US Election 2020: Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off in first debate


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US President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden began their 90-minute head to head on Tuesday evening discussing the Supreme Court, in the first presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio.

Although the debate was being watched by millions, the event had a small, socially distanced crowd because of the pandemic.

The candidates did not shake hands, in accordance with social distancing measures.

Here’s how it played out:

Supreme Court nominee 

The debate’s moderator, Chris Wallace of Fox News, opened discussing Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.

“We won the election, and therefore we have the right to choose her,” Mr Trump said.

“I think that she [Barrett] will be outstanding. She will be as good as anybody who has ever served on that court. We won the election and therefore we had the right to choose her,” Mr Trump said.

Mr Biden hit back saying that with the election ongoing already with early voting denying many a say in the process meaning it should wait until after the November 3 results.

“The American people have the right to have a say on who the Supreme Court justice. We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is. What is at stake as the president made it clear, is the president wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act [Obamacare],” Mr Biden said. “I’m not opposed to the justice. She seems like a very fine person. But she’s written that she thinks the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. The president’s made it clear he wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. He’s been running on that.”

The pair moved on to health care with Mr Trump jibbing at his rival: “You want to socialise medicine like Bernie Sanders.”

Mr Trump is used to sparring with reporters and he kicked off Tuesday’s debate by using the same tactic he uses in the White House briefing room: interrupting.

He repeatedly interrupted or sought to talk over Mr Biden and the debate’s moderator, Wallace, during a discussion about the Supreme Court and the Affordable Care Act.

At times the debate split-screen showed the two candidates trying to talk over one another while Wallace spoke at the same time, pleading for clarity.

“Please let the vice president talk,” Wallace admonished Mr Trump during one of his interruptions after earlier making clear that he was the moderator. “Will you shut up, man?” Mr Biden eventually said to Mr Trump.

Mr Biden: “I’m not here to call out his lies – everyone knows he’s a liar.”

Coronavirus

“Joe, you could never have never done the job we did, you don’t have it in your blood,” Mr Trump told Mr Biden, saying that if he had been president more than two million would be dead. Mr Trump also accused Mr Biden of a poor track record on handling H1N1 swine flu while vice president.

“The president has no plan. He hasn’t laid out anything, he knew all the way back in February how serious this crisis was. He knew it was a deadly disease,” Mr Biden said.

Wallace pushed the president on the timeline for a vaccine while Mr Biden brought up previous statements by the president on ingesting bleach to cure Covid-19 or hoping it would disappear with warm weather.

“If you could get the crowds you would have done the same thing,” Mr Trump replied to Mr Biden when pushed on holding mass rallies during the pandemic.

“He didn’t want to close the economy. It would be two million dead with him – 200,000 is too many, one is too many … it should never have happened with this plague from China,” Mr Trump said of his rival. He repeated numerous previous talking points about lockdowns and accusing democrats of wanting to close the entire country “and destroy it”.

After enduring Mr Biden’s criticism of his coronavirus response, Mr Trump seized on a remark that his rival’s management of the crisis would be “smart”.

“Don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me,” Mr Trump said, accusing Mr Biden of forgetting where he went to college.

Mr Biden chuckled. “Oh, give me a break.”

“There’s nothing smart about you, Joe,” Mr Trump said.

It took only 40 minutes for Mr Biden to mention revelations this week by the New York Times, which published the president's financial records showing Mr Trump paid only $750 in tax.

Mr Trump tried to jump in to respond but Wallace cut him off, reminding the president that both candidates have the same allotted time.

But the moderator picked up the issue.

“Is it true you paid just $750 in federal income tax?” Wallace asked.

“I’ve paid millions in tax,” Mr Trump replied before extolling his financial solvency.

Wallace insisted Mr Trump clarify if the president paid only $750 in 2016 and 2017.

“I paid millions,” Mr Trump repeated. Mr Biden jumped in to ask when the president was going to release his tax returns, as is customary of candidates – but which Mr Trump has never done.

“When it’s ready,” Mr Trump replied.

Race

“You treated the African-American community about the worst of anyone … you called them super-predators – look back at your record over the years,” Mr Trump said of Mr Biden.

Asked whether he thought African-Americans face a different system of justice than white Americans, Mr Biden said there must be a system where officers are held accountable and good officers rejected the few “bad apples”, the same as anyone.

Wallace asked the president why he decided to end racial sensitivity training and whether he believes there is systemic racism. Mr Trump said the policy itself was racist and costly. “They were teaching people to hate our country and I’m not going to let that happen.”

Wallace also plans to discuss the two candidates’ records; the economy; racism and violence in US cities; and the integrity of the election.

