Here on the US East Coast, it’s the traditional time for American football games, prepping for Halloween or Thanksgiving, or watching great maple trees turn red and orange.
But there is no tradition this year. Instead, most Americans find themselves caught in an increasingly dystopian world as elections grow nearer. Last week was the pinnacle, featuring the most startling presidential debate – or debacle as most see it – in history and then, a few days later, President Donald Trump and his wife Melania testing positive for Covid-19.
With Mr Trump, who is 74 and overweight, now hospitalised at Walter Reed Hospital, and more members of his circle testing positive, the 2020 election campaign has been turned upside down. There is also some confusion in the timeline of Mr Trump's illness. He didn't inform the public until 1am on Friday, but his doctors have made references to symptoms or treatments beginning while he was still attending large fundraisers and rallies.
President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he leaves the White House to go to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo
President Donald Trump salutes as he boards Marine One as he leaves the White House. AP Photo
Members of the US Secret Service wear protective masks as Marine One, with U.S. President Donald Trump on board, departs the South Lawn of the White House. Bloomberg
President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo
US President Donald Trump waves from the presidential motorcade while arriving at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Bloomberg
President Donald Trump boards Marine One. AP Photo
The memorandum from White House physician Sean Conley to White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany with information about President Donald Trump being moved to Walter reed National Military Medical Center and the decision to initiate Remdesivir therapy. AP Photo
US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One. Bloomberg
US President Donald Trump makes an announcement after he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus. Reuters
Marine One helicopter, with President Donald Trump aboard, lifts off from the South Lawn of the White House. AP Photo
President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo
Members of the media and general public watch as President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo
The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Bloomberg
It would have been less bizarre had Mr Trump recognised that stopping the spread of the virus, by wearing masks and practising social distancing, is imperative. Instead, he encouraged his fan base to eschew masks. He called for large cities to be re-opened. He suggested that people drink bleach to combat the virus. Despite warnings, he has fixated on the release of a vaccine before the election – presumably to gain votes.
There might have been more sympathy for the Trumps had his wife not been caught on the “Melania tapes” earlier in the week. In a conversation with a former aide, the First Lady peppered her halting English with profanities to describe her White House Christmas duties, and her apparent disdain for the plight of immigrant children separated from their parents.
But it was the horror of the debate that left most Americans, even some of his supporters, reeling. Mr Biden stressed how the President had failed his country during the pandemic, leaving 200,000 dead. His "empty chair" image – symbolising how many families lost a loved one to the virus – went viral.
To counter, Trump went full-throttle bully. If it left anyone undecided about their vote after witnessing the spectacle, it is – in the words of the comedian David Sedaris – like being on an airplane and being offered chicken or a platter containing bits of broken glass, and then asking how the chicken is cooked.
Looking back historically at other debates, it is possible Mr Trump could climb out of this mess, if only because his Maga (Make American Great Again) voter base saw his performance as a victory.
There have been other unorthodox debates that changed American history.
John F Kennedy, right, and Richard Nixon appear in the fourth and final debate in New York. The 1960 presidential election offered the country's first televised debates. AP Photo
In 1960, a young senator, John Kennedy, and vice president Richard Nixon, a tireless campaigner and a skilled politician, took to the stage. Nixon had been ill and refused to wear make-up because Kennedy goaded him into rejecting it. But the duplicitous Kennedy – who used television the way Mr Trump uses Twitter – had already applied his layer of foundation over tanned skin.
Nixon had still been leading the polls. Kennedy – the scion of a corrupt Irish-Catholic mafia – was an unknown. But while the former looked gaunt and pale from his illness, the latter appeared handsome – and played dirty. He prepped for weeks and broke a gentleman’s rule not to discuss foreign policy. Nixon was unprepared for Cold War conversation. Kennedy went on to win in one of the closest presidential elections, at that time, in history.
In 1980, a former Hollywood actor whose most famous co-star was a chimp debated against President Jimmy Carter. Mr Carter's presidency had not been successful. There were American hostages in Iran, and economic growth was stagnant. He used the debate to talk about a conversation with his 13-year-old daughter about nuclear weapons. Mr Carter had the lead in the polls. But Reagan used his refrain of "are you better off now then you were four years ago?" to help usher in a right-wing conservative shift in politics, Reaganomics and the Moral Majority movement.
In this 1992 file photo, George H W Bush looks at his watch during the 1992 presidential campaign debate. AP Photo
In 1992, a relatively unknown governor from Arkansas, Bill Clinton, went up against the formidable, popular Gulf War president, George HW Bush. Bush’s detractors said he was an out-of-touch millionaire. Ross Perot, another Texas millionaire, entered the race and began taking Bush’s Republican votes. During the debate, Bush was asked how the national debt had affected the candidates personally. Bush – a privileged senator’s son – stumbled through the question. Mr Clinton knew how to connect with the audience; he had a natural warmth. Bush got caught staring at his watch while Mr Clinton spoke. A few weeks later, Mr Clinton won the election.
By November 3, we might not remember the debate if things get increasingly worse. There is talk already of Mr Trump's line of succession. There is increasing muttering about post-election violence and civil strife. There is speculation of a second wave of Covid-19.
His own diagnosis also imperils the Supreme Court installation of Amy Coney Barrett before Election Day. It would have been daunting for the confirmation to happen in steady times – but with the President in hospital, pulling off a complex operation that would need three branches of government involved in the next four weeks seems unlikely. Senior Republicans are adamant that they will move ahead with the hearings on her nomination.
We are only in October, and 2020 will go down as one of the most challenging and strange times in American history. I have no doubt we will recover, as a nation. Americans are historically resilient and Covid-19 will eventually lose its power. But whether or not Mr Trump will admit to losing his is another matter.
Janine di Giovanni is a Senior Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
What: Brazil v South Korea When: Tonight, 5.30pm Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Tickets:www.ticketmaster.ae
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds: Rodrigo (59') Man City: Sterling (17')
Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)
LIKELY TEAMS
South Africa
Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.
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
