Former president Donald Trump on Sunday took advantage of his fervent support among the rank and file at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference to set himself as frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
It was barely a month since he left office and mere weeks after the Senate failed to convict him in his second impeachment trial.
In a speech of about one and a half hours, Mr Trump declared “the incredible journey we’ve begun four years ago” is “far from being over", all but declaring his intent to run for the Republican nomination and ruling out rumours that he may seek to start a third party.
Throughout the speech, he persisted with his false conspiracy theory that he won the election, reiterating unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud.
“As you know, they just lost the White House,” Mr Trump said. “It’s one of those things. But who knows? I may even decide to beat them for a third time.”
He did not address the fact that the conspiracy theory prompted many of his supporters to violently storm Capitol Hill in a failed bid to keep Congress from certifying the election results.
But Mr Trump did name and shame Republican legislators who voted to impeach him for allegedly inciting the failed insurrection, reserving most of his ire for Liz Cheney, the House’s No 3 Republican.
He also attacked the justices on the Supreme Court for last year throwing out an election fraud case filed by Texas and several other Republican-led states.
Mr Trump did not attack House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who also spoke at the conference, despite a heated phone argument during the January 6 riot.
The Republican leader sought to convince Mr Trump to call on his supporters to end the siege on the Capitol.
And while several other high-profile Republicans who could angle for the 2024 nomination attended, many of the conference’s high-profile speakers repeated the false election fraud claims, showing the grip the former president still has on the Republican Party.
A poll conducted by The Washington Times found 68 per cent of those attending the conference wanted Mr Trump to run for president again in 2024, while 95 per cent said they wanted the Republican nominee to continue his policies and agenda.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis polled just behind Mr Trump.
While CPAC typically convenes in Washington, DC, the organisers held it in Orlando, Florida this year because of restrictions on indoor gatherings in the capital during the pandemic.
Other speakers included former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Senator Ted Cruz.
The high-profile list of keynote speakers reflected the expanding influence that CPAC, and Mr Trump’s far-right ideology, has had on the Republican party in recent years.
The conference even featured a statue of Mr Trump painted gold, and the crowd enthusiastically greeted the former president’s speech with chants of “We love you” and “You won”.
Aside from the false voter fraud claims, Mr Trump spent most of his time rehashing several of the culture war issues that propelled him to the White House in 2016, heavily criticising Mr Biden for his immigration policies and school closures amid the pandemic.
“In just one short month, we have gone from America first to America last,” he said.
Mr Trump also attacked Mr Biden on Iran, falsely claiming that “the new administration unilaterally withdrew our crippling sanctions in Iran, foolishly giving away all of America’s leverage before negotiations have even begun".
Mr Biden has kept the Trump sanctions regime on Iran in place, insisting that he will not lift them until Iran returns to compliance with the nuclear deal.
The Biden administration did reverse the Trump administration’s position at the UN regarding multilateral snapback sanctions on Iran.
But those sanctions never went into effect under either administration because of the Security Council’s position that the US had no authority to initiate snapback UN sanctions on Iran because it had withdrawn from the nuclear deal.
THREE
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
