The world is watching today as American voters decide who will lead their country – the strongest economic and military power on Earth – for the next four years. These elections will determine the political future of the US and the result will have consequences for America’s allies and opponents alike. However, the electoral process itself is arguably just as important.
The last race for the White House is often remembered for all the wrong reasons. An angry mob, incensed by what they regarded as an attempt to steal the election from then president Donald Trump, stormed the US Capitol building. In scenes that were beamed around the world, hundreds of rioters fought with police and ransacked offices inside this bastion of American democracy. One of Mr Trump’s supporters was shot dead in the chaos.
January 6, 2021 was a manifestation of deeper issues that had been plaguing American society for several years. Conspiratorial thinking and political polarisation were joined by a refusal to accept the outcome of the vote. The result was an explosion of deadly and transgressive violence. Although some of the issues that fuelled the unrest are still present – there have been several ugly and divisive moments in this year’s campaigning – many in America and beyond will be hoping for a smooth and rapid transfer of power this time.
This must mean more than US law enforcement acting to prevent or counter street disorder. Already there are signs that there will be tooth-and-nail legal challenges to the results in states that, owing to America’s political system, could decide who will sit in the Oval Office next year. Although calling for recounts or querying instances of suspected fraud are legitimate measures, they must be accompanied by a willingness to accept defeat once it is clearly established who has won. Dragging the election result through the courts unnecessarily is in no one’s interest. Winning the White House while further damaging America’s image as a stable democracy is equally troubling.
Indeed, the many challenges facing the US in the coming years require a return to bipartisanship not further polarisation. Internal stability and economic prosperity should be prioritised. The wars raging in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the alarming military exchanges between Israel and Iran require America’s contribution to stop. The political distraction posed by the presidential race must be soon dispensed with if peace is to return to the Middle East.
Winning the White House while damaging America’s image as a stable democracy would be no victory at all
For committed supporters of Mr Trump and US Vice President Kamala Harris, a victory by their opponent is a worst-case scenario. However, despite the dire predictions that accompanied Mr Trump’s 2016 victory and Republican fears of a US led by President Joe Biden, it is wiser to remember the achievements of both administrations.
Under Mr Trump, the US economy performed well until the Covid-19 pandemic. The Trump administration faced no major foreign-policy crises and even achieved some gains, such as helping to broker the Abraham Accords and begin a talks process with North Korea. For his part, Mr Biden helped steer the country out of the Covid crisis and oversaw a period of US economic growth. Although legitimate criticisms of both presidents could be made, those going to the polls today should reflect on the fact that one electoral outcome or another does not spell the end of American democracy, influence or relevance, but violence and undermining electoral systems could.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
FIXTURES
All games 6pm UAE on Sunday:
Arsenal v Watford
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Everton v Bournemouth
Leicester v Man United
Man City v Norwich
Newcastle v Liverpool
Southampton v Sheffield United
West Ham v Aston Villa
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
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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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
MATCH INFO
Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)
Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no
Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)
Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22
Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets
