In June, when Chris Christie announced his 2024 presidential bid in New Hampshire, there were loud rumblings among the Republican Party faithful.
Mr Christie wants badly to defeat Donald Trump, who is leading the Republican race. And to do this, he has forcefully taken on the former president.
Yet, the former governor of New Jersey has a long history with Mr Trump. He was one of the first mainstream Republicans to endorse him, a very early backer, and then led his presidential transition team in 2016. When Mr Christie was elected governor in 2009, Mr Trump was in the front row of the inaugural mass.
These days, Mr Christie has emerged as Mr Trump’s leading critic, detailing why the latter, now indicted in Georgia, is unelectable. Mr Christie has been calling him a “failed leader” a “coward” and a “one-man crime wave”.
Mr Trump’s response was his usual vindictive self: largely directed at Mr Christie’s eating habits. “Christie is eating right now – he can’t be bothered,” he said to a baying crowd of supporters in New Hampshire.
In response, Mr Christie said Mr Trump was a “spoiled baby”. Later he posted on Twitter: “Breaking news ... I have struggled with my weight for 20 years. What I haven't struggled with is my character. I'll put that up against Donald Trump’s any day. If that’s the best he’s got, then he’s lost his fastball."
Mr Christie says his support of Mr Trump ended with the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. They have not spoken aside from slinging mud at each other. But the Trump and Christie war is a good window into the messiness of the Republicans. They are plagued by painful internal divisions. The party of strong and effective former presidents such as Ronald Reagan, Dwight D Eisenhower and Theodore Roosevelt, no longer exists.
Mr Trump’s Make America Great Again – or Maga – movement has been one of the main causes for the party’s break with its past. According to a study published by the University of Washington, Maga followers tend to believe conspiracy theories that include Mr Trump’s 2020 election was stolen; that Covid-19 is a bioweapon from China; and that the Capitol riot was the work of Antifa, a left-wing political movement.
But does Mr Christie have a chance against Mr Trump or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to get the bid for the Republican nomination?
His greatest appeal to the voters is that he is a sensible bulwark against Mr Trump’s increasingly radical policies. He refuses to embrace “white grievance policies”. When he does attack Mr Trump, it’s not about his hair transplant or his supposedly tiny hands, but about his character.
Mr Christie goes after Mr Trump for what a number of Americans fear – a threat to their country’s democracy and constitution. Mr Christie believes that if Mr Trump is elected again, he will govern with an unprecedented authoritarian agenda. And that he will be vengeful against those who opposed him.
Mr Trump is way ahead in the polls right now, but using plain-speak and sensibility, Mr Christie could succeed at taking some of Mr Trump’s more centrist voters. There is an entire division within the GOP called the Never Trumpers, traditional Republicans who are appalled and horrified by Mr Trump’s behaviour and who have worked to keep him out of office.
What does Mr Christie believe in?
His policies include support for Ukraine – he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this month and prayed at the grave of war heroes. Mr Trump, meanwhile, opposes more aid to Ukraine. This has also staked a clear position on an issue that has divided the GOP.
Both candidates are opposed on abortion, and both see exceptions for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. Mr Christie would not, however, support a federal ban on abortion, saying it should be addressed at state level.
He has also set himself apart from other GOP candidates who sidestep the question of the 2020 election by adamantly proclaiming: “The election wasn’t stolen. He lost."
A poll conducted by New Hampshire Journal published this month found Mr Trump receiving 43 per cent in New Hampshire, a key state, with Mr Christie and Mr DeSantis tied in second place at 9 per cent. Another poll, from the University of New Hampshire published in mid-July, found that 6 per cent of likely GOP primary voters picked Mr Christie as their first-choice candidate, behind Senator Tim Scott (8 per cent), Mr DeSantis (23 per cent) and Mr Trump (37 per cent).
More from Janine di Giovanni
But Mr Christie could build momentum. The first Republican primary debate, which will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday, will be important. Mr Trump refuses to take part, which may give Mr Christie a chance to shine.
As of now, Mr Trump is the clear Republican frontrunner to face Joe Biden in next year’s election. But if somebody has to take down Mr Trump, Mr Christie could be the man to do it. He played a big role in taking down Senator Marco Rubio before the 2016 New Hampshire debate when Mr Rubio appeared to be coming on strong.
Between now and January 2024, when the Republican Party presidential primaries begin, the former Boss of New Jersey may go far.
As Peggy Noonan, a White House insider, wrote recently in The Wall Street Journal: “He is almost Trump’s equal in showbiz and he’s superior in invective, so he can do some damage … Would it be a suicide mission? I don’t know. But those kamikazes took out a lot of tankers.”
Mr Christie, who has been described as loyal, mouthy, combative and entertaining – and whose Political Action Committee is called “Tell It Like It Is” – is confident of his chances. “If I get into the race,” he said this spring, “I’ll make it interesting.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The five pillars of Islam
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
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The%20Little%20Mermaid%20
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
SPECS
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Specs
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
The%20specs
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
