Follow our coverage of the debate here
Incumbent Joe Biden won the Democratic primary elections earlier this year, making him the presumptive nominee for US president, but Thursday night's debate has cast doubt over his future prospects.
With a little more than four months to go until the November 5 vote, he has not yet been named the official candidate for his party. That is scheduled to happen during the Democratic National Convention, which will take place in Chicago in mid-August.
Mr Biden's dismal performance during Thursday's first debate against his presumptive Republican rival Donald Trump drew calls from his own party to step aside and allow another candidate to run instead.
“I wish Biden would reflect on this debate performance and then announce his decision to withdraw from the race, throwing the choice of Democratic nominee to the convention,” Nicholas Kristof, a New York Times columnist wrote on X, before naming possible candidates.
Maria Shriver, a prominent member of the party and part of the politically influential Kennedy family, put it more bluntly. “There’s panic in the Democratic Party,” she wrote.
It would be highly unusual for a sitting US president to step aside, especially this late in the election cycle. Mr Biden has given no indication that he would be willing to end his campaign, and some political analysts have pointed to his pride and stubbornness.
There is no clear front-runner for the President's possible replacement, but here are the most prominent possible candidates:
Kamala Harris
Mr Biden's Vice President, Kamala Harris, is in many ways the most obvious choice: if he were to resign now, she would automatically become president.
If Mr Biden were to drop out of the race and recommend that she be nominated, the party is likely to weigh that into their decision and rally behind her.
After the debate, Ms Harris defended the President, telling CNN: “I’m not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when I’ve been watching the last three and a half years of performance.”
But polls show Ms Harris, 59, is unpopular among US voters and she is likely to struggle against Trump. Observers also say she has found it difficult to carve out a concrete role for herself in the Biden administration.
Gavin Newsom
The Governor of California is another possible replacement for Mr Biden. He was present in CNN's “spin room” during the debate, delivering sharp criticisms of Trump and defending the President.
The 56-year-old leader of the most populous US state is a well-known figure in the party.
But in an interview after the debate, he dismissed suggestions that he would replace Mr Biden as the Democratic candidate.
“This is a President of the United States running for re-election – he's our guy,” Mr Newsom said.
“And that's part of the diversion tactic of the right – to continue to sort of muddy the waters on all of that, and that nonsensical speculation.”
Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan Governor is a rising star in the Democratic party, and the 56-year-old was also on the shortlist of candidates for Mr Biden's vice president in 2020.
She is co-chairwoman of Mr Biden’s re-election campaign.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and California Representative Ro Khanna have also been floated as potential candidates.
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
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
UK%20record%20temperature
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
more from Janine di Giovanni
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
