US Vice President Kamala Harris is having a bad year, with poll numbers lower than predecessors Dick Cheney, who accidentally shot a man in the face, and Dan Quayle, who became embroiled in a feud with a fictional character.
When Mr Cheney was George Bush's second-in-command, he shot Harry Whittington in the face with a 28-gauge shotgun during a Texas hunting expedition. While campaigning for his second term under George HW Bush, Mr Quayle said in a speech that Murphy Brown, a television character played by Candice Bergen, was “mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it another liberal ‘lifestyle choice'."
But though Ms Harris has yet to commit any such gaffes, she has shattered a glass ceiling — and is now expected to walk through the shards raining down upon her.
She is the first woman to serve as vice president as well as the first black and South Asian person to hold the office.
A former California senator and state attorney general, Ms Harris proved her willingness to be tough, often making decisions for the greater good, regardless of how popular it made her.
After the 2008 foreclosure crisis that burst the housing bubble, several states sued lenders for their predatory practices. When a $4 billion settlement was offered, Ms Harris was the only attorney general to baulk, saying the amount was too low — for which she was criticised.
Her strategy and refusal to back down added another $16bn to the settlement as well as more protections for California homeowners, a move that made her quite popular in a state that helped deliver President Joe Biden 55 electoral votes.
It also gave Mr Biden the confidence to throw her into the deep end, handing over tough issues such as immigration, election reform and climate change. And eat-their-own-Democrats and a hungry-for-scandal media seem to content to scrutinise her every move.
When he was vice president, Mr Biden was known for going off message and making off-colour comments into hot mics — such as when former president Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law and Mr Biden leaned in to say: “This is a big [expletive] deal”. Or when, at a White House holiday event, he produced a flask and said that “Uncle Joe” would handle the eggnog.
His “fun uncle” tactics resulted in a series of whimsical memes, with Mr Obama delivering a straight line and Mr Biden coming in with the zinger.
Ms Harris, however, came into office with very little to laugh at: a worldwide pandemic, a financial crisis, an insurrection, a stacked Supreme Court and what some have called an assault on women’s rights.
One need look no further than her first overseas trip to spot the disparities in media coverage as well as optics. While in Central America, known for its political corruption, violence and poverty, Ms Harris was lambasted by progressives and the media for telling those hoping to cross the US border illegally: “Do not come.”
The comment was made in response to a sharp rise in illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border, with US Customs and Border Patrol reporting a record-breaking 1.6 million encounters with migrants in 2021, a result of the pandemic, gang violence, job losses and catastrophic natural disasters across Central America and the Caribbean.
With US hospitals filled to the brink due to Covid-19 and with the country reeling from its own natural disasters, the decision to walk back an open-door policy until these issues can be mitigated seems a wise a choice — but few Democrats appear willing to voice such an opinion.
By comparison, Mr Biden’s first overseas trip to Germany was a breeze in and out of friendly territory, among leaders he has known for years.
“It was a much tougher task. She walked into the lion’s den, whereas he walked into a clubhouse with some of his best mates,” Ivo Daalder, the Obama administration’s ambassador to Nato, told The Los Angeles Times.
“It would have been difficult for Biden to make a misstep … He was sending a message: ‘We love you.’”
The year of walking away
In the year nicknamed the Great Resignation, the Washington rumour mill has been happy to churn out theories regarding the exodus of several of the vice president's staff. The message out of the Old Executive Offices is that staffers are complaining about a lack of focus on the agenda, CNN reported.
Earlier this year, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics announced that 4.3 million Americans, or 2.9 per cent of the entire workforce, quit their jobs in August, breaking the record set the previous month.
The average White House employee lasts about two years, despite what The West Wing might depict. What creator Aaron Sorkin does get right is the expectation that employees give over family and social agendas, with spouses of staffers often referring to themselves as “single parents".
Many on Ms Harris’s team, however, have been working with her either in California or on the campaign trail for several years.
Lean on me
Mr Biden has also been leaning heavily on Ms Harris to stump for the administration’s Build Back Better agenda, which contains many key ingredients addressing climate change. Now that Joe Manchin, a senator from West Virginia, is effectively holding the legislation hostage, all those good intentions and air miles may result in producing only hot air.
In a recent appearance on Comedy Central's Tha God's Honest Truth, host Charlamagne Tha God baited Ms Harris with a provocative a question about Mr Manchin.
“I want to know who the real president of this country is: is it Joe Biden or Joe Manchin?” he asked.
Her pointed response gave assurance that she has the president's back.
“It’s Joe Biden, and don’t start talking like a Republican, about asking whether or not he’s president,” she said. “I hear the frustration, but let’s not deny the impact that we’ve had and agree also that there is a whole lot more work to be done.”
Her tone was notably stronger as she deviated from her usual on-message public voice, which Charlamagne made note of.
“That Kamala Harris? That’s the one I like,” the host said. “That’s the one I’d like to see out here more often in these streets.”
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
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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
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The%20Beekeeper
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Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Wonder
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MATCH INFO
Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 0-1 West Ham
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Tottenham 3-2 Bournemouth
Southampton v Watford (late)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RoboCop%3A%20Rogue%20City
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETeyon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENacon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%2FS%20and%20PC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Company%20profile
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Pathaan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Siddharth%20Anand%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20John%20Abraham%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Al Jazira 3 (O Abdulrahman 43', Kenno 82', Mabkhout 90 4')
Al Ain 1 (Laba 39')
Red cards: Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The%20specs
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Company%20profile
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