World

US President Biden raised $72 million in second-quarter to open campaign

President Joe Biden kicked off his 2024 reelection effort with a $72 million haul in the second quarter, allaying the fears of some big donors that the campaign was off to a slow start.

The total, which far exceeds the amounts raised by his Republican rivals, includes money raised for his campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and state parties. The campaign reported $77 million in cash on hand, which it said “represents the highest total amassed by a Democrat at any comparable point in history, in a statement on Friday.

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Campaigns are due to report detailed information on their finances to the Federal Election Commission on Saturday, which will also reveal the top donors to each campaign.

Biden’s total tops the $35 million that the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump raised in the second quarter and the $20 million that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis raised in roughly six weeks after launching his campaign. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley raised $7.3 million, while fellow South Carolinian Senator Tim Scott raised $6.1 million.

Since formally launching his campaign on April 25, Biden brought in more than $1 million per day on average, a pace that exceeds that of former President Barack Obama. Obama raised a record $86 million when his reelection launched in the second quarter of 2011, averaging just under $1 million a day when contribution limits were much lower.

More than 394,000 donors contributed, of whom 30 percent were new, the campaign said. Of the 670,000 individual contributions received, 97 percent were in amounts less than $200, and the average contribution was $39.

Because of a joint fundraising agreement between Biden’s campaign, the DNC, and state parties, the president is able to accept money in much bigger chunks than his Republican rivals. The maximum donation to the Biden Victory Fund is $929,600, dwarfing the $3,300 individual contribution limit for single campaigns without a broader agreement with the party.

The campaign hosted 38 fundraisers since April. Some of the in-person fundraisers had ticket prices of more than $25,000, much more than the $3,300 limit on contributions to the campaign.

The president enjoys the advantages that come with incumbency. With no serious rival for the Democratic nomination, Biden can stockpile his money while Republican challengers spend theirs promoting themselves and attacking opponents in pursuit of the GOP nomination. Political operatives say the general-election campaign will be an expensive and bruising one — especially if Biden ends up in a rematch with Trump.

But while Biden is not facing a costly primary, his fundraising number will be seen as a proxy for voter enthusiasm. Already the oldest US president in history at 80, Biden is plagued by persistently low approval ratings and questions about his health and fitness to serve another four years. Democrats had also expressed concern that Biden was fundraising at a slower pace after launching his campaign.

Donor outreach

The president has stepped up campaign events in recent weeks to tout his legislative accomplishments, in particular his economic agenda which the White House has taken to calling Bidenomics. The economy is expected to be front-and-center for 2024 voters.

Just 38.4 percent of voters approve of his handling of the economy, while 59 percent disapprove, according to the RealClearPolitics average of national polls. Biden’s overall approval rating is 42.1 percent according the RealClearPolitics average.

With under 16 months to go before the election, campaigns are ramping up their outreach to donors. Members of Biden’s campaign team and the DNC started traveling in July to key cities, including Minneapolis, Boston, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, to meet important donors.

Veteran Democratic fundraiser Rufus Gifford is expected to leave his job as chief protocol officer at the US State Department at the end of July to join Biden’s campaign and oversee outreach to Democratic donors.

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM