaddafi rained artillery shells on rebel positions five kilometres west of the town, an AFP reporter said.
The explosions just outside Ras Lanuf erupted into fireballs and a mechanic said a pipeline had been blown up.
Ali al Aguri, an oil company mechanic who works at another plant further away from the As Sidra facility, said: "I know for sure that what they blew up was an oil pipe. I know the whole line by heart."
Every few minutes, another ball of flames shot up into the sky. A constant inferno of fierce flames could be seen at the foot of the cloud of black smoke.
From a distance, the facility appeared to be a set of low beige buildings with a water tower and a communications tower.
Soon after the blast, a Libyan warplane carried out an airstrike about a kilometre away towards the Mediterranean coast. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties or damage.
Earlier at least 20 shells fell near a rebel checkpoint west of Ras Lanuf, AFP reporters said, adding there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The rebels retaliated by firing some 40 Katyusha rockets from launchers mounted on two trucks as well as two anti-aircraft missiles, the reporters said.
One of the missiles struck a telephone relay antenna some two kilometres away, while huge clouds of black smoke could be seen about 10 kilometres further west, suggesting they had hit a more distant target.
One of the rebels marked the moment by playing a revolutionary song full blast on a loudspeaker, with lyrics which said: "We will stay here until the pain is over."
Earlier both rebels and pro-Qaddafi forces dug into defensive positions between Ras Lanuf and government-held Bin Jawad, some 30 kilometres to the west, in eastern Libya.
An AFP reporter saw some 200 rebel fighters spread out on small hills around the main coastal road.
Rebel colonel Masud Mohammed told reporters some five kilometres from Ras Lanuf: "Today, we have established defensive positions ahead of here."
"Qaddafi's forces are in Bin Jawad, they are occupying the mosque and the school," he said. "Today we are not attacking yet."
He also said there were four airstrikes by government warplanes near Bin Jawad earlier today. Several rebels were wounded, he said, but gave no further details.
The colonel said "heavy shelling" on Tuesday had pushed back the lightly-armed rebel fighters as they advanced towards Bin Jawad, which the inexperienced insurgents had entered on Sunday but failed to hold after being ambushed by pro-Kadhafi militia.
Rebels then moved the reporters back, saying it was not safe to stay.
The rebels earlier said their own forces were 20 kilometres west of Ras Lanuf, while the government troops had not moved from Bin Jawad, where a rebel spokesman said Tuesday they had dug themselves in.
At the last checkpoint a letter from Libyan Muslim scholars was read aloud through a megaphone, expressing support to the fighters, but urging them to be disciplined.
"Follow orders, obey the commanders in the field, do not make chaotic movements," the letter read.
The speaker then shouted to the rebels, "Guys, disperse."
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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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.
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Scream%20VI
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Specs
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