Law and order 

“Violent crime went down 17 per cent under our administration,” Mr Biden said of the Obama administration. “Went down much more in ours,” Mr Trump replied.

Wallace pointed out to Mr Trump that violent crime is on the rise in both Democratic and Republican cities, at which point the president pivoted to discussing shootings in Chicago.

Wallace asked Mr Biden what his proposal of “reimagining policing” means and whether he supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

“We need community policing like we had before – that’s when crime went down,” Mr Biden said, and clarified he is against defunding the police. Mr Trump pressed his rival: “He has no law enforcement support. Name one law enforcement group that came out and supported you,” he asked Mr Biden.

’Will you condemn white supremacists?’ 

Wallace said: “Are you willing to condemn white supremacists and militias and tell them they need to stand down?

The president said he was willing to do anything, asking Wallace for the name he wants condemning. Both Mr Biden and Mr Wallace chimed in: “Then do it”.

Wallace clarified: “White supremacists and right-wing militias.”

“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by but I tell you what someone needs to do something about Antifa,” he said, referring to the prominent far-right neo-fascist organisation and the movement to combat fascism.

Why vote for me?

Mr Biden said: “Under this president, we become weaker, sicker, poorer, more divided and more violent. When I was vice president, we inherited a recession, I was asked to fix it and I did we left him a booming economy and he wrecked it.”

Trump then cut the segment off, pressing Mr Biden on his son’s drug addiction and business dealings. Mr Biden said he was proud of his son Hunter Biden for overcoming addiction and pointed out investigations including by Republicans into his son’s business deals in Russia and China had found discredited reports he was handed millions.

Climate change

“If you look at our numbers, we’re doing phenomenally but we didn’t kill our businesses,” Mr Trump said.

He said the global Paris Accord on emissions was bad for America. Mr Trump said he wants to do all he can to ensure “crystal-clean water and air”.

Asked if he believes in the science regarding human-caused climate change Mr Trump said: “I think, to an extent, yes –but a lot of things do.”

Mr Biden said under him no one would build another coal or oil-fired power stations because renewables would be as cheap. “We can get to net zero in terms of electricity production by 2035 not costing jobs but creating jobs,” he said, and pledged to rejoin the Paris Accords.

Voting integrity 

Mr Biden pointed out that there is no evidence of Mr Trump’s claims postal ballots are insecure. “Millions of people because of Covid who are going to be voting by mail-in ballot, like he does by the way – sits behind the Resolute Desk and sends his ballot to Florida,” Mr Biden said of Mr Trump.

“If I win that will be accepted, if I lose that will be accepted, when he says he’s not sure if he will accept that doesn’t matter because if we get the votes it doesn’t matter – he can’t stay in power,” Mr Biden said of the results.

“As far as the ballots are concerned it’s a disaster … there’s fraud, they found them in creeks, they found one – just happened to have the name Trump – in a waste paper basket,” Mr Trump said, reiterating his claims that the mail-in electoral system is open to tampering.

Mr Trump came under attack for his handling of the pandemic and for not handing over his tax returns.

The president has attracted criticism for his finances, after a bombshell report by The New York Times on Sunday reported he paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017, and none in 10 of the previous 15 years, after years of reporting sharp losses from his businesses.

Increasing the pressure on Mr Trump, Mr Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris on Tuesday released their 2019 tax returns and urged the sitting president to do the same.

In the debate, Mr Trump challenged Mr Biden on law and order issues and his relationship with the Left of the Democratic Party.

Tonight’s meet was the first of four – with two more on October 15 and 22, and a vice-presidential debate on October 7.

Eighty-four million people watched the September 27, 2016, debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, reported Nielsen, which monitors TV ratings.

Speaking to MSNBC minutes before this debate, Ms Clinton said she planned to watch to see Mr Trump being held accountable for his first term as president.

“I’m going to watch it with real interest and a certain level of expectation because, unlike four years ago, Donald Trump now has a record,” she said.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

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No Shame

Lily Allen

(Parlophone)

Key products and UAE prices

iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229

iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649

iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179

Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.

How to come clean about financial infidelity
  • Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
  • Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help. 
  • Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
  • Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
  • Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported. 

Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

Premier Futsal 2017 Finals

Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side

Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado

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'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info

Arsenal 0

Manchester City 2
Sterling (14'), Bernardo Silva (64')

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Family reunited

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.

She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.

She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.

The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.

She was held in her native country a year later.

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Company%20profile
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HAJJAN
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The biog:

From: Wimbledon, London, UK

Education: Medical doctor

Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures 

Favourite animals: All of them 

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