February 15-16 Police in Libya's second city, Benghazi, use force to disperse a sit-in protesting against the government. Protesters demand the release of a lawyer representing the families of prisoners gunned down in a Tripoli prison in 1996 when more than 1,000 people were killed. At least two protesters reported killed by security forces in Al Baida, near Benghazi.
February 17 Eight reported killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces, six in Benghazi and two in Al-Baida, and calls go out on Facebook to turn the day into "A Day of Rage" against Muammar Qaddafi's regime. At Zenten, several people arrested and a police station and another public building torched.
February 18 The death toll is estimated to have passed 40. Clashes reported in the east, notably Benghazi, where a radio station was torched. The "Islamic Emirate of Barqa" hangs two policemen trying to disperse the crowd. Facebook blocked in Tripoli as internet connections are severely disrupted.
February 19 The death toll passes 80, according to Human Rights Watch. Clashes spread to Misrati, 200 km east of Tripoli.
February 20 Human Rights Watch says at least 173 killed while a hospital official tells Al Jazeera 200 died in protests. Authorities announce the arrest of dozens of Arab nationals from a "network" they say aims to destabilise Libya and say they foiled an attempt by saboteurs to set fire to oil wells. Witnesses in Benghazi say Libyan security forces backed by "African mercenaries" have been shooting at crowds "without discrimination". Protesters sack the headquarters of state television in Tripoli overnight and set government buildings on fire. Libya's envoy to the Arab League says he quit to "join the revolution".
February 21 Human Rights Watch says the death toll climbed to at least 233. Saif al Islam, Colonel Qaddafi's son, warns that Libya faces civil war and "rivers of blood". Gunfire is heard in the capital for the first time since protests began. Tripoli's ambassador to Delhi says he quit and Al Jazeera quotes a diplomat in Beijing saying he too quit and that Qaddafi may have left the country. About 500 Libyans storm and loot a South Korean construction site near Tripoli.
The United States strongly condemns the use of force after "credible reports" of hundreds of casualties. Britain says it summoned Libya's ambassador to London to protest the deadly crackdown. Portugal begins evacuating EU citizens from Libya as countries worldwide warn citizens against travel to Libya. Oil firms BP and Statoil also evacuate staff and Italy's industrial giant Finmeccanica repatriates its employees. Brent oil prices soars above $105 per barrel, striking a fresh two-year peak. Dozens of Libyans and Egyptians protest outside Cairo's Arab League headquarters as the head of the pan-Arab body, Amr Mussa, calls for end to Libya violence.
* Agence France-Presse
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO
Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
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