Members of Libyan special forces have been trained by the Turkish military. The Libya Quartet said that all external military intervention in Libya is unacceptable. AFP
Members of Libyan special forces have been trained by the Turkish military. The Libya Quartet said that all external military intervention in Libya is unacceptable. AFP
Members of Libyan special forces have been trained by the Turkish military. The Libya Quartet said that all external military intervention in Libya is unacceptable. AFP
Only by signing accords that serve its own interests can Libya dream of ridding itself of internal divisions eroding its territorial integrity and the fabric of its society. That won’t be easy to achieve so long as foreign forces and mercenaries continue to battle on its soil, and so long as most Libyan leaders refuse to take stock of their own shortfalls instead of blaming others for their woes.
This is not to criticise an accord signed last year for establishing a transitional national unity government in Tripoli and creating a roadmap for elections this December. The point is to draw attention to the opportunities and possible pitfalls for Libya and the wider region – especially with the Arab country still caught between various local, tribal and geopolitical ambitions.
Taher El-Sonni, Libya’s ambassador to the UN, said the departure of mercenaries and foreign fighters was inevitable. But at the same time, he stressed that this must be done according to a “disarmament mechanism” agreed upon by his country’s Joint Military Committee. In truth, however, that’s near-impossible to achieve.
Libya has a temporary deal in place, but its stakeholders need to find a lasting solution. AFP
Will, for instance, regional powers for whose interests mercenaries are fighting in Libya agree to disarm them before they leave the North African country? The simple answer is no. For, there is really no “mechanism” to do so as yet; and any proposal to create this mechanism would be dead on arrival at the military committee’s table, given the internecine rivalries.
The better option – even if it is a far-fetched proposition – would be for the Libyan government and other parties to merely agree on the departure of these fighters.
The situation inside Libya is complicated. There is a Turkish military contingent deployed at two bases in the west, which Ankara claims is legitimately present, given that it approved the deployment following an invitation from the previous government in Tripoli. Russia reportedly has direct and indirect military presence there too.
The Moscow-Ankara competition for influence in the Mena region is a long and storied one. It began in Syria and then spilled over to Libya, where both sides have long sought to establish their strategic and economic interests. In Turkey’s case, it has also intended to create an ideological foothold by providing support for the Muslim Brotherhood project. Russia will not withdraw from Libya unless it is convinced the country is indeed stable and its interests will be served there. Moscow also seems to think Turkey will not leave.
This wrangle has left the West in a tangle, with the US so far focused on preventing Russian expansion into North Africa, even as France has opposed Turkish presence – despite being Nato allies – owing to tensions between the two countries.
The buck, however, needs to stop with the people of Libya and their leaders. The question is whether these leaders can come together in the larger interest of their country, as some experts I spoke to recently have pointed out.
Irina Zviagelskaya, who heads the Centre for the Middle East Studies at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations, said Libya’s issue is the lack of cohesive leadership on the ground. “The problem is not only the activities of outside powers,” she said. “Of course, they have an impact on the situation. But it seems to me that what we have in Libya – and what we have in Syria – is a lack of responsibility [on the part of] the local forces [and] a lack of institutions. If there are no institutions, we cannot do anything.”
The ripple effects of such a vacuum are manifold.
For instance, Elham Saudi, co-founder and director of Lawyers for Justice in Libya, said the country’s failed justice system means those who work on humans rights have to rely on external actors for “simple things such as holding people accountable”. “There is a real impediment to us being able to do our work as Libyans, when the international actors just dabble in Libya but not enough to change anything in it,” Ms Saudi said, citing inaction from member states of the UN Security Council and its sanctions committee.
Despite recent breakthroughs – including the formation of the interim Government of National Unity being led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and the announcement of elections in December – the future remains unclear.
According to Claudia Gazzini, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, Libyans worry that the presidential election will lead to more fighting. “First of all, let's try to get an agreement to mitigate the risk of election violence,” she said, before adding that during this transition phase, there should be agreements on the management of oil revenues and the budget.
Despite recent breakthroughs, including the formation of an interim government led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the future remains unclear. AFP
The focus on the departure of mercenaries and militias is crucial
Consensus, though, will not be easy, whether that is between internal factions or among external actors.
Perhaps, talks between Egypt and Turkey – two countries run by governments with many disagreements with each other – will have a positive impact on Libya. Even as Turkey attempts to deepen its presence inside Libya, Egypt continues to be a regional power.
On why Ankara needs to soften its stand, it need only look at its current relations with Washington. The Biden administration has a number of issues that it disagrees with the Turkish government over. The latter, therefore, cannot count on continued US consent over its military presence in Libya – even if it is seen by Washington as a counterbalance to Moscow’s influence in North Africa.
Given the stalemate in Libya and the uncertainties around the world, all foreign actors must agree on a lasting accord to secure Libya’s future. For this, the focus on the departure of mercenaries and militias is crucial. The idea itself has the support of the Arab League, the EU and the African Union, but the time has come for all the stakeholders to walk the walk.
Finally, Libya will not be able to rebuild itself as a viable state as long as it lacks institutions and accountability. Libya will not be miraculously rescued until the Libyans themselves take responsibility for building their homeland and the state, and compromise with each other to reach a national consensus.
Raghida Dergham is the founder and executive chairwoman of the Beirut Institute and a columnist for The National
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
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
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.
Favourite colour: Black.
Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.
AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
£10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
£100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
£250m to train new AI models
What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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.
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (87')
Athletic Bilbao 1
Williams (14')
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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
BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
