US Edition  

Abu Dhabi, UAEThursday 3 December 2020

A healthcare professional suits up with PPE at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert, Ohio, November 20, 2020.  AFP 

US Covid vaccine chief expects 100 million immunisations by March as CDC warns of dire crisis
The US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

US to withdraw some Baghdad embassy staff as Iran tensions simmer

The Americas
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley appears before a House Armed Services Committee hearing July 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. AFP 

US military ‘very capable’ and determined to defend the constitution

The Americas
Emirates staff stand in a '49' formation in front of an A380 superjumbo at Dubai International Airport to celebrate the UAE's 49th National Day. Courtesy Emirates 

Emirates celebrates UAE National Day in Dubai, Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Chicago

Travel
EDITOR'S PICKS
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed Columbia University.  AP

Climate pledges from Biden and others offer hope, says UN

The Americas
US First Lady Melania Trump stands in front of the White House Christmas Tree at the North Portico of the White House.  Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg

Melania Trump unveils White House Christmas decorations

Lifestyle
Selena Gomez and Regina King are two of People Magazine's '2020 People of the Year'. AP Photo

'People' magazine reveals its 2020 people of the year

Arts&Culture

America's elections exposed flaws but also the strength of its institutions

Hussein Ibish

US Elections

US President Donald Trump visits his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia on November 3. AFP 

Trump threatens to veto defence bill over social media protection

The Americas
US Attorney General William Barr said that the Justice Department has found no evidence of voter fraud significant enough to reverse the US 2020 election. AFP

No evidence of fraud that would change US election result, says Barr

The Americas
US President-elect Joe Biden, wearing an orthotic boot to protect his injured foot, arrives to announce nominees and appointees to serve on his economic policy team at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

Biden limps to economic conference in 'space boot' after foot injury

The Americas
A pedestrian wearing a protective mask carries shopping bags across Fifth Avenue in New York. Bloomberg

Americans warned Covid pandemic will worsen in coming weeks

The Americas
In this photo provided by Four Paws, the trunk of an Asian elephant named Kaavan, left, touches the trunk of another elephant at the Kulen Prom Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. Kaavan, dubbed the world's loneliest elephant after living alone for years in a Pakistani zoo, has captured worldwide attention, and will soon join other elephants in a waiting sanctuary. (Four Paws via AP)

'Former loneliest elephant in the world’ makes a friend
A giant Christmas tree stands at the Galeries Lafayette department store where lights were switched on for the festive season in Paris, France, November 30, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

World in focus: best photos of the day
This image made from a drive recorder shows a brightly burning meteor, center top, over a road in Tokushima prefecture, southwestern Japan, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. The brightly burning meteor was seen plunging from the sky in wide areas of Japan, capturing attention on television and social media. The meteor glowed strongly as it rapidly descended through the Earth's atmosphere on Sunday. Many people in western Japan reported on social media seeing the rare sight. (Kamio via AP)

Watch: Fireball as meteor dazzles in the sky over Japan
epa08835682 Tom Cruise during the shooting of Mission Impossible 7 at Piazza di Spagna in Rome, during the pandemic Covid-19, 22 November 2020. EPA/MASSIMO PERCOSSI EPA-EFE/MASSIMO PERCOSSI

'Mission Impossible 7': Masked Tom Cruise on Italy set
Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - November 29, 2020 General view of the wreckage of the car of Haas' Romain Grosjean after he crashed out of the race Pool via REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Grosjean survives horror crash at Bahrain GP as car splits in half
Angelina Jolie is a qualified pilot, Gwyneth Paltrow is fluent in Spanish and Chris Evans can play the piano. AFP, Getty Images

10 celebrities with hidden talents: Who flies planes and who speaks fluent French?
Here are the people who have been nominated for Mr Biden's cabinet. AP

Meet Joe Biden's cabinet picks
Huda Kattan, Kylie Jenner and Chrissy Teigen all shared snippets from their Thanksgiving celebrations on Instagram. Instagram

From Huda Kattan to Gigi Hadid: how celebrities celebrated Thanksgiving 2020

Coronavirus

A doctor holds up vials containing swabs while conducting Covid-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR) on Delhi Municipal Corp. workers at the Civic Center building in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. India entered an unprecedented recession with the economy contracting in the three months through September due to the lingering effects of lockdowns to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. Photographer: T. Narayan/Bloomberg

UK approves Pfizer vaccine with immunisations to start next week

World
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference on the ongoing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Downing Street in London, Britain December 2, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley/Pool

Johnson hails scientists as UK becomes first country to approve Pfizer vaccine

Europe
Prithvipal Singh pictured with his family in Dubai on Tuesday after getting the all-clear for Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National

