A combative President Joe Biden sought to undermine Republican detractors and reassure America about the direction the US is headed as it tackles a bewildering array of challenges that are perceived very differently across the polarised country.
During a fiery State of the Union address late on Tuesday, Mr Biden waded deep into domestic issues and sparred with jeering Republicans who heckled him during remarks that often sounded like a campaign speech.
"The story of America is a story of progress and resilience," he said in the 80-minute speech, telling the nation that America has recovered quickly from the Covid-19 pandemic and emerged more robust than before.
"We are the only country that has emerged from every crisis stronger than when we entered it. That is what we are doing again."
The Democratic president took repeated swipes at Republicans, pointing to the January 6, 2021 mob attack by supporters of Donald Trump as posing an existential threat to America.
"Two years ago, our democracy faced its greatest threat since the Civil War. Today, though bruised, our democracy remains unbowed and unbroken," Mr Biden said.
Although he has yet to officially announce a re-election bid, Mr Biden has hinted that he intends to do so and has started the year with a sharper tone against Republicans at campaign-style events.
Washington pundits said the speech served as a preview of sorts for Mr Biden's expected run, even though most Democrats do not want him to, according to recent polls.
He appeared to relish moments of drama with Republican detractors, some of whom could be heard shouting"liar" as he attacked the conservative party on key issues including health care and pension entitlements.
His address to Congress, a Constitutionally mandated update to legislators, comes at an odd time in the American political landscape.
Fear of a recession abounds but job openings are at historic highs. Inflation is still a worry, but price increases have started to cool down. Global challenges including the war in Ukraine are many, while America remains prosperous yet heavily indebted.
Outlining a "blue collar blueprint to rebuild America", Mr Biden said workers should be given greater opportunities to unionise and said Congress should pass a minimum tax on billionaires.
"Reward work, not just wealth," Mr Biden said. "No billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a school teacher or a firefighter."
The speech focused on domestic issues, including calling for police reform and a ban on assault weapons, but he mentioned China as a primary competitor and warned Beijing following the shoot down of a suspected spy balloon.
"Make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China’s threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did," he said.
He also attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his "brutal war" against Ukraine.
"A murderous assault, evoking images of the death and destruction Europe suffered in World War II," he said.
"Putin’s invasion has been a test for the ages. A test for America. .... We united Nato and built a global coalition. We stood against Putin’s aggression."
The Republicans, whose rebuttal was delivered by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, sought to paint an unabashedly grim picture of the US, attacking Mr Biden for his age and on several issues including immigration.
“In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves, and our children are taught to hate one another on account of their race, but not to love one another or our great country,” said a downbeat-sounding Ms Sanders, 40.
She also condemned the Democrats for being "woke" and fuelling America's culture wars that have pitted people against one another on a range of issues including whether the country's racist past should be taught in schools and whether women should have access to abortion.
"The Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day," Ms Sanders said.
Oil and gas
Mr Biden drew scornful laughter from Republicans when he told Congress the US would need oil “for at least another decade.″
The comment came as he promoted a landmark law to slow climate change that authorises hundreds of billions of dollars to boost renewable energy such as wind and solar power and help consumers buy electric vehicles and energy-efficient appliances.
He criticised US hydrocarbon producers for making $200 billion in profits during the global energy crisis.
"It’s outrageous. They invested too little of that profit to increase domestic production and keep gas prices down," Mr Biden said as he called for corporations to "do the right thing".
The Republicans now control the US House of Representatives, though their drumbeat of pessimism about America seems to be failing to resonate beyond members of their own party.
Mr Biden's Democratic Party retained control of the Senate after last November's midterm elections and the better than anticipated results have invigorated the 80-year-old president, who appears set to declare that he will run again in 2024.
He appealed to Republicans to work with him to pass bipartisan legislation, a feat achieved several times in the last session of Congress with the passage of infrastructure spending, gun reform, and other bills.
"To my Republican friends, if we could work together last Congress there's no reason we can't work together and find consensus on important things in this Congress," Mr Biden said.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
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More coverage from the Future Forum
More from our neighbourhood series:
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
More on Quran memorisation:
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Results
2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.
4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
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Ukraine
Capital: Kiev
Population: 44.13 million
Armed conflict in Donbass
Russia-backed fighters control territory
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
