In 2011, protesters in Libya's uprisings were very clear about what they wanted, and they got it remarkably quickly. It took under a year to topple Muammar Al Qaddafi, a despot who for four decades had seemed near-invincible. But securing a fair and functioning political system in the aftermath, another key demand of the uprising, has been anything but swift, and appears likely to drag on with no end in sight.
To blame for this sclerosis is a set of reasons far more complex than a single dictator. They include foreign interference, instability caused by conflict and an ongoing unwillingness of the country's many political factions to compromise and unite behind a sensible transitional political system.
The result is one of the biggest constitutional messes in the the world.
In 2014, a violent schism saw the emergence of two parallel governments, one based in the east, the other in the west. Now, after a flawed process of selecting candidates from across the country, an interim government put in place last year to try and patch over these divisions has failed in its main task of getting the country to long-awaited elections, despite years of planning and high-level diplomatic engagement.
With the temporary government having failed its main mission, the country's parliament is attempting to replace the now incapacitated interim Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. He is pushing back, saying he will only allow an elected administration to replace him.
The situation adds a catch-22 into a political landscape already too muddled to serve Libyans. More than 10 years on from their uprising, people are no closer to a government that can translate the vast potential and natural resources of Libya into prosperity for all. The country has the largest oil reserves in Africa, and yet an unemployment rate of almost 20 per cent, one of the highest in the Mena region.
On the other side of this region, Iraqis will understand the situation in which Libyans find themselves. The country's attempt to elect a new president this Monday descended into chaos after a grouping of political factions boycotted the process. Until there is compromise to meet the threshold to make the decision, the position of president will remain vacant.
Even the most stable countries need leadership, and it is a sign of quite how many vicious political cycles are emerging in the region that Libya and Iraq, both in desperate need of direction as they seek to address economic and social crises, end conflict and resist foreign intervention, cannot settle on their prime ministers and presidents.
Both countries have emerged from war, some of it fuelled from abroad, but much also stemming from home, and in this context the desire to take time to thrash out representative political systems is understandable. But the difficulty of that task must not be used as an excuse for inaction and no compromise.
Yesterday, Libya's parliament started vetting two candidates who could replace Mr Dbeibah, former interior minister Fathi Bashagha and outsider Khaled Al Bibass. Both have promised they will fight for unity to move Libya on from its limbo. Iraq's 329 members of parliament will undoubtedly be promising their constituents the same. They are the right things to pledge. But the ever-deepening political, constitutional abyss into which these ideas are being shouted make it highly unlikely anything will change soon.
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
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.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched:Â 2014
Employees:Â 60
Based:Â Abu Dhabi
Sector:Â EdTech
Funding to date:Â $15 million
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost:Â Dh567.25 -Â around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30Â
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Fixtures
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries