The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the continuing ceasefire in Libya was “good news” after G7 foreign ministers discussed the country's future in London.
Mr Borrell said he was optimistic about the situation in Libya, where a truce last October was followed by the establishment of a unity government in March that was welcomed by the EU, US and Britain.
Following the G7’s talks on Libya, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had renewed Washington’s support for new elections in December.
He also called for the immediate withdrawal of foreign forces, after the Biden administration in January accused Russia and Turkey of breaching the ceasefire deal that ordered all foreign troops and mercenaries out of Libya.
“We stand with the Libyan people to find a UN-facilitated political solution to the conflict,” Mr Blinken said on Tuesday.
Foreign ministers discussed a series of global issues in London, including China, Russia and Iran, but Mr Borrell named Libya as one of the bright spots.
“Libya is good news; the ceasefire is still lasting and I think that we can be optimistic about the situation,” he said.
“So, you see, in general terms things are not going better, but there are some places, Iran can be one of them, Libya another, where we can have certain hope that things will improve.”
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also held talks on Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio.
The Italian foreign ministry said Mr Raab and Mr Di Maio had given their support to a “common positive agenda” on the region.
Italy holds the rotating presidency of the G20, while Britain currently leads the G7, which was holding its final day of talks in London on Wednesday.
Italy, the former colonial power in Libya, is trying to reassert its role as a prominent ally of Tripoli.
Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi visited Tripoli last month and urged Libya’s interim leader Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to ensure that the ceasefire was strictly observed.
Mr Dbeibah took office in March at the head of a UN-backed unity government with a mandate to prepare for the planned December election.
It replaced two warring governments that had ruled eastern and western regions of Libya, which had been in turmoil since the fall of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
One of the rival administrations, in Tripoli, had relied heavily on Turkish military backing and Syrian mercenaries provided by Ankara.
They supported the Tripoli government against an offensive launched by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who was backed by powers including Russia and Egypt.
Tripoli on Monday urged Turkey to co-operate over the withdrawal of troops from Libya.
G7 ministers wrap up talks ahead of leaders' summit
G7 diplomats also discussed Russia, China, Syria, Iran and Myanmar during their three-day talks in London, their first in-person meeting since the onset of the pandemic.
On Wednesday, they were due to discuss Covid-19 as wealthy nations face growing pressure to share vaccines worldwide.
Rich nations' efforts are mainly directed through Covax, a UN-backed programme to help distribute vaccines to the poorest nations.
But analysts say that Covax will not achieve herd immunity because it will cover no more than 20 per cent to 30 per cent of poorer countries' populations.
Mr Raab said the issues were a “really good opportunity for the G7, together with our Indo-Pacific partners, to talk all of that through and come up with positive answers”.
The summit will set the stage for a G7 leaders’ summit in Cornwall, south-west England, next month.
More on G7 ministers' meeting
Anthony Blinken: G7 urges political solution to Syrian conflict
UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab says reports of release of Nazanin Ratcliffe-Zaghari are inaccurate
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
HAJJAN
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
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