83-year-old diabetic beats Covid-19 after weeks in intensive care in Dubai

Health
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Reporter: N/A. News. Coronavirus/Covid-19. A man looks over the water in Bur Dubai. Saturday, October 17th, 2020. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus: UAE records 1,285 new cases of Covid-19

Health

World

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir addresses the virtual G20 summit in Riyadh on November 20, 2020. AFP

Saudi Arabia condemns 'desperate' Iran accusations

World

Canada's Trudeau backs farmer protest in India

Asia

UK wins race to approve Pfizer vaccine with immunisations to start next week

Europe

Lebanon has only two months of subsidy payments left

World

Business

A view of office buildings in the City of London in London. The UK now has four exclusively Islamic banks with assets of more than £5bn, and more than a dozen conventional banks offering Shariah-compliant services. AFP

How Islamic finance can boost Britain’s economic recovery from Covid

Banking

Cambridge University shaped Mohamed El-Erian’s illustrious career and now he’s giving back

Europe

Facebook-backed Libra Association renamed as Diem

Technology

Eurozone’s unemployment rate falls in October but outlook remains uncertain

Economy

Opinion

Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, participates in clinical trials for the Covid-19 vaccine. Abu Dhabi Government Media Office

To get the 'jab' done, governments must show patience and empathy

Comment

Why we will look back at 2020 as a critical year in UAE history

Comment

Beirut's elite don't know what to do with Lebanon besides loot it

Comment

A National Day to remember

Editorial

Why BLM has turned so many people off (and why that matters)

Comment

Exclusives

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during an interview with The National. Victor Besa/The National

Pompeo vows ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran and won't rule out military strike

MENA
Tariq Al-Sharabi with Diego Maradona in his Villa in Dubai. Courtesy Tariq Al-Sharabi

'My crazy life as Diego Maradona's translator in the UAE'

Football
Lebanon’s caretaker finance minister Ghazi Wazni formally asked the central bank governor to share all information requested for a forensi audit. AFP

Lebanon: caretaker finance minister warns of 'the end' of the country

World
SoftBank Group's profit rebounded after a global rally in tech shares helped it improve its start-ups' valuations. AFP 

SoftBank Vision Fund to boost tech investments and eyes more IPOs

Technology

UAE

An Israir A320 aircraft parked beside Emirates jets at DXB after successfully landing the airline's inaugural flight to the UAE from Tel Aviv. Courtesy Dubai Government Media Office

Israir's inaugural flight from Tel Aviv lands in Dubai

Memories of '71: How three Egyptian friends came to know 'everyone in Dubai by name'

What caused the 'Godzilla' dust storm that swept the US this summer?

Enthusiasts gather for King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival in Riyadh

What the UK demise of Debenhams means for stores in the UAE

Arts & Culture

Bad Bunny performs a medley at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 25, 2019. The Puerto Rican superstar is the music platform’s most-streamed artist of the year with 8.3 billion streams globally. Photo by Eric Jamison/Invision/AP, File

Bad Bunny is Spotify's most-streamed artist of 2020

49 fascinating facts about the UAE to celebrate its 49th National Day

What one photo says about Abu Dhabi's Khalidiya neighbourhood 50 years on

UAE's 49th National Day celebrated in special Google Doodle

A look back: the five UAE artists who shaped the country's contemporary art scene

Lifestyle

US First Lady Melania Trump stands in front of the White House Christmas Tree at the North Portico of the White House.  Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg

Melania Trump unveils White House Christmas decorations

Celebrating Emirati dress: See clothing once owned by sheikhas in new light

National Day fireworks and concert on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah cancelled

Dubai hotel builds 4.9-metre-tall gingerbread Burj Khalifa

The rise of Abu Dhabi's food truck culture

Travel

Emirates staff stand in a '49' formation in front of an A380 superjumbo at Dubai International Airport to celebrate the UAE's 49th National Day. Courtesy Emirates 

Emirates celebrates UAE National Day in Dubai, Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Chicago

Israir's inaugural flight from Tel Aviv lands in Dubai

National Day: Where are people jetting off to over the long weekend?

