The commander of US forces in Africa and the head of the US embassy in Libya have met Libyan military commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the eastern city of Benghazi, amid a standoff between the country's rival power centres that has shut down oil production.
The US embassy said Gen Michael Langley and charge d'affaires Jeremy Berndt “highlighted the importance of preserving Libya’s stability and of de-escalation in the context of current tensions” during their meeting on Tuesday with Mr Haftar, whose Libyan National Army controls the country's east and south.
Their meeting focused on the commitment of the US to strengthening its partnership with Libyans from all parts of the country and supporting Libyan efforts to protect the country's sovereignty amid regional security challenges, the embassy said in a post on X.
“The United States urges all Libyan stakeholders to engage constructively in dialogue” with support from the UN Support Mission in Libya and the international community, added the embassy.
Libya has been grappling with a complex political landscape since the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, with control divided between two rival governments. The internationally recognised Government of National Unity is located in Tripoli, while the Government of National Stability, which is backed by Mr Haftar, is based in the east.
Authorities in the east – where most of Libya's oilfields lie – declared on Monday that all oil production and exports, the country's main source of revenue, would be halted. The move followed a decision by Tripoli-based authorities to sack the head of the central bank.
Since the fall of Qaddafi, numerous armed groups have emerged in Libya. Militias have consolidated power through leaders who have acquired top government and military posts, blurring the lines between militias and state forces.
Observers say this has diminished prospects for disarmament and reintegration into a unified army under state control.
According to a report by the US Congressional Research Service, Washington has a complicated relationship with Mr Haftar and the LNA.
While the US has recognised the GNU as the legitimate government of Libya, it has also worked with Mr Haftar in counterterrorism efforts against ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliates in the country.
Mr Haftar's recent moves have further complicated the political landscape. On August 12, the GNU strongly condemned Egypt's decision to receive Osama Hamad, the head of the GNS, for an official visit.
Mr Hamad was accompanied by Mr Haftar’s son, Balqasim, who is the director general of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund.
Prior to their visit to Egypt, Mr Hamad and Balqasim Haftar were hosted for talks in Turkey in July.
Ankara, previously a supporter of the UN-backed GNU, has recently shifted its position on Libya and is now engaging the rival GNS in diplomacy.
The GNU said it views these engagements by Egypt and Turkey as an escalation and a departure from the international community's previously unified position on Libya.
It has not commented publicly on visit to Benghazi by Gen Langley and Mr Berndt.
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh recently formed a security committee to address the proliferation of armed groups in Tripoli and limit security operations to Ministry of Interior personnel.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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THE%C2%A0SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%204-cylinder%202.5-litre%20%2F%202-litre%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20188hp%20%2F%20248hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20244Nm%20%2F%20370Nm%0D%3Cbr%3ETransmission%3A%207-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh110%2C000%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
%3Cp%3E1.%20Bhiwadi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ghaziabad%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Hotan%2C%20China%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Delhi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Jaunpur%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Faisalabad%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20Noida%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Bahawalpur%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Peshawar%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Bagpat%2C%20India%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20IQAir%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
