• A car driver holds a sign at Black Lives Matter plaza near the White House after Election Day in Washington, DC. Reuters
    A car driver holds a sign at Black Lives Matter plaza near the White House after Election Day in Washington, DC. Reuters
  • An Oregon State Trooper hits a protester with his baton while dispersing a crowd of black bloc protesters in Portland. AFP
    An Oregon State Trooper hits a protester with his baton while dispersing a crowd of black bloc protesters in Portland. AFP
  • Soldiers with the National Guard help local police disperse antifascist protesters following the US presidential elections in Portland, Oregon. EPA
    Soldiers with the National Guard help local police disperse antifascist protesters following the US presidential elections in Portland, Oregon. EPA
  • Minneapolis State Patrol arrest journalists and people protesting against racism and issues with the presidential election after they blocked interstate 94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
    Minneapolis State Patrol arrest journalists and people protesting against racism and issues with the presidential election after they blocked interstate 94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
  • Demonstrators march on to highway I-94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
    Demonstrators march on to highway I-94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
  • Police officers line up alongside interstate 94 blocked by protestors marching against racism and issues with the presidential election in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
    Police officers line up alongside interstate 94 blocked by protestors marching against racism and issues with the presidential election in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
  • Minneapolis State Patrol arrest journalists and people protesting against racism and issues with the presidential election after they blocked interstate 94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
    Minneapolis State Patrol arrest journalists and people protesting against racism and issues with the presidential election after they blocked interstate 94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
  • A woman pulls a child away from a protest crowd as it passes a downtown restaurant in Portland, Oregon. AFP
    A woman pulls a child away from a protest crowd as it passes a downtown restaurant in Portland, Oregon. AFP
  • Black bloc protesters pull a barrier into the street while running from police in Portland, Oregon. AFP
    Black bloc protesters pull a barrier into the street while running from police in Portland, Oregon. AFP
  • Clark County Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria, left, is interrupted by a disgruntled member of the public during a press conference outside Clark County Election Department, in North Las Vegas. AFP
    Clark County Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria, left, is interrupted by a disgruntled member of the public during a press conference outside Clark County Election Department, in North Las Vegas. AFP
  • People hold a "Remove Trump Pence Now" sign during a protest against racism and issues with the presidential election after in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
    People hold a "Remove Trump Pence Now" sign during a protest against racism and issues with the presidential election after in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP
  • A speaker leads a crowd in chants in Portland, Oregon. AFP
    A speaker leads a crowd in chants in Portland, Oregon. AFP
  • Pedestrians walk past a digital screen displaying a news report on the U.S. presidential election in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Bloomberg
    Pedestrians walk past a digital screen displaying a news report on the U.S. presidential election in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Bloomberg
  • A man watches the U.S. Election live broadcasting at a bar on November 05, 2020 in Shanghai, China. Getty Images
    A man watches the U.S. Election live broadcasting at a bar on November 05, 2020 in Shanghai, China. Getty Images
  • South Korean supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hold flags near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
    South Korean supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hold flags near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
  • Vietnamese souvenir seller Truong Thanh Duc, supporter of US President Donald Trump, shows images of the president at his shop in Hanoi, Vietnam. Reuters
    Vietnamese souvenir seller Truong Thanh Duc, supporter of US President Donald Trump, shows images of the president at his shop in Hanoi, Vietnam. Reuters
  • Medical workers look at a computer screen displaying the partial results of the US elections, at the intensive care unit for patients infected by Covid-19 of the university-affiliated hospital Cavale Blanche in Brest, western France. AFP
    Medical workers look at a computer screen displaying the partial results of the US elections, at the intensive care unit for patients infected by Covid-19 of the university-affiliated hospital Cavale Blanche in Brest, western France. AFP
  • A currency dealer monitors exchange rates as a screen shows results of the US presidential elections in a trading room at KEB Hana Bank in Seoul. AFP
    A currency dealer monitors exchange rates as a screen shows results of the US presidential elections in a trading room at KEB Hana Bank in Seoul. AFP
  • A cyclist wears a banner at Black Lives Matter plaza near the White House after Election Day in Washington, U.S., November 5, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
    A cyclist wears a banner at Black Lives Matter plaza near the White House after Election Day in Washington, U.S., November 5, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

US election: balance of power in Congress hangs by a thread


Bryant Harris
  • English
  • Arabic

Joe Biden is leading the US presidential race as a handful of states continue to count ballots, but the picture is much less rosy for Democrats in Congress.

Although Democrats had anticipated a blue wave on election night to gain control of the Senate, they may not eke out even a slim majority.