Etihad adds flights to Beijing, with Moscow, Seychelles and Morocco to follow

UAE reviewing visa rules to reflect countries’ Covid-19 response

Technology

At the time of the launch, Facebook said its Libra cryptocurrency project would revolutionise the global payments system. Reuters

Facebook-backed Libra Association renamed as Diem

Technology

Amazon sees biggest holiday season ever in 2020

Technology

These are Apple’s best apps of 2020 that helped people during Covid

Technology

Solid foundation to drive UAE's growth for next 50 years

Economy

Salesforce agrees to buy Slack for $27.7 billion

Technology

Motoring

The BMW iX electric supercar on the road. Image: BMW Group

Electric supercars and Minis: the future of mobility with BMW

McLaren GT 2020: test-driving the two-seater long-distance cruiser

Porsche Taycan Turbo: Road testing the luxury electric vehicle

Artwork or automotive? Emirati designer reimagines one-off Land Cruiser

Lighter but mightier: Road testing Lamborghini's Huracan STO

Sport

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 02: Andy Sullivan of England holds his scorecard showing his course record score of 61 during Day One of the Golf in Dubai Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on December 02, 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Andy Sullivan fires course record 61 at Golf in Dubai Championship

Grosjean leaves Bahrain hospital days after fireball crash at Grand Prix

Pandya and bowlers hand India win in third ODI against Australia - in pictures

'I am not going to resign': Zidane defiant as Real Madrid extend slump

Pakistan Star in the spotlight on UAE debut at Meydan

Podcasts

Hydroponic farming, which is more water and land efficient than conventional farming, may be the future of the industry in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National

Beyond The Headlines: The UAE's tactic against food crisis

Noor Sweid on how to pitch start-up investors in a challenging time

New Emirati passports, 1,251 cases, UAE condemns killing of nuclear scientist - The Daily Update

The Daily Update podcast: Abu Dhabi to distribute 70m Covid-19 vaccines

Beyond the Headlines: Iran's secret affair with Al Qaeda

#STAYHOME

Natasha Sideris's second book, about cooking and entertaining at home, is a timely tome that will help amateur chefs perfect their signature dishes. Courtesy Natasha Sideris

Tashas founder aims to turn homes into restaurant-worthy settings with new book

'Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War' returns with fresh thrills and intense action

Where to enjoy an American Thanksgiving turkey feast in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

A campaign of its own: 6 memoirs written by former US presidents

Review: Why new controller helps PlayStation 5 strike a blow in console wars

LONG READS

Ashot Sevyan is one of more than 3,000 residents of Kelbajar who will be deprived of their homes as a result of the power transfer. Neil Hauer

‘To the last drop of blood’: One Armenian vows to continue the fight as Azerbaijan handover looms

Europe
Sheikh Zayed raising the flag at Union House in Dubai. December 2, 1971. Courtesy: Al Itihad

'The most precious of things': Sheikh Zayed and the road to the union

Heritage
Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi is accused of conspiring to blow up a dissidents' rally..US Embassy Iran 

The Iranian spy whose Paris 'bomb plot' could have sparked a war

Europe
A Saudi woman drives a forklift to transport dates at a factory in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Saudi women on production lines see empowerment, career and equality

GCC
In this photo provided by Four Paws, the trunk of an Asian elephant named Kaavan, left, touches the trunk of another elephant at the Kulen Prom Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. Kaavan, dubbed the world's loneliest elephant after living alone for years in a Pakistani zoo, has captured worldwide attention, and will soon join other elephants in a waiting sanctuary. (Four Paws via AP)

'Former loneliest elephant in the world’ makes a friend
A giant Christmas tree stands at the Galeries Lafayette department store where lights were switched on for the festive season in Paris, France, November 30, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

World in focus: best photos of the day
This image made from a drive recorder shows a brightly burning meteor, center top, over a road in Tokushima prefecture, southwestern Japan, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. The brightly burning meteor was seen plunging from the sky in wide areas of Japan, capturing attention on television and social media. The meteor glowed strongly as it rapidly descended through the Earth's atmosphere on Sunday. Many people in western Japan reported on social media seeing the rare sight. (Kamio via AP)

Watch: Fireball as meteor dazzles in the sky over Japan
epa08835682 Tom Cruise during the shooting of Mission Impossible 7 at Piazza di Spagna in Rome, during the pandemic Covid-19, 22 November 2020. EPA/MASSIMO PERCOSSI EPA-EFE/MASSIMO PERCOSSI

'Mission Impossible 7': Masked Tom Cruise on Italy set
Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - November 29, 2020 General view of the wreckage of the car of Haas' Romain Grosjean after he crashed out of the race Pool via REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Grosjean survives horror crash at Bahrain GP as car splits in half
Angelina Jolie is a qualified pilot, Gwyneth Paltrow is fluent in Spanish and Chris Evans can play the piano. AFP, Getty Images

10 celebrities with hidden talents: Who flies planes and who speaks fluent French?
Here are the people who have been nominated for Mr Biden's cabinet. AP

Meet Joe Biden's cabinet picks
Huda Kattan, Kylie Jenner and Chrissy Teigen all shared snippets from their Thanksgiving celebrations on Instagram. Instagram

From Huda Kattan to Gigi Hadid: how celebrities celebrated Thanksgiving 2020