Georgia's run-off election hammered another nail into Donald Trump’s political coffin and spells big trouble for the Republican Party as a whole.
The victory of incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock over Trump-backed Herschel Walker highlights once more how an endorsement from the former president can be an electoral kiss of death. More alarmingly for the Republicans, it also shows that a critical mass of American voters care about a candidate's character.
Republican victory in the conservative southern state should have been a straightforward proposition. Prices are soaring for just about everything, the US economy is looking shakier by the day and President Joe Biden's popularity remains stuck in the doldrums.
Instead of picking a savvy political player who could capitalise on these concerns, Republicans in Georgia's primary went along with Mr Trump's endorsement and chose Mr Walker, a retired American football player, to run for a closely contested senate seat in a critically important election.
Mr Walker's deeply troubled personal history and his flaws as a father and partner should have disqualified him from even being considered as a candidate.
To recap just some of the lowlights: the anti-abortion candidate reportedly paid for former girlfriends to have their pregnancies terminated, a claim he denies; he railed against absentee dads before acknowledging as a candidate that he had three children out of wedlock; and according to his ex-wife, he threatened to kill her and put a gun to her head in an incident he said “probably” happened but that he didn't recall.
Georgia run-off election — in pictures
None of it mattered to the luminaries of the Republican Party, who rallied around Mr Walker once he won the primary. It should have been an awkward moment for a party that historically claimed probity and a moral upper hand when it comes to matters such as marital fidelity and sexual impropriety.
Their logic was simple: in polarised America, a candidate's character matters not, as long as they are on your team. Their leader Mr Trump, who allegedly had several extramarital affairs and has faced a number of allegations of sexual assault, claims he vigorously denies, is a case in point.
The sentiment was articulated well by conservative radio host Dana Loesch, who said: “I don’t care if Herschel Walker paid to abort endangered baby eagles. I want control of the Senate.”
It was an unfortunate image for America's national bird and one that misjudged the mood. Voters, it turns out, do still care about a candidate's character.
A similar saga played out in the senate race in Pennsylvania, where Republican Mehmet Oz's team mocked Democratic opponent John Fetterman's verbal gaffes after he had suffered a serious stroke.
It was an ugly move for a physician who rode to fame as America's “Dr Oz”. Voters elected Mr Fetterman to the Senate.
In Georgia, Mr Walker's defeat to Mr Warnock, a pastor, means the Democrats now have a 51-49 majority in the Senate, a gain of one seat. They already had control of the Senate, thanks to Vice President Kamala Harris’s tie-breaking vote, but their absolute majority now means they can push through political appointments including federal judges with lifetime tenures.
The victory also gives Mr Biden a greater likelihood of being able to appoint a new Supreme Court justice should a vacancy appear in the next two years, and it means the Democrats can issue investigative subpoenas in the run up to the next election.
Mr Trump endorsed hundreds of candidates and has been quick to point out that most of them won. True, but the bulk of those were incumbents or shoo-ins.
In the races that mattered, Mr Trump’s endorsement was radioactive.
In seven key races that he weighed in on, six of his candidates lost. The only victory was in Ohio, where JD Vance won a senate seat. In Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and two races in Arizona, the Trump-endorsee was rejected.
All of this is grim news for the Republican Party. The current frontrunner for presidential candidate in 2024 is Mr Trump and he still commands a loyal following among a majority of Republicans.
But that's not enough to win a general election and if recent results are anything to go by, Americans are sick of Mr Trump’s constant whining and baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
The Justice Department has appointed a special investigator to oversee sprawling probes into Mr Trump’s actions around the time of the January 6, 2021 insurrection and the discovery of classified documents at his Florida estate.
And last month, Mr Trump hosted dinner for white supremacist Nick Fuentes and Ye, the outspoken anti-Semite formerly known as Kanye West who says he likes Hitler.
After Tuesday's election disaster in Georgia, perhaps Republicans will get the message.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, a Republican, recently said “candidate quality matters” and proposed a “great policy” for his party.
“Let’s stop supporting crazy, unelectable candidates in our primaries,” he said.
Warnock v Walker, Georgia US Senate race — in pictures
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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