The world appears so off its regular axis that it is easy to believe many of our most hallowed norms are either perishing or have already been done away with. Right-wing populists are getting away with saying the previously unspeakable about ethnic groups, whom they blame for societies’ woes. Ludicrous conspiracy theories have advanced from the margins to the mainstream. The territorial integrity of states is no longer guaranteed by a unanimous international consensus. When scholars ask if democracy and the rule of law are dying, it frequently seems as though they have already decided the answer is “yes”.
So it is good to be reminded that there are countries where normal rules not only continue to exist but are being exercised to protect the system of checks and balances essential to good governance.
Impeachment hearings are under way in the US for only the third time in the country's history. So extraordinary has Donald Trump's presidency been that the first attempts to start this process were in 2017 – only a few months after he took up residence in the While House. It was obvious this would go nowhere when the Republican Party, which Mr Trump leads, controlled the House of Representatives, where the impeachment process must begin. After long agonising over whether using this ultimate censure would actually rebound and help the president in his re-election bid next year, the ascendant Democratic Party – which now has a majority in the House – is pushing ahead.
It seems likely that the House will vote to impeach the president but the Senate, still in the Republicans’ hands, will not vote to convict him. Regardless, the testimony we have already heard from current and former officials – including those who are supposed to be on Mr Trump’s side – has been devastating. The US Constitution, according to Mr Trump's edict earlier this year, means: “I can do whatever I want as president”. However, the impeachment process has become a very public and humiliating rejoinder to Mr Trump that this is not the case, that he might have broken numerous rules and laws, no matter how much William Barr, his attorney general, assures him that his presidential powers are virtually unlimited.
In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has just become the first sitting prime minister to be indicted on criminal charges, including bribery, fraud and breach of trust. It may be that he cannot legally be forced to stand down until and unless he is convicted. Nevertheless, Mr Netanyahu’s claims that the investigations into him constituted an “attempted coup” are unconvincing, to say the least.
The charges have been laid by Avichai Mandelblit, the attorney general whom Mr Netanyahu appointed and who had previously served as his cabinet secretary. Further, Mr Mandelblit is close to his prime minister but he also has a reputation for being fiercely impartial. It is hard to see how long Mr Netanyahu can cling to office – especially as when his predecessor Ehud Olmert was himself investigated in 2008, Mr Netanyahu said that under the circumstances Mr Olmert had no "moral or public mandate to make crucial decisions" and called for him to go.
Meanwhile in Romania in May, the leader of the then ruling Social Democrats, Liviu Dragnea, was sent to jail for abuse of power. His protege Viorica Dancila was still prime minister at the time. But after massive demonstrations and a clear rejection by the voting public in the European parliamentary elections – the Social Democrats won only 23 per cent – her government could stand in justice’s way no more. Mr Dragnea was picked up by the police from his home the very next day.
In Britain, too, some have worried that the Conservative government is pushing the bounds of its unwritten constitution in terms of the powers it can assert. To suggest that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in the same company as the men mentioned above would be absurd. But the fact that the courts stymied his attempt to shorten parliament’s working days in September and have just allowed another legal challenge to his Brexit withdrawal agreement shows that checks and balances in Britain are still working – even if some strongly dispute the judges’ rulings.
Read More from Sholto Byrnes
What is significant about all these cases is that they concern incumbent leaders. It is far easier to prosecute prime ministers and presidents after they have left or lost office, but doing so runs the risk of appearing to be political persecution. For instance, there are many who question the jailing of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former Brazilian president, on money-laundering and corruption charges last year. That, tweeted US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders this month, was "something that should never have happened in the first place".
However, when leaders in office – in the executive – receive major pushback in a just application of the rules from the other branches of government – the judiciary and legislature – it shows that the doctrine of the separation of powers is working. The signal is sent that governments can and will be held accountable. No one is above the law. That those in power can be accused of such crimes might be appalling; that they must answer the charges, however, should be reassuring.
In times of baffling change and uncertainty, it is good to hold onto these examples. We might feel buffeted by storms but some timbers are holding strong. The fact that they are should give us hope that they, and the foundations of good governance in many other countries, will still be standing when the tempest abates.
Sholto Byrnes is a commentator and consultant in Kuala Lumpur and a corresponding fellow of the Erasmus Forum
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
More coverage from the Future Forum
SPECS
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
