There has been escalating violence in Libya as Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA) seek to capture Tripoli and seize military control of the country, sparking fears of another civil war.
Mr Haftar's forces have been carrying out a multi-pronged attack from the south and west of the capital since Thursday, just over a week before United Nations-sponsored talks are to be held to attempt to map out a path to fresh elections.
US forces were evacuated from the Libyan capital on Sunday and Mr Haftar’s forces claim to have captured Tripoli’s international airport in the southern part of the city.
A government divided
Libya is currently split broadly between two administrations, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) under prime minister Fayez Al Sarraj, which is based the capital Tripoli, and the House of Representatives based in the eastern town of Tobruk.
The House of Representatives, who were elected in 2014 but withdrew to the east after fighting broke out, were recognised by the international community until its term expired.
In 2015, the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement to merge the House of Representatives with the rival GNA. It led to the creation of the Presidential Council, a nine-member body that selects members of the GNA and is headed by Mr Sarraj.
According to the terms of the agreement, the House of Representatives, was to be subsumed into the GNA as its legislative body. The split comes from the fact that the Tobruk administration has not passed the needed amendments to fully implement the deal. Instead, it backed the eastern government headed by Abdullah Al Thinni and recognised Haftar’s Libyan National Army.
A country awash with arms
After a civil war led the removal of long-time leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, the country was left with dozens of militias and the country fractured as the groups battled each other for control of their own fiefdoms.
Efforts to unify these disparate groups had varying levels of success.
The LNA was formed to replace the Qaddafi-era military. Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar was appointed to lead the force, which had only a few thousand soldiers at the time, but he presided over the rapid training and restructuring of the new military with the help of European and Nato countries.
The LNA spilt in 2014 when Mr Haftar launched an operation to clear the Islamist-Libya Dawn coalition, the hardline Islamist Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries and local affiliates of ISIS in Libya.
Field Marshal Haftar is still backed by the Al Thinni administration in Bayda and many senior members of the Tobruk House of Representatives, but is not as supported in the west of the country.
The LNA is currently sweeping through the country and are marching on the capital. Mr Sarraj's GNA has no military but a loose coalition of militias has mounted a defence against the LNA.
Elements of the air force that also back the Tripoli government have carried out air strikes against LNA soldiers.
The LNA’s southern push and the lead up to the Tripoli offensive
Field Marshal Haftar has built up an intricate web of tribal alliances and local deals to bolster the LNA, who say their force has 85,000 active soldiers. He has the backing of numerous international players and Egyptian pilots have previously carried out airstrikes to support his forces in battle.
Earlier this year, the LNA launched a southern push that was billed as a battle against foreign forces and terrorist groups. Spokesman for the force, Ahmed Al Mismari, told Bloomberg that it was also about securing the country's oil regions.
In 2016, Field Marshal Haftar secured the country's main oil terminals from armed groups who had been holding the vital facilities hostage for two years. The move stabilised the country's ability to export its reserves, but insecurity and protests at major oil and gas fields – especially in the south – meant the supply was still being interrupted.
Once the operation in the south largely completed, although far from consolidated, the LNA pushed west towards Tripoli.
UN-backed stabilisation plan
The UN has been meditating for two years in a bid to help the country hold elections and end the split between east and west Libya.
Mr Sarraj and Field Marshal Haftar met in Abu Dhabi in February and agreed to ensure stability in state institutions and to work towards elections this year.
The UN's special envoy to the country, Ghassan Salame, told the Security Council that the meeting had brought about a “crucial juncture” that could end the long-running division between the two Libyan administrations.
The LNA’s eastern push began shortly after UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres arrived in Tripoli last week to finalise preparations for a two-day conference that will be held on April 14. It is aimed at building a roadmap for elections that it is hoped will be held later this year.
The UN is insistent that the talks will still go ahead — barring a major roadblock — but the fighting could undermine any attempts to secure a deal.
Repeated efforts to bring stability to Libya have failed, often due to the lack of control that the political actors who attempt to broker the agreements have on the ground.
"The reality is that the most powerful faction … the eastern-Libyan camp led by Field Marshal Haftar, follows a military logic," Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya analyst, told Reuters in March. "For Haftar, diplomatic forums are just a space where losers are asked to accept his ascendancy."
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
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Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
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Brief scores:
Day 2
England: 277 & 19-0
West Indies: 154
ENGLAND TEAM
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
