Tunisia opens gates to end chaos as hundreds stuck on closed Libya border


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Tunisia has opened its border with Libya to allow hundreds of people, stranded in dire conditions, to return home.

The reopening came after several hundred Tunisian migrant workers forced their way across the Libyan border at the weekend.

As the coronavirus pandemic spread, hundreds of Tunisians who work in war-torn Libya began to head for home.

But they were unable to cross after their country closed its frontiers on March 16.

People began congregating on the dusty desert road to the border near a crossing point at Ras Jedir, outside the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdane.

  • Libyan road transport workers stranded on the Tunisian-Libyan border crossing of Ras Jedir in southeastern Tunisia gesture a farewell as a bus transporting repatriated Tunisian workers takes off. AFP
    Libyan road transport workers stranded on the Tunisian-Libyan border crossing of Ras Jedir in southeastern Tunisia gesture a farewell as a bus transporting repatriated Tunisian workers takes off. AFP
  • Stranded Libyan drivers are also trying to return to their country. AFP
    Stranded Libyan drivers are also trying to return to their country. AFP
  • Hundreds of Tunisians stranded for weeks in war-racked Libya due to the coronavirus have returned home after forcing their way through a border crossing. AFP
    Hundreds of Tunisians stranded for weeks in war-racked Libya due to the coronavirus have returned home after forcing their way through a border crossing. AFP
  • Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
    Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
  • Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
    Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
  • Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
    Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
  • Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
    Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
  • Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
    Tunisian workers stranded in Libya wait at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country on April 21, 2020. AFP
  • Tunisian border policemen follow up the repatriation of Tunisian workers stranded in Libya as they board buses at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country. AFP
    Tunisian border policemen follow up the repatriation of Tunisian workers stranded in Libya as they board buses at the Ras Jedir border post to return to their country. AFP
  • Hundreds of Tunisians stranded for weeks in war-racked Libya due to the coronavirus have returned home after forcing their way through a border crossing. AFP
    Hundreds of Tunisians stranded for weeks in war-racked Libya due to the coronavirus have returned home after forcing their way through a border crossing. AFP

Deprived of anywhere to bed down or wash, many were sleeping in a nearby mosque.

The crowd grew so large that Libyan border forces housed them in an open compound, while the International Organisation for Migration and Libyan Red Crescent provided emergency relief.

Federico Soda, the IOM's chief of mission in Libya, said people began to congregate on the Libyan side of the border in early April and by last weekend about 1,000 people were waiting to cross.

"By Sunday things were very tense," Mr Soda told The National.

"We had to pull our people out as it didn't seem that we were contributing to anything.

"My team got the strong sense that people weren't interested in anything other than returning to Tunisia.

"That evening, I'm told that a group of between 200 and 300 people were able to force the gate at the frontier and make their way into Tunisia before the Libyan security were able to regain control."

Tunisia's border guards, realising the seriousness of the situation, summoned reinforcements and eventually opened the gates for a controlled entry.

The government later said the remaining 652 nationals then entered Tunisia, with the last person crossing about 11pm local time on Monday.

Officers then took each person's details.

