While the focus of the US Congress over the past few weeks has been on the impeachment inquiry and Donald Trump's announcement of a pullout from Syria, with catastrophic consequences, Tuesday will be a chance for the 2020 presidential race to take centre stage once again. A dozen Democratic candidates will gather in Ohio for the fourth primary debate, one which promises to be hotly contested. It will be Bernie Sanders' first debate since suffering a heart attack and comes after Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren got one of her best poll results in the race.
For the first time since her New Year’s Eve feisty declaration of presidential candidacy – “I’m in this fight” – Ms Warren beat Democratic Party frontrunner Joe Biden in a highly regarded poll in Iowa, the first American state to vote in the presidential primary. If she wins the Iowa caucus, it could set off a chain reaction of wins in New Hampshire and Nevada and then, further afield.
The impeachment inquiry, meanwhile, is being closely watched around the world and in the US, has overshadowed the contest for the Democratic Party's nominee for president. One American elections analyst even admitted that when news of the whistleblower complaint that led to the Democrats launching the impeachment inquiry became front-page news last month, it was "the last time I really thought about the 2020 Democratic primary".
A new conversation about the parameters and purpose of liberal capitalism is overdue. This is most likely to happen if Ms Warren were to become the Democratic nominee
There is reason to re-balance the focus. What happens in the crowded Democratic field – as it winnows and finds its long-hoped-for winning candidate for November 2020 – is just as important for the US as the impeachment inquiry. In fact, the Democrats’ pick for their presidential ticket could arguably affect the global conversation about resetting capitalism to tackle rising inequality. After all, the US, the world’s biggest economy, has seen slowing productivity growth, soaring inequality, massive financial shocks and increasing inequity in the past four decades. A new conversation about the parameters and purpose of liberal capitalism is overdue.
This is most likely to happen were Ms Warren to become the Democratic nominee. A two-term senator, former Harvard law professor and a policy buff with the ability to distil dense data into Insta-friendly captions, Ms Warren’s redistributionist zeal is all about providing better health care and education for struggling Americans by means of a small tax on the wealthiest. Already, it has become a two-word rallying cry at her campaign events. “Two cents! Two cents!” crowds chant, gesturing at Ms Warren’s rallies with the two-fingered peace sign. Tee shirts, badges and fridge magnets branded with the logo “two cents” are now on offer. It has become a simple way to convey the complex idea of a wealth tax, which levies a 2 per cent charge on assets over $50 million for the greater common good.
Some say “two cents” could be Ms Warren's equivalent of Mr Trump’s “build the wall” chant from 2016 or Barack Obama’s aspirational 2008 slogan: “Yes, we can”.
Is this possible? Would we even know it, so early in the protracted process that is a US presidential election? After all, polling day – November 3, 2020 – is 13 months away. And the Democratic Party still has an embarrassment of people vying to be the presidential candidate. The Ohio debate will feature the most participants of any televised showdown in presidential campaign history, at this stage of the race.
So, what is the real state of play? How should the wider world see the dogged fight underway among Democrats campaigning on very different themes, some fairly boilerplate, while others are big, bright and neon?
The Democratic Party's base is largely youthful, energetic and ready for bold action but its leading candidates seem to be in a time warp
The first important point to note is that the three top-polling Democratic candidates are septuagenarian. At 70, Ms Warren is the youngest. Former vice president Joe Biden is 76. And Bernie Sanders, the leading fundraiser in the Democratic presidential field, is 78. If Mr Biden or Mr Sanders were to win the 2020 election, America would have the oldest US president to ever take office. Earlier this month, Mr Sanders underwent surgery following his heart attack. Mr Biden, meanwhile, has struggled to mount a robust defence against Mr Trump's accusations of corruption revolving around his son's dealings in Ukraine while he was vice president.
There is an inescapable sense, thrown up by the current Democratic field of a generational gap, of a general lassitude and an inability to respond rapidly to disaster or opportunity. The Democratic Party’s base is largely youthful, energetic and ready for bold action but its leading candidates seem chronologically (and some, temperamentally) in a time warp.
At this point in time, the coveted nomination seems out of reach of younger Democratic presidential hopefuls, not least the five most charismatic of the under-70 brigade – California senator Kamala Harris, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, Texan former congressman Beto O’Rourke, New Jersey senator Cory Booker and philanthropist-entrepreneur Andrew Yang. The other candidates still in the race – but barely – include former Obama cabinet secretary Julian Castro, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and the billionaire hedge fund investor Tom Steyer. Next month there will be another televised Democratic debate, with more stringent criteria, further narrowing available options.
Where might all of this lead? This is where the second important point about the Democratic contest comes into play. In this presidential election, the Democrats’ primary criteria for a challenger to Mr Trump will be electability. This is perceived to be Mr Biden’s strength, as an avuncular white man with working-class roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a much-loved folksy idiom.
But it is early days. The impeachment inquiry has barely begun and Ms Warren’s call for a “two cents” revolution is just beginning to be heard above the white noise.
There really is everything to play for.
Company%20profile
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
LEADERBOARD
%3Cp%3E-19%20T%20Fleetwood%20(Eng)%3B%20-18%20R%20McIlroy%20(NI)%2C%20T%20Lawrence%20(SA)%3B%20-16%20J%20Smith%3B%20-15%20F%20Molinari%20(Ita)%3B%20-14%20Z%20Lombard%20(SA)%2C%20S%20Crocker%20(US)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESelected%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E-11%20A%20Meronk%20(Pol)%3B%20-10%20E%20Ferguson%20(Sco)%3B%20-8%20R%20Fox%20(NZ)%20-7%20L%20Donald%20(Eng)%3B%20-5%20T%20McKibbin%20(NI)%2C%20N%20Hoejgaard%20(Den)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RECORD%20BREAKER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Barcelona%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%20years%20and%20290%20days%20v%20Real%20Betis%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20La%20Liga%20starter%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2038%20days%20v%20Cadiz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20register%20an%20assist%20in%20La%20Liga%20in%20the%2021st%20century%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%20years%20and%2045%20days%20v%20Villarreal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20debutant%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%20v%20Georgia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20goalscorer%20for%20Spain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20player%20to%20score%20in%20a%20Euro%20qualifier%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2016%20years%20and%2057%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3E%0DThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Addis%20Ababa%20with%20Ethiopian%20Airlines%20with%20return%20fares%20from%20Dh1%2C700.%20Nashulai%20Journeys%20offers%20tailormade%20and%20ready%20made%20trips%20in%20Africa%20while%20Tesfa%20Tours%20has%20a%20number%20of%20different%20community%20trekking%20tours%20throughout%20northern%20Ethiopia.%20%20The%20Ben%20Abeba%20Lodge%20has%20rooms%20from%20Dh228%2C%20and%20champions%20a%20programme%20of%20re-forestation%20in%20the%20surrounding%20area.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20profile
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Civil%20War
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alex%20Garland%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kirsten%20Dunst%2C%20Cailee%20Spaeny%2C%20Wagner%20Moura%2C%20Nick%20Offerman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
