At last, after five months of tense negotiations and amid popular unrest, a government is taking shape in Iraq. Developments in the nation's parliament on Tuesday unfolded with a pace rarely seen in a country often crippled by a weak parliamentary system installed in 2003. Less than two hours after Barham Salih – a moderate Kurdish politician – was elected to the presidency, he selected Adel Abdul Mahdi as his prime minister designate.
Mr Abdul Mahdi will now set about nominating a cabinet for parliamentary approval within 30 days – a significant feat of its own. This is a powerful moment, one that the Iraqi people and the watching world hope will not be squandered.
Mr Salih’s emphatic victory over his Kurdish rival, Fuad Hussein, indicates overwhelming parliamentary support for the former’s trademark unity politics. There are hopes, therefore, that sectarian divisions, which have bedevilled Iraqi politics since the fall of Saddam Hussein, might be starting to disintegrate – and pragmatic coalitions emerging. Mr Salih has been active in both Kurdish and national politics, suggesting he could bridge the gap between Baghdad and Erbil.
Meanwhile, Mr Abdul Mahdi will be the first Iraqi premier since 2005 not to hail from the Shiite Islamist Dawa party. The two men face an uphill battle to balance relations with Iran and the US, while Tehran’s pursuit of influence over Iraq’s next government exacerbated the post-election stalemate.
But the challenges do not end there. Today, Iraq faces many problems, from a variety of armed groups to a looming economic crisis. Following a deadly and destructive war with ISIS, large areas of the country require rebuilding. Meanwhile, inadequate service provision has sparked violent protests, most notably in oil-rich Basra. Iraqis are in grave need of a functioning government that puts them first and protects the nation’s sovereignty against the incursions of foreign powers.
There is hope that Mr Adbul Mahdi's eventual cabinet will do just that. But as ever, a healthy dose of scepticism is required.
With no clear winner in the tussle for influence between Tehran and Washington, jockeying will continue in the next month. The fact that pro-Iran Shiite military commander Hadi Al Amiri backed Mr Abdul Mahdi's nomination because, as one analyst told The National, he did not view the new prime minister as a threat to Iranian influence, is hardly encouraging. In addition, while he will certainly speak for the Kurds, Mr Salih's election, which sidelined the rival Kurdish Democratic Party – sent ripples through Kurdish dynastic politics.
On a deeper level, both Mr Salih and Mr Abdul Mahdi are political veterans, enmeshed in Iraqi politics since 2003, when the former was part of the US-backed interim government. But the people of Iraq need quick solutions to the country’s many problems. Onlookers should be pragmatic, despite the clear significance of this moment, because in Iraqi politics, destroying alliances takes far less time than forging them.
Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: 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
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The%20Specs
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IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.