Coronavirus around the Middle East 

  • A 120-bed ward at a specialised hospital for coronavirus cases opened by the Kurdish Red Crescent about 10 kilometres from the Syrian city of Hasakeh after the first COVID-19 death was reported in the north-eastern region. AFP
    A 120-bed ward at a specialised hospital for coronavirus cases opened by the Kurdish Red Crescent about 10 kilometres from the Syrian city of Hasakeh after the first COVID-19 death was reported in the north-eastern region. AFP
  • A man wearing protective gloves shows the interface of the app "Be Aware", launched by Bahrain's health authorities to contain the coronavirus disease, at a hotel in Manama, Bahrain. Reuters
    A man wearing protective gloves shows the interface of the app "Be Aware", launched by Bahrain's health authorities to contain the coronavirus disease, at a hotel in Manama, Bahrain. Reuters
  • Doctors and nurses look at scans of a patient infected with the Covid-19 virus at the dedicated intensive care unit at the Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty
    Doctors and nurses look at scans of a patient infected with the Covid-19 virus at the dedicated intensive care unit at the Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty
  • Motorbikes of a delivery company line up in Dubai. AFP
    Motorbikes of a delivery company line up in Dubai. AFP
  • Medical staff attend to a patient infected with the coronavirus in the dedicated intensive care unit at the Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty
    Medical staff attend to a patient infected with the coronavirus in the dedicated intensive care unit at the Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty
  • Palestinian Shahira Qafisheh, 85, video chats with her daughters during the coronavirus lockdown in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. AFP
    Palestinian Shahira Qafisheh, 85, video chats with her daughters during the coronavirus lockdown in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. AFP
  • A Palestinian man wearing a coronavirus costume sewed by his sister plays with a girl in the central Gaza Strip amid the pandemic. AFP
    A Palestinian man wearing a coronavirus costume sewed by his sister plays with a girl in the central Gaza Strip amid the pandemic. AFP
  • Palestinian artists paint a mural in a show of support for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Gaza City. AFP
    Palestinian artists paint a mural in a show of support for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Gaza City. AFP
  • An Iraqi medic swabs a woman in Iraq's central city of Najaf, during the nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
    An Iraqi medic swabs a woman in Iraq's central city of Najaf, during the nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
  • An Iraqi medic swabs a boy in Iraq's central city of Najaf, during the nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
    An Iraqi medic swabs a boy in Iraq's central city of Najaf, during the nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. AFP
  • Chinese embassy officials react after the arrival of medical aid at Baghdad Airport in Iraq. AP
    Chinese embassy officials react after the arrival of medical aid at Baghdad Airport in Iraq. AP
  • Displaced Syrian boys pose while wearing face masks decorated by artists during a Covid-19 awareness campaign at the Bardaqli camp in the town of Dana in Syria's north-west Idlib province. AFP
    Displaced Syrian boys pose while wearing face masks decorated by artists during a Covid-19 awareness campaign at the Bardaqli camp in the town of Dana in Syria's north-west Idlib province. AFP
  • Female worker wearing masks and gloves works in teauty salon in one of the neighborhoods of Damascus, Syria. EPA
    Female worker wearing masks and gloves works in teauty salon in one of the neighborhoods of Damascus, Syria. EPA
  • A Bahraini triathlete Sameera Al Bitar wearing gloves and a mask takes her bicycle out of her car as she prepares for a training session, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, in Manama, Bahrain. Reuters
    A Bahraini triathlete Sameera Al Bitar wearing gloves and a mask takes her bicycle out of her car as she prepares for a training session, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, in Manama, Bahrain. Reuters

"The old people and families were dealt with first and returned quickly to their governorates," said Dr Mongi Slim, head of the Red Crescent's offices in southern Tunisia.

"The men were all interviewed by security to see what they had been doing in Libya and how they had entered the country."

The conflict in Libya has drawn in thousands of foreign fighters, including Tunisians.

Dr Slim said there was resentment in the local community over the treatment of those trying to return.

It was in contrast to the way Tunisia sent European and Gulf workers to comfortable hotels along the coast for quarantine.

With at least 6,000 Tunisians working in neighbouring Libya, many of those yet to return are expected to try to soon make their way to the border.

The coronavirus pandemic is spreading in Libya at the same time as fighting intensifies.

Ramadan, starting this week, is also likely to draw many home to be with their families.

Libyan workers, mainly lorry drivers,  are also stranded in Tunisia after Libya closed its borders on March 17 to try to stop the spread of Covid-19.

While the situation is calm, all are relying on the IOM and the Red Crescent for food and water until arrangements can be made for their return to Libya.

There is no official word, as yet, on a plan to allow them to cross.

Despite the turmoil that has engulfed Libya since 2011, the country is a tempting prospect for Tunisian workers.

Large numbers are drawn to work in the oil and gas industry, or what was until recently a healthy building sector, despite the war.

Smuggling has also proved to be a rewarding source of income on both sides of the frontier for decades.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

FIXTURES

All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score

Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm

Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm

The%20specs
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The%20Woman%20King%20
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Tesalam Aleik

Abdullah Al Ruwaished

(Rotana)

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

FIXTURES

UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
 

Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury

Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')

Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)

Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)

SQUADS

South Africa:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada
Coach: Ottis Gibson

Bangladesh:
Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.
Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox

Price, base / as tested: Dh76,900 / Dh110,900

Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder

Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: Torque: 352Nm @ 2,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.5L / 100km

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

England's Ashes squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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The biog

Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza

Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine 

France is her favourite country to visit

Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family

Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter

Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country

The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns

Her motto is to never stop working for the country

Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%207%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%93%203hrs%2029min%2042ses%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20%E2%80%93%2010sec%3Cbr%3E3.%20Geoffrey%20Bouchard%20(FRA)%20AG2R%20Citroen%20Team%20%E2%80%93%2042sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20Classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders%20%E2%80%93%2059se%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20%E2%80%9360sec%3Cbr%3ERed%20Jersey%20(General%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EGreen%20Jersey%20(Points%20Classification)%3A%20Tim%20Merlier%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EWhite%20Jersey%20(Young%20Rider%20Classification)%3A%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3EBlack%20Jersey%20(Intermediate%20Sprint%20Classification)%3A%20Edward%20Planckaert%20(FRA)%20Alpecin-Deceuninck%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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Changing visa rules

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.

The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Brief scoreline:

Al Wahda 2

Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'

Al Nassr 3

Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'

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If you go

Flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.

The stay

Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.

The biog

Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly 

Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo

Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.

Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,

She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.