Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has secured his seventh term in the US Senate after fending off an election challenge in Kentucky from Democrat Amy McGrath.
Although Ms McGrath raised $30 million more than Mr McConnell, it was not enough to boot the majority leader out of office in the Republican-dominated state.
In a nine-minute speech, Mr McConnell praised his opponent – a former Marine fighter pilot and called for unity.
“My opponent ran a spirited race, she stood up for her views and won a lot of votes,” Mr McConnell said. “I applaud her willingness to step forward.”
He then called for unity before siding with the Republican race on culture war issues while rebuking chatter of dramatically transforming the Senate and the courts should Democrats win control of the chamber.
“We don’t know yet which presidential candidate will begin a new term when January ends,” he said. “We don’t know which party will control the Senate, but some things are certain.
“We know great challenges will remain before us, challenges that could not care less about our political polarisation. We know our next president will need to unite the country.”
But he also rebuked Black Lives Matter protesters for tearing down statues, including those of Confederate generals and US founders who owned slaves, in recent months.
“This is no time to tear down statues of our founders and heroes,” he said. “This is the time to follow their example.”
Mr McConnell also addressed calls from much of the Democratic base to abandon the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 votes to get most legislation passed instead of 51, as well as expand the size of the Supreme Court.
“This is no time to declare war on our institutions because one side is angry that the framers made it hard to achieve radical change,” he said.
Mr McConnell expedited the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett last month despite refusing to give former president Barack Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland a Senate vote in 2016 on the grounds it was an election year.
This drastically tipped the court’s balance of power to favour conservative-aligned justices, and prompted calls among many Democratic rank and file voters to expand the Supreme Court’s size – a process known as court packing.
Former vice president Joe Biden has vowed to establish a bipartisan committee to study potential court reforms should he win the presidency.
HEY%20MERCEDES%2C%20WHAT%20CAN%20YOU%20DO%20FOR%20ME%3F
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It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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
FIGHT%20CARD
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Background: Chemical Weapons
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
MATCH INFO
Borussia Dortmund 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Motori Profile
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Sector: Insurance Sector
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Investors: Safe City Group
Company name: Play:Date
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
