Donald Trump’s resounding victory in the US election is a stunning testimony about the attitudes of the American public and the state of US political culture.
Mr Trump would appear to be a singularly unappealing candidate by the historical standards of American politics – the first convicted felon to win the presidency, who ran what appeared to be an undisciplined and chaotic campaign.
Indeed, in the closing rally of his campaign, guest speakers spewed racist invective directed at Puerto Ricans, African Americans and other minorities. By all accounts, the Republican ground game in several swing states was virtually non-existent, while Democrats were knocking on doors across the country.
None of it has seemed to matter, because Americans have overwhelmingly embraced Mr Trump’s agenda. He has threatened to prosecute and persecute some of his political opponents and jail them. He promises “retribution” and has assembled a group of wealthy supporters led by Elon Musk.
He has threatened to round up millions of undocumented migrants and carry out “bloody” mass deportations. He has also promised to base the US economy around tariffs that would constitute the largest and most aggressive tax increase in modern American history, increasing prices both for consumers at stores such as Target and Walmart and for manufacturers requiring everything from steel to semiconductor chips.
Mr Trump is less likely to be surrounded by outside experts, military officers and government professionals than he was in his first administration. Instead, this time his administration is almost certain to be packed with personal loyalists and ideologues, including many who could be determined to carry out the most extreme elements of his campaign rhetoric. Whether he relies on “Project 2025” prepared by the Heritage Foundation or his own “Agenda 47”, the very similar plan propagated on his campaign website, he can be expected to replace much of America’s apolitical administrative bureaucracy with loyalists from around the country.
Internationally, the biggest losers are surely the Ukrainians, who are likely to receive virtually no support from a second Trump administration. Indeed, Mr Trump has vowed to end the war in Ukraine the day after his election, which he probably won’t be able to do. But he has hinted at forcing Kyiv to accept highly disadvantageous terms for a ceasefire.
The Palestinians, too, have much to fear. When Mr Trump was in power, he cut all aid to, and relationships with, Palestinians, and might be expected to assist Israel in the dismantling of UNRWA, the UN agency charged with caring for Palestinian refugees. Moreover, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist allies – some of the biggest winners outside the US from this outcome – may well try to move forward with large-scale annexation in the West Bank, as suggested by Mr Trump’s 2020 “Peace to Prosperity” proposal.
Americans were well aware of all of this when they went to the polls. None of it was underhand or remotely veiled. All of it was advertised in blinding political neon.
The only conclusion from the outcome is that much of the broad American public is enthusiastic about Mr Trump’s brand of populist politics. They are not issuing a cry of despair, or repudiating national institutions that are fundamentally failing. Their choice is an outcome forged in a time of relative peace and prosperity. There is chaos in certain parts of the world, but the US is not involved in a direct war anywhere. And while many Americans complain about the economy and cost of living has indeed been an issue for certain segments of society, it is the envy of the world and the consumer spending habits of the general public belie any sense of desperation or widespread impoverishment.
It is, however, certainly a stunning repudiation of American political traditions and political system. Mr Trump has made his hostility to parts of the Constitution and certain aspects of the rule of law crystal clear. Indeed, his victory will also constitute his literal get-out-of-jail-free card, since he was facing a long list of legal issues, especially for the purloined top secret documents case still pending in Florida.
The willingness of so much of the American polity to embrace this version of Mr Trump, and the new and more brutal vision he is proposing, will have a lasting and profoundly corrosive effect on US society and its place in the wider world.
“We won't go back,” Ms Harris declared. But American voters apparently do want to “go back”. Mr Trump would lose, Democrats insisted, because “that's just not us, we're not like that”. Well, American voters strongly disagreed. They had sent a clear message: “No, actually, that is us. We are exactly like that.”
Much of that broader world, including a number of traditional US partners, may now question the reliability and even fundamental seriousness of US society, political culture, global leadership and traditional central role in the international community.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
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Directed by: Anthony Mandler
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3/5
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
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8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)
Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
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Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
