Latest updates: Follow our full coverage on the US election
When Donald Trump was elected to the White House in 2016, critics and pundits were quick to note he had lost the popular vote and had won thanks to the vagaries of America's electoral college system.
Eight years later, Mr Trump swept to victory in a decisive manner, steamrollering Vice President Kamala Harris even though he ran this race as a convicted criminal who had been twice impeached. He won the electoral college vote handily and was on track to secure a comfortable popular vote victory.
Mr Trump won in large part by refining his raw political instincts and focusing on shocking, populist rhetoric that garnered him endless media attention. His bombastic and off-the-cuff style culminated in what many considered to be a xenophobic, misogynist and racist rally at New York's Madison Square Garden only days before the election.
He also exploited a wave of economic uncertainty for Americans grappling with inflation and high costs for everything from petrol to housing to health care. Despite the economy doing well at macro level, millions of Americans weren't feeling it.
Where President Joe Biden and Ms Harris struggled to articulate how their policies were improving the economy, Mr Trump, at rallies, presidential debates and on adverts, kept hammering on a promise to usher in a new economic boom. He tied his messages of economic woe under the Democrats to a claim that undocumented immigrants were taking US jobs.
For Ms Harris, a former prosecutor who was forced to run a truncated campaign after President Biden stepped aside in July, economic issues were never something she could comfortably articulate. Her messaging instead focused on Mr Trump's threats to US democracy, the January 6, 2021 insurrection and his promises to seek revenge on perceived enemies.
While some polls showed US voters were concerned about democracy, it was not at the same level as the economy. It was only in the final weeks that the Harris campaign shifted to focus more on economic issues. By that point, however, it was too late.
Dr Peter Yacobucci, a political science professor at Buffalo State University, said the Harris campaign and the Biden campaign before it never really spoke to the economic angst of voters.
“Telling people the economy is good but not recognising that individuals are being impacted by inflation, high housing costs, etc, is tone deaf,” he said. “Democrats remain a party of elites that refuse to listen to what supporters of Trump are actually saying.”
According to data provided to The National by Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican research consultancy firm, for entrenched supporters of Mr Trump there was a strong desire for the campaign to once again tap into “nostalgia for a perceived better past and a desire to return to those conditions”.
In turn, the Trump campaign often pushed he would “fix” things and lured voters with a promise of returning the US to a golden age, echoing but evolving Mr Trump’s tried and tested “Make American Great Again” message.
Conversely, according to Public Opinion strategies, the Trump campaign’s ability to expand its base and chip away at traditionally Democratic-supporting Hispanic voters was made easier by data showing that 66 per cent of the electorate thought the country was on the wrong track.
It was a massive hurdle for Ms Harris, who struggled to clearly explain how her administration would be different from a second Biden term.
In certain female demographics, much to the surprise of many, Mr Trump made gains as well compared to , in particular white women.
Melissa Brown, a member of Republican Women for Progress, an independent grassroots organisation, spoke about how she felt Mr Trump made some inroads.
“I think a lot of voters had the economy, international issues and the rule of law on their ultimately that’s what was prioritised in the voting booth,” she said, adding that women are not simply single-issue voters.
“We’re focused on the mission to encourage those elected who are focused on governing and building a bigger tent, and delivering results for the American people.”
Also working in Mr Trump's favour was the simple fact that he never left the spotlight after losing in 2020. Thanks to the riots at the Capitol in January 6, 2021, he was the subject of years of well-publicised investigations and hearings. Court cases in New York and elsewhere gave TV pundits endless hours of easy discussion topics, while Mr Trump used his various criminal prosecutions to convince voters that the Democrats were persecuting him politically.
For better or worse, that strategy, however polarising, guided Mr Trump through tumultuous Republican primaries in 2016 and 2024, and helped propel him to the White House.
The Trump campaign also defied critics who thought his campaign events in Democrat-leaning states such as New York and Virginia were ill-advised from a strategic standpoint.
At one of his rallies in Salem, Virginia, thousands were queuing up hours before the start, prompting an overflowing crowd to watch it on a jumbo screen outside the venue.
“There were five times as many people outside,” Mr Trump exclaimed during the event.
It seemed to work. On election night, Virginia was much closer than expected, though Ms Harris still won it.
This year, his campaign leant into everything that worked in 2016 in the hope the strategy would work even better if he did everything in a grander way.
This tactic, combined with the economic anxiety and unpopular poll numbers for the Biden administration, caused Mr Trump once again to defy the odds and conventional wisdom, and even gained him popularity among traditionally Democratic-leaning constituencies, potentially creating a new Republican coalition for many years to come.
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW
Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
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