Libya’s Parliament on Wednesday approved a new unity government, sparking hope of an end to more than six years of civil war.
MPs at the House of Representatives voted 132 to two to endorse the Cabinet of the new Government of National Unity, formed after months of often tortuous negotiations.
Prime Minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah hopes his new Cabinet can unite the country after a decade of war and chaos.
“Through this vote, it became clear that the Libyans are one unit," he said.
To win unity amid a politically fractured country, Mr Dbeibah, a 61-year-old businessman from the western town of Misrata, eschewed many of the country’s political heavyweights, opting for figures who have previously had a low political profile.
The GNU includes Libya’s first female foreign minister, Najlaa Al Mankoush, a prominent human rights activist and lawyer who campaigned in the past for national reconciliation.
She is one of five women in the Cabinet, including the justice and culture ministers.
The GNU is due to replace two rival governments, one in the west, another in the east. It has two key missions: maintain the ceasefire and shepherd the country through to elections in December when voters will choose a permanent government.
The UN Support Mission in Libya, which engineered the creation of the GNU, congratulated parliament, saying “Libya has now a genuine opportunity to move forward”.
“This is a historic day for the House of Representatives," said Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh, who led the debate on endorsing the GNU.
The process of creating the GNU has been long and controversial.
The UN mission took the lead and last October chose 75 Libyan leaders to form the Libya Political Dialogue Forum.
Four months of often tense debate followed, in Geneva and Tunis, ending with the forum choosing Mr Dbeibah and a three-member presidency council to lead the GNU.
The forum’s negotiations were tainted with reports of corruption, after the leak of a report by the UN’s Panel of Experts that said bribes were offered to three members.
Among the challenges Mr Dbeibah faces are the limits on his power.
Parliament has not yet passed a constitutional amendment clarifying the GNU’s powers, and neither side’s armed forces have yet indicated whether they will follow GNU orders.
Aware of the difficulty in trying to control rival armies, now drawn up along a ceasefire line in the centre of the country, Mr Dbeibah said he delayed naming a defence minister.
Several states welcomed the GNU.
“Congratulations on the formation of an interim unity government to set the stage for elections in December," said the US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland.
The UAE congratulated the new Libyan government for its "historic achievement" and wished the Cabinet "success in performing their duties and responsibilities to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Libyan people".
The December elections are intended to usher in a permanent government for Libya, and one of the hurdles Mr Dbeibah's government must cross is overseeing the creation of a permanent constitution before the vote.
Analysts said the GNU must work to keep consensus among Libya’s myriad groups and resist the temptation to spend big to win political support.
“Big milestone: Dbeibah’s GNU has been endorsed by the House of Representatives,” Tim Eaton, senior research fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, wrote on Twitter.
"The product of much negotiation and bargaining, the GNU will have to tread lightly to keep its unwieldy alliance together.
"Can it now unite divided institutions and deliver elections? Or will it simply function as an ATM?"
The creation of the GNU is the latest step by UN mission to calm tension in the country.
Last year it negotiated a ceasefire that has held fast since it was signed in October.
Its mediation also saw the Central Bank of Libya reunite, after having separate operations in eastern and western Libya.
The civil war broke out in 2014 and it caused thousands of deaths and brought the economy to its knees.
Tripoli, the capital, is controlled by several powerful militias and its residents endure frequent power and water cuts and currency shortages.
One sign of easing tensions came on Tuesday when the first civilian flight in six years took off between Benghazi and Misrata.
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What are the influencer academy modules?
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Kareem Shaheen on Canada
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The five pillars of Islam
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Meg%202%3A%20The%20Trench
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
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The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.
4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
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Started: November 2017
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Countries recognising Palestine
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Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
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Three stars
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