Rwandan President Paul Kagame spent his childhood in a refugee camp after his family fled to Uganda. The fact he went on to help lead a liberation force, which brought the Rwandan genocide to an end in 1994 and re-established stability in the war-torn country, is testament to his resilience. But Mr Kagame has not rested on his laurels since taking power in Kigali. Instead, he has overseen Rwanda’s growth from a country on the verge of total collapse to a bastion of cleanliness, peace and prosperity. It is that transformation that has garnered praise for Mr Kagame and his east African nation from leaders across the world.
Under his stewardship, Rwanda has seen annual growth of more than 7 per cent and one of the best gender equality examples in the world, with women in 64 per cent of seats in parliament and 50 per cent of roles in Rwanda's cabinet. As infant mortality has fallen, primary school enrolment has hit nearly 100 per cent. Mr Kagame is certainly not without his critics. There are those who point to his autocratic tendencies and his controversial 99 per cent landslide win in 2017's election. While these matters are important to note, Rwanda unquestionably has been transformed under his leadership.
In an exclusive interview with The National this week, Mr Kagame outlined his style of governance – one that emphasises dialogue and the safe airing of grievances. He criticised leaders who resort too quickly to violence against their citizens, as seen in the recent crackdowns on protests in Sudan and Zimbabwe. As he said, much can be achieved when people work together. Having managed to defuse ethnic tensions in Rwanda, where neighbour turned on neighbour and nearly one million people were killed, his comments are instructive. Citizens can "become immunised" to violence; the instigation of peace – and its absence – is down to people.
Ultimately, the message from Mr Kagame's Rwanda is that conflict resolution and forgiveness are the key to long-term peace and prosperity. It is down to ordinary people who survive a civil war to advance the cause of peace and, as he said on stage at the Milken Institute summit in Abu Dhabi, to find it in their hearts to forgive. It was that understanding that produced the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa, where perpetrators and victims gave testimony to foster national healing. Other truth commissions have followed in dozens of countries, from Guatemala to the Philippines and Yugoslavia.
Amnesties and apologies certainly cannot right the wrongs of the past but they can unify divided nations. The story of the refugee-turned-president and the country he healed could well serve as an example for other nations to learn from.
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.
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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Company%20Profile
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Company%20profile%20
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
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.
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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
