Republican voters in Nebraska chose Jim Pillen as their nominee for governor, siding with the University of Nebraska regent backed by the state’s outgoing governor over a rival accused of groping numerous women and supported by former US president Donald Trump.
Mr Pillen, a pig farm owner and veterinarian, defeated eight challengers, including Charles Herbster, a businessman who faced groping allegations late in the campaign, and Brett Lindstrom, a state senator and Omaha financial adviser who was generally viewed as a more moderate choice.
“We live in the greatest place on the planet, right here in Nebraska,” Mr Pillen said in a victory speech late on Tuesday as a crowd cheered and chanted: “Let’s go, Jim!”
He said his opponents had called to concede. While Trump-endorsed candidates won primary races in West Virginia for the US House on Tuesday, the statewide loss in Nebraska was a setback for the former president.
He has issued hundreds of endorsements and staged his signature campaign-style rallies in support of his preferred candidates, including Mr Herbster, all in an effort to bend the Republican Party in his direction ahead of another possible presidential run in 2024.
Mr Herbster’s loss raises the stakes on other high-profile races this month in Pennsylvania and Georgia, where Mr Trump has also intervened in campaigns.
In this Republican stronghold, Mr Pillen will be a favourite in November’s general election against his Democratic opponent, state senator Carol Blood. Nebraska has not elected a Democrat as governor since 1994.
In West Virginia, meanwhile, voters embraced Trumpism by choosing Congressman Alex Mooney — who has Mr Trump's support — over fellow politician Dave McKinley, who angered the Republican leader by backing a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package signed into law last year.
“I Love West Virginia. Congratulations to Alex Mooney on his BIG WIN!!!” Mr Trump said on Truth Social, his new social media platform.
Mr McKinley had also supported the creation of a commission to investigate the 2021 US Capitol riot over which the former president was impeached.
The candidates — both currently serving in the House of Representatives — were forced into the tussle in a newly drawn district after West Virginia lost a House seat.
In Nebraska, the allegations against Mr Herbster, a longtime supporter of Mr Trump, did not stop the former president from holding a rally with him this month.
“I really think he’s going to do just a fantastic job, and if I didn’t feel that, I wouldn’t be here,” said Mr Trump, who has denied several sexual misconduct allegations of his own.
— Agencies contributed to this report.
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
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
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Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.
Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
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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
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