US President Donald Trump is hitting the campaign trail hard this week, hoping to turn his fortunes in the final days of a presidential election that most forecasts suggest he will lose.
His Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, has a wide 8-10 percentage point lead in national opinion polls.
Mr Biden is staging fewer and smaller rallies, aiming to win toss-up states and promoting a plan to tackle Covid-19 for when he runs the White House.
But a cloud hangs over the Biden campaign.
Four years ago, Mr Trump was trailing badly behind Hillary Clinton, yet he managed an upset victory on election night with relatively small majorities in key battleground states.
"A few days out, the picture of this race is pretty clear," tweeted Dave Wasserman, a forecaster at The Cook Political Report.
"Biden’s lead is larger and more stable than Clinton’s in '16. I’ve seen … almost enough.”
Other top analysts read the data in a similar way. Mr Biden’s lead in polls has been large and steady.
Mr Trump has had consistently poor approval ratings for his presidency and his Covid-19 response has been panned, they say. This election is not a rerun of 2016.
"The polls could still be wrong. But unlike in 2016, where you could see the warning signs, I don't see much cause for concern at the moment," tweeted Nate Jones, a polling analyst with The New York Times.
But The Guardian's US data editor, Mona Chalabi, urged caution.
Pollsters missed many Trump voters in 2016 and those same people may be unwilling to share their true voting intentions in telephone surveys this time around, Ms Chalabi says.
Messages from the candidates on Monday fed into the same narrative.
“We’re going to take our democracy back,” Mr Biden bullishly declared. He urged voters to mark ballots in the “most important election of our lifetimes”.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump blasted the "corrupt media" for deliberately overstating the threat from coronavirus, which has claimed More than 225,000 lives and infected almost 8.7 million people in the US, to hurt his chances on November 3.
"The fake news media is riding Covid, Covid, Covid all the way to the election," Mr Trump tweeted on Monday.
"Cases [are] up because we test, test, test."
The president held three rallies in Pennsylvania on Monday and was booked for others on Tuesday in Michigan and Wyoming.
Mr Trump clawed out victories in the three traditional Democratic strongholds in 2016 and hopes to win them again to keep the White House.
On Tuesday he was also set to address crowds in Nebraska, a reliably conservative state, but also an outlier that does not automatically give all its electoral votes to one candidate, leaving Mr Biden with a chance to add to his tally there.
The president's children, Ivanka, Eric and Donald Trump Jr, fanned out across Florida, Arizona and other battlegrounds.
Vice President Mike Pence was also on the trail rather than self-isolating after one of his staffers tested positive for Covid-19.
The Biden campaign was less frenetic. On Monday, Mr Biden stayed close to home for a campaign stop in Wilmington, Delaware, where his 26-point lead over Mr Trump required little buttressing.
On Tuesday, he was headed to Georgia, where the two are neck and neck.
Mr Trump calls his rival “basement Joe” for his stay-at-home campaign.
Mr Biden appears to be comfortable sitting on his lead, buoyed by two passable TV debate performances and perhaps mitigating against any last-minute gaffes.
Greenbacks tell another part of the story. Mr Biden raised $130 million during the first half of October and spent more than $145m.
In that time, Mr Trump raised nearly $43.6m and spent $63.1m, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
That gives Mr Biden a $107m cash advantage over Mr Trump.
But the figures do not include fundraising by other political committees, and Mr Trump managed to win in 2016 despite Ms Clinton’s bigger war chest.
Early voting may be a decisive factor. By Monday, 58.6 million ballots had been cast by mail and at early voting sites, already more than 2016's totals.
Many Americans are keen to avoid crowds on November 3 because of Covid-19. Nothing either candidate says, does or tweets at this stage can change those votes.
Early-voting turnout appears to favour Democrats but such data is not a good indicator of election outcomes.
At this stage, the Trump campaign strategy appears to involve turning out the same blue-collar voters in swing states who pushed him above the 270 electoral college votes to secure him the White House in 2016.
To accomplish this, Mr Trump needs to win the Republican-leaning and battleground states of Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina and Texas, which he won last time, and beat the odds in Pennsylvania and either Wisconsin or Michigan.
For Nate Silver, another acclaimed election analyst, this is a long shot.
Mr Trump could surprise the pundits in 2020 just as he did in 2016, but the clock is ticking, many votes are already cast and the polls are bleaker.
“There are several theories for why Mr Trump could win that very probably aren’t true,” Mr Silver tweeted.
“But if you add up a lot of longshot possibilities, it’s not that hard to get to a 10-15 per cent chance, which is something worth taking seriously.”
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
'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.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams
Penguin Randomhouse
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.
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
Persuasion
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
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
Other key dates
-
Finals draw: December 2
-
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The%20specs
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What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
