After decades of dictatorship, Gambia is hearing allegations of abuse and crime committed during ex-president Yahya Jammeh's 22 years in power, thanks to its Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, set up to investigate claims of torture, disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Jammeh was ousted in 2017 and is now in hiding in Equatorial Guinea but it is not too late for him to face justice.
He allegedly embezzled nearly $1 billion from the state and ordered the murder and torture of opponents. Now, following a report into allegations of sexual abuse and rape, compiled by Human Rights Watch and Trial International, a number of women have come forward demanding their day in court. Toujah Jallow has waived her right to anonymity in a bid to encourage other victims to come forward and alleges Jammeh drugged and raped her. Ms Jallow says by shedding light on Jammeh’s behaviour, it “becomes somewhat easier for someone who’s dealing with a CEO, a boss, a schoolteacher or an uncle”. Hearings of this kind are vital, not simply to provide closure to the victims.
They also serve as a reminder that no one, no matter how powerful, is untouchable and that justice must be dealt to those who abuse their power.
Human rights advocates are hopeful that Jammeh, who denies the allegations, will eventually be brought to face justice, although he is yet to be extradited. But he is not alone in committing atrocities or flouting the laws of his own land.
Across the world, leaders who once seemed unassailable are being held accountable for their actions. Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Pakistan's ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Park Guen-hye, former South Korean president, all currently languish in prison after being convicted of corruption. Former Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir has not yet been charged for genocide in Darfur, despite an International Criminal Court indictment, but he is behind bars in Khartoum. Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacob Zuma, accused of corruption while serving as presidents of France and South Africa respectively, will both face trial this year.
Justice might not always be swift to follow the ousting and downfall of political leaders who abuse the powers of their office. In the case of Ratko Mladic, the butcher of Bosnia, it took 22 years; some investigations can take even longer. Prosecutors are currently preparing cases against women in their 90s who worked as switchboard operators in Nazi concentration camps. And it is worth remembering not all architects of misery feel the full force of the law in their lifetime. That is why Gambia’s truth commission is such an important step in the right direction. It sends a strong message to the world that no one, however powerful or protected, is above the law.
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
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
Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
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
Barbie
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Company name: Nestrom
Started: 2017
Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi
Based: Jordan
Sector: Technology
Initial investment: Close to $100,000
Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
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10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up
Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm
On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm
The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm
Romang, June 28 at 6pm
Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm
Underdog, June 29 at 2pm
Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm
A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
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