The southern state of Georgia is again taking centre stage in US politics as its two Senate races head to run-offs on January 5 and are likely to determine control under the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden.
After Tuesday’s election, the next Senate to take control in January is 48 Democrats and 48 Republicans.
Each party would need 51 seats for a majority. But if there is a tie, the Democrats will have the advantage as Kamala Harris, the vice president-elect, will have a deciding vote.
The Democrats gained two seats in this election but lost one. The Republicans lead in two other seats where votes are being counted, in North Carolina and Alaska.
In Georgia, none of the candidates managed to get more than 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a run-off.
In one race David Perdue, the Republican incumbent and an ally of President Donald Trump, is facing Jon Ossoff, a 33-year-old investigative journalist.
The other race between Democrat Raphael Warnock, who would be the first black senator for the party from the deep South, is running against Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler.
If the Democrats win the run-offs, something they have not done in the past in the Peach State, they would secure 50 seats and have Ms Harris as a tiebreaker.
“We take Georgia and then we change America,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told a crowd in New York on Saturday.
The Democratic National Committee is expected to pour resources and money into the state to help achieve that outcome.
Mr Biden, the president-elect, was ahead of Mr Trump in the state by a margin of 0.2 per cent of the vote but an automatic recount was called because the difference was less than 0.5 per cent.
No Democrat has won Georgia since 1992.
Georgia’s Democratic politician Stacey Abrams and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are regarded as major forces behind the Biden campaign.
Ms Abrams runs an operation that registered more than 800,000 voters in her state.
Control of the Senate by the Democrats would mean a takeover for the party in Congress and the White House.
That would help Mr Biden pass key legislation related to healthcare reform and a Covid-19 stimulus package.
But if Republicans keep control of the Senate, something they have done since 2014, then Mr Biden’s agenda could be derailed by their majority.
He would then have to use executive orders to fulfil some of his campaign promises after his inauguration on January 20.
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
Results
5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