The future balance of power in the Senate will come down to a razor-thin margin and hinges on the results of the four remaining races – one in Alaska, another in North Carolina and two in Georgia.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be the defensive co-ordinator or the offensive co-ordinator,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday.

In Alaska, the Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan still holds a firm lead over his challenger, Al Gross as the state continues to count ballots.

North Carolina, a key battleground state, also continues to count a number of remaining ballots that will determine whether Republican Thom Tillis will keep his Senate seat. Mr Tillis has already declared victory in the competitive race against Democrat Cal Cunningham even though the ballot count is not yet complete.

In the final weeks of the race, Mr Cunningham had come under attack for reports of a second extramarital affair.

If Mr Sullivan and Mr Tillis hold on to their seats, Republicans will need to win at least one of the two races in Georgia to maintain their majority if Mr Biden wins the White House since his running mate Kamala Harris would serve as the tiebreaking vote in a split Senate.

Under Georgia’s unique election law, a Senate race goes to a run-off in January if no candidate gains more than 50 per cent of the vote.

The Republican incumbent David Perdue is teetering on the 50 per cent threshold. However, it remains unclear whether he can avoid a runoff against Democrat Jon Ossoff as the state continues to count its ballots.

In Georgia’s other race, the incumbent Kelly Loeffler was also unable to pass the 50 per cent threshold because another Republican running to her right has split the conservative vote. She is expected to move into a run-off election with Democrat Raphael Warnock, raising the possibility that control of the Senate could come down to the Loeffler-Warnock race in January.

A Republican-held Senate could force Mr Biden to significantly curtail his agenda and rely extensively on executive orders to pursue his agenda.

And while Democrats are still on track to retain control of the House of Representatives, Republicans have cut into their majority and picked up several seats. After flipping 43 seats in the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats have already lost seven seats and could lose as many as 12 once all ballots are counted.

Mr Biden’s poor showing in Florida appears to have helped tank two House Democrats.

Donna Shalala lost to Cuban American journalist Maria Elvira Salazar. And Debbie Mucarsel-Powell lost to Carlos Gimenez, a former mayor of Miami-Dade County. Despite their record as centrists, Ms Shalala’s and Ms Mucarsel-Powell’s opponents tied them to the Democratic-socialist wing of the party, which is anathema to large swathes of the Cuban American community living in Florida.

House Democrats also lost seats in South Carolina, Iowa, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Minnesota.

Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.

A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.

Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.

A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.

On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.

The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.

Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.

The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later. 

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 611bhp

Torque: 620Nm

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Price: upon application

On sale: now

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Western Clubs Champions League:

  • Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
  • Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
  • Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Brief scores:

Day 2

England: 277 & 19-0

West Indies: 154

Monday's results
  • UAE beat Bahrain by 51 runs
  • Qatar beat Maldives by 44 runs
  • Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by seven wickets
Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20has%20been%20moored%20off%20the%20Yemeni%20coast%20of%20Ras%20Issa%20since%201988.%3Cbr%3EThe%20Houthis%20have%20been%20blockading%20UN%20efforts%20to%20inspect%20and%20maintain%20the%20vessel%20since%202015%2C%20when%20the%20war%20between%20the%20group%20and%20the%20Yemen%20government%2C%20backed%20by%20the%20Saudi-led%20coalition%20began.%3Cbr%3ESince%20then%2C%20a%20handful%20of%20people%20acting%20as%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ae%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiw2OfUuKr4AhVBuKQKHTTzB7cQFnoECB4QAQ%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.thenationalnews.com%252Fworld%252Fmena%252Fyemen-s-floating-bomb-tanker-millions-kept-safe-by-skeleton-crew-1.1104713%26usg%3DAOvVaw0t9FPiRsx7zK7aEYgc65Ad%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Eskeleton%20crew%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20have%20performed%20rudimentary%20maintenance%20work%20to%20keep%20the%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20intact.%3Cbr%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20is%20connected%20to%20a%20pipeline%20from%20the%20oil-rich%20city%20of%20Marib%2C%20and%20was%20once%20a%20hub%20for%20the%20storage%20and%20export%20of%20crude%20oil.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%E2%80%99s%20environmental%20and%20humanitarian%20impact%20may%20extend%20well%20beyond%20Yemen%2C%20experts%20believe%2C%20into%20the%20surrounding%20waters%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20Djibouti%20and%20Eritrea%2C%20impacting%20marine-life%20and%20vital%20infrastructure%20like%20desalination%20plans%20and%20fishing%20ports.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
AIDA%20RETURNS
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MATCH INFO

What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

if you go

The flights 

Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning. 

The trains

Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.

The hotels

Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.

STAGE 4 RESULTS

1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51

2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma

3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 

4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo

General Classification

1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21

2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43

3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03

4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43

5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45