A surprise ceasefire announcement by Libya's rival administrations offers a glimmer of hope for peace, but analysts caution scepticism after years of violence.
Fayez Al Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli in the west, and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the eastern-based House of Representatives parliament, each announced a ceasefire on Friday.
In separate statements, the leaders said they wanted to end fighting and hold elections, drawing praise from the UN, the EU and Arab countries.
Emhemed Shoaeb, a key member of talks that led to the last major agreement in 2015, said the announcement was a step in the right direction that showed a "desire to break with the madness" of the past.
European Union diplomatic chief Josep Borrell described it as a constructive first step forward. Egypt, Jordan and the GCC also praised the move.
"The declaration of a ceasefire and the cessation of military operations in all Libyan territories is a very positive development," Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, tweeted. "It is time for the guns to remain silent, as the solution in brotherly Libya is political and through an inclusive dialogue framed by agreed international and regional references."
The French foreign ministry said the ceasefire announcements "must be realised on the ground" and called for an end to all foreign interference in Libya.
The US mission to Libya retweeted the UN's tweet welcoming the news, saying it was an important step to all Libyans.
But international pressure has sought to bring Libya's leaders to an agreement several times in past years, and a lasting deal has yet to be reached.
"This is but one step in what will be an arduous process, especially since local parties distrust not only one another, but also international parties involved," Emad Badi, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank, told the Associated Press.
Since the 2011 toppling and killing of long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi in an uprising that sparked Nato intervention, Libya has been torn by violence, with its rival administrations vying for control and international forces backing opposing sides.
The North African country, which has the continent's largest proven crude oil reserves, has become a battleground for tribal militias, extremists and mercenaries.
It is also a major gateway for migrants bound for Europe.
"I have always said that Libyans will get serious about a truce when they all hit a wall... this may be it," Karima Munir, a banker from Tripoli, told AP.
"Both [sides] know that there is no winning party if the conflict continues."
The head of eastern-based Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, launched an offensive to seize Tripoli from the GNA in April 2019.
But the offensive was reduced to a stalemate amid a huge increase in Turkish support for the pro-GNA militias with significant weapons transfers, soldiers and trainers on the ground as well as the deployment of thousands of Syrian mercenaries, including extremist elements.
Fighting has stalled around the central Mediterranean port of Sirte, the gateway to Libya's eastern oil fields and export terminals, and to the key Al Jufra airbase to the south.
A decisive push into the town by the pro-GNA militias and Turkish forces would spark the intervention of Egypt, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said, citing national security if extremist militias operate near to Egypt's frontier after numerous cross-border terrorist attacks in recent years.
The warning appeared to have slowed the pro-GNA force's counter-attack against the LNA and fighting around Sirte has abated in recent days.
Despite the call for a halt in fighting, critical differences remain.
For Mr Al Sarraj, Sirte and Al Jufra – currently under the control of pro-Haftar forces – must be demilitarised.
Mr Saleh, on the other side, made no mention of demilitarised zones, but instead proposed the formation of a new presidential council – replacing Mr Al Sarraj's administration in Tripoli – to be based in Sirte.
The discrepancies are revealing, Wolfram Lacher, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told AP.
"The special interests of these actors could easily derail the talks at any stage," Mr Lacher said.
Demilitarisation was "an American, British and German plan aimed at stemming Turkish and Russian influence on the ground", he said, adding that it would probably face some international opposition.
Russia has long denied or played down having an on-the-ground deployment in Libya, saying in June that a UN report alleging that 1,200 private military contractors from the Wagner Group were in the country was based on poor information and questionable sourcing.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
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More on Yemen's civil war
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
THE RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Alnawar, Connor Beasley (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Raniah, Noel Garbutt, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Saarookh, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Rated Conditions Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: RB Torch, Tadhg O’Shea, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: MH Wari, Antonio Fresu, Elise Jeane
7.30pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,600m
Winner: Mailshot, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
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The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
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Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Record breaker
- The most total field goals made in NBA history, as well as the most consecutive games scoring 10 or more points
- The only player in NBA history to reach 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists
- Four-time regular season MVP and four-time NBA Finals MVP
- Six-time NBA All-Defensive selection. Rookie of the Year in 2004
- The most All-NBA selections with 21 in a row, including a record 13 first team selections
- The most consecutive All-Star selections with 21
- The only player to play alongside his son; Bronny James was chosen by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Inside%20Out%202
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
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Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
COPA DEL REY
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
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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
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
